"Well then, I wish you all a safe journey."
On the cloud-dusted shores of Sky Island, Gan Fall stroked his long beard as he bid farewell to Captain Roger and his crew.
"Oh! Thanks for everything, Gan! I'll be back for a drink someday!" Roger shouted, happily carrying a large sack filled with Sky Island souvenirs without a hint of shame.
"Captain, how are we supposed to get down from here?" Buggy asked, tugging on Roger's sleeve and looking nervously at the bottomless sea of clouds below. "We can't just jump, can we? We'll be smashed to bits!"
Gan Fall simply smiled and clapped his hands. From beneath the clouds, a huge, pink object slowly rose into view. It was a giant octopus, as large as a small island, with a head that resembled a hot air balloon and thick tentacles that swayed gently in the sea of clouds.
"This is a unique 'Octopus Balloon' from our home," Gan Fall explained. "It will envelop your ship and use the gas in its body to float you safely back down to the Blue Sea."
"An oc-octopus?!" Buggy's face went white. He despised slimy, squishy creatures more than anything.
Shanks, however, was thrilled. "Awesome! We get to ride back on an octopus balloon?"
With the help of the Skypieans, the Oro Jackson was gently wrapped in the giant octopus's tentacles, leaving only the deck and mast exposed. The octopus's head began to release warm air, and the massive ship slowly lifted off the clouds, beginning its long descent.
At first, the journey was smooth. The crew stood on deck, watching the clouds swirl past them as if they were sailing down a vertical waterfall.
"Hey, Shanks, doesn't that cloud look like Captain Roger's mustache?"
"Hahahaha! That's a nose hair, not a mustache!"
"What?"
"And that one over there looks like your big red nose, Buggy!"
"You idiot! What did you just say?!"
As the two apprentices bickered, a powerful air current struck them without warning. The giant octopus was startled, and its massive body trembled violently with a mournful cry. The entire Oro Jackson shook with it, sending the crew stumbling across the deck.
"Waaahhh! We're gonna fall! We're going to die!" Buggy shrieked, clinging to the main mast for dear life, his face a mess of tears as he trembled like a leaf in the wind.
"Hahaha! This is exciting! Faster, big fella!" Roger roared into the wind, enjoying the rough ride as if it were a roller coaster.
"Captain, this isn't the time for laughing!" Jabba yelled, struggling to keep control of the ship's rudder.
Another violent jolt tilted the ship to a dangerous forty-five-degree angle. Several crewmen lost their footing and slid screaming toward the railing. Kyle's eyes narrowed, and he stomped his foot hard on the deck. An invisible shockwave spread out from his position, creating a firm but gentle force field that stabilized the ship and stopped the crew from sliding overboard. He then pressed his hands together, sending a faint, soothing wave of energy toward the frightened octopus.
"Easy now, big guy. Don't be afraid."
The wave seemed to calm the creature's nerves. The panicked octopus slowly steadied itself, its eight tentacles tightening their grip and bringing the ship back to a stable descent.
The storm passed as quickly as it had arrived. When the ship finally broke through the last layer of clouds, the crew was greeted by brilliant sunlight and the familiar scent of the salty sea.
With a tremendous splash, the Oro Jackson landed safely on the vast blue ocean. The giant octopus released its tentacles, gave the crew a little wave as if to say goodbye, and then slowly floated back up into the sky until it disappeared.
"We're alive…" Buggy mumbled, collapsing onto the deck, feeling like his soul had nearly been shaken out of his body.
Shanks wiped the seawater from his face and laughed. "That was a blast! I hope we can ride it again sometime!"
"You shut up!"
The pirates' laughter echoed across the open sea, chasing away the memory of the danger. With its sails hoisted once more, the ship caught the wind and continued its journey toward the next unknown island.
That night, moonlight spilled across the calm ocean. After a night of celebration, the deck was quiet, the only sounds being the footsteps of the night watch and the gentle lapping of waves against the hull.
Douglas Bullet stood alone at the bow of the ship, as silent as a statue. The moonlight gleamed off his muscular frame. He stared out at the dark horizon, his eyes filled not with a desire for treasure or adventure, but with a pure, burning hunger for battle.
Captain Roger walked up behind him, an unlit cigar in his mouth. "What's on your mind, Bullet?"
Bullet didn't turn around. "Captain Roger…" he said, his voice low and powerful. He paused, then finally turned to look his captain directly in the eye. It was a look between equals, completely without fear. "I want to leave the ship."
The words were spoken with absolute certainty, leaving no room for argument. The air on the deck seemed to freeze. In the shadows nearby, Rayleigh, who was polishing his sword, stopped. Jabba, who was leaning against the railing with a drink, froze. Kyle, his arms crossed, watched the scene unfold without any surprise.
Roger's smile faded. He didn't ask why. He simply looked at Bullet, waiting for him to continue.
"I'm not interested in the Final Island," Bullet stated, each word like a hammer blow. "The truth of history, the great treasure… none of that matters to me." His fists clenched, the knuckles cracking as a powerful aura began to radiate from him. "I only have one goal: to challenge the strongest man in the world, and then surpass everyone to become the strongest. That includes you, Captain Roger!"
By the end of his speech, his gaze was as sharp as a blade pointed straight at his captain. This was no longer a request. It was a declaration of war.
The deck was dead silent. From inside the cabin, Shanks and Buggy peeked out, holding their breath in fear.
But Roger's reaction was something no one expected. He stared at Bullet for a second, and then a massive, booming laugh erupted from his chest, shattering the quiet of the night.
"Hahahaha!" He laughed so hard he had to bend over, tears welling in his eyes as if he'd just heard the greatest joke of all time. "So that's it! Is that right? Good! That's damn good!" Roger wiped a tear from his eye, stepped forward, and clapped Bullet hard on the shoulder. "That's the kind of ambition a man ought to have!"
He looked into Bullet's burning eyes, not with anger, but with genuine admiration. "You want to walk your own path? Then go! You want to become the strongest? Then start challenging! If you didn't have that kind of spirit, you wouldn't have a place on my ship in the first place!"
A flicker of surprise crossed Bullet's face. He had been prepared for a fight, not for this.
"Go on," Roger said, dropping his hand and grinning. "But I'm not giving up the title of 'World's Strongest' until I've reached my destination."
"I'll be waiting for you at the top," Bullet promised. He turned and walked to the ship's railing without another word. The crew silently prepared a small boat for him, stocking it with food and water. No one tried to stop him. They all understood. This ship was a gathering of monsters, and every monster had its own dream.
Bullet leaped into the small boat, raised the sail without a single look back, and disappeared into the moonlit sea, heading in the opposite direction of the Oro Jackson.
"Hey… he really just left," Buggy mumbled, a complicated expression on his face.
Shanks watched the small boat shrink into the distance, his hand tightening on the hilt of his own sword.
Roger looked up at the star-filled sky, as if he could see the invisible path that led to the Final Island. "Alright, you lot! Don't just stand around!" he boomed. "Our adventure isn't over yet!"
----------------
You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion