Akainu, unwilling to abandon the mission, kept chasing after the disordered Eternal Pose, still determined to locate the sky-bound Amazon Lily.
But the deeper they ventured into the Calm Belt — the breeding ground of the Sea Kings — even their warships coated in Seastone could barely survive.
As they pressed forward, a sudden colossal tail lashed out from below, smashing several warships to pieces in an instant. With no choice left, Akainu and Aokiji were forced to withdraw.
The Marine "Buster Call" to annihilate Amazon Lily had officially failed.
They couldn't even approach the floating island's altitude — it was far beyond the reach of any ordinary fleet.
To find Amazon Lily now, one would need the ability to fly.
Was this something that required Saint Marcus Mars of the Five Elders to personally transform into a giant bird and search the skies?
After all, ordinary flyers were far too weak to challenge the island or the power that now protected it.
But would destroying a single island really be worth sending the Five Elders themselves?
Akainu and Aokiji could only lead what remained of their fleet back to Marineford and report the situation.
Meanwhile, high above a safe stretch of ocean, the floating Amazon Lily drifted peacefully.
Boa Hancock had only intended to bring the main members of the Nine-Colored Pirates with her — accompanying Souta Kiryuu back to Skypiea.
However, Gloriosa had insisted otherwise. The wise elder chose several hundred of the Kuja warriors and asked Capone Bege to transport them to Skypiea using his Castle-Castle Fruit powers.
Her reasoning was simple: "You never put all your eggs in one basket."
Gloriosa herself remained behind on the new "Sky Amazon Lily," continuing to govern the self-sufficient kingdom of women.
Souta Kiryuu could easily read her concern. The presence of a permanent pose pointing to this island was indeed a hidden risk.
He decided to have Vegapunk examine whether there was any way, through science or technology, to erase an island's magnetic signature altogether.
After all, even the current Sky Island relied on such methods.
It was well known that ordinary Log Poses could still point to Shandora — the Golden City that had been blasted into the sky centuries ago.
Most people, and even many pirates, still refused to believe in the existence of Sky Islands. Combined with the extreme danger of the Knock-Up Stream, very few dared to risk their lives for something that might not even exist.
Not every pirate crew had the plot armor of a protagonist.
Riding the Knock-Up Stream was nearly a suicidal adventure — nine deaths for every one survival.
Even Blackbeard Teach, who knew of the Sky Islands' existence, hadn't dared to challenge the current to reach them.
That alone spoke volumes about the sheer danger and lethality of the Knock-Up Stream.
Souta and his crew soon left the floating Amazon Lily behind and returned safely to the "Island of God" — Apayado.
While Boa Hancock busied herself organizing the Kuja warriors and the Nine-Colored Pirates, Souta immediately headed to Vegapunk's laboratory to discuss an idea:
creating a device that could either eliminate or block an island's magnetic field.
"Eliminate an island's magnetism?" Vegapunk stroked his chin thoughtfully. "That's difficult — but disrupting the pull of a Log Pose or an Eternal Pose... now that might be possible. I could design a magnetic interference generator."
The scientist's eyes lit up with interest. "It would work similar to Enel's signal-jamming cage — only this one would scramble magnetic readings instead."
"That's perfect. Then please, Doctor, make it happen as soon as possible." Souta smiled, relieved. Solving this flaw would make their sky sanctuaries truly untraceable.
"Oh, and another thing," Souta added suddenly. "If someone had the Magnet-Magnet Fruit — like that kid Eustass Kid — could his powers alter an island's magnetism?"
Vegapunk considered the idea. "If a Magnet-Magnet user reached awakening, theoretically, they could grant magnetism to anything — even living beings. With enough stamina, perhaps they could alter an island's magnetic field. But I doubt it would be permanent."
"In that case," Souta smirked faintly, "let's just capture that ability user next."
Vegapunk let out a helpless laugh. "You collector maniac! Still, the powers you've gathered are already monstrous. You managed to seize both the Tremor-Tremor Fruit and the Soul-Soul Fruit — the Arlong Six Paths are already on par with the Four Emperors."
The scientist's voice carried both excitement and disbelief. "And to think, even the Clone-Clone Fruit ended up in your hands. That one was part of my original project long ago."
He sighed softly. "Never thought I'd leave the World Government, only to continue my research as your scientist instead."
Souta grinned. "So, Doctor, have you finished extracting the Green Blood from the fruits? Are the new Seraphs ready for activation?"
"Of course," Vegapunk said, eyes gleaming. "I've been waiting to see them awaken."
He rushed Souta into the deep lab. In recent months, the remaining three bodies of Souta's "Six Paths" had been growing naturally — but they still needed the Maturity Fruit's acceleration ability to reach their prime.
"According to your orders," Vegapunk explained, "the Tremor Green Blood goes to the Path of Hell, the Soul Green Blood to the Path of Beasts, and the Clone Green Blood to the Path of Hunger."
Everything was already prepared — he had simply been waiting for Souta's return.
Not only that, Vegapunk had also begun a third generation of Seraphim, using lineage factors from legends like Whitebeard, Big Mom, World, the Red Earl, and Barrett.
He believed that at this pace, Souta Kiryuu's crew would one day overthrow the World Government itself.
Vegapunk had long since read the forbidden Ohara texts and learned the truth of the Void Century. His faith in the World Government had crumbled completely.
And now, his ambitions reached even further — he was secretly working on the artificial Sun God Nika Fruit.
If the current generation's Nika proved unworthy, he planned to create one himself — alongside Souta Kiryuu.
His goal was to evolve the rubber-based fruit into a true "Sun God" ability, through perfect understanding of a Devil Fruit's essence.
With a single command from Souta, the remaining three Paths were infused with their Green Blood — then rapidly matured using the Maturity Fruit's power.
Soon, they stood tall, nearly indistinguishable from the earlier three Seraphs.
The lab trembled as their powers awakened. Souta watched with pride. "My sons," he said quietly. "Let's see what you're capable of."
Vegapunk's clones led them into testing chambers, and within hours, their secondary abilities were revealed.
The Path of Hell, empowered by the Tremor Fruit, and the Path of Hunger, empowered by the Clone Fruit, both awakened demonic bloodlines, combining perfectly with their existing Lunarian traits — their regeneration second only to Souta himself.
The Path of Beasts, bearing the Soul Fruit, awakened the blood of ancient giants, much like the Path of Heaven before it.
Each revelation exceeded Souta's expectations — a true blessing of fate.
Now all that remained was to train them — to mold them into an unstoppable force.
At the same time, as the Marines relayed their intelligence, the Five Elders finally caught a glimmer of hope.
The floating Amazon Lily — that drifting fortress in the sky — might be their first clue to finding Souta Kiryuu and his crew.
Even if it meant mobilizing the Five Elders again themselves… they would not hesitate.