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What is the leading cause of death in the Grand Line each year?
Pirate raids? Wars across various regions?
It was neither of these.
The correct answer is shipwrecks.
Even veteran sailors, navigators, and meteorologists can make fatal misjudgements on this most dangerous sea route in the world.
Once a shipwreck occurs, only a few people manage to survive, but even those few survivors must face a cruel reality.
That is… They must confront the sea itself with nothing but their own flesh and blood.
This is even more despairing than the shipwreck itself. At this very moment, for example, such a situation is unfolding on a vessel floating on the sea.
Strictly speaking, this so-called 'vessel' isn't even a ship; it's just a wooden plank.
Sitting on the plank is a young man.
The cold nighttime sea breeze blows across him, and dressed only in a thin inner layer, he shivers uncontrollably. He can feel his body temperature dropping rapidly, to the point where he is almost losing consciousness.
Yet even in this state, he still tightly clutches a soaked bag.
The sound of coins clinking inside suggests that it is filled with money. When stranded alone on the open sea after a shipwreck, money should have lost all meaning. But to this young man, this bag of money is all he has left; it is also the very reason he set sail.
"I'm probably beyond saving." Clinging to his last shred of consciousness, his mind grows hazy. "I'll die here... but maybe one day my body will be found by another ship. I hope they'll see the message I left in the bag… Just please, don't let it be pirates. They definitely won't help me..."
His thoughts drifted aimlessly.
Rationally, he knows the chances of his corpse ever encountering pirates are extremely low.
The most likely outcome is that his body will fall into the sea after some turmoil, either devoured by sea beasts or sinking into the dark depths, but he does not need such despairing logic right now.
What he needs is comfort and the fantasy of a miracle.
'...'
But the next moment, through his fading vision, the young man clearly sees something on the distant sea.
Something on the distant sea.
"…A ship?"
His sluggish mind processes the though,t but he soon realises that it doesn't seem to be a ship.
It's far too massive.
As that colossal object draws closer, the young man feels his fading consciousness suddenly become clearer.
He can now see what it truly is.
It is...
"An… island?" He mutters, though he doesn't dare believe it.
The island before him is anything but normal. It is surrounded by a veil-like layer of mist. From behind the island, particles of light cascade downwards. These light particles seem to merge with the starlight and moonlight in the sky, drifting gently on the sea breeze. Wherever the island passes, it leaves behind a trail of radiance, as if it has gathered the starlight itself and draped it in flowing ribbons.
"A mirage? No... that's not it... Am I dying...? Is this the dream I see before death?" The young man wonders if he is on the brink of death for a moment; after all, it's said that dying people can see illusory, dreamlike visions.
But he quickly dismisses the thought.
He knows that, even in dreams, his imagination wouldn't be so vivid. As the island draws nearer, he feels his body inexplicably regain vitality: his consciousness sharpens, and his thoughts become clear again.
And then...
"!!!"
...he suddenly shoots upright from the plank.
At that moment, he realizes the truth.
He is neither dreaming nor seeing a mirage, as before him truly exists an unbelievable island.
And now…
"… "
Accompanied by the sound of the waves parting, the island stops right in front of him. This enables him to fully appreciate its immense size and unparalleled beauty.
The island is covered in countless trees and mountains, all adorned with strange, dreamlike vegetation.
At its center lies a forest. The trees within are taller than normal and shimmer with an otherworldly, faintly translucent glow. Their leaves are not green but shimmer in dazzling multicolored hues. Every time a gentle breeze passed through, the entire canopy rippled like waves of light. Countless tiny blue specks drifted across the island as if it were breathing.
In the deepest part of the forest, the young man could vaguely make out a tall mountain. On its peak was a massive stone statue that resembled a sheep's head, like the guardian god of the island.
From the top of the mountain, a brilliant stream of water shimmering with multicolored light gushed forth, forming a vast, radiant spring that glowed vividly even at night.
The trees seemed to dance, and the flowers seemed to sing.
Faced with such a scene, the young man was completely speechless.
Because, at that moment...
"Lost traveler of the sea."
...he heard an ethereal voice.
Instinctively, he turned his head and saw...
Not far away, a figure was stepping out from the thin veil of mist surrounding the island. The young man swore that it was the most beautiful, dreamlike figure he had ever seen. She had fair legs, a body adorned in a beautiful, flowing dress, and a face covered by a strange veil that seemed to constantly shift and flow.
Yet, strangely, even through the veil, he felt as if he could see her face, though its features could not be clearly defined. Its beauty remained constant and undeniable.
Mist drifted from the veil around her. She held a seven-colored lantern in her hand, and a dark red little dog wearing a sword-shaped pendant followed her.
