Chapter 35: Reaching the sky
<span style="font-weight:400">“How could a galleon fall from the sky?” asked Sanji.
<span style="font-weight:400">They were lucky, the huge ship missed them by a hair.
<span style="font-weight:400">Despite the huge wave that resulted from the fall, each member of the crew had grabbed a part of the Merry and were fine.
<span style="font-weight:400">All except one.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick being in a wheelchair couldn’t secure himself and was sprawled on the floor. He got a few bruises but nothing serious, his condition didn’t worsen.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It probably came from a sky ind.” he said.
<span style="font-weight:400">They turned to Rick, and looked at him like he lost his marbles.
<span style="font-weight:400">When they saw him lying face down on the deck, Chopper rushed to examine him.
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin was the closest to him when the ship was hit by the wave, picked up the wheelchair, and put him back on it once Chopper was done.
<span style="font-weight:400">“ An ind in the sky?” Luffy had star shaped eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">“ That’s impossible!” said Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">They all looked up at the sky.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I don’t see anything resembling an ind though” noted Ussop.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s more urate to talk about a “sea” floating in the sky than an ind.” said Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">““AWESOME!”” yelled Luffy and Ussop in excitement.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I want to explore that sea! Set full sail ahead!” ordered the captain.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s absurd!” eximed Nami
<span style="font-weight:400">“Nami, if a log pose is round it’s not because of an aesthetic design. Inds at the bottom of the sea or high up in the sky exist. Honestly I would be surprised if ours isn’t pointing toward the sky right now.” said Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">She took a look at the log pose on her wrist. Indeed the needle was pointing up.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It must be broken!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“There is one and only one irond rule on the sea, always follow the direction your log pose is pointing” said Robin to Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You should be less focused on ”fixing” the log pose and more focus on how to bring us to the sky ind .” added Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">Ussop and luffy boarded the wreckage of the galleon, curious. They brought back an upied coffin and a journal.
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin got her tools and started to study the skeleton in the casket.
<span style="font-weight:400">Meanwhile Rick began to read the journal.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Chopper, if I’m correct, this man here had a trepanation surgery done on him.” said Robin to Chopper.
<span style="font-weight:400">She handed him the skull she was holding.
<span style="font-weight:400">Chopper took a good look and saw the man made drills into the skulls.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, those holes are a result of such surgery. It was used to treat intracranial diseases, but that kind of treatment has not been done in a very long time.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’d say around 200 years ago.” added Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“To be more specific 208 years ago” said Rick holding the journal up.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s said here, that the galleon’s name is St. Briss from the Briss kingdom of….” he was showing to the crew a picture of the ship in the journal
<span style="font-weight:400">“South Blue.” Robin interrupted him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You heard of it?” asked the vice-captain.
<span style="font-weight:400">“No, but the skull still has all his teeth after 200 years. It means that something was used to stick them to it, probably with tar. That’s a custom that originated from South Blue” finished Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That must have been an exploration ship.” said Sanji.
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin and Rick nodded.
<span style="font-weight:400">“There is probably a mountain of information on that ship.” noted Rick
<span style="font-weight:400">“Logs, documents, samples.” guessed Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">They turned towards the St. Briss, it was sinking.
<span style="font-weight:400">Before beingpletely under water Ussop and Luffy that went back after having brought the casket, returned.
<span style="font-weight:400">Luffy was smiling ear to ear.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Check this out! A map of a sky ind!”
<span style="font-weight:400">He was holding in both hands a map of a sky ind named Skypeia.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So the sky inds really do exist!” eximed Ussop.
<span style="font-weight:400">“There are plenty of fake maps in the world you know.” said Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">Luffy, Ussop and Chopper looked at her with despair.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Give it up Nami., we’re going to skypeia”ughed Rick
<span style="font-weight:400">“And how am I supposed to do that?! I have no clue how to do it!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No clue yet, there may be something on the ship.” said Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">Luffy asked Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Can you make the galleon float back to the surface?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m too weak now to do it.” he answered, shaking his head.
<span style="font-weight:400">In the end Ussop worked on something and created three diving suits made out of barrels for Luffy, Zoro and Sanji.
