The Straw Hat Pirates were smiling at first, but a moment later, they felt a crushing weight they could not escape.
"Ah!!!"
Nami gripped the rail with both hands and screamed.
Beyond the gate at the edge of the clouds lay a sheer drop. The Going Merry plunged straight off it.
Above them, Conis immediately blew her whistle. An octopus sprang from the clouds and swelled in the wind, sucking in enough air to become enormous.
It wrapped all eight tentacles around the Going Merry, then acted as a hot-air balloon, carrying the ship down at a safe, steady speed.
From aboard the Going Merry, Luffy called, "See you, old man!"
Just then, a clear bell rang out across the sky, seeing Luffy and the others off.
On the White Sea, Rubick sat aboard a pleasure boat, feeling a little melancholy.
"Well, they've finally set off on their own. I feel like an old father seeing his children off. I'm proud of them, but I'm worried too."
Conis reassured him. "Luffy and the others are strong enough to handle any danger. Your Majesty needn't worry too much."
Conis took Rubick's hand. "You have to trust them."
Rubick stroked her soft hand. "Thank you."
The old Knight chose that moment to say, "Your Majesty, you should be thinking of your people. Please don't neglect your duties."
"You're such a nuisance!"
Reluctant as he was, Rubick settled into his role as king.
Beneath the giant vine, among the ruins of lower Shambhala, Rubick gathered his ministers.
"Everyone!"
Sky Country had to be rebuilt almost from the ground up, and its king did not even have a proper place to work. No one minded. They simply sat together amid the ruins.
Rubick said, "You may not know this, but the thing Shandia has