Chapter 16:Departure from Sky Island!

It had been a week since Yami and his crew arrived on Sky Island, and in that time, they had fully explored its wonders. The factory he built at Enel's former palace was now operational, with both Gan Fall and the Shandian chief ensuring workers were assigned to produce dials in bulk.

As promised, Yami also provided the islanders with a sustainable source of dirt—one of the rarest and most valuable resources in the sky. He had also constructed a specialized machine in the factory, and the only way to obtain dirt was by inserting a designated card issued to workers. Each worker received seven blocks of dirt per week, and once the card was used, it would be temporarily blocked, resetting after seven days.

This innovation spread widespread enthusiasm across the entire Sky Island. Dirt was no longer a dream for the sky dwellers but a tangible, renewable resource. While gold had always been abundant and was merely used for decoration, dirt was now the true currency of value.

Yami, of course, had collected all of Enel's vast reserves of gold, along with the massive treasure hoard inside the giant snake. But his greatest find was the legendary Golden City, hidden beneath the beanstalk that once held the golden bell. The entire city, buried for centuries, was now in Yami's possession.

Standing atop the golden ruins, Yami crossed his arms with a proud smirk. 'With this, I'm probably the richest man alive. The only person wealthier than me might be Imu, but even then, that's debatable. The World Government has resources, but I have all the gold I could ever need. Plus I can just keep spawning everything I need, even diamonds, so I really am the world's richest man alive.'

When Nami found out just how much gold Yami had alongside the fact that Yami ca just spawn diamond blocks just with a thought, her reaction was immediate.

"Marry me, Yami!" she exclaimed, her eyes turning into glowing belly signs as she lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his massive frame.

Yami barely had time to react before Nami practically buried her face into his chest, pressing herself against him in a way that left Nojiko and Tashigi struggling to pry her away.

"Nami! Get a hold of yourself!" Nojiko scolded, tugging at her sister's arm.

"Nami, this is ridiculous! You can't just propose over gold and diamonds!" Tashigi added, trying to pull her back.

"I don't care! He's my rich captain! Do you know what I could do with that much money?!" Nami argued while still clinging onto Yami like a lifeline.

Yami simply grinned, amused by the whole situation. 'Not that I'm complaining. Who in their right mind wouldn't enjoy having Nami cling to them like this? Especially with… well, those pressing against me.'

Eventually, the girls managed to pry Nami off him, but her love-struck expression remained as she continued fantasizing about all the riches she could acquire.

With everything settled on Sky Island, it was time for Yami and his crew to depart. As they boarded Kraken, Gan Fall and the Shandian chief arrived to see them off.

"We owe you a great deal, God-Sama," Gan Fall said respectfully. "Sky Island has changed forever because of you."

"When you return, you will recieve a grand parade that is truly worthy for yourself, God-Sama." the Shandian chief added, giving a firm nod of gratitude.

Yami smirked. "Of course. Sky Island is under my protection now. If any trouble comes your way, just use the Den Den Mushi I left behind."

Gan Fall and the Shandian chief nodded, and the gathered sky dwellers waved as Kraken prepared for takeoff.

The ship's massive balloons inflated, while the thrusters roared to life. With a powerful burst of energy, Kraken shot into the sky, leaving behind the floating island as they headed towards their next destination.

Nami studied the Eternal Pose in her hand, a determined look on her face.

"With the speed we're moving at, we'll reach Punk Hazard in just one day," she announced.

The rest of the girls gazed in awe at Kraken, still marveling at its incredible capabilities.

"It's almost unheard of," Tashigi muttered. "Traveling from a Paradise island like Sky Island to a New World island like Punk Hazard in just a day? This ship is insane."

Yami smirked as he leaned against the railing. "And this is just the prototype. Kraken will be even stronger in the future. By the time I'm done with it, even the ancient weapon Pluton will pale in comparison."

The wind howled as the ship surged forward, and with their next destination set, Yami's journey was about to take another step toward shaking the world itself.

While Kraken soared toward Punk Hazard, the scene shifted to the eerie, smoke-filled island itself. Inside a dimly lit laboratory, the sound of bubbling chemicals and the low hum of machinery echoed through the metallic halls.

At the center of the room, surrounded by towering research equipment, stood Caesar Clown. The deranged scientist cackled as he eagerly presented data on two of his most ambitious projects—the Gigantification Project and the SMILE artificial Devil Fruits.

"Hihihihi! Look at this, Doffy! The success rate of the SMILE fruits has increased, even if only by a little," Caesar announced, waving a stack of papers with a manic grin. "It won't be long before we reach near-perfect results! And the Gigantification Project... well, it's still facing some minor issues, but progress is being made!"

The man listening to Caesar's ramblings was none other than Donquixote Doflamingo, the infamous underworld broker known as Joker. He stood with his signature arrogant smirk, wearing his flamboyant pink feathered coat as he casually examined the data in Caesar's hands.

Doflamingo had personally come to Punk Hazard for an important reason. Tomorrow, he was scheduled to have a crucial meeting with representatives sent by two of the most powerful emperors of the sea—Big Mom and Kaido.

Kaido was demanding more SMILE fruits to strengthen his Beast Pirates, while Big Mom had grown increasingly impatient with the lack of results from the Gigantification Project.

Doflamingo chuckled to himself, his sunglasses gleaming under the dim lights. 'Tomorrow, I'll be walking away with some serious profits. The Yonko might be powerful, but they need me. That means I hold the cards.'

However, little did he know…

Tomorrow, everything would change.

Because someone was about to come crashing into Punk Hazard, and the entire island would never be the same again.

(Find out next time on One Piece:The Minecraft devil!)