The warm smell of Oden still lingered on the deck as the Oro Jackson sailed into a strange stretch of sea. The wind was calm, but the sky felt unnaturally low, with clouds so thick they looked like solid cream.
"Huh? Captain! I think this thing is broken!" Kozuki Oden was squatting in front of the Log Pose, poking at the glass dome. The needle, instead of pointing forward, was aimed straight up at the sky.
"Broken? Hahaha! Oden, it's working perfectly!" Roger walked over and slapped Oden on the back with a grin. He pointed up at the thick, dark clouds overhead. "It's just telling us our next stop is up there!"
"Up there?!" Oden's jaw dropped, and he stared at the sky in total disbelief.
Roger's smile faded as he felt the heavy moisture in the air. His expression turned serious. "Everyone, get ready! Furl the sails and tie down anything that's not bolted to the deck!"
The crew moved with practiced speed, some lowering the sails while others secured cargo. The two young apprentices, Shanks and Buggy, nervously double-checked the ropes tied around their waists.
"Hey, Buggy... are we really going up there?" Shanks's voice trembled. "You don't think we're gonna die, do you?"
"Shut up! The great Captain Buggy isn't going to die in some weird patch of ocean!" Buggy shot back, but his pale face and shaking legs told a different story. "If anyone dies, it'll be you first, carrot-top!" He nervously tied another rope around his waist for good measure.
Soon, the sea began to move. A giant whirlpool formed around the Oro Jackson, spinning the calm water into a massive vortex. In the center, the sea level dipped down as if pushed by an invisible hand. A moment later, a terrifying force erupted from the ocean floor.
"Here it comes!" Roger roared, gripping the helm tightly.
"BOOM—!!!"
With a deafening roar, a massive pillar of water, hundreds of meters wide, shot up from the center of the whirlpool, a violent current aimed at the heavens! The Oro Jackson was like a toy boat caught in a geyser. The massive force of the Knock Up Stream launched the ship straight into the sky. It tilted and shook so violently that it felt like it would break apart at any second, but the legendary Treasure Wood Adam it was built from held strong against the strain.
"WAAAAAAAHHH!"
"WE'RE GONNA DIE! WE'RE REALLY GONNA DIE!"
Shanks and Buggy's screams were nearly ripped away by the howling wind. The two apprentices clung to the railing for dear life, their faces a messy mixture of tears and snot. The rest of the crew wasn't doing much better, their faces green as they held on to whatever they could.
"Nozdon! Sanbel! Stay steady!" a crewman yelled while clinging to the deck. He was shouting at the two giant men in the center of the ship. "If you two fall over, you'll take the whole ship with you!"
The two giants, Nozdon and Sanbel, stood like mountains, their immense weight helping to keep the ship balanced. The powerful winds couldn't move them an inch.
Nozdon's usually cheerful face was the color of seaweed. He tried to sound confident as he replied in a strained voice, "Don't worry, a little wind like this is... Ugh—!"
Before he could finish his sentence, Nozdon leaned over the side, finally losing the battle with his stomach. The crewmen around him looked even more horrified than before.
Just as the ship's hull groaned, about to splinter, a figure moved across the tilting deck as if it were solid ground. In a few quick leaps, Kyle landed on the ship's golden figurehead.
"Vortex: Azure Dragon Twister!"
He swung his naginata down in a powerful arc, and an invisible force rippled out from the blade. The next moment, something incredible happened. The wild, untamed pillar of water seemed to be guided by an unseen hand. The chaotic currents of water and wind suddenly began to move with purpose. They twisted and converged around the Oro Jackson, wrapping around the ship's hull to form the shape of a magnificent, lifelike water dragon. The dragon's body became a stable path, and its scales of water formed a barrier against the violent gales.
The ship instantly stopped shaking. The violent, chaotic ride was replaced by a smooth and steady ascent. On deck, everyone fell silent.
Shanks and Buggy stopped screaming. They stared, dumbfounded, at the massive water dragon surrounding their ship.
"You've... got to be kidding me..." Buggy whispered, his voice hoarse. He was so stunned he forgot to wipe his face.
"In-incredible!" Shanks whispered. His eyes were filled not just with shock, but with pure admiration.
Kozuki Oden had also stopped smiling. He stared at the man standing on the figurehead, controlling a natural disaster as if he were a god. Is it really possible, Oden thought, to command the sea itself?
Jabba and Rayleigh shared a look, a clear sign of approval in their eyes.
"Hahahaha!" Roger's booming laugh echoed across the deck, full of pure excitement. "Well done, Kyle! That's a much fancier way to travel than just hanging on for dear life!"
The water dragon carried the Oro Jackson upwards, soaring into the sky. Before the crew could fully process what Kyle had done, the dragon's head smashed through the thick layer of clouds, tearing a massive hole in the sky.
Bright, warm sunlight poured down, chasing away the cold dampness of the Knock Up Stream. Everyone squinted, and when they opened their eyes again, they were once more stunned into silence.
Before them was a vast, white ocean made of clouds, stretching to the horizon. Floating above the pure white sea of clouds was a lush, green island. The trees on it were strangely round, and its buildings looked like nothing from the Blue Sea below, giving off an ancient and holy feeling.
"Hey... Shanks, pinch me," Buggy mumbled, his eyes wide enough to pop out of his head.
Without thinking, Shanks slapped him hard on the back of the head.
"Ow!" Buggy yelled, rubbing the spot. "I can't believe you actually did it!"
"You told me to!" Shanks shot back, but his attention was already back on the incredible view. "So... Sky Islands are real..."
Under Kyle's control, the Oro Jackson landed gently on the sea of clouds. The ship's hull pressed into the white surface, creating soft ripples as it slowly came to a stop. Its mission complete, the water dragon let out a final, low roar before dissolving back into mist. Kyle gracefully leaped down from the figurehead and landed on the deck with a quiet sigh of relief.
"Thud."
Nozdon, no longer needing to stand firm, finally collapsed onto the deck. He looked at the soft clouds beneath the ship and the amazing island in the distance, his face full of relief. "We're safe... Ugh!"
His stomach churned one last time, and he quickly turned his head to be sick over the side of the ship.
"Way to go, Nozdon!" a crewmate cheered, slapping him on the back. "At least you didn't do it on the deck!"
The crew erupted in laughter, and the tense atmosphere from the terrifying ride vanished instantly.
Kozuki Oden gripped the ship's railing, leaning so far over he almost fell. He stared at the sea of clouds that looked as soft as cotton, his gaze fixed on the island floating in the distance. His eyes were wide with shock and excitement.
"Hahahaha! My journal! Where is my journal?!" he suddenly shouted, frantically searching his clothes for it. "It would be a crime not to write this down! A sea in the sky! An island on that sea! Wahahaha!"
"Rayleigh! Jabba!" Shanks and Buggy ran over, their eyes sparkling with excitement. "Are we going to explore that island now?"
"Of course we are!" Roger's powerful voice boomed. He jumped down from the ship's railing and waved his arm forward. "Alright, everyone! Hoist the sails! Our destination: Sky Island!"
"YEAHHH!"
On this strange white ocean, the Oro Jackson was once again filled with the thunderous cheers of its crew.
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