Exploring Sky Island

God's Island Upper Yard

Dark clouds covered the sky above God's Island, like a curtain hanging low.

A bolt of lightning ripped through the sky, and a blazing white bolt of electricity struck down from the heavens with a deafening roar, illuminating the densely packed crowd kneeling in worship before the shrine.

"Welcome, Almighty God—Lord Enel!"

The inhabitants of the Sky Island trembled on the ground, their foreheads pressed tightly against the clouds, not daring to raise their heads even slightly, their bodies shaking with fear.

On the high platform of the shrine, on the throne surrounded by golden lightning, Enel leaned back, shirtless, his earlobes drooping to his chest, his posture leisurely, like a king who controls thunder.

He flicked his finger, and a tiny arc of lightning danced at his fingertip, like the first divine punishment.

"Today's power of faith is... barely usable."

His voice was languid, yet his tone carried sarcasm and contempt. His eyelids were half-closed, and a cruel, empty smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

This place, once known as the "Land of Gods," has long since degenerated into a terrifying world ruled by lightning.

Two months ago, Enel led the four priests in a surprise attack on the Sky Island Shrine. Lightning swept across the heavens and earth, and the former "god" Gan Fall and his guards were no match for the lightning.

Gan Fall was seriously injured but barely escaped, and his fate is now unknown; there has been no news of him.

Then, the hellish world of the Sky Island began.

The rebels were struck by lightning and executed on the spot; their charred bodies were displayed outside the shrine for three days.

The strongholds of the Shandia warriors were destroyed one by one, and the survivors hid in the sea of clouds, barely clinging to life.

Any voice questioning "divine will" will be reduced to ashes in the next second.

The residents of the Sky Island are forced to visit the shrine daily, and any hesitation will result in severe punishment.

"God does not need to be questioned, only obeyed."

This is the "Divine Oracle" that Enel most often utters, and it is also the nightmare that weighs on everyone's heart.

To consolidate his rule, Enel established a death game called the "God's Trial."

The Blood Forest Trial has an extremely low survival rate. Participants must kill each other in the cloud forest, which is full of traps and deadly dangers, in order to survive.

The system of collective punishment meant that if one person disobeyed, the entire clan would be executed; under the threat of bloodshed, everyone walked on thin ice.

The Shandia tribe was razed to the ground overnight by lightning after a young man attacked a priest; even the young children were not spared.

"The struggles of ants are laughable to God."

He once said this mockingly, casually turning a boy who was trying to escape into lightning ash.

His scepter was a golden thunder scepter;

His eyes are the eyes of a god, looking down upon all living beings.

He not only rules the Sky Island, but also attempts to completely erase Sky Island history and culture.

He forcibly requisitioned the Sky Island's specialties, "shellfish" and "cloud iron," to build his grand ambition—the giant ark "Ark Maxim" that would fly to the "Endless Vearth."

They burned the Shandia's books and ancient scrolls to cover up the legend and historical truth of "Golden Country Shandora".

They destroyed the ancient murals and inscriptions within the shrine, attempting to erase the past from the hearts of the Skypieans.

He wanted to create a world without history, without dissent, where only "gods" existed.

Once the ark is completed, he will abandon this sky and head to the "Sacred Land of the Moon"—what he calls the true Land of Gods.

Meanwhile, in the four realms of the Sky Island, the four high priests stood ready, each leading their own "trials" and monitoring all activity on the island with their "Mantra":

Gedatsu (Ordeal of Swamp, 50% survival rate): Silent and sinister, lurking in the swamp, as elusive as a venomous snake.

Satori (Ordeal of Balls, Survival Rate 10%): Mad as a beast, he uses his Impact Dial and toy with the life and death of his opponents.

Shura (Ordeal of String, 3% survival rate): A ruthless hunter who lays deadly traps and manipulates the Battlefield as if it were a game.

Ohm (Trial of Iron, 0% survival rate): Cold and ruthless, he wields cloud iron as a blade, delivering a fatal blow.

Like the Four Horsemen of Death, they turned the entire Sky Island into hell under Enel's orders.

In the silent and oppressive atmosphere of the shrine, a series of hurried footsteps broke the stillness.

A priest rushed into the temple, knelt on one knee, and cried out in a trembling voice, "Lord Enel! An unidentified Warship has appeared near Angel Island!"

Enel slowly opened his eyes, lightning crackling in his golden pupils, a sinister interest quietly emerging.

"Warship...?"

He slowly descended from his throne, lightly tapping the ground with his Golden Staff. With a resounding boom, Thunder Snakes instantly darted around the temple, blazing with light.

"Where did this ant come from... daring to trespass into the realm of the gods?"

Enel's lips curled into a sinister smile, "However, I do need some new toys."

Lightning surged wildly around him, and his voice echoed through the temple like rolling thunder, "Prepare for the 'God's Trial'."

"Tomorrow, let these reckless invaders experience firsthand the wrath of God and the taste of despair."

Angel Island - Edge of the Sea of Clouds

The Warship quietly anchored deep in the sea of clouds, surrounded by white mist, like a lone boat floating in the sky.

Roy ordered the marines to remain on standby, while he, along with Ace, Luffy, Law, Zoro, and Kuina, set foot on the legendary "Sky Island."

