"Human-Beast Form!"
Carina, standing nearby, reacted instantly. She transformed at once and began gathering flames in her mouth.
"Flame Breath!"
A massive fireball of scorching flames erupted from her jaws, hurtling toward the remaining giant snake.
The serpent was engulfed in an instant. Its body ignited, rapidly deflated, and flattened before dropping motionless into the Sea of Clouds.
"What kind of creatures are these? They feel so strange..."
Carina reverted to her human form and frowned in confusion.
"They're a little like balloon toys," Nami said, her voice tinged with wonder.
Robin crossed her arms, deep in thought. "Perhaps these creatures have deliberately lightened their bodies to adapt to the environment here."
"If that's the case," she continued, "then the buoyancy of this White Sea must be far weaker than the Blue Sea below."
Will didn't dwell on it. "We can figure that out later, once we reach the island the log pose is pointing to."
"Nami, head the ship that way first."
He raised his hand and pointed toward the distant clouds to the left of the ship.
No one objected.
Nami nodded, turned, and hurried to adjust the course.
As the ship veered in that direction, a massive cascade of clouds slowly emerged from behind the wall of white ahead.
"What is that?" Carina asked, puzzled.
Robin tilted her head. "It looks like an enormous waterfall made entirely of clouds."
Chopper, lying flat against the rail, gasped in surprise. "There are even clouds like that?"
Nami, however, was more worried about navigation. She frowned at the towering cloud mass blocking their path.
"The route's completely cut off. How are we supposed to reach that waterfall?"
Will smiled. "Don't worry, Nami. I'll guide us. We'll go around from the left."
Nami immediately spun the rudder again, shifting their heading.
A few minutes later, the ship slipped out of a narrow, twisting channel through the dense clouds.
Before them now stretched a truly breathtaking cloud waterfall.
And directly beneath it stood an immense gate bearing the words "Gate of Heaven."
Robin gazed at the sight and murmured softly, "Gate of Heaven..."
Carina's expression turned odd. "Is the 'Heaven' they talk about up there?"
"Huh? Heaven?!" Chopper's eyes widened with excitement. "Will there be angels?"
Issho couldn't suppress a faint smile. "Whether angels exist or not, I suppose we'll have to ask the gatekeeper."
In his perception, a small figure was slowly emerging from within the gate.
As the ship drew closer, everyone realized the gate was far larger than it had appeared from afar.
At that moment, a tiny figure stepped out from an open side door on the left.
Curious gazes turned toward her.
It was an old woman with light-purple hair tied into two buns. She wore a pink dress and had a pair of small white wings sprouting from her back.
Chopper stared, utterly disillusioned. "This... this is an angel?!"
"So that's what angels look like?!"
Amazon, the Gate of Heaven surveillance officer, ignored their reactions entirely.
"Are you here for sightseeing, or for war?" she asked, snapping photos of them with a peculiar camera.
Without waiting for an answer, she continued, "It doesn't matter either way. If you wish to enter the upper Sky Island, you must pay the entry fee: one billion Extol per person."
"That is the law."
"What did you say? One billion?!"
Nami and Carina's faces twisted in shock. They cried out in perfect unison.
The sheer number made their hearts skip a beat.
Will's eyes glinted thoughtfully. A smile spread across his face.
"Old lady," he said lightly, "you're saying we have to pay to go to Sky Island, right?"
"Then... if we go up and don't pay, does that mean we haven't really been there?"
"Huh?!" Everyone on the ship turned to him in stunned disbelief.
Even Amazon, who had guarded the gate for decades, widened her eyes. She couldn't believe her ears.
But after a moment's thought, the logic seemed... strangely sound.
To enter Sky Island, you pay. If you go up without paying, it doesn't count as entering. If it doesn't count, you don't have to pay...
Her mind spun into knots.
Will remained perfectly calm amid the reactions.
He remembered that ascending from here without paying simply counted as illegal entry—exactly what he wanted, since he'd come to pick a fight with Enel anyway.
So he pressed on with the same easy smile.
"Alright, old lady. Everyone on our ship wants to go to Sky Island. Please make the arrangements."
Amazon snapped out of her confusion. Her expression darkened.
She asked nothing more.
The strange logic had already told her everything she needed to know about their intentions.
Without a visible gesture from her, the next instant—
Boom!
A gigantic red lobster burst from beneath the ship. It hoisted the entire vessel onto its back and clamped the sides with its massive claws.
"What just happened?!" Nami demanded, steadying herself.
Robin, standing near the rail, answered in surprise. "A giant red lobster came up under us..."
Amazon called from the side corridor, "That's a specialty of the White Sea—the Express Lobster. It will carry you upward."
Before anyone could respond, the creature flipped upright with the ship on its shell and shot forward.
It charged straight into the super-long, spiraling cloud river inside the gate.
The crew, seasoned from their earlier ascent, quickly grabbed hold of anything solid.
Only Will and Issho remained standing, calmly observing the thick cloud walls of the immense canal.
As the ship sped away, Amazon's face twisted into a sinister grin.
