Chapter 96: Guardian Battle and Decisive BattleThe murderous aura of the Trial of Iron had permeated the Sacrificial Altar of the Upper Yardlike a tangible substance.The tip of the fire spear, embedded with a Heat Dial, constantly dripped sparks that sizzled as they landed in the crevices of the ancient altar—The priest of the Trial of String, Shura, was like a hound that had scented blood, faithfully performing his duty:Eliminating any sacrificial offering that left the altar.Sanji's dress shoes screeched against the slippery moss as he slammed on the brakes, his back almost pressed flush against the deck of the going merry.Every time he parried one of Shura's thrusts, he had to restrain his strength, fearing that the impact of his foot colliding with the fire spear would damage the wooden planks behind him—This ship was their partner, and he had promised Mark that he would protect it.The new burn mark on his shoulder was still throbbing with a dull pain, wisps of smoke rising from it, but he gritted his teeth and didn't budge an inch."So, your weakness is this broken ship."Shura's sneer, mingled with the heat waves from the fire spear, was infuriating.His Observation Haki had long since captured every hesitation Sanji felt due to his need to protect the ship.Before he finished speaking, Shura violently twisted the spear shaft, and the flame contained within the Heat Dial exploded with a "boom"!He stopped attacking Sanji and swung the spear tip in a scorching arc, slashing directly toward the going merry at his side—His goal was to destroy the ship that was tying Sanjidown!The arc of fire grazed the side of the ship, instantly scorching the wooden planks with a glaring black mark, and sporadic tongues of fire hissed as they licked upwards.Sanji's pupils contracted sharply!His body moved before his mind could process the thought. He lunged at the smoking planks, pressing his back tightly against the scorching area, using his already tattered shirt to smother the flames.The shirt fibers rapidly shriveled and carbonized in the high heat, and a searing, sharp pain shot through the skin on his back, but he finally managed to extinguish the deadly flames.The skin beneath his shirt was bright red, but Sanjisimply raised his head, glaring at Shura with eyes burning with rage:"You bastard... try touching the going merry one more time!"On the other side of the altar, the chaos was even more intense.Shura's giant bird, Fuza, spread its wide wings, and the Flame Dial in its throat continuously spat out pillars of fire, forcing Chopper back.The little reindeer's fur had already been singed in several places, smoke rising from it, yet he still threw himself forward without regard for his own safety, using his small body to block the stream of fire—He could not let Fuza get even a step closer to the going merry!If they couldn't even complete the task of guarding the ship, how could they face Luffy and Zoro, who were struggling desperately in their own trials?"Chopper! Don't take it head-on!"Sanji caught a glimpse of the black smoke on Chopper and his heart tightened.This momentary distraction was precisely captured by Shura.He gave a cold, sinister laugh and suddenly hurled the fire spear in his hand!"Boom—!"The spear, containing the full energy of the Heat Dial, accurately struck the main mast of the going merry.The high temperature instantly ignited the wood. The cracking sound was deafening, and the edges of the canvas curled and charred rapidly.Sanji's eyes were wide with fury as he watched the mast—the one that carried their sails and led them through countless storms—give a heartbreaking groan, slowly tilt, break, and crash onto the deck with a cloud of charred wood splinters—That was the spine of the going merry, their home on the sea, their indispensable partner!"Ah—!!!"A roar filled with rage and heartache tore through the clouds, and the air currents around Sanjisuddenly turned scorching hot!The Diable Jambe, which usually required rotation to build up power, ignited out of thin air, dancing with eerie blue flames that were both scorching hot and carried a chilling coldness.An even more astonishing change occurred in his perception—Everything around him instantly slowed down and became incredibly clear.Shura's sneak attack from a blind spot using the String Clouds, the premonition of the next eruption of the Flame Dial in Fuza's throat, even the subtle changes in the temperature of the Heat Dial in the air...All this information flooded into his mind like a tide, weaving into a transparent panoramic view.This wasn't hearing sound; it was a pure form of "perception,"As if the world had stripped away its facade, presenting the truest underlying structure before his eyes.Judgments that previously relied on experience and intuition in battle now transformed into clear foresight.He instantly realized that this was a higher level of "Observation Haki"—Not the "Mantra" spoken of by the Sky Islandpriests, but a power born from the intense will deep within his heart to protect everything, which had broken through its bottleneck under extreme rage and transformed into his new strength.A flash of astonishment crossed Shura's face, though he still tried to feign composure as he reached to retrieve the fire spear to counterattack.But Sanji's figure had already flashed before him like a ghost.His right leg, wrapped in blue flames, collided violently with the scorching fire spear—There was no loud clang of metal, only the "sizzle" of hot iron being instantly melted by the extreme temperature!The fire spear Shura relied on actually melted into a pool of red, liquid metal at Sanji's feet, dripping onto the ground."Impossible!"Shura's shock escaped his lips.However, the answer he received was a kick filled with overwhelming rage!"Diable Jambe!"The blue flame-covered leg slammed into his chest."Crack—"The sound of shattering breastbone was clearly audible.Shura flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the