The waters of Paradise near Jaya Island were quiet under the night sky.
Dracule Mihawk stood on the deck, holding a chilled sweet drink in one hand and a porcelain teacup in the other.
A faint sound of laughter echoed from above, drawing his sharp gaze toward the sky.
“Truly an enviable ability,” he murmured.
As a swordsman who had not eaten a Devil Fruit, Mihawk lacked the power of flight.
Watching someone move freely through the air was, in its own way, a rare sight even for him.
The source of that laughter soon revealed itself.
Sven descended from the sky, falling rapidly from Skypiea.
When he was about a hundred meters above the sea, his body turned into lightning.
In the next instant, he landed firmly on the deck.
His long silver hair stood on end from the residual electricity.
Only now did Sven understand why Kaido enjoyed jumping from Sky Island.
The rush was intoxicating.
It stirred the blood, wiped away distractions, and left behind nothing but exhilaration.
From the moment Sven landed, Mihawk’s attention shifted to the blade at his waist.
“This blade…”
Sven reacted immediately, turning his body to shield it like a beast guarding its prey.
“Mihawk, this is mine.
Not for loan.”
“Let me see it.”
“No.”
Without another word, Mihawk drew Yoru and pointed it toward Sven.
“Come, Captain.
Let me assess your progress.”
He wanted to see for himself what kind of strength had earned Sven such a weapon.
Before the tension could escalate, the Doctor stepped between them, forcing himself to speak.
“Before you two start, could you remove these Sea Prism Stone handcuffs first?”
He hesitated, then added, “Also, the ship won’t survive your flying slashes.”
Mihawk lowered his blade without comment and returned to the cabin.
Sven had grown stronger again, while he himself had yet to advance.
After this journey, it would be time to train further.
Sven yawned, completely unfazed.
“Doctor, keep watch tonight.
Tomorrow, I’ll deal with those cuffs.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Sven paused, then grabbed him by the shoulder.
“Wait.
Did Mihawk just call me Captain?”
“Yes, Captain.”
He waved dismissively.
“Good.
Go do your job.
If you see a giant whirlpool, wake me up.”
“Understood, Captain.”
Having officially secured his first crew member, Sven was in a good mood.
He strolled back to his room, hands in his pockets, humming softly.
Next, he needed to build a stronger connection with Mihawk.
Before Skypiea, he had not even qualified as Mihawk’s opponent.
Now, with the Musou Isshin and the experience of Musou no Hitotachi, he had finally stepped onto that stage.
After a quick wash, Sven lay down, holding the Musou Isshin close, and soon fell asleep.
In his dream, he stood at the peak of the world.
He led Mihawk, along with legendary figures, crushing Monkey D.
Garp and trampling Sengoku.
The Admirals Akainu, Aokiji, and Kizaru fell one after another.
At the end, he overthrew the World Government, defeated Imu, and stood above all as king.
“Captain!
Captain!”
The urgent knocking shattered the dream.
Sven sat up, annoyed.
“Couldn’t you wait?”
He strapped the Musou Isshin to his waist and opened the door.
“Whirlpool?”
“Captain, a giant one.”
Sven rushed to the helm immediately.
“Wake Mihawk.
If this doesn’t turn into a Knock Up Stream, we rely entirely on him.”
The rarity of a Knock Up Stream was exactly why the Golden City had remained hidden for centuries.
Even if one appeared, steering into it carried a high risk of destruction.
Cold sweat covered the Doctor’s face.
Sven had already turned the ship toward the massive whirlpool ahead.
“Hurry up!”
The Doctor ran toward the cabin, but before he could knock, Mihawk stepped out and cut through the Sea Prism Stone restraints in a single motion.
Moments later, all three stood on deck.
Sven gripped the helm tightly, a grin forming on his face.
“Mihawk, hold on.”
The ship surged forward and plunged into the whirlpool.
For a brief instant, it hovered above the center.
Then a massive column of water erupted upward, forming the Knock Up Stream.
The ship was carried along, shooting into the sky at terrifying speed.
“If you don’t want to fall, use your ability,” Sven said.
The Doctor assumed Sven believed he had a spatial ability.
“Give me a moment.”
“No time.
Move.”
Swallowing his fear, the Doctor activated his power.
A white halo spread from his hand, enveloping the ship.
In an instant, they shifted dozens of meters upward.
“Again.”
They repeated the process, climbing higher and higher.
Soon, the White Sea came into view.
“One more push,” Sven said.
As they neared their destination, the Knock Up Stream weakened and began to collapse.
Mihawk stepped off the ship, using momentum to leap upward until he landed on Skypiea.
The Doctor teleported at the last moment, barely making it.
Sven turned into lightning and arrived beside Mihawk effortlessly.
Behind them, the stolen ship from Loguetown fell back into the sea, doomed to be destroyed.
The Doctor collapsed onto the ground, trembling.
“That was a death trap, Captain.”
Sven rested his hand on the hilt of his blade.
“Let’s move.
We’re heading to the Golden City.”
Two days later, in the waters near Jaya, a flash of yellow light streaked across the sea.
A man in a yellow striped suit appeared above the wreckage of a ship.
Borsalino, Marine Admiral, observed the debris carefully.
“Even the ship is gone?”
He took out a Den Den Mushi and snapped a few photos before pausing in thought.
“Who acted first?”
After searching without finding any bodies, he contacted Sengoku.
“Sengoku-san, the target ship has been destroyed.
No bodies were found.
Someone may have intervened.”
“Understood.
Return.”
“Yes.”
As the call ended, thunder rumbled overhead.
Kizaru looked up at the storm-filled sky, lightning flashing across the clouds.
“Kowai ne.”
His gaze sharpened slightly.
“So, they’re up there.”