Seeing Moge’s expression shifting as he fell into deep thought, Carina and Toniel tactfully refrained from disturbing him.
They quietly walked to the side of the deck and began their respective physical training.
After an unknown amount of time, the once-calm sky suddenly filled with dark clouds.
Thunder roared, lightning flashed, and pea-sized raindrops poured down as a storm arrived in an instant.
The wind howled over the sea, and giant waves surged.
A massive whirlpool quietly formed beneath the hull, its suction growing stronger.
The Voyager was caught in it like a fallen leaf, being dragged rapidly toward the center of the vortex.
“Oh no!
I forgot to check the ship’s course!” Carina finally reacted, her face turning pale instantly as she screamed in terror.
Her scream instantly jolted Moge from his contemplation.
Moge snapped his head up, his gaze sweeping across the storm-wracked sky, the churning sea, and the ship caught in the whirlpool.
Frowning slightly, he asked in a deep voice, “What happened?”
“Moge, I…
I was so focused on training that I forgot to check the course,” Carina said, looking miserable and panicked.
“The ship drifted off the intended route and didn’t bypass this area.
When I looked at the sea chart earlier, it was specifically marked as the ‘Ant Nest Hell,’ also known as the ‘Grave of the Great Ocean’!
There are special turbulent currents around here.
Once you’re pulled in, it’s very hard to escape!”
“Ant Nest Hell,” he murmured to himself.
The name sounded familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.
He suddenly remembered this place.
In the anime from his previous life, Portgas D.
Ace had also been accidentally caught in this Ant Nest Hell during the early days of his voyage.
It was right here that he obtained that powerful Mera Mera no Mi.
“It’s fine, don’t panic.
I’m here,” Moge said loudly.
“As long as I split this whirlpool current, we can pass straight through and reach safety.”
If Ace could make it through right after setting out, Moge had even less to fear.
The sea was only this violent because of the storm.
As long as they reached the island to rest and wait for the storm to stop, leaving would be simple.
Standing at the bow, with the howling wind and rain lashing against his face, Moge looked at the violent currents surging into the sky ahead and drew the blade at his waist.
“Everyone, get ready!” Moge shouted to those behind him, giving orders to Carina and Toniel.
“Carina, steady the helm and control our direction!
Toniel, watch the sails, adjust the angle, and give me your full cooperation!
Next, I’m going to split the current ahead, and we’ll charge straight in!”
“Yes, Captain!” the two replied in unison, each heading off to attend to their duties.
Moge took a deep breath, Haki coiling around his sword.
“One-Sword Style: Sea-Splitter.”
He swung his blade violently, and a massive silver-white slash was instantly unleashed, hacking fiercely toward the water spout.
With a thunderous boom, the surging current was instantly split, leaving a wide gap.
The seawater swept frantically to both sides, revealing a relatively stable path below.
But in just a moment, the split current began to show signs of converging again.
Moge’s eyes narrowed.
Without a moment’s pause, his wrist flicked repeatedly, sending out one slash after another through the air.
The dense sword energy acted like a barrier, forcibly holding the gap in the current open to maintain the path.
Seeing this, Carina immediately shouted to Toniel, “Quick!
Accelerate!
While the gap is still there, charge through!
I can already see the island!”
Toniel responded immediately, adjusting the sails with all his might.
Aided by the gale, the Voyager sped toward the island behind the water spout.
Before long, their ship was safely docked at the island’s shore.
Looking out from the island’s interior, the scene was completely different.
The outer perimeter was still filled with roaring, violent currents, their sound deafening.
Yet the interior of the island was surprisingly peaceful, without a single wave or gust of wind.
Sunlight shone directly down from the sky, making it both eerie and peculiar.
Moge sat at the bow, a cigarette in his mouth, his chest heaving slightly as he panted.
Though it hadn’t taken long, more than half of his stamina had been consumed—a greater drain than even a full-scale battle.
After all, these were no ordinary currents; they were exceptionally violent due to the storm.
Their power was immense.
He had to constantly reinforce his slashes with Haki to control the path and allow the ship to enter.
Seeing his slightly exhausted appearance, Carina hurried forward, her voice tinged with worry.
“Moge, are you okay?”
Moge shook his head and slowly stood up.
“I’m fine.
My stamina isn’t exhausted; I just wasn’t used to such a sudden burst of power.
Let’s go.
Let’s head ashore and take a look.”
Internally, he thought: I wonder if Ace has been here yet.
He set out around the same time as me, both of us three years before Luffy.
If he hasn’t come, then the Mera Mera no Mi is still here.
The group disembarked one by one.
The beach was littered with shipwrecks—broken planks, rusted weapons, and tattered sails were scattered everywhere, exuding an aura of death and danger.
“The Grave of the Great Ocean, Ant Nest Hell…
it certainly lives up to its name,” Carina said slowly, still feeling a lingering fear as she looked at the scene.
“If it weren’t for you, Moge, we probably would have been finished here.”
Toniel also nodded with a bitter smile, the fear still visible on his face.
“Yeah, it was terrifying.
During that scene just now, I really thought I was going to lose my life at sea.”
“It’s over now, don’t dwell on it,” Moge said.
Pausing, he looked at the surrounding wreckage and added, “We can come back later to search for any treasure.
For now, let’s head into the island’s interior!”
The group then set off toward the heart of the island.
Along the way, they saw nothing but wreckage as far as the eye could see.
Aside from that, there was no trace of any living creature.
It was so silent it was unsettling.
They were currently walking through a canyon surrounded by steep cliffs.
When they reached the end of the canyon, a massive, somewhat dilapidated ship came into view.
“Th-this is a ship?” Carina said in surprise.
“It’s way too big!
It must be at least 500 meters long and over 100 meters high!”
Moge gazed at the giant ship and said slowly, “This ship must belong to the Giant Race.
Otherwise, an ordinary ship could never be on such a massive scale.
Even the largest Marine battleships are only about two hundred meters long.
Compared to this, they’re practically insignificant.”
“Yeah, that must be it,” Toniel said, frowning in confusion.
“But why would a giant’s ship be abandoned here?
I’ve heard that most giants live in the Elbaf Giant Kingdom.
Even if there are a few giant Vice Admirals in the Marines, their ships would never be this large, and they certainly wouldn’t abandon them in a place like this.”
In his youth, he had learned much about the nations and races of the sea from his foster father, so he had some knowledge of the Giant Race.