Just as the strange shoes were about to smash into Rolan's head, a soft snap echoed through the air.
Splat.
White cloud rings curled around the attacker like thick ropes. Nami had flicked her fingers, summoning clouds that wrapped tightly around the masked man, suspending him mid-air.
"What is this?" the stranger muttered, struggling violently. No matter how he twisted or forced his body, the cloud restraints held firm, binding him as solidly as chains.
Rolan looked up with a detached calm. Through the narrow holes of the mask, he saw two furious eyes burning back at him. He recognized the man immediately—Wyper, the warrior of the Shandia tribe.
"Damn it!" Wyper growled as he wrestled against the cloud coils. Despite being bound, he slowly raised the bazooka in his right hand and tried to aim it at Rolan.
A flash of steel cut through the moment.
Clang.
The bazooka split cleanly in two. The mask shattered along the same line, both pieces falling to the deck with sharp metallic clinks. Wyper's fierce face was revealed beneath the broken mask.
Zoro calmly pushed the Wado Ichimonji back into its sheath.
Crocodile let the sand swirling in his palm disperse, smoke from his cigar drifting lazily upward. Relief flickered in his eyes as he observed the situation.
This entire ship is full of monsters, he thought. Even aside from Rolan, both girls are incredibly strong, and there's a swordsman with Haki sharper than steel. And Kuro… his Haki is on another level altogether.
Perhaps, Crocodile mused, joining Rolan when he did had been the smartest thing he ever chose.
Wyper glared at them. "You Blue Sea people… are you here for treasure? Then scram! The gold and the Vearth are not something you can covet!"
"Oh?" Rolan lifted his gaze lazily. "Which eye of yours saw me trying to steal your Vearth?"
Wyper snarled and glanced at the flag on the ship. "I know that flag. A pirate flag. Pirates are never good people."
At that moment, Lina's right hand burst into flames. "Rolan, don't waste breath on him. He rushed us with killing intent."
She was no longer the naïve girl she had once been. She had felt Wyper's killing intent clearly, sharp and heavy. Rolan had taught her that someone who attacked with such hostility had to be dealt with decisively.
Before she could act, an aged voice rang out across the cloud sea.
"Everyone, please, give this old man some dignity and spare Wyper's life."
A strange sight approached—what looked like a winged horse flying toward the ship. As it neared, they could see an elderly man in armor riding upon it.
The creature landed lightly on the deck. The old man dismounted, removed his helmet, and bowed respectfully.
"Heso."
Rolan recognized him instantly. "Gan Fall. The former God of Sky Island."
Gan Fall bowed again. "I do not know how Wyper offended you, but I beg you to spare him."
Wyper's lips tightened. "Hey! Gan Fall, are you trying to make the Shandia surrender our Vearth by bowing to them?"
Gan Fall shook his head. "I am no longer God. This centuries-long war… even if I wished to stop it, I no longer have the power to do so."
Kuro adjusted his glasses slightly. From this exchange alone, he already understood the tense state of Sky Island.
Crocodile looked at Gan Fall with mild amusement. "And why plead for him?"
Gan Fall sighed. His shoulders drooped with age and exhaustion. He knew he held no authority now. In the eyes of Rolan's crew, he was just an old man from the sky.
Rolan spoke calmly, "Lina, Nami. Release him."
"But…" Lina hesitated.
"He didn't harm anyone," Rolan said, voice flat. "Let him go."
Nami exhaled and released the clouds. Lina extinguished her flames.
Wyper didn't offer thanks. He glared at Gan Fall, turned, and sprinted into the distance.
Gan Fall bowed deeply. "Thank you for sparing him. I am Gan Fall, the former God of Sky Island."
He pulled a metal whistle from his pouch and handed it to Lina.
Lina stared at it, puzzled.
"If you find yourselves in trouble on Sky Island," Gan Fall said, "blow the whistle. I will come. I promise to thank you properly when you arrive."
He mounted his flying steed. "Let us go, Pierre."
"Pierre~"
As the pair soared away, Lina blinked. "Rolan, do you know that old man?"
"He introduced himself," Rolan replied casually. "Former God."
"So you let that fierce guy go because of that?" Lina pouted.
Kuro spoke up, "That man wasn't malicious. He was trying to protect the Vearth. He only mistook us for thieves. His intentions weren't bad."
Then he smirked. "Besides, Rolan seemed interested in him. Thinking of recruiting him?"
"No!" Nami and Lina protested at once. "He's too scary!"
Rolan waved them off. "Enough. We're heading to Sky Island."
He steered the ship forward.
---
"This is endless," Zoro grumbled, sword drawn. "Is this really the sky? And why are there so many weird fish?"
As they moved deeper into the White Sea, countless creatures harassed the ship. None posed a real threat, but the constant attacks were exhausting.
Lina panted beside him, flames still glowing faintly around her hands. "There's a gate up ahead. That should be the entrance to Sky Island. Let's hurry. At this rate, we'll collapse before we get there."
Rolan steered toward it.
"Heaven's Gate?" Nami murmured, reading the sign. "Does this mean… heaven?"
Robin touched her chin thoughtfully. "If this is heaven, perhaps we're already dead."
"Hey!" Lina clung to Rolan's arm. "Rolan, I still haven't lived enough. Don't tell me I'm already dead!"
Nami sighed. "Robin-chan, don't scare her. This is just the entrance to Sky Island."
Lina relaxed slightly. "Good. Just the entrance."
The ship passed through the gate.
Click.
Click.
Zoro tensed. "Someone's here."
He placed his hand on his sword as a small door creaked open—