Early the next morning, Kaito rose quietly before anyone else stirred. Without disturbing a soul, he began moving toward the coastline where his Eternal Log Pose pointed—toward Gaya Island.
Gaya, shaped like a massive skull, held a mysterious secret. Four hundred years ago, an enormous upwelling current had split the island in half, sending one portion high into the heavens. That fragment became known as Sky Island.
This was exactly why Kaito sought Gaya—because finding it meant finding a path to the sky. All he needed to do was reach it and ascend along the same current.
By the time Kaito arrived, the sun had already climbed high, painting the ocean with gold. He stopped briefly at a small shop, refreshed himself, then walked to a quiet area where no one would see him. The moment he was sure he was alone, his body shimmered with power—and he launched himself skyward.
To reach Sky Island, one had to first pass through the White Sea, seven thousand meters above sea level. For ordinary people, it was an impossible task, but Kaito was no ordinary man. He didn't need a Knock-Up Stream or any vessel; he could simply fly under his own power.
As he climbed higher, the air grew thinner and colder. The wind whipped violently, the pressure biting at his skin, but Kaito's body didn't falter. The harshness that would cripple others meant nothing to him.
Minutes later, a vast layer of shimmering clouds appeared below. The endless whiteness looked like an ocean suspended in the sky—this was the White Sea.
A rare smile touched Kaito's face. He'd found it.
With a sharp breath, his body became a blur of motion, cutting through the air like a streak of light. Soon, he saw it—a floating island rising from the cloud sea, adorned with shining buildings and pale green trees.
Angel Island.
Just like in the legends.
Descending onto the island, Kaito noticed several locals staring at him. The people of Sky Island had small, white wings sprouting from their backs, while he had none. Their gazes turned hostile almost instantly.
Of course, Kaito understood why. Four centuries ago, when Gaya's half had been launched into the sky, it was renamed the Island of the Gods by the Sky Islanders. The original inhabitants—the Shandia tribe—were driven away. Since then, a 400-year war had raged between the two peoples.
A man without wings could only be a Shandian in their eyes—an enemy.
Kaito ignored their glares completely, walking leisurely through the streets as if the tension in the air didn't exist. He was only here for one reason—to find Enel, the so-called god who ruled this place.
But that raised a small problem: he didn't know the exact location of God's Island. Judging by the way the Sky Islanders eyed him, he doubted anyone would be kind enough to give directions.
He smirked faintly. Extracting information from them by force wasn't worth the trouble. Still, if some fool decided to provoke him, he wouldn't mind using his powers to draw out their memories.
Kaito activated his electromagnetic sensing, feeling the electrical signatures of the beings around him. It revealed the presence of others but not their appearances—useless for locating one particular person.
"Right," he muttered. A thought struck him. In the original record of this world, Conis often played her harp at Angel Beach, accompanied by a small white fox.
That made things easier.
Following the coastline, he soon spotted the beach—and the creature he was looking for. A snow-white fox sat gracefully on the sand, its fur gleaming like silk under the sunlight. Its bright eyes darted curiously at him, sharp and intelligent.
"That must be Conis's pet," Kaito thought, watching it tilt its head. "If the fox is here, she can't be far."
Just then, a gentle melody drifted through the air—a harp's voice carried by the wind. The tune was pure and delicate, tinged with a melancholy sweetness.
Kaito followed the sound until he reached a clearing by the shore. There she was—a girl with light blonde hair tied into Sky Island's unique braided style, a small knot resting at the end. She sat on a rock, completely absorbed in her music.
Kaito stopped and listened. The notes rose and fell like waves—sometimes calm and steady, sometimes surging like a storm. For a moment, he closed his eyes and simply let himself sink into the rhythm. It was peaceful, almost nostalgic.
When the song finally ended, nearly an hour had passed. He opened his eyes to find Conis smiling gently at him.
"You're awake?" she asked softly.
Kaito nodded. "Hmm. Your music is beautiful."
Her smile brightened instantly. "Thank you! You're actually the first person from the Blue Sea to say that to me!" Her eyes crinkled happily, like crescent moons.
A moment ago, she'd only been curious about him. Now, she felt a faint warmth—perhaps even admiration.
"You must be from the Blue Sea, right?" she continued, studying his clothes.
"Yeah," Kaito replied easily. "I came here looking for God's Island. But it seems people here aren't too friendly toward outsiders."
At the mention of that name, Conis stiffened. She glanced around nervously, lowering her voice.
"God's Island?" she whispered. "You shouldn't ask about that. Even if you find it, you'll die if you go there."
"Why?"
"Because," she said, leaning closer, "that's where the ruler of Sky Island lives. Lord Enel—the god. His power is terrifying. He controls lightning itself. Even the former god couldn't stand against him."
The fear in her eyes was unmistakable.
Kaito, however, only chuckled. "A god? He's just a man who ate a Fruit, nothing more. Lightning doesn't make you divine."
Conis looked shocked at his casual tone. "You… you really shouldn't speak that way! If anyone hears—"
"Relax," he interrupted. "Just tell me where the island is."
She hesitated, biting her lip. "You really intend to go there?"
Kaito nodded. "I'm going to retrieve something."
Conis frowned but sighed. "If you insist, you'll have to pass the four trials first—the ordeals set by Enel's priests. No one has ever survived all of them. Those who fail… die."
"Are you sure you still want to go?"
"Of course," Kaito said with calm certainty, a spark of light flashing in his eyes. "Besides, there's a score to settle between me and Enel. It won't end until one of us is gone."
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