Chapter 121 The Liar Rolando and the Other Half of the Chestnut
In Magic Valley, news spreads faster than a storm.
The black-haired boy's atrocities in the bar spread like wildfire throughout the town.
"Hey, did you hear? Bellamy, the 'Hyena' with a 55 million bounty, was slammed onto a table and rubbed like a chicken being slaughtered!"
"Really? Who exactly are those people?"
Now, the whole town is buzzing with rumors that a seemingly low-profile but actually terrifying pirate crew has arrived.
Bellamy, who was once arrogant and domineering, became the laughing stock and a clown overnight.
In a dimly lit room.
Bellamy had just woken up, his head and face wrapped in thick bandages, with only one bloodshot eye showing.
"Damn it...damn it!!!"
He felt an unprecedented sense of humiliation in front of his subordinates.
Bellamy slammed his fist against the wall, vowing revenge.
But whenever he recalled the black-haired boy's cold eyes and that unshakeable hand, a deep-seated fear made him tremble uncontrollably.
That was the psychological shadow cast by the absolute gap in strength.
"If you can't beat them head-on... then resort to underhanded tactics."
Bellamy clutched his throbbing face, his eyes gleaming with malice as he plotted:
"Straw Hat Boy... and that Guren, you just wait. The game of One Piece is not just about fighting."
...
Meanwhile, the Going Merry had bypassed the dangerous forest and arrived at the east coast of Jaya Island.
The atmosphere here is completely different from that violent town of Magic Valley; it is full of a fairytale-like absurdity.
What comes into view is a magnificent castle standing on the shore.
Wow!!! It's a castle!! That's amazing!!
Chopper was being gently held in Robin's arms. Its little paws gripped the railing as it looked at the castle in the distance, its eyes sparkling with adoration.
"That uncle must be a king!"
However, when everyone disembarked and took a closer look, they discovered that the so-called "castle" was just an illusion created by drawing a huge piece of plywood.
The back was barely supported by a few wooden sticks, and it creaked when the wind blew.
"What... it's fake." Usopp complained in disappointment.
Just then, a middle-aged man with an extremely unique appearance walked out of the dilapidated hut.
He was shirtless, his muscles were bulging, and what was most striking was his chestnut-shaped hairstyle.
Vinbrand Couric.
"Are you here to steal gold nuggets, you brats!"
Without saying a word, Kurik launched an attack.
"Hey! Sir! We're just asking for directions!"
The brief exchange escalated into a sudden and intense conflict.
Sanji kicked away Crick's flying kick, while Luffy easily dodged the opponent's punch.
After several rounds, the misunderstanding was cleared up, but Kulik suddenly suffered a decompression sickness caused by years of diving and collapsed in pain.
After Chopper's emergency treatment, Curry finally recovered.
Sitting in the simple hut, Kulik lit a cigarette and told everyone the sad story that had been passed down for four hundred years.
He is a descendant of the legendary "Liar Rolando".
Four hundred years ago, Rolando discovered the Golden City, but when he brought the king there, the Golden City had vanished.
Rolando was executed for treason, and even in his dying moments he cried out, "The Golden City exists, but it has sunk to the bottom of the sea."
"My whole life has been bound by the curse of that foolish ancestor."
Kulik pointed to the sea outside the window, his eyes both resolute and weary:
"I don't hate him, I just want to put an end to this. Does the Golden Land even exist? Since it's not on the island, the only possibility is that it sank to the bottom of the sea."
"So I dive every day, even if it breaks my body, I have to find evidence."
Hearing this heavy story, everyone fell silent.
Nami looked at the persistent old man, a hint of sympathy in her eyes.
However.
"Hey, uncle."
Victor, who had been sitting in the corner flipping through the picture book "Liar Rolando," suddenly closed the book.
He pointed to Rolando, the character who was ultimately executed in the book, and said with a smile:
"Although I don't know anything about diving, if it really is the Land of Gold... then if such a huge island sank to the bottom of the sea, shouldn't a lot of debris float to the surface?"
"If there were no..."
Victor raised his hand and pointed to the azure sky above:
"Then there's only one possibility."
"It didn't sink, but... it was swept into the sky."
"!!!"
These words struck Kurik's soul like a bolt of lightning.
Kurik dropped the cigarette in his hand, his pupils dilating violently.
"They were swept up...into the sky?"
Decades of obsession seemed to have a new door opened at this moment.