<span style="font-weight:400">They dive into the sea. Chopper was pumping air to them, while Ussop and Nami were listening to their reports.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick and Robin were searching the journal, hoping to maybe find the method used by the crew of the St. Briss to get to Skypeia.
<span style="font-weight:400">Sadly, only historical and geographical information was recorded.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You seem very knowledgeable.” shed noted.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, the ind where I was hiding for the past ten years had a lot of books. Reading became a hobby of mine.” he smiled.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What ind was…”
<span style="font-weight:400">But before she could finish her sentence. A very loud music attracted their attention.
<span style="font-weight:400">A giant monkey sculpture ornated the bow of the ship the music came from.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey! What are you doing in my territory!” said a giant monkey to the crew on the Merry.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘Shit, that’s not good. ‘
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick wheeled himself to where he could talk to the three under the sea.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Guys, a pirate ship hade. They’re not hostile, yet. Apparently they salvage wreckage that sank. So if you see someone, don’t attack them.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Okay!” said luffy
<span style="font-weight:400">“HEY! I asked you a question!” yelled the monkey.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sorry! We were on our way when a huge galleon almost fell on us. It sank, so some of the crew dive to explore it.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“WHAT! You dare steal my property!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“No! We’re not interested in any of the treasures!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“WHAT!” screamed Nami in his ear.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Not now Nami!” whispered Rick to her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Our log pose is pointing to a sky ind, so we were hoping that the wreckage held some information on how to get to it! We’re not interested in anything else beyond that.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh?! Well in that case, I know someone that can help you with that.” said the monkey?
<span style="font-weight:400">“Really? That’d be nice thank you!I’m gonna tell my friends exploring the ship, to resurface. By the way, can we watch how you work?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sure, I’ve no problem with it.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick wheeled himself tomunicate to the guys below the sea.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Guys, I got good news. The captain of the ship said he knows someone that can help us reach the sky ind.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Really? That’s neet!” said Luffy
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yeh but I had to y it nice, and give up on any treasure on the galleon.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“What?!” the captain wasn’t happy with that news.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Just grab one or two things that you think are valuable and bring them behind the Merry, I’ll make them float up and they won’t see anything.” Rick said, winking at Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It’s an exploration ship, they were not after gold, but rather samples of fauna and flora, and after 200 years I doubt there is any of that still valuable, so we’re not really giving up anything”. He exined himself.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s… actually that’s a fair point.” admitted Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">Zoro and Sanji brought a chest, Luffy something even bigger, and Rick made it float without the monkey’s crew knowing anything about it.
<span style="font-weight:400">Thetters salvaged the St. Briss. They secured it with some kind of big metallic ws. Their captain then took a deep breath and blew a huge amount of air into a long tube linked to the galleon.
<span style="font-weight:400">With less water inside it, they could lift it up to the surface.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s some lungs power that monkey has.” said Rick
<span style="font-weight:400">He was the only one to speak but the others were dumbfounded.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick was readying himself.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘Normally, now is the time when a giant turtle appears and eats the wreckage’.
<span style="font-weight:400">To his surprise nothing happened. The monkeys secured the St. Briss without any problems.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘Now that’s weird. Where is the turtle? Did History change? If so, why?’
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey guys! We’re done here with the ship. We’re going back home, follow us, the man that can help you is there!” Said the monkey captain.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thanks....” started Rick but stopped, not knowing his name.
<span style="font-weight:400">“ Masira! I’m the salvage king Masira!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Suddenly the sky darkened.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘That still does happen, it seems.’
<span style="font-weight:400">Day turned to night and a light fog appeared.
<span style="font-weight:400">Gigantic figures, with small wings and a harpoon in hands could be seen.
<span style="font-weight:400">““MONSTERS!”” screamed Luffy and Masira.
<span style="font-weight:400">In a heartbeat both captains ordered to move immediately.
