Chapter 121 The Golden Bell
Robin stepped forward, a faint smile on her lips.
Her gaze fell upon Nami, whose eyes were gleaming with gold, and she said softly, "It's not just that, Nami.
The most precious thing about the Golden City, guarded by the Skypeian Tribesmen for generations, is not the gold."
Nami's eyes widened instantly upon hearing this.
Even her breathing quickened: "Something more valuable than gold?!"
Her gasp attracted everyone's attention; Luffy, Lin Ning, Usopp, Chopper, and the others all looked over curiously.
Even the usually steady Zoro and Sanji couldn't help but prick up their ears, awaiting Robin's explanation.
Robin nodded gently, a profound look in her eyes: "It's the Golden City's greatest legacy—the Golden Bell, and the 'poneglyph'."
"poneglyph?" Lin Ning's gaze sharpened as he asked thoughtfully, "Is it that stone tablet that records the history of the Void Century?"
"Exactly." Robin's eyes were deep as she gently caressed the dilapidated walls of the ruins.
"The true secret of the Golden City is hidden where the Golden Bell is located."
"The Golden Bell?!" Luffy's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he rushed to Robin's front.
He asked impatiently, "Where is it?! Tell me quickly!"
Robin smiled slightly, raising her finger.
She pointed to the enormous vine soaring into the sky at the center of the ruins, her voice steady: "According to the inscriptions on the ruins' murals, the bell tower of the Golden Bell is at the very top of this giant vine.
After Jaya Island was swept up to Sky Island by the Knock Up Stream, the Golden Bell climbed with the vine and flew even higher into the sky during the impact."
Lin Ning walked to the vine and looked up.
He saw that the vine was like a pillar supporting the sky, shooting straight into the clouds, with no end in sight.
He nodded slowly, confirming, "So, that Golden Bell is at the very top of this vine."
"What are we waiting for!" Nami's eyes were practically turning into Berries symbols with excitement.
She grabbed Luffy's collar and urged him excitedly, "Luffy, hurry up and get the Golden Bell down!"
Usopp's eyes widened as he looked at the vine; the height made his scalp tingle, and cold sweat broke out on his forehead:
"Hey, hey, hey! Don't be so casual about it! It's so high, how are we supposed to get up there?!"
Luffy grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth.
He confidently waved his fist: "It's simple—we'll just fly up using 'Moonwalk'!"
Nami instantly grew anxious upon hearing this, immediately grabbing Lin Ning's arm and shouting with shining eyes: "No! I want to go too! Lin Ning, quickly figure out a way to take me up!"
Everyone's gaze collectively fell on Lin Ning, awaiting his answer.
Lin Ning looked at Nami's eager expression, wanting to see the Golden Bell with her own eyes.
Then he looked at Robin's expectant gaze, which, as always, held a faint, calm smile.
He glanced up at the unreachable vine above his head, and a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
He sighed inwardly and spoke helplessly, "Luffy, you carry Usopp; Sanji, you carry Chopper..."
Before he finished speaking, Sanji immediately raised his right hand, excitedly interrupting, "I want to carry Miss Nami and Young Miss Robin!"
"Bang!"
The next second, Nami mercilessly punched Sanji on the head.
It made his head tilt, and he half-knelt on the ground, a large bump swelling on his forehead.
Robin covered her mouth and chuckled, looking at Lin Ning and asking gently, "So, Mr. Lin Ning, what about us?"
Lin Ning smiled slightly, raised his hand, gripped his halberd, and gently waved it.
His tone was calm yet filled with absolute confidence: "You two sit on either end of the halberd, and I'll take you up."
Zoro's pupils slightly contracted upon hearing this, his eyes showing shock.
"...That's a bold idea."
He naturally knew the difficulty of "Moonwalk"; this technique of walking on air required immense stamina and precise control.
Even he himself couldn't fully master it, only able to use it for short periods with huge consumption.
But Lin Ning not only had to use Moonwalk but also carry a halberd on his shoulder.
And carry two people at the same time—this was an unimaginable feat!
Nami's eyes immediately lit up after hearing this, her voice full of anticipation: "Lin Ning, I knew you'd have a way!"
Robin also nodded slightly, smiling gracefully: "Then we'll trouble Mr. Lin Ning."