Yes, if they were taken away by that kind of power...
"Hahaha...hahahaha!!"
Kurik suddenly burst into laughter, tears streaming down his face.
"I see... I didn't know that was possible! You kids really have some wild ideas!"
Deeply moved by Viktor's words, Kurik decided to take a gamble.
"Alright! Since you're going to Sky Island, I'll lend you a hand!"
Kulik took a picture of ocean currents from the cabinet:
"In this sea area, there is a special natural phenomenon—'Accumulated Emperor Clouds'. And beneath those clouds lies a terrifying ocean current capable of blasting everything into the sky—'Soaring Current'!"
"If you can catch the ocean current surge tomorrow, you might be able to ride the current and fly directly to the sky island!"
The crowd was filled with excitement.
"but..."
Kulik pointed solemnly into the depths of the forest:
"On this vast ocean filled with magnetic interference, an ordinary compass is useless in finding the exact location of an ocean current outburst."
"You must enter this forest to capture a bird with strange habits—the 'South-flying Bird'."
"Only with it can we find our way in the great currents of tomorrow!"Chapter 122 Forest Night Talk and the Hyena's End
In the dead of night on Jaya Island, the depths of the jungle are filled with damp mist and the chirping of unknown insects.
In order to find the "southern bird" that can guide the way, the Straw Hat crew decides to draw lots to form groups.
As expected, things got chaotic: Luffy and Chopper's group were less focused on catching birds and more on exploring the forest, as they were chasing a giant rhinoceros beetle all over the mountain.
As expected, Zoro went in the wrong direction before he even started and disappeared into the bushes.
Sanji and Usopp were paired together; while Nami was unlucky enough to be paired with Clay.
"Why do I have to be paired with a bird...?"
"Coo-coo-caw! Big sister, if you're looking for birds, Uncle Clay can easily take care of it for you!"
Nami, holding Clay, looked at the two figures walking side by side in the distance with a resentful expression.
Those are Victor and Robin.
In the dark jungle, the two walked in perfect harmony, one in front and one behind.
Victor walked ahead, casually swinging his longsword to cut down the poisonous insects and thorns blocking his path.
Robin then used the power of the Flower-Flower Fruit to eliminate threats from the flanks.
"Victor San".
Robin broke the silence, her eyes gleaming with curiosity as she looked at the boy's retreating figure.
"You seem to firmly believe in the existence of the'Sky Island.' Why is that?"
"And...you seem to know a lot of things that even I don't know."
From the secrets of the underground burial temple to the current sky island, this man is like a veil of mystery.
"Because the world is bigger than you think, Miss Robin."
Victor didn't turn around, casually severing a thick vine, his tone calm yet meaningful:
"The sea is vast, but the sky is even more expansive."
He stopped, turned his head, and his dark eyes appeared exceptionally deep in the moonlight.
"Since you can't find the answer you're looking for on Earth... have you ever considered that the Poneglyphs you're searching for might be in the heavens?"
These words, like a sharp blade, struck Robin's weak spot precisely.
Robin's pupils contracted sharply, and she even stopped breathing for a moment.
She stopped, her voice becoming low and serious:
"Who...are you?"
Viktor just smiled and was about to reply when a commotion suddenly came from the bushes ahead.
"Damn it! You strange bird! Don't run away!!"
Zoro was seen chasing after a comically-looking bird, his face covered in sweat.
The south-flying bird made a mocking sound as it flew, leaving the directionally challenged swordsman completely bewildered.
"Looks like we're in luck."
With a slight twitch of his fingers, Viktor instantly created a vast net of steel wires through the woods.
"Ninja Art: Shuriken Manipulation Technique"
"Gah?" Just as the south-facing bird was about to mock Zoro, it found itself running headfirst into an invisible net, bound like a dumpling, and falling to the ground.
"All done." Viktor, carrying the bird, waved it at a bewildered Zoro. "Come with us, Zoro, don't get lost this time."
Zoro scoffed. "Lost? I was just following my instincts."
...
Meanwhile, on the east coast of Jaya Island.
Taking advantage of the fact that the Straw Hat crew's main force had all gone into the mountains to catch birds, Bellamy, who had suffered a great humiliation at Victor's place during the day, led his Hyena Pirates to Crick's cabin under cover of darkness.
"Since we can't beat that red-eyed monster... then we'll take it out on you dreaming idiots!"
