HST: Chapter 54/55

Chapter 54: Miracle
With the massive force of the surging sea current, the Wind Rider soared 7,000 meters and landed atop a white cloud.

Bang!

When the force of the sea current dissipated, the Wind Rider came to a steady landing on the white cloud.

"It can actually float on a cloud, just like sailing on water."

Nami looked at the Wind Rider gliding across the cloud and gasped in surprise.

"We're actually standing on a cloud!"

Vivi gazed at the vast sea of clouds, feeling as if she were dreaming.

Tashigi pursed her lips, still unable to believe the breathtaking scene in front of her.

Even Robin was momentarily stunned by the endless white landscape.

Although they had all prepared themselves mentally, now that they saw it for themselves, it still felt unbelievable.

"This world really is full of wonders."

Caelan looked at the boundless cloud sea. A faint smile appeared on his lips as his desire to explore the world stirred.

Boom!

Just as everyone was immersed in the beauty of the sky, a deafening roar rang out.

A massive fish, over fifty meters long, burst out of the clouds, its mouth—more than ten meters wide and lined with sharp fangs—lunging toward the Wind Rider.

"What a huge fish! It's like a monster!"

Nami stared in horror at the monstrous fish, its size even larger than the Wind Rider itself.

"This must be the sky fish mentioned in Noland's journal. But it's enormous..."

Robin's expression turned serious. This creature rivaled some Sea Kings in size.

Vivi and Tashigi stepped forward, ready to fight.

But just as they prepared to strike, they realized their bodies had gone limp. They couldn't summon any strength.

Roar!

In an instant, the enormous sky fish loomed over the Wind Rider, casting a massive shadow.

Bang!

Caelan leapt into the air and delivered a single punch, knocking the sky fish flying. It tumbled back into the clouds and quickly disappeared from view.

The girls let out a breath of relief and looked at Caelan gratefully.

Neigh!

With a sharp cry, an old knight clad in armor appeared, riding a strange-looking Pegasus and holding a spear.

Gan Fall stared at Caelan in disbelief.

"Another one?"

Nami held her head and let out a groan, starting to feel a headache.

"Damn it, I still can't move!"

Vivi, Robin, and Tashigi wanted to respond, but they still couldn't gather any strength. All they could do was glare at Gan Fall warily.

"Don't be alarmed. I come in peace. You may call me the Knight of the Sky."

"People of the Blue Sea, I'm here to help."

Gan Fall raised both hands and rested his spear against the Pegasus's back to show he meant no harm.

"Blue Sea people?"

Nami blinked in confusion, not quite understanding.

Vivi, Tashigi, and Robin eased their stances slightly. Gan Fall didn't seem like an enemy.

"That's right. You come from the sea 7,000 meters below, which we call the Blue Sea. These clouds are what we call the White Sea."

"As for your physical weakness, it's due to the thinner air here compared to the Blue Sea."

"But you've already arrived. Why haven't you adapted yet?"

Gan Fall looked at Caelan and the others curiously, explaining patiently.

"Adapt? We just came through the Knock Up Stream!"

Tashigi was a little shocked. How could anyone adapt that quickly?

"The Knock Up Stream? You actually came through that? That's the most dangerous route!"

"You're truly brave. Your sailing skills are impressive as well."

Gan Fall praised them sincerely, though he kept stealing glances at Caelan.

If they had just arrived, why was this man completely unaffected?

And the way he punched away a sky fish weighing hundreds of tons... it was outrageous.

"Are there other ways to reach Sky Island besides the Knock Up Stream?"

Nami widened her eyes in disbelief.

"Of course."

"Though that route still has its dangers, it's much safer than the Knock Up Stream."

Gan Fall replied distractedly, still lost in thought about Caelan.

Nami was stunned. Cold sweat trickled down her face. The phrase "most dangerous" kept ringing in her ears.

"Sir, you don't seem affected at all. And your strength seems a little... too great."

Gan Fall finally gave in to his curiosity and asked Caelan carefully.

That punch earlier had truly shocked him.

"Everyone's physique is different. I was born with great strength."

