Entering the Floating Island
The New Windbreaker indeed withstood the impact. Its massive hull slammed into the water with a thunderous crash, briefly submerging the deck. After several violent tilts and rockings, the ship came to a steady stop on this stretch of sky-sea.
Yang Ning straightened up, released the gunwale, and looked around. This place was a dreamlike heavenly kingdom.
Dozens of diamond-shaped islands floated in a three-dimensional arrangement, some surrounded by azure water. Dense vegetation covered them—mountains, forests, rivers, birds, and beasts thriving in harmony.
Upon closer inspection, several islands bore structures—some pale, some gray—but none appeared inhabited. They looked ancient, more like rugged ruins than buildings.
He squinted, memories swirling.
This was not a true Sky Island.
Sky Islands had white seas, layered like clouds, and ground made of hard, white cloud-stuff.
This? This was something else.
If he remembered correctly, only one place like this existed in the original story—Shiki the Golden Lion's floating island chain.
It drifted through the early Grand Line, untethered, appearing anywhere.
This time, it had saved their lives.
After settling Nami and the others inside, Sylvester and Willie returned to the deck. The two stared at the floating archipelago, speechless with awe. After a long silence, Sylvester finally stammered:
"Sky… Island!"
Willie nodded vigorously. As a shipwright, he wasn't one for words.
Yang Ning shot them an annoyed look.
"Set sail. Let's get to the island first."
The brothers sprang into action, deftly navigating the ship across the thin layer of floating seawater until they reached the beach.
But then—another problem.
Willie clutched the anchor, scratching his head as he peered into the crystal-clear water. The seabed was invisible. The entire sea floated midair, offering nowhere to anchor.
Yang Ning slapped his forehead, doubting Willie's claim that he "wasn't stupid."
Without a word, he snatched the anchor, leapt onto the beach, and tied it to a large rock.
Then, he silently held out a hand toward the rock, as if to say: Use your brain, not your bluff.
The brothers missed the point entirely. Eyes wide, they gasped:
"Boss! You're so smart! What a brilliant idea!"
Yang Ning sighed. He really shouldn't have expected more.
After securing the ship, he ordered Sylvester to stay and guard the boat and the unconscious crew. He'd head into the forest alone—he was injured and needed food to recover.
Esdeath was still out cold… but her cooking skills were excellent.
He vaguely recalled that all animals here were mutated. He wondered: Would eating them harm humans?
Rustle…
He'd barely stepped into the forest when an unnatural sound came from the undergrowth. His Observation Haki warned: large creature.
Perfect size. Not too big, not too small—just enough for a meal.
He showed no fear. A smile played on his lips as he rubbed his hungry stomach.
He kept walking.
Speed was his weakness. His Soul-Sucking Strike gave him straight-line bursts, but no agility—just a clumsy, scrambling lunge.
If he missed the first strike, forest prey would easily escape.
Animals are still animals—even mutated ones.
Seeing Yang Ning walk on, the hidden beast couldn't resist.
Whoosh!
A red blur shot from a tree—metallic fangs aimed at the back of his head.
"Coming."
He ducked, crouching just in time.
The attacker missed, then spun around nearby.
Yang Ning saw it clearly: a giant wasp, man-sized!
No—a red wasp.
Its exoskeleton was crimson, not yellow. Its compound eyes gleamed like blood-red crystals.
Its mandibles—each larger than Yang Ning's palm—clicked like guillotines.
Yang Ning placed a hand on Kotetsu's hilt.
These mutated beasts were dangerous. Even Gear 3 Luffy had to kill them in one hit.
Then—
A red glint in his eyes.
He swung Kotetsu behind him without looking.
Clang!
Another red wasp—sneaking up from behind—was blocked mid-lunge.
So the first one was bait.
Yang Ning chuckled. He flicked his blade sideways, swatting the second wasp away like a fly.
He looked up.
Three more red wasps hovered silently in the treetops.
He scratched his head with Kotetsu's hilt, annoyed.
"If they're adult bees… isn't cooking them a bit devilish?"
The five ignored him. To them, he was just prey.
A deafening buzz erupted. Five red shadows dove.
Yang Ning stood calm. He lowered his stance, knees bent, Tiger's Cudgel held sideways.
> "One-Sword Style: Round Dance!"
A blazing white halo burst forth—striking all five mid-air.
The light faded.
The buzzing stopped.
Five cleaved wasps plummeted, their insectile vitality keeping them twitching on the ground.
Yang Ning stared at them, conflicted. After a long pause, he sighed and sheathed his sword.
Let Esdeath decide.
He kicked aside a half-severed abdomen and walked deeper, still "fishing" for prey.
His luck held.
Less than ten minutes later, another beast appeared—a giant pink octopus.
An octopus… in the forest?
Yet it looked healthy. Spotting Yang Ning, it writhed its eight tentacles and lunged.
Yang Ning licked his lips. He loved this.
> "One-Sword Style: Heaven Opening!"
White light flashed. Yang Ning passed through the beast.
Splash!
The slash—carrying extreme damage—was too much for mere mutation. The octopus split cleanly in two.
Dragging the still-twitching halves, Yang Ning headed back to the beach.
But when he reached the shore—
His grin froze.
His hands loosened.
The pink tentacles slammed to the ground.
"Wait… where's my ship?!"
"Where the hell is my huge ship?!!"
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