With the stone tablet recovered from within the great serpent Nola, Eli Winters' journey to Sky Island could be called a complete success.
That night, Eli honored his promise. He brought out a feast of delicacies from the Blue Sea and treated Nola to a grand meal. The massive serpent ate until it was thoroughly satisfied.
The next morning, everyone bid farewell to the reluctant and sentimental Nola, then headed toward Enel's former stronghold. Their goal this time was simple. To retrieve the gold Enel had taken. Eli was not short on money, but gold sitting right in front of him was not something he planned to leave behind.
Sure enough, beneath Enel's palace lay a crude underground chamber. Inside, piles of gold were scattered carelessly across the floor. Mixed among the treasure was a finely crafted chest.
Curious, Eli opened it. Inside was a stack of patterned blueprints.
"Brother Eli, what's that?" Felina leaned over, peering inside with curiosity.
"A design for a flying ship," Eli said with a smile as he handed her the papers.
Upon hearing that, Felina immediately lost interest. Making a ship fly was hardly impressive to her. With her abilities, that was effortless.
With everything finally settled, the group wasted no time. They packed up quickly and rushed toward the edge of Sky Island.
Before leaving, Eli paused and spoke softly in his mind.
"System sign-in."
"Ding. Congratulations, Host. Sky Island sign-in successful. You have obtained 8,997 Prosperity Points and the Judgment Eye. Rewards delivered. Wishing you a pleasant life."
Wait. That sounded different.
Eli immediately checked the reward.
Judgment Eye: A manifestation of a special universal law. Can be fused with the host's eyes. After fusion, the host may perceive the good and evil within others.
"What the hell?" Eli muttered internally. "System, since when did you get this powerful? You're handing out fragments of universal laws now?"
"Host, please refrain from displaying such provincial shock. This system has existed across countless epochs. Without a few exceptional items, how would I survive?"
"Then why didn't you give me something like this earlier?"
"All rewards are randomized. Some items have extremely low appearance rates. Please abandon unrealistic expectations. Thank you."
"Haha, I'm kidding," Eli replied shamelessly in his mind. "You're my closest companion. How could I ever blame you?"
"Host, please stop acting so cheap. It is mildly nauseating."
"Alright, alright," Eli said seriously. "How do I fuse the Judgment Eye?"
"Simply will it."
"Fuse."
Nothing happened.
Eli waited, then asked silently, "System, is it done?"
"Host may check the status panel."
Eli immediately opened his attributes. Sure enough, beneath Spatial Mastery, a new innate divine ability had appeared: Judgment Eye.
"Not bad at all."
He closed the panel with satisfaction, wearing a grin so smug it looked like he had eaten something far sweeter than honey. Walking at the front, he drew plenty of curious looks from Big Pan and the others, who began whispering among themselves, wondering whether their captain had just stumbled upon some incredible fortune.
After a long journey, they finally reached the edge of Sky Island. From there, the vast ocean churned far below. Eli calmly retrieved the Silver Dragon from storage. The sleek, imposing vessel immediately drew everyone's attention.
Once everyone boarded, Dotai skillfully took control. The Silver Dragon shot forward and plunged straight off the edge of Sky Island.
The sudden drop sent hearts racing, but the crew were all veterans. Panic lasted only a moment.
At that instant, Felina, who had been prepared all along, made her move. Her delicate hands danced lightly through the air.
White clouds bloomed around the Silver Dragon, surging in from every direction. Like disciplined soldiers, they gathered beneath the ship, forming a massive cushion.
The clouds looked soft, yet they carried immense force. The Silver Dragon's plummet slowed rapidly.
Thanks to Felina's Devil Fruit ability, they did not need balloon octopuses or any other improvised tricks. The ship descended smoothly and safely toward the Blue Sea.
Compared to lifting the Silver Dragon upward, merely supporting it during descent required far less effort. Felina showed no signs of exhaustion, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
As the ship drifted downward at a leisurely pace, Eli suddenly remembered the small Sky Island that was said to exist below. There should have been meteorological researchers living there. He scanned the surroundings but saw nothing.
