For four hundred years, generation after generation, they had endured.
Even when their ancestor became the world's greatest laughingstock. Even when the entire world mocked their family's name. Not once did they waver.
Yet at this moment, all of it came crashing down. It was as if centuries of sorrow and injustice were finally being unleashed, and the boy couldn't stop crying.
The surrounding marines fell silent, their expressions somber. They could hear the overwhelming grief and helplessness in his cries. There were no words to offer, so they simply waited.
Finally, as exhaustion set in, the boy's cries faded into sniffles. He wiped his eyes, embarrassed, and mumbled, "S-Sorry… I... sniff... I—"
"You don't need to apologize. You've done nothing wrong." Sakazuki removed his hand from the boy's head and asked, "I still don't know your name."
The boy hesitated, then he said, "...I... My name is Mont Blanc Cricket."
Sakazuki nodded. "Would you like to continue telling us your ancestor's story?"
"Y-yes!" Taking a breath, Cricket straightened up.
The marines gathered around, listening intently.
For the first time, Cricket was sharing his ancestor's story with so many people—without fear of ridicule. And as he spoke, a different image of Mont Blanc Noland emerged.
Not the legendary "King of Liars" from the rumors, but a bold, honest, and powerful explorer.
A man who had embarked on an incredible journey.
And this time, no one doubted it.
...
Evening.
Half a day had passed, but the marines were still captivated by the story. It wasn't until the rich aroma of meat drifted from the mess hall that their focus was finally broken.
Only then did they realize the sun had already dipped halfway below the horizon.
"Alright, clean up and get ready for dinner."
At Sakazuki's signal, Carlo called out, and the Marines swiftly lined up, marching toward the mess hall in an orderly fashion.
Cricket remained on deck with Sakazuki.
He watched the disciplined marines, their steps perfectly in sync. For a brief moment, a glimmer of longing flashed in his eyes. Then, just as quickly, it faded, replaced by quiet melancholy.
Sakazuki, who had noticed, let out a quiet chuckle. "Thinking about joining the Marines?"
Cricket's eyes lit up for a second, but then he shook his head, his expression dimming. "No... I still have to prove to the world that my ancestor didn't lie. That he wasn't a fraud."
Sakazuki smiled and didn't press the matter. Instead, he pulled out a sea chart, spreading it out in front of Cricket.
Pointing to Jaya Island, he asked, "What part of the human body does Jaya Island look like to you?"
"Uh… mouth?"
"That's right." Sakazuki nodded. "And what's this?"
Cricket followed his finger to another feature on the map. "That's the Knock Up Stream."
"In the story you told me earlier, Noland said something, didn't he? 'I saw the gold in the skull's right eye.'"
"Y-Yeah." Something flickered in Cricket's mind, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't quite grasp it.
Sakazuki pulled out a pen and made a few strokes on the map. "What does it look like now?"
Cricket's eyes widened. "A... a skull!"
Seeing the boy's shock, Sakazuki let out a sigh. If he hadn't already known the truth, he would have never guessed it either.
The lost City of Gold wasn't at the bottom of the sea. It was in the sky.
"If a massive, unprecedented Knock Up Stream had erupted here..." As he spoke, Sakazuki pointed to a spot on the chart, his hand pressing down on the marks he had just drawn, leaving only the present-day Jaya Island visible.
"What do you think would have happened?"
Cricket stared at the map, his entire body frozen in shock.
Four hundred years. Generations of persistence. Yet now, it seemed they had been chasing the wrong answer all along. The realization left him disoriented.
Deep down, he knew this was most likely the real truth. But if that were the case, what did it mean for his ancestors' sacrifices? For generations, they had scoured the ocean floor, convinced the city had sunk beneath the waves.
That's how humans are. As long as a mystery remains unsolved, they hold firm to their beliefs. But when the truth is finally revealed, and it contradicts everything they've believed in… no one can accept that easily.
...
Three days later, Jaya Island waters.
The Knock Up Stream hadn't erupted yet, but the sea was already stirring. Especially near the explosion point, where a swirling vortex had begun to form. As time passed, the whirlpool spun faster and grew larger.
The warship, which had been stationary, began to sway slightly. Cricket stood beside Sakazuki, staring at the massive vortex, his arms wrapped tightly around a strange-looking bird.
The bird, known as a Southbird, looked plump and sluggish. Its dazed expression made it seem clueless about what was happening. But its head, shaped like a compass needle, remained fixed in one direction: south.
In the ship's cabin, supplies and various Dials had been carefully prepared—everything needed for the upcoming journey to the Sky Island.
"It's coming." Sakazuki's deep voice rang out, startling everyone. Just as they were about to check for any changes, the ship suddenly shook.
Rumble!
A deafening roar echoed across the sea. The whirlpool's rotation abruptly sped up, becoming more violent. The roaring seawater pulled the warship toward the center, faster and faster.
