May 12th, Sunny.
He gave everyone another day off; the schedule was six days of work, one day off.
He broke his own rule.
But he justified it.
"Rules are rigid; people are flexible. Adapt to circumstances and be pragmatic."
Tomorrow was the ascent to Skypiea; another day of training would be excessive.
But I hate how he always seems right…
Calm down, Nico Robin. He's just a tool.
May 13th, Sunny.
The weather was excellent; thirty balloons were inflated—by Ace.
In ten days, he could control flames remotely.
Flames, like fireflies, floated into other balloons, instantly heating them.
This was easy for him.
The man's judgment was proven right; Ace was a crucial asset.
He's now the second-in-command in terms of combat strength. But in terms of rank, there's no second or third; his position is unshakeable.
That afternoon, Mont Blanc hesitated.
I understood his fear; if Jaya wasn't in the sky, his life's work would be meaningless.
Underwater, he could believe the currents carried Jaya away, but in the sky…
Absence meant non-existence.
I scolded him, calling him a coward, praising his ancestor Noland. Finally, Mont Blanc decided to ascend.
Everyone had parachutes, but I'd developed a technique for descending without one. In danger, I'd jump.
——————
Thirty balloons, connected by long ropes, ascended.
Each balloon carried a captured South Bird. Everyone checked their equipment: three days' rations, a water bottle, thirty rounds of ammunition, a musket, and a parachute (never to be removed).
That was all.
Everyone swallowed.
Ace released countless embers towards the balloons, heating the air.
The heat dried their hair.
But they were flying…
There was no time to check for acrophobia.
They huddled in the baskets; the braver ones peeked out, their hands sweating, limbs weakening.
This was a common human response—looking down from a height created a sense of unreality.
Now, it was too late to leave.
Ace was intensely heating the thirty balloons.
This required precise control.
It was similar to his future "Fire Fist," dispersing flames.
But with thirty balloons, over fifty meters long, he needed to control a sixty-meter radius, precisely directing the flames—a test of skill.
Alistair had no better energy source.
Sending three hundred people up via the Knock Up Stream was suicide.
This is why Alistair gave Ace the Mera Mera no Mi; Ace could handle it; Alistair couldn't.
Ace struggled with control but had sufficient stamina. Garp's training was solid; powerful fruits were easily mastered.
The balloons rose, losing their sense of distance to the ground. Without altimeters, determining altitude was difficult.
But the sky lacked landmarks like the Knock Up Stream or South Birds.
Using these as coordinates, they approached the Knock Up Stream.
Mont Blanc grew nervous.
"We'll reach 5-6,000 meters; the air will be thin. Breathe deeply to maintain oxygen intake."
Alistair repeated this instruction.
He couldn't reach the other balloons.
"Lafitte, help us avoid this rain cloud." Alistair took no risks; he had Logia users; he didn't know if they could survive in the Knock Up Stream.
Bypassing the Knock Up Stream to reach Jaya was best.
With an aircraft, they didn't need to enter the Knock Up Stream.
This was Lafitte's advantage.
Hot air balloons lacked propulsion.
But a powered individual could guide them.
Balloons were light; Lafitte could easily pull the main rope.
"I anticipated this. Impressive." Lafitte tipped his hat, bowing slightly to Alistair, unfurling his wings, pulling the main rope, guiding the South Bird, bypassing the Knock Up Stream, ascending higher.
Two Devil Fruit users had achieved what was previously impossible—Lafitte couldn't maintain altitude at 10,000 meters, but the hot air balloons provided resting points, allowing him to use his energy efficiently.
The balloons now had direction.
A win-win situation!
Alistair desired Devil Fruits; the Goro Goro no Mi would give them two Admiral-level fighters.
With careful planning, they could overcome their disadvantage against the Marines!
____________________
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