A storm swept in, dark clouds hung low, and thunder rumbled in the sky, turning the entire sea into a chaotic frenzy, as if the world was coming to an end.
Raindrops pelted down on the deck of the Going Merry, making crisp, crackling sounds.
Giant waves continuously crashed against the ship, each impact causing the Going Merry to sway violently, its hull groaning as if it could capsize at any moment.
Nami stood by the helm, gripping the steering wheel tightly, her eyes fixed on the churning sea ahead. She shouted, "Hold on tight! Don't get swept overboard by the waves!"
Usopp huddled in the doorway of the cabin, clutching a pillar and trembling, "This cursed weather... it's deadly! This isn't a place for humans to live!"
Sanji stood on the deck, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, his right hand holding down his wind-resistant hat, and his left hand gripping the deck railing. His gaze swept over the wildly shaking ropes of the sails.
"Quickly, furl the sails! Otherwise, our mast will break!"
Zoro leaned against the cabin doorframe with one hand, the other pressing down on the swords at his waist, his face still maintaining its usual calm expression.
"The ship's about to capsize, so you all better move faster."
Just then, Kai, with Luffy, came up the gangway onto the deck. His figure was blurred by the torrential rain, but the Fangtian halberd in his hand was exceptionally striking.
Kai propped the halberd on the deck to steady himself. He glanced at the stormy sea and calmly said, "Furl the sails quickly. We're setting sail."
Luffy excitedly waved, "Let's go! Sea, we're back again!"
Zoro looked at Luffy's cheerful expression and shook his head helplessly.
"You really are carefree. You almost got your head chopped off just now, and now you're happy."
"Hahaha! I won't die!" Luffy laughed loudly, his face full of ease. "I'm going to be the King of the Pirates, how could I die in a place like that!"
The storm raged, and the Going Merry finally escaped the sight of Loguetown, gradually steadying itself on the turbulent sea.
The atmosphere inside the cabin, however, was exceptionally lively.
"Kai! Where did that big halberd come from?" Luffy's eyes gleamed as he looked at the Fangtian halberd in Kai's hand, his voice filled with excitement.
"It's so cool! Even Smoker couldn't block it!"
Zoro sat nearby, arms crossed, his gaze also fixed on the massive weapon.
"It's certainly a good item. It looks much stronger than ordinary swords."
"This weapon is too divine!" Usopp leaned over, his face full of envy. "Kai, you can swing such a heavy thing so easily; you're practically not human!"
Kai gently raised the Fangtian halberd, resting its blade on the table, and calmly said, his gaze sweeping over them, "This Fangtian halberd was given by Luffy's grandfather."
With that one sentence, the entire cabin immediately fell silent.
"Luffy's... grandfather?" Nami was stunned for a moment, then looked shocked. "Wait, Kai, are you talking about Luffy's biological grandfather?"
"Monkey D. Garp." Kai's tone was calm, but these words were like a bomb thrown into the cabin.
"Garp?!" Nami's eyes widened, her voice rising by eight octaves. "Are you talking about the Marine Hero Garp?!"
Kai nodded, "That's right, it's him."
The entire cabin immediately erupted into an uproar.
"What?! Luffy's grandfather is Marine Hero Garp?!" Usopp, terrified, hugged a pillar, his face full of disbelief.
"That guy who captured countless great pirates and threw them into prison?! He's actually Luffy's biological grandfather?!"
Sanji raised an eyebrow, his tone full of surprise.
"The Marine Hero who chased the Pirate King Roger all over the world, is actually your family? Luffy, your background is too terrifying!"
"Luffy's grandfather is a Marine Hero!" Zoro frowned, looking at Luffy with a complex gaze. "How did a guy like you, who went out to sea to be a pirate, not get beaten to death?"
"Hehe." Luffy scratched his head, smiling sheepishly.
"When I was little, he always wanted me to be a Marine. I said no, I wanted to be a pirate, and then I ran away!"
Kai glanced at Luffy and calmly said, "He said he didn't want to see a pirate grandson, so he left without meeting you."
"Tch, still the same old him." Luffy pouted, seeming a bit displeased.
Nami covered her forehead, her tone helpless. "What kind of oddballs are Luffy's family? Every single one of them is abnormal!"
Kai ignored their complaints and pointed to the books on the table.
"Besides this Fangtian halberd, old man Garp also left us these things.
They are training methods for Armament Haki and Observation Haki, and also secret texts for the Marine Six Powers."
"What?!" Everyone instantly gathered around.
Zoro grabbed one of the books, casually flipped through a few pages, and a flicker of excitement flashed in his eyes: "This content... these are top-tier training manuals!"
Sanji also picked up a book, looked at it for a few moments, and couldn't help but grin. "Luffy's grandpa is really generous, to give us such amazing things."
Usopp's eyes widened as he pointed to the Den Den Mushi on the table and asked, "Then... what's that? Was that also given by Luffy's grandpa?"
"Oh, that's a Den Den Mushi." Kai said casually. "You can call Garp directly with it. If you're bored, you can chat with him."
"Are you kidding me!" Usopp waved his hands frantically, shrinking into a ball. "Chat with a Marine Hero? I don't want to get arrested by him!"
"Hahaha!" Everyone burst into laughter, easing the tense atmosphere considerably.
The storm came quickly and left just as quickly.
Before long, the churning dark clouds gradually dispersed, and a blue sky appeared on the horizon.
The rain stopped, the wind died down, and the sun shone through the clouds onto the sea, making the water sparkle like a golden ocean.
A gentle breeze billowed the sails of the Going Merry; the white canvas looked exceptionally dazzling in the sunlight, and the crisp cries of seagulls could be heard from the mast.
The distant sea had returned to calm, with a few flying fish leaping out of the water before quickly diving back into the waves, creating small splashes.
The Going Merry sailed slowly under the sun, like a lone boat heading towards an unknown distance.
The cabin door creaked open, and Luffy was the first to poke his head out, a brilliant smile on his face.
"The sun's out! Hahaha, the storm finally stopped!"
"Finally, I can breathe." Nami walked onto the deck, letting out a long sigh, a hint of fatigue still on her face. "This kind of weather really wears you out."
Zoro leaned against the ship's railing, his gaze sweeping over the calm sea, and said calmly, "This is what going out to sea feels like."
Sanji lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and then gently exhaled a smoke ring, a smile playing on his lips.
"Although the storm has passed, let's not relax too much. Next, we're heading towards Reverse Mountain, the entrance to the Grand Line, and it won't be easy."
Usopp emerged from the cabin, clutching his head, looking completely drained.
"You scared me to death! I thought the ship was going to capsize just now, it was terrifying! Are we really going to Reverse Mountain? Are we really not going to our deaths?"
Kai stood in the center of the deck, holding the Fangtian halberd in one hand, his gaze sweeping over everyone.
He said in a deep voice, "Stop talking nonsense, everyone come over here. From now on, we're adjusting the training plan."
Luffy was stunned for a moment, then immediately jumped up and shouted, "Training? Now? I haven't even eaten yet!"
Nami also frowned, "We just went through that storm, isn't it too early to train now?"
"Training waits for no one." Kai looked up, his voice low but with an undeniable authority.
"If you don't want to die in the Grand Line, then follow my plan."
Hearing this, everyone shivered involuntarily and stood up straight, awaiting Kai's arrangements.