From a distance, it looked like an island brimming with tropical charm. Waves lapped gently at the shore, coconut palms grew across the island, and broad green banana leaves swayed in the breeze.
What was astonishing, though, was the cotton-white cloud hovering above the island, with a gigantic purple, egg-shaped building standing atop it.
"Could that be...?!"
"That... that couldn't be...!"
Luffy, Chopper, and Usopp craned their heads out, mouths agape, their disbelieving eyes fixed on the white cloud.
"It's a Sky Island!!"
Their excitement showed plainly on their faces, and all three pairs of eyes instantly sparkled.
"Even the air started getting warmer as soon as we approached the island."
Nami murmured curiously as she surveyed their surroundings.
The blizzard far behind them showed no signs of letting up. The bizarre contrast in weather left her baffled.
The Going Merry slowly sailed toward the island. Just then, countless dark shapes appeared underwater around it, and bubbles gurgled up to the surface.
Splash! Splash! Splash!
Several plumes of spray erupted. Under everyone's astonished gazes, enormous bodies broke through the water and rose around the island, guarding it as pairs of beastly eyes stared at them.
"-Huh?! Are those sea beasts?!"
Usopp cried out in shock.
"Yohohoho! They seem to be guarding this island."
Light as a swallow, Brook hopped onto the bow railing and crouched there with a chuckle, his bony fingers gripping his cane, ready to draw his sword at any moment.
"Wait. Something looks off about these sea beasts."
Franky suddenly spoke up, studying the herd before them with a grave expression.
Once he pointed it out, the others began noticing something was wrong too.
Sea lions, sea giraffes, sea bulls, sea raccoon dogs, and so on-they had been sailing the Grand Line long enough that creatures like