Chapter 123: Hold On Tight! The Vertical Path to the White Sea
The East Coast of Jaya Island.
"Old man!! I brought the gold back!!"
Luffy dragged the golden bundle, which was even larger than himself, sprinting back like a whirlwind.
Stains of blood he hadn't wiped away still clung to his face, but his smile was more brilliant than the gold.
However, there was simply no time to celebrate the recovered treasure at this moment.
The sky was completely covered by massive, ink-thick cumulonimbus clouds; day had turned into night.
The sea began to emit a heart-palpitating low rumble, as if some gargantuan beast was about to awaken.
"Quick!! There's no time!! The current is about to erupt!!"
Uncle Cricket, covered in bandages, was being supported by others. Despite his heavy injuries, he still had tears in his eyes as he commanded the Shoujou brothers with a hoarse voice:
"Install that on the Going Merry!! We must let these brats fly up!!"
Under the efficient work of the Shoujou brothers, the Going Merry was quickly fitted with wing-like flight devices and reinforced armor—though its appearance looked like a ridiculous cockscomb.
"Weigh anchor!! Set sail!!"
The going merry charged into the turbulent sea, heading straight for the center of the massive whirlpool that was about to form.
Just then.
"Zehahahaha!! I finally found you, Straw Hat crew!!"
A burst of arrogant laughter came from behind.
A massive, crude raft made of giant logs lashed together was breaking through the waves, moving at a surprisingly fast speed.
Blackbeard Marshall D. Teach stood at the front of the raft, his eyes filled with greed.
"Captain, they're in range."
The sniper wearing a monocle, Van Auger, raised his long rifle named 'Senriku' and pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Bang!
The bullet pierced the sky, aimed straight for the back of Luffy's head.
Clang!!
Sparks flew.
Tatsuya's figure appeared at the stern in an instant, his long sword precisely parrying the high-speed spinning bullet away.
"Oh? That Vice Captain... his reactions are quite fast." Van Auger adjusted his glasses.
Seeing this, Blackbeard let out an even more excited, wild laugh:
"Zehahahaha! Don't run! Straw Hat Luffy! And 'Crimson Lotus' Tatsuya!"
He brandished the new wanted posters in his hand and roared loudly:
"The price on your heads has gone up significantly! The Straw Hat is 100 million Berries! That Vice Captain is 90 million Berries!!"
"Hand over your heads! This will be my stepping stone to the throne!!"
Hearing these staggering bounty figures, Usopp, Sanji, and Zoro, who were originally in the middle of tense battle preparations, suddenly rushed to the stern in unison and shouted at Blackbeard below:
"Hey!! What about us?!"
"Why did only the two of them get a raise?! Where are our wanted posters?!"
"Warrior of the Sea! What's the bounty for Usopp, the Warrior of the Sea!"
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
Nami reached her limit and gave each of them a lump on the head, roaring with a face full of dark lines:
"Is this the time to care about that?! We're going to die, you idiots!!"
At that moment, the sea went completely berserk.
Rumble rumble rumble!!
A massive whirlpool several kilometers in diameter formed instantly on the sea surface, its terrifying centrifugal force pulling at everything.
The going merry was like a leaf, about to be swallowed by this abyss.
Because of its crude structure, Blackbeard's raft was instantly tossed about by the giant waves, making it impossible to continue the attack.
Van Auger clicked his tongue and lowered his rifle.
"Dammit! We can't fight in these sea conditions!" Blackbeard gripped the logs tightly, only able to watch his prey slip away.
On the going merry.
Nami gripped the railing tightly, feeling the violent changes in the wind and current; the immense pressure made her face turn pale.
"It's no good... the whirlpool is too strong... if the timing isn't right, the ship will fall apart..."
A warm palm pressed against her back.
Tatsuya stood behind Nami; in this shaking world, his stance was as steady as Mount Tai.
"Don't be afraid, Nami."
Tatsuya's voice was calm and powerful, giving her a great sense of security:
"You are the best navigator in the world. Trust your judgment; all of our lives are in your hands."
Nami took a deep breath, the panic in her eyes instantly vanishing, replaced by absolute focus.
She felt the flow of the wind, the pulse of the seawater.
"Right there..."
Nami snapped her eyes open and shouted the command:
"Now!!! Full right rudder!! Charge into the center of the whirlpool!!"
"Everyone! Hold on tight!!!!"
The next second.
BOOM——————!!!!!!
The sea exploded.
The long-accumulated Knock Up Stream finally erupted.
An incredibly massive pillar of water, with a diameter exceeding even an island, rose into the sky with world-destroying power, defying gravity!
Following this rising air current, the Going Merry was violently lifted, and then—it ascended vertically!
"Waaaaaaaah!!!!"
The intense G-force made everyone scream.
"Wahahahaha!! We're flying!!!!"
Luffy sat on the figurehead's special seat, one hand holding his Straw Hat and the other raised high, his laughter echoing through the clouds:
"Off to Skypiea we go!!!!"
On the deck, Robin held her book tightly, watching this scene so spectacular it defied common sense. Her normally calm eyes grew brighter and brighter with a thirst for the unknown:
"It's... actually real."
"That legendary Skypiea... it actually exists."
Below, Blackbeard could only watch helplessly as the going merry followed the water pillar into the firmament. His raft couldn't handle such turmoil, and he could only unwillingly give up the pursuit.
"Zehahahaha... it seems fate is on your side this time, Straw Hat boy!"
...
Rising, continuous rising.
The violent weightlessness and impact made everyone scream incessantly.
The going merry sped along the vertical wall of water, like a train heading to heaven.
"Help!! I'm going to fly off!!"
Chopper, being too light, was nearly swept away by the wind.
"Watch out!"
Tatsuya was quick, grabbing Chopper with one hand and tucking him under his arm.
His other hand tightly embraced Nami beside him, shielding her in his arms, while his feet used Chakra to firmly adhere to the deck.
"We're through the clouds!!"
With a whistle.
The going merry broke through the thick cumulonimbus clouds.
Blinding sunlight poured down, and the field of vision suddenly opened up.
Everyone opened their eyes, speechless from the shock of the sight before them.
At this moment, the going merry was actually floating on a vast White Sea of clouds that looked like cotton candy!
This was—the White Sea, seven thousand meters above.
"Is this... Skypiea?"
Before everyone could even marvel at the dreamlike scenery.
"Roar!!"
The sea of clouds below suddenly churned.
A giant Skypiea monster fish, looking like a flat flounder but wearing a bizarre mask on its face, suddenly leapt out of the cloud sea, opening its toothy maw to strike at the going merry!
Luffy's eyes lit up!
Instead of being afraid, he wiped away his drool:
"Oh! A Skypiea fish! It looks delicious!!"
The Skypiea Arc officially begins.
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