Caelan smiled.

Thanks to his physique, he had already adapted by the time he rose into the sky.

Now, the environment felt completely natural to him.

"I see."

Gan Fall nodded, as if understanding something.

He had met a few innately gifted individuals in his life.

"I was going to give you a whistle, so you could pay for my help."

"But with this gentleman here, it'd be pointless."

"Everyone, I wish you luck. Farewell!"

With that, Gan Fall mounted his odd-looking Pegasus and disappeared into the clouds.

"What a weirdo. And what an ugly Pegasus."

Nami muttered as she watched him vanish, finally unable to hold back her complaint.

"Alright, forget about him. Let's move on."

Caelan rubbed Nami's head gently, though his eyes lingered on the cloud where Gan Fall had disappeared. He hadn't actually gone far.

Nami nodded, and together with the other girls, began piloting the Wind Rider to higher altitudes.

According to the Log Pose, which had already locked onto the new magnetic field, they were still some distance from the true Sky Island.

Within the clouds, Gan Fall hovered on his Pegasus, watching the Wind Rider as it ascended.

"That man... it's like he saw me."

Gan Fall recalled how Caelan had looked straight in his direction.

"How could that be? Only Enel and the priests can use the Mantra. He shouldn't be able to..."

Gan Fall shook his head, thinking he was overanalyzing it.

Maybe this man was simply that strong. Strong enough that the environment didn't affect him.

But now he wondered—how did this mysterious man compare to Enel?

He quickly shook off the thought.

Caelan was just a powerful mortal, while Enel was a god who wielded lightning. There was no comparison.

Sigh.

"If only a strong enough person existed to drive Enel away..."

Gan Fall sighed to himself.

Enel had plunged Sky Island into chaos. The people were suffering terribly under his rule.

If someone could truly overthrow Enel, it would be like a dream come true.

Smack!

Gan Fall slapped himself, snapping out of his thoughts.

There were no miracles in this world. It was better to stay grounded, remain a Sky Knight, and help as many people as he could.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 55: Despicable

As the Wind Rider continued forward, Caelan and the others arrived at a massive passage formed from white clouds.

Beside the passage stood a golden gate, with a plaque reading "Heaven's Gate."

"The Log Pose is still pointing upward. Are we supposed to go through this passage?"

"But it goes straight up, and the Wind Rider can't fly."

Nami looked at the Log Pose on her wrist, a bit puzzled.

"This 'Heaven's Gate'... if we pass through it, does that mean we reach heaven?"

Robin was drawn to the plaque and studied the inscription thoughtfully.

"Hey, you two, stop guessing. Why not just ask that person?"

Vivi and Tashigi rolled their eyes and pointed to the base of the gate.

Beneath the gate's pillars stood an elderly woman holding a camera, repeatedly snapping photos of Caelan and the group.

Her wrinkled face resembled a dried plum, and her short, thin figure was dressed in lavender. Most notable were the small white wings on her back.

Was this supposed to be an angel? Why did she look as abstract as that Pegasus?

Nami's face twitched as she resisted the urge to complain aloud.

Robin quietly withdrew her earlier assumption that this was heaven. If heaven looked like this, she might prefer hell.

"I am the Heaven's Gate supervisor, Amazon."

"May I ask if you're here for sightseeing or combat? Regardless, we don't turn people away here."

Amazon smiled eerily, but her tone remained oddly polite.

"We just want to enter Sky Island. We'll take a look around first."

Caelan stepped forward and responded calmly.

"Whatever your purpose, if you want to ascend to the next level, you must pay one billion Extol. That's the law here."

Amazon lowered her eyelids and replied emotionlessly.

"One billion Extol?! How much is that in Berries?"

Nami's eyes widened in shock at the massive number.

"It doesn't matter if you don't pay. I'm not a gatekeeper or a guard. I only ask to know your intent."

Amazon squinted her eyes, seemingly indifferent.

But in her heart, she sneered. Another group of outsiders had arrived. She'd soon witness divine punishment again.

"Thank you..."

Nami began to respond, surprised.

