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"Heh heh heh! If I die, then I guess that's it for you and your legs, huh? You should pray for my safety every day!" Tony teased, leaning casually against the bow of the ship, hand on his chin.
Seeing Tony's relaxed attitude only fueled Shiki's irritation. With a swift slap of his hand, he sent the ship tilting upwards at a 90-degree angle, lifting it towards the clouds. In seconds, Tony's vessel was on its way, about to disappear into the thick cloud layer.
Shiki watched them ascend, squinting as he muttered, "Annoying brat. He's just like that damn Roger."
He couldn't help but smile, a genuine grin spreading across his face. Maybe it was because he saw a bit of his old rival Roger in Tony, or perhaps he was just glad to finally have a shot at healing his legs.
Tony's group soared through the clouds, quickly nearing the sea of clouds that made up Skypiea's middle layer.
"Bakudo #73: Falling Mountain Crystal!"
Tony encased the entire power sailboat in a crystalline coffin, sealing it off from the seawater of the White Sea and using Falling Mountain Crystal as both a medical aid and a protective barrier. Sea Kings lurking within the clouded ocean eyed them hungrily, observing Tony's group with predatory interest.
Meanwhile, Nami, Vivi, and Robin couldn't shake their worries about the deal Tony made with Shiki. Eventually, curiosity overcame Robin's apprehension, and she voiced her question. Too many things about Tony had turned out to be unexpected.
"Tony, are you truly confident you can heal Shiki's legs a year from now?" Robin asked, concern evident in her eyes. She worried that, if Tony managed to heal him, Shiki might refuse to let them go due to the value of that ability. But if he couldn't heal Shiki, there was no doubt Shiki wouldn't forgive him for the deception. Angering a legendary pirate wasn't something they could afford to take lightly.
Tony chuckled, shaking his head as he noted their worried expressions. "What do you think, Robin?" He reassured them with a smile. "Relax, don't look at this so negatively. Even if I don't have that ability now, I'll reach a level where I can perform miracles by then."
He continued confidently, "Shiki isn't one to give up on his ambition to rule the world. A man like him won't be small-minded about this."
Nami sighed, pinching her forehead in exasperation. "Ugh, so it really was all a bluff! That act was really convincing, though. How did you keep a straight face while saying all that nonsense to him?"
She pictured Shiki's likely reaction if he ever overheard Tony's true thoughts, envisioning his enraged state. Vivi, trying to reassure Nami with a gentle smile, said, "It'll be fine, Nami. I'm sure Tony has a plan. We just need to trust his judgment and not worry."
Tony chuckled, pleased, and walked over to give Vivi an encouraging pat on the shoulder. "Vivi really understands! Nami, on the other hand, is just too dense. Look—we're already on Skypiea with a powerful bodyguard keeping the Marines off our backs. Why not enjoy this?"
Vivi's cheeks flushed red, unused to having a boy stand so close to her—especially not one who treated her with such casual warmth. She was a princess, after all, and this was entirely new. But she found herself not minding it… maybe even enjoying it.
Nami, looking at Tony with her head throbbing from his carefree attitude, muttered, "I just hope nothing goes wrong."
As time passed, Tony's crew ascended through the White Sea at 7,000 meters, finally reaching the White-White Sea at 10,000 meters two hours later. At this altitude, the air was exceedingly thin, making it difficult for people from the Blue Sea to breathe or even move as they normally would. Vivi, Nami, and Robin noticeably struggled to breathe, while Tony, due to his rigorous training, seemed largely unaffected.
They arrived at Angel Island, greeted by the friendly inhabitants who, with feathered wings sprouting from their backs, looked just like angels. In reality, these residents were once lunar people who had migrated to Skypiea due to an energy shortage. Enel had only recently come to power, and though he hadn't yet started persecuting Angel Island's residents, other regions of Skypiea weren't as fortunate.
The group split into pairs to explore: Tony and Nami set off on a treasure hunt, while Vivi and Robin went to the ancient city of Shandora, known as the "City of Gold," to study the ancient Poneglyphs.
Nami had armed herself to the teeth, carrying a bag several times her size along with a bunch of fruits as sustenance. She was fully prepared for battle.
Tony looked on in bemusement. "Hey, hey, do you really have to go all out? Are you planning to empty this entire island?"
"Hmph! This will be my finest hour, and I won't rest until I've achieved my goal!" Nami declared. "Skypiea, here I come!"
With that, Nami dashed off like a wildcat, racing into the distance. Tony smirked, shaking his head. "Such a little money-grubber!"
At that moment, he was already silently mourning for Skypiea, knowing the fate awaiting it at Nami's hands.
~-------------------------
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