One Piece: Raijin

At the boundary between sea and sky, massive undersea currents erupted from the ocean with a force capable of lifting islands into the heavens.

"Boom!!!"

The roar of the waves was deafening, a breathtaking spectacle as the torrent rose like a curtain blotting out the sun.

The sheer power of nature surpassed human imagination. Black Bear Blaibel, having narrowly escaped the undercurrent's reach, gasped for air, his face pale with lingering fear.

He stared at the immense column of water reaching toward the sky, his thoughts swirling. Had he been just a moment slower, his ship and crew would have been obliterated.

His mind drifted to the young man who had leaped into the sea to escape.

"Hahahahaha!" Asa's laughter rang out, wild and unrestrained. After five long years of waiting, his moment had finally arrived.

This was the first step toward achieving his dream and standing atop the world!

Years of fishing and exercising with the villagers of Gaya Island had honed Asa's skills in the water. His strong physique and remarkable lung capacity allowed him to stay submerged for long periods—up to several dozen minutes.

Taking a deep breath, Asa dove into the water and swam toward the center of the towering column of seawater. He knew the edges were treacherous, prone to throwing anyone off balance. Only by reaching the middle could he ensure a successful ascent to Sky Island.

He reminded himself of the island's two levels. The first, the White Sea, rested 7,000–8,000 meters above sea level, while the second, where he sought to go, stood at an elevation of 10,000 meters.

The upper level, home to Enel's birthplace, Bika Island, was his true destination. To obtain the Thunder Fruit, Asa first needed to locate Enel and understand his whereabouts.

From his memory of the original story, Enel was in his thirties when defeated by Luffy. The current timeline was 1493 in the Haiyuan calendar, meaning Enel was likely a teenager—or close to it.

Whether slightly older or younger didn't matter. Asa was confident that, once he reached Sky Island, obtaining the Thunder Fruit was only a matter of time.

The undercurrent surged with unstoppable force, sweeping both the living and the dead skyward.

Some debris fell back into the sea, while other fragments remained suspended in the sky, merging with Sky Island's unique white clouds—known as the White Sea to its inhabitants.

In the midst of the current, Asa swam toward its core. His cheeks puffed out as he fought the pressure, his eyes wide with excitement as fish darted around him in the water.

Time passed, though Asa had no way to measure it. Eventually, he noticed the current slowing slightly, signaling he had passed through the White Sea—7,000 to 8,000 meters above sea level—and was now within 2,000 meters of Sky Island.

However, his oxygen was depleting faster than expected.

"Why am I running out of air so quickly?" Asa's face turned red from the strain, his body weakening as his brain cried out for oxygen. His vision blurred, and stars seemed to twinkle before his eyes.

"Hold on… just a little longer! I'm so close!" He clenched his fists, desperate to keep going. He couldn't accept failure—not when his dream was within reach.

Reaching Sky Island without obtaining the Thunder Fruit would be unfortunate, but failure to even arrive was unthinkable. This wasn't just about disappointment; it was about survival.

"Am I really going to fail here?" Asa's thoughts grew dim, his body succumbing to the lack of air. With a bitter smile, his consciousness faded, and he blacked out.

Sky Island, located 10,000 meters above the Blue Sea, was a place thought to exist only in legends.

Most who attempted the journey perished, leaving behind only tales of its existence. Those who survived were either incredibly skilled or extraordinarily lucky, making them few and far between.

There were only two ways to reach this fabled land: ascending via the rising current, as Asa had, or entering the White Sea from a high-speed airway.

Asa awoke to the sensation of cool air and the soft texture of island clouds beneath him.

"Gah…!" He gasped for breath, coughing up seawater as he clutched his pounding head. Though the air was thin, it was enough to rouse his body and restore his functions.

"Hahahahahaha! The sky itself couldn't stop me!" Asa laughed triumphantly, gripping the soft, cloud-like ground beneath him. He had finally reached the place he had dreamed of for so long.

Tears of joy streamed down his face as he realized the most difficult step of his journey was complete.

Though his vision remained blurry, Asa deduced that the sea breeze nearby marked the White Sea. "It's just oxygen deprivation," he thought. "Given time, my eyesight will return to normal."

His heart swelled with excitement. Years of waiting and effort had paid off, and the gloom that had weighed on him was swept away.

Asa made his way to the White Sea, feeling the soft clouds beneath his feet. Despite his hunger, he remained calm and practical.

Sky Island's abundance of shellfish was well-documented. Asa quickly found several shells, which his experience confirmed were safe to eat raw.

His robust physique allowed him to adapt to the altitude, avoiding sickness or nausea. After a hearty meal, he felt rejuvenated and ready to explore his surroundings.

Behind him lay the White Sea, while ahead stretched the white island clouds. Asa adjusted his animal-skin clothes and pressed forward.

Island clouds, unlike solid ground, had an unusual texture. Walking on them felt precarious, as though stepping on air. Asa likened it to walking on a glass bridge—despite the solidity beneath, the sensation was unnerving.

But Asa's determination burned brightly. The sky had tested him, but it could not defeat him.

PS: Give me power stones or Asa falls off the sky island and dies next chapter