White Sea, God's Country – the Sky Holy Land.
"Wow! Sky Island, we're here!"
The Going Merry burst through the White Sea's waves after being launched by the Express Shrimp. The crew spilled onto the deck, eyes wide with awe.
"It's a town! A whole town floating on clouds!" Usopp shouted, pointing ahead.
Houses, roads, and bridges emerged faintly from the mist. Beneath them stretched thick layers of cloud, rising and falling like rolling hills.
Great white arches connected cloud to cloud, spanning rivers of vapor. Green vines as thick as towers curved upward, damming the white mist to form flowing streams that trickled across the island. Astonishingly, forests of vibrant green trees grew atop the clouds themselves, their leaves glistening in the sunlight.
The scene was otherworldly—sacred, pure, yet touched with life.
"Look! Look!"
Luffy balanced on the rooster head of the Going Merry, pointing with both hands as he laughed. "Sky Island is real! Those idiots back on the Blue Sea who didn't believe it must feel so stupid right now!"
Zoro rested a hand on Wado Ichimonji, his eyes narrowing in awe. "I never thought I'd see forests in the sky."
Sanji leaned over the rail, his cigarette dangling from his lips. "If this place exists, then maybe the legendary seas aren't just stories either."
Chopper poked his little reindeer head between the railings, nose twitching. "It looks like cotton candy!" His eyes sparkled, and drool trickled down his muzzle. "It must taste delicious!"
Nami's gaze, however, was locked on something else. Her eyes gleamed like gold coins. "That means the treasure map was right. All that gold we found came from here… There's bound to be more! I'm rich, I'm rich!"
Robin smiled softly, her dark eyes filled with wonder. "This is truly a Sky Island. The records were right." She whispered to herself: reading ten thousand books is nothing compared to traveling ten thousand miles.
The Going Merry drifted to the edge of the island, gently bumping against the soft white shore.
"I'm first!" Luffy shouted, leaping off the bow and rolling across the fluffy surface. "Haha, the ground's so squishy!"
"Not so fast!" Usopp readied his slingshot. "Special Attack—Sticky Star!"
The gum projectile glued Luffy to the cloud, earning Usopp a triumphant smirk. "Now I'm first!"
"Cheater!" Luffy roared, stretching an arm to grab Usopp by the waist. "Gum-Gum Usopp Slam!"
"Waaah! Luffy, let me go!"
While the two bickered and wrestled, tiny hooves landed softly on the shore.
"Hehe, I'm first after all!" Chopper cheered proudly, hopping on the clouds. "It's so soft!"
"No, you're second," a calm voice interrupted.
"Huh?" Chopper spun around. His big eyes widened. "Shirogai!"
From the forest shadows stepped Shirogai Yamikuro, holding several oddly shaped sky gourds in his arms. His dark wings folded neatly against his back, and a faint smile tugged at his lips.
"Shirogai! You made it!" the crew shouted together.
"You…" Zoro grinned, pulling in the anchor. "You beat us here."
Shirogai chuckled, tossing a gourd up and catching it. "I even had time for a nap. You lot are too slow."
Chopper squealed happily and leapt into his arms. Shirogai dropped the gourds and caught him effortlessly. "You look happy."
"Of course!" Chopper grinned from ear to ear. "I saw Sky Island for real!"
On the ship, the others beamed, relief clear on their faces.
"Oi, I want a hug too!" Luffy shouted, dragging Usopp along as they both flung themselves toward Shirogai.
"You two are like kids," Shirogai muttered, but he caught them with ease, letting them hang from his arms.
"Shirogai!" Sanji called, leaping down onto the clouds. "I knew you'd be safe."
Shirogai raised a brow, smirking. "Want a hug too?"
Sanji's face twisted. "Tch, not a chance. My arms are only for ladies."
Zoro dropped beside him with a scoff. "Then you'll die alone, cook."
"What was that, moss-head?"
While the two glared, Shirogai turned just in time to see Nami leap from the Merry.
"Catch me!"
"Hey—" He caught her by the waist before she hit the ground.
"Qin—no, Shirogai!" She pounded her fist on his head, eyes flashing with anger. "Do you know how worried we were? You disappeared without a word!"
He rubbed the spot where she hit him, still smiling. "I didn't plan on it. Cricket and Masira's ship broke down. I stayed to help with repairs. By the time I was done, you'd already left."
Zoro shrugged. "Anyone who can fight Admirals won't fall off a ship. These idiots worry too much."
The crew burst into laughter, the tension of the past hours finally fading. Together, they basked in the surreal beauty of Sky Island, reunited at last.
"Yosh! Sky Island is so much fun!" Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper rolled through the clouds, laughing like children.
But then—
Ding… ding-dong… ding…
A series of haunting bells echoed from deep within the island.
The crew froze.
"Hide!" Nami hissed.
"Could it be that masked guy again?" Zoro muttered, hand drifting toward his swords.
The air grew heavy as the mysterious melody spread through the clouds.
_____
Milestone,
100 Power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter