The Freedom surged up the mountaintop with the current, then took to the air.
Kouta stood on the deck, his feet planted firmly, though he was in mid-air.
Watching the streams of water converge from all directions, collide, and then flow towards a single point, his gaze involuntarily drifted towards the rear of the Red Line.
Towards the direction of the New World.
He possessed the ability to fly; should he go directly to the New World and challenge the Four Emperors?
Although he couldn't defeat any of them right now, battling the Four Emperors would rapidly hone his Haki.
Hmm…
He retracted his gaze and glanced at his excitedly shouting companions. After a moment's thought, he decided against it. While this would be the most epic plotline for the readers, it wasn't his story.
Even though he desired clashes with the strong, it wasn't time yet; his companions weren't ready.
Going alone would be meaningless.
His goal in sailing wasn't solely to be the world's strongest, but to enjoy the scenery on the path to becoming the strongest, wasn't it?
The Freedom reached the summit, paused, and then, with a sensation of weightlessness, plummeted downwards, finally crashing into the single waterway formed by the convergence of four streams.
With a "bang," it slid downwards rapidly.
"Whoa..."
This experience was far more thrilling than a roller coaster.
"Kouta."
"What is it?"
Allo, standing on the crow's nest, shielded his eyes and peered intently ahead, shouting down.
"There seems to be a black mountain blocking our path ahead."
"A mountain?"
Ahua instinctively argued.
"You can't possibly be serious! It should be endless sea below us, where would a mountain come from!"
"It's there, that's all."
Just then, the Freedom shot out of the clouds at high speed, and the view opened up.
Everyone saw the black mountain wall blocking the exit of the waterway.
"No way!"
"There… there really is a mountain!"
A Tao, holding a cigarette between his fingers, stared intently at the distant black mountain wall. Then, as if seeing something terrifying, his smoking paused, and he shouted.
"It's not a mountain, it's a colossal monster!"
"Whatever it is! Charge!"
Kouta's eyes glinted with a smile as he looked at the giant beast blocking the exit and roaring.
This giant beast could be considered the most romantic creature in One Piece, couldn't it?
"Right? 'Laboon'"
As if sensing Kouta and his crew's arrival, Laboon stopped roaring and froze in place.
The Freedom, like a moth to a flame, rapidly charged towards Laboon's belly.
"Ah..."
"We're going to crash."
Seeing the ever-approaching black wall, Ahua instinctively took a few steps back and yelled, "Kouta, it's up to you."
Just as the Freedom was about to collide, Kouta's spatial domain instantly expanded, and he let out a roar.
"Everyone, hold on tight."
Everyone grabbed onto nearby objects, except for A Tao.
Then, the Freedom, which had been moving at high speed, along with the seawater below, suddenly froze in place.
Due to inertia, the people on the ship were involuntarily thrown forward. Fortunately, they had all held on tightly to their surroundings, preventing any significant embarrassment.
A Tao, however, was different. He thought he was Kouta! Standing at the bow, smoking, he remained still, striking a pose.
As a result, when inertia took hold, he was instantly sent flying forward.
With a "bang," he slammed into a transparent wall at the bow, his entire face flattened.
"Hahahahaha..."
"You're too funny! Why didn't you listen?"
After Kouta retracted his spatial domain and the air and water began to flow again, Ahua clutched his stomach and burst into laughter at A Tao.
"Is this the welcome gesture of the Grand Line?"
Allo scrambled down the mast and ran to the bow, looking up at the colossal head hundreds of meters high, exclaiming in awe.
"It's truly miraculous!"
"Indeed! And so pitiful, so sorrowful!"
Kouta looked at Laboon, his eyes flashing red. He could feel the immense sorrow emanating from this giant creature.
"Kouta, why does this guy feel like he's crying?"
Gine held Kouta's hand and squeezed it tightly.
"Pitiful?"
"I don't feel anything like that!"
A Tao got up from the deck at the bow, brushed off imaginary dust, tidied his hair, and took a潇洒 (xiāosǎ - dashing, carefree) drag of his cigarette.
"You stupid pig, of course, you can't sense it."
Allo's two antennae on his head twitched.
"There is indeed a sense of deep sadness, as if this creature has been waiting for someone, and that person has never appeared."
He then touched his chest, as if infected by Laboon's sorrowful emotions.
Kouta turned to look at the crowd on the bow and asked.
"Do you want to know why this guy is like this?"
"Yes."
The crowd replied in unison.
"If you do, then let's just go ask someone who knows!"
"Ask who?"
"You'll know soon enough, hahahaha!"
Kouta let out a loud laugh. His Observation Haki swept across Twin Cape, detecting no other presences.
"So, it's inside Laboon."
He looked at Laboon before him, his gaze sharpening.
He unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, intending to knock Laboon unconscious and force the old man out.
However, as he unleashed his Conqueror's Haki, Laboon not only didn't faint but became even more enraged.
It seemed Laboon also possessed a heart that feared nothing!
Laboon interpreted the aura emanating from Kouta as a provocation. It let out a roar, then quickly lowered its head and sucked in with its mouth.
Then, to the terrified gazes of the crew, the Freedom, caught in this current, vanished before Laboon's eyes in the blink of an eye.
"Kouta, what are you doing!"
"We're being eaten by this guy right now!"
In the darkness, Ahua shouted loudly.
"Well, being eaten is being eaten! Crewmates, the first adventure of the Grand Line has begun."
A crimson glow flashed in Kouta's eyes. He had already sensed the presence ahead.
"An adventure? I just hope we don't actually get digested."
A Tao took a deep drag of his cigarette, the only light in the darkness.
"Hahahahaha..."
"How could that possibly happen!"
"You'll find out how romantic this creature is later."
Kouta looked ahead, his eyes filled with anticipation and curiosity.
If waiting for someone for a full 50 years wasn't a romantic act, then nothing could be called romantic.
Just then, a strong light suddenly emanated from ahead. The Freedom passed through the bright light and, with a "bang," landed in a dark green lake.
Everyone's eyes were momentarily blinded, then instantly cleared.
When they saw their surroundings, everyone wore expressions of shock.