The sea and sky merged into one. A massive undersea current erupted from the ocean, carrying enough force to hurl an entire island skyward.
Boom!!!
The deafening roar of the waves formed a curtain that obscured the heavens, creating a spectacle beyond imagination.
The power of nature defied human comprehension. Black Bear Bravel, who had already escaped the current's reach, panted heavily, his heart still racing with fear.
He stared at the sea current rising toward the heavens, transfixed by lingering terror. Had he delayed his escape by even a moment, shipwreck and death would have been his only fate.
At the same time, he thought of the youth who had jumped into the sea to escape.
"Hahahahahaha!" Yasa laughed uproariously, his expression bordering on madness. Five years of relentless waiting had finally brought him to this long-awaited moment.
This was merely the first step on his path to the world's pinnacle!
Years of physical training, combined with frequent deep-sea fishing expeditions with Jaya Island villagers, had honed his aquatic prowess to extraordinary levels.
His robust physique and astonishing lung capacity allowed him to dive for over half an hour without surfacing—a mere warm-up exercise for his true ambitions.
Taking a deep breath, Yasa submerged into the water, swimming toward the heart of the colossal sea pillar that stretched from heaven to earth. The periphery remained perilous, but only by reaching the center could he guarantee his safe arrival at Sky Island.
Remember, Sky Island had two distinct layers: the first at seven to eight thousand feet, and the second at ten thousand feet.
The three-thousand-foot gap between them meant only the upper layer held his true objective.
Enel's homeland, "Birka Island," lay at this lofty altitude. To claim the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, he'd need to first locate Enel himself—preferably before the lightning king's defeat by Luffy.
According to his memory of the original story, Enel had been in his thirties when defeated by Luffy. Given the current year of 1493 in the Sea Circle Era, Enel should now be around ten years old.
Though he might be slightly older or younger, it mattered little. Once he reached Sky Island, trailing Enel would inevitably lead him to the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. He might even discover it himself through exploration.
The colossal undersea current, with its world-shaking force, swept up everything in its path—living creatures and debris alike—propelling them skyward.
Some fell mid-flight, while others remained suspended in the heavens. Perhaps one day, under the shifting clouds of Sky Island's Emperor Cumulus, they might return to the Blue Sea (the Sky Islanders' name for the ocean beneath their domain).
Yasa found himself at the very heart of this towering column of seawater. Cheeks bulging, eyes wide, he gazed at the fish swirling around him.
Time passed indeterminately. Yasa sensed the Sea Current's momentum falter slightly, its upward surge slowing, though still climbing relentlessly.
He knew he'd already traversed seven or eight kilometers of the White Sea, now less than two kilometers from Sky Island's summit.
"Damn! Running out of air already? Why so fast?" Yasa's face flushed crimson, his body weakening. Oxygen deprivation blurred his vision, stars dancing before his eyes.
"Hold on! Just one step from my dream!" His heart raced with desperation. To fail now, after coming so far, was unthinkable.
If he reached Sky Island without the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, he could blame bad luck and grumble a bit. But failure during this final ascent was unacceptable!
Failure meant no future—only death's embrace!
"Is this where my journey ends? So... unfair!"
Yasa's bitter laugh faded as consciousness slipped away. Darkness engulfed him, his final breath extinguished.
Sky Island existed in a place beyond the reach of ordinary people—10,000 meters above the Blue Sea. Most people believed such a skyborne island existed only in imagination, that it didn't truly exist!
Because those who tried to reach Sky Island mostly died. Only those with exceptional strength or extraordinary luck survived, and such people were few. So legends of Sky Island had always circulated across the great seas, but no one could prove its existence.
There were only two ways to get there: one was like Yasa, by riding the Upward Current, and the other was through the High-Speed Sky Route into the White Sea at about seven kilometers.
A cool breeze blew, and beneath him was the soft, comfortable Island Cloud...
Hiss!
Pfft!
Yasa gasped for air, then vomited up all the seawater in his stomach. Clutching his head that felt like it was splitting open, he woke up. Now that his body had finally gotten oxygen, it began to function normally.
Though Sky Island stood at an altitude where oxygen was thin, it still provided the essential ingredient he needed to regain consciousness.
"Hahaha! The heavens haven't abandoned me..." Yasa pushed himself up, grabbing the soft white Island Cloud beneath him. He was absolutely certain he had reached the place he'd dreamed of reaching.
He laughed so hard, tears streamed down his face. At least he'd taken the first step—the hardest one—to set his dream in motion, hadn't he?
Wiping away his tears, Yasa squinted. His vision remained blurry, like a nearsighted person trying to make out distant scenery.
He could only use common sense to deduce that the sea breeze blowing toward him must be from the White White Sea.
"Is my vision impaired from lack of blood flow to my eyes? No matter. Given time, I'll fully recover."
Yasa felt no panic, only exhilaration.
His years of waiting had finally borne fruit, sweeping away even the shadows in his heart. His mood was now completely clear and bright.
Taking small steps, he reached the White Sea's edge. He sat down and began feeling around for any shellfish left by the water's edge.
He needed to eat soon—he couldn't risk running out of energy if something unexpected happened, could he?
The Sky Island's shellfish were abundant. Even with his eyes closed, Yasa gathered a large pile.
Bringing them close to examine, his experience confirmed they were all non-toxic and safe to eat raw.
The 10,000-meter altitude didn't trigger any high-altitude sickness in him, so even eating raw food wouldn't make him vomit. A robust physique not only grants superior strength but also heightened adaptability. What he was most proud of was how his body could adapt and recover at the fastest speed.
Bug-like capabilities!
After a full meal, Yasa's vision slightly recovered. He began exploring his current surroundings.
Quickly obtaining current information can turn passivity into proactivity, allowing for the formulation of a series of plans.
Behind him lay the White White Sea, while only ahead stretched the white island clouds. The direction to go was obvious. Yasa tightened his animal skin clothes and walked forward.
The island clouds, this incredible existence, had a completely different texture from the mud ground. Walking on them without familiarity and habit was very insecure, fearing that one might accidentally step empty and fall from the Sky Island.
It was like walking on a glass walkway. Even though you're clearly stepping on something solid, you don't feel the solid ground beneath your feet, and your heart still worries.
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