In this world, there are three types of seas: the Blue Sea, the White Sea, and the White-White Sea.

  The Blue Sea refers to the o most people are familiar with, whicludes the Four Blues (East Blue, West Blue, North Blue, and South Blue), the Grand Line, and the Calm Belt. Above the Blue Sea, however, lie two more mysterious os: the White Sea and the White-White Sea.

  The White Sea is located approximately 7,000 meters above the Blue Sea, while the White-White Sea is even higher, around 10,000 meters above sea level.

  Sky Isnd, also known as Skypiea, is a well-known location within the White-White Sea, floating at an altitude of 10,000 meters. Though it is real, many people on the Blue Sea sider it to be just a legend or myth due to its inaccessibility.

  Sky Isnd remains shrouded in mystery because the Wover rarely intervenes in matters ing these high-altitude seas. While some of the more powerful pirates and seasoned adventurers in the New World are aware of its existehe general popuce tends to dismiss it as mere folklore.

  Most ordinary folk and weaker pirates dismiss Sky Isnd as a mere fantasy, a tale spun by the sea's dreamers. Meanwhile, those who know the truth—the world's elites—are too disied to bother correg them. As a result, the phrase "Sky Isnd is just a myth" has bee the dominant belief among the masses.

  Now, high above West Blue at 10,000 meters, Crocodile stood aboard a Marine warship, gazing at the vast, cloud-like expanse of the White-White Sea with awe. Despite havi foot on the sea of clouds, the experieill felt surreal to him.

  "I've heard stories about the White-White Sea and Sky Isnd, but I always thought it was just a joke or a legend. I never expected there to be such a miraculous pce above the sky," Crocodile muttered, his voice full of wonder.

  Cudius, standing beside him, chuckled. "Hahahaha, people's dreams never end, Crocodile. This world is full of surprises. Your old captain didn't tell you that Sky Isnd is real?"

  Crocodile shot him a gnce, shaking his head. "No, I didn't spend long with the John Pirates. I was mostly in hiding, trying to avoid the Golden Lion. Didn't have time to ask about things like that."

  "Is that so? Then you were running with the wrong crowd. But now that you're with me, your world is only going to get bigger," Cudius said fidently, smiling.

  Under different circumstances, Crocodile might have snapped back with a sarcastic retort, but standing here, gazing out at the endless sea of clouds, he couldn't bring himself tue. The sight was simply too overwhelming. After a moment, he nodded slightly, his eyes filled with plex emotions. "A bigger world... maybe."

  "It's not a maybe. It's a certainty," Cudius said firmly. He paused before asking, "How are you feeling? Better?"

  Crocodile took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "Much better. At first, I was short of breath, but now I'm used to it."

  "That means your body's adapted well. Yetting stronger, worthy of the man who costs me hundreds of millions of Berries a year," Cudius joked with a grin.

  Crocodile scowled at him. "The iment you've made in me will be repaid twice over iure."

  "Good to hear, hahaha," Cudius ughed.

  Because the White-White Sea sits at such a high altitude, the air is much thihan at sea level. Most people suffer from altitude siess when they first arrive, struggling to breathe. Crocodile had felt the effects earlier, but now seemed to have adjusted. Cudius, being a Logia user with trol ases, felt nothing out of the ordinary. In fact, it almost felt like his element was more in tuh this pce.

  Not long after discussing Sky Isnd with Zephyr, Cudius had decided to join Tsuru on her mission to Sky Isnd. Opportuo visit the sky were rare, ships to the White-White Sea were dispatched only every few years, and relying on the chaotic upward currents was too risky to sider. So, when this ce came, Cudius didn't hesitate to seize it.

  Now, here he was, sailing through the sky with Vice Admiral Tsuru and her crew.

  Tsuru, a seasoned veteran of Sky Isnd expeditions, navigated the dangerous currents with practiced ease. Though they lost over a dozen Marine soldiers during the ast, the majority of the crew made it safely to the White-White Sea.

