Chapter 188: An Interesting Day
Jayr POV - Blue Star, Grand Line, Paradise - 20 GAP
"That isn't a problem. First, what he is aiming to do goes against what the World Government wishes, so once they learn of it they will take our side. But more important, Crocodile isn't strong enough to be even considered a danger to my family." a confident smile forms on my face as I add, "We are a lot stronger than you think."
Vivi and Igaram seem still a little unsure, so I quickly continue, "Look, I know that all of this is very sudden, but you have seen what I just did a few moments ago to all those bounty hunters, right?"
Seeing her slowly nod, I say with an encouraging smile, "Well, that is only the tip of the iceberg of what I'm truly capable of. Someone at the level of Crocodile isn't even close to being considered a threat..."
At the same time, I can't help but think, 'Even the most defenseless members of our family can take care of themselves if going against Crocodile and his men. Especially since even Kharna can accidentally kill him if she sneezes out a black hole, something that already happened once before... in fact, she can probably destroy the whole Sandy Island alone, for sure my baby girl doesn't lack in pure raw destructive power. Then there is Galen, who while he is physically weaker than his big sister, is control over his Spiral Cosmo is astonishing for someone so young, so much so that he is already capable of using some basic techniques like Telekinesis with some amazing finesse and let's not forget that both of them aren't even 1 year old yet and are growing stronger and smarter.'
Then I can't help but smile thinking about the latest member of our family, 'But more importantly, Python is always there watching over them. The gift of Saori's biological father, the God of the Sky himself Zeus, a true mythical creature, which was then further enhanced by my Spiral Cosmo. One will be easily fooled by his current small, cute form but that isn't his true form, that is just the appearance he takes to stay closer to Galen. Currently, Python's true size is more or less the same as Laboon, and more important he is growing bigger every single day and will continue to do so for the rest of his life. Basically, he will one day reach the same size as Tengen Toppa GunCraterGar which is crazy thinking about it!'
Anyway, after reassuring Vivi and Igaram, they finally agree to come back to Arabasta with us so that we can save the kingdom from Crocodile's ploy.
Immediately after they agreed, Eri and Seika showed our new guests their room and some of the most common functions of Athena's God Bidoof so that they wouldn't be taken by surprise if something happened.
Meanwhile, I went back to Whisky Peak and quickly altered everyone's memory to make sure that they completely forgot about Vivi, Igaram, and Karoo, presence among their ranks.
I also removed our coming from their memory and changed our images to that of some random pirates, to make it even more believable, I also created some loot for them and made sure that they would believe that the reason for the fact that they passed out is because everyone drank too much in their celebrations for a successful capture.
After that, we don't hesitate and depart from Cactus Island and head directly for Sandy Island where the kingdom of Arabasta is located.
But Sandy Island is quite far away from here as even going in a straight line, we still have to travel a quite long time to reach it as it is very close to the middle of the first half of the Grand Line.
Moreover, we still have to pass through at least two islands, Little Garden and Drum Island, 2 very famous locations that are different from Cactus Island and are much more interesting and fun to visit.
Little Garden is famous for being a prehistoric island full of dinosaurs and the home of the two Giants Dorry the Blue Ogre and Brogy the Red Ogre, it is an island that is must visit, especially for someone like me who grew up watching Jurassic Park which was one of my favorite movies of all time.
Meanwhile, Drum Island is the birthplace of Tony Tony Chopper and home of Hiriluk and Kureha and many other capable doctors, but the more important reason to visit that place is that it is a winter island meaning that the kids can have some fun playing in the snow.
Anyway, even sailing with Athena's God Bidoof's cruise speed, we will still reach Sandy Island in 2 to 3 months, of course, at full speed, we would be able to reach it in an instant but where is the fun in that?
Especially since the situation in the kingdom of Arabast still isn't that bad yet as Crocodile just started to actuate his plan, so we aren't in a hurry yet, sure people are suffering, but no one is dying yet, and even more now, that I'm making some rainfall on small habited parts of the island so that the most isolated communities can easily survive the man-made drought.
Jayr POV - Blue Star, Grand Line, Paradise - 20 GAP
A few days passed since we left Whisky Peak and Cactus Island behind with Vivi, Igaram, and Karoo, and the three of them quickly relaxed after getting to know us better.
Right now, Vivi is playing some chess with Nikita, Karoo is playing with Python and the kids, and Igaram is fishing right next to me as we watch over Koby's training.
All of a sudden, Igaram comments, "Jayr-san, I have to admit that I get surprised each time I watch Koby going over his training. It's... hem... Ma~ma~ma~... It's incredible that someone so young can willingly go through that kind of training every day without any complaints. His willpower and dedication are astonishing."
