After sailing for some distance, the Angels of Glory silently emerged above the sea of clouds. Their mental communication network had been deliberately cut off.
Under Nami's command, they carefully set up one lightning rod after another—each attached to floating bases.
"This spot, and that spot too," she wrote on a board, issuing silent commands. "Spread them out. If too many bolts hit the same area, it'll cause a huge problem for everyone here."
The Angels followed her directions precisely.
These lightning rods weren't inventions of Weatheria. They were special devices made at Ren's request—precautions against the unpredictable. If something went out of control, at least these rods could draw away part of the thunder's fury.
They were a safety measure for the cloud sea. The truly crucial installations, however, were the large-scale lightning facilities Chester had taken to deploy.
"Robin and Karasu should have finished setting theirs by now," Nami thought quietly.
In the forest of Upper Yard, Karasu, cloaked in black feathers, led Robin through the trees, once again evading the priests who hunted intruders.
He stopped in a small clearing and began setting up one of the massive lightning rods.
When finished, he turned his gaze toward Robin—and at the white creature crouching at her feet. His eyes flickered with a trace of intrigue.
"We've already set up at least a hundred of these," he thought. "That strange creature, not even half my size, can easily swallow and store rods twice my height. The volume it holds is astonishing. And it doesn't even show any burden from the weight. It must be a Devil Fruit user."
His thoughts deepened. "If the Revolutionary Army had a creature like that, it'd be a tremendous asset…But knowing Ren, he'd never trade something this rare."
Robin adjusted the devices, checking their stability. When she noticed Karasu lost in thought, she didn't speak. Talking here was forbidden—unless it was necessary for disguising themselves. That was part of the plan.
Thinking of that plan, Robin shivered slightly. Not from the cold wind, but from the creeping realization of just how terrifying it was.
From the moment they had landed on Skypiea, Enel had already stepped into Ren's web. Everything that would unfold was only a matter of time—each step pushing the balance toward Ren's favor.
Just like back on Darwin Island. She had prepared meticulously, yet still been crushed completely—just as Ren described, "a dimensional strike."
"Ren… what are you?" she wondered silently. "A Devil Fruit user? Probably not. I saw you summon seawater and soak yourself in it without a hint of weakness—no reaction to Seastone either. But that doesn't explain your multiple abilities. Even the Lunarians couldn't possess so many. And the way you seem to foresee everything…"
On Darwin Island, it had been an overwhelming, inexplicable flood of information. In Alabasta, that omniscience had been muted—only because he didn't need to flaunt it. Now, facing someone like Enel, a self-proclaimed god…Ren had predicted everything, long before even seeing him.
"This is Skypiea… you should know nothing of it, like us," she thought bitterly. "Yet you even seem to know the color of Enel's underwear."
Robin couldn't make sense of it. At that very moment, both she and Karasu were lost in thought—about the same man.
Rustle—
The soil shifted.
A Shikigami burst from the ground, pointing in a new direction.
Robin refocused. Karasu gestured silently with two fingers—"move."
She nodded. Karasu closed his eyes briefly to sense the surroundings, then dissolved into a cloud of ravens that scattered through the forest.
As one of the Revolutionary Army's commanders, his strength was beyond question.His Observation Haki was exceptional.
The so-called "Mantra" (Heart Network) of Skypiea couldn't stop him from sensing the movements of the four priests and the divine soldiers. If not for Ren's insistence on "us and them" boundaries—and the fact that this situation favored the Revolutionaries—Karasu could have slain Enel himself.
After all, he didn't believe a "god" of Skypiea could defeat a battle-hardened commander of the Revolution.
Ultimately, Enel was just another Devil Fruit user—one who'd never truly seen the world. His strength came from the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, not from himself.
"At least," Karasu mused, "Ren said he doesn't know Haki. If so… perhaps Sabo was right. Ren might really possess a prophetic Devil Fruit ability. He already commands fire, lightning, teleportation… adding foresight isn't impossible. I should inform Dragon. The Revolution should pay closer attention to this man."
Upper Yard continued to change. Neither the priests, nor the patrolling divine soldiers, nor even Enel himself—sitting atop his vine throne—noticed a thing.