Luffy looked at Lin Ning, frowning slightly and scratching his head: "Lin Ning, won't that be too much trouble?"
Lin Ning raised an eyebrow, retorting without hesitation: "Can you carry one on your back and hold another?"
Luffy froze, opening his mouth, but found he couldn't refute it at all.
Carrying Usopp on his back was already tough enough; carrying another... it was impossible!
Lin Ning's gaze was firm, and he said in a steady voice, "Don't forget, we swore—we will never abandon any comrade!"
Luffy's expression immediately changed upon hearing this, and his face turned green.
But as the Captain, how could he back down at a time like this?
So he suddenly turned to Usopp and said with righteous indignation, "Right! We, the Straw Hat Pirates, will never abandon any comrade! Usopp, let's go!"
"Wait—ah ah ah ah!!!"
Before Usopp could finish speaking, Luffy hoisted him up.
Then Luffy suddenly used "Moonwalk," dragging Usopp's screams as he shot straight into the sky!
"Hey, hey, hey! Damn Luffy, I wasn't ready yet ah ah ah—"
At the same time, Sanji, not to be outdone, with a cigarette in his mouth.
He picked up Chopper with one hand, pushed off the ground, and leaped into the air: "Let's go, Chopper!"
Chopper frantically hugged Sanji's neck: "Waaah! So high!"
Zoro stood on the ground, watching everyone fly into the sky one after another, and his mouth twitched.
Finally, unwilling to be left behind, he snorted coldly and executed a half-baked "Moonwalk."
While climbing the giant vine using both hands and feet, he complained: "Damn it... I'm really not good at this kind of thing..."
Lin Ning stood in place, holding the halberd with one hand, steadying it horizontally in front of him.
He looked calmly at Nami and Robin: "Come on, it's time for us to go too."
Nami jumped onto the halberd without hesitation, her face full of excitement.
Robin, meanwhile, sat elegantly on the other end, her eyes holding a faint appreciation:
"I didn't expect Mr. Lin Ning's 'Moonwalk' to have reached such a level."
Lin Ning didn't answer; his foot stomped, and the airflow exploded!
"Boom—"
Amidst Nami's gasps, Lin Ning, carrying the two, shot straight into the sky like a meteor.
Cutting through the long sky, they sped towards the top of the giant vine where the Golden Bell was located!
The wind howled in their ears, and clouds surged around them like a tide.
The vine below transformed into a winding giant dragon, gradually disappearing into the clouds.
Lin Ning's speed was incredibly fast; he quickly surpassed Zoro, Luffy, Sanji, and the others, being the first to reach the highest point of the vine.
Passing through the last layer of clouds, a golden behemoth came into view—the Golden Bell!
It stood like a sacred ruin cast in gold, at the pinnacle of the vine, emitting a breathtaking, brilliant glow.
Nami and Robin's eyes widened, as if they couldn't believe the sight before them, their mouths slightly agape, speechless for a long time.
"This... this is the Golden Bell..."
Nami's voice trembled slightly, filled with uncontrollable excitement.
"It's truly... magnificent!"Chapter 122 Historical Text
Robin stood before the Golden Bell, her gaze profound.
She looked up at the giant bell, which had stood for a thousand years, and exclaimed, "Is this the legendary city, Shandora's proud Great Bell Tower? It's truly amazing!"
Sunlight pierced through the clouds, casting a sacred glow upon the Golden Bell, as if the entire bell was plated in holy light.
Just then, Luffy and the others also arrived.
They passed through the clouds, their feet on the thick branches at the top of the giant vine.
Their gazes converged on this legendary golden giant bell.
Everyone was stunned by the sight before them.
"Hey, hey... is this thing really made of pure gold?"
Zoro's eyes widened, as if he couldn't believe such a massive golden structure truly existed in this world.
"This is an invaluable Treasure Trove!" Nami's eyes immediately sparkled with gold, her face filled with feverish excitement.
"If we can take it back, we'll become the richest pirate crew in the world!"
Usopp looked at the Golden Bell with awe, mumbling,
"This is like a treasure from a mythical story... it actually exists..."
But just as everyone was immersed in shock and wonder, Luffy suddenly grinned, swung his fist, and struck the bell's body.
— "Dong!!!"
The Golden Bell let out a majestic and distant chime.
