Morning.
"Is that… Upside Down Mountain?" Erica stood at the bow, staring at the towering, reverse-flowing mountain not far ahead. Her eyes widened in awe, clearly amazed by the incredible sight.
Warwick was seated nearby. He gave it a glance and then looked away, his interest in natural wonders clearly nonexistent.
Robin, as always, held a book in her hand, speaking like a scholar. "Yes, that's Upside Down Mountain. It's one of the few routes that connect the four seas to the Grand Line. Every pirate from the Blues who wants to enter the Grand Line must pass through here. However, most of them fail. The powerful ocean currents often destroy their ships, leading to death or shipwreck."
"Will our ship be destroyed too?" Erica asked nervously. The two tentacles on her forehead suddenly perked up as she looked at Mio, her small face filled with worry.
Robin, who had long become familiar with Erica and Warwick's appearances, still found herself staring at Erica's tentacles. Her expression was filled with curiosity and a slight blush. She clearly wanted to touch them but was too embarrassed to ask.
"Don't worry." Mio took a swig of rum and grinned. "My sailing skills may not be top-tier, but getting past Upside Down Mountain is within my ability."
Still, as he spoke, Mio scratched his head and sighed internally. I really need to find a navigator soon.
His self-taught navigation was fine for the Blues, but it would never hold up in the Grand Line—let alone the New World. While it wasn't life-threatening, it would definitely be a headache down the road.
But finding a reliable navigator wasn't easy. It all depended on luck.
Or should I just train one myself? he pondered.
"We should start targeting pirate crews and hunting for skilled navigators," Mio muttered to himself, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Maybe I'll get lucky and extract a navigator-type gene from one of them, like how Erica got her swordsmanship gene."
Suddenly, Mio looked toward Robin. "By the way, Robin."
Robin was still distracted by Erica's tentacles when she snapped out of it at Mio's voice. "Yes? Do you need something?"
"I have an important task for you," Mio said with a serious expression.
Robin's posture straightened. "Yes, what is it?"
"This mission is…" Mio leaned back, sat down cross-legged, and grinned. "Help me design a pirate flag for our crew."
He gave an exaggerated sigh. "I've been thinking about it all morning and still have no idea what would represent us properly. Designing something meaningful is harder than I thought. This kind of work should be left to someone smart like you."
Robin blinked, then couldn't help but chuckle. Mio's exaggerated frustration was oddly charming. She quickly composed herself and nodded thoughtfully. "Alright. I'll give it my best shot."
As soon as she answered, the ship approached the towering currents of Upside Down Mountain.
Mio stood up and cracked his neck with a smirk. "We'll talk more about the pirate flag after we enter the Grand Line. For now, grab something to hold on to. You don't want to get thrown overboard."
"Warwick, hoist the sails. Let's go!"
"Ohhh! Warwick knows!"
Warwick jumped to his feet and started pulling the ropes.
With the current surging upward, the pirate ship was swept along the river that ran up the mountain.
Upside Down Mountain, also called Mount Reverso, was one of the most bizarre geographical phenomena in the world.
Mio stood at the helm, focused. The ascent was manageable. The real danger came at the summit—when the ship would be forced into the Grand Line's section of the current, where the ocean could get unpredictable and fierce.
As the ship rose, the crew admired the view of the ascending river. Eventually, they reached the summit.
Ahead of them lay a vast ocean current, surrounded by jagged cliffs.
The Grand Line.
Mio took a deep breath. But before he could savor the moment, the ship was yanked forward with dizzying speed as the downward current took over.
The ship plummeted down the slope.
"Whoaaa!" Erica clung to the railings as her tentacles flailed wildly.
Robin held tight to the mast, hair blowing in the wind.
Mio just grinned, took another swig of rum, and tossed the empty bottle behind him. His eyes sparkled with excitement.
"The Grand Line…" he murmured.
"Now the real adventure begins."
Suddenly, the ship veered sharply to the left, heading straight for the cliff wall.
"Damn!" Mio cursed.
He drew his sword in a flash and swung it forward. A sharp wave of sword energy shot out, crashing into the mountain wall.
BOOM!
The blast created a shockwave that bounced the ship back into the center of the current.
The ship surged forward once more.
Along the way, several more dangerous moments followed—sharp turns, swirling whirlpools, and sudden drops. But with Mio and Erica's combined power, they passed each one safely.
Finally, the ship broke free from the narrow stream of water and entered the Grand Line proper.
The sea instantly calmed. Ahead, an island could be seen, with a lighthouse standing tall.
On the shore, a middle-aged man sat quietly, holding a fishing rod. He looked calm and unbothered.
The man glanced at Mio's ship and muttered, "Another rookie pirate crew from the Blues?" Then he shook his head and returned to fishing. He didn't pay it much mind. Ships came and went every day—some survived, some didn't. He was used to it.
"Is this the Grand Line?" Robin leaned over the railing, looking around with curious eyes. "It doesn't look all that special."
Mio chuckled. "The magic of the Grand Line isn't in the water—it's in the islands and the weather. Unlike the Blues, the Grand Line is unpredictable. One moment it's sunny, and the next it could be a blizzard. It's chaotic. And the pirates here? Stronger. Much stronger."
Robin nodded thoughtfully. "Where are we going next?"
"The Little Garden." Mio pulled out a Log Pose from his pocket, glancing at the direction it pointed to. The corners of his lips curled up.
The Ancient Island—Little Garden.
It was home to the two giant warriors, Dorry and Brogy—a place frozen in a time of dinosaurs and ancient beasts.
"But before we go there…" Mio adjusted the wheel and changed course. "Let's stop by that lighthouse. I want to talk to that old man."
He grinned.
After all, Crocus wasn't just any old man. He was the gatekeeper to many secrets of the Grand Line.