"Free is the most expensive, Nami. Don't be fooled."

Caelan raised his hand to stop her, speaking calmly.

Was this old woman hiding something?

Nami immediately caught on and glanced at Amazon suspiciously.

The other women sensed something off as well. They looked at Amazon with cautious eyes.

If it didn't matter whether they paid, then what was the point of this old woman's presence?

And more importantly, she gave off a deeply unpleasant, sly vibe. It was clearly suspicious.

"How much in Berries is needed for five people? A total of five billion Extol?"

Caelan stepped forward, staring down at Amazon, and released a faint wave of Conqueror's Haki.

He could tell this old woman had ulterior motives, and there was no reason to humor her.

Under Caelan's oppressive aura, Amazon's prune-like face went pale, her already hunched back curling even more. Her body trembled involuntarily.

"1 Berry can be exchanged for 10,000 Extol. You need a total of 500,000 Berries."

Amazon looked at Caelan in terror, cold sweat dripping from her forehead.

She had never experienced such overwhelming presence. Caelan stood before her like a beast king, exuding a suffocating majesty.

She had seen the so-called god Enel before, and though he was majestic, he didn't exude the same fearsome presence as this man.

Caelan's Haki was absolute and irresistible.

"Here's 500,000 Berries. Take it."

Caelan pulled out five 100,000-Berry bills and tossed them over.

A mere 500,000 Berries—just a meal's worth. There was no need to fuss over it.

"Very well. Safe travels!"

Amazon's old face lit up like a blooming chrysanthemum as she bowed low.

"Yeah."

Caelan nodded coolly and returned to the Wind Rider with the women.

Soon, two enormous shrimp claws emerged from the sea of clouds and lifted the Wind Rider into the air.

"What the heck is that!?"

Nami stared at the shrimp claws on either side of the ship in shock.

"Those are Speedy Shrimp of the White Sea. They'll take you another 3,000 meters up to the upper White Sea, which is the true Sky Island!"

"Really? That's amazing!"

Vivi and Tashigi exclaimed in awe. They had never seen such a fantastical form of transport.

The Speedy Shrimp quickly picked up speed, carrying the Wind Rider upward.

Watching the Wind Rider disappear into the distance, Amazon slowly straightened her back, and the flattering expression vanished from her face.

"Filthy Blue Sea scum!"

Amazon growled through gritted teeth, her expression twisting with malice.

She had hoped to trap Caelan and the others in the crime of illegally entering Angel Island, but Caelan had seen right through her. Worse, he had humiliated her with his terrifying pressure.

"Almighty God and all holy priests, this is a report from Amazon, Heaven's Gate!"

"Five Blue Sea people have illegally entered the Heaven's Gate and blasphemed against God's followers! Please punish them!"

Amazon looked crazed as she tossed the 500,000 Berries Caelan had given her into the sea of clouds.

That divine judgment would reduce them to ashes. No matter how arrogant they were in front of her, before divine retribution, they would be nothing!

Amazon's face twisted into a look of pure ecstasy as she envisioned Caelan and the others reduced to charcoal by divine thunder, just like the previous fools.

The more she thought about it, the broader her grin became.

Whoosh!

A blade slash shot through the air, slicing with a deafening sonic boom.

"No!"

Amazon's delighted expression froze. In her eyes filled with despair, the slash cleaved her in two.

She collapsed to the ground, trying desperately to press her upper and lower halves together, frantically shoving her spilled organs back into her torso.

But the blood wouldn't stop, and her life continued slipping away.

"Why did I…"

As she lay dying, all that filled Amazon's mind was regret.

They had even paid her. Why couldn't she just let them pass?

Her life drained away bit by bit. At last, Amazon died with deep regret and despair.

…

Lifted by the Speedy Shrimp, on the fast-moving Wind Rider.

"Sigh, what a waste of my 500,000."

Caelan sheathed his greatsword and sighed.

He had seen through Amazon's schemes from the start.

He despised two-faced schemers like her and would never spare them.

People like her wouldn't change unless they were dead.

She had been given a chance but chose to betray it.

(To be continued.)