And then—
Splash!!!
The ship was lifted off the ocean's surface, flung toward the hollow core of the vortex.
Cricket and the marines on board found themselves airborne. Staring at the water below, their faces turned pale.
They had been launched into the air!
A collective gasp spread among them as all eyes snapped toward the bow.
There, standing unmoved, was Sakazuki, his expression as calm as ever, as if nothing had happened—providing the only hint of stability in the chaos.
A moment later, just as the warship was about to plunge into the vortex's center—
Boom!!!
The ship crashed back into the water. And in the blink of an eye, the whirlpool vanished. The sea below was now eerily calm.
"Hold onto the railing." Sakazuki's low voice broke the silence as one hand gripped the railing, while the other grabbed Cricket.
Seeing this, the rest of the crew scrambled to secure themselves. The ocean beneath them swelled, forming a massive bulge of water. It lifted the warship higher and higher, shifting their view of the world.
Then—
Boom!
An unstoppable column of water shot skyward, carrying the ship toward the depths of the clouds.
"Whoa!!!"
"We're moving straight up?!"
"This feels so weird!"
"Hahahahaha!"
"Let's go!"
"Yeahhh!"
The warship rode the vertical stream like a vessel sailing the sky. The crew, having never witnessed such a sight, shouted in awe.
But soon, something felt… off.
Why did it seem like they were getting farther from the water's surface?
"Wait, wait—no way!"
"We're screwed!"
"This can't be happening!"
"I—!"
"Hey, hey, hey!!"
More and more people noticed. The warship wasn't just riding the current. It was leaving the ocean. And when they saw a few Sea Kings plummet from the current, disappearing into the waters below, reality struck.
This wasn't an illusion. They were really being carried away from the sea.
Whoosh!
The moment the warship completely detached from the ocean, Sakazuki's hand, still pressed against the railing, transformed into magma and surged forward.
Like a protective coating, the molten rock wrapped around the warship, leaving an empty space in the middle while forming a massive arrowhead shape on the outside.
Armament Haki spread across its surface, turning the entire structure into a colossal black arrow in the sky.
Boom!
From the base of the arrow, an endless surge of magma erupted, propelling it skyward like a rocket.
...
The White Sea.
Located 7,000 meters above the Blue Sea, the White Sea was a vast, floating ocean of clouds. Here the air was thin, and countless small cloud islands dotted the sky.
One could enter this place from the High West or by riding the powerful Knock Up Stream, and exit via Cloud End.
Above this level lay an even higher sea—the White-White Sea, home to Skypiea.
Suspended 3,000 meters above the White Sea, Skypiea consisted of Angel Island and the Upper Yard.
But more important than geography, this place held the blueprint of Ark Maxim, an abundance of gold, and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Treasures ripe for the taking.
Suddenly—
Boom!
A thunderous explosion shattered the stillness of the sky.
From beneath the surface of the White Sea, a colossal black arrow shot upward, piercing through the dense clouds. The instant it breached the sea of clouds, it softened, shifted—then vanished.
Moments later, a warship crashed into the cloud sea, sending ripples of white mist cascading in all directions.
Basking in the sunlight once more, the crew found themselves staring at an unbelievable sight.
"Is this...?"
"Clouds?"
"Whoa!!!"
"It's all white!"
"Are we floating... on clouds?"
"Impossible!!!"
Amidst the chorus of exclamations, Carlo open a notebook detailing Sky Island. "It's true," he confirmed.
"This should be the White Sea, a navigable ocean formed from Imperial Cumulus cloud."
"How do we know for sure this is the White Sea?" One marine asked.
"Because of that," replied Carlo as he pointed in one direction.
"Hm?"
"What's that?!"
"An upside-down white waterfall?"
Following his gesture, the marines turned their gaze. Though partially obscured by drifting clouds, they could vaguely make out a massive reverse-flowing white waterfall in the distance.
"That should be the Heaven's Gate."
"Heaven?!?!?"
"Like... that Heaven?!"
"Not quite," Carlo corrected. "That place is also formed by Sky Islands. It's home to the nation in the sky—Skypiea. That waterfall marks its entrance, the Heaven's Gate."
The marines' excitement quickly faded into mild disappointment.
"Ah, I thought we'd actually see God."
"What nonsense are you spouting? There's no such thing as gods."
"Hahahaha!"
"There may not be real gods, but..."
Carlo dragged out his words, piquing everyone's curiosity. Their eager gazes locked onto him as he smirked. "There are angels. Ones with wings."
Gasps of amazement spread through the marines. Their enthusiasm reignited as they turned toward the bow of the ship.
Sakazuki gave a nod.
With a firm wave of his hand, Carlo set his sights on the reverse-flowing waterfall ahead.
"Destination: Heaven's Gate!"
"Ohhh!!!!"
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