Chapter 240: Target Sky Island, Rushing Into the Clouds!
The two crews faced off, exchanged a single move, and the Blackbeard Pirates came out slightly worse for wear.
The scene fell into a brief standoff.
Mid-air, Ralph's eyes cleared, regaining their focus.
Red Eyes had faithfully relinquished control of the body.
Just as Ralph breathed a sigh of relief, he couldn't help but complain inwardly:
"You said one slash, but you ended up using two."
Immediately, the voice of Red-Eyed Ralph echoed in his mind:
"You useless fool! If you can't understand that those two slashes are actually one, you might as well just die!"
Ralph fell silent for a moment.
Of course he had noticed!
Devouring Heaven swallowed the Dark Matter, and Double Repayment struck back—
It appeared to be two moves, but in terms of blade momentum, it was a single, seamless strike.
Swallow it, then spit it out.
Two slashes, yet one.
"Practice these two moves well."
Before falling silent, Red-Eyed Ralph didn't forget to remind him, "It's related to Munch-Munch's future development."
"Do I need you to tell me that?"
Ralph muttered to himself.
Red-Eyed Ralph didn't respond again, his presence completely fading away.
Ralph took a deep breath and slowly descended back to the Going Merry using Geppo.
Lufia immediately rushed over:
"Ralph, you're amazing! What were those two moves called? Teach me!"
Zoro stood to the side, feeling awkward.
He thought to himself, Lufia, why are you causing trouble?
You don't even use a sword!
"We'll talk about it later."
Ralph patted her head, but his gaze shifted to the distant Blackbeard Pirates.
Blackbeard was also looking at him.
The two stared at each other across the turbulent sea for several seconds.
Just then—
"Boom!"
The sea suddenly began to churn violently!
Everyone looked down and gasped in shock.
A massive whirlpool was forming directly beneath the Going Merry!
The whirlpool's diameter exceeded a kilometer, with seawater spinning wildly and emitting a deafening roar!
A gigantic Sea King was caught in the whirlpool, struggling desperately but utterly unable to break free.
Within a few breaths, it was swallowed by the whirlpool, disappearing into the dark waters, its fate unknown.
"Wahhhh!"
Usopp screamed, "We're going to be sucked in too!"
Chopper clung tightly to the mast:
"Help!"
"Stay calm!"
Nami shouted, "This is the precursor to the Knock Up Stream!"
"Everyone, get to your positions and stabilize the ship! The most critical moment is here!"
Everyone sprang into action.
Sanji rushed to take the helm, Zoro went to furl the sails, and Lufia stood at the bow, ready to handle any sudden situations.
Just as Usopp was about to join them, he suddenly felt a stir.
A faint, almost imperceptible sense of danger came from a certain direction.
Was it a Sniper's intuition?
Or a coward's sixth sense?
Either way, he felt it!
Someone was aiming at them!
At that moment, Ralph's training with Usopp paid off.
Without a word, Usopp pulled out his slingshot and fired back.
Usopp's pupils contracted sharply.
He saw the bullet—
Amidst the howling winds and raging waves, on the heaving deck, that bullet was flying straight toward his forehead!
Yet his body reacted faster than his mind.
He raised the slingshot, fired the lead pellet—
"Clang!"
The crisp sound of metal colliding!
The bullet was knocked off course by the lead pellet, grazing Usopp's ear before embedding itself in the mast behind him.
Usopp froze.
He looked down at his hands, at the slingshot still trembling slightly.
He had practiced hitting targets within a hundred meters, even bottle caps.
But hitting an incoming bullet?
This was the first time!
On the distant large raft, Van Augur, holding a temporarily assembled long gun, was also stunned.
Through the scope, he saw that sniper—
A long-nosed youth who looked somewhat comical and unreliable.
Yet it was this person who had shot down his bullet!
Even if he was using a temporarily assembled gun, inferior to his original "Thousand Lands," it shouldn't be this bad, right?
A glint flashed in Van Augur's eyes.
A sniper's dignity did not allow him to admit defeat.
He pulled the trigger again—
"Bang!"
The second shot!
This time, Usopp didn't have the same luck as before. That shot had been an accident, an unconscious stroke of genius.
Now, having regained his senses, fear once again seized his mind. His body stiffened, his thoughts in disarray.
He saw the bullet.
But he couldn't dodge it.
At the critical moment—
"Clang!"
A flash of blade light swept before Usopp!
Ralph stood holding his sword, positioned in front of Usopp.
Usopp plopped down on the deck, gasping for breath, his back soaked in cold sweat.
"You've done well enough."
Ralph didn't turn around, but his encouraging words clearly reached Usopp's ears, "Find your shortcomings, discover the direction to strive for, and grow stronger step by step."
"You can do it."
Usopp opened his mouth but couldn't speak.
Ralph gave a shake of the Gluttony in his hand, and Munch-Munch immediately transformed—
From a long sword into a uniquely shaped sniper rifle, its muzzle dark and aimed at the distant Van Augur.
"Who said sword techniques must use a sword?"
Ralph curled the corner of his mouth and pulled the trigger.
"Gun Version, Double Repayment!!"
"Bang!"
The bullet shot out at a speed faster than Van Augur's shot!
Van Augur's pupils contracted sharply.
He calmly raised his gun, aimed, and fired.
"Clang!"
Two bullets collided mid-air, shattering into pieces!
The duel between the marksmen, two against one, seemed evenly matched for now.
Van Augur's face darkened as he raised his gun again.
But he had no chance.
"Boom—!"
The sea surface erupted!
A massive water column surged skyward from the center of the whirlpool, carrying the Going Merry straight into the clouds!
"Zehahaha!"
Blackbeard's laughter pierced through the roaring noise, "It seems we've encountered someone even crazier than us!"
"Then our unfinished contest will have to wait until we meet again!"
He stood on the raft, watching the gradually ascending Going Merry:
"Take care—Straw Hat Girl—Nameless Ralph—!"
However, Ralph and the others could no longer hear the farewell from their enemies!
The Going Merry soared upward on the Knock Up Stream!
Seven thousand meters in the sky—not everyone had the courage to challenge such heights.
But Nami stood at the bow, facing the fierce wind, a confident smile on her face:
"With wind and currents, that falls within the realm of my navigation skills!"
"As long as you follow my instructions, I can take you to the legendary Skypiea!"
She turned back, looking at everyone, her eyes sparkling:
"Have you forgotten who the Navigator on this ship is?"
Everyone exchanged glances and laughed in unison:
"The amazing Miss Nami!"
The wing-like sails on both sides of the Going Merry billowed in the airflow.
The ship steadily ascended along the current, breaking through the clouds, flying toward the legendary land in the sky.
Ralph firmly grasped the ship's railing, looking down at Munch-Munch in his hand.
The little one had somehow become very small and was now curled up in his palm, fast asleep, its little belly rising and falling.
"Well done."
Ralph gently poked its head.
Munch-Munch rolled over and continued sleeping.
Ralph looked up toward Lufia standing at the ship's bow.
Facing the wind, she held onto the straw hat on her head, her eyes filled with a longing for adventure.
The clouds drew closer and closer.
Then, the Going Merry broke through the sea of clouds, entering a world of pure white.
Sunlight poured down, and the sea of clouds churned.
Skypiea had arrived.