The first half of the Grand Line wasn't like the New World, where magnetic fields run wild and special tools like Log Poses or Vivre Cards are needed to navigate from island to island.
In this part of the Grand Line, ocean currents and weather followed predictable patterns. As long as you set your course toward the Boin Archipelago, a compass and nautical charts would get you there smoothly.
After sailing for half a month, Garp's dog-headed warship finally reached the Boin Archipelago.
It was mid-October.
Normally, this time of year would bring crisp autumn breezes, but as the ship entered the waters around the archipelago, the crew felt the temperature rise rapidly.
By the time they reached the easternmost island, the sailors had already swapped their autumn uniforms for the Navy's summer attire.
"The weather here is seriously weird!"
"Who would've thought the first half of the Grand Line had a place like this? How on earth did that guy Zephyr find it?!"
"Heh, this whole island chain feels… off."
It was Garp's first time visiting the Boin Archipelago. His dog-headed warship docked at the shoreline, and he went ashore accompanied by Yoriichi Tsugikuni.
The moment they set foot, Garp felt a strange sensation—as if some ferocious beast was locking its gaze on him.
His Observation Haki burst forth instantly, expanding to envelop the entire island in the blink of an eye. His expression shifted quickly to astonishment.
"So that's what it is…!!!"
With his far-reaching Haki, Garp saw the truth of the island in seconds.
The entire island… was a living creature!
Just as the sailors aboard the warship prepared to disembark, Garp barked a firm order:
"Stay put! Don't come ashore!"
At that moment, the ground beneath Garp and Yoriichi began to quake violently. The once-calm sea rippled with sudden unrest.
Realizing what was about to happen, Garp leapt back to the ship in a flash, shouting to Yoriichi:
"Kid, watch out! This island it eats people!"
"I've got business to handle back in the East Blue. I'm heading off!"
"I'll come check on you later, hahahaha!"
His laughter was soon drowned out by the crashing waves as his ship was tossed away from the shore. Meanwhile, the ground beneath Yoriichi's feet tilted sharply upward toward the island's center.
"The Boin Archipelago… the Boin Archipelago!"
"So this is where Usopp got flung by Kuma!"
The instant the ground tilted, Yoriichi launched himself into the air using Moon Step. Soaring higher, he finally saw the island's full shape from above—and only then did he truly understand where he'd landed.
This was the very island where Usopp had trained for two years!
"BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!"
The massive flower-like structure known as the "Stomach Baron" rapidly closed its petals. The island's terrain shifted until it stood nearly vertical.
From his vantage point in the air, Yoriichi clearly saw a massive, blood-red maw yawning at the island's center. As the petals snapped shut, animals scattered across the island began tumbling toward the gaping mouth.
Only a few lucky ones caught on the thick vegetation, narrowly escaping their doom.
A few minutes later, the petals slowly unfurled again. In no time, the island returned to its peaceful appearance. Only the still-rough sea hinted at the strange phenomenon that had just occurred.
"This is… incredible."
Even with all his experience, Yoriichi had never seen anything like this before. Watching it in an anime was one thing—seeing it with his own eyes was another entirely.
Landing back on solid ground, a shiver ran down Yoriichi's spine. A long-lost sense of excitement stirred within him, and his heart pounded with anticipation.
An uncharted island. Strange, living creatures.
All of it ignited a fierce curiosity deep inside.
"So this… is what adventure feels like."
"Interesting!"
Tightening the long blade at his waist, Yoriichi gripped his bundle of clothes with one hand and darted swiftly into the dense forest.
He hadn't gone far before noticing something unusual.
Yoriichi's perception was unlike ordinary people's. Within the Transparent World, no living being with "presence" could escape his sight.
Almost immediately upon entering the forest, Yoriichi realized something strange, the so-called "dense forest" ahead wasn't made of plants at all.
It was alive!
"Screeeee!!"
Without hesitation, Yoriichi swiftly drew his long blade and unleashed a powerful slash into the dense "forest." In the next instant, the blade pierced through the thick foliage, and a piercing, agonized scream echoed—causing Yoriichi's brow to furrow sharply.
After a moment, the "forest" began to wither, and a sweet-smelling, greenish sap oozed out, pooling on the ground. Its fragrance was so inviting, it made one's appetite surge.
"So fragrant!"
"What kind of strange things are these? I've never seen anything like this before."
Though curious, Yoriichi didn't dare approach directly, he suspected the sap might be dangerous.
Without lingering, he stepped lightly with Moon Step to swiftly leap over the strange "forest" corpse.
"This place… there are all kinds of bizarre things. I need to find a safe spot to settle first."
"Only then can I properly explore this island."
He recalled that somewhere on this island grew plants bearing edible fruit. As long as he didn't build shelter right next to them, it should be safe.
With that in mind, Yoriichi expanded his Observation Haki, covering hundreds of meters. Though not as vast as Garp's, it was more than enough to distinguish animals from plants.
After activating his Haki, Yoriichi headed toward where animals were detected—because wherever there are animals, food is usually nearby.
Right now, his most urgent task was securing food and water, and only then thinking about shelter.
But on this island, food and water weren't really a problem.
After venturing a few hundred meters deeper into the dense forest, a rich, savory aroma reached his nose. It wasn't the scent of fresh grass or flowers, but a deep, hearty broth.
Following the scent for dozens of meters, he suddenly came upon a waterfall—not just any waterfall, but one of ramen noodles cascading down like a silken curtain. Flowing beneath the noodles was a thick, flavorful broth.
Beside the waterfall grew bamboo shoots and narutomaki (fish cake swirls).
"Food… out in the open… real food!"
Yoriichi was stunned by the scene. Though he had suspected such a possibility, seeing it firsthand was surreal. This is the real world! Yet here was something so wildly against all logic!
"Heh, first, let me try it."
After traveling for so long, the delicious aroma made his stomach growl loudly.
He glanced around, then swung his blade to chop down a thick tree trunk roughly the size of a bowl. Using the wood, he carved a bowl and fashioned simple chopsticks from branches. Scooping noodles from the ramen "pool," he added some narutomaki and bamboo shoots, then ladled broth on top.
With the bowl in hand, Yoriichi slurped up the first mouthful.
"Ohh~"
"Not bad at all!"
The rich, fragrant flavor made his eyes light up involuntarily. As the food settled, he could feel his strength returning.
The energy consumed by using Moon Step and trekking hundreds of meters was minimal, but in just one bowl of noodles, he was completely replenished.
"So that's how it is!!"
"The Boin Archipelago… this really is an amazing place!"
"Usopp never even tapped into this island's true power!"
Eyes wide with surprise, Yoriichi quickly finished the bowl, then ladled another, and another, and yet another.
As he ate voraciously, his body began to change—but just as the transformation started, Yoriichi activated Life Return to speed up digestion and absorption.
When even Life Return couldn't consume the excess energy fast enough, Yoriichi stepped into the air with Moon Step, rapidly unleashing his Haki in a slashing strike.
The surge of Haki drained his physical stamina significantly.
In this cycle of replenishing and exerting energy, Yoriichi's body started growing stronger!
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