Three pirate crews set sail together, side by side, their ships gliding across the endless sea.
"Hehehe, today's a perfect day to head for Sky Island!"
Luffy stood proudly on the Going Merry's rooster figurehead, the wind brushing his straw hat as he laughed.
"Let's go, everyone! Sky Island awaits!"
The Straw Hats cheered in unison, their excitement echoing across the waves.
"Yeah!"
At the bow, Shirogai Yamikuro gazed at the sky, his lips curling into a faint smile.
"That presence… Enel. A self-proclaimed god. I'll be taking your Thunder-Thunder Fruit for myself."
On another ship, Shoujou scowled, glaring at Luffy.
"Ooooh-oh-oh! Straw Hat! Stop barking orders like you're the boss here!"
His salvage ship had been fitted with massive black wings, making it resemble a grotesque sea bird.
"You really surprised me, Straw Hat," Shoujou added, his voice still irritated. "Defeating that spring fool Bellamy made my heart skip."
Masira's ship, not to be outdone, had wooden wings that looked crudely strapped onto a hulking gorilla frame. Standing at the helm, Masira grinned and shouted:
"But don't forget, the leader of our fleet isn't you! It should be the old man!"
"Masira. Shoujou."
Cricket, standing firm behind them, cut in with a serious tone.
"Enough nonsense. I'm no commander. The two of you just need to guide us toward the exact point of the Upstream Current."
"Ooooh-oh-oh! Leave it to us, old man!"
"Ho-ho-ho! We're good at this!"
Each ship carried a compass bird, its head locked pointing south from the moment it hatched. With their help, the crews navigated toward their destination.
…
Two hours later, Masira's sonar team resurfaced.
"Found it!" a diver shouted, gasping for breath. "At ten o'clock, hidden waves flowing against the current—it must be a massive whirlpool!"
Shoujou's eyes gleamed.
"That's it! Counter-rotating currents—the mark of an impending Upstream Current!"
He turned and yelled toward the Going Merry.
"Straw Hat! Stay close! Things are about to get rough!"
"Report!" another lookout cried. "Dark clouds spotted southwest! A massive cumulonimbus!"
The three crews lifted their eyes. Towering storm clouds loomed in the distance, black and ominous.
From the Going Merry's crow's nest, Usopp peered through his telescope and nearly dropped it in fright.
"They're huge! Why are those clouds so thick?! This is terrifying!"
Cricket's expression, however, was calm. His voice rumbled with determination as he stared at the clouds.
"Finally… Sky Island. Gold City. Montblanc family… we are coming again!"
Splash!
The Going Merry shook violently, the sea churning beneath her.
"Wahh! What's happening?!"
The Straw Hats staggered as the ship rocked. Chopper squealed as he almost toppled into the water—until Shirogai caught him by the antlers, holding him steady with one hand.
"Careful, Chopper," Shirogai said lightly.
Nami gasped as she studied the raging sea.
"There's no wind, but the waves are enormous… A hidden undercurrent! The Upstream Current is gathering strength here!"
Shirogai shook his head calmly.
"Not yet. This is only the prelude. When the true Upstream Current comes, the sea itself will fall silent before the storm."
Sanji and Zoro braced themselves, ready to guard against accidents. With so many Devil Fruit users aboard—including Shirogai himself—they couldn't risk anyone falling overboard.
Robin gripped the railing, her dark hair dampened by spray. Her curves glistened under the mist as she asked evenly:
"Nami, where's the Log Pose pointing now?"
Nami checked quickly, her eyes widening.
"It's pointing directly at those black clouds in the sky!"
The crew's gazes lifted together toward the looming storm.
"Don't tell me… Sky Island is up there?"
The waves swelled higher, tossing the ships about. The salvage crews hurried to secure loose cargo, their unease evident despite their experience.
Shoujou whooped, his face alight.
"Old man! We struck gold! This eruption is going to be perfect!"
Masira bellowed with laughter.
"See? Even the heavens are smiling on us!"
Cricket's chest swelled with pride. He raised his arm toward the storm and roared:
"Friends! For our dreams—if we must die, then we die chasing them! Live or die, today we set sail toward our romance!"
Luffy clutched his straw hat to his head, laughing.
"Hehehe, old man! You're amazing!"
Nami's face drained of color.
"Huh?! Did you say die?!"
Sanji, ever dramatic, puffed his chest out.
"Don't worry, Nami-swaan, Robin-Chwaan,I'll protect you both with my life!"
"Attention, everyone!" Shirogai's calm voice carried across the deck. "We're about to hit the whirlpool's core."
The Merry lurched upward on a towering wave. Ahead, the sea twisted into a massive, dark whirlpool, bottomless and terrifying.
Usopp collapsed to his knees, sobbing.
"Ahhh! I'm gonna die! Stop the ship! Somebody stop it!"
Zoro, dripping seawater, kept his grip steady on the railing.
"It's too late, Usopp. We're already in."
Robin's eyes widened in awe.
"My first time seeing a whirlpool this enormous…"
Chopper's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Wow! Maybe this will launch us right into the sky!"
Shoujou's voice boomed across the storm.
"Furl the sails! On my count to ten, steer straight into the center!"
"What?!" Nami shrieked. "We'll sink!"
"Just do it!" Masira yelled back. "Any hesitation and it's over!"
Sanji and Zoro rushed to furl the sails.
"Ten! Nine! Eight!" Luffy shouted, counting along with excitement.
"Stop, Luffy! This is suicide!" Usopp clung to him, sobbing.
"Five! Four!"
"Come on, Usopp! We're going to Sky Island! Smile already!" Luffy laughed, dragging him along.
"This is literally walking into hell!" Usopp wailed.
"Three!"
"Usopp, if we miss this adventure, we'll regret it forever!"
From the cabin came Shirogai's calm reminder.
"The Going Merry is ready. Are you?"
Nami and Usopp's faces went pale. Somehow, Shirogai had already prepared everything.
"Charge, Shirogai!" Luffy cried, his eyes blazing. "Sky Island, here we come!"
The Going Merry tilted, racing with the other ships into the whirlpool's mouth.
"Oh no!" Nami shrieked, pointing. "Even a Sea King just got swallowed!"
"We're doomed!"
The ship plummeted, the crew screaming, until—
WHOOSH!
A torrent of seawater erupted upward, catching all three ships at once.
"The whirlpool… it vanished?!" Usopp stammered.
"No." Shirogai's eyes glinted as he braced himself. "This is it. The true Upstream Current."
"Hold tight!"
Shoujou waved from across the spray.
"Straw Hat Pirates! We'll meet you at Sky Island!"
Masira gripped the railing, his voice cracking with exhilaration.
"My heart's gonna burst! This is insane!"
Cricket's laughter rang out even over the roar of the sea.
"To meet companions who believe in dreams—this is fortune itself! May we all reach Sky Island together!"
Luffy threw his head back, grinning wide.
"Of course we will! Everyone's gonna make it!"
Cricket's gaze lingered on Shirogai.
"If something happens, lend a hand."
Shirogai smirked.
"Within my power… I'll make sure we rise."
…
BOOM!
The sea exploded. A colossal column of water burst skyward, carrying the three ships like toys. The Upstream Current had arrived.
_____
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