The deep, heavy sound seemed to pierce through the clouds, echoing throughout the entire Sky Island.
At that moment, the entire world fell silent, even the wind held its breath to listen.
Deep within the ruins, the previously unconscious Shandian warriors were awakened by the profound bell sound.
They opened their eyes, listening to the chime in their ears, and hot tears immediately welled up in their eyes.
"This bell sound... it's the 'Light of Shandora'...
"Lord Kalgara... do you hear it?"
They choked, tears silently streaming down their faces.
It was as if at this moment, not only they themselves, but also their ancestors, were listening to this call that transcended four hundred years.
Meanwhile, the residents of Sky Island also looked up in unison towards the direction from which the bell sound came.
"This bell sound... is it the legendary 'Golden Bell'?"
"Does that lost city... Shandora, truly exist?"
The atmosphere of the entire Sky Island became exceptionally solemn at this moment, as if the whole world was waiting for the Golden Bell to tell its story.
— Meanwhile, Robin stood beneath the bell's body.
Her fingertips gently brushed the base of the Golden Bell, which was covered in ancient writing.
A determined light shone in her eyes as she murmured,
"Convey the true meaning to the heart... We are the weavers of history... at one with the chime of the Great Bell Tower..."
"Robin, does it really say those words?" Luffy tilted his head, asking curiously.
Robin smiled slightly and shook her head:
"No, this is a record of the Golden Bell from ancient ruins.
As for the inscription on this bell's base, the true content is — 'Ancient Weapon Pluton, its whereabouts.'"
"Ancient Weapon?" Nami's expression changed slightly, and she asked in surprise, "Is it the same type of thing as Alabasta's 'Pluton'?"
Robin nodded, her expression becoming somewhat complex.
She remembered what Crocodile had once said—"Pluton, once it fires, can blast an entire island into ruins."
"Such a dangerous thing... still slumbers upon this great sea."
Robin said softly, a trace of deep thought flashing in her eyes.
Lin Ning stood with his arms crossed, his gaze sharp as he looked at her:
"Robin, aren't you interested in Ancient Weapons? Do you only seek lost history?"
Robin was silent for a moment, then the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, and she nodded gently.
"Just as I thought." Lin Ning chuckled, then he turned to look at Luffy and suddenly asked:
"Luffy, do you want an Ancient Weapon? Something that can destroy an island with a single blow?"
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Luffy, awaiting his answer.
However, Luffy just grinned and said without hesitation, "No need!"
His gaze was firm, his tone filled with unwavering confidence:
"I'm the man who will become the Pirate King, I won't rely on such things!"
The wind blew from high above, lifting the straw hat on his forehead.
His eyes were incredibly firm; no power could shake his belief.
Hearing Luffy's bold words, everyone revealed knowing smiles.
Lin Ning nodded, a satisfied smile curving his lips:
"That's right, Luffy, true strength comes from within."
He looked up slightly, gazing at the sky, and slowly said:
"Destroy an island with a single blow? Heh... in the future, we might just be able to."
Upon hearing this, Zoro also showed a domineering and confident smile.
The corners of his mouth turned up slightly, and his hand slowly rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
"Hey, Robin! Look quickly, what's written here!"
A sudden cry of surprise broke everyone's contemplation.
Usopp's face was excited and shocked, his trembling finger pointing at a golden pillar embedded in the bell tower next to the base of the Golden Bell.
A line of ancient text was clearly carved on it, faintly exuding a mysterious aura that had endured the baptism of time.
Everyone immediately gathered around, their gazes focused on the mysterious inscription, holding their breath as they awaited Robin's interpretation.
Robin slowly walked forward, her slender fingers gently tracing the carvings.
Her gaze suddenly paused, and she froze!
— Gol D. Roger.
In an instant, Robin's pupils slightly contracted, as if she had witnessed a secret that transcended time and space.
"How is this possible..." she murmured softly, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"What's wrong, Robin?" Nami asked, seeing her unusual expression.
Robin took a deep breath, her expression complex as she said:
...It says — 'Gol D. Roger, was here!
Lead this text to the final destination.
Signed: Pirate King Gol D. Roger!'"
— Boom!
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone was struck as if by lightning, completely astonished!
"Pi-Pirate King Roger?!" Luffy's eyes widened, staring incredulously at the line of text.
"He also came to this Sky Island?!"
