A little farther down the shore of Upper Yard rested an enormous golden ship.
It was Enel's Ark Maxim, which had nearly fallen into the White Sea. Had that happened, it would have pierced through it and plunged into the Blue Sea below. At that point, Allen could have lost all the gold, but he managed to adjust its course so it crashed onto Upper Yard instead.
Allen wiped the sweat from his brow. He had felt more pressure saving the golden ship than fighting Enel.
"Haha."
[It's so much gold...]
Seeing it up close, Allen and Lenalee could finally appreciate just how enormous it really was. Without the gold from the ancient Golden City, building something like this would have been impossible.
[Alright, time to start cutting it into pieces!]
"Huh?"
Allen looked stunned. Then he remembered that he had to destroy Enel's Ark because there was no way Lenalee could grow large enough to swallow it whole.
"..." Allen sighed as he touched the Ark with regret.
[What are you doing?]
Lenalee remembered that when she first met Allen, he had been drifting at sea with a treasure chest instead of food and water. Maybe not to Nami's level, but Allen also suffered whenever such treasures were lost.
[Dummy, what do you need a flying ark for? You already have the Black Pearl. Or are you planning to abandon it and sail around in a golden ship?]
"Ugh... I know." Allen looked at the golden ship before striking it, pained. "Forgive me."
The sound of the golden metal breaking apart was so heartbreaking that Allen looked utterly devastated.
....
Half an hour later...
The jet-black ship sailed through the skies above Upper Yard in search of its captain.
On board were all the women of Allen's crew, along with their "hostages."
When Allen failed to return, they decided to go look for him. Since Nami and Nojiko's Observation Haki wasn't strong enough to cover all of Upper Yard, they had no choice but to search the old-fashioned way.
They first went to the place where the battle had ended. There they found Enel. Despite his countless injuries and looking half-dead, he was still breathing. Since Allen had spared his life, the girls neither killed him nor helped him. Whether he lived or died would depend on whoever found him next.
As for the girls, they continued searching.
"There he is!" Kaya shouted from the railing.
The others leaned over and saw Allen sitting by the shoreline in a clearing surrounded by trees. Around him lay the shattered remains of Ark Maxim, but not a single gram of the gold that had been used to build it.
The Black Pearl landed, and the girls climbed down. Allen was sitting on a rock as if contemplating life itself.
"Looks like you all finished your fights too," Allen said with a weak smile.
The girls had countless questions, but before they could ask any of them, Nami stepped forward, walked up to Allen, and hugged him with understanding.
The others exchanged confused glances. Only Nami, after seeing the devastation around them, understood just how hard it had been for Allen to destroy Ark Maxim.
"It's okay," Nami said with tears in her eyes.
"Thanks." Allen nodded and hugged her back.
The first one to figure it out after Nami was Nojiko, who gave Allen a slightly amused look.
"I see."
The others turned to her, waiting for an explanation. Nojiko sighed in exasperation and shrugged.
"Just think about what would devastate our captain the most right now... then combine that with the wreckage surrounding us."
"Allen..." Robin sighed.
"This guy..." Uta shook her head with a tired smile.
"Don't tell me!" Vivi's eyes widened.
"Well... at least it's all over," Kaya said with an awkward smile.
"If it weren't like this, he wouldn't be our captain. Hehe~" Mikita laughed.
Conis, Hina, and Tashigi all looked bewildered. The latter two understood that Allen was devastated over the disappearance of the gold, but they couldn't figure out what had happened. As for Conis, she was completely lost.
....
After Enel's defeat, Allen and his crew had to deal with several things.
One of them was Gan Fall's arrival.
Gan Fall was a thin old man with a long beard who wore armor and rode a pink bird that could transform into a Pegasus... or something like that, all because the bird had eaten the Uma Uma no Mi.
The old man could hardly believe the news that Enel had been defeated. It had happened so suddenly that it made no sense to him. Enel had been an unstoppable force in the skies for many years.
Allen gave the old man a pat on the back and told him that with Enel gone, the sky needed a new king.
At first, Gan Fall refused and asked Allen to become God instead, but Allen told him he had to continue his journey and not to worry. The sky was now his territory, but he needed someone to govern it.
After all, it was physically impossible to rule the entire world by yourself. That was why the current World Government relied on vassal kings and other rulers.
Allen had no intention of changing that system. There was no need. But once he came to power, he would review every kingdom in the world. The just kings would remain in power under his new laws, while the corrupt ones would be "replaced."
The girls couldn't help laughing at the former God's expression as Allen explained how he intended to reshape the world.
Not long afterward, the Shandians arrived. They were aggressive at first, especially their leader, Wyper, who even considered attacking Allen, only to be knocked out in a single punch by Nami.
Nami possessed Armament Haki, allowing even someone as seemingly delicate as her to easily beat a legendary warrior's descendant like Wyper.
After his defeat, his companions begged for mercy. If Enel had been nearly invincible to them, then the people who defeated him were monsters far worse.
Allen spared their lives on the condition that they keep the peace with the people of the sky so both sides could coexist in Upper Yard.
