The sea erupted like a volcano.
The Going Merry blasted from Laboon's blowhole, spiraling into the sky on a geyser of pressure and force. Spray shot in every direction. Wind howled. Wood groaned. The air was filled with panicked screaming.
"WHOA!!"
"WE'RE GONNA DIE!"
"WHY ARE WE LAUNCHING?!"
"IT'S A WHALE CANNON!!"
Ropes whipped like angry snakes across the deck. The mast creaked. Nami clung to the helm with gritted teeth. Usopp flailed in mid-air, caught only by Sanji who tackled him before he could fly off the ship.
Zoro held firm near the front, arms braced across the railing. "Brace for impact!"
But at the center of it all—was Luffy.
Still.
Grinning.
Eyes sharp.
Hair whipped by the wind, but his body completely relaxed.
[SYSTEM STABILIZED]
[Reverse Mountain Exit – Success]
[Region: Grand Line – Entry Confirmed]
[No Hostiles Detected]
[Log Pose Calibration: Active]
He could feel it—the pull of the sea, the shift in pressure, the way gravity caught them again.
His smile widened.
Then they dropped.
The Going Merry slammed into the sea like a falling meteor.
Water engulfed the deck in a massive splash. Barrels crashed into each other. The mast shuddered. The ship wobbled dangerously from side to side before righting itself.
"WE'RE ALIVE!" Usopp screamed, clinging to the mast like a cat.
"Barely," Sanji groaned, soaked from head to toe.
Zoro exhaled calmly. "That's the Grand Line for you."
Nami pushed her wet hair back and checked the compass. Or rather, the Log Pose.
It spun.
Then locked into place.
"Whiskey Peak," she said. "That's our next island."
Luffy walked to the front of the ship, still smiling, but with that deeper, unreadable calm he had carried since entering this sea.
Behind them, Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday were tied up near the mast.
"You have to let us off at Whiskey Peak!" Mr. 9 shouted.
"We're Baro—I mean—we're important!" Miss Wednesday snapped.
Zoro leaned against the mast. "You're lucky we didn't toss you overboard."
Miss Wednesday glared at him—but her focus drifted.
To Luffy.
He hadn't said a word since the fall.
He hadn't panicked. He hadn't even blinked.
Something was strange about him.
Something... unnatural.
[SHADOW SYSTEM: ACTIVE]
[Target: Miss Wednesday – Observation Mode Engaged]
[Probability of Hidden Identity: 72%]
[Caution Recommended]
Luffy turned just slightly—eyes locking with hers for a second.
She looked away quickly.
He didn't speak.
But she felt seen.
Clouds gathered above without warning.
One moment the sky was clear.
The next—it cracked with thunder.
"Storm!" Nami shouted. "It's coming fast!"
"Where's the warning?!" Usopp cried.
"There is no warning here!" she yelled.
Rain slammed down. Winds whipped the sails. The Merry tilted hard as a wave crashed into its side.
Zoro dashed to tighten the ropes.
Sanji slid to the rudder, pushing with all his weight.
Barrels rolled across the deck.
Vivi's eyes darted from face to face. "This isn't natural!"
"It's the Grand Line!" Nami yelled.
Then everything shifted.
A darkness spread beneath Luffy.
His shadow stretched—then rose—an outline of inky tendrils unfurling along the deck like a second sail.
He extended his hand.
"[SHADOW VEIL – WIND REDIRECTION]"
The gust split.
The sails stopped flapping.
The Merry steadied, just for a moment.
Everyone turned.
Nami's mouth fell open. "What did you just do?!"
Luffy smiled.
"Just helping."
The sea finally began to calm.
The Log Pose needle held steady.
And beyond the mist—
A distant shape emerged.
An island.
Small.
Quiet.
With buildings stacked on a hill.
A wide gate.
And flags waving far too cheerfully for this part of the world.
"Whiskey Peak," Nami said again.
Luffy didn't blink.
He stared at it.
Still smiling.
But underneath...
[Threat Assessment: UNKNOWN – AGENT PRESENCE DETECTED]
[End of Chapter 102]
_________________________________________________________________________
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