"The Heart Network," Ren had explained, "is a combination of wide-range Observation Haki and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit—like a reflective lake, capturing all sound and motion within its range. It lets the priests sense everything, even thoughts. But even Enel cannot constantly listen to every mind or every movement. The human brain can't process so much. The arrogance of a god blinds him."
Thus, the initial stages of Ren's plan passed completely unseen. Only by facing Enel directly would they truly grasp how terrifying his "Mantra" was.
Aboard the Enlightenment, Zoro sat cleaning the blade of Wado Ichimonji, lost in thought. He was trying to find a way—any way—to truly contribute to his captain.
He didn't want to feel powerless again like in Loguetown, or against Crocodile in Nanohana.Back then, he'd fled like a dog—partly by Ren's orders, yes. But if he had been as strong as Mihawk, would he have needed Ren's protection at all? Couldn't he have simply cut down a Yonko himself?
But reality was harsh. He didn't have that power. So he trained relentlessly, to the point that even Crocodile's projection grew tired of killing him in those endless simulations. And yet, his confidence still wavered.
Never before had Ren been this cautious—this calculating. Even Crocodile hadn't warranted such preparation.
"Still," Zoro thought, "hesitation dulls the blade. If I act purely on instinct—strike without thinking—maybe I can catch a gap in that 'Mantra' and land a killing blow. Ren said in that instant, when thought and movement diverge, I can cut the decisive strike. But if I fail… I'll only drag him down. Should I still go?"
Creaaak—
The balcony door of the Enlightenment opened. Ren stepped out and leapt down gracefully, interrupting Zoro's thoughts.
He glanced briefly toward the corner, where Nojiko was watching over Conis. The Skypiean girl was crying as Nojiko comforted her—though it all still looked like part of their performance.
"Good," Ren muttered.Then he turned to Zoro. "Ready?"
"I'll give it everything I've got," Zoro replied curtly, tightening his grip on his swords. Then his gaze fell on Ren's hand.
An orange glove—its texture almost rubber-like. Definitely not Weatheria's technology.
He looked down at his own outfit: a white lightning-proof coat. Completely different.
And it wasn't the glove Nami had made for Ren—the color and style were both off. It looked more like something conjured by one of his strange abilities.
Zoro was used to that by now.
After all, he'd just handed over all his private savings to Ren for "preparation."
Noticing his gaze, Ren shrugged. "Prize item," he said casually.
"In that case," Zoro smirked, "maybe Nami really will become the actual vice-captain."
They exchanged grins. Though Zoro and Nami often clashed, it was out of rivalry, not animosity. Now that he was striving to be the de facto vice-captain, he wouldn't bicker pointlessly. A stronger crew only made him prouder.
"Heh." Ren chuckled, eyes narrowing toward the distant silhouette.
"Now then… it's time to deal with Enel."
Guided by Conis, the Enlightenment anchored at the shore of Upper Yard. The Iron Knights remained behind to guard both the ship and the girl.
The rest disembarked and entered the forest. A Shikigami emerged before them, gesturing instructions with its hands.
"This forest's too big," Ren said. "We'll split up. If you find any of those so-called priests, beat them down.If you find Enel—don't engage. Leave him to me.Contact me through the Den Den Mushi wristwatch."
He raised his arm slightly, showing the communication device as he issued commands naturally.
"I'll take the left," said Vivi first, heading toward the Trial of Swamp. Knowing each priest's abilities, that one suited her best.
"I'll take the right," said Nojiko, choosing the Trial of String—perhaps drawn by the challenge of another fire-wielder.
"Then I'll take the middle-left," said Urouge, walking toward the Trial of Ball. "That fat one should be easier to deal with," he muttered. Any attack that didn't kill him outright would only make him stronger.
"That leaves Ohm's Trial of Iron…" Ren mused, rubbing his chin. "Alright, I'll take the center. Zoro, you take middle-right. We'll move together for the first stretch."
"Got it," Zoro nodded—then suddenly turned his head, sensing something from behind.
The sea of clouds looked empty.Perhaps just an illusion.
"Shandians…?" he muttered.
(End of Chapter)