The five pirate ships continued their ascent along the cloud waterfall.
Beneath each vessel, enormous lobsters surfaced from the White Sea. With their massive pincers clamped onto both sides of the hulls, they moved in perfect unison, pushing the ships steadily upward.
These creatures were a specialty of Skypiea, known as Express Shrimp.
Their role was similar to the waterfall-climbing goldfish of Wano Country. Both species were experts at moving against raging currents, making them indispensable for vertical travel.
As the Nightfall Pirates disappeared into the clouds, Amazon stood frozen beneath the Gate of Heaven for a long time before finally regaining her senses.
Just one glance from Teach had left her drenched in cold sweat, her body locked in place by instinctive fear.
The moment she recovered, she rushed back into the room beneath the gate, which also served as her residence. She grabbed a Den Den Mushi, uploaded the photos and footage she had taken, and urgently reported the illegal intrusion to Skypiea's authorities.
Above the waterfall, the scenery changed.
What awaited them was not open sky, but a vast cloud river, spiraling upward like a massive aerial passageway.
The Express Shrimp lived up to their name. Their speed was astonishing, the ascent smooth yet thrilling, like riding an endless roller coaster. In a surprisingly short time, the ships reached an altitude of ten thousand meters.
They had arrived.
Skypiea lay before them in all its glory.
For a moment, no one spoke. The sight exceeded every expectation. It was breathtaking, far more magnificent than even the wildest rumors suggested.
When the crew disembarked, their boots sank lightly into the soft clouds. The sensation was surreal, like stepping into a dream. In the distance, white clouds rose and fell like mountain ranges.
Without seeing it with their own eyes, no one would ever believe such a world existed above the sea.
Skypiea rested upon the White Sea. In recorded history, only fragments of it were ever described. Most people only knew of the Land of God, which included Angel Island and Upper Yard, the portion of Jaya that had been blasted skyward by the Knock-Up Stream.
Other sky islands existed as well.
Birka, which would one day be destroyed by Enel.
Weatheria, where Nami would later study meteorology.
And the homeland of Urouge, the Mad Monk, another sky island entirely.
Even Kaido himself was known to leap from sky islands without hesitation.
The White Sea was vast, far larger than Angel Island alone. Numerous sky island communities were scattered across it, and Angel Island was actually one of the more remote settlements.
"We can actually walk on clouds," Baccarat said, hopping lightly. Her eyes sparkled with amazement. "This is incredible."
Some crew members quickly joined in, treating the clouds like trampolines.
"If Skypiea exists, then of course the clouds have structure," Teach said with a faint smile, gazing into the distance. "Nothing exists without a reason."
At the same time, his senses picked up approaching presences.
Angel Island lay straight ahead.
The arrival of over a thousand pirates from the Blue Sea did not go unnoticed. From afar, the town appeared to be built entirely from clouds, its structures nestled gently atop the White Sea. Winged residents gathered at a distance, watching warily.
"They all have wings," one crew member exclaimed.
"Did you only notice now?" another replied smugly. "That old woman at the gate had wings too. Sky islanders must all have them. Maybe they can fly."
"Fly?" someone else said skeptically. "Those wings look pretty small."
"They're decorative," Teach said calmly. "They don't fly. They don't even move."
Before the discussion could continue, heavy footsteps echoed across the clouds.
Members of the God's Guard, clad in white uniforms, rushed onto the scene. They were Angel Island's enforcers, directly under the authority of Skypiea's God.
Amazon's report had reached them quickly.
"People of the Blue Sea," the captain of the guard declared sternly, gripping his weapon, "you have violated Skypiea's laws. Pay the fee now, and you may still be forgiven. Otherwise, punishment will follow."
Though his voice was firm, his tension was obvious.
The God's Guard numbered just over a hundred here. The Nightfall Pirates exceeded a thousand. The difference was overwhelming.
He did not want a fight, but as captain, he could not allow Skypiea's laws to be openly trampled.
"God?" murmured several pirates. "Skypiea has a God?"
"It's a title, not a deity," Redyat explained. "Skypiea is a theocracy. Every sky island has a God, which is basically a king."
