The tavern slowly returned to life as murmurs filled the smoky air once again. Patrons whispered among themselves about the strange encounter they had just witnessed. Some laughed nervously. Others exchanged curious glances, their voices hushed with a newfound tension. But for the most part, everyone sensed that something momentous had passed. A silence deeper than mere sound had briefly settled in the room—something unspoken yet universally understood.
The Straw Hats remained silent for a beat longer. Then Luffy stood, brushing a few drops of ale from his vest. "Let's go," he said simply, his tone leaving no room for argument. There was something different in his voice—calm, yet charged with purpose. It wasn't just the pull of adventure—it was certainty. He had seen the impossible before. He remembered the stories. He believed.
Zoro stood immediately, cracking his neck with a low grunt. His hand rested casually on the hilt of his sword, but his stance was sharp. Sanji flicked his cigarette into an ashtray and stepped away from the table, his expression unreadable but serious. Nami led the way to the door, checking her Log Pose again and narrowing her eyes. "It's shifting fast. If we're going to make it to the Sky Island, we need to move now."
Robin lingered a moment, her eyes fixed on the door as it swayed slightly in the breeze. "Blackbeard…" she whispered to herself. "He's not ordinary." There was something about his words, his aura—that unsettling mixture of belief and danger—that clung to her thoughts like a thorny seed. Her brow furrowed briefly as a chill ran through her spine. She filed the thought away.
As they exited the tavern, the wind outside was stronger than before. It whipped through the narrow streets, carrying dust and discarded papers into frenzied spirals. The sky was turning an eerie greenish-gray, and a low rumble echoed in the distance like a beast stirring beneath the waves. Pirates and townspeople rushed for shelter as the weather shifted violently, shouting warnings and cursing the sudden storm. Signs flapped wildly, barrels rolled away from stalls, crashing into walls. Thunder cracked like cannon fire, and the sharp scent of ozone burned in the air.
"Looks like a storm," Usopp said nervously, gripping his satchel and ducking against the wind.
"No," Nami corrected him, her voice sharper. "It's something else. This is the Knock-Up Stream. It's coming."
The crew broke into a sprint toward the harbor, dodging overturned carts and fallen signs. Rain began to pelt the streets in scattered bursts, mingling with the spray of seawater that was already invading the town's edge. Each footstep splashed against the stone roads, their urgency echoed by the booming skies.
As they passed the town square, Bellamy and his crew lounged near the steps of a pub, watching with smug expressions as if oblivious to the chaos. Sarquiss smirked and made a sarcastic bow, his voice heavy with mockery.
"Off to chase fairytales again?" Bellamy mocked, not rising from his chair. His tone was amused, but there was a note of confusion behind his smile—why weren't they reacting?
Luffy didn't even glance at him. His gaze remained locked on the path ahead. His silence echoed louder than any insult could.
That silence made Bellamy's smirk falter. The crew around him murmured, unsure whether to laugh or follow.
Zoro, passing by, gave a knowing smirk of his own. "Some people don't deserve a response."
Sanji muttered through clenched teeth, "Not worth our time."
Robin watched the brief exchange and smiled slightly. "The world's changing. And they're too small-minded to see it."
The Going Merry bobbed violently at the dock, already straining against its moorings. The once-calm harbor now writhed with restless tides, each wave slamming into the hull harder than the last. Thunder cracked above, and lightning lanced across the clouds like celestial veins splitting the sky.
"Everyone aboard! Now!" Nami yelled over the wind, her voice nearly swallowed by the howl of the approaching tempest.
The crew launched into action. Usopp clambered up the rigging, adjusting the sail's angle and tying it down with trembling fingers. Sanji and Zoro secured the anchor, ropes biting into their palms as the ship pitched dangerously.
"Left side, tighter!" Sanji shouted, meeting Zoro's grip at the line. For once, they worked in perfect sync.
"Don't mess this up, cook," Zoro muttered, but there was no malice in it.
"Keep up, moss-head," Sanji snapped, both men digging their heels in.
Chopper held the rail for balance, eyes wide as the deck tilted beneath him. "It's really happening," he whispered.
Robin scanned the horizon with narrowed eyes, her calm demeanor barely concealing her unease. The tension in the air was electric.
Nami sprinted to the helm. "We're right on the edge of it. The Knock-Up Stream is a massive eruption of seawater caused by underwater pressure. If we don't time it perfectly, it'll destroy the ship!"
Luffy climbed the mast and gripped the lookout rail tightly, wind whipping his hair and coat. He stood tall despite the gale, pointing toward the sky. "We're going up there," he shouted, his voice carried by sheer willpower. "We'll ride that stream to the sky!"
A massive whirlpool formed in the distance, the sea pulling inward with a terrifying force as a glowing column of water began to spiral upward. It was as if the ocean itself had torn open. The roar of rushing water was deafening.
"Ready yourselves!" Nami shouted, her knuckles white on the wheel. "This is it!"
The whirlpool reached its peak and then exploded upward into a geyser-like surge—water rocketing into the heavens with a deafening roar. A shockwave rippled outward, slamming into nearby ships and sending dock debris flying. The dock groaned, wood snapping and splintering as planks were ripped free.
The Going Merry's hull creaked as it was drawn into the current. The ship groaned as it began to tilt forward, the prow lifting first, then the entire body following. Ropes strained, sails flapped violently, and the mast bent against the pull of the current.
With one final burst of speed, the sea beneath them turned vertical. Water spiraled around them, wrapping the ship in a violent current as it was thrust upward. Spray blinded their vision; their ears filled with the roar of the current.
The ship began to rise—straight toward the clouds, defying every law of nature. Robin gripped the rail tightly, eyes wide with awe. Chopper squealed and ducked low. Nami kept her balance through instinct alone. Luffy—grinning with wild joy—spread his arms as if embracing the impossible.
The sky above welcomed them with lightning and wind, and below, the world began to fall away.
To be continued...
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