Upper Yard, at the tip of the enormous vine at its highest point.
Inside God's Shrine, wrapped in clouds, a bare-chested man with extremely long earlobes and four drums strapped to his back lounged lazily on an ornate couch. He held a bright red apple and took a casual bite.
"Yahahahaha, now this is an unexpected turn of events."
Enel chewed his apple, his eyes—filled with arrogance and boredom—narrowing slightly.
On this Sky Island, his Mantra, combined with the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, could cover all of Upper Yard. Every breath, every curse, even the rhythm of every heartbeat on the island was under his absolute surveillance.
In the brief span of less than half an hour, he had sensed with perfect clarity that Shura, who presided over the Ordeal of String, and Gedatsu, who presided over the Swamp Trial, had both been soundly defeated and knocked unconscious.
Even Wyper, the Shandia warrior who had been darting around the forest like an annoying fly, was now barely alive.
"A few bugs that crawled up from the Blue Sea have thrown my survival game into complete chaos."
Enel sat up and casually tossed the apple core out of God's Shrine.
He could sense four powerful auras that did not belong to the island wandering recklessly through the ancient forest. Like predators that had invaded a flock of sheep, they had crushed every rule in their path without a care.
"Whatever. Those useless Priests were only toys to pass the time anyway."
Enel stood up straight, bright blue arcs of electricity beginning to dance at his fingertips. A cruel chill crept across his arrogant face.
"Since these bugs are so lively, as the omniscient and omnipotent god of this land, I suppose I should grant them a little despair."
Enel raised