The explanation was met with indifference.
The God's Guard captain's expression darkened. "Do not be arrogant, people of the Blue Sea."
In his experience, Blue Sea intruders were usually weak. They were captured or expelled with ease. The only reason he hesitated now was the sheer number of pirates before him.
"Handle it," Teach said flatly. "I have no interest in pretending to be friendly."
Then he added calmly, "Be cautious. Skypiea uses Dials. Some can release power stronger than cannon fire, and their combat style relies on combining different Dials. It's unconventional."
"Heh. Sounds interesting," Laffitte chuckled.
The others were eager as well. The thin air consumed stamina faster, but they had already adapted.
"Charge!" the captain roared, his face contorted with anger. "Show these Blue Sea people the might of the God's Guard!"
A burst of compressed air erupted from beneath his feet. He shot forward as if flying, spear aimed straight at the pirates.
The rest followed, propelled by similar impacts. Their movements were fast and precise, clearly the result of long practice. They could even adjust their trajectory midair.
Some of the pirates watched with interest.
So this was sky combat.
Teach remained still.
To the Nightfall Pirates, this was nothing more than novelty. They had survived battles against emperors, admirals, and monsters of the sea. Compared to that, these techniques were limited.
Dials were powerful tools, but their limits were clear. Against weak opponents, they were devastating. Against veterans of the New World, they fell short.
Within minutes, the battlefield was decided.
Over a hundred members of the God's Guard lay defeated. Some were unconscious. Others lay dead, their blood staining the pristine white clouds.
From the distant town, the sky islanders watched in horror.
Half of the God's Guard had fallen.
The rest stood no chance.
Fear spread rapidly. No one knew what these Blue Sea pirates wanted, or what they would do next.
A pirate raised his blade, preparing to finish off a fallen guard.
"Stop!"
The voice rang out like a command.
Teach and several others looked up.
A figure descended from the sky at incredible speed, not using Dials, but raw physical ability. He landed between the pirate and his target, silver spear raised.
Clad in knightly armor, with a powerful build and sharp eyes, he looked nothing like the frail old man history would later remember.
His spear blocked the blade cleanly.
"It's God!"
"God has come!"
Hope surged through the sky islanders.
This was Gan Fall, the current God of Skypiea, ruler of Angel Island and its strongest warrior. His strength and benevolence had earned him the people's trust.
But hope alone would not change reality.
"Blue Sea people," Gan Fall said in a deep voice, turning toward Teach, "stop this meaningless slaughter. Killing them serves no purpose."
The pirate withdrew his blade and returned to formation.
Gan Fall was strong. In the Blue Sea, he would easily warrant a bounty of two hundred million Berries.
But that was all.
Teach smiled lightly. "You attacked first. The strong do not obey the rules of the weak."
The collective gaze of the Nightfall Pirates fell upon Gan Fall like a crushing weight.
With Observation Haki, he could sense it clearly. The leaders among these pirates were monsters. He stood no chance.
The pressure reminded him of four years ago, when the Roger Pirates had visited Skypiea.
But this time was different.
These were not adventurers. They were predators.
Sweat rolled down Gan Fall's brow.
Teach's logic was twisted, but it was also brutally honest.
As God, Gan Fall bore responsibility for Skypiea. He could not allow this conflict to escalate further.
"What do you want?" he asked at last, lowering his head. "If you need anything, I will provide it. Just do not harm the residents of Angel Island."
"Heh," Teach said. "Simple enough. We will take a few things from Upper Yard. And you will tell me the location of Birka."
Gan Fall exhaled deeply.
That was all.
Upper Yard could be plundered if necessary. As for Birka, he knew its location well. The Birka Kingdom had long coveted God's Island, but distance and Gan Fall's strength had kept them at bay.
Angel Island was small. Its guard numbered only two hundred.
Birka had thousands.
If the two were closer, Skypiea would have fallen long ago.
If these Blue Sea pirates turned their attention to Birka, it would remove a long-standing threat.
Gan Fall made his decision.
Without hesitation or concealment, he told Teach everything he knew about Birka's location.
He only hoped that, once satisfied, these pirates would leave Skypiea behind.