She whispered into her communicator, "This is Amazon, surveillance officer of the Gate of Heaven, reporting to the Almighty God and all Divine Officers."
"Please carry out Heaven's Judgment on the seven illegal entrants heading to the Holy Land!"
Inside the winding cloud river, the Express Lobster propelled them ever upward in tight spirals.
After covering a considerable distance, the light dimmed, the winds howled fiercely, and the ship groaned under the strain.
Everyone looked up, expressions filled with awe.
None of them—except Will—had ever imagined an adventure like this.
Even Issho, with all his worldly experience, betrayed a trace of wonder.
Moments later, the end of the river came into view.
Brilliant light poured from the exit above.
In the sunlight, they sped past a golden signboard that read "Land of God."
Then, suddenly, the world opened up.
The ship dropped briefly, vision cleared, and the Express Lobster vanished.
Before them floated an island in the sky—a true paradise.
Lush greenery, trees, buildings, and palaces were all cradled in soft white clouds, forming an otherworldly scene.
"This place... really does look like Heaven," Carina murmured, recalling the Gate of Heaven below.
"Let's dock first," Will said.
Though he knew what to expect, seeing it in person still filled him with quiet amazement.
The ship glided smoothly toward the cloud-formed shore ahead.
As soon as the gangplank was lowered, Chopper dashed down impatiently. His hooves sank into soft, damp clouds with a strange, springy texture.
Nami and Carina followed together onto the beach.
Issho trailed behind at a leisurely pace, quietly "observing" the surroundings.
"Come on, Robin," Will said with a smile, turning to her. "Let's check it out together."
He stepped off the ship.
"I never imagined sailing and making landfall could feel this much like an adventure," Robin said softly as she caught up, a light laugh in her voice.
Having spent her life fleeing and hiding, true adventure had always been out of reach.
Will glanced back at her, smiling. "Life itself is one long adventure."
"Now, though, you don't have to worry about someone suddenly interrupting it."
"Because you're my crewmate."
The calm certainty in his voice brought a gentle smile to Robin's face, surprise flickering in her eyes.
"That does sound reassuring, Captain Will."
Given the devastating power he'd shown when blasting through the clouds earlier, she believed he had every right to say it.
She doubted even a Marine Vice Admiral could withstand such an attack.
When the two reached the beach, Nami—lounging in a cloud chair—waved enthusiastically.
"Robin! Will! Come try these! The chairs are made of clouds!"
Chopper, sprawled in another nearby, added excitedly, "These feel totally different from the soft, wet clouds under our feet. More like linen!"
Carina walked over, touched one thoughtfully, and nodded. "There must be some kind of cloud-processing technology here."
"Issho, mind slicing this fruit open? Let's taste it."
Will bent down, picked a hard fruit from beneath a coconut-like plant, and tossed it over with a grin.
Clang!
Issho turned at the sound, drew his blade in a smooth horizontal slash, and sheathed it just as quickly.
The cut was perfect, yet the fruit remained seemingly untouched as it landed on the clouds.
Will picked it up, pinched the top, popped it open, and tilted his head back for a few refreshing gulps.
The cool, sweet juice slid down his throat like nectar, lighting up his eyes.
"Mmm! This is incredible—you all have to try it!"
The group abandoned the cloud chairs and crowded around.
Each took a sip; Chopper happily finished the rest.
"It's really delicious!"
"Such a unique flavor."
"Better than a lot of fruits I've had—super refreshing."
"Mm-hmm, totally agree!"
Issho sensed their delight and smiled faintly. He stepped forward to open more fruits for everyone.
But after one step, he paused and turned toward the side of the beach.
Will turned at the same moment and spotted two figures approaching slowly.
One was a beautiful young girl with golden hair tied into two small ball braids. She wore a high-necked, short-sleeved minidress, small white wings on her back, and slippers on her feet. A little cloud fox trotted beside her.
She looked every bit the angel.
The other was an older man with a thick brown beard covering his mouth and chin, squinting eyes, goggles perched above his brows, and the same small ball braids. He wore a knee-length robe, white wings, and black gloves.
Noticing Will and Issho's attention, Robin and the others turned as well.
The girl raised her hand and greeted them warmly with a gentle smile.
"Hasso!"
"Huh?" Nami blinked, confused by the unfamiliar word.
Chopper whispered in awe, "That's an angel..."
The angelic girl approached and introduced herself with the same kind smile.
"My name is Conis. This is my father, Pagaya, and my pet cloud fox, Susu."
"You're on Angel Beach, Sky Island. Are you travelers who just arrived?"
Nami stepped forward eagerly. "Hello! I'm Nami."
"Yes, we just got here, so we don't know much about this place yet."
"That's fine," Conis said softly. "Feel free to ask us anything."
Pagaya chuckled beside her, eyes still squinted. "Why don't you all come to our home first?"
"I recently caught some sky lobster and sky fish. I can prepare a proper meal to welcome you."
"We can talk over food."
"Sky Island cuisine?"
Will's eyes sparkled at the offer. He nodded quickly.
"Sounds perfect. Let's go to your place."
"I'm dying to try the food here."
The others shared his anticipation and happily agreed.
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