At that moment, with her appearance, the edge of the massive island began to change. Stairways formed one after another, extending outwards towards him.
"… "
The young man subconsciously stepped onto the stairs, and then...
"Buzz!!"
The steps swiftly retracted, and, in an instant, he found himself standing before the girl.
A gentle fragrance reached his nose, snapping him back to his senses.
He hurriedly averted his gaze. "Y-you… this place… I…"
For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
"This is the Dream Island, where wishes are fulfilled." The girl seemed to understand his confusion as she explained. "I am Miss Fairy. By the will of the island's spirit, I am responsible for guiding lost travelers."
Her voice trembled faintly, almost as if she were shy. But the young man clearly didn't notice that at all.
"Dream Island... Miss Fairy..."
Hearing these words made him feel as though he had become part of the sea legends widely told across the Four Seas.
And at that moment...
"It's rare for a lost traveller to arrive. You should warm yourself first." Miss Fairy said gently.
The next instant, the young man heard the dark red dog beside her let out a soft 'awoo.'
Immediately after...
"Whoosh!"
...he saw clusters of flames suddenly appear out of thin air in the forest behind the dog.
Looking closely, he could see that each flame had facial features and eyes and was dressed like a tiny soldier. They marched towards him and, to his shock, leapt straight onto him.
"Ah! I... I'm on fire… huh?"
The next moment, he was engulfed in flames and cried out in alarm.
But the very next second, he was stunned.
"It's… not hot at all?"
Although the flames distorted the air around him, he didn't feel any burning pain; on the contrary, his body gradually grew warm.
"This is 'Spirit Flame.'"
At that moment, he heard Miss Fairy softly explain: "They are spirit servants belonging to Yazi, one of the Phantom Beast Lords of this Dream Island. They can control their flames so they won't burn people."
"… "
Hearing this, the young man looked again at the flames covering his body. He even saw a small flame waving at him as if to greet him.
This made him doubt again whether he was dreaming. Perhaps the earlier shipwreck had never happened; maybe he was still a sailor on that merchant ship, just asleep in his cabin. But a moment later, he saw the flames hop off his body, bow to the dark red little dog, and bounce away and vanish.
Only then did the young man suddenly snap back to reality.
In the next moment, he heard Miss Fairy's follow-up question.
"Then, lost traveler... Do you wish to make a wish?"
As those words fell, the young man froze for a moment. "A wish?"
"Yes."
Miss Fairy smiled gently. "The Dream Island is a place where wishes are fulfilled. The island spirit has an agreement with the master of the stars to give everyone who arrives here the chance to make a wish. Those who come to the island may willingly offer something precious in return for their wish being granted."
Hearing this, the young man was stunned once again.
Then...
"I… I want food, water, and a boat… is that possible?"
These three things were clearly essential for him to survive at sea, and he spoke hesitantly.
But the moment his words fell
"Buzz!"
...he saw, at the edge of the island, strange clouds interwoven with blue, gold, and white, drifting past. Then, a translucent, seven-colored ship appeared out of thin air. On that ship, just as he had imagined, there was food and water. More than that, the food was exactly what he longed for most: his mother's famous chickpea soup.
Only a faint blue light seemed to shimmer across the food and water.
"The 'Dream Ship' can exist for thirty days. It will not be damaged by storms at sea, and it is enough for you to reach a nearby island." Miss Fairy's tone remained gentle, as if she were accustomed to communicating with others in this way.
"The food and water taste exquisite and will never spoil. Consuming them will restore your stamina and vitality. Your wish has already been granted, so are you willing to offer something precious in exchange?"
As she spoke, her gaze rested on the young man.
"Something precious?" The young man instinctively clutched the bag in his hands tighter. "Do you mean money?"
"Yes and no. Gold and silver are of no use to the island spirit, but they are indeed precious to the people of the world. So the island spirit may accept them as part of the exchange, but not entirely." Miss Fairy smiled.
"Besides gold and silver, other things you possess can also be used to pay for your wish."
"For example, your health or your life. After all, a "wish" is something you would achieve at any cost, wouldn't you agree?"
At any cost.
Those words made the young man's heart tremble.
And from deep within him...
"Maybe…' A thought rose instinctively. It was the very reason he had chosen to go to sea and venture into the dangerous Grand Line as a sailor.
He took a deep breath.
"If… if I want to exchange for my mother's health to be restored… can that wish also be granted?" His voice trembled, filled with unmistakable excitement. "She has a strange illness. I sought out the best doctor on the nearby islands, but he said he had never seen such a condition. Treating her requires a huge amount of money… that's why I came to the Grand Line. Being a sailor here pays the most."