<span style="font-weight:400">~~~~~~
<span style="font-weight:400">The day turned to day again and the crew was safe. During their flight they got separated from Masira and his crew.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Man, those monsters were big” said Luffy
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yea… Never want to see them again.” said Ussop.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rickughed.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Guys, those were not monsters. They were proof that Sky inds exist.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“ What do you mean proof?” asked Nami
<span style="font-weight:400">“Have any of you ever heard of shadow shows?” answered Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What’s that?” asked Chopper.
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin spoke up to him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Shadow shows are spectacle, where you use a light to cast shadows on a sheet. With your hands you make some shapes. People on the other side of the sheet only see the shadow.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“And the closer your hands are from the light the bigger the shadows.” added Rick
<span style="font-weight:400">“So? What’s the link between those monsters” asked Luffy, not seeing the connection.
<span style="font-weight:400">“They were shadows of people, Luffy. To make shadows so big, you need to be close to the sun or have a lot of distance between the shape and its shadow.” exined Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So there are really sky inds. I can’t believe it” mumbled Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Nami, on grand line logic andmon sense have no ce. Only believe in your log pose.” said Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">Nami’s morale was rock bottom and Rick tried to cheer her up.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Now why don’t you take a look at the treasure the guys brought back!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“YES! TREASURES!” her mood did a radical 180°.
<span style="font-weight:400">She emptied the chest on the floor.
<span style="font-weight:400">Everyone examined the junk.
<span style="font-weight:400">Yes, junk because in the end nothing valuable was found.
<span style="font-weight:400">“There is nothing of worth.”mented Nami
<span style="font-weight:400">“Not exactly.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin presented an eternal pose to her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That eternal pose shows the way to an ind named Jaya.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“We really are lucky.” said Rick
<span style="font-weight:400">“How so? This pose doesn’t help us to go to a sky ind.” said Ussop.
<span style="font-weight:400">“No, but at least we’re not stranded at sea anymore.” Robin answered him.
<span style="font-weight:400">Confusion was on the face of the crew.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Since the log pose is pointing towards a sky ind, we can’t find our way towards another ind. But with this Eternal pose we can reach Jaya. Once there, the log pose will find another ind to go.” said Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">“No way! We won’t be able to go to the sky ind anymore!” yelled Luffy.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Don’t worry Luffy, it takes days for a log pose to sync with a new ind. If we don’t stay too long on Jaya we won’t lose the directections of the sky ind.” exined Rick
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then let’s go to Jaya!”
<span style="font-weight:400">~~~~~
<span style="font-weight:400">After a few days of sailing, and training, the crew finally arrived on Jaya.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick had healedpletely and Chopper gave him the green light to move around and exercise.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Let’s group into teams and search some clues about how to get onto a sky ind.” said Rick
<span style="font-weight:400">“MURDER!!!!!” yelled a voice from far away.
<span style="font-weight:400">Ussop immediately spoke:
<span style="font-weight:400">“I.. I’ll be on the team that guard the ship!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Me too!” announced Chopper.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll take care of supplies.” said Sanji.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll go with those two idiots.” said Nami, pointing at Zoro and Luffy.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’ll keep them in line.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She then left with them but not before getting them to promise to not fight or make trouble.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick turned to thest member of the crew.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Want to team up?” he asked Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sure. Where should we start?” she answered.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Why not stay around the port and the market? Maybe some other crews are in the same situation than us and know more.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s a good idea.” she acknowledged.
<span style="font-weight:400">They left the Merry and went their way.
<span style="font-weight:400">They saw many pirate ships docked and that made Rick stop.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What’s wrong?” asked Robin, seeing him stop walking.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Most of those pirate ships are either unguarded or with a few members to defend them…” he said to her with a crooked smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin immediately got what he was implying.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Fufufu… I like the way you think.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I hope that it will cheer Nami up. She’s been down since the log pose got synced to the sky ind.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re surprisingly caring.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m the oldest on the ship. Got to take care of the others.” he shrugged .
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m 28 too you know, so maybe not.” said Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Really? “ Rick feigned astonishment.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes. Born onFebruary 6th.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Damn! I’m your junior.” he thought for a moment then continued.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s fine, I’m the vice-captain and you''re the newest recruit, I’ll take care of you too.” he said and winked at her.
