*BOOM*
After being dropped from the sky, caught by some kind of balloon octopus, and dropped once more...Lucas' face was pale but he still tried his best to soften the landing as much as possible as the golden pillar was quite heavy!
The water splashed a big wave as the ship hit the ocean.
Everyone gasped for breath as soon as they could breathe properly.
"Cough...that was scary...why did the octopus suddenly shrink!?"
"Maybe there's a leak...?"
"Phew...we're still alive...thanks octopus."
Luffy caught the octopus, now a small one, and laughed.
Soon, they managed to have a good look at their surroundings.
"The sea…"
"It's blue!"
"Is everyone safe?"
Lucas asked while looking around, ready to heal anyone who might be injured.
Sanji started to light up a cigarette and sighed.
"Well...that was one magical trip."
"Now that we're back down...that trip feels like a dream."
"Well, I got a lot of memorable pictures that prove it isn't."
Lucas laughed.
"I wonder...if we will ever go back again…"
"Maybe you will go there after you die. Or somewhere close...hehe."
Zoro grinned while looking at Chopper who wanted to go back to the sky.
"...Zoro, are you sure that we'll go to heaven."
"..."
Suddenly, Nami clicked her tongue.
"Tsk tsk, if you can rest whenever you want in this sea, nobody would be afraid of it."
"???"
"Everyone, move it! Look, here it comes."
While everyone was still confused, Nami turned around to look at the view from behind.
...Alright, there was no view, only a huge wall of water created by a tsunami was headed their way!
"Ahhh!!!"
"Full speed ahead!"
Lucas laughed and didn't bother with controlling the water to have the tsunami pass around them as he went and joined the crew set sail!
…
After over an hour of bustling about and dodging the huge waves, the sea finally calmed down and Nami was able to try the waver on the sea as well.
"Yes! It works in the Blue Seas too!"
Luffy could only stare at her with jealousy as he also wanted to try riding it.
While Nami was having fun with the waver, Usopp was testing a bunch of dials if it would still work here as well.
"Hmm...it seems everything except the cloud dial works down here."
Hearing him say that, Lucas took out the iron cloud sword and tried to activate it.
...Sure enough, it was indeed not working…
Lucas sighed. And just as he thought that he would have a unique weapon of his own too…
...Well, maybe it doesn't really matter much to him because of his powers…
Finally, once everyone was done confirming their loot from the Sky Island, Nam started to check the gold and treasures they got inside the snake's stomach.
"Thank you for waiting. Now we will officially start distributing the loot! Each of these is worth a lot of money!"
Everyone cheered.
"Yay!"
"Hurray! Let's buy a statue! I want a statue!"
"Can I buy books!?"
"New pots, new pans, new silverware...and a few mouse-traps…"
"Time for some rum!"
Only Robin and Lucas didn't say anything.
Robin probably doesn't need much money herself. As for Lucas...he was still thinking that they have too much money now anyway. And this doesn't even include the money he got from Blackbeard and that giant golden pillar…
Nami smiled as she heard their requests.
"First of all, my share is 80% of these."
"Oi!"
Afterward, the crew started to debate on which things are necessary to buy or get when they reached the next island.
Lucas fell silent as he listened and couldn't help but feel bad...after all, he had repaired Going Merry to look as good as new...none of them talked about repairing the ship anymore or getting a new one…
Going Merry is indeed a good ship...but it isn't suitable for battle or sailing the Grand Line. Especially so in the New World...
As such...he had to intervene.
"I think we should get a new ship."
…
The room became quiet at Lucas' suggestion.
Then, Usopp glared at him with his fist trembling!
"Lucas! I know you were the one who fixed Merry back up again but...you don't have the right to say that!"
"..."
Lucas looked at him calmly and sighed.
"I did not say we should throw Merry. I said we need a new ship. Why can't we have both of them?"
"You-...huh?"
Perhaps confused by what Lucas meant, Usopp was no longer glaring at him and looked surprised instead.
"Look, if I hadn't fixed Merry, it would already be gone. We're in the Grand Line. Who knows just what kind of dangers or enemies we will face? Maybe next time, we won't be so lucky as now and get Merry back. We can still keep Merry, but we also need a ship that is better equipped in these seas...Who knows, maybe make a big enough ship to fit Merry inside. By then, we could have Merry as some sort of scout ship or something in the future."
