章 120: Skyward Dreams and Shadows of Power

Raja stood on the deck of the Going Merry, eyes focused on the surrounding misty air. The atmosphere around the ship was thick and charged, like it held a hundred secrets waiting to be unlocked. Ever since they'd encountered the ship from the sky and the curious Log Pose pointing upwards, Raja had been experimenting. He'd been pouring his Mystique Energy into the mist, trying to see if he could create a form of time dilation chamber—a training room where they could gain years of experience in mere days.

Today, he could feel he was close. "Just a few more days," he muttered to himself, watching the mist pulse under his influence.

Behind him, Nico Robin approached, studying his work with a fascinated gaze. Earlier, he'd shown her to the Going Merry's library, a collection of ancient scrolls and breathing technique manuals Raja had amassed during his journey. Among them was one he'd deemed perfect for her: Flower Breathing. He had encouraged Robin to train with the crew, knowing that it would enhance her abilities and create a sense of unity with the Straw Hats.

"Thank you, Raja. I can already feel my potential growing," Robin said with a small smile, flexing her fingers as her mastery over Flower Breathing began to take root.

"Keep practicing," he advised, glancing over to where Luffy and the others were inspecting the old map they had found on the ship from the sky. It hinted at a place called Skypiea, and from Robin's understanding, it was somewhere high above them.

The crew's curiosity soon led them to the ruins of the Saint Briss ship, where they found relics and clues about the Kingdom of Breeze. Before long, they came across a ship-salvaging crew led by a brash pirate named Masira, who demanded control over the territory.

"Any treasure here belongs to me!" Masira declared, arms crossed, his crew nodding behind him.

With a swift grin, Luffy dove into the water to explore the wreckage, with Zoro and Sanji quickly following. Soon enough, the inevitable skirmish broke out between them and Masira's crew. Punches and swords flew underwater as Luffy, Zoro, and Sanji worked together to ward off the competition.

Just then, a monstrous shadow loomed overhead, casting the ship into darkness. A giant sea turtle emerged from the depths, its colossal mouth gaping. The sudden threat sent Masira and his crew scrambling for safety. Robin seized the moment, snagging an eternal pose from Masira's abandoned ship.

When they docked in Mock Town, the infamous port on Jaya Island, Raja remained alert. The place felt tense—a town without dreams, filled with pirates who lived for the present and mocked those who dared to dream. As the crew made their way through town, they passed a rowdy bar where a pirate named Hyena Bellamy had just brutalized another pirate over a card game.

Raja watched with a keen eye as Bellamy tried to taunt Luffy, sneering at the idea of dreams and mockingly calling him a "romantic fool." Raja was about to step in when he noticed Zoro and Luffy staying calm, letting Bellamy mock them in front of the entire bar.

Their restraint was impressive, but Raja noticed Bellamy's hand twitching as he moved towards Luffy, who was happily munching on a piece of meat. Quick as lightning, Raja moved forward and seized Bellamy's arm mid-swing.

Snap!

The bone in Bellamy's arm gave way with a sickening crunch. He howled in pain, clutching his arm, but the anger in his eyes only deepened. His crew members rushed forward, ready to fight—but before they could even blink, Zoro unleashed his King's Haki. The sheer intensity of his aura, combined with a chilling bloodlust, brought them all to their knees. Every one of Bellamy's men collapsed, unconscious.

Across the room, Blackbeard watched with growing interest, a dark grin spreading across his face as he sipped his drink. "Straw Hats, huh?" he muttered, his eyes glinting with a dangerous gleam.

Once they'd left the bar, Raja pulled the group aside. "We need to stay alert around here," he warned, glancing over his shoulder. "Mock Town isn't safe, and that guy with the dark beard… he has a dangerous aura."

Later, back on the Going Merry, Robin informed the crew of a man named Mont Blanc Cricket, a descendant of a famous explorer who had searched for a golden city. She suggested they find him on the other side of the island to learn more about Skypiea. As they sailed towards Cricket's location, they encountered another pirate: Shoujou, a loud and overly aggressive orangutan, who tried to halt their progress.

