The morning sky above the Ancient Sky Ruins was unusually calm.
After days of navigating treacherous currents and overcoming ancient defenses, Kaito's crew finally took a breath.
The Queen's Grace was anchored on a floating cloud dock near the temple.
The air shimmered faintly around the ship, laced with leftover static from Kuina's trial the day before.
The Thunder Fruit sat untouched on the deck, its pale yellow skin coiled with faint arcs of electricity, quietly waiting to be claimed.
Everyone gathered around it.
Nojiko crossed her arms. "Are you sure about this?"
Kuina's fingers brushed her sword hilts. "I've already made my choice."
Carmen smirked, resting her hand on her hip. "With that fruit, you'll surpass yourself."
Khalifa, adjusting her glasses, observed the fruit carefully. "Thunder Logia… Few people in this world can even grasp that power. And you'll have more control than the last man who held it."
Conis looked worried. "You won't… lose yourself, right?"
Kuina smiled softly. "No. I've walked this path with my own hands. This power won't consume me. It will be mine."
Kaito watched her in silence.
He could see it clearly now.
Kuina had walked out of Zoro's shadow.
She wasn't the girl from the dojo anymore.
She was a warrior of her own era.
Without hesitation, Kuina picked up the Thunder Fruit and bit into it.
The bitter taste made her flinch, but she swallowed.
A sudden surge of energy exploded from within her.
Sparks danced wildly around her, the clouds trembling in response.
Her body pulsed with raw electricity, so much so that the ground beneath her feet scorched slightly.
But she didn't scream.
She didn't collapse.
She simply absorbed it.
Thunder flickered along her skin like a second heartbeat.
Kuina clenched her fists as the arcs stabilized.
Her breathing slowed.
The uncontrollable surges from before were gone.
Now, the thunder listened to her.
Testing the Power
Kaito motioned for the others to give her space.
Kuina took a step forward and focused.
A faint hum filled the air as electricity coiled around her fingers.
Fwoosh.
She vanished.
In the next instant, she reappeared twenty meters away, lightning dancing around her boots.
"Thunder Step, refined," she muttered.
She extended her hand and conjured a sphere of condensed lightning.
With a flick of her wrist, she sent it flying toward a stone pillar.
The sphere didn't just explode—it pierced through the pillar, vaporizing the stone in a blinding flash.
When the smoke cleared, the entire crew stared at her in silence.
Aisa's jaw dropped. "That's… insane."
Khalifa calmly noted, "Her reaction time has doubled, if not more."
Carmen whistled. "Remind me not to spar with you anytime soon."
Kuina exhaled slowly, feeling the smooth, obedient surge of her new power.
She wasn't fighting against her thunder anymore.
She had become one with it.
The Sky Guardian's Last Gift
As the crew prepared to return to the Queen's Grace, the temple behind them rumbled.
A low hum resonated from the ancient walls, as if the sky itself was awakening.
The ground split, revealing a hidden chamber beneath the altar.
Inside was an ancient relic—a Sky Armament, a weapon infused with ancient technology and residual sky energy.
Nojiko examined it carefully. "It's a weapon… but not just for combat."
Kaito lifted the blade-like object, noting the smooth engravings and intricate sky patterns.
The handle had sockets for sky crystals, but the weapon was incomplete.
Khalifa read the inscriptions on the chamber wall. "It's called the Valkyrie Edge. It resonates with sky energy users."
Kuina took it and gave it a few experimental swings.
It was light, but the moment her thunder infused the blade, the weapon extended into a glowing thunder spear.
"It adapts," Kuina noted.
"It's your gift from the Sky Guardian," Kaito said. "A final acknowledgment."
Nojiko's eyes sparkled. "Looks like this island gave us more than we expected."
Kaito stored the relic carefully, already thinking of future upgrades. "We'll find the missing components later."
A Quiet Festival Among the Clouds
Before descending to the Blue Sea, the crew agreed to hold a small celebration.
They lit cloud lanterns, cooked together, and played music under the unfamiliar constellations.
Conis strummed her harp, filling the evening with soft melodies.
Aisa, sitting cross-legged nearby, told exaggerated stories about the day's battles, adding her own flair to each encounter.
Carmen and Nojiko prepared a feast, throwing playful insults at each other over who was the better cook.
Khalifa, though usually quiet, allowed herself to relax, sipping calmly while watching the others.
Kaito sat slightly apart, watching his crew bond.
Moments like these were why he sailed.
Not just the battles.
Not just the treasures.
But the family formed through shared storms.
Kuina sat beside him, the new thunder spear resting against her shoulder.
"This feels right," she said quietly.
Kaito raised an eyebrow. "What does?"
"This pace. This crew. This sea. The rivalry with Luffy. It's not about being Pirate King for us, is it?"
Kaito shook his head. "It never was. I just wanted to sail. To enjoy this world. The title doesn't matter."
Kuina smiled. "Then I'll keep pushing forward too."
Their eyes met.
There was no need for words.
The bond between captain and vice-captain was already solid.
On the Other Side – Straw Hat Perspective
Far away, aboard the Going Merry, Luffy's crew continued their own training.
Zoro had grown more precise with his swordsmanship, his cuts sharper, his Haki thicker.
Sanji refined his Diable Jambe, now able to ignite his legs briefly without burning himself.
Usopp's accuracy had drastically improved. He could hit moving targets mid-air from impossible angles.
Nami's Climatact had new functions, allowing her to create small, localized weather patterns.
Chopper was progressing with his Rumble Ball transformations, gaining more stability in his Monster Point experiments.
Robin developed new multi-limb combat tactics.
Luffy pushed himself toward unlocking Gear Second, his body adapting to the stress slowly.
The thought of Kaito's crew pushing ahead was fueling their growth.
And at the back of their minds, they knew—
They would meet again.
Zoro looked at the sky, his hand resting on his sword.
"She's getting stronger."
Sanji glanced at him. "So are we."
Luffy laughed loudly, completely confident. "When we meet them again… it's going to be awesome!"
Their paths were set.
Two crews, sharpening themselves against the world, sailing toward the same horizon.
Preparations for the Descent
The following morning, Kaito's crew secured the Queen's Grace and prepared to ride the descending air currents back to the Blue Sea.
Khalifa charted the safest descent route, while Aisa monitored the air pressure changes with her keen senses.
As they set sail, Kuina stood at the helm with Nojiko, guiding the ship as they spiraled downward.
The winds howled around them, but they remained steady.
Kaito smiled as the clouds thinned.
"We're not done yet."
Far below, the Blue Sea awaited.
New islands.
New rivals.
New adventures.
And a race that was far from over.