On deck, Hawk-Eye's sharp gaze was locked squarely on Don.
Don, in turn, looked back with an expression of pure sincerity.
Just as the air between them started to grow strange, Hawk-Eye finally shifted his gaze and nodded slightly.
"Remember what you just promised."
"Of course I will. And even if I can't handle it, we still have Issho, don't we?" Don replied cheerfully, dragging Issho into the matter without hesitation.
Issho, who had been quietly observing from the side, blinked in mild confusion.
"The old man—" he began, but Don cut him off.
"We probably won't find an upward current this time. I'll need you to lighten the ship for us."
"Hm?" Issho frowned slightly, puzzled. But Don had already turned to Robin.
"Keep an eye on the Log Pose. Once it points straight up, that's our cue."
"I understand," Robin answered with a nod.
In truth, Don's Observation Haki had already perceived the Sky Island far above them.
After all, part of the Sky Island had once been a fragment of Jaya Island, hurled into the heavens centuries ago by an enormous sea current.
Ten thousand meters — well within the range of Don's Observation Haki.
And from what he sensed, the situation up there was anything but peaceful.
Enel's priests and guards were sweeping across Sky Island, ruthlessly crushing anyone who dared to resist.
As for Enel himself, he hadn't moved — perhaps savoring the spectacle.
"…Hm?"
Don's eyes narrowed, his focus tightening.
The moment his attention settled on Enel at the so-called "God's Island," the latter reacted almost immediately.
He noticed me? Don thought, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
Before long, their ship came to a halt on the calm, empty sea.
The waters around them were unnervingly still.
Don glanced upward, then looked at Issho.
Issho gave a faint nod and placed his hand on his sword's hilt.
A strange force of gravity enveloped the vessel, and the ship that had been resting on the sea slowly began to rise.
Then flames burst to life beneath the hull, propelling it upward with growing speed.
The passengers could feel the pressure of acceleration mounting, though for those aboard — even Robin — it was hardly more than a mild discomfort.
The ship climbed higher and higher.
From above, the sea below was soon swallowed by clouds.
At a certain height, a thick blanket of cloud appeared before them.
The ship, driven by Don's fire, plunged straight into the dense white mass.
Instantly, Don felt the vessel grow heavier.
"This is seawater!" Issho's voice came, tinged with surprise.
The cloud had the same properties as the ocean.
As a Devil Fruit user, he knew exactly what that meant — contact with it would sap his strength, dulling his powers.
Even with all his mastery, he couldn't completely resist the effect.
Don, however, seemed unaffected.
Even without Issho's help to lighten the load, he could've carried the ship upward himself — it would've just drained more energy.
A few minutes later, the ship pierced through the strange sea of clouds.
And the world suddenly opened before their eyes.
Stretching out beneath them was what looked like a vast ocean of clouds.
"This is… the sea of the sky," Don murmured, gazing ahead.
"Truly remarkable."
Now free from the cloud's oppressive weight, Robin felt strength return to her limbs. "So this is the Sky Sea," she said softly. "But this isn't our destination, is it?"
"They've already noticed us," Don said, raising his head.
Thunder rumbled in the distance — low and ominous.
"That the strong one you mentioned?" Hawk-Eye asked, looking upward.
"When we were still below, I saw him with Observation Haki… and he saw me," Don explained.
The flames beneath the ship flared brighter, pushing them higher still.
The higher they climbed, the louder the thunder became.
The air crackled — booming, relentless.
"The power of lightning…" Hawk-Eye muttered, his expression hardening.
He already had an idea of what kind of opponent awaited them — and it wasn't one to take lightly.
Three thousand meters vanished in moments under Don's propulsion.
Then, the islands came into view — several of them floating upon the endless sea of white.
Between the islands lay swirling cloud currents.
Above them, however, hung a dark storm — thunderclouds pulsing with electric fury.
Bolts of lightning rained down like divine punishment, crashing into the islands below.
The strikes came so rapidly they barely paused between each other — whoever commanded the storm was clearly enraged.
On the islands below, those who still dared defy Enel were desperately fleeing for their lives amid the storm of lightning.
"What a tyrannical man," Issho said grimly.
Through his Observation Haki, he could feel it — despair and anger saturating the skies like a suffocating fog.
"Then let's find him and get it over with," Don said lightly. "The sooner we fight, the sooner we can rest."
The ship shifted course, soaring toward the only island made of solid earth among the clouds.
BOOM!
A massive lightning bolt crashed toward them.
Hawk-Eye gripped his sword and swung — a green arc of energy tore through the air, splitting the thunderbolt in two before it vanished into mist.
But that single strike was only the beginning.
The other bolts that had been striking elsewhere abruptly ceased.
Every flash of lightning in the sky turned toward one target — their ship.
Blades of green energy cut through the falling thunder.
Rising flames intercepted others, detonating upon impact.
Below, those who had moments ago been fleeing from the wrath of the storm now stood frozen, staring upward in disbelief.
They watched as a lone ship defied the heavens — cutting through lightning itself, sailing straight toward the sacred island of the so-called god.
"God…" someone murmured in awe.
On Angel Island below, a figure clad in full armor atop a strange steed looked up at the scene.
It was his attendant who had spoken first.
"Adventurers from the Blue Sea," the armored man said quietly.
This was Gan Fall — the former "God" of Sky Island before Enel seized the title.
Once its guardian, now merely a remnant of the old order.
He knew the truth all too well: their strength was nothing compared to Enel's.
If not for Enel's arrogance and his refusal to personally act against them, they would have fallen long ago.
Even now, they could barely hold off the Four Priests under his command.
Gan Fall clenched his fist.
Even resistance seemed meaningless.
Enel was simply too powerful.
And yet — perhaps, just perhaps — this ship from the Blue Sea might change the course of a future he could already foresee.
His eyes fixed on the vessel rising through lightning and storm toward the island of gods.
In his mind, old memories surfaced — of a group of adventurers who had once come here long ago.
They had called themselves pirates.
Their captain's name… was Roger.
END OF CHAPTER
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