Chapter 61: Sky Island...

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Chapter 61: Sky Island...

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[Sharlia POV]

Life in Mariejois was lame in comparison to the adventures with Max. It was the best, though I wish my advances towards him worked more. He seemed to be as dense as a thick wall.

Even when I clearly expressed that I liked him, he just seemed to assume a completely different scenario. Does he even see me as a woman? 

If Raynare and her huge boobs weren't here, by now I and Max would have been married. 

**

My darling was talking to a man with a chestnut on his head? That was weird… There are a lot of people like this in the world. Back then they used to be just a freak show attraction to the World Nobles, but I learned that there was a lot more out there than just enslaving people. 

In Mariejois we lived like Gods, but I pity the people up there as they will never get the chance to truly experience the world.

They will die with only puppets around them that never refuted anything a World Noble would say. How… dull… going back there will be torture. But I knew that Max wanted, no, he needed me to go back, just being with him wasn't enough. 

I wasn't a strong fighter and my abilities weren't anything special. But… I still want Max to look at me with a loving gaze. It was nice knowing that he would protect me, not because of my status as a World Noble, but because I was Sharlia, the woman who will do her best to get out of the little sister role in the relationship.

———

[Max POV]

"It isn't that easy to build you a flying ship? Also, the Knock-Up stream wasn't scheduled to come yet for some more months. Plus your ship is too big." Mont Blanc Cricket said to me.

I had just requested him to work on my ship and make it able fly. We were at his house, or half-house since the other half had been blown up by the knock-up stream hundreds of years ago.

His words were kinda disappointing, but the reason I came here wasn't to have him build me a ship. I already knew he couldn't do that, and the man had a 25 million Beri bounty on his head. But there was no reason to claim it or put the man in prison, he was more useful alive.

His knowledge about the sky island, aerial ascension, knock-up streams, and diving was top-notch. He would be someone useful to put as the head of Jaya Islands military front. After all, the knock-up streams are no joke and could be used in a very efficient manner. The natural occurrence could wipe out a whole fleet of ships if used correctly and the enemy was led there.

"Still, can you at least become part of my close-up and trusted personal friend Jaya?" I asked him. 

Before he answered he took a cigarette and lit it, taking a huge puff of smoke. "I have heard what you did to the criminals in Jaya. Not like it was my concern so I didn't care, but…"

Cricket seemed to contemplate something and I knew that he understood what had to be done if his decision contradicted mine. There would be a new prisoner in Impel Down.

"So then, what's your decision?" I asked, prompting him to give me an answer.

"As long as you also let me do my work, then I am okay with it." He agreed to my proposal. "We will help you however we can, but promise me that the World Government won't taint the Sky Island and use it to get a tighter grip in the world."

I nodded and promised him. "I give you my word."

After all, what benefit would there be for me if the World Government had access to the gold in sky island? That city of gold was all mine, and the Sky Islands will be used as my bases. No army would be able to fight me in the sky, even if someday my ambitions didn't align with the World Governments. I now had an option and semi-working strategy to fight against them.

Negan took this chance to come forward and give Cricket a handshake. "Glad to do business with you friend. Boss-Man might be the logical type, but I ain't, so if you betray us this," he showed his spiked bat. "Will go so far up your ass even your great-grandchildren will wince in pain while shìtting."

Like always, Negan's intimidation tactics were efficient as Cricket's face paled. We both could tell that Negan was the kinda guy crazy enough to hold such promises. He always gave away a mad dog vibe that made it clear he doesn't care about the consequences of his actions.

**

After the meeting with Cricket, we decided that I, Sharlia, Raynare, and Negan will be the only ones going to Sky Island. 

Since the ship wasn't available to go up there, it was impossible to take the rest of the crew with us. But any of that didn't matter as my goal wasn't to militarize the Sku Island yet.

So Raynare carried Sharlia and I had Negan in my hands, we all flew off and towards the sky. None of us made any snide comments or jokes as the higher we flew the thinner oxygen got. 

It was beautiful scenery and made me feel a little tingly as we flew over the clouds. This was what I wanted to experience in this world, the sense of wonder. 

Negan and Sharlia activated our air bubbles, the ones used in coating ships that go underwater. After all, the sea clouds were still effective in Devil Fruit users, so it was better to be prepared for this.

**

As we got around 9,000 Meters (~5.9 miles) above the sea, my legs started feeling tired. It was because the air was so thin and my lungs hadn't gotten used to it. But as I changed into my bear hybrid form, everything went back to normal and my breathing became just fine. Gotta love that Zoan recovery time, it always made things easier.

**

By the time we reached above the cloud sea, it felt like reaching heaven, white clouds all around and there was even a gate close by. 

Suddenly some big creature came out of the cloud sea.

<Rankyaku: Sen>

I kicked off a blade of sharpened air and unlike a normal slash, it took the form of a bullet and popped the crocodile creature like it was a balloon.

"Damn, I gotta learn some of these techniques, they look so damn cool," Negan murmured, his eyes glistening with a child-like glimmer.

I chuckled at his behavior. It would be good if he learned some Rokushiki Techniques, these things are lifesavers. Especially <Geppo> it pretty much negated the weakness a Devil fruit user had, the chances of falling into water became almost non-existent due to it.

Closing my eyes, I concentrated on using my Observation Haki and sensed two presences were fighting. One of them was a familiar sensation, meaning Luffy and the other felt like Lightning and moved around quite fast so that should be Enel.

"Ray, take Negan and Sharlia to the Gold City, use the photo snail to take a photograph of the Poneglyph in the Gold City ruins. Sharlia, you go with her, Negan… take as much gold as you can damn carry," with that said, I threw Negan towards where I sensed the giant snake. That should be towards the Golden City and Raynare followed him along.

This was a mission of importance, so I took out three Rumble Balls and ate them. My body immediately morphed again and this time, unlike when fighting against Doflamingo, I wasn't unfamiliar.

<Life Return: Jet> 

My legs bulked up to three times their size, Awakening had become easier to use and every part of my body was under my control down to the last strand of hair.

BOOOOOM!!!

One kick and the air and a cloud of smoke was left behind, igniting the air like a jet. Each kick created an explosion that dispersed flames and made it seem like I was an airplane moving through the sky, breaking the sound barrier.

*

In less than a minute I reached the place where Luffy and  Enel were fighting, the latter had changed forms into a giant Buddha-like figure made out of electricity. Both of them noticed me and looked surprised at my figure.

My legs now were bigger than most of my body, so the jet form probably looked quite strange to others.