Chapter 73 Grand Line

Hearing this, Luffy and the others couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.

"Dragon Island… this is the legendary place!"

Suddenly, the sky echoed with dragon roars from the horizon, answering Dragon Grandpa's call.

"What… what is that sound?"

The crew was shocked and immediately looked toward the sky. Usopp grabbed his telescope, his face going stiff as if he were struck by lightning. He stood frozen in place, his mouth agape, unable to speak.

"T-That… That is…"

"What is it!"

Luffy and the others followed Usopp's gaze. In the distance, small black dots appeared, rapidly approaching, growing larger by the second. Then, as they got closer, it became clear—they were dragons! Thousands of Millennium Dragons! Their deafening roars echoed across the sky in response to Dragon Grandpa. The sea below churned violently under the pressure of their combined cries, creating a storm of waves and wind that spread across the entire area.

"There are so many Millennium Dragons! I can't believe there are this many still left in the world!"

The Navy soldiers, who were engaged in battle with the Sea Kings, paused and gaped in awe at the sight, completely speechless.

"Immortality medicine!" Nelson's breath hitched. Even though the Sea Kings couldn't harm his warship, seeing so many Millennium Dragons all at once felt like seeing an endless supply of immortality medicine flying through the sky.

"So many Millennium Dragons!" Erik had the same thought. He no longer cared about the Sea Kings chasing him; he immediately turned around, his eyes filled with greed and desire.

The Sea Kings themselves were taken aback, halting their pursuit as they looked at the sight above them. Although they ruled the ocean, the Millennium Dragons were the kings of the sky. Two powerful forces now stood in the same domain. However, the Millennium Dragons paid no attention to the Sea Kings, their roars shaking the heavens and turning the sea into a turbulent storm of waves.

Dragon Grandpa, too, was ecstatic, roaring with renewed vigor as he joined the chorus of dragon cries. Luffy and the others stood in awe, speechless at the magnificent sight before them. Only Abis beamed with joy, her eyes sparkling as she realized that the dragons were communicating.

"This… this really is Dragon Island!" she exclaimed.

The area around Warship Island began to shift dramatically as the massive roars seemed to stir something beneath the surface. The sea surrounding the island erupted into towering whirlpools, as if an earthquake was rumbling beneath the waves. The island itself trembled and, from within the swirling waters, other islands—previously hidden beneath a misty veil—began to rise from the depths. A majestic island formation appeared, stretching across the sea, and in the sky, a rainbow arched over the newly revealed islands.

The Millennium Dragons descended from the sky, finding their resting places among the island peaks. Dragon Grandpa soared into the air, his spirit revitalized, before finally settling down on the island, lazily curling up and closing his eyes as if finally at peace.

"Dragon Grandpa says that many years ago, Dragon Island would periodically sink beneath the sea, forcing the dragons to leave their home and wander. He and his companions left together, but midway through the journey, he became too tired to continue, so they left without him. He's been stuck here ever since, but thanks to you all, he's finally returned home," Abis explained, her face full of joy as she translated Dragon Grandpa's gratitude.

"Congratulations, Dragon Grandpa!"

"Dragon Grandpa!"

Luffy and the others smiled as they cheered for the old dragon.

"This must be due to underwater volcanic activity or shifting ocean currents. The sea is always in flux, and what seems calm on the surface often hides powerful forces underneath. Dragon Island likely rises and falls due to some undersea movement," Nami speculated in amazement, her navigator's instincts kicking in.

"Wow, Nami-swan, you're glowing with wisdom!" Sanji swooned, utterly captivated.

Zoro, standing at the ship's railing, remained silent, taking in the breathtaking sight before him. He was deeply moved by the beauty of it all.

"This is incredible… The sea is so vast and beautiful, yet at the same time, it makes us seem so small. Even creatures as majestic as the Millennium Dragons are at the mercy of the ocean's wrath, forced to leave their home. If they can be pushed to such extremes, what hope do we have?" Usopp sighed, unusually somber as he reflected on the scene. He couldn't help but feel homesick, watching the dragons return to their homeland.

"Exactly. The sea is enormous, and we are just tiny specks in comparison. But that's what gives our lives purpose, isn't it? Just like the Millennium Dragons returning home, we set out to sea for our dreams. Every living being deserves respect, and every beautiful sight deserves to be appreciated. But most importantly, it's our dreams that drive us forward. That's the meaning of life. Now that Abis can communicate with the Sea Kings, we no longer need to worry about the Navy. It's time for us to set sail once again and continue our journey," Moonlight said, looking to Luffy.

"This guy…" Sanji and the others glanced at Moonlight in admiration. As their vice-captain, he always had something profound to say, and it was hard not to feel moved by his words.

Luffy waved his arm toward Abis and shouted, "A-bis, we're heading out! Goodbye!"

"Thank you, Luffy! Thank you, everyone!" Abis waved back enthusiastically, her face full of gratitude.

Even Dragon Grandpa and the other Millennium Dragons lifted their heads to look at Luffy and his crew, nodding in appreciation. As for the Navy and Erik, who had been desperately trying to reach the island, they were no match for the Sea Kings. Before long, all of them were knocked into the sea, left to drift away with the currents.

After bidding farewell to Abis, the crew of the Going Merry set sail once again, with Nami expertly guiding the ship toward the Grand Line. The crew was filled with excitement, knowing they were leaving the East Blue behind. The ocean currents became stronger and more unpredictable as they approached the entrance to the Grand Line.

Suddenly, the currents ahead began to behave strangely. Instead of flowing downward, they all converged toward a high point, surging upward like a powerful river climbing into the sky.

"What's going on? Why are the currents going up? Is there really a current that flows upward in this world?" Sanji asked in disbelief, staring at the sea.

"I've heard the Grand Line is a sea full of wonders. Anything is possible here, no matter how unbelievable it seems," Zoro said, his excitement growing.

"It's truly an amazing place," Usopp added in awe.

Nami, carefully studying the Grand Line's navigational chart, pointed to a spot and said, "This is it."