"What? To reach Sky Island, we have to ride the Knock-Up Stream?"
Usopp stared wide-eyed at Mont Blanc Cricket, his jaw nearly dropping.
"But the Going Merry has already taken a lot of damage! How can it possibly survive such an impact?"
Cricket, with a cigarette hanging from his lips, cast a glance at the small ship resting by the shore.
"Indeed, this vessel looks fragile. It'll need reinforcement. Don't worry, Shoujou and Masira will help you patch her up before tomorrow."
Shoujou laughed loudly, his voice echoing across the shore.
"Ooh-wee-wee! Leave it to us! When we reach Sky Island together, make sure you lend us a hand too!"
Masira tossed his long hair dramatically.
"That ship is in rough shape, but nothing we can't handle!"
"Wait—Uncle!"
Nami covered her face in horror.
"If the Going Merry breaks apart during the Knock-Up Stream, what'll happen to us?"
Cricket exhaled a puff of smoke and replied bluntly,
"If your luck is bad, you'll die painfully."
Before Nami could recover, he continued in the same calm tone,
"If your luck is good, you'll die a bit quicker."
"That's still dying!"
Nami nearly burst into tears, turning to Luffy.
"Luffy, please! If we stay here for just a few days, our Log Pose will reset, and we can sail to the next island instead!"
But Luffy turned away, puffing out his cheeks stubbornly.
"No! I'm going to Sky Island, no matter what!"
Nami's eyes lit up with another argument.
"Uncle, you said the Knock-Up Stream happens at set times, right? By then our Log Pose will already point to the next island!"
"Exactly!" Usopp chimed in eagerly. "There's no rush! You don't even know when the next one will happen, do you?"
Cricket calmly opened his travel bag inside the house.
"Tomorrow noon."
The room froze.
"W-what?! Tomorrow noon?!" Usopp stammered.
"Then… then we can actually reach Sky Island tomorrow?"
Luffy's grin spread wide.
"Hehe! That's perfect!"
Cricket adjusted his things indifferently.
"Whether you go or not is your choice. But I will ride the Knock-Up Stream tomorrow. I must see with my own eyes if the missing half of Jaya rests on Sky Island."
Suddenly, a startled cry broke the air.
"Ahhhh!"
Chopper pointed in horror.
"Everyone, look! Shirogai has turned into an egg!"
"Huh?!"
"What?!"
The crew rushed outside. Where Shirogai's ice throne once stood, there was now a massive, two-meter-tall egg of pure ice-blue crystal. Shirogai was nowhere to be seen.
"So big!" Luffy exclaimed, touching the icy surface. "Shirogai, are you inside—ow!"
The moment his finger brushed the shell, a surge of freezing energy erupted, spreading instantly across his arm.
Crack!
Luffy's entire arm froze solid in an instant.
"My hand!" he shouted, stumbling back as frost spread across half his body. He yanked himself free just before the ice could claim him completely, but collapsed shivering on the ground.
"H-h-help me! It's so cold!"
Sanji, cigarette trembling at his lips, widened his eyes.
"What terrifying power…"
"Luffy, don't move! I'll treat you!" Chopper rushed forward, shifting into his human form. With Sanji's help, he carried the half-frozen captain toward Cricket's house.
"Uncle! Can we use your bathroom?"
"Go ahead," Cricket replied indifferently.
Meanwhile, Zoro crossed his arms, staring calmly at the strange egg.
"No need to panic. Shirogai is probably undergoing some kind of training. His level is way beyond ours. We don't need to worry about him."
"But… when will he come out?" Usopp asked nervously, circling the egg.
"We'll decide about Sky Island after he does," Nami said with relief, secretly hoping Shirogai would stay cocooned for a while.
Zoro leaned back against the wall, holding his swords.
"No matter how long it takes, we'll wait. But the question is—do we trust this uncle and his crew to fix our ship?"
"No!" Usopp cried. "Think about it! He wants to help us reinforce the Merry, told us when the Knock-Up Stream is coming, and even insists on going with us! Doesn't that sound suspicious?"
Shoujou and Masira both glared at him.
"Ooh-wee-wee! Watch your mouth, long-nose!"
"What are you accusing us of?!"
Cricket stepped forward, brushing past Usopp with a faint smile.
"Being cautious is wise. But I'm glad to meet people who dare to chase their dreams. I never doubt that fools can achieve the impossible."
Usopp froze, caught between suspicion and the sincerity in Cricket's words.
Cricket chuckled.
"If you agree, let us know quickly. Reinforcing three ships in one night isn't easy. You all can rest in my house while we work."
He turned to his companions.
"Let's go, we'll give their ship some wings. No need to dive for salvage anymore."
Shoujou and Masira brightened.
"Hahaha! Yes, old man!"
…
Inside the ice egg, Shirogai floated with his eyes closed.
"Human…"
A colossal ice-blue figure coiled around him in the darkness of his inner world.
"Submit to me. Together, we'll freeze the seas and turn the world into our domain."
Its voice rumbled like an ancient god, heavy and cold. The form of a vast serpent, its body spanning the horizon, glared down with eyes like frozen moons.
Shirogai's lips curved into a sharp grin. His eyes snapped open.
"Heh. So this is the so-called will of the Devil Fruit? Trying to parasitize me?"
He stared boldly at the serpent.
"Interesting. Even the system replicated a consciousness for the fruit. But you've chosen the wrong host."
The Ice Serpent hissed, coiling tighter around him.
"Human, obey me! Together we'll ascend to godhood!"
Shirogai's grin widened.
"Godhood? You dare offer me scraps when the world itself is mine to plunder?"
---