The Winged Tribe elder's words were like a Boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up endless longing and curiosity in the Straw Hat Pirates. To the moon! This was far more exciting than any adventure in the deep sea or on Sky Island, directly touching the edge of the Xinghai.
" The Endless Vearth Blueprints?" Nami's eyes Beli instantly, as she keenly sensed its immense value. "That sounds amazing! With it, we can go to the moon?"
"We know very little about the specifics," the elder shook his head, a look of reminiscence on his face. "It's the name of a secret treasure passed down through generations of our clan, said to contain the technological achievements of our ancestors who crossed the Xinghai to reach this place. But its exact form—whether it's blueprints, a stone tablet, or some kind of energy core—and its precise location, have been lost to time. All we know is that it's related to an ancient ruin called the ' Ancestor Altar,' and that ruin isn't located on this floating archipelago we're currently on."
"Where?" Luffy asked impatiently, stretching his rubber neck as far as it could go.
The elder pointed out the window to the boundless, higher sea of clouds. "In the uppermost cloud realm lies a forbidden zone known as the ' Eye of the Storm.' It is perpetually shrouded in raging thunderclouds and hurricanes, making it impossible for ordinary ships to approach. Even we Winged Tribe can only barely enter the outer perimeter for worship during specific periods, thanks to the protection of the Cloud Roar Behemoth."
" The Eye of the Storm?" Franky stroked his chin, data streaming through his mechanical eyes. "Sounds like a SUPER—a challenging place! But with this genius here, any ship can be built!"
"No, perhaps a complete rebuild isn't necessary," Robin mused, glancing at Allen and Luffy. "Remember our adventure on Sky Island? The ship Enel built in ' Land of God '..."
" The Ark Maxim!" Nami and Chopper shouted in unison.
It was a massive ship built from " Vearth," a unique type of cloud iron, a specialty of Sky Island. It incorporated ancient technology, was capable of flight, and was powered by the Rumble-Rumble Fruit! Enel's original plan was to use it to travel to the " Endless Vearth " ( Endless Vearth he understood as the moon).
"What happened to that ship afterward?" Usopp asked.
Allen picked up the conversation, his memory clear. "When Enel was defeated by Luffy, the Ark Maxim wasn't fully activated and should still be somewhere on Skypiea. Moreover, the ship's design itself referenced the technology of the ancient Moon People, so perhaps it has some connection to the ' Endless Vearth Blueprints ' we're looking for, or even represents a part of its application."
"That's right!" The elder's eyes lit up. "The name ' Ark Maxim ' has appeared in our people's ancient poetry! It's described as 'wings returning to the Xinghai '! Now that you all know its whereabouts, that's wonderful!"
The objective becomes clear: First, return to the former Skypiea, find and repair (or modify) the Ark Maxim; then, using the Ark Maxim, break through the Eye of the Storm, find the Ancestor Altar, obtain the complete Endless Vearth Blueprints, and finally head to the Moon!
"Great! The route's decided!" Luffy shouted excitedly, raising his arms high. "Let's go! First, we'll head to that Skypiea and steal that flying ship!"
"It's about finding it, not stealing it!" Nami corrected habitually, but her face was also filled with an expectant smile.
A few days later, Allen had fully recovered, and his control over the Power of Zhulong had even improved slightly due to the intense application of the laws he had just used. The Straw Hat Pirates prepared to set off.
A grand farewell ceremony was held in Kumokakure Village. The Winged Tribe elder presented Allen with a talisman crafted from a heart-shaped crystal fragment. "Guardian, this talisman contains a trace of the sacred land's energy, which may offer some assistance on your future journey. May the wind and clouds guide your path, and our race will forever remember your kindness."
The Cloud Roar Behemoth, having regained its senses, let out a low, friendly whimper and gently nuzzled Allen with its massive head as a farewell.
Amidst the grateful and blessing gazes of all the Winged Tribe, the Thousand Sunny slowly departed from the port, began its descent, broke through the clouds, and headed towards the Blue Sea below, and towards Skypiea, the White Sea where they had once ventured.
Inside the cabin, Franky couldn't wait to start drawing up the blueprints for the Ark Maxim's modification, Sanji prepared a lavish celebration for everyone, and Brook played a cheerful violin tune.
Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper were playing around on the deck, while Nami spread out a sea chart, planning the best route to Skypiea.
Allen stood at the bow of the ship, stroking the warm crystal amulet in his hand. He looked up at the azure sky, his gaze seemingly piercing through the atmosphere to see the tranquil, silver planet that awaited them.