Bellamy's face was covered in bandages, and her eyes were sinister.
A blatant act of violence unfolded in the night.
In a fit of rage, Bellamy brutally injured Wenblan Crick and two ape brothers.
They then looted all the gold nuggets that Kulik had painstakingly collected over ten years of diving.
"This is the price of dreaming! Hahahaha!"
...
As dawn broke.
When the Straw Hat crew returned to the shore in high spirits with the South-flying Bird, they were greeted by a scene of utter chaos.
Broken planks, burning embers, and Uncle Kulik lying in a pool of blood, barely alive.
"Uncle!!"
Chopper rushed over to provide first aid.
Seeing his friend's miserable state and the empty bag of gold, Luffy lowered his hat brim and fell into a deathly silence.
"Why?"
Robin stood beside Victor, watching this horrific scene, and couldn't help but ask softly:
"You're so amazing, why didn't you foresee this last night?"
"Given your caution, you should have anticipated that the hyena would retaliate, right?"
Victor leaned against the dilapidated wall, watching Luffy's terrifyingly gloomy back, without showing any surprise.
"Some fights... must be fought by the captain himself."
Viktor pulled out a kunai, twirling it between his fingers, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:
"This is a war about 'dreams.' Only when Luffy personally shatters that guy's twisted logic will all of this have meaning."
"and..."
A cruel smile curled at the corner of Viktor's lips:
"If that hyena dies at my hands... that would be too easy for him."
Luffy took a sip of water without saying a word, stood up, and turned to walk towards the direction of Mock Town.
"Luffy! We still need to catch the ocean current!" Usopp shouted.
"I'll be right back."
Luffy's voice was calm, yet it exuded an undeniable air of dominance.
...
In the middle of the street in Magic Valley Town.
Bellamy was holding the stolen gold nuggets, laughing wildly in front of his men, mocking the dreams he had trampled underfoot.
"Bellamy!!!"
A roar interrupted his celebration.
Luffy stood at the end of the street, expressionless.
"Oh? Isn't this the coward who didn't dare to fight back?"
Bellamy saw Luffy and grinned maliciously. "What? Here to retrieve your gold?"
"Spring Jump!!"
Bellamy's legs transformed into springs, bouncing wildly between the buildings on both sides of the street, getting faster and faster.
He transformed into a blur that was almost invisible to the naked eye, and the force of the wind he generated even shattered the glass.
"Did you see that? This is the power of reality! A dreamer like you can't touch me!!"
Bellamy laughed wildly, using his extreme speed and momentum to launch a fatal attack on Luffy from high above:
"Die!! Spring-loaded sniper rifle!!!"
Faced with the whistling attack.
Luffy stood still, without moving an inch.
He simply clenched his right fist slowly.
In that instant, although there was no obvious black covering, a heavy will wrapped around his fist.
"If it were you... I think I could throw that punch."
Luffy suddenly threw a punch.
There were no fancy moves, just pure power and anger.
"Bang!!!!"
Luffy's fist landed precisely on Bellamy's face as he charged at top speed.
Time seemed to stand still.
Bellamy's facial bones shattered instantly, and his entire body, along with his "realism," was slammed into the ground by this punch!
Boom!!!
The earth cracked open, and smoke and dust rose everywhere.
When the smoke cleared, everyone covered their mouths in horror.
Bellamy's eyes rolled back, his body convulsing, and he was deeply embedded in the ground.
On his face and the ground beneath him, the marks of Luffy's angry fists were clearly imprinted.
One punch.
Instant kill.
Luffy picked up the gold nugget that had fallen to the ground, didn't even glance at the defeated man at his feet, and turned to leave.
The man who once mocked the non-existence of Sky Island has now become a real joke, along with his arrogance.Chapter 123 Hurry up! The vertical route to the White Sea
East coast of Jaya Island.
"Uncle!! I got the gold nuggets back!!"
Luffy dragged the golden package, which was even bigger than himself, and rushed back like a whirlwind.
His face still had traces of blood that hadn't been wiped away, but his smile was brighter than gold.
However, there was no time to celebrate the recovered treasure.
The sky was completely covered by huge, ink-black cumulonimbus clouds, turning day into night.
The sea began to emit a chilling low rumble, as if some enormous creature was about to awaken.
"Hurry!! There's no time! The ocean current is about to erupt!!"
