Towards the next course

As the Hell Prince Pirates sailed toward Sky Island, Dave stood at the helm, deep in thought. The vast sea stretched out endlessly, but his mind was elsewhere. Despite killing Blackbeard, his quest for Whitebeard's involvement was still marked as "pending." He scowled, wondering what other conditions the system might have set.

"Strange…" he muttered. "Killing Blackbeard should've changed things, but it seems the War of the Best is still on track."

Tony, who was adjusting some of his gadgets nearby, overheard and approached. "What's bothering you? That Demon Contract again?"

Dave nodded. "It seems like Ace's fate is still the same. The world wants this war… as if destiny itself is steering it in that direction."

Tony shrugged. "Maybe fate isn't set in stone. We just need to play our part wisely, especially if we want to keep Whitebeard and his crew safe."

Dave nodded, the gears in his mind turning. "If I can't stop the war, then maybe I can control it. And perhaps… sway its outcome."

"Sounds like a challenge," Tony replied, smirking. "But first, we have Sky Island to deal with. And from what I've read, it's anything but ordinary."

Dave leaned back on the couch, his grin widening as he thought about the potential ahead. "Right. Let's see if we can capture Enel or not!"

A surge of excitement ran through him as he looked over at Tony, recalling a pivotal moment from his past. "He was killed after using the Infinity Stones because of his mortal body, right?" he mused. "But with his new enhancements—his Turbo Energy and other upgrades—he's on a whole different level now."

Thinking it over, Dave realized he could push Tony's limits even further. "There's a Mythical Zoan fruit on Sky Island. Maybe it's exactly what he needs to balance strength and resilience. A transformation power could make him nearly unstoppable."

Dave's gaze shifted to his crew. "I wonder if they're also interested in transformations. They might not realize it yet, but those powers could give them the edge they need," he thought, feeling a sense of pride in his team.

Emma, who had recently unlocked her iconic phoenix wings, was quickly establishing herself as one of the strongest in the crew. "She's definitely right behind me and Trish now," he noted with satisfaction, before closing his eyes, resting back on the couch.

A few days later, Tony looked ahead, his eyes sharp with focus. "We're taking off," he announced. The others nodded, bracing themselves as their ship began to lift from the sea, ascending toward the skies. "We'll soon reach Sky Island," Tony added confidently.

Dave gave him a nod. "No detours. Head straight for Skypiea. We're only here to capture Enel, that fool who's yet to face the reality of the real world." His words were firm, and the others nodded in agreement.

Emma chuckled, giving Dave a playful smile. "Alright, then. While you handle Enel, we'll explore Sky Island." She winked, clearly thrilled at the idea of adventure.

Dave shook his head, then tossed her a parchment. "Fine, but take this with you." The parchment was a special map he had earned as a reward after defeating Blackbeard. The system seemed to reward him for taking down powerful foes, like Abomination in the past. That time, he'd drawn Trish. This time, however, the reward was different—a map leading to the Mythical Zoan Light Angel Fruit.

"While you're out exploring, keep an eye out for this fruit," Dave instructed.

Emma and the other girls nodded in agreement, their excitement clear, while Tony chimed in, "I'll check out those shells you mentioned." Dave nodded, though inwardly he sighed, 'Figures. Here I am doing all the heavy lifting, while everyone else is here just for fun.'

Before long, they rose above the sea of clouds, moving steadily toward the massive floating islands that had appeared on their radar. The permanent pointer was locked on the primary island ahead—a beacon guiding them straight toward Skypiea.

As the ship glided through the dense clouds, everyone marveled at the surreal landscape around them. Towering islands floated against a backdrop of endless sky, the soft, pillowy clouds below giving the illusion of an ocean. White seagulls with uniquely fluffy feathers flew alongside them, occasionally swooping near to investigate the foreign vessel.

"Alright, stay focused," Dave reminded his crew, breaking their trance. "We're here to find Enel and secure the Light Angel Fruit."

As they continued, Dave spotted a vast, ornate structure in the distance—a giant palace floating on clouds. "That's where we'll find Enel," he muttered to himself, .

Emma stepped up, resting a hand on Dave's shoulder. "You've got this. We'll secure everything else so you can focus on the main mission."

Dave rolled his eyes and smirked. "He's even weaker than Blackbeard was; what do you mean, 'you got this'?"

Emma shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Just trying to cheer you up since we're all out here having fun while you're doing the heavy lifting."

Kyaa~~

Before she could say more, Dave wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close and pressing his lips to hers. Emma shouted and blinked in surprise but quickly melted into the kiss, responding with equal passion.

He pulled back slightly, grinning. "You're right, I'm doing all the work while you guys are just enjoying yourselves. Looks like I'll have to punish you a bit tonight."

Emma's cheeks flushed, but she didn't back away. Instead, she tilted her head up, her own smirk challenging. "We'll see who gets punished. We're not the same mortals we were before; our stamina is much better now. Think you can keep up with us?"

Dave chuckled, a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "Challenge accepted."

"are you sure you can takes us all at the same time tonight?" Trish asked with a smile as she looked at Dave.

"You will be sucked dry tonight" Diana also crossed her hands as she said.

Heheheheh

"we will see tonight, I will made sure you all beg me to stop" Dave said with a smile as he looked at them.

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