The "god" Roseng mentioned was, of course, Enel from Skypiea.
Yet to Kaido — the strongest creature — and to the Three Disasters who had just levelled up by eating Dragon-class Monster Cells, calling Enel a god sounded a little ridiculous.
Roseng briefed everyone on what he knew about Enel. Hearing that one of the strongest Devil Fruits of the natural element — the Rumble-Rumble Fruit — had been eaten by an islander of the Sky Islands, even Kaido was surprised. He scratched the dragon horn on his head and said:
"That guy… how come I never saw him when I used to suicide-jump on the Sky Islands?"
Kaido's favorite pastime was to jump off high sky-islands for fun; if he'd seen Enel up there, Kaido — who hoards talented people — probably would have kidnapped him and brought him into the Beast Pirates long ago. Enel had been lucky that he'd never crossed Kaido's path. But his luck was about to run out.
Roseng said, "Enel's fruit is strong, but his actual strength is average. No need for Father-in-law to go personally. Jin — you go with me."
Jin (En) had already stepped onto the brink of Emperor-level power and could easily crush someone like Enel. Roseng and Jin left Kaido's palace. Roseng told Jin, "You go rest for now — I'll make something in the lab and then we'll set off."
Jin had no objections. Roseng had his people fetch a block of high-purity sea-stone and went alone into the lab. Wano's craftsmen were masters at forging sea-stone — a technique unmatched elsewhere — and Roseng had already learned it. He intended to make a collar out of sea-stone for Enel. Enel liked to lord it over others in Skypiea; he wouldn't surrender to Roseng easily, but a collar would keep him in line.
Half a day later Roseng came out of the lab cradling a small collar. It was tiny, but it could expand and contract. With a press of a switch Roseng could make it grow or shrink at will.
"Hubby!"
A silhouette lunged into Roseng's arms, bringing with her a pleasant fragrance. It was Yamato. Roseng, surprised, asked, "Why are you here?"
Yamato, now Wano's general, was busy most days, but she hooked an arm around Roseng's neck and beamed, her big eyes shining with expectation: "I heard you're going to Sky Island. I want to come too!"
Yamato had always dreamed of seeing the outside world. She had never left Wano in her life, so no wonder she longed for freedom. Roseng couldn't refuse his wife and agreed at once. Yamato leapt around like a giddy girl and showered Roseng with kisses. He wiped the lipstick off his cheek and teased, "You and that little girl Ayu have become clingy together."
"Nooo," Yamato cooed, feigning coyness.
Roseng adored his wife. Another adorable person aboard was the rabbit-eared Galotte — moon-lion form's cool demeanor made her irresistible. Thus Roseng, Yamato, and Jin set off for the Sky Islands. Jin transformed into a gigantic pteranodon and Roseng and Yamato rode on his back. The pteranodon's wings beat like lightning as they shot upward. Yamato's eyes sparkled as she watched the scenery; Roseng watched Yamato.
"I think we should try something up here, too," Roseng thought to himself. Yamato reached out and touched the clouds. "They feel sticky," she said.
"They'll become solid soon," Roseng replied.
"Wonderful — the outside world is so amazing," Yamato said. Jin flew up to 7,000 meters, pierced a thick stratum of cloud, and the view opened like a dream: flocks of geese and cranes drifting in a sea of vapour, like a fairyland. Yamato pressed close to Roseng's arm with delight.
"This is Sky Island?" she whispered. "I could live here forever."
Roseng rapped Yamato gently on the head: "This is only the White Sea — it's what people at sea see as clouds. Sky Islands are even higher, thousands of meters above."
Because of the White Sea illusion, many at sea think Sky Islands are a legend. Jin accelerated and they pierced yet another layer that felt almost solid — finally they arrived at the real Sky Island. There are many Sky Islands; Enel's was located in the first half of the Grand Line, so they still had a way to go.
——
Meanwhile, in the Red Line — Mary Geoise — Fleet Admiral Sengoku stepped out of his chamber, his face as black as burnt iron. The Gorosei had just chewed him out for the defeat at Dressrosa and the Navy's loss of face. Sengoku had been furious inwardly: "You told me to retake Dressrosa in a few days — and now you scold me because it failed? Forgetful old men…"
But the Gorosei were unbudgeable: with the Beast Pirates and Whitebeard both active, there was no chance to remove Sengoku now; the Navy needed him. Sengoku swallowed his anger, then went to Vegapunk's lab.
The moment they saw each other he fired a question: "Research into those higher-rank Monster Cells — any progress?"
Sengoku was desperate: the Navy had lost badly because the Three Disasters' power spiked. Vegapunk wore an embarrassed look. He still couldn't replicate even the low-tier Tiger-class Monster Cells, never mind Dragon-class. Sengoku's question had been half-hope, half-plea.
"And those beans that regrow limbs — the Senzu?" he asked. "Any progress?"
"Also, I heard those pirates use 'combination earrings' to fuse — can you replicate that?" Sengoku rattled off two more questions.
Vegapunk grew serious and looked hard at Sengoku. "Admiral, the best option may be for you, the Three Admirals, and Marine Hero Garp to go to Wano and bring that Beast Prince Roseng back alive."
Sengoku blinked at that and then, with a wry smile, sighed: "Heh. Alright. I won't make it harder for you. Don't tease me."
Vegapunk shrugged: "Fine — don't ask me about Monster Cells and Senzu. I can finish the Pacifistas — that weapon can change the balance."
Half an hour later, Sengoku returned to Marineford clutching a sliver of hope. Vegapunk's Pacifistas, when ready, might turn the tide. In the meantime the Navy headquarters published a new batch of wanted posters. Hidden among announcements for the newcomer Trafalgar Law, the real eye-catchers were the Beast Pirates' revised bounties:
Jack the Drought: 1,660,000,000 Berries
Queen the Plague: 1,930,000,000 Berries
En the Blaze (Jin): 2,250,000,000 Berries
Roseng's bounty remained at 2,000,000,000, but one small line was added under it: 50,000,000,000 Berries to whoever brings Roseng in alive!
Advance Chapters available on Patreon
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