Uncle Kulik, covered in bandages, was being helped along. Despite his serious injuries, he still had tears in his eyes as he desperately directed his ape brothers:
"Put that on the Going Merry!! We have to get those brats flying up there!!"
Thanks to the efficient work of the ape brothers, the Going Merry was quickly fitted with wing-like flight devices and reinforced armor—although its design looked like a comical rooster's comb.
"Weigh anchor!! Set sail!!"
The Merry plunged into the turbulent sea, heading straight for the center of the massive whirlpool that was about to form.
Just then.
"Hahaha!! We've finally found you, Straw Hat Crew!!"
A burst of arrogant laughter came from behind.
A huge, simple raft made of giant logs was seen cutting through the waves at an astonishing speed.
Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach stood at the very front of the raft, his eyes filled with greed.
"Captain, we're within firing range."
The sniper, Van Oka, wearing a monocle, raised his long rifle, "Thousand Six," and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
"Bang!"
The bullet ripped through the sky, heading straight for Luffy's head.
"when!!"
Sparks flew.
Victor's figure appeared at the stern of the ship in an instant, and his longsword accurately deflected the high-speed spinning bullet.
"Oh? That first mate…that's quick thinking." Van Augur pushed up his glasses.
Upon seeing this, Blackbeard let out an even more excited, maniacal laugh:
"Zhehahaha! Don't run! Straw Hat Luffy! And that 'Crimson Lotus' Victor!"
He waved the new arrest warrant in his hand and shouted:
"Your heads have gone up in price! The Straw Hat is 100 million Berries! That first mate is 90 million Berries!!"
"Give me your head! It will be the stepping stone for me to ascend the throne!!"
Upon hearing this astonishing bounty, Usopp, Sanji, and Zoro, who had been tensely preparing for battle, suddenly rushed to the stern of the ship in unison and shouted down at Blackbeard below:
"Hey!! What about us?!"
"Why are only those two companies raising their prices?! Where are our bounty posters?!"
"Sea Warrior! How much is Usopp's bounty, the Sea Warrior?!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Nami, unable to bear it any longer, gave each of them a hard knock on the head, and roared with a dark expression:
"Is this the time to worry about that?! We're going to die, you idiots!!"
Just then, the sea went completely berserk.
"Boom!!"
A massive whirlpool, several kilometers in diameter, instantly formed on the sea surface, its terrifying centrifugal force pulling everything apart.
The Merry was like a leaf, about to be swallowed by the abyss.
Blackbeard's raft, due to its rudimentary structure, was instantly tossed about by the giant waves, making it impossible for him to continue his attack.
Van Oka chimed in and lowered his spear.
"Damn it! We can't fight in these sea conditions!" Blackbeard clung tightly to the log, forced to watch helplessly as his prey slipped away.
On the Merry.
Nami clung tightly to the railing, feeling the dramatic changes in wind direction and ocean currents; the immense pressure turned her face pale.
"No... the whirlpool is too strong... if the timing isn't right, the ship will fall apart..."
A warm hand rested on her back.
Viktor stood behind Nami, his posture as steady as a mountain in this swaying world.
"Don't be afraid, Nami."
Viktor's voice was steady and strong, giving her a great sense of security.
"You are the world's best navigator. Trust your judgment; the lives of all of us are in your hands."
Nami took a deep breath, and the panic in her eyes vanished instantly, replaced by absolute focus.
She felt the direction of the wind and the pulse of the sea.
"Right there..."
Nami suddenly opened her eyes and shouted the order:
"Now!!! Hard to starboard!! Charge into the center of the vortex!!"
"Everyone! Hold on tight!!!"
The next second.
boom------!!!!!!
The sea exploded.
The pent-up ocean currents finally erupted.
A terrifying column of water, enormous in size and even larger than the island in diameter, shot into the sky defying gravity with the power to destroy everything!
The Going Merry was lifted up by the updraft and then—rose vertically into the air!
"Waaaaaaah!!!!"
The intense shoving sensation caused everyone to scream in pain.
"Hahahaha!! We're taking off!!!"
Luffy sat on the dragon head of the VIP section, one hand on his straw hat, the other raised high, his laughter echoing through the sky:
"Let's go to the Sky Island!!!"
On the deck, Robin gripped his book tightly, watching this spectacular, almost illogical scene. His previously calm eyes grew brighter, filled with a yearning for the unknown.
"It's actually true...!"
"That legendary sky island... it actually exists."
