Capítulo 81: To the skys
Soon Robin returned with the news about Mount Blanc Cricket. They traveled to this man's place and found him. After the crew talked about the specifics of going Sky Island and the story of Noland kinda similar to Canon. In the evening, Mount Blanc Cricket waved on the shore: "Little brother, let's say goodbye here."
Luffy nodded heavily: "Well, we will see you again."
Mount Blanc Cricket said: "There is one thing, you must understand. No one has ever proven the existence of the Golden Bell and Sky Island in the past. Maybe some people will laugh at me and say that this is made up, but there is nothing wrong with it. That's the romance of a man."
Luffy nodded, agreeing.
The Merry sailed away, and Mount Blanc Cricket. showed gratitude.
"Thank you for helping me get some hope on an expedition back. I hope you are all right, but make sure don't fall from the sky."
.....
Not long after the Merry sailed, the sea ahead was covered with overcast clouds.
But, it's just that part of the sky full of clouds.
Nami said in a condensed voice: "The cumulus cloud appeared earlier than we expected, but we haven't determined the position of the current from the bottom to the top. I hope we can catch up with the steam jet soon."
.....
It was almost the night when they finally started to move. After eating until they got fat, Zack finally sat in front of Luffy and said
"Luffy, we are still weak."
Although this didn't need to be said, he still said that. This was because Zack knew he could prevent a lot of deaths even if they were not related to straw hat crews just by making Luffy and the crew stronger. You have to understand Luffy learned Future Sight in a single battle. He also learned Ryo in just a week. He even learned Conqueror Coating in just a few battles with Kaido. There are millions of people in this world but why only four people are called Emperors? That's because they can use Conqueror Coating and have ridiculous power. Kaido, Big Mom, and Whitebeard achieved such a level of power through constant battles in their lives. Shanks also achieved such levels of strength through constant battles but he was more talented in Haki as well. So, he managed to reach the level of Emperor in just a decade and more.
But, Luffy was different. Even without the help of Zack, he would become an Emperor in less than three years. Even completely putting aside his devil fruit, the fact that he was able to master Advance Conqueror, Advance Armament, and Advance Observation Haki before the age of twenty represents his talent. Of course, his devil fruit also played a huge part in this. Because most of the time, he was beaten severely to awaken these kinds of power. If it wasn't for the endurance of his devil fruit, he would've died. So, it can be said that he has everything that he needs to become stronger. Hearing Zack's words, Luffy got silent. He also understood this. He didn't want to let go of Blackbeard if Zack hadn't backed down. Although he was still the same goofy person, he had put one priority on his mind.
Don't put your crew at risk.
With a slight confusion in his eyes, he asked.
"What should I do, Zack?"
"Captain, what do you want to do the most?" Zack smiled and asked.
Luffy raised his fists and bumped as he said.
"I want to become stronger so that he can always protect my crew."
Zack continued to smile as he said.
"Then, I have thought of a shortcut for you. That being said, it isn't exactly a shortcut but rather a harsh and short method. Do you want to try it?"
Luffy's eyes sparkled as he asked.
"Really?"
"I have thought of letting Usopp create a bracelet with the help of Seastone. After he crafts that, you will need to wear it." Zack nodded his head and explained.
"But wait, if I touch seastone I will lose all of my energy." Luffy anxiously asked.
"That's why I want you to wear it. That's the best way to increase your physical strength. Everything that you do while wearing seastone will feel extremely hard which will increase your strength quite fast."
"But, the most important thing is to use your Haki while using Seastone."
Zack explained.
"Oh! Alright, I will do it." Luffy understood his intention and immediately agreed. Nothing is better than increasing his strength.
"By the way, the faster you adapt to the influence of Seastone, the earlier you can go on any kind of adventure."
"And, also don't forget to constantly use Armament Haki. You can use it by simply coating your hat with Armament Haki all the time."
"Once you succeed in using Armament Haki for twenty-four hours, start by using Haki in your entire body and slowly adapt it to using it constantly for twenty-four hours."
"Right now, you might not understand it quite well but when you fight against the powerhouses, either you defeat them with an overwhelming last attack or simply fight them until they run out of energy."
"Unless you want to rely on others to defeat your enemy together with you." Zack continued to explain.
"No, I must defeat my enemy with my own strength. Zack, I will train as you suggested."
Luffy clenched his fist as he spoke.
