Above the White Sea.
Miss Valentine, her arm wrapped in bandages, hooked herself onto the ship's railing, half-hanging over it as she stared at the endless expanse of white clouds in the distance. She muttered, "Boss, is this really Sky Island? It's just a sea of white clouds as far as the eye can see!"
The Sky Island she had imagined was supposed to be floating islands atop the clouds, with shimmering lights dancing between the layers—just like the picture books she'd read as a child!
Bahr wiped the sweat from his temple and jerked his chin upward. "We're currently on the White Sea. The real Sky Island is above the cloud layer."
This whole journey had started with Nico Robin's "obsession." After her relentless efforts, Bahr had been satisfied enough to agree to bring her to Sky Island.
When Miss Valentine, freshly treated from her injuries, heard about it, she immediately sidled up to him, batting her big, watery eyes as she clung to his arm and whined, "Boss~ I wanna go too~"
Bahr had always been weak to women's coquetry, so he didn't hesitate before nodding.
Paula and Mr. 1, hearing they were heading to Sky Island—10,000 meters above sea level—also got excited. Since supplies were already prepared, Bahr simply waved his hand and decided to take everyone along.
And so, using his Spatial ability, Bahr hoisted the pirate ship onto his back, stepped onto a Space Barrier, and tore through the clouds all the way up to the White Sea at 7,000 meters above sea level.
Nico Robin warily scanned their surroundings, confirming there was no danger before asking, "Why not go straight up? With your abilities, you could do it, right?"
"Are you a devil?!" Bahr's lips twitched uncontrollably.
He had literally carried the pirate ship step by step up the Space Stairs to the lower layer of the White-White Sea, then used his Spatial ability to traverse the vast expanse before finally reaching the surface of the White Sea.
By now, he was exhausted.
Worse, he couldn't even muster the strength to pierce through the next layer of clouds.
"Devil?" Nico Robin narrowed her eyes slightly, giving Bahr a sidelong glance.
Compared to him, she was nothing. If this man truly went all out, it would be unbearable. Did she even have to mention how much effort it had taken just to get him to agree to bring her to Sky Island?
Even now, her legs felt like they were filled with lead, weak and unsteady.
Who was the real devil here?!
But Nico Robin had no time to dwell on that. She looked up at the sky above. "Then how do we get up there?"
Bahr rubbed his chin with one hand, thinking for a moment before answering, "There's a 'Gate of Heaven.' We can use that to ascend. Let's look for it."
With that, he jerked his chin toward Miss Valentine on the deck. "Use your Devil Fruit ability. Fly up and scout!"
Miss Valentine threw her head back with an exaggerated laugh, the sound crisp and flamboyant like wind chimes. She planted one hand on her hip while the other held her parasol, slowly lifting herself into the air.
Mid-flight, she gracefully raised an arm to shield her eyes, turning her head left and right like a nimble bird, scanning the surroundings intently.
Bahr crossed his arms, watching her shrinking figure, and briefly considered getting her a telescope—she could make a decent lookout.
Just as the thought crossed his mind, his eyelid twitched, and his lips spasmed uncontrollably as a sudden gust of wind flipped Miss Valentine's skirt, revealing a sight that shouldn't have been seen.
Right. Next time, he'd make sure she wore leggings.
Before long, Miss Valentine's excited voice rang out from above as she descended swiftly, pointing eagerly to the left. "Found it! Over there!"
Bahr immediately ordered a course correction, and soon enough, a silvery "waterfall" piercing the sky came into view, its cascading waters shimmering with rainbow hues under the sunlight.
As they sailed, Paula suddenly gasped and pointed at the White Sea. "Boss, look! There's someone floating over there!"
Bahr followed her finger and indeed spotted a dark figure bobbing on the white waves. With a flick of his finger, an invisible thread yanked the figure onto the deck with a whoosh.
Everyone stared curiously at the winged man, while Bahr himself was slightly surprised. If he remembered correctly, this was Pagaya, the father of the angelic beauty Conis.
After some questioning, they learned he had been cast down to the White Sea by the so-called "God." Bahr immediately understood the situation.
"God's Island?... A 'God'?" Nico Robin propped her chin on her hand, her gaze thoughtful as she looked at Bahr. "Boss, do you know what's going on?"
Bahr didn't hide it. Slouching with one hand in his pocket, he lazily explained, "'God's Island' is part of Jaya. Centuries ago, it was blasted into the sky by the Knock-Up Stream."
"An entire island can be sent flying?!" Mr. 5's eyes bulged, and even the usually stoic Mr. 1 couldn't keep his composure. "So that's why there's only half a ruin on Jaya."
Robin bit her lower lip lightly. Back on Jaya, she had heard the legend of the "Lost City of Gold." Now, hearing Bahr's explanation, her anticipation surged, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "So the Historical Text is hidden on 'God's Island'?"
She had originally wondered how the Historical Text could be on Sky Island, but now it all made sense.
Bahr glanced at Nico Robin, the corner of his lips curling into a faint smirk before he nodded in confirmation.
The deal had already been struck. He wasn't the type to go back on his word.
Just then, Miss Valentine suddenly shrieked, pointing at the distant clouds, her eyes wide. "Boss, look! Something's falling from above!"
Bahr looked up just in time to see a crack splitting the upper cloud layer as a massive ship adorned with golden engravings plummeted toward the White Sea. His pupils constricted sharply.
That ship's design—wasn't that the Ark Maxim?
...So Enel had already been defeated by Straw Hat Boy.
Squinting, he spotted a figure falling alongside the ark. After a brief hesitation, Bahr used his ability, and the figure was instantly transported onto the deck.
The man sprawled on the wooden planks was charred black, his elongated earlobes nearly reaching his collarbones. There was no doubt—this was Enel.
Pagaya stared at the unconscious "God," his wings trembling slightly in shock. He couldn't believe the ragged, barely-breathing figure before him was the same tyrant who had once ruled Sky Island with an iron fist.
From Pagaya's shaky explanation, Nico Robin and the others learned that this was the "God" the Sky Islanders had spoken of with such reverence. They studied him with curiosity.
"Who... defeated him?" Nico Robin murmured, a flicker of intrigue in her eyes.
Bahr leaned against the mast and shrugged, clicking his tongue as he observed the unconscious Enel.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit, hailed as the pinnacle of Logia-type Devil Fruits, capable of splitting the heavens—yet it had fallen to Straw Hat Boy.
Call it plot armor, call it narrative convenience—either way, it was a brutal defeat.
But then again, Straw Hat Boy wasn't just any ordinary rubber fruit user. He had the legendary Nika Form.
In hindsight, maybe it wasn't so surprising after all.
Zzzzt—CRACK!
Suddenly, a burst of electricity crackled across the deck. Enel's back arched violently as arcs of lightning snaked across his body. His chest heaved, and he coughed out a plume of black smoke before his eyes snapped open.
Ah... right. He'd almost forgotten—the Rumble-Rumble Fruit could double as a defibrillator.
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