One Piece: Voyager of the Sea

In the end, Jialai couldn't argue against Bepo and had to concede, reluctantly agreeing that once she made up her mind about going to sea, she would first seek the captain's approval and avoid causing trouble for the crew.

Jialai wasn't entirely sure which direction the ship was sailing, but judging by the time left until the execution, she was convinced they were headed toward Marineford.

That evening, the ship came to a stop. Unable to sleep, Jialai tossed and turned in her cabin before sneaking out onto the deck. Above her, the moon hung large and round in the night sky, its light revealing a calm and unbroken sea.

Her heart stirred with restless excitement. After carefully looking around and listening for any sounds, she confirmed the ship was utterly silent.

Thinking back on her recent swimming lessons and observing the serene conditions, Jialai realized it was the perfect opportunity to practice. Ever impulsive, she immediately threw a rope ladder over the side of the ship and began climbing down step by step. But as she neared the water, a sudden chill made her shudder, and she clung tightly to the ladder, on the verge of tears.

At that moment, Bepo's advice rang in her mind—it had been wise. Yet, another thought crept in: if she always relied on Bepo and Jeparu, what would happen in the future if they weren't around to help her? With that, she gritted her teeth, took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and jumped into the sea.

The moment she entered the water, an intense fear surged through her, making her flail uncontrollably. She swallowed several mouthfuls of seawater, and her body began sinking.

Fortunately, at the brink of despair, she remembered the swimming techniques she had learned. Gradually calming herself, she moved her limbs with purpose and managed to float back to the surface.

After catching her breath, Jialai realized, to her horror, that she had unknowingly drifted far from the ship.

Taking a deep breath, she began swimming back toward it.

Suddenly, a massive wave surged from behind, tossing her around violently. She couldn't react before colliding with something hard, like a barrel. Struggling to orient herself, she reached out, feeling soft, fleshy walls blocking her path forward.

Gripping the dagger she had strapped to her thigh since returning to the ship, Jialai stabbed the fleshy wall with all her strength. The pungent smell of blood immediately filled her nostrils, and warm liquid splashed onto her face and body. She stabbed repeatedly, her mind spinning as she was slammed against the fleshy wall again and again. Even so, she didn't stop slashing with her dagger.

Another wave struck, engulfing her and sweeping her to an unknown location.

When Jialai opened her eyes again, the moon was back overhead. She wiped her face with seawater and looked around but saw no trace of the Heart Pirates' ship.

Her mind went blank.

The sea was eerily calm. Gentle waves lapped against her, battering her exhausted body. Another wave brought something hard against her—an oak barrel taller than she was, bobbing on the water's surface.

Her eyes lit up. Scrambling toward the barrel, she clawed her way onto it. After rolling off countless times, she finally managed to sit firmly atop it. Using her last remaining weapon, her dagger, she pried open the barrel's lid and crawled inside, sealing it tightly above her without a second thought about airflow.

Completely drained, Jialai leaned against the inside of the barrel and eventually drifted off to sleep. She didn't wake until her rumbling stomach reminded her of her hunger. Opening her eyes, she noticed a faint sliver of light streaming through a gap in the barrel's lid—likely from her earlier hasty attempt to secure it.

Feeling around the barrel, her hand landed on oddly shaped objects. Bringing one close to the light, she saw it was a fruit. Overjoyed, she immediately devoured it.

There seemed to be plenty of fruit inside the barrel, though some were squashed from her movements. At least she didn't have to worry about starving for now. Carefully, she tried to peek outside, but the barrel rocked unpredictably, making it impossible to stand. Fearing it might capsize and throw her back into the sea, she gave up and settled back inside, whispering prayers to herself over and over.

"Please, let there be a miracle this time… just one miracle!"

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Meanwhile, back on the Heart Pirates' ship, the crew discovered the dangling rope ladder at dawn. They were baffled, as the night watch hadn't noticed anything unusual.

Bepo, ready to call Jialai for breakfast, knocked repeatedly on her cabin door, but there was no response.

Worried, he fetched Jeparu to break down the door. Inside, the room was empty.

"Captain…" Bepo's panicked voice echoed across the ship.

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