Everyone fell silent again.
Hearing what Lucas said, Usopp, Chopper, and Luffy started to picture something in their heads.
The image of a huge ship and Going Merry coming out from inside it…
Suddenly, their eyes sparkled!
"That's it!"
"Let's do that!"
"Yosh! Let's go get a big ship!!!"
"..."
Lucas sighed in relief when he saw that the crew's emotions stabilize.
He was still a bit worried that Usopp would act like in the original story and it would be problematic if his anger is directed at Lucas and not Luffy...Lucas isn't Luffy, he doesn't know if he would handle that situation well...
After all, even though Usopp is...well, Usopp...he is still an important member of this crew.
Lucas didn't want his existence here to...be the one who would destroy their relationships…
Once they were done deciding, Lucas started to train in his Observation Haki once again as he sat cross-legged with his eyes closed.
He could feel another huge tsunami coming up so he controlled it to go around as he didn't want to be disturbed in the meantime.
However, as he controlled it...it actually hit another ship near them.
Luffy and the others also saw the ship.
"That ship...there's no flag and not even a sail! What kind of ship is that!?"
"Huh? They don't have anything? Why are then on the sea!?"
"I don't know but...the sailors look...kind of strange!"
Usopp zoomed in on the sailors on the deck and saw they're all just sitting around and looking depressed.
Luffy tried to call out to them to warn them about the tsunami.
"Hey! You guys, there's a tsunami headed your way! Turn around!"
Only now did the sailors react. However...none of them did anything useful.
Some seemed to want to board Going Merry and raid the ship instead.
Some wanted to dodge the tsunami but there were no sails to use and also no navigators on board.
Naturally...the ship was swallowed by the tsunami.
Lucas could have helped but...he figured there was no point in doing so. Instead, there was a solemn look on his face.
It would seem...that it is already this part of the story…
Lucas sighed and got out.
Soon...they reached an island.
"There's nothing!!!"
Right...it was a huge island with a seemingly endless stretch of plain field...apart from the weirdly long and thin trees, there was really nothing visible on the island that would pose as a landmark or a city…
Nevertheless, Luffy still looked quite excited.
"So big! So empty! It's an endless plain!"
"It's plain alright. There's nothing to see."
"I wonder if it's inhabited…"
Well, they got their answers for that soon enough. After walking for a bit, they saw a tall and thin...furry creature...which is quite similar to a bear.
They also saw other familiar animals that seemed to be stretched thin like a cheetah, or reindeer...even dogs, or vultures…
While Luffy, Usopp, and Chopper were touring the island, another ship arrived from behind.
It was a huge ship with a fox headpiece at the front and a fox-like skull on its sails. Along with the letters FOXY.
These guys are...the Foxy Pirates!
"Who are you people?"
"Come on down and fight!"
"What do you want from us…"
"Come out, cowards!"
Zoro was pissed.
Not only did they show up and block their way out, they spoke arrogantly as well.
"We are the Foxy Pirates! Don't be anxious...our duel shall begin shortly."
Lucas kept quiet and didn't pay attention to any of these guys.
Instead, he was looking at the island with a serious look before leaving quietly.
While the Foxy pirates began their game with Luffy and the others to steal their crew and flag, he wanted to deal with something else on this island…
There was no need for him to get worried with Luffy. He knows that they can handle these chumps. Anyway, they also still need to grow stronger both in their powers and in their characters.
But...it is still too early for them to deal with the person on this island.
Once he was far enough from the others, Lucas closed his eyes and extended his Haki to the whole island.
Ever since their trip to Skypiea, his Observation Haki had grown by leaps and bounds! It would be no exaggeration to say now that...he can even rival Katakuri in terms of using it!
Lucas smiled and opened his eyes.
"Found you...Aokiji."
Lucas extended his wings and flew towards him at great speed.
As his body was made of water, his wings were also the same so he could will it to show up or not.
It is quite cumbersome to walk around with huge wings on your back after all…
Having arrived in front of a tall man who wore a white suit and a sleeping mask on his eyes, Lucas stopped.