"Good! Then, I will call everyone and improve their training methods with Seastone as well."
Zack nodded his head and walked out.
Everyone was waiting for them outside, looking a bit down.
Seeing their moods, Zack couldn't help but smile.
"Hey, where is the energy of Straw Hat Pirates?"
Hearing his words, everyone looked at him with complicated expressions.
Zoro was the first to open his mouth.
"Zack, help me stronger!"
"Humph! Zack, you must help me get stronger first." Sanji immediately shouted when he heard Zoro.
Others didn't speak but they all had the same intention.
Zack couldn't help but smile seeing their mood.
"Alright, let's make our training even more effective. But, while training, don't forget about our adventures."
"Of course!"
Hearing his words, everyone finally smiled and shouted at the same time.
Zack nodded his head and turned his head at Zoro and Sanji.
"For you two, I have a simple way to increase your endurance and durability, especially for Sanji, it will increase his leg strength."
"This training is called 'Pulling the Ship'. You two will tie your body with the ship and instead of using the wind, we will rely on you two to pull the ship."
"When you two start getting comfortable for hours, then Zoro will quit this training. Otherwise, we might simply reach Laughtale tomorrow."
"Puff! Hahaha"
When Zack said that, everyone burst into laughter together with Zack.
Only Zoro was glaring at Zack with red eyes as if he was waiting to eat him.
"Sorry, but that's the case for now. After you two finish your training together, Sanji will continue this training while Zoro will start training with Tempest Arm training where instead of using the leg, you will use the arm."
"While training this, you two will continuously use your Haki. Whether it is Armament Haki or Observation Haki, unless you run out of Haki, you will continue to use it."
"Especially Zoro, your job is to keep your Sword black all the time. Unless we are going into unknown territory where you need to fight, you must keep Armament Haki all the time."
After explaining their training methods, he turned his head at others.
"Since none of you have awakened Haki except for Usopp or Chopper, your job is exactly not that hard. For Devil Fruit Users, your training is to wear Seastone bracelets all the time."
"While for non-devil fruit users, you just need to train Navy Six Styles to perfection as soon as possible."
Hearing his training methods, everyone nodded their heads. This method was indeed brilliant.
Only Robin seemed a bit hesitant. It was her habit to remain cautious all the time but wearing Seastone would make her weak.
And, it might take her a long time to adapt to it.
Zack looked at everyone while nodding with satisfaction. When he saw the hesitation in Robin's expression, he couldn't help but smile.
"Don't worry, we will prepare two keys for those bracelets. Unless you lose your key, you can unlock it on your own."
"Sorry, just a habit." When Zack said that, Robin was a bit embarrassed.
"No, no, it is good to remain cautious. For someone with your identity, you must remain cautious. Right now, we are going to Sky Island so there is no need to worry but once we return, you must keep the key with you all the time."
Zack slowly walked next to her and patted her shoulder.
"Since you are our partner, we will not care about your past but it doesn't mean we will simply ignore your thoughts and past."
"Until you feel safe, you keep your guard up but we promise you, when we finally reach that point, we will avenge you and Ohara."
Hearing his words, Robin lowered her head without saying anything. Even though she tried to hide it a lot, those tears falling down her cheeks were unable to hide her emotions.
She was really conflicted after joining Straw Hats. She always felt like this crew was just the one for her.
But, that thought of her terrified her even more.
Because she didn't want this crew to suffer because of her. She hoped that such a thing would never happen.
Zack saw her emotions and didn't continue to talk to her.
After all, she needed some time to calm her emotions.
Instead, he went to Usopp and started working with him on those Seastone bracelets.
Just because they were in a hurry for training didn't mean everyone was going to start training.
Only Sanji and Zoro were crazily training while others were simply waiting for Usopp and Zack to finish those bracelets.
Since it would take a few more hours and there was still a lot of time for the Upward Current to arrive, they were in no hurry.
While this was happening, the Smoker also arrived in Jaya and took all the pirates prisoner.
Smoker didn't bring any powerful marines so the marines couldn't catch Straw Hat Pirates.
That being said, something unexpected happened. Smoker came with a strange letter for Luffy.
And, this letter was a letter for Luffy to become Shichibukai.
.....
Two Days Ago,
"Are you sure this is a correct move?" Sengoku turned his head at Tsuru after hanging up the call and asked.
