Straight into the Sky

"The method from twenty years ago?"

River's eyes brightened slightly at those words, and he fell into thought.

If there really was no other way, he could only resort to the method he had used to reach Sky Island twenty years ago.

"Then let's wait a little longer!"

They stayed at Kurik's place for the time being. Compared with the way he had reached the island twenty years ago, River would much rather let the Knock Up Stream launch him upward.

"My prediction for the next Knock Up Stream might not be as accurate as it was for the last one."

"After all, I haven't had much time. Please forgive me if anything goes wrong."

Kurik shook his head as he spoke.

"It's fine. If I have no choice, I'll just have to use my old method to get up there."

River smiled.

Crocodile, Foxy, and the others were curious about what this method could possibly be, given that even their boss was reluctant to use it.

Time passed, and several days went by in a flash.

Kurik went diving every day, both to search for proof that the city of gold had once existed and to take fresh measurements and compare them to determine when the next Knock Up Stream would appear.

When he climbed out of the sea again and saw River, he shook his head. "I still can't make an accurate prediction."

"But whether in strength or range, I'm afraid it won't compare to the last one."

River was somewhat disappointed to hear that.

To reach Sky Island by surging from the sea into the White-White Sea ten thousand meters above, the strength of the Knock Up Stream was undoubtedly crucial.

If it lacked strength and petered out halfway up, everyone aboard would likely plummet and be smashed to pieces.

"You should still be prepared to use your old method."

Kurik spoke.

"Looks like that's my only option, but let's wait a little longer!"

River replied helplessly.

It was not that he was unwilling to do it, but that the method posed an enormous test of his stamina, energy, and strength.

Another day passed. That day, the sunlight was dazzling, and everyone was lazily basking in it as they waited.

Dong!

Suddenly, a clear, soul-stirring peal of a bell rang out high above. The next second, sunlight emerged from the clouds, blazing with dazzling radiance.

"What was that sound?!"

"Why would a bell suddenly ring? And it sounded like it came from the clouds overhead!"

"Could it be coming from Sky Island?"

"Can people really live ten thousand meters up in the sky?"

Foxy and the other crew members were startled, all speaking up at once.

Meanwhile, Kurik, who stood on the shore gazing at the sea and observing its currents, shuddered and suddenly looked up at the sky.

Through the clouds, he thought he could faintly see a glimmer of golden light.

Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!

The bell pealed, its echoes ringing out again and again, drifting high through the sky and reaching everyone on the sea below.

At that moment, countless people looked up at the sky in confusion.

"The bell of Shandora."

River came to Kurik's side and spoke softly.

Kurik shuddered and slowly turned to look at River. Before he knew it, his eyes had filled with tears, and two streams ran down his face.

"So everything you told me was true?"

Looking at the tear-streaked face before him, River smiled and nodded. "Of course I wasn't lying to you."

"I saw it all with my own eyes."

He paused, his voice growing distant.

"And I left proof there that I had been."

Kurik wanted to laugh, but what came out was a sob.

For hundreds of years, generation after generation had searched endlessly, all to prove that their ancestor, Mont Blanc Noland, had not lied and to clear his name of that old injustice.

At last, today, all of it had been proven.

The ancient Jaya Island and Shandora, the city of gold, truly existed. They had not been buried beneath the sea, but hurled up to the mysterious Sky Island ten thousand meters above.

"I have to go, Kurik."

With that, River turned and left.

The ringing of Shandora's Golden Bell meant that Straw Hat Luffy had already defeated the god Enel through his protagonist cheat.

If he delayed any longer, that fellow who longed for Endless Vearth would probably board the Ark Maxim and head for the moon.

Once that happened, recruiting him would likely be no easy task.

"Everyone aboard! Gather on Foxy's Ship!"

Shouting at the crew members still standing dazed ahead of him, River led the way toward Foxy's Ship.

"Stop standing around! It's time to leave!"

Foxy was the first to react and immediately shouted.

A little over seven minutes later, Foxy's Ship was packed with people.

River stood on the shore, looking at the people aboard, his eyes flickering. Compared with his warship, Foxy's Ship could undoubtedly hold more people, but it was also heavier and larger.

But at this point, he had no choice. He could only use the method from twenty years ago to reach Sky Island.

"Now, everyone grab hold of something nearby."

"The trip to Sky Island might be a little bumpy!"

River grinned slightly and said with a laugh.

Everyone was intensely curious, unable to imagine what method their boss would use to reach Sky Island ten thousand meters above.

Then they saw River leap off the shore and plunge into the sea with a splash.

Not far away, Kurik brought his emotions under control and lit a cigarette with trembling hands.

"Is that scene from twenty years ago about to unfold again?"

"Reaching Sky Island ten thousand meters above with nothing but a body of flesh and blood!"

Kurik spoke those words in a trembling voice.

It was impossible to tell whether his excitement had yet to settle or whether it was because of the staggering sight he was about to witness.

Then, all of a sudden-

The sea shuddered violently. Powerful currents of air expanded, twisting and sweeping great masses of seawater toward the sky in a shower of spray.

Foxy's Ship suddenly began to shake.

Bang!

A powerful tremor came from beneath the sea. In an instant, the water burst apart, and the expressions of everyone aboard Foxy's Ship changed drastically.

They soon realized that the enormous ship beneath their feet had actually left the sea.

And it was rising into the sky at tremendous speed.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

A string of blasts came from beneath the hull. Ripples spread out below the ship as the air expanded into ring after ring.

"The boss is underneath, lifting the ship!"

"My god, how much strength does that take?!"

"Hey, hey, hey, hey! You've got to be kidding! Is he planning to carry us all the way up to Sky Island like this?"

The people aboard erupted into an uproar. Crocodile leaned over the railing and looked down.

Ripples pulsed outward, and enormous rings of air spread continuously. He could clearly see River kicking off the air with both feet, holding up Foxy's Ship with both hands as he steadily ascended.

Bang!

The air shook. River kicked off it with both feet, generating an enormous thrust that sent Foxy's Ship rapidly upward.

Almost every second or two, his feet stamped against empty air, producing tremendous lift.

On the shore, Kurik tilted his head back to watch the magnificent sight, his expression complicated.

"It's hard to imagine just how powerful you really are!"

"No wonder you were already famous throughout the world twenty years ago."