A hellish bloodbath erupted instantly.
Everyone nearby who witnessed it dropped to the ground in terror, looking at Whiteflame as if he were a literal demon.
He didn't get any useful directions to the exact location of the Sky Island,
but once he asked about the location of the Knock-Up Stream, someone pointed the way.
From there, Whiteflame had come directly.
"Sky Islands really exist…?"
Robin tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and gazed up toward the sky.
"We'll know once we get up there."
Whiteflame lifted his hand, and the Nine Dragons began rising rapidly into the air.
From a distance, pirates aboard nearby ships widened their eyes in disbelief,
watching as the island-sized ship soared higher and higher until it disappeared into the clouds.
"The effect of the Float-Float Fruit is weakening…"
The higher they rose, the more clearly Whiteflame could feel the powers of the Fuwa Fuwa no Mi fading.
This Devil Fruit could cancel out an object's gravity and let it float freely—
but when the gravitational force exceeded the user's limits, its power would start to diminish sharply.
Carrying an entire island was already pushing the limits.
Reaching this altitude was a testament to how powerful Whiteflame was.
If it had been Golden Lion Shiki, he likely would've collapsed long ago.
Finally, as the Nine Dragons climbed to 7,000 meters,
a vast white sea of clouds spread out before them.
Whiteflame brought the island level with the cloud sea, letting it hover like a floating landmass embedded in the sky.
"Wow! It's so beautiful! Is this Sky Island?"
Rebecca's eyes sparkled at the endless, majestic sea of white clouds.
"Not yet," Whiteflame replied.
"Sky Island's even higher up."
"So it's really real? An island in the sky! Amazing! Let's go, Whiteflame!"
Just as Rebecca spoke, everyone noticed a figure flying swiftly toward them.
"It's a guy in a horned mask!"
baby-5 spotted the figure, and without hesitation, raised a cannon to fire.
But before she could launch it, another figure dove from above—
A long, sharp lance extended, aimed right at the horned attacker!
The masked man raised a shield to block,
but was still hit with tremendous force,
slamming him straight into the clouds below and vanishing from view.
"Are you people from the Blue Sea?"
The figure in the sky spoke—an old man clad in armor,
riding what looked like a winged pegasus… though upon closer inspection,
it was clearly a large bird that had eaten the Uma Uma no Mi (Horse-Horse Fruit).
"You're from Sky Island, right?" baby-5 said coldly.
"What was with that guy? He came flying straight at us ready to fire.
If he hadn't run, he'd be dead already!"
"That was a Shandian guerrilla," the old man explained.
"They patrol the cloud seas, targeting people from the Blue Sea.
If you fall into the Cloud Sea, you'll become food for the Sky Fish."
"But don't worry. I'm a free mercenary.
If you ever need help, just blow this whistle, and I'll come save you.
Though I must warn you—each rescue costs five million Extol… I have to make a living too, after all."
He tossed a small whistle to Rebecca.
"Use this to call me. I'll consider this first time a freebie.
Good luck, brave travelers!"
With that, Gan Fall and his bizarre bird flew off like a gust of wind.
"The Nine Dragons is too big and heavy.
Let's leave it hidden here in the cloud sea," Whiteflame said.
With a flick of his fingers, a mass of gold burst out and took the form of a protective golden shield,
wrapping around the Nine Dragons and camouflaging it perfectly among the clouds.
From the outside, it looked like nothing was there.
"Let's go."
Whiteflame lifted everyone into the air and soared toward a massive cloud waterfall.
Soon, they arrived at an ornate gate labeled "Heaven's Gate."
"Look! There's an old lady with a camera!" Rebecca pointed.
Sure enough, an old woman stood by the gate, snapping photos of them.
"Ignore her. Just head in. Past this tunnel lies the real Sky Island."
Whiteflame led the group through the gate and up a spiraling cloud staircase.
"Have the Blue Sea people grown this arrogant…?"
"Almighty God and Holy Priests…"
"This is Gatekeeper Amazon reporting—
Six unauthorized Blue Sea intruders are headed for the Holy Land.
I request immediate divine retribution!"
The old woman smiled coldly.
The Silent Fruit's Whereabouts
"Whoa!!!"
"It's an island! A real Sky Island! Look—there are buildings!"
As they emerged from the spiraling cloud staircase, they finally saw the true face of Sky Island.
Buildings perched atop white clouds,
endless mist drifting across ethereal streets…
The entire scene looked like a mythical paradise.
"This is incredible…" Nami whispered.
"I've heard the legends," Robin murmured.
"But seeing it with my own eyes… is something else entirely."
Whiteflame gently lowered them onto a beach made of clouds.
Rebecca rolled around in the soft, fluffy surface.
Robin reclined in a cloud chair, enjoying the sunlight.
The girls began to laugh and play.
Whiteflame, however, rose higher, his eyes fixed on Angel Island—specifically, the Lovely Street district.
He didn't come here to sightsee.
He was here to find the Silent Fruit.
"Let's hope the rumors are true."
With a flicker, Whiteflame turned into a streak of light and vanished.
"Huh? Where's Whiteflame?"
baby-5 turned mid-water fight and realized he was gone.
"Probably went looking for that fruit he mentioned," Nami said.
…
On the streets of Angel Island, locals walked about with tiny wings on their backs,
wearing traditional Skypiean clothes and antenna-like headpieces.
When Whiteflame appeared, many froze in fear and backed away.
He ignored their stares and walked straight into a tavern.
"Hey! Another guy from the Blue Sea!"
"Must've snuck in with some pirate crew—probably looking for booze!"
"Yo! Which pirate crew are you from? Speak up!"
To his surprise, the tavern was packed with pirates from the Blue Sea.
Sky Island wasn't just reachable via the Knock-Up Stream—
There were other, less risky routes too.
"Perfect," Whiteflame muttered.
"Kuro, go."
A chair slid over behind him.
He sat down casually as over twenty IBMs materialized behind him.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh—
The monsters launched forward in a flash, pinning every single pirate to walls and floors,
long, razor-sharp claws hovering near their vital points.
One twitch and it would be over.
"I'm looking for something.
If any of you know where it is, tell me."
"If no one talks, none of you will leave this place alive."
Whiteflame lit a cigarette, exhaling slowly.
"I'll talk! I'll tell you whatever I know!"
"Dammit! What are these things? They're monsters!"
"Please, just tell us what you want. We'll cooperate!"
The pirates were trembling with fear, pinned and helpless.
"Good."
"I'm looking for a Devil Fruit called the Silent Fruit.
If any of you know where it is, speak now,
and I'll pay 300 million Berries in exchange."
"But if I find out you're holding out on me—
I'll kill every last one of you."
Another puff of smoke drifted from his lips.
"The Silent Fruit?!"
"I know it! I know where it is!"
"It's a useless Devil Fruit—couldn't even sell it for 80 million Berries!"
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