One Piece: Rising to Power as a Warlord of the Sea

Unaware of recent world events, Natsu gazes out at the sea with a calm smile, oblivious to his grandfather, Garp, who now wears a look as dark as thunder while racing towards him on the Marine warship "Doghead." It's clear that their impending meeting will be anything but a peaceful family reunion.

"Garp, when it comes to raising your grandsons, you've completely failed!" Fleet Admiral Sengoku's angry words echo in Garp's mind, leaving him in a rare, somber silence as he looks out at the horizon. After a long pause, he lets out a deep sigh.

"Ahh…"

Several dozen nautical miles off the coast of Jaya Island, the once-sunny skies have transformed, now choked with thick, stormy clouds that block out the sun. The sea, too, has changed; violent waves crash, and a fierce wind howls, creating a massive whirlpool that seems ready to consume everything. Fortunately, the Smile holds steady, keeping a safe distance from the vortex.

Suddenly, a powerful stream of water shoots up from the center of the whirlpool, rising high into the sky and forming an enormous waterway.

"Wow, incredible! Boss, is this the famous rising current?" Kumo cheers, waving his arms in excitement.

"Is this really the outside world? It's amazing! I wonder what causes the current to form," says Hiro, his small eyes gleaming with fascination.

Though Natsu has urged him to focus on medical studies, Hiro's boundless curiosity still drives him to uncover the mysteries behind strange phenomena.

"Are we seriously going to ride that current up to the sky?" Karina stammers, her small frame trembling. Her face turns pale as she stares at the powerful sea, knowing that one wrong move could spell disaster.

Gin remains stoic, keeping his gaze ahead. "If it's the captain's decision, then there's no questioning it."

"Sky Island, here we come!" Natsu shouts confidently from the bow, his eyes bright with determination. As a brilliant white light flashes, the Smile surges forward, catching the current.

"Whoa—!"

"Yahoo!"

"Hehehe!"

Riding the waves, the Smile glides smoothly up the powerful rising current. Hours later, they break through the clouds, emerging onto a sea of white—an endless expanse of sky-bound clouds, stretching as far as the eye can see.

A familiar ping sounds in Natsu's head, signaling the arrival of a new system mission. "System mission: Defeat Enel and recruit him. Rewards: one lottery spin and 50 points."

Though late, the mission is a welcome one. A satisfied grin spreads across Natsu's face.

The Smile sails swiftly along the white sea current. Currently, they're about 7,000 meters above sea level, but to reach Enel's domain, they'll need to ascend even higher, up to the 10,000-meter-high "White-White Sea."

"This isn't like the Grand Line. You need to adapt to the air here quickly, or you'll be weakened during combat," Natsu warns. He then checks his own status and finds he's unaffected. Thanks to his rigorous training, even extreme environments barely faze him anymore.

Suddenly, a shadow flickers past the Smile's path, a figure Natsu catches with his Observation Haki—a person dressed like a savage, sporting a horned mask, wielding a cannon in one hand and a shield in the other. It's none other than a descendant of the Shandians, the ancient tribe from Jaya Island.

"So, they've come after all," Natsu mutters to himself.

"Gin, go handle him," he orders calmly.

"As you command, Captain." Gin's eyes flash with anticipation. A cold, usually stoic warrior, he actually smiles—this will be his first real battle since gaining his Devil Fruit powers.

Gin launches himself forward, fiery wings sprouting from his back as he accelerates toward the Shandian warrior like lightning.

"Boom!"

Though he has powers, Gin still prefers weapons. As he nears his target, he swings his golden hammer with practiced skill, smashing into the warrior's shield. The force of the impact shatters the shield, scattering shards into the clouds.

The Shandian warrior, rattled by Gin's strength, glances back at the Smile crew before attempting to retreat.

"Oh no, you don't!" Kumo shouts, his beady eyes sparkling mischievously. He cups his tiny paws around his mouth, calling out in his loudest voice, "Gin, get him! Don't let him escape!"

Thanks to the power of his mythical Zoan-type Devil Fruit, Gin easily catches up to the Shandian. In an instant, a crimson glow envelops his hammer, merging his Devil Fruit power with his weapon for the first time.

"Ghost Hammer: Fortress Breaker!"

"Bam!"

The Shandian warrior takes a direct hit, blood spurting from his mouth as he's blasted away, disappearing from sight in an instant.

"That guy was weak, Captain," Gin remarks with a cool expression as he returns to the ship. He had hoped to face a stronger opponent, only to find his strength went nearly untested.

"Haha! It's not that he was weak, Gin; you've simply become stronger," Natsu laughs, giving Gin a hearty pat on the shoulder.

As the Smile sails closer to the Gates of Heaven, an elderly woman with a face resembling a sour plum steps out, clutching a camera. She snaps a flurry of photos of the crew as they approach.

"Are you here for a tour or a war?" she asks with a suspicious squint.

Natsu grins, his expression turning serious. "Oh, we're here for war. Where's Enel?" 

Natsu dropped his playful expression and stepped forward, his tone shifting to serious as he got straight to the point. He hadn't come all this way just to mess around; even if he planned to explore, his mission came first.

Besides, Natsu was confident in his ability to defeat Enel.

"What... what did you just say?"

"I said, where is your 'god' Enel? I'm here to defeat him."

"You little fool, do you even realize what you're saying? The mighty, invincible God is not someone an insignificant insect like you can even speak of!" scoffed Shura, one of the Four High Priests, as he sat atop a giant vulture-like bird, his face filled with disdain. 

"Captain, let me take him down!" Gin volunteered eagerly, but Natsu held him back. This was something he had to handle himself—he'd make this guy see reality with his own eyes.