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin just rolled her eyes.
<span style="font-weight:400">“How are we going to proceed?” she asked him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Like that.”
<span style="font-weight:400">She saw him board the ship and five minutester came back with a few chests floating behind him.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What did you do?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well I boarded the ship, told them why I did, asked for their treasures, they refused and I told them who I was. They were so scared, they immediately put everything they had in those chests.” heughed.
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin was dumbfounded.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sadly they didn’t have any info on the sky ind. I guess we need to pay more visits to those pirate ships.”
<span style="font-weight:400">They “visited” ship after ship. Robin didn’t know if she shouldugh or cry at the situation.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘How can he be so domineering with that smile on his face?’
<span style="font-weight:400">She couldn’t reconcile his easy going attitude with his dominant side.
<span style="font-weight:400">On the sixth ship they met some resistance.
<span style="font-weight:400">The pirates were not intimidated, they had tattoos of a smiling face which was crossed with a line.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick tten them on the deck.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I''m giving you an offer you can’t refuse. Give me every single treasure you have and I sink your ship.” he dered.
<span style="font-weight:400">He didn’t have to say it twice. They were the fastest crew to gather all they have.
<span style="font-weight:400">“By the way, do you know anything about the sky ind?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Tha… That’s a myth sir!” said one, being overly polite because he was terrified.
<span style="font-weight:400">“There is this guy on the other side of Jaya, he’s an explorer maybe he knows something?”
<span style="font-weight:400">With this new information, they disembarked the boat, and started to go back to the Merry.
<span style="font-weight:400">But not before Rick used his gravity on the ship as he said he would.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Wait, you did sink it.” Robin asked, astonished.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Just like I said I would.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I thought you misspoke!”
<span style="font-weight:400">“I didn’t.” was the only words he said and winked at her with an evil smile.
<span style="font-weight:400">Once on the Merry, Rick put down everything they collected in their stroll.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What’s all that?” asked Chopper.
<span style="font-weight:400">“A gift for Namy.” Rick smiled.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Where did you get all this.” It was Ussop''s turn to ask questions.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick looked at Robin then back to Ussop
<span style="font-weight:400">“Some offerings from some pirates. Apparently being the world’s worst traitor brought me a fan club.” he said with a deadpan face.
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin let out a littleugh, she was shaking her head.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I even had to do my signature move for one of the crew!” smiled Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">She couldn’t help herself anymore and started tough loudly.
<span style="font-weight:400">Chopper and Ussop looked at Robin like she had gone mad.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What’s wrong with her?” asked Ussop.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Who knows? Anyway, we got some info about the sky ind so I’m going back to pick up everyone, see youter!”
<span style="font-weight:400">‘Knowing Luffy and Zoro they must be in the nearest tavern’
<span style="font-weight:400">He was right and found them there, though something was wrong.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘Guess Bemy already entered the scene.’
<span style="font-weight:400">“Stop dreamin’! Sky inds don’t exist” a voice said.
<span style="font-weight:400">A round ofughter came from every patron in the ce.
<span style="font-weight:400">“W-What’s the big idea?! Our log pose is pointing straight up at the sky!” said Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">That got her a second round ofughter.
<span style="font-weight:400">They even mocked her by imitating her.
<span style="font-weight:400">“B-B-But our llllllllog pooooooose is pointin’ straight up at the skyyyyyyy…!” said one of them in a childish and high pitch voice.
<span style="font-weight:400">Nami’s face flushed to a deeplys red, deeply embarrassed.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘Ok, that’s enough.’
<span style="font-weight:400">“Nami, don’t bother with these bottom of the barrel pirates.They’re not worth it. Robin and I found what we’re looking for, no need for us to stay here anymore.” said Rick in a cold voice and left the tavern.
<span style="font-weight:400">He could hear Bemy loudly mocking Luffy, saying the era of pirates with dreams was over.
<span style="font-weight:400">~~~~~~
<span style="font-weight:400">The trio he left in the tavern finally came back on the Merry.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Luffy! Zoro! What’s with those wounds? What happened?” Yelled Ussop, seeing the two of them hurt.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Some pirates. It’s fine, it’s over and done with.” answered Luffy.