"Although I am not sure if they would accept it or not, I am pretty sure that it would be the best move from the Navy. To be blunt, Straw Hat Pirates are simply marines with the identity of a pirate."
Tsuru said without any hesitation.
Hearing her words, three people who were inside the room put disbelief in their eyes.
These three people were none other than Akainu, Kizaru, and Sengoku.
"Bwahahaha! That's my grandson." Hearing such a positive answer from his old friend, Garp couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"That being said, they are still pirates in the end. They are not the kind of people who would compromise like us." Tsuru continued.
"Humph! Pirates are pirates." Akainu clenched his fist and snorted.
"But, Tsuru-chan, Luffy will never agree to join Shichibukai. Your effort is fruitless." Knowing the stubbornness and his ambition, Garp knew that his grandson couldn't agree.
"I know that. After all, he is your grandson. But, there is another person on his ship who can decide for his captain. If Zack manages to persuade his captain then there is a possibility of him being a Shichibukai." Tsuru answered.
"Then, why don't we send this position to him? If possible, then we might be able to break apart the Straw Hat Crew." Although Sengoku cared about his friend, he still didn't hesitate to use dirty tricks to take down a potential pirate group.
Garp's expression darkened. He also knew that if they succeeded then it would be a disaster for Luffy. But, at the same time, he looked at Tsuru in confusion.
Tsuru shook her head and said.
"That's even more impossible than recruiting Luffy as Shichibukai."
"Why?" Sengoku asked.
"I asked Smoker about. Although Smoker doesn't know a lot about it, he confirmed one thing. Zack and the entire Straw Hats are deeply loyal to the point where he is even willing to do anything for his captain."
Tsuru explained.
"Damn! Such a bastard is no different than Beckman." Sengoku slammed the table and shouted in frustration.
Back to the present,
Guraaa... Guraaa...
Nami heard the movement and realized.
"Everyone get ready, it may be about to start, the upwelling current is coming!"
This made Usopp and the others nervous, and the impact must have been great, after all, they could rush to the empty island with the ship.
…....
At this time, Mount Blanc Cricket. was sitting on the island, looking at the sea, smoking a cigarette. The cigarette butts beside him piled up into mountains.
Mount Blanc Cricket. said to himself: "It's the first time in my life that I have encountered idiots like you, idiots chasing dreams."
Although Mount Blanc Cricket said this, he smiled and believed that Luffy and the others could succeed.
"I also believe that the words of the ancestors are true, not empty. If you can't see it yourself, let Luffy and the others verify it."
Mount Blanc Cricket believes that Luffy and the others can do it and will do it remembering the promise they made to each other.
Soon, it came.
It was extremely powerful as it pushed the Straw Hat Ship toward the sky.
But, because it was facing such a powerful stream, the ship started getting torn apart because of the stream.
"Nami, do something, or else we won't make it!"
Zoro shouted while putting his complete trust in Nami.
Nami started checking the wind current and started making her strategy. After a few more seconds of thinking, she finally came up with a solution.
"Everyone, we can't go on like this. Unfold the sails! We have been sailing from the East Blue to the Grandline and we can't stop now. Since this is also a kind of ocean itself, we will sail over it."
Nami immediately started ordering while preparing a proper navigation path to sail in the Upward Stream.
Everyone immediately started unfolding the sails and soon, the wind struck those sails.
The massive wind started pulling the ship out of the stream and started pushing it above.
As it moved, Nami started giving more orders to the crew so that they could safely sail in that upward stream.
At this time, the Merry continued to go up by the upwelling current.
Nami's face was heavy: "The ship may break away from the current and be thrown out at this rate."
Hearing this, Zoro's expression changed in shock.
If it fell from such a height, the ship would be crushed.
Crash!
In the next moment, a worse scene happened, and many shipwrecks fell from the sky.
Usopp's face changed greatly: "It was the ship that crashed and was damaged before, was washed up by the current, and now it fell again."
Chopper worried: "Don't hit us, it's too dangerous."
However, wreckage is plentiful and impossible not to come across.
"Give it to me."
Zoro stepped forward and reassured everyone when he said this.
What Zoro meant by saying this was that it was enough to leave it to him alone. Recently he is been working on a new technique and this is the best opportunity to try it.
'One sword style, three hundred and sixty trouble winds!'
Zoro launched a chopping wave and shattered all the large wooden boards that fell.
