As the morning sun climbed higher into the sky, the broad daylight fully illuminated the deck of the Little Fish. Darian had been on the verge of subjecting Alvida and Paula to further explicit discipline, but his newly heightened senses picked up movement from the lower quarters.
Robin, who adhered to a strict military routine of sleeping at eleven and rising at six, was stirring. The ship's hull was well-insulated against sound, but Darian's perception had expanded far beyond normal human limits. Absorbing the latent temporal energy of the Rainbow Mist alongside the dense chakra of the Dragon Vein had permanently strengthened both his physical cells and his spiritual aura.
In combining his raw physical power with basic chakra-sensing methods, Darian had naturally unlocked the threshold of Observation Haki (Kenbunshoku), while laying the groundwork for Armament Haki (Busoshoku).
Dismissing Paula and Alvida with a slap to their sore rears, Darian watched them retreat below deck before picking up his Great Grade Sword, Kiyotsuki. Holding the snow-white blade, he began executing his morning sword drills across the open deck.
Recalling the advice given to him by Pell in Alabasta, Darian focused on the fundamentals: the rhythm of the swing, the alignment of the edge, and the transfer of weight. Swordsmanship in this world ultimately transcended physical technique once a warrior learned to project their internal intent into the steel—allowing a blade to cut through solid iron or unleash flying slashes across open air without shattering. While his form was still unrefined, his raw physical strength gave every arc of Kiyotsuki immense kinetic momentum.
By mid-morning, Nami and Carmen finally emerged on deck, well-rested and glowing after their night together. After a quick breakfast, the Little Fish weighed anchor and glided away from the waters of Ruluka Island, charting a course toward the next Grand Line island.
"AAAAHHH!"
A sharp, terrified scream from the navigation desk shattered the morning quiet. Darian immediately sheathed Kiyotsuki and walked over to Nami, who was staring down at her wrist in sheer panic, cold sweat trickling down her pale forehead.
"What's wrong, Nami?" Darian asked.
"The Log Pose is broken!" Nami wailed, holding up her arm. "The needle isn't pointing forward anymore—it's locked completely vertically, pointing straight up at the clouds!"
The rest of the crew gathered around the navigation table, staring in bewilderment at the upward-pointing needle.
"The Log Pose isn't broken," Robin observed smoothly, a mysterious smile playing on her lips. "It has simply been overwritten by an island possessing a vastly stronger magnetic field... directly above us."
"Directly above us?" Nami gasped. "You mean... a Sky Island?!"
"Sky Island?" Paula muttered, incredulous. "How can an entire island float in the sky?"
Every eye on deck turned toward Darian, waiting for their captain's verdict.
"The needle is accurate," Darian confirmed, leaning against the railing. "Sky Islands do exist. But we can't just sail into the clouds from here. First, we need to set a course for Jaya Island."
Robin's dark eyes narrowed slightly with quiet fascination. She had long suspected Darian possessed unnatural foresight—he had casually directed her to the royal Poneglyph in Alabasta and spoken of the Ancient Weapon Pluton as if reading a history book. Now, he spoke of Skypiea with absolute certainty.
"Why Jaya Island?" Nami asked, suspicious.
"Because reaching a Sky Island requires specialized knowledge and a specific ocean current," Darian replied smoothly, pulling an Eternal Pose to Jaya from his coat—one he had acquired back in the black market. "There's a man on Jaya who knows how to catch the Knock Up Stream."
Nami eyed him fiercely, her fists tightening as she sensed he was hiding the full scope of his knowledge, but she refrained from pressing him in front of the crew. Navigating the unpredictable Grand Line required trust in the coordinates.
Adjusting their sails to align with the Eternal Pose, the Little Fish turned hard to starboard, carving a smooth path across the blue waves toward the lawless shores of Jaya Island.
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