Zoro frowned, "...He could also read poneglyph?"
Nami, with her hands on her hips, was surprised yet somewhat exasperated as she said:
"Hey, hey, he's the Pirate King! And he came all the way here just to carve 'was here'?"
"And he didn't even take the gold from Golden City, he left it for us... This guy... he's actually pretty nice!"
Nami grumbled while secretly snickering.
"Too, too exaggerated..." Usopp covered his forehead, looking dizzy.
"So this Golden City was even visited by the Pirate King..."
Sanji lit a cigarette, exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes flickering slightly:
...The Pirate King once reached the end of the Grand Line, what exactly did he see?Chapter 123 The Pirate King's Message
Robin, however, still stared at the line of text, her brows tightly furrowed, seemingly deep in thought.
She gently bit her lower lip, her gaze sweeping towards the poneglyph at the base of the belfry, and slowly said:
...Speaking of poneglyph, there are two types of stone tablets.
One is used to record information, while the other... is used to indicate its whereabouts.
Her tone gradually grew serious: "And this one is a poneglyph that records information."
When she looked back at the line of text Roger had left, her heart suddenly pounded violently.
—'Guide this text to the Final Land'.
"Guide...?" Robin repeated in a low voice, her eyes suddenly trembling.
A startling conjecture surfaced in her mind!
She widened her eyes, her lips trembling slightly, and exclaimed, "Could it be...!!!"
Seeing her so shocked, everyone anxiously asked, "What's wrong, Robin?!"
Robin suddenly turned around, her gaze burning as she looked at everyone, her tone more resolute than ever:
—The so-called true 'poneglyph' is not just one stone tablet, but all the poneglyph scattered across the world!
She took a deep breath, her expression invigorated:
If we can connect them and read them, we can piece together the complete 'Lost History of the Hundred Years'!
That is to say—the true 'poneglyph' is an entire article composed of countless stone tablets!
—As soon as these words were uttered, everyone was stunned again!
"Wh-what?" Nami covered her mouth in shock.
Zoro's brows furrowed even tighter, and he slowly said:
...That is to say, it's impossible to deduce the complete history by just deciphering one poneglyph?
"Exactly!" Robin nodded excitedly.
This is also why, even if the World Government erased the 'Void Century' eight hundred years ago, they still couldn't completely cover up the truth!
Because true history does not exist in isolation.
Instead, it must be deciphered by connecting the content of each stone tablet to reveal the complete past!
Lin Ning looked at Robin profoundly, and slowly nodded:
I see... That is to say, Pirate King Roger has already guided this history to the Final Land.
Robin gently closed her eyes, her voice low and powerful:
...The Pirate King did transmit this text to Raftel!
The air seemed to solidify for a moment.
—Raftel!
That is the destination of the 'Great Treasure Trove', the only island that knows the 'true poneglyph'!
Everyone gasped.
"That is to say..." Sanji slowly began,
As long as we follow all the poneglyph, we will eventually reach the true 'historical endpoint'?
"Exactly." Robin's lips curved slightly upward.
Her eyes sparkled with an unprecedented light, "This is the true clue to the 'Void Century'."
—The truth of the world is hidden in the Final Land!
Luffy clenched his fists tightly, a wide grin spreading across his face.
"Hehehe... Sounds like fun!"
He lifted his head, his eyes as firm as burning flames:
Since Pirate King Roger could get there, then we definitely can too!
Zoro slowly drew his wado ichimonji, revealing a Haki smile:
In that case, let's continue towards the 'Final Land'.
Nami looked at the sea chart in her hand, took a deep breath, her eyes filled with immense determination:
That's right, we are the Straw Hat Pirates!
Although Usopp was nervous, he still patted his chest, feigning composure:
Hmph hmph... Anyway, with me, Sniper King, along the way, there's definitely no problem!
Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke, chuckled, and said, "Then let us witness the 'true history of the world' with our own eyes."
Lin Ning stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze as deep as the stars, and he slowly spoke, his voice steady and powerful:
Since the history the World Government wants to conceal is ahead—
—Then let us uncover it!
Nami stood before the majestic Golden Belfry, her hand on her forehead, her brows tightly furrowed.
This behemoth was almost twice the size of the going merry!
