Head out...

Hundred of miles out, the entire area became a pitch black and red, many black thin long vertical lines drown from the air, as the horrifying aura swept the whole area. Many pebbles of stones, even small rocks started to tremble, then levitate as the huge pressure is released in the surroudings.

"It seems like the man of the hour is here," Guzen who was under the heavy pressure smiled intensely as he cast his gaze into the distance.

The air was constantly converged as the such monstrous aura spreads, grass of the earth constantly bent down until they lay flat on the surface. Repeated cold winds travels through the air rustling the lame trees which were affected by the instantenous burst of pressure.

Laffitte who was breezingly bearing the pressure looked ahead of him with an unbroken smile and a calm expression. Even though the aura released from the individual was strong, judging from the light expression on both persons face. It was still something they could handle, even to the point they could somewhat feely move through.

"Not bad," the figure was a distance off nodded as he swept his dark brown eyes which glowed in the darkness of the area.

"Let see if you can handle this,"

Just when he has finished said that, huge, fiercer momentum blast from shadowy body. The dark ripples of energy shook the world into more darkness as the huge monstrous pressure spreads across. The sections of both tall and small trees were broken to bits, the ground at different points started to crack as slabs of the corrupt aura sweeps there way.

Now both big and small rocks now levitated in the surrouding, there was even a few of fists sizes. The torrent of winds took the surrounding area like a storm, as a few veins of the uprooted and grounded trees were detached from the earth. The space converged to a more terrifying point, as the release of strong breath solidifies the atmospheric layer.

The roars of the beasts in the surroundings were no longer the vocal point and could not be heard any more. Everyone of them lie on the ground in fear, they held their head low in some sort of reverance. As If the dormat ancient beast has just woken up, his whole being formed a human shape and anywhere the emotionless eyes looked, the air around totally freezes.

The horror ripples of black energies were even more dense as the figure slowly walked. Gloom, sorrow, hatred, envy creeped upon the land and air as the cold light beamed brightly in the figure's eyes. With that many pitch black wave like entity in the air and surrounding the tilted head person, it made him look like terrifying being who lived in the core of the abyss for ages.

Image here...

"What a terrifying aura," Laffitte straightened himself as he looked dead ahead. If it were before. he could stand calmly and carefree under the pressure. Now its totally different, it was like a small rock which was on him instantly turned into a 10 tonne boulder. Few fine layers of sweat ran down his face as he gripped the cane.

"The gap is so big," Guzen crazy expression condensed as he softly said. With him constantly developing himself over the 2 years period, he thought he could catch up to Joshua. When he saw that he was able to withstood the pressure of him earlier he thought all those hard work was not in vain. Then maybe he could challenge him

But he was totally wrong, the pressure release from earlier was like a drop of water in the whole ocean. What he is under now, was if the whole Mount Tai was weighing down him. Heavy, very pressuring and unshakeable, its to the point that even his leg wouldn't move under the hefty load of aura release.

The figure continue to slowly move forward but each time he moves the air contracts more and more. The trees in the surroundings no longer held their branch and leaves high but now it was in a dropped state. It hanged at a low point as they continue be pressurized by the full on blown oppression.

Each step the black entity takes, the air converges, each step he makes, the ground cracks and each move he makes, the pressure increases on Guzen and Laffitte by 2 fold.

Image here...

Feeling the pressure them continue to strengthen upon them, both Guzen and Laffitte painstakingly stood their ground. They know that the figure is testing them, testing them to see the level they have reached over this 2 years period. If they can't hold on until the end, the time given onto them to develop themselves would be a waste, as not much potential could be stimulated in this time set frame.

Because 2 years back, they couldn't even face a beast in the grandline, their strength was bascially at rock bottom of the grandline and they have grown to the point they could strive and beat many of them with the strength they have. How would they be willing to fall under just the pressure of someone, obviously they are totally unwillingly. Also, if they do falter, it would mean they are not ready to take on what will meet them in the grandline and further.

The figure who was slowly walking as now reached the bodies of Guzen and Laffitte whose feet were embedded in the ground.

"It seems the development over these years were not small at all," the familiar shadow drew back its aura has it whole self came into view. He had on a slim black pants which corresponding which the slim black cloak he had on. What was different is that, he had two wide sleeve holes which covered his hand. However, it could be noted that a white bandage was wrapped around his right hand and as for the other, there was none.

On the left side of the cloak there were many vertical parallel black chains which ran from the top to the helm of his cloak. Such pattern also ran along to the his left hand with had on the snake tattoo. It also had a high neck which covered the mouth region of the figure's face. His long black twist dangled down in his face as the light winds went by, while he stood their motionlessly.

This figure was Joshua, with 2 years gone, his height had risen two inches, making him a 5'9" individual. The year Joshua went out at sea he was twelve turning into thirteen, with these years added, Joshua has became 15 years old. Now his face was a more cold than ever but hints of maturity was evident.

"Boss the aura you just released nearly killed me," Guzen complained as the wiped the cold sweat off his face.

"You have made it out alive on the island filled with many beasts, such little thing should not harm you," Joshua lightly responsded. Simply not taking Guzen complaint in to heart.

"Now it time to go,"

Everyone nodded, then they all flashed over to the nearby ship. Guzen unanchored the unchor while Laffitte started the ship. The Corrupted Serpent which have not moved for some time, shook a little as it made itself out at sea again. It swayed through the low wave line ocean as it made it way forward.

Roar.

A long necked green creature flared up from the ocean, it green slippery scales continue to drip with water as bumped out of the sea. The long necked one eye monster roared again as it made it way to Guzen who was near its body. Guzen who stood in a sideways position in front of the beast, body frenzied a little then went back to his original state.

The one eye creature who was about to grind Guzen whole in its shrap canine draws, head slid down from its body. It dropped near the edge of the ship's side then into the ocean, the other section of its body spewed blood as it followed it backas well. All this that happened was just a small thing, as noone really pay attention to it but continued to looked forward.

The ship sailed into the heavy rain fall and huge wavy area that surrounds the island, then made its way right through the unseeable fog.

"Finally out," Guzen deeply inhaled the air which was bascially the same on the island. He turned around and his eyes flashed with a bit of wonder. The surroundings really does look the same, it almost unbelievable that an island which was on the open sea used the area as a comauflage mask.

"Laffitte set course to sky island," Joshua who was sitting on the side of the ship said.

"Sky island, is it real?" Laffitte asked, over the 2 year period he has broaden his nagivational studies by a bunch and now he very familiar many things in the grandline. For the Sky island he has browsed through the information under this, it said that it is a mysterious island above the clouds.

Many talked about it, but who really truly went there and experienced it, noone could really tell. Now, its has just become a myth, a tail of one the many legends which are told by old folk all around.

"It does exist," Joshua anwersed Laffitte calmly. It really does exist, Luffy and his crew went there and it also sent that the Roger pirates once journeyed there as well.

"Okay captain," Laffitte lightly nodded as he moved away from where Joshua was. Why Joshua was so sure about it, he does not know, but it will be really interesting if such place actually exist.

Seeing Laffitte move off, Joshua eyes flickered slightly. Why he wants to go to Sky Island, its because he wants to see if he can gets his hands on a certain something or someone.