The three ships continued to sail smoothly across the calm waters, all of them following the direction pointed by the South Bird's head.
Everyone on board was filled with excitement and anticipation as they waited for the Knock Up Stream to appear.
The air was full of energy, and even the wind seemed to move differently, as if nature itself was preparing for something extraordinary.
"Alright, let's go over the instructions one more time," Douglas called out loudly so that all three ships could hear him. "When the Knock Up Stream appears, we will ride it all the way to the top. Make sure the exhaust engines I installed release a steady burst of air the entire time. The pressure needs to be consistent so we can reach the Sky Island safely."
Masira and Shoujou, who were standing on their own decks, both saluted energetically and shouted together, "Yes, Boss!" Their enthusiasm spread quickly among their crews, who echoed the same reply.
Everyone understood that if they failed to follow Douglas's instructions carefully, they might lose their only chance to reach the sky.
"In case any of you start falling, yell out immediately," Douglas added. "If something goes wrong, I'll pull you back." His voice was steady, but inside he already prepared himself to use his Dark Dark Fruit ability as a last resort.
He would only use it if absolutely necessary, because he knew that the darkness he controlled was not suited for ordinary minds.
The endless void of his power could make even the most stable person lose their sanity if exposed for too long.
After making sure Masira and Shoujou understood, Douglas turned to his own crew. "Eveyone, get ready too," he said. "You all know what to do in case of emergency." Each of them nodded seriously, and even Cricket stood quietly nearby, listening closely to their conversation.
"Do you think we'll see angels up there?" Sanji suddenly asked, breaking the brief silence.
Douglas looked at him for a moment and then replied, "If the Sky Island really exists, maybe. But that's a big if."
Luffy's face turned serious for a moment before he raised his voice.
"Douglas, don't say that! There is a Sky Island, and we'll see angels there for sure!" His determination made Usopp nod in agreement, while Chopper's eyes shone brightly with curiosity and excitement.
"Hey, Douglas," Chopper said innocently, "do you think Doctor is on the Sky Island? Because… people who die go to heaven, right?" His question struck Douglas deeply, and for a moment, he stayed silent.
"Only good people go to heaven," Douglas finally said softly. "And your doctor was definitely a good man, so he should be there now. But remember, Sky Island isn't heaven."
Chopper's face lit up with hope instead of sadness. "Then do you think Doctor is happy up there?" he asked again.
Douglas smiled faintly. "Of course. He's probably watching all of your adventures right now, proud and excited to see you heading for the sky." That answer made Chopper grin widely, holding onto that comforting thought as he stared at the sky.
Meanwhile, Zoro was standing at the edge of the ship, scanning the horizon with Nami beside him.
Nami's expression slowly grew serious as she felt the faint change in the wind. "Everyone, get ready. It's close," she suddenly shouted.
Her warning caught everyone off guard because the weather still looked perfectly clear.
The sky was blue, and the sun was shining brightly, giving no sign that anything was about to happen.
But the Straw Hats trusted Nami completely, knowing that her navigation instincts were never wrong.
Seeing how serious she looked, Masira, Shoujou, and their crews also hurried to follow her command.
Within minutes, the sky began to shift. The clouds that had been scattered started to gather, growing darker and heavier.
The calm sea became restless, swirling gently as if something powerful was moving beneath it.
The others looked around in awe, realizing that Nami had sensed it before anyone else.
"Hahaha, here we go!" Luffy shouted from his spot on the figurehead of the Going Merry, his laughter full of excitement.
Zoro, Sanji, and Douglas quickly went to the sails, opening them as Nami gave out instructions.
Usopp and Chopper stood near the railing with wide eyes, searching for any sign of the stream's appearance. Cricket and Robin joined them, carefully watching the waves.
A few moments later, the sea began to spin. A whirlpool formed in front of them, massive and deep, pulling the three ships closer to its center.
Instead of resisting, all three ships allowed themselves to be drawn in, as Douglas had planned. The crews held onto the rails tightly as the ships started spinning faster.
Then bubbles began to rise from the depths, and Nami's sharp eyes caught the sight first. "Everyone, get ready!" she yelled. The sea started to bulge upward like a mountain forming from below.
All the crew members quickly fastened their safety belts and adjusted the protective suits Douglas had made.
The ropes attached to the decks were secured tightly, ensuring no one would be thrown off once the stream hit.
A deafening roar followed, and in an instant, the Knock Up Stream erupted.
The three ships were launched upward together, carried by an enormous pillar of water shooting straight into the sky. The dark clouds above swallowed them almost instantly.
"Waaahhhhh!" Usopp and Chopper screamed, clutching onto the railings. Their excitement was overtaken by fear as they looked down at the sea disappearing far below them.
Douglas stayed focused, controlling the Going Merry's exhaust system, adjusting the air bursts and wing flaps to keep the ship stable.
Masira and Shoujou, though less skilled in control, followed Douglas's example. Their movements were rough, but it was good enough.
Douglas calculated that they would reach Sky Island in a little over five minutes if the stream's force stayed consistent.
The crews of both Masira and Shoujou's ships held their breath, most of them keeping their eyes tightly shut.
On the Going Merry, only Usopp and Chopper had their eyes closed, trembling with fear, while the rest stayed calm and focused.
Luffy, sitting proudly on the figurehead, wore a huge grin, his eyes locked on the sky above.
Nami stood beside Douglas, helping him gauge how the ship was moving with each gust of wind, while Sanji and Zoro moved around the deck, checking that everyone remained safe.
Minutes passed, and the endless storm above began to thin. Suddenly, Luffy spotted a bright light breaking through the clouds. "We're almost there!" he shouted, unable to contain his excitement. Cricket stood silently, still trying to believe that he had joined this impossible journey.
Then, with one final push, the ships broke through the storm. For a brief moment, everything went weightless. The ships lifted above the clouds, and then there was nothing beneath them — no water, no wind, only open air.
They started to fall, and everyone braced for impact. But instead of plummeting back to the sea, they felt the hulls of their ships hit something soft yet solid.
When the ones who had their eyes closed finally opened them, they saw a vast landscape of white stretching in every direction. It wasn't the sea they knew — it was something completely different.
Douglas quickly rushed to the edge of the deck, his face lighting up in amazement. "Welcome to the Sky Island!" he shouted at the top of his voice.
The words echoed through all three ships, and everyone erupted in cheers. The crews shouted, laughed, and cried in disbelief. Even Cricket, who had doubted for years, stood silently with tears forming in his eyes. The dream he had chased for so long was real, and it was right in front of him.
Masira and Shoujou, overjoyed, leaped from their ships toward the Going Merry to hug Cricket. Masira landed safely, but Shoujou missed the edge and fell into the white sea below. Before he could sink, Douglas extended his hand forward.
"Black Vortex!" he called out, using his Dark Dark Fruit to control the gravity. A wave of darkness pulled Shoujou upward, and he was safely drawn back toward Douglas's hand.