One Piece: The Cryo Doctor on the Straw Hat Ship

Just a second ago, Luffy was desperately dodging through a dense web of lightning. Suddenly, he stopped, letting a bolt of lightning graz his ear, and grinned with his signature wide mouth, waving excitedly.

Enel raised an eyebrow, dispelling the lightning in his palm, his eyes filled with deep resentment.

He may seem like just Luffy's sparring partner, but in reality, he has been quite shaken by Luffy's abilities these past few days.

Who would have thought...

There are people in this world who are completely unafraid of the power of lightning.

"Haha, we made it just in time!"

V approached with a smile, his gaze sweeping over Enel, and he nodded in appreciation of Enel's work over the past few days.

"How's it going at Marineford?" Just then, Zoro, who had finished sparring with Sanji at some point, walked over from the air using Moonwalk.

The Six Powers, originally a technique exclusive to the World Government, have now become essential skills for the Straw Hat Pirates.

It's likely that Usopp and Nami could now perform this flawlessly as well.

Thanks to V's modifications, their physical strength is now on par with pirates with bounties of tens of millions.

"Everything went smoothly." V ​​smiled gently, his gaze calm. "I also had a friendly sparring session with a general."

"Admiral?" Sanji paused in his cigarette-lighting motion, his eyes narrowing beneath his blond bangs. "You mean a Marine Admiral?"

"Ah."

After V finished speaking, the entire square fell silent for a moment.

"You...fought a Marine Admiral?" Luffy's eyes widened with excitement as he eagerly asked, "How was it? Was that guy strong!?"

"Very strong!"

V nodded seriously, not getting carried away by his victory over Akainu.

After all, Akainu lost that battle more because he underestimated his opponent and lacked intelligence.

If Akainu were to fight him again, it's not certain that Akainu would win, but it would definitely cause V a lot of trouble.

"Oh?" Zoro gripped the hilt of his sword, a hint of fighting spirit flashing within him. "Tell me about it."

V didn't keep anyone in suspense, concisely recounting the entire process of his battle with Akainu—from the surprise attack in the operating room to the confrontation on the sea, and finally to the "Coffin of the Ruins."

After hearing the story, the square fell into a brief silence.

"Even you can only do this much?" Zoro repeated in a low voice, his eyes gleaming. "It seems this Marine Admiral is even stronger than Blackbeard."

“However…” Sanji exhaled a smoke ring, his expression slightly relaxed, “Under normal circumstances, Marine Admirals act alone.”

"With Luffy and V's strength, suppressing them shouldn't be a problem at all."

"So that means..."

Usopp and Chopper, who had been quietly walking up to the group, suddenly spoke up.

The two laughed excitedly, "We can continue our adventure!?"

Previously, V had repeatedly emphasized that they would encounter a battle at the level of a Marine Admiral in the Sabaody Archipelago, causing their pirate crew to be constantly on edge, as if the Sword of Damocles was hanging over their heads.

“That’s right!” V nodded with a smile.

The perilous situation on Sabaody Archipelago could no longer stop the Straw Hat Pirates' advance.

Even if they go there and cause a huge disturbance now, they have the ability to get out unscathed.

Luffy raised his arms high, his rubber arms instantly extending as he waved them towards the sky, his eyes gleaming with undisguised excitement.

"Great! Finally, we can continue our adventure."

He'd been really pent up lately, listening to V's advice.

I've been wanting to make a big splash for a long time.

Zoro's lips curled into a sharp smile: "So, where's our next stop?"

In an instant, everyone's eyes were focused on V.

He adjusted his glasses, the outline of the distant golden city reflected in the lenses, his voice calm and clear:

"The City of Seven Waters"

"It's time to put the upgrade of the Merry on the agenda!"

Chapter 165 Water City

A week later, high in the sky, the third base, marked by a straw hat flag, was officially completed, marking the birth of a sky fortress that blends ancient technology with modern power.

The morning light pierced through the thick clouds like a sharp sword, spreading a dazzling golden carpet across the boundless white sea of ​​clouds. Beside the Cloud River passage leading to Qinghai, the atmosphere was serene yet tinged with a solemn sense of farewell.

V stood at the edge of the passage, turning to look at the procession that had come to see them off—Enel, at the head of the procession, maintained his usual aloof demeanor, with the Shandian chieftain and warriors standing quietly behind him, while Aisha stood at the front of the crowd, her eyes clear.

"I'm leaving this place to you, Enel."

V's voice was not loud, but every word was clear, carrying an unquestionable trust.

Enel, now facing the Straw Hat crew's ever-growing strength, is no longer the "god" he once was. Even Nami, who joined later, has made rapid progress in her training combining weather science and cybernetics, repeatedly proving difficult for him in simulated battles. Yet, the innate arrogance in his eyes has not diminished in the slightest.

Enel crossed his arms, raised his chin slightly, and snorted through his nose:

"Hmph, I know. If you're going to leave, hurry up and stop rambling. I didn't sleep well last night debugging the energy matrix, I need to go back and catch up on my sleep."