I simply smile while keeping my gaze focused on the waters, more specifically on the fishing line immersed in the waters, and comment, "That's natural, after all, Koby is chasing after his dream of becoming a Marine Admiral so that he can protect the innocent from evil people."
Igaram hums and says, "That is quite an ambitious and admirable goal, bit... hem... Ma~ma~ma~... but it is also a road fraught with dangers and pitfalls, after all, the Marine's duties are only guarding the seas, capturing pirates, and maintaining order, they also have to obey any order of the World Government."
I nod in agreement, then I add, "That's right. The current Marines are mostly the hunting dogs of the World Government, but that doesn't mean that those people are bad, while there are for sure corrupted and evil people among the Marines just like in any other organization, most of them are just like Koby over there, and simply want to protect the civilians and those close to them the clearest example are Vice Admiral Garp the Fist, who is reputed as the Marine Hero, but despite that, he holds a strong disdain for the shitty World Nobles, the World Government, and their Absolute Justice, and doesn't even hide it, but he still bears with them because he regards them as a necessary evil to maintain the current peace."
At this point, I snort and say, "Not that I personally agree with him, but I understand him, he isn't powerful enough to force a change, moreover, he has to compromise with those he hates to protect those he holds dear..."
After that, we fall in silence as the only sounds in the surroundings are those of Koby's training and the waves that crash against the hull of the Athena's God Bidoof.
Then all of a sudden, I feel the line of my fishing rod move a little, a sign that something is about to bite, so I focus and wait for the perfect moment to pull out and catch something, finally something bite and without hesitation, I pull it up with one swift move while yelling, "I caught something big!"
But the smile on my face freezes as I see what I pulled out, it has a torpedo-shaped body with a non-flexible neck, limbs in the form of flippers, a tail fin, bulbous heads, small eye orbits, long snouts, and eyes placed on the sides of its head, with a mouth full of conical teeth, with I just caught is a fucking dolphin.
Well, it isn't just a normal dolphin as it is hundreds of times the size of a normal one but apart from its size, they are just like any other dolphin.
This is a species of dolphin that has inhabited the Grand Line since the dawn of time.
Seeing that, I sigh and without any hesitation, I release it back into the waters while muttering, "This is the third one in a row... It seems that today isn't my day, I didn't catch a single Sea King."
Igaram next to me complains, "At least you are pulling out something, I still haven't caught anything yet..." but just as he says that his fishing rod starts to fiercely shake as Igaram starts to struggle to hold the fishing rod in his hands.
But as Igaram starts to pull with all his strength, I notice something slightly coming out of the waters, it looks like another dolphin-like snout, so I quickly comment, "Damn. It is another dolphin, just let it go, there is no point in pulling it up."
But Igaram then replies, "It doesn't met... hem... Ma~ma~ma~... matter if I have to release it afterward but I want to at least... catch something!"
And with one mighty swing of his fishing rod, Igaram pulls out his prey, only it isn't a dolphin as I thought, but clearly, it is a shark, and not a normal one but a Panda Shark.
Panda Sharks are sharks that bear black, panda-like markings around their eyes and across their bodies, as well as relatively flat teeth and rounded dolphin-like snout, and it is an even worse catch compared to the giant dolphin as this kind of shark while still being a quite aggressive predator is also a quite conscientious and intelligent creature compared to other sharks that can even be befriended by humans, and Fish-men alike.
And so, just like with the dolphin, we decide to also release the Panda Shark who grateful for setting him free, helps us catch a few random fishes by pushing them toward our baits.
But suddenly, as we are happily fishing with the help of the Panda Shark, I feel that the wind is quickly picking up in speed and power, the weather is also quickly changing with the sky becoming cloudy dark and greenish, plus there is a quite familiar roaring sound that continues to increase in intensity, moreover, some clouds are quickly becoming funnel-shaped.
Seeing all these signs it is clear what is about to happen, I quickly say, "Let's stop our fishing here, a tornado is forming, it is better that you get safe inside the Athena's God Bidoof." then I turn to Koby and yell, "Koby! Change of plans! Stop your current training and prepare to train into a tornado a big one is coming!"
At the same time, a worried Igaram suddenly asks, "Are you crazy!? That isn't something a human can withstand!!" but I simply smile and say, "Not really, after all, there are many people that are capable of forming a tornado or something similar as a means of attack out there, in fact, Crocodile is one of them. So, knowing how to act in such a situation is fundamental... Don't worry about us, we'll be fine, this isn't his first time doing something like that."
Hearing that, Igaram nods and rushes inside, at the same time, I move next to Koby and hear him constantly mutter, "Please, let it not be a Sharknado... Please, let it not be a Sharknado... Please, let it not be a Sharknado..."
