Angel Island's beach was bathed in perfect sunlight, the soft breeze carrying a touch of warmth. Beneath a small cloud pavilion, the Straw Hats enjoyed a rare moment of peace.
"It's really nice here. No Marines to chase us, no chaos for once."
Nami stretched lazily on a soft, white cloud sofa. "These cloud cushions are amazing… no wonder Sky Island has advanced cloud-processing technology."
"They say they also use something called Shell Energy — strange shells that can do all kinds of miraculous things."
Reiner lounged on another sofa beside her, a bottle of red wine and two tall glasses set on a stone table between them.
He'd spent 800,000 Berries on entry fees — not for adventure, but to enjoy a bit of calm. After all, this was Sky Island; it would've been a waste not to relax a little.
"Cheers," Nami said, raising her glass.
"Cheers."
Reiner glanced over at the others laughing and playing on the beach, feeling like a big brother watching over a group of younger siblings.
He could even understand Whitebeard a little now — the world's strongest man, standing closest to the throne of kings… yet all he wanted was to care for his "sons."
Sure, one of them turned traitor, but still.
Even a man like Blackbeard once thought: If I never find the Dark-Dark Fruit, I'll just stay on Whitebeard's ship for life.
That said a lot about the family-like warmth of that crew.
Swirling the wine in his glass, Reiner took a sip, then leaned back and closed his eyes, letting the soft sea breeze brush against his skin. The gentle white cloud beneath him felt so comfortable that sleep began to creep in.
"Hey, Reiner! Nami!"
Luffy's cheerful voice broke the calm. He ran toward them, grinning from ear to ear. "Let's go visit Conis's house!"
"Conis?" Reiner adjusted his sunglasses and sat up.
"Yeah! We just met her. She's really nice!" Luffy waved his arms excitedly. "Her family has this super cool bike thing — but it's so hard to ride! I couldn't even start it!"
Reiner and Nami looked up — behind Luffy, a young girl with long blonde hair followed timidly.
Conis wore a short pink dress. Her features were gentle and pretty, her fair skin glowing softly in the sunlight. Even dressed simply, her natural beauty stood out.
"Ha-so." Conis raised her hand slightly, smiling as she greeted them.
"Ha-so?" Nami blinked.
Luffy laughed. "She said it's how they say hello here! Ha-so! Ha-so!"
"Oh, I see."
Nami waved back. "Ha-so!"
Conis bowed her head slightly. "Earlier, my father's Waver almost ran into you. I'm terribly sorry. Please, come to our home so we can make it up to you."
Reiner chuckled, waving it off. "It's fine. We're still alive, aren't we?" He stood, gathering his things. "Let's go."
The group followed Conis inland. Angel Island was made of several large cloud-islands linked together by long stairways. Conis's home sat high above, so it took a while to reach.
"Conis," Nami asked curiously as they climbed, "what's a Waver, exactly?"
"It's your first time here from the Blue Sea, right?" Conis said, picking up a violet-colored shell from a shelf as they entered her home. "On Sky Island, everything runs on Shell Energy. We rely on Dials — shells like this one — and on the clouds themselves."
She held the shell up and pressed its top. A gust of wind burst out, spinning the wind chime on the porch.
"This is a Wind Dial. It stores wind energy and releases it when pressed. Wavers use large Wind Dials for propulsion — the same principle."
She smiled softly. "There are also Heat Dials, Sound Dials, and many others. Their names usually tell you what they do."
"Amazing!" Usopp's eyes sparkled. "These are unique to Sky Island, right? Would they still work if we brought them down to the Blue Sea?"
"Most of them would," Conis nodded. "But some types — especially Cloud Dials — lose their power outside this environment. They rely on the special Sky Island atmosphere."
She went on to explain:
Sea Clouds acted like the ocean, rich in Pyrobroin, the same substance that weakens Devil Fruit users.
Island Clouds were solid and bouncy — like the ones Luffy and the others had been jumping on earlier.
And finally, Processed Clouds, made by refining and shaping Island Clouds, were used for furniture and construction.
"Some even get modified," she added, "to make things like Iron Clouds or Swamp Clouds by mixing in other materials."
"I see," Usopp said, inspired. He immediately started flipping through a Dial encyclopedia Conis had brought out, hoping to learn more for his own inventions.
Reiner and Robin each took a copy as well, reading with interest.
Meanwhile, Conis's father was busy in the kitchen, preparing Sky Island's special dishes. Sanji, naturally, went to help — bringing a few Blue Sea ingredients from the ship to return the favor.
Reiner carried a soft cloud sofa onto the balcony. The sunlight was warm, and the view from up here was incredible — he could see people walking across the island below.
He leaned back, smoking quietly as he flipped through the Dial book.
Among the various types, something caught his attention.
"Conis," he called into the house, "these are all everyday Dials — but are there any offensive ones?"
He remembered Impact Dials — capable of releasing stored kinetic energy in a single devastating burst.
Unlike a normal strike, the shockwave penetrated the surface and damaged the interior — even someone like Luffy, with a rubber body, couldn't withstand it.
Some martial arts techniques worked similarly — like the internal strikes of Fishman Karate, or the Eight-Impact Fist used by the Happo Navy.
Reiner grinned. If I can combine Impact Dial force with Armament Haki's internal destruction and my aura control… every punch would be a Black Flash!
He wasn't a martial arts prodigy, but with his enhanced physique, he could push one move to perfection.
He didn't need to master a thousand techniques — just one unstoppable strike.
That would make him the One Punch Man of the seas.
"Um… you're looking for attack-type Dials?" Conis stepped out, clasping her hands nervously. "There are some listed in older books, but… ordinary people aren't allowed to own them. They're controlled by the God's Army."
"I see." Reiner nodded, closing the book and handing it back with a smile. "Sorry for the trouble."
"It's no problem." She smiled politely, clearly relieved.
Reiner chuckled softly. "Of course, it's not like I'd go steal one."
That reassurance made her relax completely — though, of course, she was wrong to.
The moment she went back inside, Reiner's grin shifted to something much sharper.
Steal one?
Of course he would. Free power was the best kind of power.
"Lunch is ready, everyone!" Sanji called.
"Wahaha! Coming!"
"Coming!"
Luffy and Reiner shouted in unison, then glared at each other.
"Why are you copying me?!"
"Why are you copying me?!"
"Bastard!"
"Damn it!"
"Pff—hahaha!" The others burst out laughing. "You even made the same face!"
Reiner took off his sunglasses, put on a serious expression, and mimed lighting a cigarette. "A true knight never lets a lady cry."
"Hey! You four-eyed jerk!" Zoro snapped, making everyone laugh even harder.
"Do Sanji next!" Usopp shouted between chuckles.
The whole house was filled with laughter and warmth.
Outside, however, in the distance—
"Crawl forward!"
"Crawl forward!"
A squad of burly men wearing purple shirts and white berets moved along the streets on their bellies, saluting every passerby they met.
"Ah, it's Captain McKinley of the White Berets!"
"Ha-so!"
"Ha-so!"
They kept crawling all the way through town until, an hour later, they reached Conis's door.
Knock, knock, knock!
"Who is it?" Conis asked, walking to the entrance.
"It's me — McKinley, Captain of the White Berets."
"Captain McKinley?" she repeated, surprised, but still opened the door. "Is there something wrong?"
McKinley handed her a folded white sheet of paper.
The Captain of the Divine Soldiers sent us to deliver a message… to the Blue Sea people.