Below, Blackbeard could only watch helplessly as the Going Merry soared into the sky along with the water column. His raft couldn't withstand such torment, and he had no choice but to reluctantly abandon the pursuit.
"Hehehehe... Looks like fate is on your side this time, Straw Hat Boy!"
...
Rising, continuing to rise.
The intense feeling of weightlessness and the impact caused everyone to scream.
The Merry sped along the vertical walls of the water, like a train heading to heaven.
"Help!! I'm going to be thrown out!!"
Chopper was so light that he was almost swept away by the strong wind.
"careful!"
Viktor reacted quickly, grabbing Chopper with one hand and tucking him under his arm.
With his other hand, he tightly embraced Nami beside him, protecting her in his arms, while his feet were firmly attached to the deck using chakra.
"We've broken through the clouds!!"
With a whoosh.
The Merry broke through the thick Cumulus clouds.
The dazzling sunlight shone down, and the view suddenly opened up.
Everyone opened their eyes, speechless with shock at the sight before them.
At this moment, the Going Merry was floating above a vast, white sea of clouds, like cotton candy!
This is the White Sea, seven thousand meters above the ground.
"Is this... Sky Island?"
Before anyone could even marvel at the dreamlike scenery, the crowd had already left.
"roar!!"
The sea of clouds below suddenly surged.
A gigantic, flat, flounder-like monster fish with a bizarre mask on its face suddenly leaped out of the clouds, opened its mouth full of sharp teeth, and fiercely attacked the Going Merry!
Luffy's eyes lit up!
He wasn't afraid at all; instead, he wiped his drool.
"Oh! Fish from the Sky Island! They look delicious!!"
The Skypiea arc has officially begun.Chapter 124 Sky Knights and the Ancient Sea
"roar!!!"
The sea of clouds below suddenly exploded, and a gaping maw, full of sharp teeth and big enough to devour the entire ship, came crashing down on the Merry in the air with a foul stench!
That's a giant, monstrous floating island fish lurking in the clouds!
"Wow!! Is that a fish?! Why is there such a big fish?!"
Usopp and Chopper were so frightened their eyes almost popped out of their sockets, and they clung to each other tightly, screaming.
Nami also clung to the mast in terror, her face deathly pale.
"Tch!" Zoro pressed his hand on the hilt of his sword, about to draw it.
"Don't steal my prey, Zoro!"
A red figure took the lead, using the hull of the ship to propel itself out.
Luffy, suspended in mid-air, faced the terrifying beast, yet a carefree laugh lingered on his face:
Hehehe! Whether you're a fish or a bird, don't block the way!!!
Luffy suddenly stretched his right arm back, his black hair dancing wildly in the wind.
In that instant, a layer of black energy wrapped around his fist—that was Armament Haki!
"Rubber rubber—pistol!!!"
"Bang!!!!"
A dull, loud bang.
Luffy's seemingly tiny fist slammed hard into the monster fish's forehead.
The enormous impact erupted instantly, and the huge monster fish didn't even have time to scream before its eyes rolled back in its head.
It was thrown back into the depths of the sea of clouds like a meteorite, stirring up huge cloud waves.
"Wow, that's amazing..." Chopper was stunned.
Using this reaction force, the Going Merry traced an arc in the air, and then—
"Thump."
There was no loud splash as the boat landed on a giant ball of cotton, and it came to a stop swaying gently.
The group, still shaken, scrambled to their feet and began to look around.
"We...we're in the clouds?" Usopp asked in shock, leaning against the railing and looking down at the vast expanse of white below.
There is no seawater here, only an endless sea of clouds, as white as cream.
The Merry was like a ghost ship sailing in the clouds.
"Is this Sky Island?" Robin's eyes gleamed with the curiosity of an archaeologist. "It's an incredible sight."
"Hahaha! Clouds! It's clouds!!"
Luffy excitedly took off his shirt, wanting to jump in for a swim. Usopp was also eager to try.
"Wait! Don't jump around! This sea of clouds is bottomless!" Victor grabbed Luffy by the back of his collar.
However, the excitement didn't last long.
"Ha...ha...what's going on..."
Usopp suddenly clutched his chest, gasping for breath, his face turning pale.
Immediately afterwards, Nami and Sanji also began to experience difficulty breathing and weakness in their limbs, as if they were carrying a heavy load.
"My body... feels so heavy..." Sanji knelt on the ground, sweat beading on his forehead.