The dazzling gold reflected blinding light in the sunlight, making it dazzling, but also plunging Nami into unprecedented trouble.
She crossed her arms and sighed:
Speaking of which... how are we supposed to take all this gold with us?
The Golden Belfry itself is ridiculously large.
The going merry's carrying capacity is simply not enough!
"Gold... too much, can't fit?"
The moment she said this, Nami froze.
She never dreamed that one day she would be troubled by "too much gold."
She even couldn't help but look up at the sky, muttering speechlessly, "What on earth is wrong with this world..."
Lin Ning, however, said calmly:
It's clearly unrealistic to take such a large Golden Belfry with us; let it continue to guard the poneglyph.
As for Eneru's golden ship underneath, we can only take a portion.
"Huh?" Nami suddenly snapped back to reality, her face full of despair.
"You, do you even know how valuable this is!?"
Sanji, however, nodded thoughtfully:
Indeed, let's leave this Golden Belfry here.
As for the golden ship, we can cut it up and take a portion first.
The rest can be buried, and we'll come back to dig it up when we have a bigger ship later.
"You bastard!!!"
Usopp suddenly became emotional, jumping up and angrily grabbing Sanji's collar:
"What do you mean by that?! Are you saying we should abandon the going merry?!"
"Ah? N-not that..." Sanji quickly waved his hands to explain.
"I mean, we need to find a way to take the gold, not that we're giving up on the going merry..."
"But what you just said sounded like we're going to change ships!"
Usopp stared intently at Sanji, his eyes filled with anger and dissatisfaction.
His hands trembled slightly, clearly a bit out of control emotionally.
Everyone instantly quieted down, and a strange sense of heaviness permeated the air.
The going merry—this small going merry—carried the Straw Hat's dreams, memories, and bonds.
To them, it was not just a ship, but a "nakama."
"Usopp..." Nami called softly, trying to calm him down.
"Alright." Luffy suddenly spoke, breaking the silence, his tone firm:
Let the Golden Belfry stay here, cut up the golden ship, take what we can, and bury what we can't.
At this point, Luffy's eyes suddenly sparkled with excitement, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly upward:
Then, we'll make a Treasure Map!
"Treasure Map?" Nami was startled, her eyes lighting up.
"Treasure Map?!" Chopper immediately jumped up and down excitedly.
"Alright, alright, I'll draw it, I'll draw it!"
Usopp's anger instantly vanished, and he leaned in, his eyes shining:
Hehehe, of course, this kind of thing should be done by the great Master Usopp!
Nami looked at the two excited people and couldn't help but laugh, thinking—these guys really are... Lin Ning stood in front of the Golden Belfry, looking around, and slowly said:
The Treasure Trove has been found, the adventure has been experienced, and even the Treasure Map has been drawn...
It's time to leave Sky Island.
Upon hearing this, Luffy's lips curved into a bold smile, and he suddenly waved his hand: "Alright! Let's go!"Chapter 124 Leaving the Sky Island
The going merry sailed across the boundless sea of clouds, embarking on its journey back to the Blue Sea.
The soft clouds resembled a calm sea, reflecting the sky's afterglow.
As the ship cut through, splashes of white cloud-waves rippled outwards.
Inside the cabin, the gleam of gold illuminated the entire space.
The dazzling golden light completely immersed Nami in the joy of wealth.
Her eyes sparkled, and her cheek was pressed against a piece of gold; she was almost unwilling to move a single step.
"Waaahhhhhh—this is too blissful!!!"
Nami's excited shriek echoed in the cabin; she was completely absorbed into the world of gold, not even wanting to move.
However, the entrance to the cabin was completely blocked—not because Nami wouldn't let everyone in, but because it was simply impossible to enter!
The entire cabin was packed full of gold, leaving no standing room.
Only Nami was curled up in the last remaining sliver of space, utterly intoxicated in her golden dream.
Not only that, but even the male dormitory was completely taken over by gold.
Zoro, Luffy, Sanji, Lin Ning, and the others stood on the deck, looking at each other in bewilderment.
"...So where do we sleep tonight?" Sanji's mouth twitched as his gaze swept over the cabin, which was completely jammed with gold.
"Let's sleep on the deck." Zoro sat on the railing, his expression calm, clearly having accepted reality.
"Tsk, I should have packed more..."
Nami heard their discussion and was still expressing regret.
