《One Piece: Magma of Absolute》Chapter 41: The Knock Up Stream

Four hundred years.

Generations of unwavering faith.

Yet now, it seemed all that persistence might have been chasing the wrong answer. Cricket felt a strange emptiness gnawing at him.

He knew, deep down, that this was probably the real truth.

So what did those centuries of sacrifice and stubbornness—diving again and again to the ocean floor—really mean?

That's just human nature. Before the truth is revealed, you cling to your beliefs with everything you have. But when the answer finally comes, and it turns out to be the opposite of what you hoped for, it's hard—impossible, really—to accept that all your struggles might have been for nothing.

—

Three days later, off the coast of Jaya Island.

The Knock Up Stream hadn't erupted yet, but the sea was already restless.

At the epicenter, a massive whirlpool had formed, spinning faster and faster as time ticked by. Even the anchored warship began to sway with the swirling current.

Cricket stood beside Sakazuki, clutching a strange, pudgy bird in his arms—a South Bird. Its dazed eyes and arrow-like beak always pointed due south. Next to him were some Berries and a few shells, all packed and ready for the journey to Sky Island.

"It's coming."

Sakazuki's deep voice sent a shiver through the crew. Before anyone could react, the entire ship lurched.

RUMBLE!

A thunderous roar split the air as the whirlpool's pull intensified. The churning waters dragged the warship toward the vortex's heart, faster and faster—

Until, with a sudden jolt—

WHOOSH!!!

The entire ship was hurled skyward, flung straight into the gaping maw at the whirlpool's center.

Cricket and the Marines stood frozen on the airborne deck, staring down at the sea far below, their faces ghostly pale.

They'd been launched into the air!

Hissss!!!

All eyes shot to the bow, where Sakazuki stood, unflinching as ever, as if this wild ride was nothing out of the ordinary. His calm steadied the others, if only a little.

It all happened in a blink. Just as the warship was about to plunge into the swirling abyss—

BOOM!!!

The ship slammed back into the water. In an instant, the whirlpool vanished, leaving only a placid sea behind.

"Hold onto the railings," Sakazuki ordered, voice low and steady.

He gripped the rail with one hand and hoisted Cricket with the other. The rest of the crew scrambled to grab hold.

The sea beneath them bulged, swelling like a giant bubble. The warship rose higher and higher—until, with a deafening crash, a torrent of seawater burst forth, transforming into a colossal Knock Up Stream that rocketed the ship up toward the clouds.

"Wooooah!!!"

"We're going straight up!"

"This is insane!"

"Hahahahaha!!"

"Let's goooooo!!"

"YEAH!!!"

The warship shot up the vertical current, the crew shouting in awe and disbelief. But soon, unease crept in. The ocean below was shrinking, farther and farther away.

"Wait, wait—no way!!!"

"We're doomed!!"

"This can't be happening!!"

"I—!!"

"Hey, hey, hey, HEY!!!"

As more and more realized the truth, panic spread. The ship was really leaving the sea behind—and so were a few Sea Kings tumbling helplessly beside them.

Splash!

The instant the warship broke free of the ocean's surface, Sakazuki's hand on the rail transformed into molten magma. It surged out, coating the hull in a hardened layer, leaving the center open while forming a massive arrowhead on the outside.

Armament Haki flared, hardening the magma until a giant black arrow gleamed in the air.

BOOM!!

A torrent of magma erupted from the arrow's base, blasting them even higher, propelling the warship toward the sky.

Rumble...

Truth be told, bringing Cricket along was just a bonus. Since they'd come this far, Sakazuki didn't mind helping himself to the treasures of Sky Island. But what he truly wanted was the blueprint for the legendary flying ark, Maxim...

The White Sea.

7,000 meters above the Blue Sea.

The air was thin, and countless tiny sky islands dotted the endless white. You could reach it through Heaven's Gate or ride the Knock Up Stream, and return via the eastern Cloud's End.

Above this layer was the White-White Sea—a place called the "Holy Land," the Land of God.

That divine realm sat 3,000 meters higher, made up of Angel Island and the Island of God, Upper Yard.

But what mattered most here were the blueprints for the ark Maxim, mountains of gold, the legendary Rumble-Rumble Fruit, and more—free for the taking if you were bold enough...

BOOM!!

With a thunderous crash, a gigantic black arrow burst through the White Sea's surface. The moment it emerged, the arrow softened and melted away.

A warship crashed into the sea of clouds, sending up a spray of white that rained down like snow.

Bathed in sunlight once more, the crew gaped at the world around them.

"What the—?!"

"Clouds?"

"Whoa!!!"

"It's all white!"

"We're floating on clouds!"

"How is this possible?!"

Hissss!

"It's real."

The adjutant pulled out a thick file on Sky Island.

"This should be the White Sea—a navigable ocean formed by sea clouds within the island clouds."

"Hiss, so it really is clouds."

"How can you be sure this is the White Sea?"

"Because of that—"

"Hm?"

"What's that?!"

"An upside-down white waterfall?!"

Following the adjutant's finger, the Marines peered through the clouds. Through the shifting mist, they could just make out a massive, inverted waterfall of white.

"Yeah, that should be Heaven's Gate."

"Heaven?!"

"You mean, like, actual Heaven?!"

"No, it's just another sky island. It's the only real nation up here—the Land of God."

"That's the entrance—Heaven's Gate."

The adjutant explained, and a few Marines slumped, disappointed. Paradise, it seemed, would have to wait.

"Aww, I thought we'd meet God or something."

"Don't be ridiculous. There's no such thing as gods."

"Hahahaha!"

"Well, there aren't any real gods, but..." The adjutant's voice trailed off, drawing everyone's attention. He grinned. "There is a race of angels—y'know, with wings and everything."

Gasps and excited chatter broke out as the Marines crowded to the bow, eyes shining with anticipation.

Sakazuki nodded at the adjutant, who raised his hand and pointed toward the distant, upside-down waterfall.

"Target: Heaven's Gate!"

"YEAH!!!"

~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~

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