"Waaahhhh!"
The Going Merry shot upward, carried by the massive Knock-Up Stream that surged into the sky. Darkness surrounded them, the sea gone from sight, and the other two ships were nowhere to be seen. Whether they had fallen away or were caught in different parts of the current was unclear.
The Straw Hats clung desperately to the ship, many dangling upside down.
"What's happening?!" Chopper screamed, clinging to the mast like a sloth. "It feels like we're about to fall any second!"
Zoro's calm voice cut through the chaos.
"The ship is moving upward along the Knock-Up Stream's water pillar. We're safe for now."
"Charge!" Luffy clung to the Going Merry's figurehead, pumping his fist in excitement. "Take us to Sky Island, Going Merry!"
"Please don't fall!" Usopp sobbed. "If we crash, we'll be splattered into meat paste!"
Sanji frowned, glancing down.
"Not good, the ship's starting to lift away from the water."
Nami's eyes widened.
"There's wind blowing from below…"
Robin looked around, her tone sharp.
"Speaking of which, do you notice someone's missing? Where's Shirogai?"
"What?!"
The crew scrambled to scan the deck. Shirogai was nowhere to be seen.
"Did Shirogai fall?" Luffy leaned dangerously over the rail, peering into the mist below.
Zoro remained composed.
"Don't panic. Have you forgotten? Shirogai has a flying ability. He wouldn't just fall."
"Nami-swaaan!" Sanji shouted from the rail. "The ship's drifting off the water's surface. We're floating!"
Nami bit her lip, her mind racing. If only Shirogai were here, I could confirm this with him.
"Look! Sea Kings are falling!"
The crew's hearts pounded as monstrous shapes tumbled down from above, shrieking as they were thrown clear of the current.
"If we leave the water completely, we'll fall too!"
Shipwrecks rained down around them like debris in a storm.
Clang!
Zoro swung his blade, deflecting a falling mast before it crushed their own.
"We can't wait any longer!" Nami braced herself. "Hoist the sails!"
"Huh?!" Usopp cried. "Won't that throw us off balance even more?"
"Trust me!" Nami snapped, pointing to the strong updraft blowing her hair upward. "The Knock-Up Stream is caused by volcanic eruptions and water vapor at the sea floor. That creates this powerful updraft. If we use the wind, we can ride it—fly upward!"
Zoro stared.
"The ship… can fly?!"
Nami's sharp eyes met his.
"Who's the navigator here?"
The crew hesitated, then shouted together:
"It's Nami!"
Sanji's eyes sparkled.
"Nami-swaaan, you're dazzling when you're confident!"
Under her command, the Going Merry shifted, catching the updraft. Instead of relying only on the surging water, the ship tilted and began to ride the wind itself. They soared, suspended above the waves, the Going Merry sailing into the sky.
…
Crack!
On one of the allied salvage ships, Shoujou and Cricket both froze at the sound. It was sharp, like a biscuit snapping.
"The ship couldn't withstand the pressure!" Cricket's face darkened. "The stern's splitting apart!"
Shoujou turned pale.
"Old man! Didn't we repair the stern last time it was shattered by cannon fire?!"
Cricket crossed his arms, voice steady though grim.
"It's too late now. All we can do is gamble on our luck."
Crack!
The sound worsened. The entire vessel shook violently, on the verge of breaking apart midair.
Cricket muttered bitterly to himself.
"So this is it… A shame I'll die without seeing whether Sky Island or the City of Gold truly exists."
If the ship broke apart here, everyone aboard would be smashed to pieces.
"Old man! It's my fault!" Shoujou shouted, overcome with guilt.
"Is it really time for deathbed regrets already?"
A calm, mocking voice came from above.
The crew looked up in shock. Shirogai hovered in the air, six black wings spread wide, smiling down at them.
"Shirogai!" Cricket's eyes widened with desperate hope. "The ship's falling apart! Can you save them?"
"It's a small matter. No need to abandon ship."
Shirogai descended, his wings beating slowly. He extended his hand, wax from the Wax-Wax Fruit pouring out and coating the fractured stern. The liquid hardened instantly, welding the cracks shut and reinforcing the entire hull.
The trembling ceased. The ship stabilized.
"We're steady again! Open the sails, keep riding the current!"
Cricket shouted orders, and the crew scrambled to obey. The salvage ship caught the wind, lifting once more into the air.
"Thank you, Shirogai San!" Cricket called, his gratitude clear. "Without you, we'd all be dead."
Shirogai gave a faint smile.
"Don't mention it. All three ships should reach Sky Island safely now. I have business elsewhere."
He vanished in a blur, melting into the clouds above.
…
Swoosh!
Shirogai pierced through the white sky-sea clouds, his six wings beating steadily. His gaze fixed on a distant presence, and a small smile played on his lips.
"Gods, huh? You know what I enjoy most? Slaying gods."
…
Sky Island, God's Shrine.
"Yahahahaha!"
On a lavish throne, Enel turned his head, his body stretched lazily, muscles rippling. His lips curled into a grin as his eyes narrowed toward the disturbance.
"Interesting," he muttered. "Even lowly Blue Sea people dare to trespass here."
Lightning crackled at his wrist. He raised his hand lazily.
"God's Punishment."
Boom!
A colossal pillar of blinding blue-white lightning descended from the heavens, slamming into Shirogai's position.
Crackle!
The roaring storm engulfed him, its sheer power shaking the skies.
…
When the lightning cleared, Shirogai still hovered, wings spread, smoke curling faintly off his body.
"Not bad," he said, exhaling. "It tingled a little."
His grin sharpened.
"It's rude not to return a gift."
He extended his arm, conjuring a long, gleaming spear of ice. With a flick of his wrist, he hurled it.
"Enel, try this on for size."
Swoosh!
The spear became a streak of frozen light, vanishing into the clouds.
…
At the Shrine, Enel's smile faltered.
"He's still alive?"
Then his eyes narrowed, a flicker of genuine caution appearing.
"This aura… That ice spear carries real power."
Buzz!
His body dissolved into lightning, streaking across the clouds to meet the attack.
The spear materialized in front of him, and before he could fully react—
Crack!
It pierced his chest, freezing him instantly. A massive iceberg erupted in the sky, swallowing Enel whole.
…
Deep within the ice, Enel smirked.
"This Blue Sea man has some strength."
Buzz!
Lightning surged. The iceberg shattered into shards, exploding outward in a storm of ice and light.
Reforming from sparks, Enel's expression was colder than ever.
"A mortal dares covet the power of a god? Death is the only fate for such arrogance."
…
Milestone,
100 Power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter