Kuina was teleported to Wright's location.
"Whoa~ Senior Brother! What is this?"
Staring at the massive hull of the Ark Maxim, Kuina gasped in amazement.
"This is the Ark Maxim, the personal ride of a certain chuuni who enjoys role-playing as a god," Wright chuckled. "But I gave that guy a good beating, and now he's—well, maybe he hasn't quite realized it yet, but one way or another, he doesn't want it anymore."
"In a while, I'll have some people come and study this thing. We'll use it as the foundation for developing a brand-new battleship—one that flies!"
"A flying battleship!"
Kuina exclaimed in excitement, but then suddenly recalled her own ability.
"Senior Brother, if it's just flying, I can already make the Dawn soar into the sky right now!"
"That would mean tying you to the ship all the time—not a great deal."
Wright shook his head. "Don't worry, your ability has many more applications."
"This place is the White Sea, ten thousand meters above sea level. The island clouds here have immense buoyancy. In fact, this land—Upper Yard—was originally part of an island from the Blue Sea."
"On Skypiea, land is an incredibly scarce resource. The Skypieans and the native Shandians have been waging war over this small patch of land for four hundred years."
"What?!"
Kuina could hardly imagine the brutality of a war that had lasted for four centuries.
"So, Senior Brother, you're planning to…"
"With your Float-Float Fruit powers, we could relocate a few uninhabited islands up here. That should resolve their territorial conflict while also giving us space to build a new sky island resort."
"After all, this place was someone's homeland four hundred years ago—it wouldn't be right for us to just take it for ourselves."
Wright had considered everything thoroughly. Even if Enel had forcibly ended the war between Skypieans and Shandians, the conflict over land would persist.
After all, once they lost the shared experience of resisting a 'god,' expecting them to quickly let go of four hundred years of hatred was unrealistic. The only way to resolve the root problem was to give each side what they truly wanted.
The Shandians wanted their ancestral homeland back—so they would return Upper Yard to them.
The Skypieans needed more land—so they would be given new islands.
"But, Senior Brother, I've only just begun mastering my ability. Uprooting an entire island… I don't know if I can do that yet."
Kuina hesitated. Lifting a whole island, intact and unbroken, would require a tremendous degree of control.
"No problem. I'll go back with you, find a couple of smaller islands, and slice them apart first!"
"!!"
Kuina's eyes sparkled with admiration. Senior Brother is amazing! If he could sever the foundations of an island, then no matter how big it was, she could definitely lift it!
As they spoke, golden light flared from the Lightforged Beacon. One by one, scientists led by Judge arrived through teleportation.
"Highlord*, long time no see—for the Dawn's light!"
"For the Dawn's light!"
Wright and Judge exchanged salutes, then he introduced Kuina to him.
"This is my junior sister, Kuina, a Float-Float Fruit user. She'll be handling logistics and transportation."
"Kuina, this is King Vinsmoke Judge of Germa, an exceptional scientist and an old friend of mine. He'll be in charge of Skypiea's upcoming development."
"King Judge, hello! I heard the Dawn was your creation? You must be a brilliant scientist!"
Kuina greeted Judge enthusiastically, then asked curiously, "But… why do you call Senior Brother 'Highlord'? Does he have a noble title in your country?"
"Hello, Miss Kuina… So you're the Float-Float Fruit user."
Judge glanced at Wright, who chuckled and said, "Kuina, let me give you a proper introduction."
"Vinsmoke Judge, commander of the Crest of Sacred Fire under Dawn's Watch—a powerful, versatile combat force and one of my closest allies."
"As for me, I am the founder of Dawn's Watch, known as the 'Highlord.'"
"Dawn's Watch is an organization I created, with the ultimate goal of world peace. It operates independently from any existing power. Though it's still small now, its potential is boundless."
"You founded it… to achieve your dream?"
Kuina pondered for a moment, then nodded. "I understand now… The Navy's restrictions are too severe. You need your own strength."
"I want to join!"
Wright blinked in surprise. He had intended to introduce Kuina to Judge to let her in on the existence of Dawn's Watch, but he hadn't expected her to decide so quickly.
"You're sure, Kuina?"
"Of course! Why wouldn't I? If it's for world peace, then I'm in!"
Kuina winked playfully. "Do you have any idea how many people share your dream now?"
"..."
"Besides, with my Float-Float Fruit, I can form my own aerial division—a fully independent airborne force!"
Wright laughed. "You're underestimating what it takes to establish an independent unit."
"When you reach the rank of Rear Admiral—even just a Commodore—I'll let you lead your own battalion. Until then, you have a lot to learn."
Judge also chuckled. "Highlord, with Miss Kuina's addition, we've taken another step toward our goal."
"The Float-Float Fruit does have the potential for a one-person army—after all, even now, I still remember the legend of Golden Lion Shiki."
"Well then… I can at least enlist now, right? Recruiting soldiers takes time!"
Kuina's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Commanding a flying army, swooping down from the skies to obliterate enemies—just thinking about it is thrilling!"
"Then you'd better start practicing your landing and takeoff maneuvers—since your ability can't make others fly."
Wright thought for a moment. "Alright, I'll appoint you as a battalion commander. As for the name of your unit… let's call it 'Song of the Azure Sky.'"
Meanwhile, Enel was in an extremely foul mood.
After spending a whole day gathering his subordinates and issuing orders for their departure to the Blue Sea, he now had another matter to deal with.
Using his powerful Mantra, Enel had located the former 'God' of Skypiea, Gan Fall, as well as the current chieftain of the Shandians—the very people he had personally driven from power.
"You're leaving Skypiea?"
Gan Fall and the Shandian chieftain had been bitter enemies for four hundred years. In recent years, however, both sides had turned their hatred toward Enel—their common foe.
Yet now, their mortal enemy was telling them that he was done playing god and was taking his men to leave.
And on top of that, he was ordering them not to fight anymore?!
"Ridiculous!"
The great Shandian warrior, "Berserker" Wyper, roared, "You're free to leave, but we will never give up Upper Yard and Shandora to the Skypieans!"
"Wyper!"
The chieftain stopped him and exchanged a look with Gan Fall—unlike the younger, hot-blooded Wyper, the two old veterans immediately sensed something was off.
"Enel, why are you leaving all of a sudden? And why do you care if we fight?"
"Ah, because someone showed me something even more interesting… As for the ceasefire, it's not my concern. That's his arrangement."
Enel replied nonchalantly. "If you don't like it, just wait a day or two—he said he'll have a solution… Oh, actually, one day has already passed."
Enel… listening to someone else?
Could it be that person… defeated Enel?!
Impossible! He was a monster—a god!
"…Oh, he's here."
Enel's eyes flickered as he gazed toward the horizon, grinding his teeth.
That bastard was flying in the same way he had last time—right before kicking him in the face!
"Ask him yourselves."
Gan Fall, the chieftain, and Wyper turned to look—just in time to see a figure draped in a pristine white coat, golden wings of light spread behind him, descending onto the battlefield.
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TL/N:
*Previously as Grand Lord, but to align with the highest ranking Paladin in World of Warcraft, I will be using Highlord instead.
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