They had no choice. Even so, Gan Fall stepped in and declared that if he became God again, it would only be in name. The true ruler of the sky would be Allen.
With that, no one objected.
....
Allen and his group returned to Skypiea, where Pagaya welcomed them.
By this point, the news had spread across the sky. While most people were anxious about what the future would bring, others felt relieved that they no longer had to live in constant fear of receiving divine punishment without warning.
A small celebration was held at Conis's house, not because of Enel's defeat, but because of the treasure they had obtained. With it, not only Allen but his entire crew would experience a tremendous leap in strength, becoming one of the strongest pirate crews in the world.
"This is unbelievably good," Allen said in admiration.
He had sat down at the table with low expectations, but as he tasted the dishes from the sky, he was amazed by how delicious they were.
"I'm glad you like it," Pagaya said with a smile and a hint of pride. "The cuisine of the sky has its own unique charm."
The girls also enjoyed a feast, trying all kinds of food, including Sky Snake meat they had stored earlier.
"Delicious!" Vivi exclaimed.
"What kind of fruit is this? It's like eating a cloud~" Kaya said.
"This sake is amazing... we need to take a barrel or two with us," Hina said.
"Haha, just tasting the food from the sky made this trip worthwhile," Uta laughed.
"Captain, you've got something on your face," Mikita said as she leaned in to lick Allen's cheek, only to be stopped by several hands.
"Ah, hey! That's cheating!" Mikita shouted as Robin gently wiped the stain from Allen's cheek with a handkerchief.
"Thanks. That was careless of me," Allen said with a chuckle.
Robin smiled faintly and shook her head, as though doing this was simply her duty as the older sister and didn't deserve thanks.
"Mr. Pagaya, could you recommend some good spices for us to take?" Nojiko asked.
"Of course."
The celebration ended around midnight. Most of the girls had fallen asleep after eating, drinking, and celebrating until they were exhausted.
Allen carried each of them back one by one, teleporting to the ship to put them in their rooms. By the time he returned after bringing the last one aboard, only Robin and Hina remained awake, the two older sisters drinking, playing cards, and chatting.
Pagaya had also fallen asleep, and Conis was about to carry him to his room.
"Need some help?" Allen asked.
"Allen-san..."
Conis looked slightly surprised. She was about to refuse, but Allen told her she didn't have to anymore. She was now part of his crew and could ask her captain for anything without hesitation.
"Then..." Conis blushed before smiling. "In that case... I'm asking you, Captain~."
Allen smiled before hoisting Pagaya over his shoulder. He wasn't about to treat the old bearded man like a princess.
After putting Pagaya in his room, Allen was about to return to the living room when he noticed Conis silently standing in the hallway.
"Something wrong?"
Allen turned to look at her. He was confused for a moment before giving her a teasing smile.
"Even after what I said, I don't intend to force you to come with me."
Conis looked up at him in disbelief before quickly shaking her head.
"No, that's not it. I just... don't feel confident that I'll be useful!"
Allen reached out and gently patted her head.
"Don't worry about that. I don't value my crewmates because of how useful they are, but because of who they are. And you, little angel, are someone I like. Just trust me."
Allen slowly leaned closer to her.
"...Okay."
Conis slowly closed her eyes as the blush on her cheeks deepened.
Their lips met, and little by little, their shadows became one.
....
An hour later, Allen returned to his cabin. Sitting on his bed, he took the Devil Fruit out of the bag.
"What am I supposed to do with this?"
[You could eat it. Sure, it gives you a weakness, but the power you gain in return is absolutely worth it... *Yawn*]
"Are you okay?"
[Yeah... I've never "eaten" this much before... digesting it is taking a lot of effort...]
"Lenalee?"
[I'm fine~]
Lenalee sounded as though she was about to fall asleep.
"Alright. Still, I don't know if it's worth eating it myself. I could obtain all of its abilities through you, and with higher levels I could surpass Enel's mastery of the fruit without much effort."
[Then... just give it to one of your girls. I'm sure having a girl with Admiral-level potential in your crew wouldn't be a bad thing~]
Allen thought for a moment before realizing Lenalee was right. From the very beginning, his goal had been to make his entire crew the strongest in the world. The Goro Goro no Mi would greatly speed up that process.
The only question was... who was the right person for the Lightning Logia?
A face immediately came to Allen's mind. He didn't even have to think about it for long.
[Sorry... I don't think I can stay awake any longer... I don't know if it'll be a few days... a week... or even longer.]
"Don't worry. Just get some rest." Allen had already expected this.
Shortly after Lenalee fell asleep, Allen felt that strange sensation once again.
Time slowed, and a door appeared beside him.
....
After stepping through, Allen found himself back in his streaming room, with his entire chat asking questions and commenting.
Gwen – This time you were gone for way too long. *Grumble*
"Sorry."
There was nothing else he could say. He had no control over when these "breaks" happened.
MJ – That's right! This time you have to stay for a whole week, or I'll die!
"Are you a rabbit?" Allen laughed.
Felicia – I've been feeling sick lately. I've had weird cravings and nausea. Could it be...
"...!"
Allen laughed awkwardly.