Luffy and the others dealt with him swiftly, and soon, they arrived at Cricket's house. Inside, they found an ancient book, one with a tale that captured their imaginations. It was the story of Noland the Liar, a man who had once found the legendary City of Gold but had been executed for "lying" when he couldn't prove its existence. Raja listened intently, feeling a kinship with the ancient explorer's sense of wonder and endless curiosity.

Cricket eventually arrived home, covered in bruises from his daily dives, and welcomed them. After Chopper treated his injuries, Cricket shared his own quest: he was determined to prove his ancestor's story. He told them that if Skypiea existed, they would have to use a powerful sea current known as Knock Up Stream to reach it. Raja's interest piqued at the challenge. The Saruyama Alliance, led by Masira and Shoujou, even offered to reinforce the Going Merry to handle the intense pressure.

However, trouble came swiftly. While they searched the forest for the elusive South Bird, Bellamy's crew ambushed Cricket and the Saruyama Alliance, stealing the gold Cricket had worked so hard to gather. They left him beaten and bloodied.

Upon hearing what happened, Luffy clenched his fists. "I'm going to get that gold back."

Back in Mock Town, Bellamy and his men mocked Cricket's foolish dreams as they flaunted his stolen treasure. When Luffy arrived, Bellamy unleashed his Devil Fruit power—the Bane Bane no Mi, which let him turn his limbs into springs and attack with terrifying speed. But Luffy remained calm. When Bellamy taunted him, sneering that dreams were meaningless, Luffy finally snapped.

With a single punch, he brought Bellamy crashing down.

As he retrieved the gold and returned it to Cricket, Raja observed silently, knowing that Luffy's actions were a testament to his unyielding resolve.

Just as they prepared to set off, the Blackbeard Pirates confronted them. Blackbeard had taken notice of the Straw Hats' recent bounties and saw them as a stepping stone to make a name for himself. As he approached, Raja sensed the brewing danger. Blackbeard's confidence seemed unshaken, his eyes dark and full of malice.

Without a word, Blackbeard started to charge, his ominous laugh echoing across the deck. Raja stepped forward and, with a flick of his wrist, unleashed his Magic-Magic: 10X Wind Blast. A massive surge of wind erupted, engulfing Blackbeard's form and sending him sprawling across the deck. For a moment, everything went silent, but then Blackbeard's laughter resumed, louder and darker than before.

"Heh… it's gonna take more than that to stop me!" Blackbeard growled, eyes flashing with an ominous gleam.

Before Blackbeard could counterattack, the sea roared beneath them. The Knock Up Stream began to rumble to life, massive waves forming as the ocean prepared for a colossal burst. Seizing the opportunity, the Saruyama Alliance guided the Going Merry towards the point where the stream would erupt.

The massive geyser launched the Going Merry high into the air, soaring past the Blackbeard Pirates, who could only watch in stunned silence as the Straw Hats ascended toward the heavens.

As they rose higher and higher, the mist around them thickened. The Going Merry felt weightless in the dense air, almost as if it were gliding along clouds.

Raja, standing at the helm, watched the sea disappear below, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He took in the awe of the vast sky, the realm above the clouds, where their next adventure awaited.

As the Going Merry entered the White Sea, the crew could barely contain their excitement. Their dreams were becoming reality, lifting them beyond the constraints of the world below. With a sense of exhilaration, they sailed onward, knowing that Skypiea and its mysteries lay just beyond the horizon.

Monkey D. Luffy - 120 million Berries - "Straw Hat" - Straw Hat Captain

Rudra D. Raja - 100 million Berries - "Magician" - Straw Hat Vice-Captain

Roronoa Zoro - 90 million Berries - "Pirate Hunter"- Straw Hat Swordsman

Sanji - 85 million Berries - "Black Leg" - Straw Hat Cook

Nico Robin - 79 million Berries - "Devil Child" –Straw Hat archaeologist

Usopp - 50 million Berries - "Sniper" - Straw Hat Sniper

Nami - 30 million Berries – "Cat Burglar" - Straw Hat Navigator

Tony Tony Chopper – 10 million Berries – "Pet" - Straw Hat Doctor