Even Zoro and Luffy, who are physically strong, frowned and felt a little short of breath.
Although Viktor's physical abilities far exceeded those of ordinary people, he also felt that the burden on his lungs had increased.
He walked to Nami's side, supported her swaying body, and calmly analyzed the situation:
"Everyone be careful, the air here is very thin."
"At an altitude of over 7,000 meters, the oxygen content is much lower than at ground level."
"If a battle breaks out, the physical exertion will be more than twice that of the previous battle. Everyone should try to regulate their breathing and reduce strenuous exercise."
Before he could finish speaking...
"Whoosh!!"
A sharp, piercing sound suddenly rang out.
Amidst the swirling clouds, a man wearing a bizarre mask and riding a wind-blown skateboard emerged from the clouds like a ghost.
Vaipa, a warrior of Shandia.
Holding a massive incendiary cannon, he fired a fierce shot at the Merry without saying a word.
"Outsiders...expel them!!"
boom!!
Flames shot out.
"You bastard! Want to fight?!"
Luffy wanted to fight back, but because he hadn't adapted to the high-altitude environment, his movements became unusually sluggish.
"Rubber...uh!"
Luffy's first punch missed completely, and he almost got hit head-on by Waipa's incendiary cannon due to lack of oxygen.
"Bang!!"
At the critical moment, Victor instantly appeared in front of Luffy, not drawing his sword, but using the sturdy scabbard to block Waipa's subsequent fierce kick.
"Um?"
The moment they made contact, Viktor frowned.
A strange vibrational force traveled through the scabbard, making his hand go numb.
"Impact shell...?"
Viktor used the momentum to take a step back, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the skateboard under Vaipa's feet and those peculiar shoes:
"This guy's equipment... is strange."
Just as tensions were running high and a battle was about to break out.
"stop!!"
An aged yet majestic voice came from above.
"Hercules!!"
A pink Pegasus descended from the sky.
An old knight in armor, holding a lance, sat on horseback.
"Sky Knight" - Gan Fall.
Gan Fall flicked his lance, forcing Vaipa back.
"It's you again... Gan Fall."
Vaipa snorted coldly, looking at the Straw Hat crew who were ready for battle, and then at Gan Fall, seemingly unwilling to fight against many opponents while at a disadvantage.
"snort."
He rode his jet-powered skateboard, drawing an arc in the air before disappearing into the vast sea of clouds.
The crisis has been temporarily averted.
Gan Fall put away his lance and began to promote his "Crane Rider" business to the crowd.
"I am a Sky Knight. I will come to your rescue no matter where you are, as long as you blow the whistle. Five million Ikels per trip."
"Five million?! That's too expensive!!" Nami didn't know the exchange rate, but she instinctively refused when she heard the word "million".
"It's fine if it's free, as long as it's a specialty product from Qinghai…" Gan Fow hinted.
"specialty?"
Viktor thought for a moment, then turned and went into the cabin. A short while later, he came out with a bottle of very strong rum in his hand.
"Hey! Isn't that my secret stash?!" Zoro, with his sharp eyes, instantly recognized it as the fine wine he had bought in Loguetown.
"Don't be so stingy, swordsman, for everyone's safety."
Victor ignored Zoro's protests and threw the bottle at Gan Fall.
"Old man, this bottle of liquor is strong Qinghai spirit. Trading it for one of your intelligence and rescue missions, isn't that a good deal?"
Gan Fall took the bottle, smelled the aroma from the neck of the bottle, and a satisfied smile appeared on his serious old face:
"Oh...this is really good stuff. Looks like you know your stuff, buddy."
Gan Fall tossed Viktor a whistle and then flew away on Pierre.
...
Soon after, the Going Merry arrived at a massive waterfall cloud, where a magnificent gate stood—the "Gate of Heaven."
An old woman who looked like a dried plum—the gatekeeper Amazon—stood expressionlessly in front of the crowd.
"To go to the upper White Sea, you need to pay an entry fee of 1 billion Iraqi kilograms per person."
"1 billion?!!" Nami screamed. "That's so many Berries! Is this a robbery?!"
"We have no money!!"
"You can pass without paying," the Amazonian grandmother said calmly, but her eyes held a strange glint in them. "But you'll have to bear the consequences."
"Then let's not pay! Let's charge over there!!"
Upon hearing that she could avoid paying, Nami immediately gave the order.
