"First," Crocus continued, drawing a simple diagram on the ground,
"you must choose one of the seven magnetic routes extending from Reverse Mountain."
"No matter which island you start from, once you choose a route, you'll be locked onto that single course. It can't be changed easily."
His finger slowly traced along the seven lines, eventually converging on a single point at the end.
Crocus's gaze grew unfathomably deep, as if piercing through time itself to behold an island hidden at the world's edge.
"And in the end… the island reached by all seven routes—the final destination of all magnetic currents…"
"That is—Laugh Tale!"
"The end of the Grand Line!"
"In all of history, the only ones who reached that island and confirmed the truth of this world…"
"Were the crew of the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger!"
"Laugh Tale…"
Nami repeated the name softly, suddenly feeling the Log Pose on her wrist grow heavy.
It wasn't just a navigational tool.
It was the key to the end of the world.
"The Log Pose… I really need to keep this safe!" Nami said lovingly, stroking the glass sphere.
"It holds the fate of everyone on this ship! I absolutely can't let it break!"
Just as she was immersed in future plans and her fondness for the Log Pose—
"BUUURP—!!!"
An extremely loud, extremely ill-timed belch shattered the solemn atmosphere.
Everyone turned their heads.
The long table piled with food was now a battlefield of devastation.
Plates gleamed spotless—licked clean.
Bones were stacked like small mountains.
And there was Luffy, belly swollen like a balloon, sprawled in his chair, picking his teeth with satisfaction.
"Ahh… I'm full! Thanks for the meal!"
"Sanji's cooking really is the best! Alright, let's get ready to set sail!"
"..."
A cold wind blew through.
Ronan's mouth twitched violently.
Everyone had been listening intently to Crocus's explanation—this was a matter of life and death. No one had touched the food.
And yet this bastard of a captain had eaten while listening, wiping out everyone's share—
Ronan's, Zoro's, Usopp's—
Even the two captives' portions?!
"LUUUFYYYY!!!"
A roar packed with a chef's dignity and pure starvation exploded from Sanji.
Hellfire seemed to blaze behind him.
Staring at the empty plates, veins bulging on his forehead, his eyes turning pure white with rage, he shouted:
"You… ate everything… by yourself?!!"
"That was lunch for everyone!! Especially the meal made with love for Nami-swaaan!! You rubbery bottomless pit!!!"
"DIE!!!"
In his fury, Sanji forgot everything else.
He raised his right leg—the same leg hardened by Ronan's hellish training, already showing the early signs of Armament Haki.
"Collier Shot—KICK!!!"
"BAM—!!!"
The kick landed squarely on Luffy's round belly.
The power erupted instantly.
Luffy shot off like a fired cannonball, screaming as he flew straight toward Nami!
"UWAAAAAA—!!!"
At that moment, Nami had her back turned, holding up her wrist and admiring the Log Pose in the sunlight, smiling happily.
"It's so pretty… this pointer…"
"WHOOSH—"
A violent gust rushed past.
Before she could even turn around, a massive force brushed past her body.
"CRASH!!!"
A crisp, beautiful, utterly heart-stopping sound of shattering glass rang out.
Time froze.
Luffy flew past her—but the shockwave he carried swept perfectly across her raised wrist.
The Log Pose—
The crew's only hope.
The device they'd obtained less than a minute ago—
Shattered into countless glittering fragments before Nami's eyes.
The magnetic needle popped out, rolled twice on the ground… and stopped.
Silence.
Absolute, deathly silence.
Even Sanji—still furious—and Luffy—sprawled on the ground—froze, their faces drained of color.
Ronan covered his face.
"…It's over."
Nami remained frozen, arm still raised, like a statue.
Slowly—very slowly—she lowered her head, staring at the shards on the ground.
Then she turned around.
Her bangs shadowed her eyes, her expression hidden.
But a black aura more terrifying than Conqueror's Haki erupted from her, spreading violently outward.
"Sanji…"
Her voice was soft—soft like a whisper from hell.
"Y-Yes! Nami-swan!" Sanji snapped to attention, cold sweat pouring down.
"Luffy…"
"Y-Yes…" Luffy shrank back.
Nami suddenly raised her head.
In that instant, it was as if a demon had descended.
Her eyes burned blood-red, sharp fangs bared, the background behind her transforming into a blazing inferno.
"You two… IDIOTS!!!"
"That was our only navigation tool!!!"
"Now—CALM DOWN PROPERLY!!!"
"BOOM!!!"
No explanations. No mercy.
Two fists fueled by pure rage smashed squarely into Luffy's and Sanji's faces.
Then, to Ronan and Zoro's astonishment, she kicked both of them straight into the air like trash bags.
"SPLASH! SPLASH!"
Two enormous splashes erupted on the sea's surface.
Luffy and Sanji plunged screaming into the icy water.
"Huff… huff…"
Nami clenched her fists, glaring at the waves.
"I'm so mad!! Those two idiots!!!"
Ronan sighed helplessly and turned to Usopp.
"Go fish them out. Otherwise our captain's going to drown at the starting line."
This was the Straw Hat Pirates.
Even at the solemn entrance to the Grand Line—
There was never a shortage of ridiculous chaos.
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