The Going Merry drifted along the eastern coast of Jaya, the jungle-lined shore stretching endlessly to their side. The crooked shape of a castle loomed above the trees, awkwardly angled and clearly unstable — more like a set piece than a real fortress.
"What… is that?" Usopp asked, squinting.
"Some kind of fortress?" Chopper tilted his head.
Zoro narrowed his eyes. "Look again."
"It's not real," Blizz said, stepping beside them, arms loose. "That thing's more patchwork than solid wall. Probably designed to impress—or scare off idiots."
Chopper blinked. "What do you mean?"
Zoro smirked. "So… it's working on Usopp."
"Hey!"
Luffy shouted from the mast, "Aghhh! It's just a wooden board!!"
Blizz kept his eyes on the sagging structure. "The guy we're here to meet lives there."
"Must be a cheap guy. You sure he's worth it?" Sanji asked, lighting a cigarette.
Blizz didn't answer. Just smirked slightly. "You'll see."
They anchored near the shore and made their way through a narrow, overgrown path. As they stepped into the clearing in front of the "castle," a figure burst out from behind the fake wall, coughing, dripping wet, and holding a makeshift spear.
"Stay back!" the man shouted, flailing the spear wildly. "I'm not giving up my gold Back off, treasure-thieving scum!!"
"We're not after your gold," Sanji said calmly, hands in his pockets. "We just came to talk."
"Lies!" he cried—and lunged forward.
Sanji dodged easily, sweeping the man's legs, but stopped short of hurting him further.
The man fell, coughing violently. Chopper rushed to him. "His lungs are damaged. His body's been under pressure too often… deep diving damage."
They carried him inside the shack behind the fake walls—filled with waterlogged maps, broken gear, and faded books. The man lay there, barely conscious, muttering about gold and the sky.
Blizz stood at the doorway, the breeze tugging at his coat.
"Hey guys," he said, glancing back as the others hovered around the collapsed man. "Looks like he'll be out for a while. I'll go do some exploring in the meantime."
Nami looked up. "Alone?"
Blizz shrugged. "Just stretching my legs."
He turned to go, then added, "If he wakes up, ask him about the Sky Island. I'm sure he knows a thing or two."
"Got it," Sanji said, lighting a cigarette. "We'll handle things here."
With a nod, Blizz stepped into the trees, vanishing into the thick green shadows.
Blizz walked beneath the high canopy where golden beams of sunlight pierced through the leaves, slicing the shade into fractured halos. Each step deeper into the jungle dulled the distant sounds of the sea and the voices of his crewmates until only the rustle of leaves and the chirp of unseen birds filled the silence.
He stopped beside a wide tree root coiled like a serpent above the earth, rolled his shoulders, and took a deep breath. The silence was heavy. Not lonely—just… full.
"It's been a while," he muttered, unclipping the seals at his wrists and ankles.
The chakra seals gleamed faintly, inked bands with layered scripts coiled like ancient vines. Designed to weigh him down, they were his personal training method, a twist on old shinobi tactics. But lately, the burden had dulled—his muscles had adapted, his chakra circulation steady under their pressure. He'd become too used to them.
Blizz knelt, adjusting the seals, adding new lines. With a flick of chakra, the ink glowed, binding new weights to his limbs.
The moment the fresh load hit, his legs nearly buckled.
"Yeah… that's more like it," he said through clenched teeth, forcing himself upright. Every movement now felt like wading through syrup.
He began slow—first chakra breathing, syncing his energy through the seals. Then basic taijutsu, shadow strikes and counter-movements. His body protested at every turn, but that only fueled him more. Sweat ran down his spine, soaking his shirt. His breaths came short and sharp, but still, he moved.
Then he shifted into ninjutsu practice.
He focused, drawing chakra into his palms. The forest air buzzed around him. Static built across his fingers. He threw one hand skyward and the other to the ground.
"Lightning Rod Jutsu!"
From above, thunder cracked. His chakra flared, and a bolt of latent sky energy arced harmlessly into the earth through his body. He stood still, smoke curling from his fingers.
"If Enel tries his tricks, I'm not going to be a fried side character," he said with a smirk.
