Buggy explained to the crew what he knew about this strange sea of clouds—how, beneath it, was nothing but empty sky, and a direct fall would land them back on Jaya Island. Hearing this, everyone shuddered at the thought, abandoning the playful idea of jumping down for a swim.
"Captain, I feel… weird. No strength in my body," Kuro said, frowning.
Since arriving in the White Sea, all of them noticed the same discomfort. Breathing felt heavy, their limbs powerless. One by one, their eyes turned to Buggy—after all, he'd been here before.
"This sea is seven thousand meters above the Blue Sea. The air up here is thin—breathing is difficult, and it drains our strength. It's normal. Don't panic. Just give it a little time, and we'll adapt."
Buggy himself felt the light-headedness, but he knew what it was—just like altitude sickness on a high mountain. Nothing fatal, as long as they endured until their bodies adjusted.
So, they anchored the Glory in place and rested. Only once everyone had steadied their breathing and regained some energy did they begin to move again.
"Captain, which way do we go?"
The crew looked around, lost in the endless white expanse. Buggy's eyes locked on the towering waterfall cascading from above—the path to the Sky Island.
"Head for the waterfall," Buggy ordered.
The base of that waterfall led straight to the Heavenly Gate.
They sailed on, passing through strange, rock-like clouds. The crew marveled at the phenomenon, astonished that clouds could harden into solid shapes. Even Buggy, despite knowing this world was filled with wonders, couldn't help but be impressed.
Before long, they reached the foot of the waterfall. In front of them loomed a massive gate, the characters above it reading: Heavenly Gate.
Buggy knew at once where they were—the final passage to Sky Island.
A woman appeared before them. She was in her fifties or sixties, with a pair of white wings on her back, and a camera in her hands. She snapped picture after picture of Buggy's crew without pause.
Buggy recognized her immediately: the gatekeeper, Amazon, monitor of the Heavenly Gate.
Before they could speak, she said expressionlessly:
"I am Amazon, the watcher of the Heavenly Gate. Are you here for sightseeing… or for war?"
The crew froze at her blunt question. Sightseeing or war? What kind of choices were those?
Buggy didn't hesitate. "War."
His crew turned to him in shock. None of them expected him to answer so directly.
But Buggy's goal was clear: to confront and subdue Enel. If they entered Sky Island quietly, they would waste time searching for him. By declaring war, Enel would be the one to come find them, saving Buggy the trouble. Why hunt when your prey would walk to you?
Amazon faltered for just a moment at his answer, then regained her usual stoic face.
"To proceed upward, each person must pay the entry fee: ten billion extols."
Buggy smirked. "So even for war, there's a fee?"
"Rules are rules. Sightseeing or war, the payment is the same," she replied flatly.
"Oh, but we don't have money. So we won't be paying."
Buggy had no intention of handing over a single coin. Even if ten billion extols amounted to little more than a handful of beli, paying would risk Enel ignoring them altogether.
"You can still enter," Amazon said calmly. "I am not a guard, nor a soldier. I only ask your purpose. That is all."
Her words were formal, but Buggy understood perfectly. She would report their intrusion to Enel. That was exactly what he wanted.
"Then let us through."
Amazon's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. "All of you?"
"Yes. Take us all to Sky Island."
The moment he confirmed, two massive pincers burst from beneath the sea of clouds, clamping onto the Glory.
The crew panicked for an instant, thinking a Sea King had attacked, but calmed once they saw Buggy unmoved.
"This is the White Sea's famous Express Lobster. It will take us upward."
Without its help, ships couldn't ascend to Sky Island at all. Alone, they'd never make the climb.
The gigantic lobster pulled the Glory into motion, carrying them swiftly up the waterfall.
As they departed, Amazon's blank expression melted into a sinister smile. Pulling out a Den Den Mushi, she reported:
"Heavenly Gate Monitor Amazon, reporting to Almighty God Enel and the High Priests. Illegal invaders have entered the Land of God. They threaten the peace of Sky Island. Please grant them divine punishment."
Meanwhile, the Express Lobster raced up the current with astonishing speed. Soon, they emerged into the White-White Sea, and an island shrouded in mist came into view.
It was breathtaking—structures perched upon clouds, elegant buildings that looked like palaces from legend, flowers and greenery thriving in this sea of white. To the crew, it truly resembled a mythological heaven.
Disembarking, they stepped onto the island. The ground beneath their feet was not soil, but soft, springy cloud.
The sensation was strange, almost unreal. The crew's eyes sparkled with curiosity, eager to explore this skyborne paradise.
Even Buggy couldn't help but sigh. This world of One Piece really never runs out of wonders.