Bab 37: Chapter 37 : A new destination
Amid the waters of the Calm Belt, Arthur sprawled over the lifeless body of the Dead Sea Monster, his gaze fixed on the clear sky, his eyes filled with a tumultuous mix of emotions. The recent events he had endured left him profoundly frustrated.
With his hand raised, now a blistered mass in the sky, Arthur uttered weakly while gazing at the horizon, "It seems I've barely managed to survive this time."
He let out a weary sigh.
"It's clear that I'm just a minnow in a vast sea teeming with sharks. I need more strength, or I won't survive," Arthur clenched his fist so tightly that a few drops of blood trickled from it.
After remaining frozen in place for a considerable duration, he gradually loosened his grip and attempted to rise from his spot. However, the severity of his injuries inflicted excruciating pain each time he made the slightest movement.
After a prolonged struggle, Arthur finally managed to assume a seated position, cautiously surveying his unfamiliar surroundings. He found himself disoriented, unaware of how he had arrived in this place.
As he turned his head in every direction, Arthur's eyes caught a glimpse of the eagle that had come to his rescue, perched on one of the sea monster's fins.
The sight of the eagle triggered a sudden realization of how he had been brought here, evoking a fleeting smile on Arthur's face, albeit one that vanished quickly.
"It appears you're more than just a foolish, useless bird. I owe my survival to you this time," Arthur spoke these words, his eyes reflecting a sense of nostalgia.
The eagle's assistance had briefly kindled a sense of happiness within him, proof that Arthur could still experience emotions beyond his deep-seated hatred.
…
[A week later]
Perched on one of the sea monster's fins, Arthur consumed a piece of raw meat with a musty odor, displaying no signs of discomfort despite his strong distaste for it. It was his sole source of sustenance, and he had little choice but to endure it.
His gaze shifted to the predatory fish swarming around the sea monster, his expression marked by contemplation. These relentless creatures had attempted to devour him on numerous occasions during his time here.
With the sea monster's meat supply dwindling, time was running out for Arthur.
"I believe my departure date is drawing near. If my deductions are accurate, I find myself in the Calm Belt," he mused.
While Arthur spent his days in this place, he couldn't help but notice the absence of any wind, leading him to a particular conclusion.
Not wanting to take any unnecessary risks and being uncertain about the dangers he might encounter, he resolved to remain on the sea monster's back until his body had fully recovered.
"This is quite unusual," Arthur remarked. While he contemplated the still waters that surrounded him, he noticed that all the predatory fish swimming nearby suddenly began to scatter rapidly in all directions.
Tremors! Tremors!
The previously tranquil waters began to tremble gradually, giving rise to small waves that sent the massive sea monster's body into violent swaying.
"What's happening?" a bewildered, unclothed Arthur exclaimed as he sprang to his feet, gripping the sea monster's fin tightly.
His disbelieving eyes darted about, scanning the tumultuous scene.
The waves grew more intense, subjecting Arthur to considerable distress as he clung desperately to the sea monster.
Amid the chaotic turmoil enveloping him, Arthur managed to maintain his composure and continued to meticulously survey his perilous surroundings.
WHOOSH!
In an instant, Arthur sensed a tingling numbness in his back, as if his very body were sounding the alarm of an impending, inexplicable peril.
Quietly, he pivoted to gaze at what lurked behind him, only to be met with a sight that sent a shiver of indescribable terror down his spine.
There, looming behind him, was a colossal, gaping-mouthed monster hurtling towards him at a breakneck pace.
This behemoth was so massive that it cast a shadow over the sun and transformed the once tranquil waters into turbulent, roiling waves in its wake.
Time seemed to grind to a halt within Arthur's eyes, as panic and fear threatened to paralyze him, rendering his feet immobile.
But, he swiftly gathered his wits and leaped high into the air, propelling himself even higher with a powerful airborne kick.
In a frantic display of acrobatics, Arthur executed a series of Geppo movements, desperately evading the gaping maw of the monstrous creature.