"Huh? Who the heck are you?"
"...Aokiji, what brings you here?"
Lucas didn't decide to humor him and simply asked straightly.
Aokiji smiled and removed the sleeping mask.
"Ararara, aren't you a member of his crew? Lucas...was it?"
"...That is me."
Aokiji felt the tense expression of Lucas and sighed.
"Hey, just chill man. It's not like I was ordered to come here. I was only taking a walk."
"Perhaps. But there should be a reason why you are headed this way."
Aokiji shrugged and laid down on the grass relaxedly.
"I only came here to confirm the whereabouts of Nico Robin after the Alabasta incident. I thought she would be with you guys."
"She's with us. Now go back."
"...I said confirm. I haven't seen her yet...now, have I?"
Lucas' eyes narrowed.
"Is my word not enough?"
"No."
"...Then this conversation is over."
Even though Lucas said that, he didn't make the first move and simply waited for Aokiji to make his move.
Aokiji looked at him and sighed as he stands up.
He picked a few strands of grass and threw them in the air as he blew on them with his freezing breath.
The small blades of grass soon formed a long ice weapon!
"Ice Saber."
Lucas gritted his teeth and shot forward with extreme speed as his body turned into water and rotated in high speed as well!
Boost Whirlpool!
"Oh? I heard about the reports...but I didn't think a water devil fruit truly exists...more so, a logia one at that…but…"
Lucas' eyes grew wide when he saw Aokiji's fist nearing him!
"Ice...beats water...does it not?"
Ice started to form inside him that Lucas can't help but panic.
He gritted his teeth and shot away in a hurry!
Dammit! So it really won't work!
Lucas thought that maybe his water wouldn't react the same way as so far, his abilities are quite weird but...is there really no way of beating ice with water!?
Since this was the case...time for plan B!
That was...to move the fight on the beach! He needed access to the sea water!
His body turned to water once more and expanded, turning into a large wave that would swallow a small boat!
Still...Aokiji stood there without moving and only stretched his arms.
"Ice Age."
…
Meanwhile, back to Luffy and the others.
Just like how Lucas had predicted, they had indeed gotten into a fight with the Foxy pirates and are not playing the game called Davy Back Fight.
On the first round, it was a race around the island where Robin, Usopp, and Nami had participated in and lost due to the other side's cheating.
As a result, Chopper was taken from them and became a part of the Foxy pirates.
Well, on the second round, both Zoro and Sanji managed to win the round and get Chopper back quickly.
Finally, it was the last round. A fight between the Captains. Luffy VS Foxy.
Both of them stood on the deck where Luffy was already looking pretty bloodied and bruised...while wearing an afro...
"Strawhat Luffy is standing back up!"
"Knock him out!"
"Yeah! Finish it!"
Foxy grinned and started to unleash his attacks at Luffy who's currently slowed down with his Noro Noro ability.
"Megaton Nine-tail Rush!!!"
"Gah-!?"
Luffy collapsed from the attack.
While everyone thought that he would no longer stand back up...Luffy...stood up once more on his own two feet!
"Luffy!"
"Strawhat Luffy stood back up!!!"
"How is he still standing after that!?"
"Is it because of the afro!?"
"..."
Foxy was pissed at seeing Luffy still standing after all the attacks that he made.
He used his powers once more and didn't stop attacking!"
"Noro Noro Beam! Megaton Nine-tail Rush!!!"
From the audience, Usopp was angered as well.
"Dammit! That beam thing is way too cheap!"
Foxy didn't mind him and only looked at Luffy as he snorted.
"Heh, let's see you still sta-..."
Before he could even finish his sentence, he saw Luffy...still stand up!
At this moment as well, on the fight between Lucas and Aokiji.
It could be seen that Aokiji still looked the same other than the ice covering his skin but...the same couldn't be said to Lucas.
Right now, Lucas' body is nearly frozen from the neck down as Aokiji held him up.
These two people...Luffy and Lucas, were both fighting different fights. Yet the same expression could be seen in both of their eyes that still burned of life!
"To save...my crew…"
"To save...my friends…"
""I WILL FIGHT...EVEN IF IT KILLS ME!!!""