"Allow me to introduce everyone."
"This is Mont Blanc Cricket."
"From this point onward, he will serve as our special advisor regarding the Sky Island expedition."
Inside the conference room of the Marine warship, Saint Roselith Seraphina stood at the head of the long table while calmly introducing the spiky-haired man beside her to the gathered Marines.
The room instantly became noisy.
"A special advisor?"
"What exactly is happening?"
"Sky Island?"
The Marines exchanged bewildered glances, unable to understand why an ordinary civilian from Jaya had suddenly been brought aboard and granted such a position.
Still, discipline remained intact.
"Welcome!"
Several Marines immediately applauded politely.
Kuina tilted her head slightly in confusion before joining in as well.
"Teacher, are we carrying out some kind of special mission?" she asked curiously.
Seraphina nodded faintly.
"We are preparing to head toward the legendary Sky Island."
The moment those words fell, the entire room froze.
Then chaos erupted.
"Sky Island?!"
"The island in the heavens?!"
"That legend is actually real?!"
Even seasoned Marines could not hide their shock.
Kuina's eyes sparkled instantly.
"Teacher! You mean the Sky Island from the legends?!"
"That's correct."
Seraphina answered calmly.
Then her expression grew more serious.
"However, I must make one thing clear first."
"This operation is extremely dangerous."
"There is a high possibility of death."
The atmosphere inside the room immediately changed.
"This is not an official mandatory mission issued by Marine Headquarters," Seraphina continued. "Anyone unwilling to participate may withdraw now."
"No penalties will follow."
"No damage will be done to your Marine career."
"Whether you stay or leave, the decision is yours."
Her silver eyes swept across everyone present.
After all, the mission ahead involved riding the Knock-Up Stream into the heavens themselves.
Even among the Grand Line's countless bizarre phenomena, the Knock-Up Stream was considered one of the most dangerous.
No one could guarantee survival.
"Sky Island…"
Kuina repeated excitedly, clearly paying more attention to the destination than the danger itself.
Riva, who stood nearby, stepped forward with a serious expression.
"Rear Admiral Seraphina," he said respectfully, "with all due respect, I don't believe any Marine here would willingly miss such an expedition."
At the very least…
He certainly would not.
A journey toward the unknown sky.
The confirmation of a legend countless explorers had pursued for centuries.
For a man of the sea, refusing such an adventure would be far more unbearable than risking death.
Seraphina glanced toward him.
"Then explain the details to everyone."
"Yes, Rear Admiral."
Riva immediately straightened his posture before turning toward the gathered Marines.
"Attention!"
The room instantly fell silent.
"This operation concerns humanity's first confirmed exploration of Sky Island."
His voice echoed clearly through the conference chamber.
"But I must emphasize once more…"
"This mission carries enormous risk."
"If anyone wishes to withdraw, report it now."
"No one will be mocked for choosing safety."
The Marines looked at one another briefly.
Then one Marine suddenly stood up.
"With all respect, sir," he declared loudly, "if Marines retreat from danger, then who else will move forward?"
Another Marine slammed his fist against the table.
"Exactly!"
"It's Sky Island!"
"How could we possibly stay behind?!"
"If we come back alive, we'll have enough stories to brag about for the rest of our lives!"
Laughter immediately spread across the room.
Even the tension eased somewhat.
Riva smiled faintly upon seeing their reactions.
"Very well."
"In that case, return to your respective squads after this meeting and notify your subordinates."
"All officers and above will remain here for strategic discussion."
"Yes, sir!"
The Marines saluted before quickly dispersing in an orderly manner.
Soon, only the higher-ranking officers remained inside the room.
Riva then formally gestured toward Cricket.
"Advisor Cricket," he said seriously, "please explain the method we'll use to reach Sky Island."
Cricket scratched his head awkwardly under the gaze of so many Marines before slowly stepping forward.
"To put it simply…" he began, "…we're going to ride the Knock-Up Stream into the sky."
Several officers immediately widened their eyes.
"We're WHAT?!"
Cricket coughed dryly before continuing.
"The Knock-Up Stream erupts roughly five times a month."
"Each eruption lasts around one minute."
"The location changes every time."
"However, after years of observation, I've more or less figured out its patterns."
He pointed toward the sea outside the warship windows.
