Sky Island Training
Night - Warship's Rest Room
Soft light shone on the table, and warm tea steamed in the air, making the Rest Room on the Warship exceptionally quiet and cozy.
Everyone sat together, the table laden with shellfish samples and local snacks recently purchased from the Sky Island, creating a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
"Those seashells are amazing!" Luffy, his eyes shining as he gestured excitedly. "They can shoot wind, create Impacts, and even record sound! It would be so much fun to put these on Warships!"
Ace leaned back in his chair, chewing on dried cloud-sea fruit, and nodded with a smile, "And the Sky Island fish, its flesh is tender and juicy, even more delicious than the fish from the Blue Sea."
"Sky Island is indeed amazing." Zoro crossed his arms, but his tone gradually turned serious. "But that girl named Conis... she clearly showed fear when she mentioned 'Enel'."
Kuina frowned as well. "And the museum's sudden closure is no coincidence."
"She was vague, but I always felt that someone was deliberately covering up the history of the Sky Island."
After a long silence, Luo slowly spoke, his voice low and deep. "There's something wrong with this Sky Island."
Everyone was taken aback, and all eyes turned to him.
Luo ignored them, turning instead to Roy with a sharp gaze. "Judging from Conis's reaction, 'Enel's' control over the Sky Island far exceeds our expectations."
"The so-called 'entry fee' charged by the White Berets is not just about extorting money; it's more like a means of screening outsiders."
"Screening?" Ace frowned.
"Perhaps they're identifying who might threaten their rule," Luo said calmly. "And our 'letting through' is probably a deliberate act as well."
Kuina nodded slightly. "I had a similar feeling. Conis approached us, but her eyes weren't entirely frank... It wasn't a warm welcome, but rather a hint of worry."
"Oh?" Roy squinted, leaning back in his chair. "What kind of problem do you think there might be?"
"Roy," Roy looked him straight in the eye, his tone firm, "You already knew, didn't you?"
Roy stretched and smiled noncommittally, "Don't be too nervous, you'll find out soon enough."
"Huh? What are you guys talking about?" Luffy looked completely bewildered.
Ace scratched his head, but didn't ask any further questions.
"Hmph, whatever happens, happens. Just keep attacking." Zoro snorted coldly, placed his sword across his lap, and closed his eyes to rest.
As night deepens and the clouds churn outside the ship, an unusual adventure is quietly about to begin...
The next day - Angel Island entrance
Morning light streamed through the clouds, casting golden rays across the cloud path leading to Angel Island.
The group returned to the island; the air was fresh, and the angel statue still stood in the distance.
However, just as they reached the entrance, a familiar figure came into view.
Conis stood there, her hands clasped in front of her, a smile on her face, but it seemed somewhat forced, as if she were suppressing some kind of emotion.
"Good morning, everyone." She bowed slightly, her voice soft.
Kuina keenly noticed the panic in her eyes and asked softly, "Miss Conis... were you waiting for us?"
"Yes..." Conis nodded, forcing a smile, "I'd like to take you to visit the 'God's Trial,' the most spectacular attraction on Sky Island."
"A training ground?" Luffy's eyes lit up. "That sounds exciting!"
But Luo and Kuina exchanged a glance, a sense of unease creeping into their hearts.
Their intuition told them: something was amiss.
Roy, however, smiled easily and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you to lead the way, Miss Conis."
The group followed Conis onto the cloud path. Conis walked at the front, but her steps were noticeably slower. The hem of her skirt trembled slightly in the wind, and her fingers were clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white.
Kuina couldn't help but step forward and ask softly, "Miss Conis... are you alright?"
Conis paused, her shoulders trembling slightly.
After a long silence, she lowered her head, her voice barely audible. "I'm sorry... I can't take you..."
Everyone was taken aback.
"That's not a tourist attraction; it's the Battlefield of the 'God's Trial'..."
She finally raised her head, tears welling in her eyes, her voice choked with sobs, "If you go, you will all die..."
The air froze instantly.
"I... I didn't mean to lie to you."
Her voice trembled like a leaf in the wind, "But... the priests ordered me to do this... if I don't obey, my father will..."
Before she could finish speaking, she burst into tears, almost collapsing onto the ground.
The moment Conis revealed the truth—
"Boom!!"
The heavens roared in fury, and a blinding bolt of lightning tore through the clouds, crashing down with destructive power, aimed directly at Conis!
"Careful!"
Kuina's eyes narrowed, and almost instinctively she pulled Conis away!
Lightning struck them like a ferocious beast, instantly scorching and distorting the air, creating a massive, charred crater with billowing smoke and violently shaking the clouds!
Before the shock could subside, a deep and arrogant voice rang out from high above, slowly echoing across the entire Angel Island: "Oh? You actually managed to survive under 'God's Verdict'?"
Everyone looked up abruptly and saw a figure hovering above the rolling Thunderclouds high in the sky.
Enel was shirtless, his golden eyes were like lightning, his earlobes reached down to his chest, and his metal eardrums were like Divine Oracle instruments. Lightning danced and swirled around him, as if a god had appeared.
He had a languid expression and a cynical smile on his lips, as if all life was nothing but dust in his eyes.
"This is truly unexpected... Even you have begun to betray God, Conis."
Enel looked down at her, his voice calm yet chilling, "Even a dog knows to obey its master's commands."
Conis's face turned deathly pale, her body trembling uncontrollably. "No... no... I just... they're not bad people--"
"Shut up!"
Enel's eyes turned cold, and as he raised his hand, lightning gathered at his fingertips, flashing wildly.
"Since you've chosen betrayal, then accept God's Judgment alongside these ants from the Blue Sea!"
Just then, four figures appeared in the sky from all four directions, surrounding everyone!
Ohm wields the "Cloud Iron Longsword," wears a green vest, and has an icy, indifferent gaze.
Shura was dressed in cotton clothes that seemed out of place on the Sky Island, and held a fire spear in his hand;
Gedatsu, with his spider-leg-like hair and purple clothes, remained hidden in the distorted, viscous "cloud swamp," his face showing a constant biting of his upper lip and rolling of his eyes.
Satori sat cross-legged on a cloud, her body as round as a ball, grinning widely;
The sky was low, Thunderclouds churned, as if even the air itself was bent by the thunder.
Enel spread his arms wide, and golden lightning exploded violently behind him, as if the Thunder God had descended to earth, and the entire sky trembled under his oppressive aura.
"Everything on the Sky Island belongs to this god!"
His voice echoed above the sea of clouds, as irresistible as a divine decree.
"Your existence is blasphemy."
"Your breathing is a sin."
He slowly raised his hand, his five fingers spread wide, and lightning danced wildly at his fingertips.
"And I will purify you myself!"
"Boom!!"
Before the words were even finished, lightning bolts surged forth like ten thousand dragons, roaring and tearing the sky apart, turning the entire sky into a raging Thunder Prison!
At that moment, Roy tilted his head slightly, a mocking smile playing on his lips, and said calmly, "Oh dear... don't scare me, 'the so-called god'~"
He slowly took a step back, his eyes sharp as knives, raised his hand and waved it, his voice neither hurried nor slow, yet as resounding as a war drum. "Boys, the training begins!"
"Whoosh!!"
Five figures behind him erupted instantly!
A storm sweeps across the sky, and the battle in the sea of clouds begins!
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