Chapter 17: When Everything Goes Wrong (II)
At dawn, just as we had planned, we set sail. Is 'set sail' even the right word for a submarine?
Agh! Whatever! The important thing was we were on the move.
If there's anything I've learned about my crewmates, it's that they're all ridiculously smart. They could have been world-renowned inventors back on Earth. I mean, maintaining a submarine is no easy task. Specially with the cheap equipment we have.
Meanwhile, I was the 'dumb guy with a sword' of our crew. So, like a typical 'dumb guy with a sword,' I was casually eating some fruits while our whole crew was panicking because we were getting screwed over by a place called 'Reverse Mountain'.
Should I help? Nah, they've got it. It's not like I knew anything about engineering, and this fruit I found was delicious. It tasted like an upgraded mango—juicy and sweet.
"Z, do you know anything besides swinging that sword?" Uni barked at me.
"Not really. I 'am' the swordsman of the crew, after all."
"That's not a real thing!"
"Huh, really? I was pretty sure that's my official position."
"Aghhh! You make me so mad!!!"
"Aww, thanks, Uni. Glad I could brighten your day."
"You two, shut it. Uni, check the water level. Z, stop bothering everyone," Bepo chimed in, completely in navigator mode.
The entire submarine shook violently as we climbed Reverse Mountain. There was a very real chance the Polar Tang could take heavy damage, but I wasn't too worried. Even if things went south, everyone here could handle themselves in the water. My main concern would be keeping Law safe, since he was the only Devil Fruit user on board.
Suddenly, the entire sub lurched violently. We reached the peak of Reverse Mountain, and now we were flying. Yes, flying—a submarine shooting through the air like a cannonball.
Everyone scrambled to hold onto something solid. One of the newer crew members lost his grip and flew across the room. I jumped from my seat and rushed to catch him. The force was too much to keep him completely safe, but I grabbed his leg midair and tossed him towards a bed like a ragdoll. He'd still get hurt, but nothing life-threatening. With the gravity threatening to smash me against the ceiling, I planted my foot on the wall and flipped through the air, landing back on the floor with a loud 'thud'.
Chaos reigned in the sub, but Law quickly activated his 'Room', teleporting the most at-risk members out of harm's way.
After a brief moment of weightlessness, the Polar Tang plummeted back toward the sea, like a rollercoaster plunging straight down. If anyone lost concentration for even a second, it could be their end.
BAAAAM!
We crashed into the water headfirst, the submarine groaning under the pressure. I caught glimpses of crewmates in various precarious positions. Bepo, as always, was focused on navigation. Hakugan was keeping control of our sub.
After what felt like an eternity, the sub stopped its wild descent. A collective sigh of relief swept through the crew.
We had made it. We were officially in the Grand Line.
The journey had been rough, but we weren't out of the woods yet. Bepo wasted no time pulling out the Log Pose, recalculating our course, while Law immediately tended to the injured crew members.
But just as things started to calm down, the blaring sound of the alarm cut through the air.
"What now?" I yelled.
"It's... it's an incoming projectile!" Hakugan stammered, his eyes wide behind his mask.
"What's the ETA?" This time it was Law who demanded answers.
Hakugan looked at us, his fear evident. "Eight seconds."
My heart nearly stopped. Eight seconds? There was no way we had enough time to raise our defenses, and no one here was strong enough to destroy a torpedo. Law and I exchanged a glance, the same thought passing between us: We need to minimize the damage.
Without hesitation, Law activated his 'Room' again, teleporting as many people as he could. I used my Flash Step' ability, grabbing Bepo and Hakugan by their collars and moving them to safety. I repeated the process, darting through the sub, hauling crew members to the storeroom—the second most fortified place on the ship after the engine room.
By the time I reached the storeroom, Law was already there with the others. I shoved Bepo and Hakugan inside and slammed the door shut. Before Law could even shout, "Brace for impact!" the explosion hit.
BOOOM!
The force of the blast rocked the entire sub, sending it spinning like a top. I barely managed to hold on as the world turned upside down. In the chaos, I smashed my head into a nearby chest, and everything went black as I slipped into unconsciousness.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone