The eastern shore of Jaya was a scene of frantic preparation.
"Old man!! I got the gold back!!" Luffy came sprinting back like a whirlwind, dragging a golden bundle larger than himself. There was still dried blood on his face, but his grin was more radiant than the treasure he carried.
However, there was no time for celebration. The sky had been completely swallowed by the Cumulorebus—clouds so thick and dark they looked like spilled ink, turning day into a terrifying night.
The ocean began to emit a low, soul-shaking vibration, as if a prehistoric leviathan was waking beneath the surface.
"Quick!! There's no time left! The current is about to burst!!"
The heavily bandaged Cricket was being propped up by his subordinates. Tears streamed down his face as he screamed orders to the Masira brothers: "Attach those parts to the Merry!! Make sure these brats fly!!"
With the brothers' efficient work, the Going Merry was rapidly outfitted with wing-like flight stabilizers and reinforced plating.
Though it made the ship look like it had a ridiculous rooster's comb, it was now a vessel capable of defying gravity.
"Anchor up!! Set sail!!"
The Merry plunged into the surging seas, heading straight for the center of a massive, forming whirlpool.
Just then—
"ZEHAHAHAHA!! Finally found you, Straw Hat Crew!!"
A boisterous, arrogant laugh echoed from behind. A massive, primitive raft made of giant logs lashed together was tearing through the waves at an incredible speed.
Standing at the front was Marshall D. Teach—Blackbeard—his eyes glinting with greed.
"Captain, they're in range." Van Augur, the marksman with the monocle, raised his long rifle, Senriku, and pulled the trigger without a moment's hesitation.
BANG!
The bullet sliced through the air, aimed directly at the back of Luffy's head.
CLANG!!
Viktor's silhouette blurred to the stern. With a precise flick of his sword, he parried the high-velocity bullet into the sea.
"Oh? That Vice-Captain... what a fast reaction," Van Augur muttered, adjusting his glasses.
Blackbeard erupted into even more excited laughter. "ZEHAHAHAHA! Stop running! Straw Hat Luffy! And 'Guren' Viktor!" He brandished a set of new wanted posters.
"Your heads have gone up in price! One hundred million Berries for the Straw Hat! And ninety million for the Vice-Captain!!"
"Give me your heads! They will be the stepping stones to my throne!!"
Hearing these astronomical numbers, the trio of Usopp, Sanji, and Zoro—who had been tensely preparing for battle—suddenly rushed to the stern in perfect unison.
"HEY!! WHAT ABOUT US?!" "Why did only those two get a raise?! Where are our posters?!" "How much is the bounty for the Brave Warrior of the Sea, Usopp?!"
BONK! BONK! BONK!
Nami, having reached her limit, delivered a triple-dose of "Fist of Love." "IS THIS THE TIME FOR THAT?! WE'RE GOING TO DIE, YOU IDIOTS!!" she roared, her face covered in dark lines.
At that moment, the sea went completely berserk.
RUMBLEEEE!
A massive whirlpool kilometers wide formed instantly. The terrifying centrifugal force began tearing at everything in its path. The Merry was like a leaf about to be swallowed by an abyss. Blackbeard's raft, being a simple structure, began to tilt and break apart under the strain, forcing them to cease their attack.
"Tch. Impossible to aim in this sea," Van Augur lowered his rifle.
"Damn it! Fate is on your side today, Straw Hat!" Blackbeard roared, clutching the logs as he watched his prey slip away.
On the Merry, Nami gripped the railing, her face pale as she felt the violent shifts in wind and current. "It's too strong... if we time this wrong, the ship will snap in half..."
A warm palm pressed against her back. Viktor stood behind her, his stance as steady as a mountain despite the world shaking around them.
"Don't be afraid, Nami." His voice was steady and powerful, a beacon of security. "You are the best navigator in the world. Trust your judgment. All our lives are in your hands."
Nami took a deep breath. The panic vanished, replaced by absolute focus. She felt the flow of the wind and the pulse of the water.
"There..." She snapped her eyes open. "NOW!!! HARD TO STARBOARD!! CHARGE INTO THE CENTER!!"
"EVERYONE! HOLD ONNNN!!!!"
The next second—
BOOOOOOM—!!!!!!
The ocean exploded. The long-dormant Knock-Up Stream finally erupted. A pillar of water so gargantuan it eclipsed islands shot toward the heavens, defying gravity with a world-shaking roar. The Going Merry caught the updraft and was hurled into the air—ascending vertically!
"UWAHHHH!!!!"
The g-force pinned everyone down as they screamed.
"WAHAHAHA!! WE'RE FLYING!!!!" Luffy sat on the figurehead, one hand pinning his hat and the other thrust high into the air. "TO THE SKY ISLAND!!!!"
On the deck, Robin held her book tightly. Her calm eyes were bright with an unprecedented light—the thirst for the unknown. "It's... it's real. The legendary Sky Island... truly exists."
Below, Blackbeard could only watch in frustration as the Merry rode the pillar of water into the firmament.
"Zehahaha... looks like destiny chose you this time, Straw Hat!"
Ascending. Continuous, violent ascension. The feeling of weightlessness and the sheer impact of the current kept everyone screaming. The Merry raced up the vertical wall of water like a train to paradise.
"HELP!! I'M FLYING AWAY!!" Chopper, being the lightest, was nearly swept off by the gale.
"Careful!"
Viktor moved like lightning, snatching Chopper out of the air and tucking him under his arm. With his other arm, he pulled Nami close, shielding her. He used his chakra to anchor his feet firmly to the deck.
"We're breaking through the clouds!!"
With a roar of wind, the Merry pierced the thick Cumulorebus. Blinding sunlight washed over them, and their field of vision suddenly opened. Everyone opened their eyes and was struck speechless.
The Going Merry was now floating on a vast, white expanse of sea that looked like endless cotton candy.
This was the White Sea, seven thousand meters above the earth.
"Is this... Sky Island?"
Before they could even marvel at the dreamlike scenery—
"ROAR!!"
The clouds below churned. A massive, flat fish—looking like a flounder with a bizarre mask on its face—leaped from the White Sea, opening its maw full of sharp teeth to strike at the ship!
Luffy's eyes lit up! Instead of being scared, he wiped some drool from his chin.
"Oh! A Sky Fish! Looks delicious!!"
The Skypiea Arc has officially begun.
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