<span style="font-weight:400">“It may be for you guys! But I’m still mad! Why didn’t you beat them up?” yelled Nami, clearly unhappy.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You’re the one that said to not fight no matter what.” said Zoro.
<span style="font-weight:400">“The past is the past ! Don’t bring it out to the present!”
<span style="font-weight:400">She was having a fit.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Nami, I brought you something back for the stroll Robin and I took. It’s back inside. Go take a look!” said Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">Nami, though still mumbling her mecontentement went inside to see what it was about.
<span style="font-weight:400">“You think she’ll like it?” he asked Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">She nodded.
<span style="font-weight:400">“KYAAAAAAAA!!” was heard from inside.
<span style="font-weight:400">“NAMI-SWAN!” yelled Sanji.
<span style="font-weight:400">He rushed inside the ship. Or, tried, as Nami came out and sent him flying. She ran towards towards Rick and tackle him to the ground, chanting:
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! “
<span style="font-weight:400">“It finally happened, Nami lost her marbles.” said Ussop.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I DID NOT!” She let Rick go and was looking at Ussop nastily.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Someone mind doing some exining?” said Zoro
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, how did you get all those treasures?” Nami asked Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">““Treasures?”” Luffy and Zoro were confused.
<span style="font-weight:400">Before Rick could open his mouth Robin spoke:
<span style="font-weight:400">“Rick thought that some pirates may have information about sky inds, so we paid them a visit. We stole everything we could on their ship.”
<span style="font-weight:400">They were all dumbfounded.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Offerings my ass!” said Ussop.
<span style="font-weight:400">“ Well I just gave them my name, they recognized me and they offered me everything they had.” smiled Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">Robin remembering how it went, controlled herself this time, to notugh. She was biting her lower lip to seed though.
<span style="font-weight:400">“During our…” he turned to Robin
<span style="font-weight:400">“ Little walk” shepleted.
<span style="font-weight:400">“During our little walk we got the info that some explorer may know about the sky ind.” said Rick
<span style="font-weight:400">“He’s knowledgeable about them no doubt. He lives on the other side of the ind. He has been chased out of town because he was talking of dreams like the sky inds.”
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick gave her a questioning look.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I went back to town after you left, for some clothes. I can’t always borrow Nami’s. By the way, I found a map of this ind along the way.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Then let’s go meet that guy!” said Luffy.
<span style="font-weight:400">~~~~~~
<span style="font-weight:400">Along the way, they heard a familiar music getting closer.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Look, another ship!” said Ussop.
<span style="font-weight:400">“This music… is it a friend of Masira?” asked Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Dunno, let’s ask him.” answered him Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">“HEY! ARE YOU A FRIEND OF MASIRA?” yelled Ussop when the ships were close enough to each other.
<span style="font-weight:400">“OH?! You know Masira?” asked a big orangutan.
<span style="font-weight:400">“We befriended him a few days ago, He was supposed to bring us to a guy that knows about sky inds but we got separated.” said Rick
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m the underwater survey king: Shoujou. Any friend of Masira is a friend of mine!” said the orangutan.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m on my way to that man, he lives on this ind, I’ll lead you there.” he announced.
<span style="font-weight:400">“So the man Misara wanted us to meet is the same man that was chased out of town.” said Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">Theynded on Jaya’s coast, near a castle. To be more urate half a house, which a veneer panel of a castle had been applied to.
<span style="font-weight:400">“The boss is out, but will probably be here soon.” said Shoujou.
<span style="font-weight:400">Knowing they just had to wait, each found his own upation.
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick went to explore the forest for two reasons.
<span style="font-weight:400">One to capture a south bird that they would need to get to Skypiea, and to take a look at the system.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘I should have looked at it sooner, after leaving basta. I wonder how many points I got.’
<span style="font-weight:400">He opened the system and looked at his Karma Points.
<span style="font-weight:400">He had about 312 500 000 points.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘HOLY FUCKING SHIT!’
<span style="font-weight:400">That was the most points he ever had.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘That’s almost 600 times more than the total I earned when I was in the marines!’
