Skypiea—God's Country.
The four priests knelt on the cold floor before Enel's throne, their heads bowed and hands clasped in prayer.
Their faces were masks of pure, fanatical reverence.
Moments earlier, Enel had felt it.
Through his Mantra—his all-encompassing Observation Haki—he had sensed an unauthorized vessel sailing into his sacred domain.
The ship flew a flag he'd never seen before, its colors bold and majestic against the white sea of clouds.
'A ship like that,' he thought, a slow, greedy smile spreading across his face.
'It's truly a fitting vessel for a "God" like me!'
"Yahahaha!"
Enel's wild, booming laugh echoed through the temple like a clap of thunder, shaking the very stones. He leaned forward on his throne, his eyes gleaming with a cold, predatory light.
"Go," he commanded, his voice dripping with arrogance.
"Bring it to me!"
"Yes, Enel-sama!" the four priests responded in perfect unison.
In a flash, they were on their feet, vanishing like four white streaks into the misty clouds, speeding towards the warship's location.
.....
Meanwhile, aboard the Marine warship…
Kuzan stood on the deck, his eyes lightly closed as he felt the unique atmosphere of the sky island.
Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, his pupils contracting slightly.
"Hmm…?" he murmured to himself.
He turned, a frown creasing his brow as he looked at Mike.
"Just now… that presence I felt. Was that Observation Haki?"
"Yep," Mike said, his expression completely calm.
He'd been expecting Kuzan's reaction.
That flash of Haki had been as fast as lightning, almost impossible to catch unless you were looking for it.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"That's our guy. It's definitely Enel. The Rumble-Rumble Fruit really juices up his Observation Haki, huh?"
A serious look crossed Kuzan's face.
"So, do we go and capture him now?"
"No need to rush, oldman," Mike said with a casual shrug.
"That guy isn't going anywhere." He pointed a thumb towards the massive island floating behind them, a glint of excitement in his eyes.
"How about we have some fun first?"
They had finally made it to Skypiea.
Business could wait.
First, it was time for some food, drinks, and adventure!
Besides, Enel wouldn't dare abandon his precious flying ark, the Maxim.
He was effectively trapped here.
Following Mike's gesture, Kuzan turned his gaze toward the island and was momentarily stunned.
It was breathtaking.
White mist swirled around layers upon layers of clouds, creating a hazy, dreamlike landscape where the world seemed to be made of nothing but blue sky and white fluff.
A massive, lush island floated right in the middle of it all, like a paradise snatched from a fairy tale.
"He's right, Kuzan," Smoker's gruff voice came from beside him. He clapped the Admiral on the shoulder.
"What's the hurry? Following Mike's lead hasn't been wrong yet." He gave a thumbs-up and a squinty grin.
"You gotta learn to relax and enjoy the ride."
"Tch—" Kuzan chuckled, his serious expression melting into a relaxed smile.
"You guys are a terrible influence." He sighed.
"You're right. Ever since I got my fighting spirit back, I've been a little too eager. Alright then, let's go take a look."
With light, almost weightless steps, Mike led the group off the ship and onto the cloud-like sands of Angel Beach.
Just as they did, a beautiful song drifted through the air—a voice so clear, ethereal, and enchanting it seemed to be the very soul of Skypiea itself.
Mike paused mid-step, a look of genuine awe on his face.
"Io~io~"
The singing seemed to float on the breeze, coming from a nearby hillside.
They all turned to look, and the sight that greeted them was stunning.
There, on the hill, stood a young woman.
She had strange, antenna-like ornaments in her golden hair and two pairs of small, feathery wings on her back. S
he was playing a small harp, her voice as soft and dreamlike as silk.
The three hardened Marines stood completely still, captivated by the melody.
It felt as if the music was pulling at their very souls, transporting them to another world.
"Io~"
The song slowly faded to a close.
—Clap—Clap—Clap—
Mike was the first to break the silence, leading a round of applause.
His eyes sparkled with sincere admiration.
"Beautiful!" he called out. "Truly beautiful!"
Kuzan and Smoker joined in, their faces showing an emotion rarely seen on them: pure, simple joy.
"Ah—"
From her spot on the hill, Conis's song was cut short as she spotted the unfamiliar group.
Her eyes lit up with curiosity.
She set down her harp and gracefully hopped down the slope, moving with the lightness of a sprite.
"Hesso!" she chirped, a traditional Skypiean greeting.
"I'm Conis." She waved at them, her voice bright and cheerful.
"Are you all from the Blue Sea?"
"Hello there," Mike said with an easy smile.
He held out his hand for a friendly handshake. "We are indeed from the Blue Sea. My name is Mike."
Their eyes met.
The moment Conis saw Mike's outstretched hand and his charming smile, her cheeks instantly flushed a bright pink.
Her heart started beating a little faster, and she unconsciously lowered her head, suddenly feeling shy.
She'd met plenty of people, but never a man as handsome and charismatic as this.
"H-Hello..." she stammered timidly, her voice barely a whisper as she reached out a slightly trembling hand to shake his.
Just then, a rumbling sound approached from the distance.
A man came speeding towards them on a strange, jet-ski-like vehicle, leaving a trail of clouds in his wake.
"This is my father," Conis said with a soft smile, turning to introduce the newcomer just as he skidded to a perfect stop in front of them.
"Welcome to Skypiea, everyone," her father said, his voice deep and strong.
"Hello," Mike replied with a nod.
His eyes, however, were fixed on the vehicle.
A flicker of childish excitement flashed across his face.
'So this is a Waver! The unique ride of the Sky Islands.'
'Riding a motorcycle is one thing, but cruising at 10,000 meters in the sky?'
"Hey, old-timer," Mike said, his grin widening.
"Mind if I take this Waver for a spin?"
.....
A few minutes later, three Wavers were lined up on the sands of Angel Beach.
Mike hopped onto one and looked over at his companions.
"Hey, Kuzan! Wanna race?"
"Bring it on!" Kuzan shot back, a long-lost competitive fire igniting in his eyes.
"Don't think I'll go easy on you."
Smoker just snorted, climbing onto the third Waver.
"First place is mine, you amateurs."
"—Whoosh—!" "—Whoosh—!" "—Whoosh—!"
In an instant, the three Wavers shot off like rockets, their engines roaring as they tore across the surface of the cloud sea, leaving nothing but blurry afterimages behind them.
Kuro stood at the edge of the beach, watching them go with a rare, fond smile.
Thud—Thud—
Suddenly, the sound of steady footsteps echoed from the other end of the beach.
Four strange figures slowly emerged from the mist.
"Is this the place Enel-sama spoke of?" one of them, a priest, said, his eyes cold and indifferent.
"Offer that ship to God!" another declared, his voice firm and absolute.
Kuro's smile vanished.
He turned around, and his eyes, visible behind his glasses, radiated an endless chill.
'More fools who don't know their place…' he thought, his irritation rising.
'To dare disturb the Captain's leisure time?'
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