He practiced again—lightning dispersal, chakra shielding, silent movement. Hours bled away like rain through leaves. Birds flitted past. Insects hummed. His breath steadied. His control sharpened.
Then he remembered the next task.
The South Bird.
They needed one to guide the Going Merry toward the Knock Up Stream. Normally, it would take half a day of chaotic chasing. Not today.
Blizz stilled himself and focused on the forest sounds, listening. Not just hearing, but sensing. A rustle to the left. A flutter up high. A sudden caw behind him.
There.
He blurred forward, feet light, chakra dancing across his soles. The jungle flashed by. He followed the sound, weaving between trees, past vines and roots.
Then he saw it—a South Bird, standing proud and awkward on a branch, its ridiculous beak pointed firmly eastward.
Blizz didn't hesitate.
He flashed through a short hand sign and vanished. In the next moment, he reappeared behind the bird in a shimmer of chakra, clapped both hands around it before it could even squawk.
"Gotcha," he said, holding the bird up.
It flapped madly in his grip, but he had it secure. He tied it gently with a stretch of cloth and slung it over his shoulder.
By the time he made his way back through the forest, the sun had dipped low, casting amber hues through the trees. Shadows stretched long and deep.
As he emerged from the brush toward the edge of the forest clearing near the Going Merry, he saw them.
The crew.
Nami, Zoro, Chopper, Luffy, and Usopp—half-geared, clearly about to start their own wild bird chase into the woods.
"Alright, everyone ready?" Nami asked, one hand on her hip.
"Ugh, I don't wanna run anymore today," Usopp whined.
Zoro grunted. "Let's just get it over with."
Blizz stepped out from the shadows, raising the bird like a trophy.
"You guys were looking for this?"
They all turned in sync.
Usopp flailed. "WHAAAA—!?"
"Blizz?!" Nami blinked. "Where the hell were you!?"
Usopp's jaw dropped. "You serious!? We've been getting ready to run around for hours!"
Luffy grinned and gave a thumbs up. "Amazing! Now we can go to the Sky Island!"
Zoro shook his head with a small smirk. "Well… saves us a headache."
Nami crossed her arms. "You could've told us you were leaving!" Though her voice was sharp, there was relief under the edge.
Blizz just smiled faintly, brushing a leaf from his sleeve. "Where's Norland?"
"He's fixing up the ship," Chopper said, stepping forward. "He said it'll need some modifications before going up the Knock Up Stream."
Blizz nodded. "Good. Then we're right on track."
Zoro, looking thoughtful, added, "At least now we know we're heading in the right direction. The bird's pointing east, and we can follow that."
Nami gave a short nod, eyes still locked on the bird. "I can't believe we're really going to the sky island. This is all so unreal."
Blizz's eyes lingered on the bird for a moment, his voice low and steady. "Yeah. We're closer than we've ever been."
As the bird pointed east, and the sun dipped below the horizon, the crew stood together again—closer to the sky than ever before.
And Blizz, quiet but sure, felt the weight on his limbs and his heart, knowing it had all been worth it.
"Well, let's help Norland out with the ship," Blizz finally said, pushing himself up with a purposeful motion.
"Yeah, let's get to it," Nami agreed, giving him a small, appreciative look.
With a nod, luffy led the way. The crew followed, determined and focused, as they continued their journey toward the sky island.
The Going Merry sailed steadily toward the horizon, the wind picking up speed, pushing them closer to their destination. The crew was eager, their spirits high as they prepared for the unknown. Blizz stood at the bow, eyes narrowed, his arms folded. The ship felt like it was flying with the wind at their backs.
Suddenly, the monkey voice rang out over the roar of the wind. "Hey, the winds are perfect! We're heading right for it!"
Luffy, unable to contain his excitement, stood at the edge of the ship with a wide grin. "Great! We're gonna make it to the Sky Island soon!"
Blizz glanced at the sky, watching the swirling clouds form patterns. He could feel the current beneath them shifting, the tension building. The sea was getting rougher. "Yeah, but we need to stay on course," he muttered to himself. He could tell the winds were guiding them straight for the whirlpool, but whether they were ready for it was another question.
"Get ready! I'm taking you to the whirlpool!"