"If I wasn't afraid the going merry couldn't handle it, I would have packed it so full there wouldn't even be room to stand!"
"Hey, hey, that's enough!" Usopp complained, looking speechless.
Everyone sighed—they never thought there would be a day when they would worry about "too much gold"... Despite this, Nami's plan was still very thorough.
The gold they took was only a small portion, while the remaining large amount of gold was buried within the ruins.
Waiting for them to return and retrieve it one day in the future.
This trip to Sky Island not only brought new adventures and battles.
It also brought incredible financial freedom, which made everyone's faces beam with smiles.
However, just as everyone was still discussing the gold, Luffy on the deck suddenly shouted—
"Hey! Everyone, look!!!"
His voice held unconcealed excitement, and everyone looked up at the sound, turning towards the bow of the ship.
Nami was the first to exclaim, "We've reached... the end of the clouds!"
What met their eyes was a mysterious and dreamlike sight.
The endless clouds converged here into a magnificent white torrent.
Like a silver river cascading from the heavens, slowly flowing down towards the world below.
At the edge of the clouds was a massive and mysterious gateway, like a boundary between heaven and earth.
Through that gate, they could vaguely see the blue sea of the world below.
Usopp's eyes widened, and he murmured in shock, "This... this is too magnificent!"
"Through this gate, we can return to the Blue Sea..."
Lin Ning looked at the giant cloud waterfall leading to the Blue Sea and mused, "Is this where we go down?"
"I didn't expect to arrive so soon..." Robin sighed softly.
A slight smile played on her lips, but a hint of reluctance lingered in her eyes.
Luffy, who had been full of excitement at the bow, suddenly fell silent at this moment.
He grinned, then said in a low voice, "We're really going down now..."
Sanji, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, gazed deeply at the end of the clouds and slowly said,
"Indeed, it's time to go down... I really feel a bit reluctant."
Zoro sat on the railing, arms crossed, looking up at the pure white, snow-like sky.
He said lightly, "It's time to bid farewell to this great sea..."
Chopper hugged the railing, his body trembling slightly, and excitedly shouted, "Sky Island was so much fun!!!"
Usopp looked at the cloud waterfall, his expression complex:
"As long as we pass through that gate, we can follow the canal all the way back to the Blue Sea..."
Just then, Nami finally emerged from the pile of gold.
She stood on the deck, facing the refreshing wind of Sky Island.
Her gaze swept towards the vast end of the clouds, and she slowly said,
"...We will come back, Sky Island."
"Of course." Lin Ning said with a chuckle from the side.
"After all, there's still so much gold waiting for you to collect, isn't that right, Nami?"
Upon hearing this, Nami's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but clench her fists.
She said excitedly, "Yes! We definitely have to come back!!!"
Robin stood nearby, a gentle smile gracing her lips, as she lightly covered her mouth and chuckled.
Just then, the going merry slowly sailed towards the end of the clouds.
Passing through that mysterious cloud gate, embarking on the journey home.
"After we go down from here, new adventures will begin again!"
Luffy stood at the bow, facing the wind, a familiar smile gracing his lips.
He suddenly raised his fist and shouted excitedly—
"Everyone!! So... we're going back to the Blue Sea!!!"
Boom—!
Instantly, the going merry passed through the gate at the end of the clouds.
It plunged into the vertical cloud river, the ship rapidly accelerating, plummeting at extreme speed towards the distant Blue Sea—
Boom—!!
The going merry sped through the vast white sea of clouds, its hull breaking through layers of mist like an arrow shot from a bowstring.
It rushed down along the trajectory of the cloud river.
However, just when everyone thought everything was going smoothly—
"Huh? The cloud path ahead... it's gone?!"
Nami was the first to notice the anomaly; her pupils suddenly contracted, and her face instantly turned pale.
Pointing at the abruptly broken clouds ahead, she cried out in horror, "Hey! What's going on?!"
The next second—
The cloud path disappeared, and the going merry plunged directly from the sky!
"Waaahhhhhh!!!" Usopp and Chopper simultaneously let out terrified screams.
Chopper clung tightly to the mast, his entire face contorted with fright.
Usopp directly hugged Chopper, trembling all over: "It's over, it's over, it's over! We're really going to die this time!!!"
The wind howled, and the sensation of weightlessness swept over them.