"Based on the eruption earlier today, the next one should occur in about two or three days."
"Assuming the Sky Island above us hasn't drifted too far away by then, we'll have our chance."
He turned toward Seraphina afterward.
"Does that match what you sensed?"
"It should."
Seraphina nodded lightly.
The "sea" above them moved far slower than ordinary clouds, likely because of its massive weight and density.
Two or three days sounded accurate.
"Then we need to complete all preparations before the next eruption," Cricket concluded.
Seraphina crossed her arms thoughtfully.
"I'll handle locating the eruption point itself," she said calmly. "You only need to explain the underlying principles to me."
Cricket blinked in surprise before nodding.
"Alright."
"In the waters around Jaya, there are enormous cavities deep beneath the seabed."
"When cold seawater flows into those underground chambers, geothermal heat creates massive amounts of steam pressure."
"Once the pressure exceeds its limit…"
"The sea erupts upward."
"That eruption becomes the Knock-Up Stream."
Cricket explained everything carefully based on years of underwater investigation and observation.
Seraphina listened quietly before summarizing calmly:
"So all we need to do is monitor abnormal ocean currents and pressure changes."
"Exactly."
She nodded slightly afterward.
"Understood."
Then she looked around the room.
"Any further questions?"
Silence.
"No, Rear Admiral!"
"Good."
"Then begin preparations immediately."
"We depart for the heavens in two days."
"Yes, Rear Admiral!"
Far above the Blue Sea
At the entrance to Upper Yard, the sacred domain known as God's Land
"Halt!"
A man wearing a beret stepped forward and blocked the path of several intruders.
"This area is forbidden."
"As members of God's Army, we will not permit unauthorized entry."
Captain McKinley's expression remained stern as he stared at the approaching figures.
One of them a bald man carrying a massive blade snorted coldly.
"Move aside."
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
McKinley narrowed his eyes.
"If you take another step forward," he warned, "I will consider it an attack against God's domain."
"Ohm," the man standing at the center suddenly spoke calmly.
"Handle him."
The bald man grinned viciously.
"You got it, Eneru."
Ohm slowly drew the enormous sword from his back.
Despite its terrifying size, he wielded it effortlessly.
The blade itself gleamed strangely.
A Cloud Dial had been integrated into the weapon.
"Oh?" Ohm sneered while licking the side of the blade. "You've got guts, kid."
McKinley's expression darkened.
These people truly intended to invade Upper Yard.
"Humans are forever consumed by conflict," Ohm declared arrogantly while lifting the sword. "The only true end to war…"
"…is death."
The blade suddenly slashed downward.
A gray slash wave erupted instantly.
McKinley barely dodged in time, though blood still sprayed from his chest.
His expression changed drastically.
"They're attacking!"
"Enemy assault on God's Land!"
He immediately shouted for reinforcements while retreating.
Almost instantly, countless figures emerged from nearby structures.
Members of God's Army surrounded Eneru and his followers from every direction.
Hundreds of armed soldiers aimed their weapons toward the intruders.
The pressure became overwhelming.
Ohm clicked his tongue.
"That's quite a lot…"
Even he felt slightly troubled facing such numbers.
Yet Eneru merely laughed.
"Yahahahaha!"
The sound echoed madly through Upper Yard.
Then his gaze slowly landed upon McKinley.
"You're quite clever," Eneru said calmly. "You know when to advance and retreat."
"How about joining me instead?"
McKinley clutched his bleeding wound angrily.
"Worry about yourself first!"
He could not understand how this man remained so calm while surrounded by God's Army.
Eneru merely smiled wider.
Blue lightning suddenly crackled violently around his body.
The atmosphere instantly changed.
Electric arcs exploded across the surroundings like raging serpents.
The sky darkened.
The soldiers' expressions froze in horror.
"What… is that…?"
Lightning gathered endlessly around Eneru before forming the outline of a gigantic thunder deity behind him.
A monstrous figure made entirely of electricity.
The power of the Goro Goro no Mi.
Logia-type Devil Fruit.
One of the strongest abilities in existence.
Eneru slowly spread his arms.
"Since all of you are welcoming me so enthusiastically…"
"…then allow me to celebrate the descent of God."
Lightning roared across the heavens.
"200 Million Volts…"
The gigantic thunder deity fully materialized behind him.
"Amaru."
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