From Urouge's reaction, it seemed he did not use a weapon. That felt off.
Rosen clearly remembered that Urouge's weapon was quite unique—a massive pencil, as thick as a water barrel, resembling a steel pillar.
Yet now, Urouge looked completely confused and claimed he didn't use any weapons.
The only possible explanation was that he had not yet obtained that steel pillar-like pencil.
Was it something he acquired later rather than from the start?
If that was the case, what about the Paramecia-type Devil Fruit people speculated he had—one believed to be based on "Karma"? A fruit that allowed him to absorb damage and convert it into increased size and strength, retaliating with even greater force.
Rosen didn't have extensive knowledge about Urouge, and the story had never provided a clear timeline for when he acquired his weapon or Devil Fruit ability.
"Are you a Devil Fruit user?" Rosen asked curiously.
"I'm not," Urouge shook his head. He didn't understand why this question had come up, but he had no reason to hide the truth.
That confirmed Rosen's suspicions.
While he couldn't be certain why, it was clear that Urouge had not yet gained a Devil Fruit ability.
There was also no indication that his size and strength naturally stemmed from an innate ability.
It was still highly likely that he had gained his powers from a Devil Fruit, and since he hadn't obtained his weapon either, it meant his "opportunities" had not yet come.
Would meeting Rosen now cause him to deviate from his original path and miss out on those chances?
If so, Urouge was quite unlucky.
"I'm attacking now."
Seeing that Rosen had not made a move, Urouge decided to strike first. His body tensed, but he did not enlarge. Even so, his raw strength was immense.
"Hah!"
Urouge threw a punch—simple and direct. No abilities, no swordsmanship, just pure hand-to-hand combat.
His fist shot forward like a missile, cutting through the air at high speed, creating a powerful gust that made it look like a projectile in motion.
"Perfect test subject… Armament."
Rosen had yet to truly test his Armament Haki in combat.
Although Urouge wasn't particularly strong, his physical durability was impressive.
This was a good opportunity to see if a Haki-infused punch could break through.
Rosen's right hand turned black, though it wasn't an intense shade—it wasn't deep blue or purple like the most advanced Armament Haki—but the power was still under complete control.
Boom!
Fist met fist.
This impact was even stronger than the last.
A violent shockwave spread through the shelter, sending two nearby crew members tumbling backward.
But the difference in strength was too great.
Urouge held out for barely two seconds before Rosen's sheer force sent him flying.
With a thunderous crash, Urouge slammed into a massive mushroom a hundred meters away.
"Captain!"
His crew members immediately ran over, not daring to glance in Rosen's direction.
This Shichibukai was terrifyingly strong.
Their captain had just descended from Skypiea, yet he had already defeated several well-known pirates and bounty hunters.
Very few had been able to go toe-to-toe with him.
"Robin, use your ability to call them back," Rosen said as he sat down again.
Robin nodded.
Closing her eyes, another pair of eyes and a mouth appeared near Urouge's group, startling them.
Moments later, Urouge returned.
Surprisingly, he didn't look discouraged. Instead, he still wore his usual cheerful smile.
"It seems the gap is still quite large. I'll have to work much harder. So, what would a Shichibukai like yourself want to ask me?"
"You're from Skypiea, aren't you?"
Rosen wanted to confirm if Urouge knew of another way to reach the sky islands.
If there was no better alternative, their crew would have to rely on Moonwalk, provided they could master it and sustain its use for long periods.
That was the only way to take Luffy's route safely.
Skypiea?
Robin, who hadn't been particularly interested before, immediately focused on the conversation.
Now that she looked closely, Urouge's physique was indeed different, and he had wings on his back.
"Yes, I am. I didn't expect you to know about Skypiea. As far as I know, few people from the Blue Sea even believe in its existence. In reality, though, there are quite a few sky islands at high altitudes," Urouge replied, surprised.
He recalled how, when he first descended, people had mocked him for claiming to come from an island in the sky.
Of course, he had never cared about such ridicule. As a monk—albeit a rogue one—he didn't resort to violence unless necessary.
His "first sin" had been eating meat and rejecting vegetarianism.
"Have you ever heard of Angel Island? Based on its relative position to the Blue Sea, it should be around here."
Rosen pulled out a map and pointed to a blank section of the ocean near Jaya.
"Devil's Island?!"
Urouge's expression changed as he recognized the name.
Rosen perked up.
Did Urouge know something?
It made sense.
Angel Island was not completely isolated.
Despite being in the sky, it likely had visitors from time to time—whether from the Blue Sea or other sky islands.
The fact that there was a fee to enter Skypiea proved that it was not completely cut off from outsiders.
If it had been fully isolated, such a system wouldn't have existed.
That meant Urouge, as a former sky islander, might have knowledge of other sky islands and their inhabitants.
"Why do you call it Devil's Island? Is it dangerous?"
Robin pondered Urouge's choice of words.
"I've never been there myself, but in my homeland, there used to be a sky path leading to Angel Island. Our people once traded with them regularly, but in recent years, those who traveled there met with misfortune. The reason given was 'disrespecting God'… After too many incidents, people stopped going," Urouge recalled.
"Then there's no mistake. That's the place."
Rosen knew exactly why.
It was because Enel had declared himself God.
He ruled over Angel Island and the ancient city of Shandora.
With his lightning abilities and advanced Observation Haki—his "Mantra"—he could instantly detect any dissenting words and strike down offenders with divine retribution.
Robin and the others looked at Urouge, filled with curiosity.
A sky island? A land floating in the sky?
Could such a place really exist?
And this man even had wings.
"Besides the Knock-Up Stream, is there any other way to reach Skypiea?"
Rosen sought confirmation.
Aside from the Knock-Up Stream, they needed alternative routes in case it proved too risky.
"If you don't use the Knock-Up Stream, there are other ways. But those are through ancient, abandoned sky paths—dangerous routes found on high mountain peaks and steep sea currents.
"As for Angel Island, I've read records suggesting there is an entry point on a mountain called Hanging Basket Island. I don't know the exact location, but if you're aiming for Skypiea, that's an option.
"However, it's extremely dangerous. The survival rate is less than one in ten."
Urouge was open with the information. To him, this wasn't a secret.
"Hanging Basket Island? Robin, check the map. See if it's already documented."
"No need. I've come across that name before. While researching Lantis Island, I also gathered data on nearby islands. Hanging Basket Island is close to Lantis. The voyage would only take about three days," Robin said confidently.
"But do we really want to take that route? Is there a safer way?"
Robin was uncertain after hearing Urouge's warning.
"Trust me. If we don't have a top-tier navigator, the other option isn't worth the risk.
"And not everyone has to go.
"But first, we need to heal Bones."
Rosen had no idea how Bellamy later reached Skypiea, but he had heard that Bellamy lost a lot of crew members in the process.
That meant he likely took this very route.
And if Bellamy could survive it, then Rosen was confident he could too—even with extra people.
"Haha! You really do believe in Skypiea. It's been a while since I've met a Blue Sea dweller who does!"
Urouge laughed heartily.
Brrr… Brrr…
Suddenly, Rosen's Den Den Mushi rang.
It was Mr. 5, who had gone out scouting.
Rosen frowned.
A call meant trouble.
He answered.
"Boss, we found a small village. But things are… complicated. You should come see for yourself."
(End of Chapter)