Everyone could clearly feel that the going merry was plummeting at an extremely fast speed.
In a few more minutes, they would likely crash into the Blue Sea along with the going merry, shattering into pieces!
Lin Ning stood on the deck, his gaze calm and steady, looking at the gradually enlarging blue sea below, and said in a deep voice:
"Luffy, Zoro, Sanji! It's time to test ourselves!"
Upon hearing this, Zoro's lips curved into an excited smile.
He stood up and stretched his shoulders, his Battle Intent formidable: "Perfect, time to get some exercise!"
Sanji also cracked his knuckles, his eyes sharp: "As you say."
Only Luffy looked bewildered, scratching his head: "Test? What test? Lin Ning, at least explain it clearly!"
Lin Ning's tone was grave as he quickly explained:
"The going merry's descent speed is too fast right now, plus the ship is loaded with a lot of gold.
When we hit the sea, the consequences are unimaginable—the ship will be destroyed, and we'll all die!"Chapter 125 Returning to the Sea
Hearing this, Usopp nearly had his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, hugging Chopper and trembling all over:
"Ah ah ah!!! I knew it, I don't want to die ah ah ah!!!"
Nami's face was pale, she gritted her teeth and looked at Lin Ning, with a strong glimmer of hope in her eyes:
"Lin Ning, you must have a way, right?! We just got a whole ship of gold, and we haven't spent it yet!!!"
Lin Ning smiled faintly and said in a deep voice:
"Of course there's a way. Luffy, Zoro, Sanji—the four of us will immediately jump to the bottom of the going merry.
Using Moonwalk to hover in the air, we'll simultaneously unleash our Moves, using the backward thrust to slow the going merry's descent!
Each person will be responsible for one direction, giving it their all! Understood?"
Luffy's eyes lit up, and he immediately shouted excitedly: "Oh oh oh!! So that's how it is!!"
Zoro grinned, drew his wado ichimonji, his Battle Intent soaring: "Simple."
Sanji, with a cigarette in his mouth, his lips slightly curled: "What a crazy idea... but it's the only way!"
—Action begins!
The four of them leaped simultaneously, stomping their feet forcefully.
They instantly shot into the sky, then quickly flipped over and landed on the bottom of the going merry!
The wind roared, clouds churned, and the four stood suspended, their backs against the ship's bottom, their gazes resolute!
"Attack!!" Lin Ning gave the command, and the four simultaneously unleashed their Moves—
Lin Ning swung his halberd, fiercely slashing downwards with a sharp strike!
Luffy clenched his fists, madly punching out a barrage of dense fist shadows downwards!
—"Gum-Gum Gatling!!!"
Zoro crossed his two swords, Sword Qi crisscrossing, unleashing a torrent of violent slashes!
Sanji's legs burned with scorching flames, fiercely kicking out a chilling Arashi Rankyaku slash!
—"Diable Jambe · Arashi Rankyaku!!!"
Four terrifying attacks simultaneously blasted the air below.
A massive backward thrust, like a powerful counter-current, directly impacted the bottom of the going merry!
Boom!!!!
The going merry's descent speed instantly met with enormous resistance, and the violent impact shook the entire ship.
The trend of rapid freefall was finally, forcefully, slowed down!
Nami, Usopp, Chopper, Robin, and the others on the ship suddenly felt the sensation of weightlessness diminish.
The fear that had made their hearts pound finally subsided!
Usopp, still shaken, vigorously wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, a look of relief after escaping danger on his face:
"Phew... I thought I was really going to heaven...! My little life was saved!"
Nami also gently patted her chest, letting out a long sigh, and murmured:
"I almost thought... we were really going to die on Sky Island..."
Chopper was still hugging the mast, nodding, still terrified: "Too... too scary...!"
As the four continuously unleashed their attacks, the going merry's descent speed was finally successfully controlled, slowly descending towards the Blue Sea.
The sun set in the west, and the fiery afterglow scattered across the boundless sea.
The water shimmered, like burning golden flames.
After circling in the air for a long time, the going merry finally, with the combined efforts of Lin Ning, Zoro, Sanji, and Luffy, steadily landed on the sea surface.
"Boom—!"
Accompanied by a dull crash, the ship's hull slowly swayed, and the waves created ripples, eventually settling down.
