The ship burst through the sea of clouds once more, plunging into a surreal world above the Blue Sea. A stunning vista unfolded before the crew: endless white expanses stretching in every direction, layers of fluffy clouds like cotton candy in a dreamlike haze.
"Sailing a sea of clouds... now that's something else," Moira muttered, pulling herself up from where she'd braced against the deck. She leaned on the railing, still rattled from the wild ascent. A sky full of clouds you could actually sail on? It shattered everything she thought she knew about the world.
"Have we made it? Where's Skypiea?" Gion asked, her Observation Haki sweeping outward. She frowned—no sign of the floating island yet.
"Not quite," Sora chuckled. They were hovering at 7,000 meters, still short of the real prize.
"Huh? Then where is it?" Gion pressed, glancing around.
"Point your Haki upward," Ross said with a smirk, nodding toward the heavens.
Gion extended her senses, boosted by the Bat-Bat Fruit, Model: Vampire's heightened perception. Her range stretched kilometers now. She'd overlooked it before by not looking high enough.
"There—massive islands, hidden in the clouds above us. A whole cluster of them," she said, eyes widening in awe.
"So how do we reach them?" Moira asked, shrinking back instinctively. The thought of another stomach-churning climb made her queasy.
"Three thousand meters? Piece of cake." Ross tapped the deck lightly with his heel. He'd been in half-beast form since the start—clouds were just seawater in disguise, and his powers bent them to his will.
A ripple shot outward. The surrounding clouds shuddered, then surged into motion. Those above descended like a gentle cascade, while the ones below converged, hoisting the ship smoothly upward.
Moira sucked in a breath, staring at Ross. His towering frame cut an imposing silhouette, every bit the god he seemed to be. She'd crossed paths with Dragon before, but Ross? His raw power dwarfed that fool's—strength, presence, everything. No wonder Dragon trembled at the World Government's shadow. And the Celestial Dragons... descendants of gods? It fit.
"Stella, are all Celestial Dragons this monstrous?" Moira whispered, sidling up to her companion—the one who knew Ross best.
Stella's smile was radiant as she watched him. "Not even close. Master's one of a kind. If there's a chosen one in this sea, it's him."
"You're hopeless," Moira said, pursing her lips. But she saw the devotion in Stella's eyes, unshakeable loyalty. Damn it—why did Ross spoil Stella rotten while grinding her down? She'd surrendered, played along... what more did he want?
Deep down, though, relief washed over her. Not every Celestial Dragon was a freak like him. If they were, the Revolutionary Army would've been crushed flat years ago. Even now, with just the ones like Ross and Marius hounding them, it was a lost cause. The World Government loomed like an unbreakable mountain, crushing her spirit. Only now, face-to-face with it, did Dragon's grand dreams—toppling nations, dismantling the regime—sound like a bad joke.
And you, Dragon... you don't deserve to lead.
A flicker of hate burned in her eyes—for him, and for Ross too.
What're you scheming?
Ross's voice cut into her thoughts like a blade. Moira jolted.
"N-Nothing! Just... Master's silhouette is majestic, like a god come to life," she stammered, the words tumbling out on reflex. Flattery was second nature now—no point fighting it when silence meant pain.
Ross nodded calmly. "Once we touch down, you and Stella take point. Round up the locals, get 'em registered. Gion handles any troublemakers."
Her heart skipped—trust? Finally? "Me? I mean... you sure?"
"It's straightforward. Your crew does the legwork; you shield Stella. Gion sweeps for threats." His tone left no room for debate.
They weren't tourists here. Fruit hunting, island conquering—it was conquest, plain and simple. But under Ross's rule, these sky-dwellers would thrive eventually.
"Got it. Stella's safety is my priority!" Moira straightened, injecting false enthusiasm. She was still a revolutionary at heart, but not Dragon's anymore. Hers was for the real people, the ones ground underfoot. Her networks had rallied cells across the seas; with Dragon vanished and Ivankov fortifying the Sorbet Kingdom, she was the glue holding it together.
One snag: her capture by Celestial Dragons. Whispers spread—had she bent the knee? Sold out? She'd spin it as deep cover, prove her loyalty when the time came.
Ross caught her spark and shared a knowing glance with Stella. He wasn't buying the act. Stella wasn't the fragile medic Moira imagined, either.
Stella: Overall Rating - C Rank.
Ross had poured resources into her: Zephyr's elite training, nightly Haki boosts from his own sessions, Gion as a sparring partner, even the Heal-Heal Fruit to accelerate her growth. She'd climbed to Rear Admiral strength under his watch.
Moira? He didn't trust her an inch. But with Stella's eyes everywhere, her games were dead in the water.
The ship rose steadily, piercing higher cloud banks. Below, the endless white sea churned; above, faint outlines of verdant isles beckoned. Gion scanned the horizon, sword at the ready. Sora adjusted the sails against the whipping winds. Moira gripped the rail, mind racing—freedom fighters below schemed in shadows, while up here, gods played.
Ross stood at the prow, unyielding. The skies would bow, just like the seas had.
—