While the warship turned around to search for Apis, a small boat appeared near the Going Merry, with a little girl sleeping inside.
Usopp, observing the surroundings from the crow's nest with a telescope, spotted Apis on the boat. He immediately shouted, "Luffy, there's a small boat not far ahead! A little girl is on it—she might be a shipwreck survivor!"
Luffy leapt into the crow's nest, took the telescope, and checked. "There really is someone! Leave it to me!"
"Gum-Gum... Grab!"
With a whoosh, Luffy's arm stretched out, grabbed Apis by the clothes, and retracted in an instant, pulling her aboard the Merry.
"Hey~ little girl, wake up," Nami gently shook her.
Apis stirred, slowly opening her eyes and mumbling, "Where is this...? Have I been captured again?"
Suddenly realizing her situation, she looked around at the unfamiliar faces and the pirate flag above the mast. She jumped up in a panic.
"Ah! I've been caught by pirates! Why is my life so miserable? I just escaped from a warship, and now I've been caught by pirates again!" she cried.
"Did you survive a shipwreck? Why were you alone at sea?" Nami asked gently.
"I live on a nearby island. A Marine named Admiral Nelson Roy read about an elixir of immortality and found out I can talk to animals. I don't know how, but he captured me to make me help him find the Millennial Dragon. I escaped yesterday afternoon," Apis explained.
"A little girl being hunted by a Marine admiral… that's a bit hard to believe," Sanji said, puffing on a cigarette.
Just then, the warship that had turned back spotted them.
Seeing the Merry, the mercenary Erik sneered. "Pirates! Hand over the girl, or we'll sink you!"
"Oh? So bossy. You say 'hand over,' and we just do it? What about our pride?" Sanji retorted with disdain.
"What are you wasting time for? Grab them!" Admiral Nelson ordered.
Marines and mercenaries began leaping toward the Merry.
Luffy and the others didn't hesitate—they launched into action.
With loud thuds and splashes, all the attackers were knocked into the sea, leaving only the rotund Admiral Nelson. And with one of Shin'ya's Monstrous Strength: Sky-Piercing Kicks, the warship was destroyed and Nelson was thrown into the water.
---
The next day, at Apis's home...
Luffy and the others were stuffing themselves at the table. After dinner, they returned to their rooms to rest.
In the middle of the night, Apis snuck out with a basket of fruit and quietly walked in a certain direction.
Luffy and the crew noticed and followed her secretly.
Soon, they entered a cave and saw Apis tossing food to a massive creature. They were stunned!
After apologizing, Luffy looked into Grandpa Ryu's eyes and clenched his fist. "Soga! Tomorrow's the day your companions return, right? Don't worry, I won't let anyone hurt you."
Everyone sat cross-legged to rest beside Grandpa Ryu.
Time passed, and dawn arrived. The sky lightened, revealing the sea ahead.
Suddenly, Shin'ya sensed something. "Over twenty ships are heading here. Looks like trouble."
Everyone stood up and walked down the mountain. Luffy patted Grandpa Ryu. "Stay here and rest. We'll handle it."
On the approaching fleet, Erik pointed at the island. "See? I was right—Apis brought the Straw Hats here. This is perfect. Let's catch them all."
"These pirates are strong. Last time, we underestimated them… and they have Shin'ya, who can fight a Warlord. We can't beat them in a head-on fight," Nelson muttered.
"No ship, no escape. Let's sink their ship and deal with them later," Erik suggested.
Nelson nodded. "Prepare to fire! Target the Straw Hats' ship!"
"Yes, Admiral!"
Over twenty cannons locked onto the Merry. Boom after boom sounded as cannonballs flew.
Luffy jumped up and inflated himself with Gum-Gum Balloon to block some of them. But there were too many. Even with Zoro and Sanji, they couldn't stop them all.
As cannonballs neared the Merry—
"Wood Release: Super Large Wood Wall!"
A giant wooden wall formed, shielding the entire ship.
Shin'ya said calmly, "Let's go fight directly. Don't worry, they can't get past this defense."
He vanished, appearing on a warship in an instant.
Zoro was about to ask how to cross when he saw Luffy stretch like a slingshot and launch both him and Sanji across the sea.
Then the one-sided battle began.
"Sky-Piercing Kick! Monstrous Strength Punch!" — Shin'ya shattered a warship with one blow.
"Gum-Gum Battle Axe!" — Luffy split a ship in half.
Zoro and Sanji took down Marines without sinking ships.
Soon, only Nelson's warship remained.
Suddenly, the sea trembled and receded. A hidden island surfaced, covered in bones and ancient fossilized eggs.
The Lost Island.
Nelson laughed maniacally. "It's real! The elixir of immortality! I'll live forever!"
In the cave, Grandpa Ryu sensed it and roared with joy. He struggled to rise and shakily flew toward the island.
Nelson saw this and screamed, "Shoot it down! Kill that dragon!"
Then he barked at Erik, "Go kill Shin'ya! We'll handle the rest!"
Erik blinked. "Me? Fight Shin'ya? You must be crazy. I'm not dying for some stupid elixir. I'm out." He turned and left without a second thought.
Not long after, Nelson was thoroughly beaten by Luffy and the others. His Marines were defeated and couldn't move.
Grandpa Ryu, using his final strength, soared above the Lost Island… and fell.
Shin'ya instantly reacted, growing a giant tree beneath him, catching Grandpa Ryu and laying him down gently.
Luffy ran over and patted him on the shoulder. "Nice work, Shin'ya. Now Grandpa Ryu can wait for his companions."
As Grandpa Ryu gave his last roar, dragons appeared in the sky and surrounded him, roaring in unison.
Grandpa Ryu saw his companions… and closed his eyes for the final time.
---
The crew returned to Battleship Island on a small wooden boat crafted by Shin'ya using his Wood Release.
Watching the dragons in the distance, they began restocking supplies and preparing to head for the Grand Line.
Thanks to Shin'ya's presence, they weren't chased into the Calm Belt like in the original tale. They had used sheer strength to defeat Nelson.
Half a day later, the Straw Hat Pirates—well-supplied and ready—set sail for Reverse Mountain.
---
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