"Rest well, kid. Perhaps we'll ride the current all the way to the city of gold that Noland once reached."
Raleigh settled the young boy down to rest.
The reason he had stopped at this location was precisely to wait for the Knock Up Stream to launch them toward the Sky Island.
Meeting Noland's descendant was an unexpected gain.
After all, the Mont Blanc family had explored these seas for many years; only they possessed the specific knowledge required to pinpoint the eruption.
What was truly ironic was that, relying on their keen navigational skills, the family had repeatedly avoided the Knock Up Stream in the past to stay safe, thereby moving further away from their goal.
If Raleigh hadn't arrived, they might have continued searching in vain for years—perhaps until a certain straw-hatted pirate appeared in the future.
...
Three days later, in a stretch of sea near Jaya Island.
The serious-faced boy stood on the deck, continuously observing the distant sea surface and jotting down line after line in his notebook.
Only when dense lines of text filled more than half the page did the boy put down his pen, turning to speak earnestly.
"Raleigh-sama, according to my family's records, the probability of the Knock Up Stream erupting here is over eighty percent."
In truth, he was already one hundred percent certain the current would appear here, but he deliberately lowered the stated success rate to account for any potential variables.
Raleigh rose from his sunbed, looking relaxed as he gazed at the sea ahead.
Although there was still some time before the eruption, even now, his eye could spot something unusual about this stretch of ocean.
Dense streams of bubbles surged from the depths, and the once-calm surface was now rippling with uneasy waves.
The changes were especially pronounced at the "eye" of the current they had identified.
Raleigh swept the area with his Observation Haki.
Though he couldn't fully grasp the scientific logic behind this natural phenomenon, he could sense a tremendous energy brewing deep beneath the crust.
To Raleigh, it felt like a volcanic eruption.
'Could there be an undersea volcano beneath us?' he wondered silently.
He walked to the prow, his gaze firm as he watched the changing eye of the sea.
As time passed, the once-insignificant whirlpool underwent a startling transformation.
Its scale expanded at least a hundredfold. Now, even the heavy military vessel under Raleigh's feet was affected by the pull of the vortex, shifting slightly against the anchor.
Gion stood beside Raleigh, her face full of concern.
"Raleigh, isn't this too risky? After all, no one has proven that the other half of Jaya Island is actually above us."
Hearing her words, Raleigh gently took Gion's hand.
"Don't worry, Gion. Trust me," he said earnestly. "Even if we ride the current and fail to discover the existence of Sky island, we can still land safely."
Raleigh had made dual preparations.
Even without finding the Sky Island, he could use his abilities combined with the ship's unique landing gear to ensure a safe descent.
Hearing Raleigh say this, Gion's expression visibly relaxed.
No matter the situation, as long as Raleigh confident, she felt reassured.
Perhaps that was why she stayed by his side.
Nearby, Bessermer Reginald held a strange bird—a Southbird—by its neck, his eyes revealing deep interest.
He, too, was a child of the North Blue who had heard Noland's story since childhood.
Now, he finally had the chance to verify it.
The anticipation was like a kitten scratching at his heart; he wished they could launch immediately.
As the whirlpool grew larger, everyone on the ship—from Raleigh to the lowest-ranking Marine—watched with eyes filled with intense excitement.
They were about to ride the ocean itself into the heavens!
If Raleigh was right, they would set foot on a Sky Island.
Aside from the rumors of Golden Lion Shiki's floating stronghold, this was likely the only other land in the sky.
Many people lived their whole lives without believing such legends, yet now they were about to explore one.
It was no wonder the crew was vibrating with adrenaline.
"It's coming!" Raleigh stood on the deck and shouted.
Upon hearing his voice, the crew snapped to attention, quickly securing themselves and lashing down surrounding objects.
This was a strict order Raleigh had given before they started.
Going to Sky island was no child's play.
If anyone accidentally fell from the ship during the ascent, Raleigh knew he wouldn't have the ability to rescue them in the middle of the vertical stream.
"We're ready, Raleigh-sama!"
The Marine soldiers wrapped sturdy ropes around their waists and secured themselves to the railings of the warship.
Then, under Raleigh's command, they steered the ship toward the center of the vortex.
The closer they got to the center, the more Raleigh felt his own insignificance.
This was the raw power of nature.
The energy output brewing beneath them could rival the destructive power of a Vice Admiral or even higher.
Amid the deafening roar of the sea, the warship, billowing black smoke from its engines, charged into the center of the whirlpool.
Raleigh stood alone at the forefront of the deck, while countless pairs of excited and worried eyes peered out from the cabins and portholes, all fixed on his back.
After a violent shake, the warship successfully breached the center.
Surprisingly, it was calmer here than on the perimeter, with the waters eerily tranquil.
"Let's begin," Raleigh said, his voice cutting through the tension.
As soon as his words fell, everyone on the ship felt a massive gravitational force pressing down on them.
BOOM!
The scenery outside the warship shot upward—or rather, the ship shot upward.
Everyone stared in awe as the ocean surface of Jaya, once so close, rapidly shrank into a speck.
The great power of nature transformed countless tons of seawater into a towering pillar, charging fearlessly toward the clouds.
At the very tip of this pillar rode the Marine warship.
After a long while, the stronger individuals among the crew gradually adapted to the immense G-force.
Raleigh was only immobilized for the first few seconds before regaining control of his body.
Gion was the second to adapt.
"Have we succeeded? This feeling is truly incredible," Gion exclaimed, looking over the rail at the clouds rushing past.
"Even Tsuru-nee has never seen such a sight."
She couldn't help but marvel.
They had spent years at Marine Headquarters, and Tsuru, the master of intelligence, knew almost everything about the world.
Yet, even she was unaware of the secret of the Knock Up Stream.
It truly showed just how mysterious this phenomenon was.
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