I quickly pat Koby on his shoulder and try to reassure him, "Come on, Koby. The last time it wasn't so bad-" but Koby interrupts me and says, "It was awful, Jayr-san! There were all kinds of sharks flying around trying to chomp off pieces of my body from everywhere or even swallow me whole!! No matter where I looked there were sharks everywhere! And for some strange reason, they mostly aimed at the lower part of my body!!"
Soon, I notice that the tornado is now fully formed becoming a massive tornadic waterspout and it is now heading directly toward the Athena's God Bidoof, looking at this work of nature, I can't help but think, 'Goddess! The water and wind speed is approximately between 659 to 769 km/h. If something like this would appear in my previous world, it could easily cause mass panic among all the nearby nations. Because it would certainly cause incredible devastating damage, with buildings leveled with all debris removed, even schools, motels, and other larger structures would have been swept away and demolished, and let's not talk about the large steel and concrete missiles thrown far distances that could claim many more victims. Basically, a tornado of such intensity could easily destroy a big city. And on the Grand Line, these wraths of nature are also very common, but luckily they are as brief as they are lethal.'
Then I focus back on Koby and explain, "Remember just like the last time, don't let yourself be swept away by the strong winds, that would mean that you let go of the control over your own body to outside forces, and that isn't a good choice as everything will then be in the hands of fate, or even worse of your opponent if he is the one who generated or controls the tornado."
Koby focuses on the incoming wall of water and wind and asks, "Is enduring the only way to face this kind of phenomenon, Jayr-san? It feels way too passive, moreover, I would be unable to help others like that. Isn't there something else I can do in such situations?"
Hearing that I smile slightly and reply, "Well, you can try to ride the strong winds instead of being completely swept away, you basically jump into those winds and control and maneuver your body so that you can still move around even within the tornado's winds, but that is way too soon for you yet. Your body can barely withstand the wind's pressure, and let's not talk about the spatial awareness and reaction speed you need to safely ride those wild currents."
Then I look back at the incoming tornado and add, "There is also the very simple, effective, and always reliable brute force method."
Koby looks curious as he asks, "Brute force method?" I nod and explain, "Yup, it consists of punching the tornado out of existence. Simple and direct only downside is that you need to be able to unleash a lot of power with a single punch. Now prepare yourself, the tornado is coming."
Hearing that, Koby slowly takes a deep breath before he crouches down and holds on to the nearby handrail while I stand right next to him ready to help him in case he is swept away, passes out, or any other unforeseen situations.
Soon the tornado hits the Athena's God Bidoof and Koby and I are instantly engulfed by the wild currents of water and wind, meanwhile, for me, it just feels like an enjoyable fresh breeze or a morning shower, for Koby the mix of wind and water are moving so fast, that some cuts are appearing on Koby's body as he tries to hold on the handrails without being swept away.
Seeing how tense all his muscles are, I calmly think, 'For him these few moments as we pass through the tornado must feel like an eternity, but luckily both his body and mind are able to withstand this kind of punishment, moreover, he is also helped by the weighted clothes that he is wearing as they are making him a lot heavier than he should be, making it easier for to hold his body down and resist these currents.'
Luckily after a few seconds, the Athena's God Bidoof easily moves through the tornado leaving it behind us as she steadily continues to move toward our destination undeterred.
At the same time, Koby relaxes his body and with a sigh of relief, he mutters, "Ah... I did it! This time I was able to endure until the end..."
I nod, pat Koby on his back, and say, "That's right. Good job, Koby. You have endured that very well."
At the same time, I also take advantage of this moment to heal all the cuts, torn muscles, and strain in his body and make sure that there aren't any repercussions from this.
After that, we head back to Athena's God Bidoof's interior and pass the rest of the morning relaxing until it is time for lunch, and like that, this day passes following our usual routine.
The next few days peacefully continue like that, even the weather seems to stabilize becoming less chaotic and more unified, a clear sign that we are getting closer and closer to the next island in our path, the prehistoric island known as Little Garden.
Right now, I'm together with Vivi and Nikita, as Vivi comments, "This is my first time... It is so hard..."
And Nikita who stands right next to her carefully and calmly teaches her, "Remember the most important thing is to relax and make eye contact."
Which instantly makes me exclaim out loud in frustration, "Nikita! For the love of everything that is sacred! Can you just stop saying things in such a suggestive and misleading way!? Please, just stop."
While Vivi looks at us confused by my sudden outburst, Nikita looks at me with an innocent expression, then she smirks and asks, "What was so suggestive and misleading about that? While playing Yu-Gi-Oh it is fundamental to keep your facial muscles relaxed so that you don't give any hint of how good or bad your hand is, and look at your opponent in the eyes to guess their current state and hand. What is so bad about that?"
