Chapter 81: Lei Shen Returns to Skypiea

Skypiea, Bika.

Enel's face was full of arrogance; as he tilted his mouth, his gaze, unfriendly, sized up the old Whitebeard before him.

"I am Enel. What do you want?"

Eight years ago, only after the fact did Enel realize he had missed a Devil Fruit—one that had come to him of its own accord, then vanished for no reason.

For these eight years, Enel had nearly roamed all of Bika, yet still had not found that Devil Fruit.

Confirming it was correct, Gan Forr's face immediately showed a gratified smile; finally, he had not let down my lord Lei Shen.

"Child, my lord Lei Shen wishes to see you."

Enel frowned.

"Lei Shen? If I go to see Lei Shen, will you let me leave Skypiea?"

His homeland held not a shred of warmth; there was only cold words and loneliness. If he could leave Skypiea, let alone seeing Lei Shen, he would not even fear the Grim Reaper.

Seeing the thatched cottage behind Enel, Gan Forr seemed to understand everything; the welfare system of Skypiea had ultimately never reached these orphans' hands.

Alas, where there are people, there is corruption.

Gan Forr patted his chest and promised.

"No problem. The Thunder Cloud Guard is recruiting new members; I will personally take you there for the interview."

"Very well, I will go with you."

Moments later, Enel shouldered his pack, mounted Gan Forr's mount—a strange horse with wings—and soared over the sea of clouds.

"Uncle, why does your horse have wings?"

Gan Forr stroked his beard: "It is called Pierre; it is a Sky Bird that ate a Devil Fruit."

Hearing "Devil Fruit," Enel's good mood instantly vanished by half; for eight years he had spent every day in torment, regretting why he had not taken a bite first.

If Only It Could Be Heavy Again, he would have eaten them all.

Not long after, Pierre landed on God's Island.

When Enel followed Gan Forr, stepping onto the staircase suspended above the sea of clouds, the moment his gaze struck the Temple of Lei Shen, a flame seemed to ignite within his heart.

A palace of majestic momentum, its entire body flowing with gilded patterns; a towering dome pierced the cloud layer, and on the pillars coiled lifelike dragon reliefs.

"This is the place a man should live."

Compared to his own thatched cottage, the Temple of Lei Shen was simply not even as good as a dog's den.

A thought inexplicably rose in Enel's heart: if he had eaten that Devil Fruit back then, perhaps he too could now live in such a big house.

Once something is missed, it is truly missed; it is too late to regret.

Enel was not the only one who felt such emotion.

Below Skypiea, at the dock of Jaya Island.

After reuniting with the crew, the Donghai Dihuang docked at the pier to resupply; Saint Saint Saiwen stood at the bow, his heart equally filled with extreme regret.

Just now, the user of Zhan Chi Tong delisted the Imperial Arm Water Dragon... (Disclaimer: read on)

Saint Saint Saiwen's entire body seemed drained of strength; he lowered his head, eyelids drooping, arms hanging limply, like a walking corpse.

This appearance terrified the crew.

Jin Ni showed concern.

"Captain, are you alright?"

"How did going out and coming back leave you looking like you lost your soul? What exactly happened?"

Saint Saint Saiwen mechanically shook his head: "Don't worry about me; I just need a moment to recover."

Chest pocket, why did you delist?

Since you delisted, why list it on the trading platform in the first place? You lured my very soul away.

You treacherous merchant, you truly deserve to die.

Since setting sail again a few months ago, Saint Saint Saiwen had sailed smoothly and without hindrance; he never expected to be taught a lesson by other users on the trading platform.

"Just consider it a lesson learned."

Saint Saint Saiwen took several deep breaths; his eyes, full of regret, were instantly replaced by a clear foolishness. Having lived two lives and endured so much hardship, what was this little pain?

"Xiong Sang, raise the sails and set course."

"Aye aye, Captain."

Seeing Saint Saint Saiwen pull himself together again, Mihawk silently returned the red wine he had collected for many years to the wine cabinet.

