The group landed squarely on an Island Cloud, a springy, bouncy sensation beneath them.
"What a magical place!" Vivi exclaimed. Nearby was a Sea Cloud, and through its watery surface, all sorts of creatures could be seen swimming about.
"Skypiea is made up of Sea Clouds and Island Clouds," Crocus stood nearby, explaining to Ryuuto and the others, who were visiting Skypiea for the first time. "Sea Clouds look and act like the sea. They're liquid clouds with buoyancy, so ships can sail on them. However, they can't support a person's weight; you'll sink right through, just like in the ocean. Island Clouds, on the other hand, are solid like land. You can walk on them, build houses, and even plant trees. They form the 'ground' of Skypiea."
"Ugh... I feel so weak!" Vivi noticed, her body feeling limp and completely drained of energy.
"Hahahahaha, it's probably altitude sickness!" Ryuuto explained with a laugh.
"Then how come you guys are fine?" Vivi couldn't help but glance at Ryuuto, Crocus, and Jean Bart.
"It might have something to do with physical conditioning," Crocus said softly, a slight smile on his lips. His words were like a dagger to Vivi's heart.
"Vivi, just take a moment to recover. There's not much to see here anyway. We'll head straight up to the White-White Sea," Ryuuto said, trying to comfort her.
"Mhm..." Vivi nodded, then surprisingly pulled a bottle of liquor from her waist and began to drink. Gulp, gulp. As the alcohol went down, her face quickly flushed red, but her condition improved dramatically.
"Hic! Captain, let's go!" Vivi said to Ryuuto, letting out a small hiccup.
Ryuuto then summoned a gust of wind, enveloping Crocus and the other two, and shot directly toward Heaven's Gate ahead. It was the passage from the White Sea to the White-White Sea.
Whoosh!!
Ryuuto's speed was incredible...
The old woman, Amazon, who stood guard inside Heaven's Gate, had just taken out her camera when a fierce gust of wind knocked her over before she could even see what had passed.
"What was that just now?" Amazon rubbed her eyes in disbelief, asking herself in confusion.
"Whoa... this feels amazing!!" Vivi bathed in the wind, her blue hair fanning out softly and dancing freely. The hem of her tight white dress fluttered, accentuating her graceful figure even more.
Poof!
With a sudden burst, Ryuuto and the others broke through a thick layer of white Island Clouds. They had finally arrived at the White-White Sea, the so-called "God's Land" of Enel.
Ryuuto dispersed the wind, and the four of them landed steadily on a large landmass formed of Island Clouds. There were plants, buildings... and many residents of Skypiea.
"We're finally here!" Ryuuto said, looking at the houses in the distance. "Now, let's go try some of the local specialties!"
"Let's go!" Vivi shouted, drunkenly linking her arm with Ryuuto's.
"Hahahaha!!" Watching the two of them walk ahead, Crocus let out a knowing laugh. Jean Bart followed silently behind.
After passing through Heaven's Gate, Ryuuto and his group arrived directly at Angel Beach on Angel Island. Sure enough... it wasn't long before they encountered Miss Conis and her father, Pagaya, who lived by the beach.
"You...? Are you from the Blue Sea?" The light-blonde-haired Conis asked, her eyes wide with surprise. She was wearing a white, sleeveless tube top and tight white shorts, covered by a sheer, light-blue skirt.
"We are. And we even came up on the terrifying Knock Up Stream!" Ryuuto replied with a light chuckle.
Jean Bart, standing beside him, gave a silent nod, lending credibility to Ryuuto's claim.
"Then was your ship destroyed?" Conis covered her mouth, her round face filled with concern. The small wings on her back twitched.
"No way... We flew up here directly!" Vivi chimed in, speaking to both Conis and Pagaya.
"Ah..." Conis was a bit confused, but she warmly invited the four of them into her home and introduced them to the unique features of Skypiea.
The Dial culture! There were all sorts of Dials. Dials for daily life included Lamp Dials, Tone Dials, Water Dials, and Heat Dials. For combat, there were Impact Dials, Axe Dials, Reject Dials, Flame Dials, Flash Dials, and Wind Dials.
Ryuuto was particularly impressed by the Reject Dial. It was known as a forbidden art of the Shandians, requiring the user to have the resolve for mutual destruction. The Reject Dial possessed immense physical power, but the user suffered the same consequences—at best, a shattered arm; at worst, instant death.
There was also the unique mode of transportation: the Waver. It was a vehicle powered by a Wind Dial that could travel quickly across the White Sea.
All of this was a feast for Vivi's eyes. She was especially taken with the Waver and immediately decided to take it for a spin, excitedly speeding across the Sea Cloud...
Especially while drunk, Vivi was in a state of euphoria. The personality she usually kept suppressed was now on full display, and her actions became exceptionally bold.
Purupurupuru...
While Vivi was joyriding, a Den Den Mushi with golden snake earrings in Ryuuto's pocket began to ring. It was Hancock's.
"Hancock, it's been a long time since you've called!" Ryuuto said, taking the initiative.
"Ah! I... I have been busy with meetings lately!" Hancock stammered in explanation upon hearing his voice.
"Speaking of meetings, has the World Government been planning something big?" Ryuuto immediately guessed that the Seven Warlords were still meeting to discuss strategy.
"Ryuuto, I saw your new wanted poster! Your bounty has reached an astonishing 1 billion Belly!" Hancock said from the other end, covering her blushing face.
"1 billion Belly?"
"Yes, apparently because you defeated Kizaru? When the other Warlords heard the news, they were all stunned! Ryuuto, you're so amazing!!" Hancock continued, fawning over him.
"The Marines would publicize a scandal like that?" Ryuuto was confused.
"No... it seems Morgans spread the news everywhere. The Marines had no choice but to raise your bounty. In any case, you're now their number one target, classified as an extremely dangerous pirate!" Hancock said in a serious tone.
"Hahahaha... I see! That makes sense!" Ryuuto laughed upon hearing this.
At that moment, Jean Bart looked over at Ryuuto, his eyes filled with admiration.
Conis's and Pagaya's eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
"One... one billion Belly?"
"If you convert that to Skypiean currency... that's 10 trillion Extol."