They landed!
Everyone on the deck suddenly breathed a sigh of relief, their anxious hearts finally completely at ease!
"Splash—"
As soon as Lin Ning jumped onto the ship, he saw two figures desperately flailing in the sea.
Upon closer inspection, it was Sanji, exhausted, plus Luffy, who couldn't swim; both were struggling in the water.
"Hey, hey, do I still have to save you guys?!"
Lin Ning sighed helplessly, then casually leaped into the sea.
He grabbed them with both hands, powerfully kicked the water, and instantly brought the two back to the deck, dropping them heavily onto it.
"Cough cough cough... Damn it, I'm exhausted..."
Sanji lay half-reclined on the deck, panting heavily, his face somewhat pale.
Zoro also landed on the deck at this moment and sat down with a thud.
He shook his sweat-soaked hair from his forehead, a relaxed smile appearing on his lips:
"We finally made it down... I thought we'd keep falling forever."
Usopp collapsed to the ground, almost a puddle of mud.
He was soaked in cold sweat, and he trembled as he wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead:
"Phew... I'm alive!!"
Chopper was completely sprawled on the railing, still with a lingering fear on his face:
"It was too scary, we almost became meat paste..."
Nami took a deep breath, a relaxed smile on her face:
"Although we went through so much danger, at least... we successfully returned to the Great Sea!"
But the next second, everyone's gaze simultaneously turned to the ship's cabin, only to see—
The cabin was overflowing with gold!
Piles of glittering treasure were stacked like mountains, and even gold nuggets were scattered on the deck.
The entire ship seemed to have transformed into a moving Golden Palace, shining brilliantly and dazzlingly under the setting sun!
This was the immense wealth they had brought back from the Golden City!
In an instant, everyone on the ship showed incredibly excited expressions!
"Gold! Gold! Gold!"
Led by Luffy, everyone couldn't help but cheer with raised arms, their faces beaming with undisguised ecstasy!
"We're rich!!!"
Luffy jumped onto the deck's railing, his eyes shining with excitement: "Hehehe... with so much gold, I want to buy a giant bronze statue!"
Usopp put his hands on his hips and said proudly:
"Idiot! Why exchange gold for bronze!
I think we should buy several cannons and mount them on the ship, so we won't have to fear even if we encounter the Marine!"
Sanji's eyes suddenly lit up, and he quickly approached Miss Nami, fawning over her:
"Miss Nami~~ I want a refrigerator with a lock!"
Upon hearing this, Luffy immediately showed an expression of dissatisfaction:
"Wait a minute, Sanji! If you lock the refrigerator, what will I do when I'm hungry later?!"
Sanji's veins immediately bulged on his forehead, and he roared at Luffy:
"That's why I want to buy one with a lock, you jerk!"
Chopper also raised his hands excitedly:
"Me too! Me too! I want to buy books! I want to read medical books from other countries!"
Nami rubbed her forehead, looking helpless and with a headache:
"Wait a moment, all of you!
If we buy things according to your wishes, all the gold we earned this time will be spent very quickly!!!"
—But no matter what, this joy of getting rich had already brought everyone's mood to its Peak!
The afterglow of the setting sun scattered across the sea, shimmering.
Sanji leaned against the railing, looking at the distant sky above, and sighed softly:
"We really went to an incredible place..."
Robin stood beside him, a faint smile on her lips:
"Only after falling down did I realize... it was so far away. It was like a dream."
Chopper nodded, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes:
"It is the Land of Dreams, after all... I wonder if we can ever go back?"
Nami smiled slightly, gazing at the distant sky, and said softly:
"One day... we will go back again."
Just as everyone was immersed in their memories—
"Woo—!!!"
A sudden alarm bell broke the tranquility of the night!
"Da da da da—!"
Several huge searchlights suddenly shot out from all directions, and the dazzling white light instantly enveloped the going merry!
"Wh-what?!"
Everyone's faces changed!
A majestic voice came from afar—
"Pirates! You are surrounded! This is a Marine base, surrender immediately!!!"
Lin Ning was stunned, his face instantly became incredibly expressive, his mouth couldn't help but twitch, looking speechless, and he said in a low voice:
"...Eh, did we fall into a Marine base?!"
In an instant, everyone's expressions on the ship froze—
"Huh???????"
]
}