The Starry Sky emblem fluttered loudly in the gale.
The surging wind lifted the tilted Merry once more.
At a proud forty-five-degree angle, the ship soared through the sky!
"AAAAAH!!!"
"We're gonna fall!!!"
Usopp clung to the railing, panic-stricken as he felt his body grow weightless.
Hiss—hiss—hiss…
From directly beneath the Merry, countless bubbles of all sizes suddenly erupted from the deep-blue sea.
At that instant, the entire ocean began to boil!
Gurgle—gurgle…
The bubbles grew larger and larger.
And just then, the Merry reached the peak of its ascent!
Nami grabbed the railing tightly and shouted at Zoro, Sanji, and the others—who still looked calm:
"Hold on tight!"
"We're—"
"About to fly!!!"
BOOM!!!
Before anyone could react, a violent vertical sea current exploded upward beneath the Merry!
A terrifying force capable of piercing islands slammed brutally into the ship's hull!
BOOM!!!
Fortunately, after its upgrades, the Merry's durability had long surpassed every ship in the world.
Only the ancient battleship Pluton could even compare.
And even then—who would win was still uncertain!
At the very least, Sanji definitely couldn't eat the Merry.
The overwhelming force propelled the ship skyward at extreme speed!
The pressure from the acceleration forced the unprepared Zoro and others to drop to one knee, hands braced against the deck.
"Hahahahahaha!!!!!"
Violent air currents slashed across Luffy's face.
Enjoying the sensation, Luffy burst into carefree laughter.
It felt just like riding a free-fall tower back at an amusement park—thrilling and nerve-wracking!
Except this time, they weren't falling.
They were blasting upward!
One hundred meters—
Had become ten thousand meters!!!
As the rising sea current carried them higher and higher, the Merry's silhouette soon vanished from the ocean below.
...
A long while later, the terrifying vertical current finally began to weaken.
It dissolved into splashes that leapt from the surface before falling back down, sending gentle ripples across the sea.
The small ship never reappeared.
Only echoes of laughter and screams—of excitement and panic—lingered over the water.
The ocean returned to calm once more.
...
On the coast of Jaya Island.
A burly man, bare-chested and wearing a chestnut-shaped hat—
Mont Blanc Cricket, descendant of the legendary liar Mont Blanc Noland from four hundred years ago—
Stood with his arms crossed, staring at the vanished current in disbelief.
"It… it looks like they made it!"
"They really succeeded!!!"
Beside him stood a man covered in fur, more gorilla than human—Masira, one of the leaders of the Saruyama Alliance.
Eyes wide, he muttered in awe:
"So this is…"
"Fearless strength…"
...
"Boss!!!"
"Boss!!! Bad news!!!"
Just as the two were marveling at the Starry Sky Pirates' courage—and the possible existence of Skypiea—
Another man came sprinting toward them.
Wearing a green captain's coat, with a monkey-like appearance and an enormous face—
Shoujou, another leader of the Saruyama Alliance.
He ran while shouting at the top of his lungs!
"Huff!… Huff!… Huff!… Huff!…"
Having rushed over, Shoujou hadn't even gotten a word out before his lungs gave out.
He leaned on Cricket and Masira, gasping desperately.
Cricket uncrossed his arms and asked calmly:
"What happened?"
After witnessing such a spectacle, little could shock him anymore.
"Boss… Boss…"
After a long while, Shoujou finally caught his breath.
He straightened up, pulled out the latest World Government–issued newspaper, and said urgently:
"This is bad!!!"
"Look—doesn't this guy look like the one who came asking us about the rising sea current and Skypiea?!"
Cricket and Masira immediately looked where he pointed.
On the newspaper's front page—
Luffy's handsome face leapt vividly into view.
Even through the photograph, his sharp eyes radiated power and determination.
One had to admit—the World Government had real talent when it came to photography.
With skills like that, they'd easily win first prize in a modern photography contest.
Cricket snatched the paper, his eyes trembling, pupils dilated as he read aloud:
"Former Warlord of the Sea, Starry Sky Pirates' Captain, Monkey D. Luffy, is suspected of attempting to revive the world-destroying demon—an Ancient Weapon—posing a grave threat to global peace and stability."
"All Warlord privileges revoked, effective immediately!"
"Former Warlord of the Sea, Starry Sky Pirates' 'Devil Child,' Nico Robin, committed heinous crimes in childhood."
"Now conspiring with Monkey D. Luffy to revive an Ancient Weapon—vicious and cruel."
"Former Warlord of the Sea, Starry Sky Pirates' Vice-Captain, Roronoa Zoro, assisted in terrorist activities."
"Extremely powerful; fought current Warlord Donquixote Doflamingo to a standstill."
"Other members of the Starry Sky Pirates are deemed accomplices."
"Monkey D. Luffy—once a Warlord under the World Government—has committed unforgivable crimes."
"High bounties are hereby issued for the core members of the Starry Sky Pirates."
"Dead or alive!!!"
Cricket's trembling hands flipped the paper.
Three yellowed sheets slipped free and drifted gently to the ground.
Masira bent down, hands shaking, and picked them up.
"Roronoa Zoro—bounty: 550,000,000 Berry."
"Nico Robin—bounty: 890,000,000 Berry."
"Monkey D. Luffy…"
Masira's voice grew smaller and smaller, as if his throat were being strangled.
He froze upon opening Luffy's wanted poster.
His already-bulging eyes nearly popped out.
"Ten… hundred… thousand… ten thousand…"
"Monkey D. Luffy—bounty…"
"1.8 billion!!!"
"H-how… much…"
Cricket squeaked, barely able to believe it.
Masira didn't answer.
Holding the fragile yet terrifying wanted poster in both hands, he said in shock:
"Boss…"
"We might've…"
"Met someone absolutely insane today."
"No."
Cricket gazed at the confident, radiant, domineering face on the paper and sighed softly.
"It was yesterday."