Rising Current

"What's with this waterspout?"

Nojiko stood by the railing, staring in horror at the massive Rising Current beside them.

The others aboard the God Slave stared at the Rising Current as well, dumbfounded and deeply shocked.

It was their first time witnessing such a scene.

"Brother Lin Yu, do you know what's going on?"

Kaya tugged on Lin Yu's hand and asked curiously.

Hearing Kaya's question, Nojiko, Makino, and the others all turned to look at Lin Yu.

In their eyes, Lin Yu was practically omniscient and omnipotent.

Feeling everyone's gazes, Lin Yu smiled and explained,

"This thing is called the Rising Current."

"The Rising Current is a unique weather phenomenon in the waters around Jaya Island. It's actually a type of natural disaster."

"There's a massive hollow in these waters, deeper than the seabed itself. As long as cold seawater flows into it, the geothermal heat below produces water vapor. When the vapor pressure becomes too great, an eruption occurs on the seafloor, creating the Rising Current."

Kaya, Mikita, Nojiko, and the others revealed looks of sudden understanding before staring at Lin Yu with admiration.

This guy actually knew so much.

After hearing Lin Yu's explanation, Vivi could not help glancing at him.

Then, Vivi looked at Lin Yu and asked,

"You're taking us straight toward that waterspout. What are you planning to do?"

While rapidly modifying the God Slave using the ship's ropes, Lin Yu smiled and said,

"There's a Sky Island up there."

"And this Rising Current is the only way to reach it."

"A Sky Island?" Vivi and the others looked at Lin Yu in astonishment.

It was also their first time hearing the term Sky Island.

Reiju and Charloss, on the other hand, showed no particular reaction. They had long heard of Sky Islands.

"Y-you want to use that to get to a Sky Island?"

"You haven't gone crazy, have you?"

Pointing at the ever-nearing Rising Current, MISS Double Finger Sarah stared at Lin Yu in shock.

Golden Week Marianne had gone pale with fright, and even Vivi beside her did not look much better.

Kaya, Makino, Nojiko, and the others, however, had great faith in Lin Yu. They believed he would not act recklessly, so they remained calm.

"Heh, you'll find out soon enough."

Lin Yu smiled faintly and waved his hand. Several ship ropes dragged Vivi, Kaya, and the others into the cabins and secured them to the beds.

They could not help much here, and would only get in the way.

Upon reaching the Rising Current, Lin Yu placed a hand on the already-modified God Slave, constantly adjusting the sails and course. When necessary, he even used the recoil from simultaneous cannon fire on both sides to make adjustments.

At that moment, he and the God Slave had become one. Even the slightest change in the ship could catch his attention.

Though he lacked Nami's talent for navigation, he possessed absolute control over the God Slave. Catching the Rising Current was not difficult for him.

After constant adjustments, Lin Yu finally guided the modified God Slave onto the Rising Current, and it began steadily ascending toward the Sky Island.

Vivi and the others were then lifted onto the deck by ship ropes, allowing them to experience this extraordinary journey together.

"Brother Lin Yu, you're really amazing."

Seeing the God Slave rise steadily, Kaya looked at Lin Yu with admiration.

Nojiko, Makino, and the others were both shocked and delighted. They had not expected Lin Yu to really pull it off.

"I have to admit, you really are incredible."

Watching the sea grow farther and farther away, Vivi sincerely praised Lin Yu.

"Hmph, of course he is. Young Master has always been amazing."

Anna lifted her chin, looking as though it were only natural.

Beside her, Charloss stared fixedly at Lin Yu with worship in her eyes, as if she wanted nothing more than to throw herself at him.

"Let me go! Let me go..."

MISS Mikita struggled continuously as she hung in midair from the ropes, wanting to get to Lin Yu's side and give him a fierce kiss.

Sarah and Marianne beside Mikita could not help stealing several glances at Lin Yu as well.

Ding! Vivi's favorability toward the host has increased...

Ding! Makino's favorability toward the host has increased...

Ding! Sarah's favorability toward the host has increased...

Ding! Mikita's favorability toward the host has increased...

Watching the favorability notifications constantly refresh, Lin Yu grinned.

Half an hour later.

The God Slave passed through the clouds and arrived above the Sky Island.

Looking around, Lin Yu found no trace of the Straw Hat Crew or the Merry. It seemed both sides had been sent to different areas by the Rising Current.

"So this is a Sky Island?"

Kaya looked at the endless white sea of clouds around them, thrilled beyond measure.

"Ah, a strange shark just swam past."

Nojiko pointed into the sea of clouds beside the ship, shouting as she tossed out a coin.

Boom!

An explosion rang out. A Sky Shark floated to the surface, while a small crack was blasted into the God Slave's side.

Vivi, who had just come aboard, was instantly stunned when she saw Nojiko's action.

Wasn't that Mr.5's ability?

Although Nojiko, Makino, Kaya, and Vivi all had connections to the Straw Hat Crew, they lived too far apart. Furthermore, the Marines had concealed news of the Straw Hat Crew, so they did not know of one another's connections.

Smack!

Seeing Nojiko's action, Lin Yu's eye twitched. He slapped her on the head and said,

"Throw it farther next time!"

At this rate, you'll wreck the God Slave.

I have to correct that bad habit of yours!

"You could've just told me. Why did you hit me?" Nojiko clutched her head and looked at Lin Yu pitifully.

"I was afraid you wouldn't learn your lesson."

Lin Yu shrugged, then turned to look toward the sea of clouds nearby.

Several figures dressed in strange clothing stood atop wind-shell skateboards in the sea of clouds not far away, rapidly approaching the God Slave.

"Shandia people?"

Seeing their attire, Lin Yu raised an eyebrow. He had not expected the Shandia to be the first to find him.

"Brother Lin Yu, what were you just saying?"

"What is Shandia?"

Kaya asked curiously from beside him.

Vivi and the others also looked at Lin Yu with curious expressions.

Lin Yu stroked his chin as he watched the approaching Shandia people.

"In the North Sea, there is a storybook called Noland the Liar..."

"...Because he failed to find the legendary City of Gold, Noland was sentenced to death."

"After that, however, Noland's descendants spent generation after generation searching for traces of Shandora. They would not hesitate even if Law contracted a terminal illness because of it..."

Lin Yu spent several minutes briefly recounting Noland's story. The women were all deeply shocked, while Kaya and Vivi were moved to tears.

Then Lin Yu looked toward the Shandia warriors standing quietly on the God Slave's railing, listening to his story of Noland, and continued,

"And the Shandia warriors have also remembered the great warrior Calgara's final words. For generations, they have wanted to ring Shandora's Golden Bell and send word to Noland on the ground that they are in the sky."