This place was ten thousand meters high above the Blue Sea, a location unattainable even for birds, with scarce human presence. The vast white clouds undulated like waves, and occasionally, one could spot Sky Fish leaping among them, a very peculiar scene that completely defied people's imagination. Amidst this vast expanse of white clouds, a pirate ship steadily advanced, as if sailing on common waters. It was Doflamingo's crew, heading towards their dreamland.
"Hey, brat, how much longer until Birka from Angel Island? You're not stringing us along, are you? Our patience is limited," Diamante always managed to play the henchman, voicing the doubt Doflamingo had in mind.
Three days had already passed since Doflamingo and his crew left Angel Island. These three days felt like years to Doflamingo, who experienced constant agony. Every time he thought of Birka being so close, and the Goro Goro no Mi being there, he wanted to get it immediately. Although Enel certainly didn't have the Goro Goro no Mi yet, it was better to act sooner rather than later. Only with it in his hands would he feel at ease.
People always feel fear and anxiety when faced with the unknown. The more we fear something will happen, the more likely it is to happen. This is the typical Murphy's Law. Doflamingo's state of mind was a good example of this.
"Sir, what slander! How dare I deceive you? It's just that Angel Island is a bit far from Birka, it takes quite a while to get there," the guard captain replied, trembling with fear.
"Hmph, good thing you're not. Keep guiding us properly, or we'll have a surprise for you," Diamante continued to threaten the guard captain.
"Yes, yes, yes, I understand, my lord. I will certainly guide you well. It will take at most three more days, I guarantee we'll reach Birka without problems," the guard captain seemed frightened by Diamante's words, constantly wiping cold sweat from his forehead and acting cautiously.
Upon hearing the reply, Diamante hastened to report to Doflamingo, who was inside the cabin.
"Doffy, it's still two or three days until we reach Birka. Don't be so anxious," Diamante said, comforting Doflamingo, who had spent the last few days immersed in training. Surely, a loyal and qualified henchman, and very thoughtful! These days had been a real ordeal for Doflamingo, which is why he dedicated himself intensely to training, the only way to temporarily forget his worries.
Upon hearing Diamante's report, Doflamingo's mood improved slightly. Although they hadn't reached Birka yet, they were very close.
"My state of mind has been too obsessive lately. This can't continue! If something is destined to be mine, it will be. If it's not, I shouldn't force it. I've made all the necessary preparations. If I still can't get the Goro Goro no Mi, I can only blame bad luck. I can't continue to be so obsessed. There are many other powerful Devil Fruits, and even without one, can't I become a strong man on the seas?" Doflamingo understood everything, immediately feeling refreshed. He let out a sigh, without any trace of sadness, and regained his old arrogance and self-sufficiency.
"Invincible with me. I myself am the strongest weapon. Devil Fruits are just tools. The true power always resides in me." Doflamingo left this phrase and walked out of the training room, leaving a confused Diamante, who didn't understand the situation. Although he didn't know what had happened, Diamante noticed that the previously impetuous Young Master had returned. His heart, which had been a little worried, gradually calmed down.
Doflamingo left the cabin and stood at the ship's bow, observing the landscape completely different from the Blue Sea: thick mist, a rolling sea of clouds, looking like a paradise. Observe the white clouds, playing in the White Sea. They were like a flock of grazing sheep, like white dragons winding. More like a graceful maiden, light as a simple girl, with freshly applied soft makeup, slow steps and boundless elegance. She showed all her postures unreservedly before Doflamingo's eyes.
Doflamingo extended his palm, as if the clouds were in his possession, white and immaculate, soft and light. His mood at this moment became even more cheerful.
Before the Donquixote Pirates reached Birka, the freed soldiers didn't disappoint Doflamingo. They went to make their report and told the priests what had happened, which finally caught the attention of the current god, Gan Fall. Gan Fall sent a large number of soldiers to look for Doflamingo and his crew, but without knowing that Doflamingo had already left for Birka. The soldiers found nothing, and Gan Fall could only give up. Although he didn't know what they would do in Birka, that place wasn't easy to deal with, so he could only wait for Doflamingo and the others to appear again.
The search for Sky Island, although it didn't find Doflamingo and his crew, harmed Cricket. Since the people of the Blue Sea were clearly different from the people of Sky Island, the prominent wings were the strongest proof. Although Cricket managed to escape the search initially because of Doflamingo's impact, his search for clues about Golden City on Angel Island inevitably attracted Gan Fall's attention. Immediately, Gan Fall ordered Cricket's capture. No one knew if Cricket would manage to escape unscathed, but all this no longer had any relation to Doflamingo. Life and death depended on fate.
Six days had already passed since they left Angel Island. During that time, Doflamingo, in addition to his essential daily training, stayed at the ship's bow enjoying the beauty of the White Sea. Although he occasionally encountered attacks from White Sea creatures, there were no major setbacks. All attacks were successfully resolved. Compared to the Blue Sea, there were very few monsters in the Sky Sea.
A hazy island, enveloped in a thin veil, appeared and disappeared in the ethereal clouds, sometimes close, sometimes far, almost indistinct. It was like a few light brushstrokes of ink, painted on the blue horizon.
Doflamingo was at the ship's bow, looking at the hazy island in the distance. Suddenly, joy flooded his heart, but his expression remained exceptionally calm, with no sign of alteration.
"Sir, we've arrived, we've arrived! The island ahead is Birka!" the guard captain exclaimed with joy. The previously silent ship was filled with an atmosphere of excitement.
"Speed up! I want to see the difference between this Birka and Angel Island," Doflamingo ordered.
With the sailing ship at maximum speed, the hazy island finally began to become clear. From afar, one could see a white coast with countless green trees rising orderly. Birka was located in the middle of the vast White Sea, with white clouds undulating as if enveloping it in a scarf. The island's buildings were also surrounded by clouds, looking like a paradise. The most impressive was the tower that rose to the clouds, so high that its top could not be seen, adorned with a rainbow, which was very beautiful. The beauty of Birka was not inferior to Angel Island.
Shortly after, the Donquixote Pirates docked on Birka's coast. Even those who had already witnessed the mysterious beauty of Angel Island couldn't help but marvel at Birka's beauty.
"Surely, Sky Island is the place where gods live. Both Angel Island and Birka are like Paradise!"
"Wow, how beautiful! It was worth coming here!"
"Haha, when I go back, I'll brag to my brothers and make them green with envy!"
Everyone exclaimed non-stop, their voices mixing into a lively hubbub. Doflamingo paid no attention to the crowd nor admired Birka's beauty. The beauty of the landscape in front of him didn't matter at that moment. He was thinking about where the Goro Goro no Mi could be.
"Little ones, get off the ship! Let's go! To Birka!" Doflamingo hesitated no longer and immediately ordered. Birka, I, Doflamingo, have arrived. Your god has arrived.