These moments felt like an eternity, with Arthur's entire life flashing before his eyes.
After executing a flurry of airborne maneuvers, Arthur miraculously managed to evade the colossal monster, which raced beneath him and swiftly devoured the remains of the Dead Sea Monster.
"Fuck this stupid monster" Arthur muttered in annoyance as he watched the colossal creature depart, a sense of relief washing over him.
"I need to escape this place," he thought, launching himself into the sky using the Geppo movement to stay aloft.
However, fatigue soon set in; this technique imposed significant strain on his body, and Arthur lacked the strength to execute it repeatedly.
A shrill whistle!
The Grand Eagle soared gracefully near Arthur, exuding its majestic presence as it locked eyes with him.
"Your arrogance is rather bold for someone who left me behind there," Arthur retorted, giving the eagle a peculiar, predatory stare, as if he were the one sizing up his winged companion.
The eagle's feathers bristled with fear at Arthur's fierce gaze. In a comically stern manner, Arthur clutched the eagle's talon, pointed ahead, and quipped.
"Let's roll, no point in hanging around here anymore," his tone oozing pessimism. If this eagle weren't Arthur's sole mode of transportation, he might have considered it a snack.
Though the eagle appeared annoyed by Arthur's demeanor, it reluctantly flapped its wings and soared in the direction Arthur indicated. After all, it didn't want to become a roasted chicken if it irked Arthur further.
...
[ Three days later ]
Amidst the treacherous waters of the Grand Line, a small convoy of merchant vessels navigated towards the perilous Shabondy Archipelago.
These ships represented various companies, united by their awareness of the Grand Line's perils, rife with pirates and enigmatic sea monsters. Traveling in numbers was a prudent means of mitigating the dangers.
"What in the world is an eagle doing out here? What's a bird like that doing in the heart of the sea?" a ship's crew member pointed up at the Giant Eagle perched high on the ship's mast.
"Who knows? Perhaps it's lost," Arthur replied, clad in a laborer's outfit and scrubbing the deck with a well-worn mop.
Two days prior, Arthur had covertly boarded the ship, seamlessly blending in with the workforce. The sheer number of vessels and laborers aboard made him virtually invisible to suspicion.
While many approached him, expressing their surprise at seeing him for the first time, Arthur artfully fabricated a story, claiming he had transferred from another ship. His lie bore a touch of suspicion but remained convincingly plausible.
But Arthur's thoughts hardly dwelled on his garrulous colleague's chatter. His primary concern was his next destination, dictated by the substantial bounty on his head. The options at his disposal were severely limited.
"This is an incredibly challenging situation. It's infuriating that the entire world seems to know me. If only there were a secluded place, far removed from the prying eyes of the outside world," Arthur muttered as he concluded his thought.
In a sudden revelation, he recollected a secluded refuge where news from the outside world seldom penetrated, a place the government wouldn't easily reach.
'Upon reflection, the Wano Country is incredibly remote and under Kaido's control and this person in itself is a threat that cannot be underestimated.'
Exhaling deeply, Arthur recognized his limited options. After much consideration, he reluctantly acknowledged that Wano was presently the sole location that met his criteria. With a sigh, he made the decision to set his course for that distant land.
…
[Onigashima]
Seated upon his imposing throne, Kaido's countenance bore a storm of anger. Before him, Queen knelt at his feet, blood streaking his face.
"I'm truly disappointed, Queen. I never thought you'd prove to be this utterly worthless.
Because of your incompetence, we sacrificed countless skilled men to extricate you from the clutches of the Navy.
Furthermore, all the valuable intelligence we had gathered about the Devil Fruits was squandered thanks to you," Kaido's voice rumbled like thunder, and with each word, the anxiety in Queen's heart swelled.
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I've been busy a lot this week so I haven't been able to post, so I'll be posting on a daily basis over the next week to make up for the missed chapters.
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p@treon.com/ahiro
( Appreciate your support )
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