There were two things on Skypiea that compelled him to go.
First, the user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit—Enel.
That fruit, hailed as one of the most invincible Logia-type Fruits, contained terrifyingly extreme lightning power.
If he could kill its user, there was a high probability of extracting an exceptionally powerful Template.
Second, there was the Golden City of Shandora on Skypiea.
Even though Ivan was not short on money now, who would ever complain about having too much wealth?
An entire ancient city built from gold would be enough to grant him complete financial freedom.
Whether it was for building a future faction or covering various expenses, he would have no more worries.
The sea wind howled as the Orange Ship cut through the waves, speeding straight toward Jaya.
Ahead awaited him the Sea of Clouds ten thousand meters high, the self-proclaimed god of thunder, and a golden legend buried for four hundred years.
Several days later, the Orange Ship broke through the sea surface, the outline of Jaya faintly visible in the mist ahead.
Inside the cabin, the warm yellow light was exceptionally soft.
Nami, wearing a loose short-sleeved shirt, was kneeling on Ivan, giving him a massage.
Whether it was the slight rocking of the ship or the girl's deliberate closeness, as she massaged, her entire body pressed against him.
Her soft chest pressed against Ivan's back, her hair carrying a faint fragrance brushed against his neck, sending a tingling sensation through him.
Ivan tilted his head slightly, able to smell the fresh scent of her hair. "Why are you so close?"
Nami's ears flushed pink, her voice as faint as a mosquito's hum. "To do it!"
An ambiguous atmosphere quietly spread through the air. Just as Ivan was about to do something, the Orange Ship suddenly rocked violently!
Bang!
The ship abruptly surged upward, then slammed back down.
Under the violent shaking, Ivan and Nami were caught off guard, nearly falling. The ambiguous mood shattered instantly.
"What's going on?" Ivan steadied himself against the cabin wall, pulling Nami as they quickly rushed out of the cabin.
As soon as they stepped out, a fierce wind carrying cold rain whipped against their faces. The sky had already darkened like night, the clouds pressing so low it seemed they would crash into the sea at any moment.
Bean-sized raindrops pelted the deck noisily, blurring their vision with a curtain of rain. They could only vaguely see distant waves surging into walls of water dozens of meters high, a terrifying sight.
"It's a storm!" Nami squinted, tightly gripping the ropes on the ship's railing. Her instincts as a top-tier navigator quickly calmed her. "And judging by the look of it, we're about to encounter an Upward Current!"
Ivan raised his hand to shield himself from the rain, looking at Nami.
"What should we do now?"
"You use Wood Release to stabilize the ship and control the direction." Nami's eyes were sharp as she quickly scanned the turbulent sea and swirling dark clouds, soon locking onto the center of the storm.
There was a vortex there, madly swallowing the surrounding seawater.
"I've found the storm's center!" She pointed in that direction, speaking urgently. "We must head toward the vortex's center. Only by passing through the Upward Current can we safely reach Jaya. Otherwise, we'll be swept to unknown waters by the storm!"
Ivan followed her gaze and nodded without hesitation. "I'll follow your lead!"
As soon as he spoke, he pressed his hand against the deck, unleashing Wood Release at full power.
The Orange Ship's propellers spun rapidly, countless vines growing over the ship's hull to stabilize it.
A top-tier powerhouse of the seas was capable of conquering nature. Under Ivan's control, the Orange Ship steadily advanced toward the very center of the vortex.
The ship rocked violently with the undercurrents, the surrounding seawater swirling madly.
The accompanying marines clung to the railings, their faces pale, constantly exclaiming in shock, unable to even stand steadily.
Before long, the Orange Ship finally charged into the center of the vortex.
But everyone was stunned to find that the massive vortex, which had seemed capable of swallowing everything just moments ago, had inexplicably calmed and vanished without a trace.
Tashigi frowned, looking puzzled. "Strange, how could such a large vortex disappear so suddenly?"
Smoker looked up at the sky, then down at the unusually calm sea, speaking gravely.
"Not just the vortex. It seems the rain has stopped too."
The air was eerily quiet, even the wind had ceased.
At that moment, Nami's expression changed drastically, and she shouted sharply.
"No, it hasn't disappeared. This sea is about to erupt! Everyone, grab onto something fixed!"
Her warning hadn't even finished when it was already too late.
The entire sea surface suddenly bulged upward, seawater surging wildly.
Instantly, a Knock Up Stream erupted with a roar, transforming into a colossal pillar of water that shot straight into the sky, effortlessly lifting the massive Orange Ship and hurling it high into the clouds.
"Ahhh!"
The tremendous impact instantly swept across the entire ship. Many marines were thrown off, their bodies plummeting uncontrollably toward the bottomless deep sea below.
Ivan's eyes flickered slightly as he raised his hand and called out, "Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees - Binding Chains."
Countless thick vines burst forth from both sides of the ship, ensnaring all the marines about to fall and pulling them steadily back onto the deck.
The next moment, the Orange Ship was completely lifted by the current, soaring upward along the sky-piercing water pillar, breaking through the cloud layer and climbing madly toward the ten-thousand-meter-high sky.
Everyone on board screamed in terror, their faces pale. Only Ivan stood at the ship's bow, letting the fierce wind tousle his clothes, unable to hold back a low chuckle.
That's right—he could have easily flown to Skypiea using his own power.
But this thrilling experience of being carried by the might of nature, shooting straight into the clouds, was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity he absolutely couldn't miss!
The Orange Ship spread its sails, steadily supported by the powerful updraft, the entire vessel soaring into the air like a bird.
Soon, the ship plunged into a thick, dense layer of clouds. Everything around was a vast expanse of white, visibility plummeting. The ship sped through the mist, with only the howling wind audible.
When everyone's vision suddenly cleared as they completely broke through the cloud layer, they all held their breath.
Before their eyes stretched an endless expanse of snowy white. Beneath their feet was no longer churning seawater but a soft, fluffy, boundless Sea of Clouds, as if they had stepped into a dreamlike fairyland.
Nami widened her eyes, gazing around in awe, murmuring softly.
"Is this Skypiea?"
Ivan shook his head, his gaze fixed deeper into the Sea of Clouds.
"Not yet. This is just the Sea of Clouds. The real Skypiea is still ahead."
With those words, Ivan used Wood Release to steer the Orange Ship steadily onward toward Skypiea.
But just then, the Sea of Clouds suddenly churned. A massive octopus burst forth from the clouds, opening its huge maw and lunging straight at the Orange Ship, intent on swallowing the entire vessel in one bite.
Before Ivan could act, Tashigi's eyes sharpened. Instead of retreating, she advanced, instantly drawing her sword.
A flash of blade light, a sharp Flying Slash cut through the air, striking the giant octopus's body with precision.
The next moment, something unexpected happened.