Sea Circle Calendar 1487...
As the annual super-giant Knock Up Stream surged upward, the people of Skypiea were all abuzz with excitement. Standing on the edge of Upper Yard, the God of Skypiea, Gan Fall, awaited the stream's arrival with anticipation, hoping for the gifts it would bring from the Blue Sea.
To the long-time residents of Skypiea, the Blue Sea had always felt like a legend—something distant and unreachable. Only when this rare, colossal sea current occurred could their world briefly connect with the one beneath them, offering a glimpse of the vast ocean far below their cloudborne home.
Elsewhere, unnoticed by the Skypieans, the Shandians watched Upper Yard—their former homeland—with bitter resentment. Fueled by anger and unwilling to concede, they plotted ways to defeat the god of Skypiea, Gan Fall, and reclaim what was rightfully theirs.
As the rumble of water grew louder, an enormous column of seawater burst through the cloud sea and soared into Skypiea. Unlike the usual Knock Up Stream, this year's surge was fiercer and taller than ever before. The torrent, as wide as an island, spun like a raging water tornado, piercing the heavens and even rising past the tallest vines of Upper Yard—as though it were headed for the moon.
The eruption unleashed a torrential downpour across Skypiea, showering the area with gifts from the Blue Sea, scattered far and wide.
Guards held umbrellas for Gan Fall, but he waved them off and gave a sharp order to those around him.
"Send word to the Divine Soldiers—collect everything as quickly as possible. If there are any Blue Sea survivors, make sure they're protected!"
"Yes, Gan Fall-sama."
The guards bowed respectfully before quickly dispersing to carry out his command.
While the Divine Soldiers began gathering the scattered gifts, a small, nondescript boat was caught in the massive current. It was a tiny vessel, carried by the flow to the Shandians' territory. Because of that, it escaped the notice of Gan Fall's men. The Shandians, consumed by their own rage, were too distracted to notice it either, and so the little boat drifted aimlessly across the Sea Clouds.
Eventually, somewhere in Skypiea's cloud sea, the boat washed up against a shoreline, bobbing gently, completely still. The surrounding forest remained eerily quiet, as if holding its breath.
Soon, the silence was broken by a faint creak from within the jungle, and a boy—about six years old—stepped cautiously out from the trees.
He moved carefully, eyes darting around to ensure no one else was nearby. When he was sure he was alone, he smiled slightly and crept toward the boat. His scar-covered hands reached up to grip the hull, and he climbed aboard through a damaged section.
His footsteps were nearly silent as he tiptoed across the deck, clearly trying not to alert anyone—or anything—inside. His bright eyes scanned the area. After confirming it was safe, he quietly slipped into the cabin, muttering to himself.
"Hope there's something good in here..."
But once inside, the boy's face fell.
The cabin had been devastated by the powerful Knock Up Stream. Gaping holes lined the walls, and whatever cargo it once held had long since been washed away.
Just as he turned to leave, dejected, a strange sound caught his attention. He froze, then slowly turned toward the noise—his eyes lighting up.
There, wedged into a corner of the cabin through a cracked opening, was a barrel.
It had gotten stuck in the split, lodged tightly enough that it hadn't been swept out.
"Yes!"
He pumped his fist, excited.
"Looks like luck's on my side today. Maybe there's something good inside."
He stepped up to the barrel, eager to drag it to the doorway. But he'd clearly been going hungry for a while—his body lacked the strength, and the barrel wouldn't budge.
"Forget it. I'll just open it and see what's inside."
He dug into the bag on his back and pulled out a metal rod, jamming it into the barrel's lid. His face turned red with the effort, and finally—with a loud "crack"—the lid popped open.
The little boy peered into the barrel with anticipation and then...
"Ah..."
He jumped in surprise. There was no food, no drink, and nothing else a boy his age might be interested in—just another child, about the same size as him, curled up inside.
The boy inside had red hair and wore what looked like extravagant noble clothing. His entire body was curled tightly in the barrel.
Cautiously, the little boy extended a finger to check if the kid inside was still alive.
Thankfully, the boy in the barrel was still breathing—barely.
"He's alive... must've passed out from being stuck in there too long."
He gave the boy a few shakes, trying to wake him up.
After a moment, the boy stirred. His eyes fluttered open, dazed, and he stared at the other child.
"Where... am I?"
...
Yemu felt completely drained, his body heavy with exhaustion. He couldn't even summon the strength to open his eyes. On top of that, a wave of nausea made him want to throw up.
It wasn't until he felt someone shaking him that he managed to open his eyes, albeit reluctantly.
After the glare of the sun passed, he found himself staring at a curious five or six-year-old boy.
It left him utterly confused.
"Where am I?"
Yemu clearly remembered falling asleep at home. So how did he end up here? And who was this kid? Why was he in his house?
But as his eyes adjusted and he looked around, that thought vanished instantly.
Towering trees stretched toward the sky, rivers flowed with clouds, and a strange boy stood in front of him.
This clearly wasn't his home—it was a fantastical forest straight out of a storybook.
The realization snapped him awake.
"Hey, kid... where is this place?"
Yemu tried to sound as calm and gentle as possible. He didn't want to scare the boy—he might be the only one who could explain what was going on.
But as soon as he spoke, something felt off.
He knew his own voice—he'd heard it every day—but the one that came out wasn't his at all.
He looked down at himself.
His arms were smaller. His legs, too. His whole body had shrunk.
He was dressed in fancy, ornate clothing—something straight out of European royalty. A huge ruby was embedded on his chest.
"Wait... wait... What the hell is going on...?"
Yemu shook his head in disbelief.
The boy in front of him eyed him strangely, a hint of caution in his voice as he said, "This is Skypiea. You're from the Blue Sea, so of course you don't know."
"Skypiea... Blue Sea..."
Why did those words sound so familiar?
Right—wasn't that from One Piece?
Yemu froze.
"No way... I actually transmigrated... and ended up in the world of One Piece—in Skypiea."