His tone was impatient, but his eyes never left his face.

Upon hearing this, V not only didn't get angry, but instead smiled knowingly.

Today, Enel has become an indispensable "heart" for the operation of the Sky Island base.

The entire base's automated systems—from lighting and temperature control to defensive barriers, communication networks, and even various engineering machinery—are all driven by his immense power of lightning.

In the energy system built by V, he is not only the "energy supply core" but also the factory director of the energy storage device factory. He is responsible for efficiently storing lightning energy into specially made "lightning shells" and composite energy storage containers, making them stable output and transportable "energy batteries".

These batteries are a key part of the Straw Hat Pirates' future strategic plan.

V had a plan: once the team had a reliable channel for the safe transport of supplies along the Grand Line, these energy devices manufactured by Enel could be delivered to other bases such as Alabasta, or even traded through underground channels.

This move will not only strengthen the energy self-sufficiency and synergy among various locations, but will also open up a continuous channel for funding and resources for the team, truly realizing a virtuous cycle of "technology empowering the team, and the team feeding back into development".

As he was about to leave, V's gaze swept once more over this fantastical and wondrous floating island.

Afterwards, the Straw Hat crew bid farewell to Aisha and the Shandians.

The Shandian warriors placed their hands on their chests in a gesture of their highest respect.

Aisha waved gently, her eyes filled with smiles and blessings.

Her abilities aren't of much help to the Straw Hat Pirates right now. Their main task is to complete the various training programs V has set for her as quickly as possible at the Skypiea base.

Amid cheers of farewell, the Straw Hat crew boarded the Going Merry one by one.

The ships floated silently on the edge of the sea of ​​clouds, as if they too were waiting for a new journey.

"Raise the sails—!"

Nami's clear voice rang out, and the sails unfurled in response.

Sanji brought out the fragrant tea and snacks that had been prepared in advance from the kitchen;

Zoro stood at the bow of the ship, holding his sword, his gaze fixed on the horizon of the sea of ​​clouds;

Chopper lay on the gunwale, waving his little hooves vigorously in the air;

Usopp puffed out his chest and shouted loudly to the crowd seeing them off:

"Next time we come back, we'll definitely bring everyone the best gifts from Qinghai!"

Luffy adjusted his straw hat, grinned, and his smile shone brightly in the morning light.

"Let's go—next stop, Water Seven!"

The Merry slowly started up and glided into the channel leading to Qinghai, following the flow of clouds.

The outline of the floating island gradually blurred in the background, eventually disappearing into the ethereal clouds.

This adventure on the sky island, interwoven with ancient history, fierce wars, and the rebirth of civilization, high in the sky, has finally come to a perfect end.

And a new story has slowly unfolded its first chapter in the blowing sea breeze.

……

……

The Grand Line, Water Seven.

As the terrifying natural disaster known as the "Giant Tsunami - Gods of Water" slowly receded, the outline of the entire city reappeared on the horizon.

On the streets that were mostly submerged, the seawater flowed back quickly like the receding tide, leaving behind wet stone pavement, seaweed hanging on window frames, and the lingering, salty yet slightly fresh ocean scent in the air.

The residents who had taken refuge in the high-altitude shelters throughout the city were now descending the steps in twos and threes, returning to their homes that had been flooded by the sea.

Their faces did not show the terror of surviving a disaster, but rather a kind of festive ease and anticipation.

"The water level is higher this year than last year."

"Yes, so there's more left over—I just saw several deep-sea lanternfish on the balcony!"

"Go check the roof, the salt deposits must be really thick this year..."

The sounds of conversation, laughter, and children running gradually filled the city that had just undergone a baptism.

For the residents of Water City, the annual experience of escaping the "water gods" may seem perilous, but it has long been integrated into the rhythm of their lives, and even carries a hidden sense of anticipation.

Because every time a tsunami recedes, the mysterious and generous sea always leaves a rich "gift" for this floating city built on a shipwreck.

On the eaves, balconies, and windowsills of every household, a layer of crystal-clear, high-concentration sea salt has accumulated in the specially made salt pan devices with fine filters.

This is the most direct gift after seawater evaporates, and its quality far surpasses that of ordinary sea salt. It is a seasoning secret treasure that the chefs of the Seven Waters City are proud of.

Occasionally, one or two brightly colored, strangely shaped deep-sea creatures can be seen wagging their tails blankly in the puddles on the street.

Hidden in the crevices of the rocks washed ashore are plump shellfish and rare seaweed.

Even more fortunate individuals have discovered coral fragments and even ancient coins brought by the waves in the shallows after the tide recedes.

These "treasures" from the deep sea have greatly enriched the material lives of the residents of the Seven Waters City, and added a romantic and unknown spiritual dimension to this city famous for its shipbuilding industry.

Who knows what surprises the next Water Gods event will bring?