Chapter 221: The Game Is Becoming Interesting!
Navigator Nami keenly sensed the shift in the sea's wind currents—the unusual ocean flow that occurred once every few years, surging from the sea toward the island.
Over a dozen pirate ships were pushed by the current, sailing into the island's interior.
"Charge—!"
Lufia stood at the bow, arms raised high, her face flushed with excitement.
The Going Merry sped forward through the raging current, the rocky cliffs on both sides whizzing past as spray shot over ten meters high.
That's right.
At this moment, the river channel wasn't leading out to sea but toward the island's highest point.
Just like Reverse Mountain, the special current carried all the competing ships upward along the winding river channel.
Upward.
And further upward.
Finally—
The summit!
All the ships burst out of the river channel simultaneously, converging at the island's peak, and then—
Downstream they went!
"Aaaaaah—!"
Chopper clung desperately to Zoro's leg, screaming with his eyes shut tight.
Zoro let him hold on, completely unfazed, his gaze fixed ahead.
Then—
A cliff.
The river channel ended here.
Not a slope like Reverse Mountain, but a nearly vertical drop-off.
All the ships shot off the cliff, tracing arcs through the air before—
Boom!!
Crashing into the sea below.
The Going Merry let out a tremendous creak, the entire ship shaking violently.
Ralph could even hear a mournful groan from the hull.
"The Going Merry—!"
Usopp was so distressed he nearly cried.
But the next moment—
Deafening cheers erupted from the shores on both sides.
"Whooooa—!"
"Thrilling!"
"So awesome!"
The spectators went wild.
Lufia scrambled up from the deck, completely ignoring her drenched state, and joined in the cheering.
"So awesome! So thrilling! This is the pirate life!"
She spun around in excitement, nearly making herself dizzy.
Ralph watched her and couldn't help but smile.
The competing ships gradually steadied themselves and continued forward, entering the official race phase.
The top contenders—made their appearance.
The Giant Race fishermen brothers, Bobby and Pogo, aboard their fishing speedboat.
To them, it was a fishing vessel, but to humans, it was already a massive ship.
Fishman Willy's ship followed closely behind, crowded with fierce-looking fish-man crew members, its bow adorned with an imposing drill.
Right from the start, a pirate ship was shattered by his drill.
There was also an extravagantly designed pirate ship, its bow decorated with a huge skull.
On board stood a man with a crazed smile on his face.
"That's Prisoner of the Great Prison Pizarro," Robin introduced, "Rumor has it he's escaped execution multiple times. No matter how the Navy tries to capture him, they can't hold him."
"Escaped execution?"
Nami frowned, "Isn't he just a fugitive then?"
"A fugitive who's escaped that many times must have some serious skills," Usopp said.
"Exactly," Ralph nodded, "This guy is no weakling. He's one of the favorites to win."
"One of?"
Lufia tilted her head, "What about the others?"
Ralph pointed toward the Giant brothers and Fishman Willy.
And then—
That was it!
There should have been another magnificent steamship.
The Salamander.
Gasparde's ship.
"Right, where's Gasparde?"
Usopp noticed too, "Isn't he the biggest favorite?"
The corners of Ralph's mouth lifted slightly.
He didn't speak.
But Nami noticed his expression and narrowed her eyes.
"...Hmm."
Ralph raised a finger, "The race has begun."
The race had indeed begun.
And it had already escalated into a fierce battle from the very start.
The rules of the pirate race are that there are no rules.
Collisions, chases, cannon fire, even direct ship-to-ship boarding, with crew members swinging swords at each other.
Chaos, madness, no bottom line.
This is exactly what pirates love.
"Fire—!"
A pirate ship opened fire on the Going Merry.
A dozen cannonballs came whistling through the air.
Lufia's eyes lit up.
"Gomu Gomu no Balloon!"
She took a deep breath, and her body instantly inflated into a giant balloon.
The cannonballs struck her and were all deflected—some falling into the sea, others crashing into other pirate ships.
"Nice one, Lufia!"
Usopp cheered.
"Don't celebrate too soon!"
Sanji kicked away a pirate who had swung aboard via a rope, "They're starting to board!"
Sure enough, several pirate ships had already closed in. Pirates swung on ropes, leaping onto the Going Merry one after another.
Zoro drew his swords.
"Three Sword Style: Thirty-Six Pound Phoenix!"
A flash of blade light, and all the charging pirates were sent flying.
Sanji wasn't to be outdone, kicking away several in a row.
"Usopp!"
Nami shouted.
"Got it!"
Usopp ran to the stern, took aim, and lit the stern cannon.
One shot accurately hit a pursuing pirate ship. With a boom, the ship's bow shattered, and it capsized in the rapids.
"Beautiful!"
Even Usopp was surprised, "Have I really adapted this well to fighting at sea?"
"Well done! Usopp, keep it up!"
Nami encouraged him.
"Yes!"
Usopp fired shot after shot, each one hitting its target.
In such intense combat, his warrior's blood was completely boiling.
Robin stood by the ship's railing, observing the battle.
Her arms were crossed, ready to act at any moment.
Ralph stood beside her, also not taking action.
"Aren't you going to help?"
Robin asked.
Ralph glanced at her and smiled.
"Isn't it obvious?"
He pointed at their fighting companions.
"If I step in, no one else gets to have any fun."
Robin paused for a moment, then also smiled.
"You're right."
Just then—
"Oh no!"
Nami suddenly cried out, "The ship is about to run out of the channel!"
Indeed, in the heat of battle, the Going Merry had veered off course and was now rushing toward the edge of the river channel.
Any farther, and it would run aground.
Robin crossed her arms.
"Mil Fleur: Hanagasa!"
Countless arms suddenly sprouted from the riverbank, quickly converging into a giant hand.
The hand supported the hull of the Going Merry and gave it a gentle push.
The Going Merry returned to the center of the channel.
"Whew—"
Nami breathed a sigh of relief, "That was close."
Robin withdrew her ability and looked at Ralph.
Ralph gave her a thumbs-up.
The race continued.
The Going Merry raced ahead, leaving most of the pirate ships far behind.
But a problem arose.
"Nami!"
Usopp pointed ahead, "Why are they heading that way?"
Nami followed his finger.
She saw the other pirate ships heading in a completely different direction.
"They've taken the wrong route."
Nami took out the real Eternal Pose, "Our finish line is in this direction."
"Then they…"
"Were tricked by the casino boss."
Ralph said, "Their Pose points to a Navy base."
Everyone fell silent for a second.
Then, simultaneously, they all wore expressions of schadenfreude.
"We're definitely going to win!"
Nami clenched her fist, her eyes turning into Berry symbols, "The mysterious grand prize is ours! Winning the three hundred million Berry bet is also ours!"
Just then—
"Wait!"
Usopp pointed behind them, "Someone's following us!"
Everyone turned to look.
Several pirate ships were chasing after them!
"How did they..."
Nami's eyes widened.
"Probably... they noticed something was off."
Ralph said.
Those pirates had clearly noticed the Going Merry deviating from the main route.
Combined with the unusual disappearance of Gasparde, some had already guessed the truth.
The race was rigged.
The Straw Hat crew knew the real finish line.
"Damn it!"
Nami cursed, "That fat pig!
What first test of intelligence—no one fell for it at all!"
Ralph watched the pursuing pirates, also somewhat surprised.
This must be a plot change brought about by him, the little butterfly.
Making these pirates suddenly all become smarter.
He smiled.
"Interesting.
The game just got more fun."