"What whirlpool?" Nami's voice cut through the chaos, disbelief coloring her words. "I don't see any whirlpool around here!"
"Oh, it's coming. You'll see. We'll go straight into it!"
"What do we do after that, then?" Nami asked, hands on her hips.
Blizz's voice was steady as he answered, though there was a note of caution in his tone. "Just follow the current all the way to the center. Don't fight it."
"The center of the whirlpool?" Usopp's eyes grew wide. "Are you sure? I've never heard of anyone surviving getting swallowed by a giant whirlpool!"
Blizz looked out ahead, his eyes locking onto the vortex forming on the horizon. His thoughts flickered briefly—this was the path to the Knock-Up Stream, and they were committed now. "we'll make it through," he said, his voice calm, though there was an edge of confidence to it. "If we're careful, we can ride the current straight to the heart of it. It's the only way."
Sanji, who had been resting against the railing, shot a look over at Nami and Robin. "Don't worry, I'll protect you both."
Chopper, his face pale with fear, looked down at the swirling water below. "T-this is insane. The whirlpool is massive!"
Robin, usually calm, now showed a flicker of interest. "It is extraordinary. I've never seen a whirlpool of this size before."
Usopp, still panicking, waved his arms frantically. "Turn back! Turn back! We can't go into that thing!"
Zoro gaze locked onto the vortex. "It's too late for that, Usopp. We're going straight through. Everyone, get ready."
Luffy laughed out loud, his voice full of enthusiasm. "Yeah! Let's do it! I'm ready!"
Blizz nodded, his eyes still focused on the growing whirlpool. He could feel the ship being tugged by the current now, but he wasn't worried. He knew the Going Merry and its crew were ready for this. They had to be.
The Going Merry rocked violently as the whirlpool tightened its grip, its powerful current pulling the ship ever closer to the center. The crew scrambled, holding onto whatever they could find, their expressions a mix of terror and disbelief.
"Alright then, the rest is up to you," the monkey from Noland's crew called out, giving the Straw Hats one last glance before retreating to his own ship. His crew watched, their expressions uncertain, as the Going Merry was pulled toward the maw of the massive whirlpool.
"Okay, thanks for getting us here!" Luffy yelled, waving at the retreating ship, a grin plastered on his face.
Usopp, on the other hand, looked like he was about to lose it. "No, wait!" he screamed, eyes wide with panic. "You've gotta be kidding me! You basically dragged us to an execution! Get us the hell out of here, you lunatic!"
Chopper was hyperventilating, his tiny body shaking with fear. "We're doomed! We're doomed!"
"This is insane! The whirlpool is sucking us in closer and closer. Luffy, let's turn back. We might make it if you turn around now!"
Nami, though usually calm, couldn't hide the growing worry in her voice."luffy let's turn back."
Luffy stood tall at the front of the ship, grinning like a madman.
the ship lurched forward again, the sea churning beneath them. The crew held on tightly, their faces a mix of dread and anticipation.
"Guys, while you were making a foolish attempt to dissuade our captain" Zoro said, his voice cutting through the panic. "The whirlpool's swallowing us! Hold on!"
And just as the crew braced themselves for the worst, something strange happened. The massive whirlpool, which had been pulling them in with terrifying force, suddenly… vanished. The sea around them began to calm, and the once-crazed waves slowly stilled.
"What?!" Usopp exclaimed, his voice barely a whisper. "Why did it disappear? What happened? How could that gigantic whirlpool just suddenly vanish?"
The air around them seemed to vibrate with a strange, electric tension, and then, out of nowhere, the unmistakable sound of something massive began to rumble from below. The crew looked around frantically, trying to pinpoint the source of the sound. It wasn't just the sea—it was something much more powerful.
"It's starting!" Blizz called from the helm, his eyes wide with realization.
"The whirlpool has already been…" Usopp trailed off, unable to finish the thought.
"What's starting?" Chopper asked, his voice trembling. "What do you mean?"
Nami gripped the railing, her heart racing. "No. It's coming."
Suddenly, the water beneath them surged, and the Going Merry was violently tossed upward, as if the very sea was trying to launch them into the sky.