"Alright! Hold on tight!"
Just then, a giant Express Shrimp suddenly burst out from under the water, its two large pincers clamping onto the sides of the Merry, and it was moving upstream against the current of Cloudfall at an astonishing speed!
Wow!! So fast!!
Amidst gasps of surprise, the ship sped toward the higher-level floating island.
However.
Viktor did not look ahead.
He stood at the stern and glanced back at the ever-shrinking Gate of Heaven.
They saw the Amazonian grandmother facing their backs as she pressed a button on the instrument in her hand.
"Click".
An inconspicuous flash of light appeared.
Viktor gazed at the sacred yet perilous clouds above, a slight smile playing on his lips:
"It seems we're already on that 'god's' blacklist before we even get inside."Chapter 125 The Civilization of Bei and "Illegal Entry"
Angel Island, with its white sea and sandy beaches.
Stepping onto the soft, cotton-candy-like "Island Cloud" beach, the Straw Hat crew finally understood what a "dreamland" truly meant.
"Are these the residents of the Sky Island? They really do have wings on their backs!"
Everyone looked curiously at the girl Connie who came to greet them, and her father Pagia.
The father and daughter enthusiastically showed the visitors from Qinghai the Sky Island's unique power tool, the Wiba, as well as various amazing shellfish.
"This Waver doesn't need wind power; it can travel on the sea of clouds as long as it has shells as its power source?"
When Luffy saw the "Wattard" that looked just like a motorboat, he practically drooled onto the beach.
"Luffy! That's hard to pilot, don't..." Nami was about to stop him.
"Wow!! I'm going to drive it!!"
Luffy wouldn't listen to a word, jumped onto the Waver, twisted the throttle, and shot into the sea of clouds like an out-of-control missile.
"Aaaaah! I can't stop! My body is so crooked!"
As expected, due to his inability to maintain his balance, Luffy drew several distorted "8" shapes in the sea of clouds.
The car and its occupants were lifted into the air, and the car landed face-first on the ground, like a scallion stuck upside down in the soft sand.
"Pfft..." Everyone burst into laughter.
...
On the other side of the beach, the air was filled with a wonderful aroma.
"Are these airfish and air lobsters? Their flat body structures are truly peculiar..."
Sanji instantly switched into elegant gentleman chef mode, flitting around Conis and Uncle Pagia.
He became very interested in the unique ingredients of the Sky Island and immediately set up a portable stove on the beach.
"Since you're here, please try my special'Sky Seafood Feast,' Miss Conis!"
Not far away, Zoro, who had no interest in sightseeing, had already found a tree made of clouds and was fast asleep leaning against its soft trunk.
Chopper excitedly bounced around on the cloud-made sofa, feeling its wonderful elasticity.
Robin, holding a teacup, smiled and asked Connie about the history of the ruler known as "God".
In the supplies area.
"This is amazing! This'Sound Shell' can record audio, this 'Light Shell' can emit light, and this 'Flame Shell'..."
Usopp was amazed by the various household shells that Pegaya was showing off, his eyes shining: "These are simply dream gadgets!"
"It's not just a prop for daily life."
Victor squatted to the side, holding a discarded wind shell in his hand.
He skillfully used tools to dismantle the shell, observing the intricate biological structure inside:
"If this principle of storing and releasing energy were applied to weapons..."
"Huh?"
"Woof?"
Nearby, Clay and Rasul followed suit, each holding a seashell and examining it with great seriousness.
Victor put down the parts he was holding, looked at Usopp, and a slight smile appeared on his lips:
"Usopp, if you put this on your slingshot to increase its initial velocity, or put it in Nami's Weather Stick to create a strong airflow, your fighting power will double."
These words struck Usopp's soul instantly.
"That makes sense!! I need to study this carefully!!"
Usopp's eyes shone like light bulbs, and the two quickly exchanged a glance, reaching an evil consensus to "plunder shellfish."
...
While everyone was enjoying the beautiful scenery and delicious food.
"Hiss—hiss—"
A strange gliding sound broke the silence.
A group of soldiers dressed in white uniforms and wearing berets, gliding at high speed along a specially designed "cloud path" on devices similar to roller skates.
Leading the group was none other than McKinley, the captain of the White Berets.
"That is..."
McKinley ignored Connie's explanation, glanced at the Straw Hat crew, and directly produced a decree, proclaiming:
"Illegal entry! Plus environmental damage!!"
