As the morning light pierced through the thick clouds, the first rays of sun illuminated the colossal Ark Maxim, casting a golden shimmer upon it and bringing with it the promise of a vibrant new day.
In a luxurious room, upon a grand golden bed, two young bodies lay sleeping peacefully. After a wild night, Vivi's hair was scattered in a messy tangle, her blue dress hanging limply from the corner of the bed.
"Mmm..." Vivi murmured, her eyes fluttering open.
She glanced to her side and met Ryuuto's gaze. He was already awake. A wave of shyness instantly washed over her.
So embarrassing! So embarrassing! Vivi immediately pulled the blanket over her beet-red face, her mind screaming.
Vivi really is a completely different person when she's sober compared to when she's drunk!
Ryuuto watched her with an amused smile before leaving the room to give her some space.
He strolled slowly onto the deck. Crocus was already sitting there, reading a newspaper with some food laid out beside him.
After a simple breakfast, Ryuuto began his preparations.
"Time to get ready for the Summit War," Ryuuto said softly, looking up at the sky where a massive amount of electrical energy rumbled within the clouds.
His plan was to control these Island Clouds. After all, he intended to take the Ark Maxim to the Marine Headquarters, Marineford, and the lightning bound within these clouds would serve as a major weapon.
With that thought, Ryuuto stomped his foot. An electric current surged over his body, and in a flash, he vanished in a streak of lightning.
The sudden movement caused Crocus to look up from his paper.
A short while later, Vivi emerged from the room.
"Huh? Where's the captain?" she asked Crocus, looking around but not seeing Ryuuto.
Crocus glanced up. The rumbling from the Island Clouds overhead had grown more violent. Arcs of blue lightning burst forth, revealing themselves through the thick cloud layer, a display of heaven's awesome power.
Up in the clouds, Ryuuto was lost in thought. He had discovered that his Kuilong Blade seemed to prefer this place. Just moments ago, surrounded by the endless lightning, the silver longsword had begun to vibrate, seemingly expressing a deep craving.
As Ryuuto loosened the scabbard, the Kuilong Blade shot out like a silver thread, weaving through the bolts of lightning as if cheering with joy. Not only that, but it also began absorbing the electrical energy to temper itself. The once bright silver blade began to emit a faint blue glow.
"So the Kuilong Blade is upgrading itself. In that case, let me give you a hand!"
As Ryuuto spoke, countless streams of purple lightning erupted from his body.
CRACKLE!
This Apocalypse Thunder merged with the blue lightning, tinging the entire Island Cloud with a shade of purple. The hovering Kuilong Blade absorbed it all with astonishing speed, vibrating with what felt like pure satisfaction.
"Alright, you can upgrade here slowly," Ryuuto said, then moved to the outer edge of the Island Cloud.
Only now did he truly comprehend its immense scale. Standing beside the cloud, which spanned several thousand meters, Ryuuto seemed infinitesimally small.
"Winds, rise!"
With a sharp command, a fierce gale materialized behind the Island Cloud. Pushed by the wind, the enormous mass, which stored an incalculable amount of lightning, began to move slowly.
"It worked. Island Clouds are truly miraculous things!" Ryuuto nodded in satisfaction.
The Island Clouds of Sky Island are formed from a special mineral particulate ejected during volcanic eruptions. These particles are carried into the upper atmosphere by the Knock Up Stream, where they combine with the normal clouds of the White-White Sea and undergo a solidification process, creating a high-density, solid structure. Furthermore, at an altitude of 10,000 meters in the White-White Sea, there is normally no wind, which is why Sky Island remains fixed in one location. Therefore, when Ryuuto used his wind ability, he could easily push the cloud mass.
On the Ark Maxim below, Crocus, Vivi, and Jean Bart looked up. For a moment, it seemed as if the clouds above them had shifted. They weren't particularly alarmed, however.
This must be the captain's doing! the three of them thought.
"Alright, time to head down," Ryuuto said. After one last look at the Kuilong Blade bathing in the thunder, he returned to the deck of the Ark Maxim.
"Captain, are we heading to Marine Headquarters next?" Vivi asked, a joyful expression on her face as she rushed to his side.
"Yes," Ryuuto said, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon in Marineford's direction. "Let's go raise some hell."
As he spoke, Crocus, Vivi, and Jean Bart all turned their gazes to him. There was something about this man that inspired absolute trust.
"Vivi, you should prepare too," Ryuuto said, turning to look at her rosy face. After the previous night's intimacy, her features had softened, and her eyes were filled with affection as she looked at him.
"Brew wine. Brew a massive amount of wine!!"
"We'll let them have a good long drink!"
"Hahahahaha, you got it, Captain!" Vivi laughed, her eyes scanning Ryuuto before moving downward, finally settling on the spot just below his waist.
"Hmph... it's so different now. Last night it felt like a giant dragon!" she muttered petulantly under her breath.
"Ahem."
Ryuuto's hearing was exceptionally sharp. He let out a soft cough to remind her she wasn't alone.
Vivi realized her slip of the tongue and quickly covered her mouth, her entire face turning a deep shade of crimson.
...
The Ark Maxim arrived at Angel Beach. Their purpose for coming was to acquire the raw materials for brewing: Sky Island apples and cloud coconuts.
"Lord Gan Fall!!" Conis cried out in alarm to the old man beside her as she saw the massive vessel descending from the sky.
Without his armor, Gan Fall was just an elderly man. Seeing the Ark Maxim hovering over the beach, he immediately guessed that Ryuuto had arrived.
"Gan Fall, we meet again! Looks like you're planning to retire?" Ryuuto said with a light laugh as he leaped from the ship, landing gracefully beside Gan Fall and Conis.
"Lord Ryuuto!!" Conis now addressed him with the respectful title. After all, this was the man who had effortlessly defeated Enel.
A few moments later, Crocus, Vivi, and Jean Bart joined them on the ground. They explained the reason for their visit.
"Apples and coconuts? No problem at all, I'll have them brought right away!" Gan Fall readily agreed.
With everyone pitching in, it wasn't long before two small mountains of Sky Island apples and cloud coconuts were piled neatly in front of Vivi.