A trace of disappointment surfaced. He had wanted to buy a few small flying craft.
It took over an hour for the Silver Dragon to descend from ten thousand meters and return to the familiar sea.
"Haha, we're finally back!" Big Pan shouted excitedly.
"What, were you unhappy on Sky Island?" Eli teased.
"Not exactly," Big Pan scratched his head. "It was fun, but something about it just felt off."
"I thought it was just me," Kuri said in surprise. "I assumed it was because I'm weaker."
"I felt it too."
"Same here," others chimed in.
"Sky Island is ten thousand meters above sea level," Robin explained calmly. "The air is thinner there. Reduced oxygen affects physical performance, which creates that oppressive feeling."
"So that's why," Reiju said admiringly. "Robin, you really know everything."
"Well, that's what happens when you read books," Eli said with a laugh.
"And yet you didn't know," Fiona shot back mercilessly.
"How do you know I didn't?" Eli protested. "I just didn't say anything."
Fiona rolled her eyes and decided it was not worth arguing with someone that thick-skinned.
After some playful banter, they turned to the next destination.
"This time, we're heading to Water Seven," Eli announced.
No one objected. Once the log pose was properly calibrated, the Silver Dragon set sail toward the famous city.
Midway through their journey, something strange caught their eye. A long railway stretched across the sea's surface like a giant serpent.
"Boss, come look at this!" Big Pan shouted from the bow, waving frantically.
Eli put down his magazine and walked over. Following Big Pan's finger, he saw a train track extending endlessly across the ocean.
A low rumble echoed, and soon a steam-belching train rolled into view. The old cars clattered along the rails, their steady rhythm echoing across the open sea.
Felina and the others rushed out as well, staring in disbelief. A train running across the ocean was far beyond common sense.
Eli, however, remained calm. He had seen this before. What stirred his curiosity instead was another matter.
Was Tom, the legendary shipwright and Iceburg's teacher, still alive?
If so, Eli would not mind lending a hand. Talents like that were rare, and one day, he might need such a master himself.
The Sea Train rumbled past without slowing, gradually disappearing into the distance.
Soon, no one paid it any more attention, and the Silver Dragon continued toward Water Seven.
"Captain," Robin said with a gentle smile as she sat beside Eli's lounge chair. "Are you planning something in Water Seven?"
"Oh?" Eli asked, lowering his magazine. "Why do you think that?"
"Ever since you mentioned Water Seven, you've been in unusually high spirits," Robin replied knowingly.
"You really pay attention to me," Eli joked, then continued, "I won't hide it. I want the shipwrights there to build me a dream ship."
"But isn't the Silver Dragon already excellent?" Robin asked, puzzled.
Eli shook his head. "It's good, but it's a modified vessel. The alterations are obvious. It still falls short of what I truly want."
From the moment he left that small island, a dream ship had lived in his heart. In the Four Seas, the Silver Dragon had been more than enough. But after entering the Grand Line, that desire had reignited, especially now that Water Seven was so close.
"Then I'll look forward to your dream ship, Captain," Robin said happily.
"I won't disappoint you," Eli replied with a smile.
Two days later, the Silver Dragon finally arrived at the renowned city of Water Seven.
From afar, the city resembled a stepped pyramid, divided into inner and outer districts connected by massive stair-like bridges. Built to withstand the threat of Aqua Laguna, its layout accounted for flooding and rising tides.
Faced with countless waterways and entrances, the group hesitated, unsure which path to take.
Just then, a warship passed by and deliberately scraped a sharp protrusion against the Silver Dragon's hull.
Eli frowned. Space warped as he pushed the warship away.
Instead of backing off, the other ship suddenly turned and rammed them again.
Eli's eyes turned cold. Had he been quiet for too long? Even nobodies dared provoke him now?
Before he could act, Big Pan had already raised his Dragon Coil Staff.
"Wait!" someone shouted from the other ship.
"Wait your ass," Big Pan roared. "Die."
With a single strike, the warship shattered into pieces. Several fighters attempting to block him were sent flying.
"Trash," Big Pan spat disdainfully.