"AHHHHH—! We're falling!!"
Usopp and Chopper screamed at the top of their lungs, their voices cracking as their bodies lifted from the deck under the intense weightlessness.
Panic spread instantly.
Robin's black hair whipped wildly in the wind as she spread her arms, trying to stabilize herself with her ability.
Zoro's eyes sharpened, his hand gripping his sword instinctively, thinking it was an enemy attack.
"Wait, Zoro! Don't move!"
Ronan's calm voice cut through the chaos.
He held the mast with one hand, his gaze locked downward at the rapidly expanding shadow below.
Just as the Merry was about to enter a full, uncontrolled free fall—
The cloud layer beneath them burst open.
"Puff—!"
A massive pink shadow shot out from below.
It was a gigantic octopus.
"A giant octopus?!" Chopper fainted on the spot—then got jolted awake by the wind.
"What's it doing?!" Zoro's blade slid halfway out of its sheath.
"Relax," Ronan said again. "It's not hostile."
The octopus wrapped around the ship—
Then its head rapidly expanded, swelling like a giant balloon.
In an instant—
The deadly downward force was softened.
Their fall slowed.
"…What?"
Luffy stared up at the inflated octopus head, his fear instantly turning into excitement.
"That's awesome! It turned into a balloon! We're slowing down—we're flying!"
"Haa… I thought we were done for…" Usopp collapsed on the deck, gasping for air.
As the Merry drifted downward like a feather under the octopus balloon—
A sound echoed once more from the heavens above.
"GONNNNG——————!!!!"
The golden bell.
Clear. Deep. Soul-stirring.
"Listen! The bell!" Luffy shouted, looking up at the distant clouds.
High above—
The Shandians and Sky Islanders stood together.
Wyper pulled the rope himself, shouting into the sky:
"Ring it! Send them off with the bell!"
"Heroes—! Come back again someday!"
"Thank you—! Return safely to the Blue Sea!!"
Their voices merged with the bell—
Echoing endlessly across the sky.
The Merry drifted gently between clouds and blue sky, carried by the pink balloon.
Ronan stood by the railing, watching clouds pass.
Far in the distance—
The outline of the sea began to appear.
Vast.
Endless.
Full of possibility.
Sunlight reflected off the golden hull—
No longer cold—
But warm.
"…What an incredible adventure."
They had gained immeasurable treasure—
And brought down a god.
"Hey! Ronan! Look!" Luffy pointed downward.
"Yeah… I see it."
Ronan smiled faintly.
"The Blue Sea… we're back."
The Golden Merry—
Carrying dreams, gold, and the echo of the bell—
Descended like a golden meteor.
Grand Line, first half—high above the sea.
The sun melted into the horizon like liquid gold.
The clouds glowed purple-red in the fading light.
And in that vast twilight—
A massive golden ship slowly descended.
Usopp and Chopper sat side by side on the widened railing, legs dangling.
"This is nice…" Usopp sighed, hands behind his head.
"Yeah…" Chopper sniffed the air.
"The air here feels… heavier than Sky Island."
On deck—
Robin leaned against the golden cabin door.
"It'll still take time before we reach the sea."
"I can't even tell where we're drifting anymore!"
Nami looked worried.
"If we fall near a Marine base or into the Calm Belt, we're in serious trouble!"
"Oh—Nami-saaaan!"
Sanji suddenly appeared with a flower.
"If fate is uncertain, allow me to soothe your heart with a love song—"
"Shut up! Is this the time for that?!"
BAM!
Nami sent him flying.
"If we could just drift all the way to Laugh Tale, that'd be nice…" Usopp muttered.
"That's impossible," Robin replied calmly.
"Laugh Tale is at the end of the Grand Line. We'll need to travel at least half the world to get there."
Luffy sat cross-legged at the bow.
Though hungry, his eyes still burned with determination.
"Laugh Tale… no matter how far, I'll get there!"
Ronan, who had been meditating, opened his eyes and looked at Chopper.
"Chopper… can you make a special kind of medicine for me?"
"Medicine?" Chopper jumped down curiously.
"What kind? Are you sick?"
Ronan shook his head and pulled out a formula.
"Not for healing. For combat."
"This is a formula for 'Inner Energy Recovery Pills.'"
He pointed at the detailed structure.
"We've all begun cultivating inner energy."
"Especially Luffy—his Gear Second consumes energy at an insane rate."
"Even with his endurance, once his energy runs out, he enters a weakened state."
"I used to rely on medicinal baths… but they're too slow."
"If we can compress the essence of these herbs—"
"Using your medical skill—"
"And turn them into consumable pills…"
To Read60+ AHEAD advanced Chapters, head over to P@treon
patreon.com/DarkVerse146