<span style="font-weight:400">He looked at the log, he wanted to know how he could earn so much with just saving basta.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘Haaaa. So that’s what happened.”
<b>[ For saving 5 millions people from death with help, user won 357 142 858 Karma points.]</b>
<span style="font-weight:400">‘So saving everyone by sending the bomb away earned me that much points. Wait, when I saved Azalea’s retainers years ago, each gave me 500 points. I should have 2 Billion and a half. Why is the score so low then? Is it because of the help part?’
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick remembered the number of people involved with the bomb.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘Vivi, Pell, Zoro, Sanji,Nami, Ussop,Chopper. So 7 people. 8 with me.’
<span style="font-weight:400">He quickly did the maths and got 312 500 000 as a result.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘So the number of points is divided by the number of people helping me. That’s fair I guess. I wonder why I never knew that.’
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick pondered about this new information on the Karma points.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘Well, I never paid attention to how the point was calcted back then. I was focused on the numbers.’
<span style="font-weight:400">He opened the system’s store and began looking for any advancement on the imperfect bodies.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘So he failed to create an artificial soul. He did seed in putting a devil fruit power in weapons though; along the creation of artificial devil fruits, so that’s some progress. I should really pay him a visit.’
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick then looked at the devil fruits tab. Every devil fruit that could give the crew some problems, was already taken so he could not guy and block them.
<span style="font-weight:400">He did find one free.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘The Ara Ara no mi, would be perfect for Nami.’
<span style="font-weight:400">It made the one who ate it a weather person, giving them the power to control the weather at will.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘With her genius level talent in reading the weather she would be one of the strongest in the world. Too bad it cost 750 millions.’
<span style="font-weight:400">Rick bookmarked it. And closed the system.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘Now time to capture that bird’.
<span style="font-weight:400">It took him hours to find traces of one and a second to capture it with his Me Me no mi. It worked for Robin in the manga, why not for him?
<span style="font-weight:400">The bird has been sending animals after animals to messe up with him. The sun had set for a while now and on his way back he met Nami,Sanji and Ussop.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey! Rick! Where were you? '''' asked Ussop the forest.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I was exploring the forest. Any news about the guy who lives here?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, he’s been back for a while, he’s a nice guy and agreed to help us reach the sky ind.” answered Sanji
<span style="font-weight:400">“Wow that’s great!” said Rick
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, but we need to find a special bird that points to the south for us to do that. He sent us in this forest to catch one.”added Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, What does it look like?” Rick asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“A big bird with a big head always turned in the same direction.” said Nami
<span style="font-weight:400">“Well, you’re in luck, here.” The South bird was restrained by a rope and was hanging behind Rick’s back.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s the bird?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“OH MY GOD! YES!!” yelled Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">“This rascal was sending beasts after beasts after me. In the end I got tired of it and caught him.”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Man, your luck is a cheat.” said Ussop.
<span style="font-weight:400">They had nned to all gather at a specific location in the forest at a specific time. The group of four went there and waited for the others.
<span style="font-weight:400">When they came back to the ship they saw a very frantic man.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Is that him?” asked Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, his name is Montnc Cricket. He’s a descendant of Nond the liar.” said Ussop.
<span style="font-weight:400">“The famous explorer?” said Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">A nodded was all he got.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Hey. What’s wrong?” asked Luffy
<span style="font-weight:400">“What’s wrong is that someone stole my gold!” said Cricket.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What?” asked Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes, the chest where I put the gold we find when we dive was empty! Except for this note.”
<span style="font-weight:400">The note he showed them had only a jolly roger on it.
<span style="font-weight:400">A smiling face which was crossed with a line.
<span style="font-weight:400">‘I thought that by sinking Bemy’s ship he would not be able toe here.But somehow he stole the gold way before he was supposed to. Another change in the story…’
<span style="font-weight:400">“I know that symbol! Zoro, didn’t the guy who made fun of us in the tavern bore it?” said Luffy.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah that’s the same symbol.” the swordsman answered.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’m going to kick his ass and get back your gold!” said Luffy rushing towards the town he met Bemy.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Robin, isn’t that the symbol of thest pirate we visited?” asked Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes. You think…” answered Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yes….”