"That's…" McKinley pointed to the boiling pot, "That's precious hollowfish! How dare you catch them without permission!"
"You're under arrest!"
In a show of defiance, McKinley kicked over the soup pot that Sanji had carefully prepared.
"Clang!"
Delicious seafood soup spilled all over the ground and seeped into the white sand.
The air suddenly became quiet.
"Hey..." Sanji lit a cigarette, the shadow under his bangs obscuring his eyes, only the tiny spark burning fiercely. "What...did you just kick over?"
"Arrest them! And that father and daughter too, treat them as accomplices in assisting the criminals!" McKinley ordered.
Battle broke out.
"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"
The white-beret team members used cloud shells to create gliding tracks, and with special cloud shoes, they moved at high speeds on the beach, as elusive as white ghosts.
"Give me back my soup!!"
Luffy pulled out his head, yelled, and threw a punch.
However, the opponent used the Wind Shell to instantly change direction, and Luffy missed.
To make matters worse, because this was a cloud-covered beach with very soft ground, Luffy exerted too much force and half of his body sank into the sand.
"Damn it! I can't pull it out!"
"How dare you waste food..."
Sanji was furious. Without even glancing at the darting figures, he directly predicted their gliding trajectory.
"First cut of meat!!"
boom!
Sanji kicked the cloud track created by the opponent and shattered it.
The two soldiers, having lost their footing, instantly lost their balance and fell face-first into the dirt with screams.
On the other side, several "cloud arrows" were shot at Zoro.
Zoro didn't even open his eyes, nor did he draw his sword.
"Slap! Slap!"
He precisely deflected all the arrows using only the scabbard.
Then, when the captain attempted a close-range sneak attack, Zoro struck him on the back of the head with the back of his sword.
"Fancy...too slow," Zoro said, yawning.
Just then.
An elite team member circled around to the back, holding a red seashell, and aimed it at Nami.
"Die, you criminal!"
boom!!
Flamebe spewed out scorching flames, attempting to burn Nami.
"Ah!" Nami exclaimed.
brush!
A black afterimage instantly appeared in front of Nami.
Viktor did not dodge; his longsword remained unsheathed, but jet-black Armament Haki instantly covered the blade.
"point!"
With a casual wave of his hand, the imposing blade cleaved through the onrushing flames.
Immediately afterward, Victor reached out and grabbed the wrist of the other person holding the Flame Shell with lightning speed.
"I see, is it the principle of absorbing impact and then releasing energy?"
Viktor, feeling the heat of the flames, sneered:
"If the exit is blocked at the moment of release..."
"Snap!"
Victor twisted the opponent's wrist hard against the ground, pressing the Flame Shell's nozzle firmly into the sand.
"Boom!!"
The blocked flame energy exploded at a very low distance from the ground.
"Waaaaaah!!"
The soldier screamed as he was blasted away by his own weapon, his body charred black.
Victor bent down, picked up the fallen Flame Shell, tossed it in his hand, and felt the lingering warmth inside:
"Thank you for the treat, sample obtained."
Seeing his entire army wiped out, Captain McKinley realized the situation was dire and attempted to defend himself with the massive "Cloud Shield," while pulling out his whistle to request backup.
"Hey!! You bunch of bastards!!"
Luffy finally pulled his upper body out of the sand. He stretched his arms back for dozens of meters, his face full of displeasure:
"This is so annoying!!!"
"Rubber rubber—rocket launcher!!!"
boom!!!
The immense impact pierced directly through the so-called cloud shield.
McKinley, along with the remaining dozen or so teammates, were all blasted away like bowling pins by this blow, screaming as they streaked across the sky and plunged into the depths of the sea of clouds.
The battle is over.
The beach was a mess, with only the Veyron still sputtering in place.
Uncle Pagya trembled with fear: "This...this is really a disaster..."
"Waaaaahh...
Just then, a loud, piercing alarm sounded in the distant sky.
A huge surveillance image was projected onto the clouds above, showing the majestic face of a priest.
The chilling pronouncement echoed throughout the island:
"Announcement! Announcement!"
"The Qinghai Straw Hat Gang's crimes have escalated!"
"Upgraded from 'illegal immigrant' to'second-degree criminal'!!"
"In this kingdom of the gods... you will be personally 'tested' by the four high priests!"
"No matter where you flee... God's judgment will come!"