  Cudius had wisely left Nia, behind on this trip. Nia, while loyal, was pletely defenseless and would have been more of a liability. Instead, he brought Crocodile along, hoping the experience would open the younger man's eyes and prepare him for the future.

  Tsuru was here on an official mission for the Wover. With the uping World Summit in two and a half years, the gover was looking tthen its alliances, particurly as the seas were growing more chaotic. They had already scoured the blue seas for potential allies, but there were limits to what they could find there. So, they had turheir gaze upward, toward Sky Isnd, hoping to recruit new member nations and harhe Sky Isnders' unique "shell teology."

  trary to popur belief, Sky Isnd wasn't just one pce. There were several isnds in the White-White Sea, including Angel Isnd and Birka, the tter being the home of the infamous Enel. Even Kaido had oempted suicide by jumping from one of the Sky Isnds.

  But Cudius wasn't ied in politics or alliances. He was here for something far more important: the Thunder Fruit.

  Yes, Cudius knew how clichéd it sounded. But clichés aside, the Thunder Fruit was no joke. It was widely sidered one of the stro Devil Fruits ience. Some even called it the most powerful Logia fruit, and possibly the stro Devil Fruit of all.

  When Cudius had first arrived in this world, one of his greatest regrets was that his predecessor had squahe opportunity to gain a truly powerful ability. The Nitrogen-Nitrogen Fruit, while impressive, had been wasted due to the inal Cudius's ignorance. If Cudius had the ce, he would have much preferred to seek out the Thunder Fruit, an ability capable of devastatiire isnds.

  As Cudius was lost in thought, Crocodile stood at the edge of the deck, captivated by the surreal sight of the sea of clouds. Cudius, meanwhile, had grown bored of the view and was about to head back to his when a crisp voice called out from behind him.

  "What are you staring at?"

  Cudius turned, a smirk pying at the ers of his mouth. "Just admiring the view. Why?"

  The speaker was a tall, strikingly beautiful woman. It was her than Gion, the Marine swordswoman Cudius had crossed paths with back at Marineford.

  Gion had matured siheir st enter. She now bore the rank of Vice Admiral and carried herself with a more refined presence.

  "Back then, I really thought you were just a member of the CP anization. I never expected you to be a Celestial Dragon. This trip to the White-White Sea is dangerous why would someone of your status take such a risk?" Gion asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

  Cudius smiled and shrugged. "I am part of the CP anization, don't fet. I'm the leader of CP-X, directly rep to the Five Elders. In terms of administrative rank, I'm equal to the Fleet Admiral. As for being a Celestial Dragon, no one ever asked me if I wahe title."

  Gion raised an eyebrow. Cudius's behavior was certainly far removed from what anyone expected of a Celestial Dragon. Who had ever heard of a Celestial Dragon risking their life, let alone for something as trivial as adventure?

  "e oh know CP-X is just a figurehead anization. It might sound impressive, but it's all bark and no bite. You're using it as a cover, aren't you?" Gion said, a smirk tugging at her lips.

  Cudius chuckled, not bothered by her words. "You're irely wrong. CP-X is still in its infancy. That's why I'm here to hunt for treasure."

  "Treasure? On Sky Isnd? You mean the dials?" Gion asked, puzzled.

  Cudius shook his head, his grin widening. "I'm here for something far more valuable. I'm after the Logia Thunder Fruit, the stro Devil Fruit ience. Rumor has it that the Thunder Fruit is here on Sky Isnd. Once I get my hands on it, I'll train someone who'll rival even you, Gion. That's why I'm willing to take the risk."

  Gion's eyes widened in surprise. "The Thunder Fruit? How do you know it's here? Marine has been searg for that fruit for years, and there's been no sign of it. The st time it was seen was over two hundred years ago."

  Marine had alrioritized finding powerful Logia fruits tthen their ranks, especially after the emergenonsters like Kuzan, Sakazuki, and Borsalino. Yet, despite their best efforts, they had never been able to locate the elusive Thunder Fruit.

  Cudius smirked. "Who do you think I am? I'm Don Quixote Cudius. This is a secret of my family, passed down feions. Not many people know about it."