Chapter 262: The Realm of the Gods

"Kuina? Are you free right now?"

After finally dealing with an unexpectedly distressed Sengoku, Wright dialed Kuina's number.

"Senior brother? I'm handling some Baroque Works matters with Sister Hina... Is it something important?"

"Yes. Lightforged Beacon No. 01332. I'll transport you over in five minutes."

Sensing the gravity in his tone, Kuina immediately took the matter seriously.

Back on the deserted island where Smoker was stationed, Wright set up the Lightforged Beacon. Moments later, the transmission request appeared, and Wright approved it.

A flash of golden light erupted, and Kuina, clad in her Marine justice coat, materialized beside the beacon.

"Senior... brother?"

The moment she appeared, her eyes were instantly drawn to the Devil Fruit in Wright's hands.

She immediately understood why her senior brother had called her over so urgently.

The long-sought-after Devil Fruit... had finally appeared.

"Senior brother, is this...?"

Suppressing the excitement welling up in her heart, Kuina's large eyes locked onto Wright's smiling face.

"It's my spoils of war... No military merit required."

Seeing the slight hint of reproach in Kuina's eyes, Wright couldn't help but chuckle.

"Haha... This is the Paramecia-type Float-Float Fruit! Eating it will allow you to make yourself—and any non-living objects you touch—freely float and fly!"

"Flight?!"

Kuina's eyes sparkled. When it came to the ability to fly, there weren't many in the entire Marine Headquarters who wouldn't be tempted!

"But... how does this relate to swordsmanship?"

"Its previous owner... was a great swordsman."

Wright tossed the Float-Float Fruit to Kuina.

"Don't eat it just yet. Let me show you how its previous user fought."

Wright found Smoker, who was busy reassuring the islanders, and borrowed a visual Den Den Mushi.

"Take a look—fresh battle footage."

...

Kuina watched in shock as the battle between Wright and the Golden Lion unfolded on the screen.

"That... that old blonde guy was the Float-Float Fruit user? Senior brother, you killed him?"

"Yeah. The legendary pirate, Golden Lion Shiki. His body is still over there."

"As for the Devil Fruit... It's probably just a coincidence, but after his death, it was found nearby."

Wright could only offer a vague explanation, but thankfully, Kuina didn't press the issue—luck was always an unpredictable factor.

Devil Fruits reappearing near the deceased users' locations wasn't unheard of.

"Originally, I was planning to find you a Mythical Zoan-type fruit—one that would provide both a powerful physical foundation and the unique abilities of a mythical beast..."

Wright scratched his head, looking somewhat uncertain.

"Senior brother, those are even rarer than Logia-type fruits..."

Kuina's expression turned complicated. "Besides, transforming into an animal seems strange. The Float-Float Fruit allows flight and such combat versatility... It's absolutely perfect for me."

"And considering it appeared near you after you defeated that so-called Golden Lion..."

Kuina's eyes gleamed. "This is destiny!"

"Are you sure, Kuina? Once you eat it, there's no turning back."

"I'm sure!"

"Alright... then eat it."

...

"Ugh!"

"You can't throw up! Finish it! Who knows if not eating the whole thing might result in flaws in the ability..."

"Just imagine it's an apple! A really tasty apple!"

"Senior brother! Do you really think that helps?! And I know the power activates with the first bite!"

"Hahaha..."

...

After sending Kuina back to Alabasta to experiment with her newfound ability, Wright soon received a transmission request from Garp.

A golden light flashed, and Garp appeared beside the Lightforged Beacon, his face unusually solemn. The moment he looked up, he saw the sealed corpse of Golden Lion Shiki, encased in the Holy Light.

Even his twin swords, "Oto" and "Kogarashi," were still gripped tightly in his hands. His now-bald head, however, no longer bore the infamous rudder embedded in it.

"Wright, how did you encounter him?"

Garp's voice was uncharacteristically dry. No matter what, this was a legend from his era.

Wright explained the situation to him.

"Old man Garp, Shiki's corpse is of great significance. Old man Sengoku will handle the matter..."

"Although the Den Den Mushi didn't capture the moment of his death, it recorded the entire battle beforehand. You can watch it at your own pace... I have things to do. Once I return from Marineford, I'll be taking the Lightforged Beacon elsewhere."

"A Marine ship will arrive soon. Smoker will assist in relocating the islanders. You just need to watch over Shiki's remains."

"Understood..."

"So, he removed the rudder from his head... You healed him before he died? There's not a single wound left."

"Just giving a legend the respect he deserves."

"Well done..."

"Heh! Stop getting sentimental, old man. I'm off!"

"You brat!"

...

After teleporting back to Marineford, taking a shower, and changing into fresh clothes, Wright had a secret meeting with Sengoku that lasted the entire afternoon. Once that was done, he enjoyed a good night's sleep before teleporting back to Garp's location, giving a brief farewell, and taking the Lightforged Beacon with him.

His journey to Skypiea was still on course.

After several days of flight, this time without any unexpected incidents, Wright smoothly arrived above Jaya Island.

"Straight up—let's do this!"

Whoosh—!

Wright shot into the sky.

In the eyes of Skypieans, the Blue Sea referred to the world below their floating domain. At 7,000 meters above sea level lay the "White Sea," and at 10,000 meters, above a peculiar cloud formation called the "White-White Sea," was Skypiea itself.

"The air is thinner here... but it's not a big problem."

Boom!

Breaking through the final layer of island clouds, Wright emerged into the "sky" of Skypiea!

Activating his Observation Haki to its fullest, Wright sought only one target—Enel. If he could locate him directly, things would proceed much faster.

"That must be Angel Island... which means Enel's so-called 'Holy Land'—a part of Jaya Island that was launched into the sky—shouldn't be far."

Upper Yard, the landmass that was sent skyward by the Knock Up Stream 400 years ago, was the only part of Skypiea with actual soil, making it sacred to the Skypieans.

However, its native inhabitants, the Shandians, had never accepted its loss and had waged a 400-year war to reclaim it.

Enel, arriving in the midst of this conflict with his followers, overthrew the original Skypiean god, Gan Fall, and took control of Upper Yard, proclaiming himself a god.

It didn't take Wright long to locate Upper Yard—viewed from above, it was incredibly conspicuous.

At its center stood a towering, massive vine...

And at its base—the legendary "City of Gold," Shandora!

"Ah... found him. That faint sound of thunder—Enel!"

Wright smirked and flew toward his target—the "God's Shrine."

In the shrine, Enel, lounging on his throne while biting into an apple, suddenly froze.

"What is this...?

"A presence I've never sensed before!"

"And it's moving towards me—fast!"

"This presence... is strong!"

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