"I… I…"
This young sailor, who had not shed a single tear even in the face of imminent death, now had tears welling in his eyes.
"I just want to save her."
As he spoke, perhaps due to his agitation, the bag in his hands slipped and fell open, revealing the crumpled, worn banknotes and coins inside, saved over who knows how long. And on those Beli, written in blood from where he had bitten his finger not long ago, were words he had scrawled on the plank:
[If someone finds my body, I beg you… please deliver this money to Ms. Moher of Paila Island in the South Blue. At least leave two-thirds of it for her, that is what she needs for her treatment.]
[Please tell her… her son, Raiden, will always love her.]
"… "
Miss Fairy fell silent.
"S-so… It's still not possible?"
Despair began to rise in Raiden's heart. After learning of his mother's illness, he had prayed countless times to the gods, but it had never mattered.
But this time was clearly different.
Because this time… God had answered him.
"Then, Mr. Raiden… what are you willing to offer?"
He heard Miss Fairy's reply. She seemed to have just steadied her emotions as she asked. And for a son who did not even fear death, who had bravely ventured into the most dangerous seas, the answer was obvious.
"Everything." He answered firmly. "Money, health, life, Miss Fairy, you may take it all. But please, leave me just a little time… so I can return and see my mother once more."
As his words fell, he saw that Miss Fairy seemed to be taken aback once again.
Then, She nodded.
"In that case…" As her words fell, Raiden saw it, from beneath the sheep-headed idol atop the distant mountain, the radiant, seven-colored stream suddenly reversed and surged upward.
A single droplet of seven-colored water streaked across the sky like a falling star, descending before Miss Fairy. She caught the droplet, and with a gentle lift of her hand, a glass bottle appeared out of thin air.
Placing the droplet inside, she looked at Raiden.
"This is the most precious treasure of the Dream Island, the greatest creation of the island spirit. Its name is the 'Fountain of Youth.' You may also call it the 'Water of Life.' It can cure all illnesses, restore severed limbs, and return the aged to youth. It can fulfill your wish, so, please close your eyes."
Her soft voice was like a lullaby. "The island spirit will take your offering, and then grant your wish."
Hearing this, Raiden was naturally shocked by the effects of this so-called "Fountain of Youth."
But without hesitation, he closed his eyes.
The next moment…
"Buzz!!"
A golden radiance burst forth from his body. Countless streams of golden life essence surged out, and Raiden could feel his body rapidly growing weak.
Just as Miss Fairy had said, the island spirit was taking his "life."
But at this moment, Raiden felt no fear.
On the contrary,
"Buzz…"
A faint red glow flickered above his head. What surged within his heart at this moment was… joy.
And then, at some point…
"Yazi, 'joy' isn't the dream you belong to… give it to me. The Lord needs it to create another Phantom Beast Lord."
"That life essence isn't yours either. Lord Hitsuji said golden essence is very precious, give it to me now, or I'll report you to him."
"Wuu…"
He vaguely heard voices, but it all felt like a dream, his muddled mind could no longer comprehend their meaning.
His vision went dark, and he lost consciousness.
…
After an unknown amount of time,
"Swoosh…"
"Swoosh…"
Raiden slowly woke from his faint. The sound of waves reached his ears, along with the familiar chill of the sea.
"Was it… a dream?" In his mind, he instinctively recalled that dreamlike island, and the equally dreamlike Miss Fairy.
He almost subconsciously believed he had returned to that wooden plank.
Perhaps everything before had just been a dream. But the next moment, as he slightly opened his eyes, he realized that wasn't the case.
Amid the sound of waves being parted, he found himself aboard a phantom-like ship.
"This is… that 'Dream Ship'?"
His eyes widened. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he began searching around. It didn't take long before he found what he was looking for.
Not far from him lay the bag he had clutched so tightly before.
"… "
Raiden trembled as he stood up, his body felt incredibly weak.
Even so, he forced himself toward the bag.
And just as he expected, the Beli inside were gone.
In their place was a glass bottle. Inside the bottle, the seven-colored "Fountain of Youth" glowed brilliantly.
And beside it, on the wooden plank he had written on earlier, lines of seven-colored text were slowly appearing.
[Your wish has been fulfilled]
[The island spirit has an agreement with the master of the stars, to grant beautiful things as wishes, and to reward the brave]
[The reward you have earned for yourself is your 'life']
As the words faded, the seven-colored glow dispersed.
"… "
Raiden's frail body tightly clutched the bag in his arms.
In the distance, the morning sun rose over the sea, everything feeling like a phantom dream.
But he knew, It was not a dream.
That island truly existed. That promised Dream Island.
(End of Chapter)