<span style="font-weight:400">He turned to Cricket.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Earlier in the day, we raided pirate ships. One of them had his symbol, so we may have your gold on our ship. Want to take a look?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“Sure!”
<span style="font-weight:400">Indeed Cricket’s gold was on the Merry. He thanked Rick and Robin.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Thank you really. This gold is so valuable to me. Not because it’s gold but it’s because it’s the proof of our hardworkd to reach our dreams to Masira, Shoujou and me.”
<span style="font-weight:400">~~~~~~
<span style="font-weight:400">Luffy got back at dawn.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I beat the hell out of the thieves but they didn’t have your gold anymore.” said Luffy sadden.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Oh, that’s okay! Your friend got it back.” said Cricket
<span style="font-weight:400">“What?” Luffy was surprised.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Long story short, the gold was on one of the ships we raided, so it was with us all this time.” said Rick.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Good!” shouted Luffy.
<span style="font-weight:400">“The modifications on your ship are done, and we got the south-bird. We’re good to go or you will be out of time.”
<span style="font-weight:400">They departed to their destination.
<span style="font-weight:400">Along the way Rick finally asked:
<span style="font-weight:400">“I didn’t ask anything yesterday because I was beat, but… What are we doing?”
<span style="font-weight:400">“We’re going back to the zone where we saw the giant shadow. Once there, we’ll have to position the Merry on some kind of huge geyser of water. It’s supposed to send us up the sky ind.” answered Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s insane!....But I like it.” Rick said.
<span style="font-weight:400">The sea started to move violently, and a whirlpool formed.
<span style="font-weight:400">“That’s where you need to go.” Said Masira.
<span style="font-weight:400">“WHAT?!” answered the crew.
<span style="font-weight:400">“The geyser wille from there!” added Shoujou to Marisa’s words.
<span style="font-weight:400">The ape captains retreated with their ship.
<span style="font-weight:400">The Merry was attracted by the whirlpool and was quickly going down.
<span style="font-weight:400">The whirlpool ceased suddenly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What happened?” asked Luffy.
<span style="font-weight:400">“How could such a gigantic whirlpool vanish just like that?” said Ussop.
<span style="font-weight:400">“No… the whirlpool’s already been negated at the ocean floor!” eximed Nami worried.
<span style="font-weight:400">“HOLD IT RIGHT THERE! ZEHAHAHA!” said a voice.
<span style="font-weight:400">Turning around Rick saw ckbeard.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Who’s that guy? A friend of yours?” he asked.
<span style="font-weight:400">“A guy we met at the tavern. He’s certainly not a friend.” answered Zoro.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Yeah. No way I can be friends with someone who has such a bad taste in food.” added Luffy.
<span style="font-weight:400">“I’VE COME FOR THAT 100 MILLION BELLY HEAD OF YOURS! SAY YOUR…!”
<span style="font-weight:400">He didn’t get to finish his sentence as Rick sent him, his crew and his ship below the seas with his gravity.
<span style="font-weight:400">“““““““....”””””””
<span style="font-weight:400">They all looked at him weirdly.
<span style="font-weight:400">“What?” Rick asked confused.
<span style="font-weight:400">““““““““Nothing.”””””””
<span style="font-weight:400">They all thought the same thing:
<span style="font-weight:400">‘‘‘‘He’s a devil.’’’’’
<span style="font-weight:400">The sea started to rise.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Everyone grab something! The geyser ising!” Yelled Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">They barely had the time to secure themselves that the Merry was shot up toward the sky.
<span style="font-weight:400">It was riding the upward stream.
<span style="font-weight:400">A sea king was falling right on them and Rick dispatched him to the side.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Open the wings now!” Shouted Nami.
<span style="font-weight:400">Zoro and Sanji cut the ropes that were holding the wings that had been put on the Merry, allowing it to fly.
<span style="font-weight:400">Luffy yelled.
<span style="font-weight:400">“Let’s break through the clouds!!!!”
<span style="font-weight:400">