Luffy's eyes widened. "Wait… wait! The Knock-Up Stream!" he yelled, his voice full of awe and excitement. "It's here!"
As if on cue, the Going Merry was sucked into the massive updraft, the wind howling around them. The ship was launched into the air, higher and higher, as the crew screamed in surprise and terror.
"What the hell?!" Usopp screamed, his voice barely audible over the roaring winds. "We're going up—really up!"
Chopper clung desperately to the mast. "We're going to fly!"
Blizz stood at the front, hands gripping the ship with steady precision. His eyes were fixed on the horizon, his expression calm despite the chaos around him. He had known this would happen—, but nothing could have prepared them for the sheer force of it.
The crew continued to scream, the ship's ascent growing faster and faster. The sky was opening up before them, and for a moment, everything felt like a dream. The roar of the sea faded into the distance, replaced by the deafening rush of air as they hurtled toward the sky.
Luffy's eyes sparkled with excitement as the Going Merry surged higher, propelled by the mighty Knock-Up Stream. "Yeah, let's go straight up to the sky, Going Merry, go!" he cheered, grinning from ear to ear.
But before anyone could react, Sanji's voice cut through the excitement, filled with uncertainty. "Wait a second," he said, his eyes scanning the ship's shaking frame. "I don't think this is as good as it seems."
"Why, what is it?" Zoro asked, looking at Sanji, puzzled.
Sanji pointed to the ship's hull, which was beginning to lift off the water with the current. "The entire ship is starting to float off the water stream. At this rate, we're gonna get knocked off the stream and fall back down."
Suddenly, a shadow loomed over them. Usopp's eyes widened in horror. "What's that?!"
From the heart of the Knock-Up Stream, a massive Sea King came crashing down, falling from the sky like a thunderous comet. Its massive jaws snapped as it plummeted, and the crew couldn't help but be reminded of how dangerous the sea really was.
"It's only a matter of time until that happens to us too," sanji said, his voice laced with tension.
The crew turned their attention to Nami, who was gripping the wheel, her face a picture of focus. "Release the sails, quickly!" she shouted.
"What?!" Usopp exclaimed, his voice frantic. "Are you out of your mind?"
"As long as we're dealing with the seas and winds, I can navigate through them!" Nami said, her voice unwavering. "Did you all forget who's the navigator of this ship?!"
A sudden rush of adrenaline coursed through the crew. "Yeah, go Nami!" Luffy shouted, giving her an encouraging thumbs-up.
The crew, now fully trusting in their navigator, began scrambling to release the sails. Usopp, Zoro, and Chopper worked together to unfasten the ropes, while Sanji helped secure the rigging. They had no time to waste. The ship was rising higher, and they needed Nami to work her magic.
Blizz stood near the edge, eyes narrowed, calculating their chances. "Don't worry," he muttered to himself, "we can make it."
But as the ship surged higher, usopp voice rang out with increasing urgency. "No, we're going to fall! We're going to fall! Do something, Nami!"
Just as the crew braced for impact, something extraordinary happened. The ship lurched one last time, and suddenly, the Going Merry shot out of the stream, launching into the air, as if it had taken on a life of its own.
"What?" Usopp's eyes widened in disbelief. "We're flying? What is this?!" He blinked, trying to comprehend what he was seeing.
"HELL YEAH, WE'RE FLYING INTO THE SKY!" Luffy shouted, his voice filled with pure joy. "Now, is this for real?!"
The crew erupted into excitement, their disbelief turning into exhilaration. "We did it!" Luffy cheered. "We're really flying!"
Nami, her hands still gripping the wheel, grinned with pride. "We're flying, and yes, it's real!" She looked over her shoulder at her crewmates, her eyes sparkling. "See? I told you I could do it."
"Yeah, Nami, you're amazing!" Chopper shouted, his tiny form bouncing in excitement.
Blizz, standing beside the others, allowed himself a small, rare smile. He had known it was possible. But seeing it for the first time, witnessing the Going Merry actually flying, was something else entirely. For once, the sheer craziness of their adventure had exceeded even his expectations.
As the Going Merry soared higher, the crew's laughter and shouts echoed through the air. They were on their way to Sky Island. The impossible had become reality, and they were ready for whatever awaited them in the clouds.