Bulma stood at the edge of the ship's deck, her hands gripping the rail tightly as her sharp blue eyes focused on the massive structure ahead. Reverse Mountain.
It was hard to believe something like this even existed. A mountain that you could sail up? Scientifically, it shouldn't have been possible. Then again, nothing in this world made sense.
For the past one day, the weather had started to fluctuate wildly. Even in her Earth's worst days, there weren't climatic phenomenon like of this world. For a moment, there was heavy lightning and rain, then suddenly, the rain turned to scorching sun. The whole thing was wild to believe and experience itself. The climate defied normalistic measures. Even Bulma couldn't predict what the next climate, they would be facing.
Bulma's brows furrowed as she analyzed the churning currents ahead. Water was rushing upward at an unnatural angle, defying gravity as it spiraled toward the summit of the mountain. The sheer force of the water would be enough to rip apart a weaker ship. If they weren't careful, they'd be smashed into the rocky walls before they even got halfway up.
"Wow! That's so cool!"
Bulma glanced behind her to see Goku, leaning over the edge of the ship with his mouth wide open, eyes sparkling with excitement. His shirt fluttered slightly in the breeze as he stared at the reverse current like it was the best thing he'd seen all day.
"I can't wait to go up there!" Goku grinned.
Bulma's eye twitched. "It's not a ride, Goku. It's a dangerous current that could kill us if we screw this up."
Goku tilted his head. "So we just don't screw it up then!"
Bulma sighed. "Yeah. Easy for you to say."
"Miss Bulma…" Leo's shaky voice drifted from the side. The short, big-headed matador was clutching the ship's mast, his large chin quivering as he peered up at the mountain. "Are we really… gonna go up that?"
"Of course we are!" Goku pumped his fist into the air. "It's gonna be awesome!"
Jose, his short round body trembling, let out a shaky laugh. "B-But isn't that, uh, impossible?" His enormous nostrils flared as he glanced nervously at the churning water.
Bulma turned toward them, planting a hand on her hip. "Oh, it's definitely possible." Her eyes glinted. "Difficult, sure—but not impossible. We just need to use the current to push us upward and keep the ship balanced while steering."
"That sounds…" Jose gulped. "…really hard."
Bulma smirked. "Not when you've got me and Goku."
Behind her, Carmen crossed her arms, an unimpressed expression on her face. "You sound pretty confident for someone who's about to defy the laws of physics."
Bulma shot her a pointed look. "I've already defied physics since my childhood." She pointed toward the roaring current ahead. "This? This is just another puzzle."
Carmen raised an eyebrow. "And if the ship gets ripped apart?"
Bulma shrugged. "Then we die." It was the only thing which was sure. Even then, Goku was here to save them. The Monkey boy was their saviour and the strongest member for a reason.
"…Comforting," Carmen muttered.
Bulma turned back toward the mountain. The water was rougher now, churning more violently as they drifted closer to the base. The ship started to creak under the shifting pressure of the waves.
A nervous silence settled over the crew.
Oolong, clutching the side of the ship, was practically hyperventilating. "I don't know about you guys, but I really don't want to die by getting crushed against a rock wall!"
"Then don't fall off," Bulma said bluntly.
Jose and Leo both whimpered. Even Carmen's usually composed expression looked a bit more serious now.
Only Goku seemed completely unfazed. He bounced on his feet, flexing his arms. "So what's the plan, Bulma?"
Bulma took a deep breath, her mind already calculating the angles. The current was strong, but it was moving at a predictable pace. If they aligned the ship with the initial surge, they could ride the momentum upward. Steering would be the tricky part—too much to the left or right, and they'd crash into the rock walls.
She pointed toward the back of the ship. "Goku, you're going to be our engine. Fly behind the ship and push us upward."
Goku grinned. "Got it!"
"Carmen, you and the boys are going to help with the sails. We'll need to adjust the angle constantly to match the flow of the current."
Carmen raised an eyebrow. "And what are you going to be doing?"
Bulma smirked. "Steering."
Jose paled. "You know how to steer a ship?!"
Bulma's smirk widened. "I'm a genius, remember?"
"Alright!" Goku shouted. "Let's go!"
"Not yet!" Bulma shouted. "We need to align with the current first. If we hit it at the wrong angle, we'll be torn apart!"
Goku hovered into the air, flexing his fingers. His gi fluttered from the growing wind.
"Tell me when!"
Bulma narrowed her eyes at the swirling current. She could feel the ship trembling beneath her feet, the growing suction of the water tugging them closer.
"Steady… steady…"
The bow of the ship inched toward the current. The pressure increased. The ship started to drift toward the left side—toward the jagged rocks.
"Goku!" Bulma shouted.
"Now?"
"NOW!"
Goku shot behind the ship and placed his hands against the hull. His muscles flexed, veins tightening around his arms as he pushed forward.
The ship rocketed forward, slamming into the current with an explosive burst of speed.
"AHHHHHHH!"
Leo and Jose screamed, clutching the side of the ship for dear life.
The ship surged upward, cutting through the swirling water like an arrow. Bulma grabbed the wheel, straining to keep them on course as the current threatened to spin them toward the rocky walls.
"Goku! More to the left!"
"Got it!"
Goku adjusted his angle, compensating for the sharp pull of the current. The ship tilted slightly, narrowly missing a jagged outcrop of rock.
"Carmen! The sails!"
Carmen scowled, yanking on the ropes with strength that belied her slender frame. Leo and Jose followed her lead, frantically adjusting the angle of the sails to keep them aligned with the current.
Bulma's eyes sharpened. "Almost there…!"
The summit was close now. The swirling current was tightening, the pull of gravity increasing as they neared the top. The ship started to shake violently beneath her feet.
"Goku!" Bulma shouted.
"I'm on it!"
Goku let out a yell, his aura sparking as he pushed harder. The ship burst through the final stretch of the current—
And then—
They shot over the summit like a rocket.
Bulma's heart slammed into her chest as the ship tipped over the peak—
And then plummeted down the other side.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Jose and Leo screamed in unison.
Bulma's hands were white-knuckled on the wheel as they accelerated down the steep decline. The walls of the reverse mountain shot past them in a blur of gray and black.
"We're gonna crash!!" Oolong screamed.
"No, we're not!" Bulma gritted her teeth. "Goku!"
"I got it!"
Goku flew beneath the ship and pushed upward, slowing their descent. The ship's bow angled upward—
And then—
Splash!
They hit the bottom of the current and shot forward into the open waters of the Grand Line.
A tense silence settled over the ship as the momentum carried them forward.
Bulma exhaled sharply, wiping sweat from her brow.
"Holy crap…" Jose muttered. "We actually survived…"
"Of course we did," Bulma said smugly. "I had it under control the whole time."
"You were screaming," Carmen deadpanned.
Bulma scoffed. "Details."
Goku landed on the deck, laughing. "That was awesome!"
Bulma's lips curled upward. "Yeah. It kinda was."
Ahead of them, the horizon stretched wide and endless. The Grand Line had officially begun.