"Well... maybe something you ate upset your stomach. Either way, I'll come see you..."
Tony – Well... congratulations, I guess. Teasing.
Rick – Sooner or later it was bound to happen. *Burp* In the future there'll be a bunch of white-haired brats seducing women all across the multiverse!
McDragon – No! Please don't! One is already more than enough!
Rogue – I wouldn't worry too much. Following the classic multiverse protagonist pattern, most of his children will probably be girls.
McDragon – Huh? Wait... does that mean there will be a whole bunch of future beauties with Allen's genes and those of his harem?!
Allen's expression darkened. "Dragon... I'll only warn you once. If you and those perverted thoughts of yours get anywhere near my daughters, you'll face a fate worse than death... You know, I wonder if I can..."
*McDragon has left the chat.*
Shizuka – Oh? The first princess hasn't even been born yet, and the King is already jealous~
Eve – I feel sorry for your future sons-in-law. Haha.
"Okay, can we stop talking about such a horrifying subject?!"
Allen had no idea he would be such an overprotective father.
No... maybe that was simply how every father felt about his precious daughters.
Allen chatted with everyone for a while before spending time with his girlfriends, lovers, and friends, then eventually returned to the world of One Piece.
....
A few days later...
Allen walked through the streets of Skypiea with his crew, specifically along Lovely Avenue, famous for being the island's commercial district and for selling every kind of Dial imaginable.
Over the past few days, the people of the sky had begun treating Allen like a savior after realizing he wouldn't become another tyrant like Enel and that Gan Fall had been restored as God, even though everyone knew Allen was the true ruler.
Allen wasn't Luffy. He wouldn't save people simply out of goodwill unless they were his subjects, something neither the Sky People nor the Shandians opposed. Even Wyper understood that Allen would eventually leave and wouldn't constantly interfere with their affairs.
Once they finished shopping, everyone headed back.
....
Two weeks later.
Allen appeared high above the sky on a cloud island overlooking Upper Yard. Robin and Vivi were in his arms.
Both girls were slightly blushing, but the moment they saw the enormous golden bell beside them—and the Poneglyph beneath it—their eyes widened in disbelief.
"This..." Vivi gasped.
Robin swallowed nervously, her eyes shining as she approached the Poneglyph with trembling hands.
Allen remained silent. The Shandians had told him about the existence of the Golden Bell and the mysterious black stone cube that no one could read.
It didn't take a genius to realize it was a Poneglyph.
Robin began reading the inscriptions, hoping to find information about the Void Century, but disappointment soon appeared in her eyes.
"Robin-san... is everything alright?" Vivi asked.
"Don't worry. We'll find more," Allen said.
"It's okay. I knew uncovering the lost history wouldn't be easy." Robin turned and smiled. "As for what's written here... it mentions the location of another Ancient Weapon, Poseidon—the weapon capable of controlling the Sea Kings."
Vivi covered her mouth in disbelief.
Another Ancient Weapon.
"I see." Unlike the others, Allen didn't seem surprised.
Robin sighed. Although it wasn't what she had been searching for, she was still happy to learn more about history. She carefully made notes and took photographs using a Vision Dial, essentially a camera.
Just as she was about to leave, she noticed another inscription carved into the golden pillar.
"I made it here, and I will guide this passage all the way to the farthest ends of the earth. The stormiest seas will not stop me. - Pirate Gol D. Roger," Robin read aloud.
This time, even Allen was surprised.
The Pirate King had traveled this route as well?
"Gol D. Roger..." Allen smiled.
....
The following day...
Allen slowly woke up to Lenalee's voice. Robin was sleeping beside him, tightly holding onto one of his arms, while Nami slept on the other side.
Lately, after coming to "level up," the girls had been falling asleep in his room, something Allen didn't mind in the slightest.
[Good morning!~]
"Good morning, Lenalee." Allen smiled.
The magical chest had been in hibernation for nearly three weeks. During that time, neither Allen nor the girls had been able to level up, but the previous night, when he heard Lenalee's voice again, he had taken the opportunity to level up both Nami and Robin.
That's right.
The wolf had finally sunk his perverted claws into Robin.
[Well then, I suppose you want to level up~]
"Yeah, well, but first tell me how much money we have"
[Hehe. Well, the value of the gold dropped slightly after breaking it into pieces... but even so, we now have a total of 12,154,101,900 Berries!]
Allen inhaled sharply.
That amount of money was enough for someone to live comfortably for a hundred lifetimes.
It was an absurd fortune.
[Well? Ready to reach the level of Roger, Whitebeard, and Garp in their prime?]
"...!"
Allen's eyes widened.
Could he really reach that level before returning to the Blue Sea?
Did that mean he was closer to his dream than ever before?
Allen could hardly believe he had made it this far.
====
A/N: Well, that wraps up Skypiea. The G-8 Naval Base arc and the Foxy arc seem like unnecessary filler to me, so we'll skip them and head straight to Water 7. I don't know if it'll be a major arc, since I can't see Robin getting kidnapped—so it looks like we'll be kicking Moria's butt in Thriller Back sooner than we think.
Also, I was planning to finish the first arc of One Piece at Shabaody.
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