Chapter 17: The Red Line.
"You bastard! Want a fight?"
"Idiot! I'm not scared of you—bring it on!"
The two crewmates, who'd just teamed up against Shirogai a moment ago, now squared off, trading insults and blows. Shirogai calmly called out:
"Careful, don't damage the Merry Go."
With that, he strolled toward the bow, watching them vent their frustrations after being outmatched.
He casually grabbed the wanted poster and smiled. "The Plunderer, huh? Not bad."
"Now we've got two bounties aboard. The rest of you need to step up!" he added lightly.
Usopp stared at Shirogai's portrait, envy mixed with determination in his eyes. "I'll work harder!"
Shirogai glanced at the distant, darkening sea, placing Kisame aside.
"The weather's shifting—strong headwind ahead." A flock of seabirds circled above, squawking.
"Thanks for the warning," Shirogai said, turning to Nami. "They're signaling a headwind straight at us. We're approaching the Red Line."
Nami looked up from her map, eyebrow raised. "Shirogai, did you simulate Apis's Whisper‑Whisper Fruit to hear them?"
Shirogai nodded. "It's not combat‑useful, but fantastic for navigation. We can listen to nature to guide us."
"Impressive," Nami admitted. "Are we really that close to the Red Line?"
She slammed the chart on the table, startling Luffy and Zoro.
Inside the cabin, the crew crowded around the map.
Nami explained seriously, "The Grand Line entrance is via a mountain canal."
Luffy blinked. "A mountain?"
Zoro scoffed. "How does a ship climb a mountain?"
Nami snapped, "The chart says so."
Sanji chimed in supportively, "Exactly—Nami swan doesn't make mistakes!"
At that moment, Usopp nearly lost control of the rudder.
"Help! The current's too strong!"
Shirogai stepped in, steadying the rudder. "Got it."
Usopp exhaled gratefully. "Saved me!"
Shirogai explained, "Nami's right. We need to ride this current into Reverse Mountain's canal. Once at the summit, it flows into the Grand Line."
Nami warned, "If we mess it up, we'll crash into the rock wall and sink."
Shirogai shrugged and called Sanji to help. "Relax—you've got me. I've stayed up night watch, but I'll rest now. Wake me when you see the Red Line."
"Okay, Shirogai."
---
Shirogai's Private Log
Alone in his hammock, cross‑legged, Shirogai invoked his inner system:
[Host has comprehended combat skills:]
Perfect Grade Armament Haki Infusion
Perfect Grade Conqueror's Haki
Perfect Grade Observation Haki
Perfect Grade Armament Haki
Perfect Grade Three‑Sword Style
Perfect Grade Black Leg Kicks
Perfect Grade Jutte Fighting
Perfect Grade Sniping Technique
Perfect Grade Weapon Mastery
[Life skills:]
Master Cooking
Perfect Repair
Perfect Navigation
Perfect Cigar Appraisal
Perfect Theft
Perfect Gambling
[Special Physiques:]
Modified Exoskeleton
[Collected Devil Fruit powers 70% progress each:]
Human‑Human Fruit, Mythical Zoan: Nika Model
Smoke Smoke Fruit
Chop Chop Fruit
Slippery‑Slippery Fruit
Whisper‑Whisper Fruit
Scythe‑Scythe Fruit
He noted the bottleneck at 70%—Devil Fruits require more exposure or extreme users to fully awaken. He speculated that reaching half the total Devil Fruits in existence might break through the limit.
---
Spotting the Red Line
Shirogai opened his eyes via Observation Haki and sensed the Red Line looming ahead—the currents grew wildly dangerous.
On deck, Luffy shouted, "I see it! That mountain—it's massive!"
Usopp raced into the cabin, breathless. "Shirogai! Look!"
Smiling, Shirogai joined them. Outside, the ship faced an awe‑inspiring sight:
A towering mountain, its peak lost in clouds, loomed like a giant over the Merry Go—tiny and fragile in comparison.
"The Red Line…we're here."
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In the anime, the 'Apis' arc was I think, A filler.
I don't really remember what happened in it,but you can just search her up, so as to remember who she is.
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