'Boom!'
The very next second, a tremendous gale exploded outward as the towering water column roared to life.
The sails of the 'Logan' swelled even further, while the two steel wings on either side of the ship rose and fell in the violent wind. Like a rocket, the ship shot upward along the Knock Up Stream.
Just like that, carrying every member of the Nether Soul Pirates, the 'Logan' blasted straight toward the sky.
"AHHHHHHH!"
Everyone was screaming. Whether it was Lordling, Nalene, or Dina and her father, who had actually been born in Skypiea, their faces had all turned pale green, tears streaming from their eyes.
The roaring wind carried a terrifying force as it hurled the 'Logan' ever higher. The water column continued to surge upward, climbing higher and higher as though it were roaring at the heavens, and the 'Logan' rode along the edge of the massive pillar, following the rushing current.
"Hang on tight! If you fall, it's a straight drop into the abyss!" Rogen laughed as he warned everyone.
"Help! I don't want to die!" Robin burst into tears. She dared to glance downward for just a moment before dizziness overwhelmed her, and she nearly fainted on the spot.
They were far too high. It had been less than ten seconds since the Knock Up Stream had fully erupted, yet the sea below was already so distant it was hard to make out. Cricket's little boat had become nothing more than a tiny black dot.
"Hahaha! It's like flying on an airplane! No... this is way more exciting than flying!" Still sitting cross-legged at the bow, Rogen looked straight ahead.
Since they were riding the Knock Up Stream, the 'Logan' was climbing at a perfect ninety-degree angle, flying straight upward. Even airplanes couldn't do that.
"I regret this! Why did we ever decide to go to Skypiea?!" Chaporos cried so hard that tears and snot were running down his face.
If there was ever a next time, he swore he'd never go on an adventure like this again. It was too dangerous, too thrilling, too terrifying. He felt like his heart was about to stop beating.
"I regret joining this pirate crew! Can I quit and save my own life, Crocodile?!" Daz Bonez cried.
Everyone clung desperately to the 'Logan', not daring to let go. They had no idea how many thousands of meters separated them from the ocean below anymore. If they fell from this height, not even a god could save them.
"Isn't this awesome, guys? You might never experience something this exciting again in your entire lives!" Jason laughed loudly, completely fearless. His nerves were unbelievably thick; faced with a scene like this, he could still laugh.
"Easy for you to say! You're riding a dragon!" Crocodile cursed.
Jason was currently sitting atop the giant dragon, which had shrunk its body to fit comfortably on the deck. The dragon stood there steadily without swaying in the slightest, letting out a hot breath as it looked at Jason with obvious disdain.
'Snort!'
Watching all the different reactions from his crew, Rogen couldn't stop laughing. The 'Logan''s ascent was unbelievably fast, even faster than an airplane during takeoff.
The violent shaking, the feeling of helplessness, the crushing acceleration, ordinary people simply couldn't endure it. Trens was holding onto Robin with all his strength, but she still cried miserably, the sound of her sobbing utterly hopeless.
"Hang in there, everyone. We should reach our destination in about ten more minutes," Rogen reassured them. The Knock Up Stream was incredibly powerful, but it couldn't last forever; otherwise, it would have been far too unbelievable.
He turned around to look behind them. The instant he did, he felt dizzy and quickly faced forward again. "We're really high up..." Rogen gave a wry smile. Even he had no idea how high above the sea they were anymore.
'Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!'
Like an arrow released from its bow, the 'Logan' pierced through layer after layer of thin clouds, charging relentlessly toward the heavens. Gradually, the force of the Knock Up Stream began to weaken. The ship started slowing down, though it was still climbing rapidly.
"Everyone, look!" Trens suddenly pointed overhead. About three hundred meters above them floated an enormous layer of white clouds stretching farther than the eye could see, completely blocking their view of what lay beyond.
"That's the White-White Sea! We're almost there!" Dina shouted through her tears. She had been frightened out of her wits.
"Great!" Jason cheered.
Hearing the news, everyone finally relaxed a little. With the speed of the Knock Up Stream, three hundred meters disappeared in an instant. The crew's vision suddenly turned completely white, and their breathing caught for a moment.
Then, everything became bright again. The 'Logan' soared out above the clouds. Below them, the Knock Up Stream had vanished. Looking down, they saw it: an endless white sea stretching in every direction.
It was vast, magnificent, boundless, a true ocean made of clouds. Far away on the horizon, seven-colored light shimmered above the Sea of Clouds, dazzling and breathtaking.
'Whoosh embassy!'
At the highest point of its flight, the 'Logan' began rotating under the influence of its steel wings. The ship quickly leveled out until it was parallel to the sea below.
'Splash!'
Accompanied by everyone's screams, the 'Logan' dropped onto the White-White Sea. To everyone's amazement, the ship floated perfectly on top of the white clouds instead of falling through them.
"We made it! We're here! This is the White-White Sea!" Dina jumped up and down excitedly.
"Ah... we finally made it..." Chaporos collapsed onto the deck, unable to move another inch. Beside him, Daz Bonez bent over and vomited, his usual cold expression completely disappeared, replaced by a sickly green face.
"I can't... I'm so dizzy..." The Dragon-Elephant Six all rolled their eyes and tumbled down from the mast, landing in a heap on the deck.
"So this is the White-White Sea... It's incredible." Rogen slowly stood up from the bow and looked across the distant sea of clouds, his heart filled with amazement.
He had flown in airplanes before. Looking down from high altitude, the sea of clouds had always seemed vast and majestic, like countless white islands floating beneath the sky.
But he had always known they were only clouds; if he reached out, his hand would pass right through them. Here, however, the clouds had become an actual sea. Even a ship could sail across them.
It was unbelievable. He had seen Skypiea in 'One Piece' before, but witnessing it with his own eyes was an entirely different experience.
After about ten breaths, Rogen began noticing the differences between this place and the ocean below. Because of the altitude, the air pressure and oxygen levels were slightly different.
The crew was too excited to notice, but if they paid closer attention, they'd realize their bodies felt somewhat weak. Fortunately, it wasn't a serious problem; after a short period of adjustment, they would adapt naturally.
"Cricket... we made it. Your wish can finally be fulfilled." Looking out over the White-White Sea, Rogen murmured softly, as though he could see Cricket gazing up from the world below. He couldn't help but feel deep admiration for that determined, unwavering man.
(End Of This Chapter)
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