Sanji is heavy: "However, even if it is not hit, it will be thrown out. It has gradually become less suitable for the rising current."
Nami is thinking of a way, this is what she should do as a navigator, she must find a way, and can't continue.
Otherwise, the ship will crash, and at such a height, there is no doubt that you will die.
Nami immediately said: " Zack, Ussop, Chopper, immediately turn the sail downward! This is the sea, not an ordinary water column, but a sea current soaring into the sky. And the wind blowing up from below is the updraft generated by the geothermal heat and steam explosion on the seabed. Since the object is the wind and the sea, I have a way of sailing."
Everyone believed in Nami, after all, she was the navigator on this ship.
Luffy praised: "Nami, that's amazing, then let's quickly follow Nami's arrangement."
Nami makes arrangements according to the wind, current, etc.
"Now the starboard is receiving the wind. Immediately turn the rudder to the left and try to make the hull match the current."
"OK!"
Under Nami's arrangement, the Merry kept going upwards without falling out of the current.
Nami pointed to the dark clouds not far above, expecting: "Passing through that cloud, we should be almost to Sky Island."
This has everyone looking forward to it, especially Robin.
Whoosh!
The Merry quickly passed through the clouds, and the next moment, it stopped rising.
On board, everyone had a little difficulty breathing.
Luffy looked around and saw nothing but whiteness.
Everyone's face was sweating, and they had difficulty breathing. It can be said that they had altitude sickness.
" Try to do as little as possible. Due to altitude amount of oxygen is less, let your body adapt to it"
After a few minutes, Nami still having problems breathing looked around, puzzled and surprised: "On the clouds, it didn't fall."
Nami glanced at the recording pointer and said: "This is not an empty island, the pointer is still pointing up, it seems that it will go up."
"No, we should be still in the middle section of the Sky Island." Zack shook his head from Nami's embrace which was making it harder for him to breathe and speak. He didn't push away Nami though. He knew that Nami was genuinely scared of losing him so it wouldn't be good to push her away.
Robin got used to it for a few minutes, got better, and said, "It seems that this is just the middle of the cumulus cloud as Vice-captain said."
"That's great! I can't wait to go on an adventure in Sky Island." Luffy excitedly raised his hands and shouted.
Chopper looked around, puzzled: "Then how to get up?"
Without upwelling currents, others are indeed puzzled.
Usopp wanted to jump in and swim, he couldn't wait.
"This is the sea of clouds, I want to go down and try."
Usopp is about to jump, and Chopper is envious. He is a capable person but cannot swim.
However, Zack stopped Usopp.
"Don't act recklessly, if you fall, even though it's a sea of clouds, it's not without bottom, right? If you reach the bottom, you're about to fall."
These words made Usopp stunned, it was possible, that would be miserable. Facing luffy he said,
"Now Luffy, don't forget about training just because of adventure. Right now, I have stored all of my accumulated luck which means if we face an Admiral, we will surely not die."
"But considering our threat level, Marine would do anything to either kill us or send us to Impel Down. Even with your grandfather's status, he won't be able to prevent the Marines from taking action against you."
Zack solemnly spoke.
As soon as he spoke, the temperature inside the room went down as everyone began to get serious. Even Luffy is serious about this.
[ Mission
Quest
•Help liberate the country of Sky islands
•Defeat Enel and his priest
•Unite Skypedia and Shandia by stopping their war
Quest
• Help robin find all poneglyphs in Sky island
• Decipher the information of the poneglyphs
• Gather information on Uranus and Poseidon
Quest
• The God of Higher skys requests you help the heir to awaken his devil fruit
•Help the heir to reach the devil fruit and awaken their bloodline to become the guardian of Uranus.]
[ Reward -????]
[ Do you want to accept this mission, yes/no]
Here comes another unsaid mission thought Zack in his mind.
[Yes]
Sensing the mood, Zack didn't continue putting a serious face instead he chuckled and said.
"Of course, you don't have to worry too much. At least, we will be safe for now. If my information is not wrong, we are going to face an extremely fast person with a powerful Observation Haki."
"You already know the feeling of using Future Sight so you should be able to comprehend Future Sight in your battle with him."
Hearing his words, everyone couldn't help but get curious.
"Who are we going to face?"
" Let it be a secret."
Zack said it with a mysterious smile on his face.
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder