Chereads / One Piece: Elden Lord / Chapter 51 - Up Up And Away!

Chapter 51 - Up Up And Away!

If you wish to read up to 5 Chapters Ahead! or simply support me just because? then check out my patréon at

"https://www.patréon.com/Riadooo"

Don't forget to change "é" to "e"

/*****************************************\

Kai's staff glowed with an intense purple hue as magical energy surged from his core and into the weapon. The air around him buzzed with power, swirling chaotically as he prepared to unleash his new spell.

"Gravitational Missile!" he declared, as a colossal sphere of purple energy erupted from the staff and hovered over the sea. The sphere, far larger than its game counterpart, pulsated with gravitational force. It began agitating the water below, pulling it upwards as waves churned and spiraled toward the floating mass.

Mikita, standing nearby, watched in awe and apprehension. 'Thank God I never tried to fight him seriously,' she thought.

Noticing the pull wasn't strong enough, Kai gathered more energy, releasing two additional Gravitational Missiles. The three massive orbs rotated around each other, amplifying the gravitational force. The sea roared as a column of water began forming beneath them—the beginnings of the legendary Knock-Up Stream.

Kai shouted, "Hurry up! It's time!" Mikita, still skeptical, steered the ship toward the burgeoning stream.

"Are we seriously doing this? We might die chasing some imaginary island!" she protested.

"Shut up and just do it!" Kai snapped, adrenaline pumping as the ship neared the turbulent column.

The stream exploded in full force, launching their ship skyward. Mikita screamed, clutching the railing. "We're going to die! This is insane!"

"It's either we die or we find gold!" Kai retorted, his eyes blazing with determination. "This is it—our moment!"

As the ship climbed higher, the winds howled and the ocean spray lashed against them. Kai yelled over the noise, "Now, Mikita! Unleash the wings!"

The two of them rushed to opposite sides of the ship, deploying mechanical wings that extended outward with a creak. With the added lift from the wind and the Knock-Up Stream's force, the ship surged higher, breaking through the dense clouds.

Mikita's voice trembled as she looked around, seeing only the endless sky. "There's nothing here! We're going to die because of your stupid, worthless dream!"

But Kai ignored her, focused on their ascent. Suddenly, the ship broke through the final layer of clouds, coming to a jarring halt. They were floating in an endless sea of white clouds.

Their battered ship groaned under the strain of the journey, but it held together. As the mist cleared, their eyes widened in amazement. Before them lay a sprawling green island, with lush trees and vibrant terrain—a breathtaking sight suspended high in the sky.

"There it is," Kai whispered, a mix of triumph and relief washing over him. "Skypiea."

Mikita stared in stunned silence before muttering, "We're alive... and it's… real."

Kai burst into laughter, his voice echoing through the air as he pointed toward the vibrant island in the sky. "What did I tell you, huh? There it is—the Sky Island! Now, our ultimate goal is to reach the top of it because that's where the gold is. Loads of gold!"

Mikita, still processing the sight before her, stared at the lush greenery in awe. "This... this is incredible! We actually found the legendary island! Kai, we should map all of this, note every detail. Holy crap, if people hear about this, it's going to be insane!"

Kai gave her a sidelong glance, his expression amused. "Why would I care about that? Sky Island exists, sure, but I'm not interested in broadcasting it to the world, there is already quite alot of people who know about this place. In fact, I'd rather leave the locals here undisturbed."

Mikita froze, turning toward him with wide eyes. "Locals? You mean there are people living here?"

"Of course there are," Kai replied matter-of-factly. "It's an island, isn't it? People live on islands. Now come on, set sail for the shore. It's time to see what all the hype is about!"

As they adjusted the ship's battered sails, Mikita's expression softened. She looked at Kai earnestly. "Thank you for bringing me here. I thought I'd given up on my dream of being a navigator, but this... this is beyond anything I ever imagined."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "i figured that much."

Mikita scratched the back of her head sheepishly. "Yeah, it's been my dream since I was a kid. I don't know how life led me to being a pirate, but I've always wanted to explore and chart places like this. Sky Islands were part of that dream, but I gave up on them after hearing they were just myths. Lies like those told by Nolan."

Kai sighed, leaning on his staff. "What Nolan said may have sounded like lies, but most of what he claimed was actually true. The man found many strange things. The problem wasn't Nolan—it was the worlds that refused to believe him."

They both stared at the island in silence for a moment, the magnitude of their discovery sinking in.

....

Kai and Mikita had just set foot on the island, ready to navigate the unknown land of Skypiea. Kai, however, was adamant about avoiding the local population. 

"Let's not go near the settlements," Kai stated firmly as he turned to Mikita. "We're literally here for the gold, and I'd rather not deal with their anger. Not that they're strong or anything, but I don't want to take any chances. It's best they don't even know we're here."

Mikita raised an eyebrow, disbelieving. "Wait, are you telling me we're not going to meet anyone? We're on *Sky Island*, Kai! This is huge. We need to at least talk to people—learn how they live, what they do. Think about how insane this will be if word gets out!"

Kai simply shook his head. "No. We should not. And you shouldn't write about it either. The people here are weaker than most—sure, there are some strong ones, but overall, they're just normal folks. Untouched by marines or pirates. I'd prefer to keep it that way. Luffy has already done his part to protect them. Let's leave his work as it is."

Mikita frowned, considering his words but reluctantly followed as Kai led them into the forest. "Fine, but if they're as weak as you say, I don't see why we can't talk to them—learn about this place." 

Kai smirked. "We're not here for sightseeing, Mikita. Let's just get to the gold." 

As they walked through the dense forest, the sounds of exotic creatures filled the air. They encountered a variety of monsters, some fierce, some harmless, which Kai either handled himself or made Mikita fight. After all, he was gaining useful runes regardless of who fought.

Eventually, in between battles and quiet moments, Kai struck up a conversation. "Hey, Mikita... do you still want to be a pirate?"

Mikita seemed surprised by the question. She looked down at the ground, her voice quiet. "Not really, no. I'd rather leave that life behind. I wasn't a good person back then. That's why I switched to bounty hunting. I thought maybe if I caught some pirates, I could make up for my past mistakes. Well... that and more money, of course. But you know what I mean."

Kai laughed. "At least you're honest. But hey... you know I'm not a pirate, right?"

Mikita blinked, confused. "You? I saw the way you fight—how you deal with people. You're a monster in battle! You must be a pirate!"

Kai grinned, a bit smug. "Nah, not really. Not everyone who's strong is a pirate or a marine. My dream is different. And I'm willing to share it with you, if you join my crew."

Mikita's confusion deepened. "A crew? You mean... you're forming a crew of pirates?"

Kai shook his head. "No, not pirates. Not marines, either. I want to form a crew of adventurers. People who seek the end of the world, who aim to stand at the top—not through destruction, cruelty, or justice. Just because I should be at the top. Simple as that."

Mikita stared at him, clearly puzzled. "That makes no sense. You just want to be at the top for no reason?"

Kai's expression grew more serious. "Because I'm the Elder Lord. That means I'm meant to be above everyone else. I need to be the strongest, the wisest, the greatest. And that's what I'm going to be. So, what do you say? I'm in need of a navigator, and I'm willing to cut the 'slave contract' I have with you."

Mikita shot him an incredulous look. "Slave contract?! We don't have a slave contract, Kai! You've forced me into this with no payment! I'm not even getting paid for this!"

Kai laughed. "Oh, shut up. You get food, shelter, and now you get to see *Sky Island*! Not a bad deal, right?"

Mikita sighed, rolling her eyes. "Maybe. But this *is* one of my dreams, after all. I guess I'll join your crew. I don't have anywhere else to go. I've just been wandering around aimlessly. I'd rather be with someone strong like you than without any purpose. So... yeah, my captain Kai, I'll join your crew."

Kai smiled, hearing her call him "captain," though he inwardly cringed. "Just call me Kai. No need for the formalities."

As they continued through the forest, the air around them suddenly shifted, and they were greeted by an unexpected sight. A blonde boy, dressed in a white outfit, stood before them, his expression one of surprise. 

"Hey, wait a minute," the boy said, pointing at Kai. "I know you... aren't you Kai Silver?" 

Kai froze, shocked. Someone knew his name? And not only that, but they were here on Skypiea—meaning this person couldn't possibly be a local.

/*****************************************\

If you wish to read up to 5 Chapters Ahead! or simply support me just because? then check out my patréon at

"https://www.patréon.com/Riadooo"

Don't forget to change "é" to "e"