Chapter 108 - To the sky

The sun rose lazily over the horizon, casting its golden rays upon the pristine white sands of an unknown, tropical island. A tall, muscular figure stirred from a deep slumber, his tan complexion glistening with a thin layer of sweat.

His deep crimson, shoulder-length hair, slightly wavy and somewhat slicked back, glinted in the warm sunlight, as a few stray strands fell gently down the sides of his face.

As the man squinted against the brightness, his angular, chiseled face was marked by a triple set of parallel, linear scars that passed vertically, at an angle over his left eye, which remained untouched. Additionally, his left arm was notably missing from below the deltoid.

His manly appearance was further accentuated by his square jaw, the sharper, narrower pair of eyes, and the more prominently bridged nose. A neatly maintained circle of beard and mustache stubble framed his face, adding a touch of rugged charm.

The man's attire consisted of a sweeping, long, high-collared black cape, which flapped gently in the morning breeze. Beneath it, he wore a simple white shirt, half-buttoned up, exposing his well-defined chest and upper abs.

His lower half was clad in slightly loose, plain brown pants, cut below the knee, and collected halfway up the shin. A red sash encircled his waist, keeping the shirt tucked in. His feet were shod in simple brown sandals with gray studded soles, providing a comfortable fit for his island exploration.

Groaning from the remnants of a headache, indicative of a heavy night of drinking, the man rose unsteadily to his feet. The soft sound of a Den Den Mushi echoed in the otherwise quiet morning, prompting him to reach into his pocket and answer the call. As he raised the snail-like device to his ear, his face bore a mixture of annoyance and curiosity, the lines of a hangover evident upon his features.

"Who is it?" he grumbled, his voice rough from the night before, as he stared out at the serene blue waves gently lapping at the shore.

"Shanks, It's me. Are you hungover again?" Mihawk's voice came through the Den Den Mushi, clear and distinct.

"Mihawk? You never call. What's going on?" Shanks inquired, his previous hangover dissipating as curiosity replaced it.

"Where are you at the moment?" Mihawk asked, a hint of anticipation in his voice.

"I'm on some random island. Why do you ask? What happened?" Shanks pressed, curiosity gnawing at him.

"Are you available for a spar? I need some training," Mihawk explained, his tone betraying excitement. Shanks froze in astonishment. Mihawk wanted to spar with him? They hadn't crossed swords since he'd lost his arm over a decade ago. And that excited tone – could it really be Mihawk?

Concerned, Shanks sprang to his feet and demanded, "Mihawk, what happened?"

"I lost my title," Mihawk confessed, causing Shanks to stumble back in shock.

"WHAT?!" Shanks bellowed into the small snail, his voice loud enough to rouse his slumbering crewmates, who groaned in response.

"Who was it?" Shanks asked, his expression turning serious.

"He called himself Ryu, the Wandering Blacksmith," Mihawk revealed.

Shanks frowned. "Who on earth is that?! You're telling me some unknown guy showed up and defeated you? *Sigh*, how powerful was he?"

"Stronger than Roger," Mihawk replied, causing Shanks to freeze in disbelief.

"Mihawk, do you even realize what you're saying? How can he be stronger than Roger? You never even saw him fight at his full strength," Shanks retorted with a disbelieving chuckle.

"Could Roger have sliced through my sword without Haki and decapitated me in an instant?" Mihawk countered.

"What do you mean decapitated? You're talking to me right now," Shanks replied, confused.

"It was done in the future. I used Observation Haki to try and anticipate his moves, but no matter what I did, I was killed in a couple of seconds maximum and Yoru got destroyed. He didn't even look like he was taking me seriously," Mihawk explained.

Shanks' eyes widened, and his mouth hung open as the gravity of Mihawk's words sank in. The shock etched on his face was palpable, his mind racing with the implications of the meaning of this news.

Mihawk was right. While Roger was more powerful than Mihawk, even if he was to go all out he wouldn't be able to defeat the latter in a couple of seconds, and there was no way he could destroy Yoru easily.

"*Sigh*, come here quickly. I gotta make a few calls," Shanks sighed as he hung up on Mihawk.

---

"Aw, why'd you have to ruin my fun?" Yoruihci grumbled as the Iron Whiskers left Mock Town's port.

"Because it wouldn't be fun if you just got absolutely annihilated," Ryu chuckled as Yoruichi pouted angrily.

"I could've taken him," she muttered.

"In an all-out battle, sure. But if you just focus on swordsmanship like you wanted, you're not there yet. Also, now that he actually wants to fight again, I'm sure he'll give you a more entertaining fight," Ryu said as he ruffled Yoruichi's hair playfully.

"Damnit, fine! Where are we going, anyway?" Yoruichi said as she pushed Ryu's hand.

"Up," Ryu said as he pointed at the sky with a goofy grin.

"... What?" Yoruichi's brain short-circuited upon hearing that.

"Eh, you'll see in a bit," Ryu said as he looked ahead with anticipation.

The sky darkened as the ocean swirled beneath them, and a large whirlpool began to form. Yoruichi's eyes widened in panic as Iron Whiskers was sucked in, her grip tightening on the railing. Ryu chuckled as he looked at Yoruichi. "Relax, this is part of the experience," he reassured her.

