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As Crocus explained the intricacies of navigating the Grand Line, Sanji served up the dishes he had meticulously prepared, featuring the elephant tuna he had won back in Loguetown.
However, Nami barely glanced at the food. Her mind was consumed with thoughts of the Log Pose.
"Ugh... If I had known better, I would've gathered more information about the Grand Line while we were in Loguetown," she muttered in frustration.
At that moment, Ikki stepped forward with a calm smile and handed her two Log Poses. "These are what you're looking for."
Nami blinked in surprise. "Huh? Ikki, where did you get these Log Poses?"
He chuckled. "One was on Mr. 9 when he fell, and the other? I bought it back in Loguetown."
Hearing this, Nami's face lit up with relief. She immediately hugged Ikki and exclaimed, "You're such a reliable vice-captain!"
After praising Ikki, she shot a glance at Luffy, who was completely preoccupied with devouring the entire elephant tuna.
"It's not like the captain, who only eats all day..." Nami grumbled under her breath.
Luffy, misunderstanding her tone entirely, flashed a wide grin and laughed. "Thanks, Nami!"
Letting go of Ikki, Nami carefully examined the two Log Poses in her hands. "With these, we can continue our journey!"
Just as Nami was about to put the Log Poses away, there was a loud bang. Luffy came hurtling toward her at an alarming speed.
Ikki reacted quickly, pulling Nami aside and steadying her as she clutched the precious navigation tools.
The cause of the chaos became apparent: Sanji, furious that Luffy had eaten all the elephant tuna without leaving a single bite for Nami, had launched a powerful kick that sent the captain flying.
Fortunately, the Log Poses were unharmed. However, Nami was less forgiving. In a burst of fury, she activated her Nami Haki, knocking both Sanji and Luffy flat.
With the Log Poses secured, the Straw Hats resumed their journey.
Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday, left stranded without a Log Pose, had no choice but to follow the crew aboard the Going Merry.
Though Nami, Usopp, and others protested—especially given the duo's earlier attempt to kill Laboon—Luffy dismissed their concerns with his usual carefree attitude.
"It's fine!" Luffy said, waving off their objections.
Ikki, knowing the truth about Miss Wednesday's identity as Princess Vivi, agreed. He understood the value of saving Alabasta and the larger justice it represented.
The voyage across the Grand Line proved to be a far cry from the relatively calm waters of the East Blue. The chaotic and unpredictable weather kept the entire crew on edge.
Nami, despite her unparalleled navigation skills, found herself overwhelmed by the Grand Line's bizarre climate.
Sudden rainstorms, snowfalls, and strange currents were unlike anything she'd encountered before.
"Nami! The waves are getting bigger!" Usopp shouted, gripping the ship's railing.
"Nami! There's fog rolling in!" Sanji added, shielding his eyes as he peered ahead.
By the time the crew successfully navigated through a sudden patch of dense fog, Nami slumped against the mast, clutching her head in exasperation.
"This place is insane…" she muttered.
At that moment, Psyduck waddled onto the deck, quacking noisily as if offering moral support.
Despite the Grand Line's relentless challenges, Nami refused to give up. She barked orders at the crew, expertly guiding them to maneuver the Going Merry out of danger.
Just as they thought they were in the clear, Usopp pointed ahead with a trembling finger, shouting, "Iceberg! It's huge! It's several times bigger than the Going Merry!"
The crew turned to see the massive iceberg towering over them, its size and proximity making it a serious threat.
Nami sprang into action, rushing to the helm. "Sanji, help me with the rudder!" she called out.
Sanji nodded, gripping the helm alongside her. "You got it, Nami-swan!"
However, just like their experience on Reverse Mountain, the strange currents below made it almost impossible to control the ship. The Going Merry lurched and strained as the crew struggled to steer clear of the iceberg.
Ikki stepped forward calmly, pulling out the small light from his pack. Aiming the beam at the iceberg, he activated it. The enormous chunk of ice began to shrink rapidly, becoming smaller than the Merry itself. The ship glided safely past without a scratch.
"Nice work, Ikki!" Nami said with a relieved smile.
The victory was short-lived, as the crew soon faced a new threat—a powerful typhoon. Gale-force winds battered the Merry, threatening to toss the ship like a toy.
Ikki acted swiftly, conjuring Wind Barriers to block the fierce gusts and protect the ship. The howling winds seemed to part around the barriers, giving the crew a much-needed reprieve.
"That's more like it!" Sanji said, heading to the kitchen. Using the brief calm, he prepared energy-replenishing rice balls and handed them out to everyone.
Hours later, the storm finally subsided. The once-overcast sky cleared, revealing calm waters and bright sunshine.
Nami collapsed onto the deck, exhausted but relieved. "We made it out..." she sighed, her voice weak.
Zoro, who had been napping peacefully throughout the chaos, stretched and yawned as he woke up. "What's with all the lazy faces? The weather's fine now," he said, glancing around.
The rest of the crew glared at him, their frustration boiling over.
Zoro, oblivious, turned to Miss Wednesday and Mr. 9. "Hey, you two. Where are you from? What's your deal?"
Nami couldn't take it anymore. Standing up shakily, her patience finally snapped.
Her fist slammed down onto Zoro's head with a force that sent him crashing to the deck.
"You were sleeping the whole time while we nearly died! And now you've got the nerve to complain?!" she yelled, her temper flaring.
Zoro rubbed his head, looking annoyed but defiant. "It's not my fault. Besides, isn't it your job to keep us on course?"
The others gasped. Usopp and Sanji exchanged nervous glances. "He's dead," Usopp whispered.
Nami's aura flared as she unleashed a new wave of her Nami Haki, completely overwhelming Zoro. Her body crackled with unseen energy, and a faint glow surrounded her. Even Ikki looked surprised.
"Is she... awakening her Nen?" he murmured in disbelief.
Unaware of her sudden transformation, Nami unleashed a flurry of punches on Zoro, leaving him with several large bumps on his head.
"Thanks for sleeping so soundly, swordsman! And next time, maybe listen when I call for help!"
Zoro, thoroughly beaten, grumbled something under his breath but wisely decided not to push his luck further.
Ikki shook his head, chuckling to himself. As expected of Nami… She's more terrifying than a storm.
After the chaos calmed, the Going Merry resumed its journey. The crew's next destination was Whiskey Peak, as indicated by the Log Pose.
When Mr. 9 and Miss Wednesday saw the familiar sight of their home, they immediately jumped overboard and swam toward the town without hesitation.
The crew, needing to record the magnetism of the island before moving on, decided to dock as well.
As they entered Whiskey Peak, they were greeted by a bustling crowd of cheerful townsfolk.
"Welcome to the Grand Line!"
"Welcome to our town!"
"Welcome, pirate heroes, to Whiskey Peak!"
"Long live the heroes of the sea!"
Nami, Usopp, and Sanji stared at the crowd in shock. The enthusiasm felt surreal.
"A town that welcomes pirates?" Sanji said, his cigarette nearly falling out of his mouth. "This really is the Grand Line..."
The shock quickly gave way to excitement. Usopp grinned. "Finally, some people who appreciate us!"
Luffy laughed, thrilled by the warm reception. "This is great! Do you think they've got a big feast ready for us?"
While the others celebrated, Ikki's expression remained blank. He eyed the townsfolk carefully. Their smiles were too wide, their movements too rehearsed. He knew better than to trust this facade.
This place isn't what it seems... It's crawling with bounty hunters, Ikki thought, his eyes scanning the crowd.
Even Zoro seemed to sense something off. He crossed his arms and frowned, his eyes narrowing.