The man Mihawk had taken an interest in—how could he be easily crushed by setbacks?

"Saint Saint Saiwen, this time, will we ride the Knock Up Stream?"

Two years ago, the experience of riding the Knock Up Stream to Skypiea remained vivid in Mihawk's memory; that thrilling surge of vitality... was still before his eyes.

"Perhaps not, Mr. Xiong." Saint Saint Saiwen quickly shook his head: "With Mr. Master Tenghu here, we will fly straight up."

If Master Tenghu can summon meteorites from the sky, making a ship fly should not be a big problem; it only requires making the vessel weightless and floating.

The abilities of the Float-Float Fruit and the Control Weight Fruit can, in specific scenarios, achieve similar effects through different means.

The user of the Control Weight Fruit can release gravity waves, manipulating the intensity and direction of gravity at will.

For example, increasing gravity to pin a target firmly so they cannot move; or weakening gravity to make objects float weightlessly; or even forming a powerful repulsion field to deflect incoming attacks.

Moreover—

The user need not rely on any physical movement; they can activate the ability directly through mere thought.

The user of the Float-Float Fruit can completely remove the constraints of gravity, enabling their own body to fly freely, and by touch, grant non-living objects the property of floating.

Upon hearing this, Master Tenghu smiled awkwardly.

"Captain, this... I... I have not yet attempted to make a ship fly these past years; next time, for sure."

Saint Saint Saiwen smiled wickedly.

"Mr. Xian, you still need to train."

"I'll take Xiong Sang and Jin Ni up first, then open a door to fetch you later."

As long as Big Bear steps onto the Sky Island's land, he can use his fruit ability to precisely slap Robin and the others upward, avoiding misfires that would send them plummeting from ten thousand meters.

From now on, Saint Saint Saiwen can return to the Sky Island anytime.

Jin Ni can too.

As the Donghai Dihuang sailed into the deep sea, Saint Saint Saiwen grabbed Big Bear and Jin Ni, one on each side, and shot straight upward.

Under normal circumstances, elemental transformation flight cannot carry others, but Saint Saint Saiwen has a flight cloak.

The wind at high altitude was far fiercer than imagined.

The gale cut like ice-coated blades, stinging their cheeks; Jin Ni's neatly combed hair plastered her face, making it hard to open her eyes.

"Captain, fly slower."

Hearing this, Saint Saint Saiwen slowed his ascent.

"You still need to train, Jin Ni."

"Quickly master Armament Haki—look at Big Bear, he's perfectly fine."

Sensing Jin Ni's gaze, Big Bear helplessly shrugged, yet a smile lingered at his lips.

To those who had never reached the Sky Island, it existed only in legend; they could not comprehend the breathtaking, heavenly scenery above the White Sea.

After passing through the Gate of Heaven and officially entering the Sky Island, Jin Ni's wide eyes bulged, reflecting the endless sea of clouds and the silhouettes of floating islands.

"So beautiful—it's just like the legendary heaven."

Though the scenery was beautiful, Jin Ni and Big Bear moved with extreme caution, each step tentative, afraid that even a slight misstep might send them plummeting from ten thousand meters.

Jin Ni clung to Big Bear's clothes, stepping precisely in Saint Saint Saiwen's footprints.

Hearing the nearly inaudible breathing behind him, Saint Saint Saiwen stopped and turned with a smile.

"Don't worry—it's very sturdy."

"Open a door and bring them up."

Jin Ni snapped back to awareness, nodding quickly; her fingertips shimmered with faint spatial ripples as an oval door materialized, its other side revealing the familiar deck of the Donghai Dihuang.

Through the opened spatial door, Master Tenghu and the others, along with the giants Donquixote and Brouck, arrived on the Sky Island.

"Mr. Mihawk said he'll stay on the ship."

"Hmm." Saint Saint Saiwen spread his arms.

"My dear crew, welcome to the domain of Lei Shen Barzab Saint Saint Saiwen—the Sky Island."