As the whirlpool swallowed them, Yoruichi's panic was replaced by exhilaration. She laughed, feeling the power of the ocean beneath them, and she couldn't help but be fascinated by the sight of the water swirling around the ship. The Shinobi at the helm navigated Iron Whiskers toward the center of the whirlpool, as Ryu anticipated the explosive force that would soon follow.

Suddenly, a colossal column of water burst forth from the depths, shooting up toward the sky with immense force. The water churned and roiled as it rushed upwards, creating a deafening roar that echoed all the way to Mock Town. Yoruichi clung to the railing, her heart pounding in her chest, while Ryu stood as if his legs were glued to the ship with his feet glowing with a blue hue.

As the column of water twisted and spiraled, creating a chaotic vortex, Ryu and Yoruichi's faces beamed with delight. It was as if they were on the world's most dangerous rollercoaster.

As they approached the peak of the Knock Up Stream, the winds howled around them, threatening to tear the ship apart. But Ryu's creations wouldn't be destroyed by something as weak as some winds. Yoruichi, her heart racing with anticipation, peered through the mist with a burst of contagious laughter, eager to catch a glimpse of the world above the clouds they were about to surpass.

Finally, with one last surge of power, the Knock Up Stream propelled Iron Whiskers through the cloud layer, revealing a breathtaking landscape that stretched out before them. And as Iron Whiskers fell down, it didn't pass through the clouds but rested on them as if they were solid objects.

"Alright, that was amazing," Yoruichi exclaimed with stars in her eyes as Ryu let out a burst of laughter.

"It was fun, wasn't it? Want to explore this place?" Ryu asked as he examined their new surroundings.

"Do you even need to ask?" Yoruichi replied excitedly as she gazed out at an endless sea of clouds that had stretched as far as the eye could see.

The clouds seemed to possess a life of their own, swirling and shifting in a slow, mesmerizing dance, their white hues ranging from pristine purity to subtle shades of gray.

As Iron Whiskers set sail, the clouds closed in on them, enshrouding the vessel in a veil of misty whiteness. The sensation of being enveloped by the clouds had been surreal. It was as if they had been cocooned within a soft, fluffy embrace that had shielded them from the rest of the world.

Iron Whiskers gently rocked back and forth, gliding through the billowing clouds that clung to the ship's hull like a soft, velvety blanket. The sounds of the ship's wooden hull creaking and groaning reverberated across the vast expanse of clouds, accompanied by the whispers of the wind.

As Ryu and Yoruichi sailed on, the clouds started to transform, morphing into towering pillars and massive waves that softly crashed against Iron Whiskers' hull before melting away into a sea of wispy tendrils. The sunlight had seeped through the clouds, casting a warm, golden light that had painted the sky in a breathtaking, ethereal glow.

Ryu and Yoruichi took in the beauty of the scene, feeling as though they had been transported to a dreamlike realm. They inhaled the crisp, cool air, savoring the scent of salt and the faintest hint of distant storms. The gentle mist of the clouds had caressed their skin, a refreshing contrast to the sun's warm embrace.

As Ryu and Yoruichi continued sailing through the sea of clouds, a magnificent golden structure emerged in the distance, rising majestically above the soft, billowy expanse. The structure resembled the upper half of a grand, pointy star, with six elongated, tapering points that had imbued it with a sense of elegance and grace.

The star had measured several hundred meters in diameter, its colossal size a testament to the grandiosity of its design. The entire structure was crafted from shimmering, burnished gold that glowed in the sunlight, casting a warm, ethereal radiance upon the clouds beneath it. The surface of the star was adorned with intricate engravings that had caught the light, their complex patterns dancing and shimmering as if alive.

The engravings themselves were incredibly detailed, depicting scenes of angels and gods in various states of repose and activity, their faces serene and their bodies sculpted to perfection. The celestial beings were surrounded by an array of ornate, swirling designs, adding depth and complexity to the overall appearance of the structure.

At the base of the golden star was a tunnel-like opening, spacious enough to allow for the easy passage of large ships such as Iron Whiskers. The tunnel was framed by white marble pillars, their smooth, polished surfaces contrasting beautifully with the gold.

In the center of the star, directly above the tunnel, a conspicuous and sizable red sign proudly proclaimed the name of this awe-inspiring landmark. The words "Heaven's Gate" were inscribed in elegant, flowing white letters, impossible to miss against the vibrant red background.

And as Ryu and Yoruichi arrived at the giant structure, the flash of a camera greeted them.

Behind the camera was a short, elderly, woman with small white wings on her back. She wore a plain pink dress and pink sandals could be seen on her legs.

"In order to ascend, each person must pay one billion Aigusu," she stated in a calm and elderly voice.

"How much is that in Bellies?" Ryu asked while leaning against one of the ship's masts.

"Ten thousand Aigusu is equivalent to one Belly, so it's one hundred thousand Belly per person," the grandma replied nonchalantly, still holding the camera.

"No problem," Ryu said, conjuring up a couple of sacks brimming with paper bills and handing them over.

"Everything is accounted for," the woman stated, still holding the camera. "Hold on a second, and I'll summon a Speedy Shrimp to take you up the road." She continued while pointing at a long, convoluted, road that led upwards.

"No need," Ryu said as Iron Whiskers began to sail upwards, defying gravity.