Gan Fall's expression changed as he made a decision in his heart.
At the same time, the Shandians opposing them froze in shock. Their attacks had been nullified effortlessly with the slightest movement, and fear crept into their hearts.
"Too strong… If that fist had hit me, I'd have been blown to pieces on the spot!"
"And that man with the sword… if he struck, I'd be cleaved in two!"
"Run! If they catch us, we're dead!"
Terror-stricken, the Shandians screamed, turned, and bolted away.
But after only a few steps, they glanced back—only to witness an even more shocking sight.
The massive, cloud-like Bai Bai Hai had been split apart. A clean cut ran through it, and it was slowly separating into two halves. Even the White Sea, 3,000 meters below, was severed in the same way.
The scene was so surreal that the fleeing warriors froze, their hearts pounding violently in their chests.
High above, a long, gaping void stretched through the sky, dividing the sea of clouds. But moments later, the two halves began to mend themselves, slowly merging back together.
Meanwhile, down below in the Blue Sea…
Beneath the sky, the people of Qinghai suddenly noticed the heavens above them growing unnaturally bright. Instinctively, they looked up—only to see something they could scarcely comprehend.
The sky itself had split apart.
The eyes of countless onlookers widened in disbelief. Shocked murmurs spread among them.
[117] "The sky… it's been torn apart?!"
Artists and poets who witnessed the event scrambled to capture the spectacle in ink and verse, documenting the miraculous sight before it vanished.
After a short while, the rift in the sky slowly closed. The heavens returned to their unbroken state, as if nothing had happened—as if it had all been an illusion, a fleeting mirage.
But to those who saw it, the moment would never be forgotten.
Fishermen still stood in stunned silence, exchanging glances filled with mutual disbelief.
"You saw that, right?"
"Yeah… So it wasn't just me."
"Then it was real after all."
Back on the floating island of Skypiea, Gan Fall stared at the scene with trembling pupils, his breath caught in his throat. His very muscles felt stiff from the sheer shock of it.
"This… This power…"
His voice wavered. Even the word strong felt inadequate to describe what he had just witnessed.
Though he was the former "God" of Skypiea and had lived for nearly forty years, he had never seen anything like this before. To cut through the White Sea itself in a single strike—such power was unfathomable.
Gan Fall's mind raced. If warriors from the Blue Sea possess such strength, then… how has Skypiea remained untouched for so long?
As he shifted his gaze toward the one responsible for the feat, his perception of him changed completely.
Even though he had known of this man's title as a vice-captain, he had never thought much of it. After all, the strongest person he had ever encountered was likely himself.
But now…
This man—Gnali—had cleaved the very sky in two.
Gan Fall swallowed hard. His heart pounded faster as another thought struck him.
If the vice-captain is this powerful… then how strong is the captain?
His eyes flickered toward Caesar, who stood calmly as if none of this had surprised him.
Gan Fall felt a chill creep down his spine.
Gnali's strength is terrifying, yet he is only the second-in-command of the Caesar Pirates. That must mean Caesar is even stronger.
What kind of pirate crew is this?
There were only ten of them, yet Gan Fall now doubted whether even an entire army could stand against them.
For the first time, a deep sense of relief washed over him.
Thankfully… they are not enemies.
Gan Fall observed the crew once more. Despite their overwhelming strength, they had not acted violently or abusively. Unlike most pirates, they were composed and respectful. This, too, was remarkable.
Most people associated pirates with pillaging and cruelty. Yet, here was a crew unlike any he had ever seen—perhaps even more peculiar than the infamous Straw Hat Pirates.
Just then, movement on the opposite side caught his eye. The Shandians, who had been frozen in fear, finally snapped out of their trance.
Still shaken, they took one last look at Gnali before turning and fleeing at full speed.
For many years to come, they would recall this moment in their nightmares.
"Look! They ran away!"
One of the Caesar Pirates pointed at the diminishing figures.
"Hmph. Wise of them. If they had stayed, I would have cut them down with my next strike!" Gnali scoffed, irritated by the earlier attack.
"They must be terrified now." Lily smirked, satisfied with their overwhelming display of power.
"They should be grateful," another crew member chuckled. "If Caesar had acted, they wouldn't have gotten the chance to escape."
As their voices carried through the air, Gan Fall couldn't help but be drawn further into curiosity.
Just how powerful is this young man… to be the leader of such warriors?
He had no answer.
But one thing was certain—he would never forget this day.
The group continued toward Apayado, the forbidden land of Skypiea, a place built upon the ruins of an ancient civilization.
As they approached, they saw a breathtaking sight.
A golden glow illuminated the horizon, reflecting off a vast city.
"Look! What's that?"
Lily's eyes widened as she pointed at the radiant sight.
"It looks like… a city?" another crew member murmured in awe.
"Indeed." Gan Fall smiled. "This is Shandora—the legendary City of Gold."
The crew exchanged astonished glances.
"So the stories were true!"
Caesar nodded. "Shandora was once a flourishing city in the ancient past. It was said to be covered in gold, but many dismissed it as mere myth."
The crew gazed at the golden ruins, marveling at their grandeur.
Even Regina, who was usually composed, couldn't help but admit:
"This place… is magnificent."
As the city of legend stood before them, the Caesar Pirates knew one thing for certain—this was only the beginning of their adventure in Skypiea.
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