"Wow! These clouds feel so soft, like Marshmallow!" Luffy excitedly jumped back and forth on the clouds, his feet bouncing like a child who had discovered a new toy.

"Luffy! Don't run around!" Ace shouted, but Luffy was already nowhere to be seen.

Just as the group was about to catch up with him, a squad of Sky Island patrolmen dressed in white uniforms and wearing White Berets suddenly appeared and blocked their way.

"Halt, Blue Sea People!" Captain McKinley barked coldly, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. "Entry to Angel Island requires an entry fee of 1 billion Ex's!"

"Entry fee?" Ace frowned, a flame already burning in his palm. "We've never heard of such a rule."

Zoro also quietly gripped the hilt of his sword, his gaze icy.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense, but Roy remained calm and composed. With a smile on his face, he reached out and pressed down on the two of them, then pulled a heavy money bag from his pocket and casually tossed it to McKinley.

"Of course, of course, you always have to give a little something when you travel together!"

McKinley paused for a moment, took the money pouch, weighed it in his hand, and nodded with satisfaction. "You're smart to know what's good for you. Go inside."

After the patrol left, Ace glared angrily at Roy: "They were clearly extorting you! And you actually gave in?"

Roy shrugged, smiling nonchalantly, "What's there to be afraid of? It's not my money anyway."

"Ah?"

Everyone was taken aback and turned to look at him.

Roy lowered his voice and grinned mischievously, "That bag of money... I stole it from them."

"..."

Everyone stared in disbelief, speechless.

Kuina rubbed her forehead, her voice almost pleading, "Mr. Roy... please don't corrupt them..."

Upon entering Angel Island, everyone was immediately captivated by the spectacular sight before them.

The buildings on both sides of the street are constructed of white cloud-patterned bricks, and various seashell wind chimes hang from the rooftops, producing a series of crisp and melodious sounds when a gentle breeze blows through them.

The inhabitants of the Sky Island have a pair of small wings on their backs, and they move lightly through the clouds, like a dream.

"Wow! They really have wings!" Luffy, his eyes glued to a girl flying by. "Ace, look! They can fly!"

Ace looked on with curiosity. "The Skypieans are definitely different from those in the Blue Sea..."

Zoro, however, had no interest in admiring the scenery. His gaze swept across the area and landed on the sign of a tavern not far away. "There's a shop over there, want to go in and take a look?"

"You're still a minor, what are you thinking about drinking!" Kuina scolded sweetly from the side!

Just then, a gentle female voice interrupted their discussion, "Is this your first time visiting Angel Island?"

Everyone turned to look and saw a Blond Hair girl standing not far away, her small wings fluttering gently behind her, her expression kind and gentle.

"I'm Conis, do you need a guide?"

Kuina smiled politely and stepped forward first, "Hello, Miss Conis. We're not very familiar with this place. Could you please show us around?"

"Of course," Conis smiled sincerely. "I'd be happy to introduce you to the culture and specialties of Angel Island!"

Led by Conis, the group embarked on a delightful exploration:

Shell Workshop: Conis meticulously explains the unique "shell" technology of Sky Island, such as the "Jet Dial" that can generate wind pressure, the "Impact Dial" that Shockwave waves, and the "Tone Dial" that can record sound. Luffy and Ace's eyes light up as they watch, and they almost sweep the display shelves clean.

Cloud Sea Restaurant: They tasted the unique "Cloud Sea Fish" and "Sky Island Jelly Fruit" of Sky Island. Luffy and Ace ate enough for ten people in one go, leaving the restaurant owner shocked and the Kitchen almost emptied out.

Angel Square: In the center of the square stands a colossal angel statue, its white wings shimmering in the sunlight. Conis explains, "This is the guardian symbol of Sky Island, said to have protected the entire island from destruction."

Sky Island History Museum: When everyone excitedly followed Conis to the museum, they found the doors closed and a "Temporarily Closed" sign posted at the entrance.

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Conis's face as she explained softly, "Enel recently ordered a cleanup, and many historical exhibitions have been removed... They should be able to reopen soon."

Luo's gaze darkened, keenly noticing that when Conis mentioned "Enel," her tone suddenly tightened, and a barely perceptible fear flashed in her eyes.

As the sun sets, the sea of clouds is tinged with a golden-red afterglow.

Conis escorted them back to the edge of the clouds, smiling softly, "It was a pleasure meeting you all today. I hope you enjoy Angel Island."

"Thank you, Miss Conis." Kuina nodded in thanks.

Just as Conis turned to leave, Luo suddenly spoke up, "Miss Conis, may I ask you a question?"

"Hmm?" Conis was slightly taken aback and turned to look at her.

Luo looked directly into her eyes, his tone calm yet scrutinizing. "Enel... who is he?"

Conis's face turned deathly pale in an instant, and her lips trembled slightly.

"He... is the god of the Sky Island," she almost whispered. "Please... never mention his name in front of outsiders, it will cause a lot of trouble..."

After saying that, she bowed hastily, turned around and walked away quickly, her back view filled with unconcealed fear and repression.

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, and the air grew heavy.

Luo squinted, gazing at the towering, lightning-shrouded temple in the distance, and murmured, "It seems... the secrets of this island are far more complex than I anticipated."