Sky Island Sights

On the boundless Cloud Sea, a pirate ship with a sheep's head on its prow drifted silently.

"Waaah, I finally survived! I thought I was going to die!" Nami said, sprawled out on the deck, completely disregarding her image, still shaken by the experience.

"I feel terrible, I'm weak all over, and I can't breathe. Am I going to die?" Usopp thought anxiously.

"Ahem, Nami, are your adventures always this... exciting?" Vivi also had a look of relief, and after thinking for a long time, she couldn't come up with a suitable word to describe their madness.

"Ahem... You'll get used to it." Nami looked embarrassed. Wasn't Luffy afraid of scaring everyone away?

"Great, everyone seems to be safe and sound." Chopper sat up, wiping away imaginary sweat from his brow.

"Everyone, look outside! Look outside the ship!" Luffy, who had already recovered, was now excitedly leaning on the railing, shouting and yelling.

"This is... Cloud Sea?" Looking at the fantastical colors around him, Sanji felt as if he were in a dream. He didn't even have time to appreciate the beautiful scenery that was faintly visible under Nami and Vivi's clothes after they were soaked by the Knock-Up Stream.

"It seems we've stumbled upon an incredible place!" Zoro exclaimed in amazement.

"A vast expanse of white... Is this the Sky Island the diamond-faced uncle mentioned?" Luffy was fascinated by his surroundings and began to explore.

"I'm afraid not. If I'm not mistaken, that layer of the Cloud Sea above is the real Sky Island." Sanji looked up at the higher sky.

"Then how can we get up there?" Usopp was dumbfounded. Was he going to have to go through another Knock-Up Stream?

"Look, there's a huge door under that waterfall cloud!" Nami exclaimed softly, covering her mouth.

Following Nami's pointing finger, the group discovered a large gate beneath the waterfall-like Cloud Layer. Behind the gate lay a path leading to the higher heavens, and above the gate were the words "Heaven's Gate" written on it!

The sky is like a blue sea, the clouds are like light boats, and the white clouds drift quietly and gently.

Suddenly, the sea-like Cloud Layer surged, forming a huge dark vortex, and then a ship emerged from the seabed.

"It's an island! It's a real Sky Island!" Looking at the town shrouded in white clouds in the distance, the group was overjoyed and, forgetting to tidy their disheveled appearance from their journey across the seas, cheered loudly.

Without further hesitation, the group quickly steered the boat to the shore and excitedly jumped onto the beach.

"Wow, the ground of this island is also made of soft, fluffy Cloud Layer!" Luffy seemed to have found a fun toy and started jumping around on the beach.

"I never imagined that sailing and landing could be such an adventure!" Vivi cupped her face in her hands, gazing in rapt attention at this scene that should only exist in fairy tales, completely forgetting the gloom that had been weighing on her heart.

"So this is the beach in the sky." Chopper lay on his back on the sand, closing his eyes and breathing in the wonderful air.

"These are really strange plants. I've never seen them in the Grand Line's encyclopedia before. I wonder if they can be used in cooking." Sanji squatted down and stroked some plants on the beach, muttering to himself.

"Ah, plants I've never seen before, Cloud Sea I've never seen before, a world in the sky I've never seen before! Everything here is full of adventure!" Luffy shouted excitedly.

"Wait, what's that sound?" Zoro's ears twitched, and he looked around warily.

"It sounds like music..." Nami said uncertainly, then pointed to a towering Cloud Layer that looked like a small mountain with her slender, white finger. "There seems to be someone there."

"It's... it's a beautiful angel!" Sanji looked in the direction Nami was pointing and was immediately captivated. "Ah, my soul feels completely healed!"

"Ah! Heaven... an angel?" Luffy's mouth dropped open, unable to believe his eyes.

"Hassho!" Conis smiled slightly as she played the harp.

On Angel Island, at Conis's home.

"Is that so? An island entirely supported by cloud culture, that's amazing!" Luffy mumbled, stuffing food into his mouth.

"Yes, I never imagined that such a brilliant civilization could exist at an altitude of ten thousand meters." Sanji smoked a cigarette, recalling the scene when he landed on Angel Island and was shocked by the advanced civilization there. It really felt like he had traveled through time.

"By the way, Conis, I see you're not curious about our origins at all. Is it because there were people like us who came to Sky Island from the ocean below before?" Nami asked curiously.

"Yes, those people have also settled down on the Sky Island. If you're interested, I can take you to meet them later," Conis said with a smile.

Vivi sensed something unusual and pressed, "Settling down? Doesn't one of them choose to return to the sea?"

Conis paused, then continued, "Of course there were, but those who refused to stay were subjected to the Drifting Cloud Punishment, so..."

"The Drifting Cloud Punishment?" Everyone instinctively felt something was amiss, but they still asked, "What is that?"

"Exiling a person to the Cloud Layer to go mad in endless loneliness... or to end their life by falling from a height of 10,000 meters is a punishment more terrible than death."

"How could such an absurd thing happen?" Nami couldn't accept it. This was supposed to be a beautiful country that only existed in fairy tales, but how did it suddenly turn into a man-eating hell?

"That's because this is the God's Nation, and God's will is above all else."

Conis comforted her, "Actually, you don't need to be too pessimistic. This place has a highly developed civilization, an inexhaustible supply of food, and dazzling entertainment. Everyone can live a comfortable and happy life without even having to work. Compared to that cruel sea, this place can indeed be said to be the paradise that everyone dreams of."

"I absolutely disagree! What's the difference between someone whose freedom is stifled and a pet kept in a cage?" Luffy slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Pirates are the freest people in the world!"

Nami and the others stared wide-eyed. Was this really Luffy? Could he have been switched at birth? They never expected him to be so reliable!

Suddenly, Luffy's eyes widened, food got stuck in his throat, and he clutched his neck with both hands, flailing his arms and legs as he cried out, "Cough cough, water... water."

The crowd twitched their lips helplessly. Well, as expected, it was still that idiot captain.