Hearing that, I can't help but roll my eyes while keeping silent and thinking, 'Nothing about what you said is bad... if one ignores the fact that the way she phrased that before reminds me a little too much of some very peculiar instructional videos in our previous lives that teach how to perform some interesting... actions...'
That right, after I finished watching over Koby's training this morning, I decided to spend some time relaxing in the gaming room, and there, I found Nikita and Vivi as the former started to teach the latter the rules of that card game, but since it is a quite complex game, especially for first timers, Nikita thought that the best way to teach is by basically playing an assisted game where she patiently taught Vivi the various rules and ways to play as the game goes on.
But of course, Nikita can't stop herself from pulling out one double entree after another, or saying seemingly innocent words in a very misleading way, and it doesn't help that Vivi also unknowingly helps her from time to time just like a few moments ago.
Well, despite that, we still have some fun playing together, at least until I hear Bidi's voice in my head as she says, [Jayr, we are about to approach two vessels, one of them is a normal-sized one, while the other is quite a bit smaller... Ah! The bigger vessel just got destroyed and now the smaller one is heading toward us.]
Hearing that, I excuse myself and quickly head to the deck to check the situation while thinking, 'This isn't so unusual in the Grand Line... but well, the small vessel that destroyed the big one could be something interesting.'
Once there, I find Igaram sitting on the edge with a fishing rod in his hands and a bucket full of fish next to him.
He took quite a liking to fishing and now when he has nothing to do, he always comes here to relax.
Igaram notices my presence and quickly asks, "Hello Jayr. Today a lot of fish are biting. Do you want to join me?" but I shake my head and reply, "No, I just came here to check on something that could be interesting..."
While saying that, I focus my gaze on the distance, and after a few minutes, I finally see the incoming vessel and it couldn't be a more iconic one.
It is a black boat that resembles a coffin and has candles lit on the edges that burn with green fire, the ship is only big enough for one person, and at the center is a mast that resembles a large crucifix with black sails and a single seat, that is the Hitsugibune, the small craft used by one of the Seven Warlords of the Seas, Dracule "Hawk Eyes" Mihawk, a world-famous pirate who holds the title of "Strongest Swordsman in the World".
(Image Here - Hitsugibune)
Calmly sitting on that seat, is Mihawk himself, a tall, lean, and muscular man with black hair, a short beard, mustache, and sideburns that point upwards, his nickname comes from his strangely colored yellow eyes, which resemble a hawk's eyes.
Mihawk wears black and red ornate clothing with a golden crucifix pendant that hides a little dagger named Kogatan, which gives him the appearance of a Spanish swordsman.
His attire consists of a wide-brimmed black hat decorated with a large plume, and a long, open black coat with red velvet inside with no shirt underneath, with red, flower-patterned sleeves and collar. He wears light purple pants held up by a decorated belt and tucked inside overly large boots in comparison to his leg size.
(Image Here - Dracule "Hawk Eyes" Mihawk)
Then I focus on the object resting on his back, which is his main weapon, one of the 12 Supreme Grade Blades, the "Black Blade" Yoru.
A Western-looking sword, Yoru is a cruciform and well-ornated weapon with a curved, single-edged, black blade resembling an oversized kriegsmesser.
It has a total length of well over two meters, being over a head taller than Mihawk, who stands at 198 cm just a few centimeters shorter than when placed on his back.
While not in use, due to lacking a scabbard, Yoru is held upside-down against Mihawk's back by two simple holding loops integrated into the man's coat.
The light grey bandage-wrapped grip has on its top a large and round cabochon of blue color to serve as the pommel, being set into a circular, golden mount.
The golden crossguard is extremely long to the sides, such that on Mihawk's back, especially seen from the front, the sword resembles a crucifix.
In particular, the guard constitutes a thick, continuous bar perfectly right-angled to the blade, flat on all sides with a rectangular cross-section, but on each end being forked; recurved up and down like a cross moline.
Centrally along the front and back sides of the guard are rectangular grooves filled with a swirly sprig relief for detail.
The groove on each side is broken in the middle where a rather large, red cabochon is inset topped by a smaller variant of itself, on each forked terminal of the guard, again on both sides, are more such red stones, this time in trios, from the outer to the inner ones decreasing in size.
The blade has a jet-black color as played on by the sword's name, meaning "Night", a mirror finish, and an extremely sharp edge, in shape, the blade possesses a mild, gradual widening in profile until its top-third section, whence it tapers to a sharp point and, with its flat back, curves upward, with a distal taper toward the tip.
All in all, it is a pretty impressive and iconic weapon, just like Guts' Dragon Slayer, Akame's Murasame, Gintoki's Toyako Bokuto, and many others.
Seeing that the small boat is still heading toward us, I can't help but smirk a little and say, "Well, it seems that today is going to be an interesting day."
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Odyin
Odyin Have a Nice Day, Ciao!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone