Chapter 76: Skypiea – Arrival in the Sea of Clouds & Gan Fall's Entrance
Above the boundless white sea of clouds, the Merry floated quietly, as if suspended in a dreamlike world. Nami stood on deck, staring in shock at the soft cloud layer beneath her feet—the hull rested steadily on it without any sign of sinking.
"We're really on clouds? But… why isn't the ship falling?" She turned to Sol, brows furrowed. "Hey! Sol! You know the most about this place—explain already!"
But Sol was already huddled with Luffy and Usopp. The three of them were frantically tying Karoo into a dumpling and attaching him to an extra-long fishing rod.
"Hurry hurry! Usopp! I just saw a fish shadow in the clouds! Let's hook one for a snack!" Sol rubbed his hands excitedly, eyes sparkling.
"Alright! Watch the great Usopp-sama's divine cast!" Usopp swung the rod with bravado—Karoo let out a miserable quack as he was launched, tracing an arc across the cloud sea.
"Quack quack quack!!" Karoo flapped desperately, eyes filled with despair.
Veins instantly bulged on Nami's forehead. Her fists cracked ominously.
"You three want to die, huh?!" Her voice dropped to a terrifying low. In the next second, her fist flashed like lightning.
"Thunder Fist!!!"
Bang! Sol took the hit square in the stomach and dropped to his knees, foaming at the mouth.
Vivi instantly went dark-mode too. She grabbed Luffy and Usopp by the heads: "What did you do to Karoo while I wasn't looking?!!"
Thud! The two idiots' heads smashed together.
Bruised and swollen, they immediately dogeza'd, trembling as they untied the fishing line and respectfully returned the balled-up Karoo to Vivi.
Karoo dove into Vivi's arms in terror, feathers puffed out like a dandelion.
Vivi stroked him heartbrokenly: "You guys went too far!"
"Sorrrry!!" The three culprits bowed in perfect unison.
"Now!" Nami stood with hands on hips in front of the kneeling trio, lightning crackling behind her. "Someone explain to me properly why the ship can sail on clouds?!"
Sol rubbed his stomach and stood up, recalling as he explained: "The clouds of Skypiea contain large amounts of 'Pyrobloin'—forming special 'sea clouds' that have both liquid fluidity and solid load-bearing capacity. That's why normal ships can sail on them…"
Before he finished, the cloud sea suddenly surged violently. A giant octopus burst out, one tentacle still tangled with the remnant of Usopp's fishing line—clearly drawn by Karoo's scent.
"Waaah! We actually caught a monster!" Usopp recoiled in fright.
"It's a sky octopus! Dinner tonight is set!" Excitement flashed in Sol's eyes. He stomped, activating Moon Step—his body instantly soared into the air.
"Hm? He's stepping on air to fly?" Sanji suddenly took interest in the technique. Looks like he'd have to ask this guy about it sometime.
Sol delivered a heavy punch straight to the octopus's head. The giant creature caved in like a ball, then boing—rebounded back into the cloud sea, floating upside-down with swirls in its eyes.
Luffy's eyes bulged, drool pouring: "Sanji! I want giant takoyaki!"
Sanji nodded and turned to fetch cooking tools—when Usopp suddenly screamed: "Some weirdo's coming across the clouds!"
Everyone turned. A shirtless man wearing a grass skirt was sprinting across the cloud sea. He wore a ferocious horned demon mask, left hand holding a bulletproof shield, right hand gripping a strangely shaped cannon.
"Enemy?" Zoro and Sanji immediately assumed fighting stances—but suddenly felt their limbs go weak.
"Can't… move my body?" Zoro dropped to one knee, cold sweat on his brow.
Robin noticed: "Probably high-altitude oxygen deprivation. The air here is too thin."
With the enemy almost upon them, Luffy shot forward: "Rubber Pistol!"
Boom! The punch landed solidly on the shield. The masked man was blasted backward, tumbling through the air a dozen times before stabilizing.
"Hey! You jerk!" Luffy pointed angrily. "Are you trying to steal my takoyaki?!"
The masked man silently looked at the deep fist dent in his shield, scanned the Straw Hats once more, then turned and leaped back into the clouds. In a few bounds, he vanished into the mist.
"He… ran?" Usopp blinked.
"Who cares! Sanji—my takoyaki!!!" Luffy's shout pulled everyone's attention back to the floating giant octopus.
Soon the freshly made takoyaki was served. Luffy grabbed the first one and stuffed it in his mouth: "Hot hot hot—but five ants!!"
"Really?" Sol took a piece and tasted it. "Delicious! This texture is amazing! The moment you bite, the juicy flavor explodes in your mouth!"
Hearing such high praise from Sol, everyone else immediately crowded around to try it. Karoo ate happily too—after all, this octopus was a trophy earned through his "sacrifice."
While everyone was enjoying the meal, the sound of flapping wings came from above. A deep voice suddenly rang out.
Everyone looked up. An armored old man holding a long spear descended onto the deck riding a strange bird. He lifted his visor, revealing a weather-beaten face: "I am the 'Sky Knight' Gan Fall!"
Right after his introduction, his stomach let out a loud growl. No helping it—Sanji's takoyaki smelled irresistible.
Nami quickly sensed this old man was different from the earlier weirdo. She warmly invited him to join the meal while secretly giving Vivi a look.
Vivi understood immediately. While handing Gan Fall some takoyaki, she casually probed: "Grandpa, you must know a lot about Skypiea, right?"
"Mmm… delicious!" Gan Fall was conquered by the food. While devouring it, he launched into a detailed explanation of Skypiea's common knowledge and current situation.
When he heard the Straw Hats had ridden the upward current to get here, he nearly choked in shock: "After twenty years… someone dared challenge the 'monster current' again to reach Skypiea! The survival rate is either 0% or 100%… you all truly have extraordinary courage and strength!"
After eating his fill, the old knight took out a strangely shaped whistle from his coat and handed it to Vivi: "If you need help, blow this whistle—I'll come to your aid. However…" He rubbed his fingers. "Each call-out costs 5 million Ik."
When Gan Fall put his helmet back on and mounted his strange winged horse Pierre (actually a Dial Bird that ate the Horse-Horse Fruit), the old knight's figure soon vanished into the clouds.
Usopp counted on his fingers: "1 Berry = 10,000 Ik… so that's only 500 Berries? So cheap! Is this old man actually reliable?"
Sol suddenly gave Chopper a strange look. At that price, one call-out fee was worth ten Chopper bounties…
"What's wrong, Sol? Your face looks weird." The little reindeer sensitively noticed the stare.
"Nothing, nothing." Sol quickly waved it off.
Chopper didn't think much of it and happily went back to eating his takoyaki.
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