Chapter 50: Ganfall

After buying the Wavers from Pagaya, Koa tried operating one and immediately got the hang of it. Thanks to his experience riding motorcycles in his past life, the instincts carried over naturally. Seeing this, Greenbull got excited and wanted to try as well. He started up the Waver that Koa had bought for him and attempted to mimic Koa's actions—but failed. It was a far more difficult device to learn than he expected. Pagaya explained that it typically takes over ten years to master. Greenbull nearly fell off the Waver, barely managing to plant his foot to stop the crash.

Kuzan and the others gave it a try as well, but they all started slowly, unlike Koa, who immediately rode it at maximum capacity.

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After more than an hour of playing around, Koa decided it was time to stop. He began returning toward the area he came from, unable to even see Angel Beach anymore. But before he could head back, he sensed the arrival of someone descending from the sky. Koa looked up and immediately recognized the figure—it was a knight clad in armor, riding a winged horse. The knight landed in a nearby forest, and Koa approached him without concern.

"Are you the Blue Sea people who paid the toll with fruits and vegetables?" the figure asked bluntly, skipping any greeting or introduction.

"Aren't you going to introduce yourself first before speaking? Do the people of Skypiea not have any manners?" Koa replied frankly, irritated by the lack of courtesy.

"Ah, forgive my rudeness," the knight said, snapping out of his haste. "I was too focused on my task and forgot my manners. Let me start over: my name is Ganfall, the God of Skypiea. I've come to ask whether it was you who paid the toll at Heaven's Gate with fruits?"

"There, that's better," Koa said, nodding. "And yes, we were the ones. Why? Was there something wrong with the payment? The guardian said we could offer goods."

Upon hearing Koa's confirmation, Ganfall suddenly dropped to his knees and bowed deeply, shocking Koa and the others.

"May I make a request? Please… help us grow trees for the future of our people," Ganfall pleaded, still kneeling.

"Stand up first. I can't take you seriously with your back bent like that. Face me like a man and then explain your situation," Koa said firmly.

Ganfall stood and looked Koa in the eyes.

"There. That's better. Now, state your business," Koa instructed.

Ganfall explained, "As you might know, we have very limited land in Skypiea that contains soil. Food is scarce because the few trees we have can only bear so much fruit. The guardian told me that you were able to produce an incredible amount of fruit in under a minute. We would like to ask if you can provide us with some of those trees. We're willing to pay whatever you think is fair."

"That's something my companion can answer better than I can," Koa replied, gesturing for Ganfall to follow him. "But I do believe he can modify and plant trees that will grow even in cloud-based environments and generate their nutrients from sunlight. As for payment, what we need is technology, particularly anything related to shipbuilding."

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As they made their way back toward Angel Beach, Ganfall and Koa exchanged stories about their experiences across the seas. Ganfall also took the opportunity to introduce Koa to the main regions of Skypiea, describing the distinct islands, the culture of its people, and the history that shaped the sky civilization.

After some time, Koa heard the sound of laughter in the distance. The voices were familiar—he recognized them instantly. A small smile crept onto his face, and he began to pick up speed. Ganfall, confused but curious, quickly followed, matching Koa's pace.

When they emerged from the grove of cloud trees and reached an open clearing, the sight before them left Ganfall completely stunned. A large section of the White Sea had been frozen solid into a makeshift ice field. On top of it, Greenbull, Kuzan, Joichiro, Jhin, and Urf were gliding across the frozen surface—riding their modified Wavers like sleds.

Earlier, they had approached Pagaya and asked him to attach sled-like panels to the bottoms of their Wavers, so they could use them more easily on a flat, slick surface. Pagaya had finished the adjustments quickly thanks to the parts they'd provided. Now, they were joyfully racing, spinning, and drifting across the icy plain, fully immersed in the moment.

"How peculiar," Ganfall muttered in astonishment. "I don't know where this ice could've come from..."

"It's another ability from one of my companions," Koa explained casually. "Come on, let's pick up the pace."

With that, the two of them surged forward, flying toward the frozen patch where the rest of the crew laughed and played, the sky ringing with joy and the sound of Wavers skimming across ice.

The crew quickly noticed Koa and Ganfall approaching. Greenbull waved enthusiastically toward them, while Urf, who had given up trying to ride the Waver, happily slid across the ice on his belly. It was his first time ever seeing ice, having lived his whole life in a desert.

"Boss! Who's that?" Greenbull called out, eyes landing on Ganfall and the majestic, winged horse beside him.

Koa stepped forward, his voice firm but calm. "Everyone, this is Ganfall. He'll be helping us acquire our own ship—though he has a small request in return."

That announcement drew immediate reactions from the crew.

"Really, boss?!" Greenbull asked with wide eyes, clearly thrilled. He had long wanted a space of his own. On their current ship, he had to share a room with other crewmates.

Kuzan, Jhin, Joichiro, and Urf also perked up at the idea, visibly excited by the thought of upgrading their vessel.

"Yes," Koa confirmed. "But before we celebrate, there's something Ganfall would like to ask—specifically of you, Greenbull."

"Me?" Greenbull blinked in surprise, pointing to himself.

"Yes," Koa said with a small nod. "I'll let Ganfall explain the details."

With that, Koa stepped aside slightly, allowing Ganfall to step forward and address the crew.