However, just as Abis began to move, Zoro suddenly woke up. As a swordsman, despite his love for drinking, his sense of alertness was always sharp. Usopp, who had already suspected that Abis was hiding something, was also quick to wake up. Shortly after, Sanji and Nami stirred as well, leaving only Luffy still deep in slumber. The rest of them remained quiet, waiting until Abis had moved far enough before they finally stood up.
"I knew it. I could tell she was up to something from the beginning," Usopp muttered, watching Abis disappear into the distance.
"A little girl being chased by a high-ranking naval officer like a commodore? Honestly, it's hard to believe," Sanji said, taking a drag from his cigarette, his mind fully awake.
"Yeah, that kid's definitely hiding something," Zoro agreed, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"We'll figure it out if we follow her. But seriously, how does Luffy sleep through all this?" Nami said, rolling her eyes as she looked at Luffy, who was still snoring.
"Man, this guy…" The rest of the crew couldn't help but shake their heads.
After waking up Luffy and explaining the situation, they all decided to follow Abis. Curious about what was going on, Luffy agreed, and they quietly tailed her up the mountain.
Abis moved slowly, clearly struggling under the weight of the oversized food sack she was carrying. It didn't take long for the crew to catch up, though they kept a safe distance and watched as Abis trudged up a path, heading for a cave at the top of the mountain.
When they followed her inside, the crew was stunned beyond belief as they saw Abis throw the food toward a massive creature inside the cave.
"My god… that's a…!"
Meanwhile, back on the Going Merry, Moonlight had finished a day of intense training. After eating the meal Sanji had left for him, he felt satisfied and laid down on the lookout post to rest.
At some point in the night, the sound of waves crashing against the ship stirred him awake. His sharp eyes scanned the horizon, and as dawn broke, revealing the first light of day, he noticed a cluster of black dots rapidly approaching from the sea.
Ten minutes later, as the light improved, Moonlight could see it clearly—at least twenty naval warships were heading straight for them. The largest ship, while not quite as large as a battleship, was formidable nonetheless. Countless navy officers aboard the ships advanced aggressively toward the Going Merry.
From the lookout, Moonlight spotted two figures standing on the lead ship's deck. One of them was unmistakably Eric, the same man who had been chasing Abis earlier. He had returned.
Eric had also spotted the Going Merry and Moonlight standing on the lookout. A cold grin spread across his face.
"It seems I was right. The Straw Hats brought Abis to Warship Island. Perfect. We'll capture them all here. Captain, these are the infamous Straw Hats—pirates with a fearsome reputation. I suggest we sink their ship first and then capture them!" Eric said with a smirk, turning to the navy captain beside him.
"The Straw Hat Pirates?" The captain was taken aback.
No wonder—this group of pirates had recently gained considerable notoriety, especially after the incident at Loguetown, where their fame had skyrocketed. After confirming their identity through his telescope, the captain wasted no time in issuing orders.
"Prepare for artillery fire. Fire warning shots first."
"Aye, sir!" The sailors immediately sprang into action. Over twenty ships locked their cannons onto the Going Merry.
"Hmph, the navy's soft-handed approach is laughable," Eric scoffed. "They're pirates—each one a hardened criminal with blood on their hands. Show them no mercy. Just kill them all."
The navy captain frowned. The navy had a code of conduct, and he didn't appreciate anyone, especially not Eric, undermining his authority. Still, orders from the commodore had placed Eric in a position of collaboration, so for now, he held his tongue.
"Fine, if you all can't get the job done, I'll handle it myself. Give me a ship!" Eric demanded.
"Give him one," the captain grumbled, gesturing for his men to comply. Though displeased, he had to follow the commodore's instructions.
"Good. This time, you won't have the advantage of numbers. I've brought plenty of reinforcements," Eric said with a sneer as he boarded his boat, speeding toward the Going Merry.
As he approached the ship, cannon fire erupted around the Merry, sending waves crashing violently against its hull. Even the nearby island trembled from the force of the blasts.
"What's happening? An earthquake?" The Straw Hat crew jolted awake from their sleep on the island.
"Pirates aboard the ship! You're surrounded! Surrender now, or face the consequences!" boomed a voice from the lead navy vessel. The cannon fire had been a clear warning.
"It's the navy! Damn it, they're here again!" the villagers on the island shouted, scrambling in panic. "We need to warn the Straw Hats!"
Meanwhile, deep in a cave, the Straw Hat crew stood in awe of what they had just discovered. Before them lay a massive dragon, curled up in the cave. Despite its immense size, the dragon looked old and weary.
"Is that really… a dragon?" Zoro muttered, wide-eyed with disbelief.
Hearing the noise behind her, Abis turned around, startled. "I thought you were all still sleeping! I didn't want you to know about this…"
Realizing that she couldn't keep the truth hidden any longer, Abis confessed everything. The navy commodore, Nelson, believed in the legend that consuming the bones of a thousand-year-old dragon would grant him immortality. That's why he had been hunting her and the dragon.
"So that's why the commodore was chasing you. Immortality… no wonder," Sanji said, finally understanding the situation.
Everyone was taken aback. Immortality was something many desired, but was it even possible? Most people would never have believed in such a legend, but now, standing before this mythical creature, they couldn't help but wonder.
Suddenly, the island trembled again. The crew was caught off guard, unsure of what was happening. Abis, who could communicate with animals thanks to her Whisper-Whisper Fruit, quickly learned from the dragon that the navy had arrived and surrounded the island.
"What? The navy's already here?"