章節 121: Ascending the Heavens: Arrival at the White Sea

The Going Merry groaned and creaked as it was launched into the air on the forceful current of the Knock Up Stream. Raja stood firmly on the deck, his feet planted as he spread his arms wide, summoning a powerful protective spell with his Wand. A faint shimmer enveloped the ship as his magic shielded it from the sheer pressure of the water column, preventing the force from tearing it apart. The spell alone wasn't enough to stabilize the ship in the violent ascent; Raja reached out with his psychokinesis, holding the Merry in balance, steadying its ascent as they rocketed into the clouds.

"Hang on, everyone!" Raja shouted over the roar of the water.

As the Merry shot through the clouds, the endless blue sea transformed into a landscape of white waves. They had arrived at the White Sea, a vast expanse of clouds that seemed to stretch infinitely. The Straw Hats marveled at the surreal scene, awe etched on each face. However, their respite was short-lived. A shadowy figure zoomed toward them, riding on the very clouds they floated upon. A man in a strange mask closed in, an ominous presence radiating from him.

Before anyone could react, he launched a rapid series of strikes at the Merry. Raja extended his Wand Magic-Magic Barrier, quickly conjuring a shimmering Magic Barrier around the ship. The masked man's attacks slammed into the barrier, but the protective spell held strong, repelling his assaults. The crew watched in shock, but Raja kept his focus, concentrating on maintaining the shield.

"Who is this guy?" Zoro growled, reaching for his swords.

"We're not alone up here," Raja said, teeth clenched as the barrier took hit after hit. "But he's not getting through this shield."

The masked man continued his assault, and Raja could feel the strain as the shield absorbed each hit. Just as the attacks began to intensify, a figure on a giant bird burst through the clouds. An elderly knight in shining armor swung down from the bird, sword in hand.

"That's enough, guerrilla!" the knight shouted, diving at the masked man and forcing him back with a powerful strike. The masked assailant retreated, disappearing into the clouds.

"Thank you," Raja panted, letting the Magic Barrier dissolve. The knight turned to face the crew, his expression warm and kind.

"My name is Gan Fall," he said, sheathing his sword. "I'm the Sky Knight. You all did well to make it this far."

Gan Fall explained the effects of the thin air on newcomers, and the Straw Hats quickly realized that their inability to fight back was due to the altitude. Their bodies were slowly adjusting to the thinner air, and as Gan Fall finished his explanation, they could feel their strength returning. Gan Fall handed them a small whistle.

"Blow this if you need me," he said. "The Sky Knight will come to your aid."

Thanking him, the Straw Hats continued their journey, marveling at the floating sea around them. Before long, they reached a grand gate towering high above the clouds, marked by a simple yet imposing sign: Heaven's Gate.

An elderly woman, Amazon, appeared at the gate, her expression stern as she told them they would need to pay an entrance fee of one billion extols each. The Straw Hats glanced at each other in confusion, unsure what "extols" even were. Seeing their hesitation, Amazon merely shrugged, gesturing them through with an air of indifference.

"Go on then," she said, "but I won't be responsible for the consequences."

Unbeknownst to them, crossing without paying marked them as criminals. The Merry sailed onward, and soon they arrived at a lush shore on Angel Island, where a young girl and an older man awaited them. The girl introduced herself as Conis, and her father, Pagaya, greeted them with a kind smile, inviting them into their home. However, Nami decided to stay behind to try out Pagaya's waver, a unique jet-ski-like device that moved without the need for wind.

While Conis and her father explained the island's peculiarities, Raja examined the waver's intricate design, his fingers tracing over the unfamiliar materials and mechanisms. Dials—small shells embedded with strange powers—fascinated him, their potential sparking ideas for equipment.

As Raja noted the technology, a faint, strange energy began to emanate from Upper Yard, an island visible in the distance. He felt a prickle on the back of his neck—a sense of something powerful lurking nearby.

Meanwhile, Nami had taken the waver for a spin, speeding across the clouds toward Upper Yard. The crew was unaware, enjoying Conis's hospitality, when Sanji suddenly noticed that Nami was missing. When he voiced his concerns, Conis explained the island's forbidden nature. "Upper Yard is sacred ground, ruled by God Enel and his priests. No one is allowed to enter without facing his wrath."

Raja's eyes narrowed at the mention of Enel, and the crew exchanged determined glances. Luffy, his adventurous spirit piqued, immediately declared that they would "rescue" Nami—though it was clear he was eager to explore.

On Upper Yard, Nami watched in horror as Enel's priests mercilessly pursued a man searching for treasure. Before they could capture him, a beam of energy shot down from the sky, disintegrating him in a single flash of light. Nami stifled a scream, terror taking hold as she realized Enel's priests had noticed her presence.

She quickly turned the waver around, racing back to Angel Island, but it was too late. Back on Angel Island, the White Berets, led by Chief McKinley, arrived to inform the Straw Hats of their criminal status for crossing Heaven's Gate without payment. They demanded an astronomical fine of ten billion extols, but Raja stepped forward, giving the chief a stern look.

"We don't know what extols are, and we certainly don't have ten billion of them," he said firmly.

The chief raised an eyebrow, unimpressed, and turned to his men, giving a curt nod. The White Berets lunged at the Straw Hats, but Luffy, grinning as usual, made quick work of them, sending them flying.

As the dust settled, Nami finally returned, panting and frantic. She quickly explained what she had witnessed on Upper Yard, the terrifying power of God Enel. The Straw Hats shared a grim glance, realizing that they had drawn the attention of a dangerous enemy.

Suddenly, a giant shrimp appeared, wrapping its pincers around the Going Merry and lifting it from the shore. Before they could react, the ship was whisked away, heading straight toward Upper Yard. Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp sprinted after it, but Conis stopped them, offering her dial-powered boat, the Karasumaru.

As they set off, Luffy noticed that Conis was trembling. When he asked why, she finally confessed, her voice barely a whisper.

"I... I was ordered by God Enel to lead you here. If I didn't, he would kill me and my father."

A silence fell over the group as they digested her words. Enel's cruelty was a threat to everyone on the island. And as if to reinforce her confession, a brilliant beam of energy shot down from the sky, aimed directly at Conis. But before it could hit, Raja's eyes flashed. He raised a Wand, summoning a barrier to deflect the blast, protecting her from Enel's wrath.

Gan Fall appeared once again, taking Conis and her father to safety as Raja and the crew prepared themselves. As they neared Upper Yard, Raja sensed Enel's power like a storm on the horizon. He knew the crew would need to be ready for anything.