edge of the altar, his entire body charred, having completely lost consciousness.Sanji flashed forward and unleashed a flurry of rapid-fire kicks on the defenseless Shura, venting all his lingering fear and anger.On the other side, Chopper, seeing Sanji defeat the powerful enemy, was greatly encouraged, but facing the fire-breathing giant bird, he knew his normal form wouldn't win."rumble ball!"He swallowed the secret medicine without hesitation.His body expanded and deformed in intense pain, transforming into his strong Heavy Point form.He feeling the surging power within him, his two front hooves glowed with a resilient, solid cherry-blossom-colored light."For everyone, for the going merry!"He thought to himself, leaped into the air, ignored the scorching pillar of fire, and poured all his strength into his hooves—"Hoof Print: Cherry Blossom!"The heavy hoof strike slammed into Fuza's back like a meteorite.The giant bird let out a mournful cry, and the Flame Dial in its mouth fell out with a "clang."The giant bird Fuza struggled as it plummeted into the pool below, creating a huge splash before falling silent.The blue flames gradually faded from Sanji's leg.He walked heavily to the side of the going merryand gently stroked the broken section of the mast.The intense rage in his eyes slowly subsided, transforming into bottomless heartache and guilt—At this moment, he only wanted to quietly accompany this injured partner.Meanwhile, in the core area of the Trial of Iron, skulls scattered everywhere were quietly displayed on the cloud soil, their hollow eye sockets looking up at the sky as if silently witnessing this life-or-death trial.Zoro held his three swords, pointing them diagonally at the ground:shura gleamed with a deep, dark light, yodo himawari flickered with a dazzling red glow, and the wado ichimonji clenched in his mouth reflected his determined and tense face.Ohm, the priest of the Trial of Iron, wore a tight-fitting dark green vest, his muscles bulging.With a wave of his arm, his arm muscles rippled with hard lines, full of oppressive force.On the hilt of the long sword in his hand hung a colorful sphere the size of a human head—It was a container for the special cloud, "Iron Cloud."With a flick of his wrist, the Iron Cloud in the colored sphere crawled up along the blade like a living thing, instantly wrapping the long sword tightly, as if covering it with a layer of silver armor."Sorrow will make you deeply realize the price of challenging the Trial of Iron."Ohm's voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.Zoro exerted force through his ankles, the cloud soil splashing as he shot out like an arrow from a bow, so fast that only an afterimage remained."Three Sword Style: Oni Giri!"The blade light aimed directly at Ohm's left shoulder.However, Ohm only tilted his body slightly, avoiding it by a hair's breadth—This was the predictive ability of "Observation Haki."Ohm flipped his wrist, and the Iron Cloud wrapped around the blade suddenly extended, turning into a shimmering silver whip that lashed toward Zoro's waist with a dull sound of breaking wind.Zoro hurriedly raised shura to parry, "Clang!"The blade collided with the iron whip, vibrating his hand until it went numb, but his stance remained as steady as a rock.Before he could counterattack, Ohm's long sword changed again; the Iron Cloud caused it to suddenly elongate, stabbing toward Zoro's heart like a rapier!Zoro twisted his body to dodge—He also had some mastery over Observation Haki.Suddenly, the cloud soil beneath his feet shifted, and the Iron Cloud surged out like a living thing, instantly weaving into a thorny cage filled with spikes—"White Thorn Death Duel!"The killer move of the Trial of Iron was suddenly launched.The cold iron thorns wrapped around Zoro's ankles with a "swish," the spikes piercing his skin, and fresh blood immediately seeped out along the thorns, dripping onto the white cloud soil, looking exceptionally glaring.Zoro roared, backhanded and swung yodo himawari, the blade grazing the iron thorns with a harsh, grating sound, severing the thorns.But a fierce wind had already arrived from overhead!Ohm leaped into mid-air, the Iron Cloud gathering in front of him into a giant shield-like iron wall, which crashed down with tremendous force, intending to crush Zoro completely."Pray to the void gods! Blue Sea person!"Ohm's voice was full of the arrogance of controlling life and death.Zoro suddenly closed his eyes.He wasn't giving up, but entering a deeper level of focus.Vision was blocked, and his hearing, touch, and perception of his blades were elevated to the extreme.He could feel the faint tremors from his three swords, like extended limbs;He could hear Ohm's slightly rapid breathing caused by self-confidence; he could even "hear" the trajectory of the air currents stirred up by the Iron Cloud pressing down.He concentrated all his spirit, will, and strength into this next strike; this was the fusion of a master swordsman's intuition and Haki.Just as the shadow of the Iron Cloud was about to completely envelop him, Zoro opened his eyes violently!His eyes shot out a sharp light, his feet stomped hard on the ground, and the cloud soil caved in!"In this life, I only believe in the swords in my hands! I never pray to any gods!"Amidst the roar, his momentum climbed to the peak.Ohm's face changed drastically—In his Observation Haki perception, what was in front of him was no longer a person, but a destructive energy about to erupt, capable of tearing everything apart!"Three Sword Style: 108 Pound Phoenix!"The huge slash, carrying peerless sharpness and a scorching fire whirlwind, erupted with a boom!The hard Iron Cloud was like fragile paper in the face of this power, easily torn apart and turned into iron dust that drifted throughout the bone forest.The clothing on Ohm's chest was instantly torn, blood sprayed, and his entire body was hit as if by a giant hammer, flying backward and crashing heavily into the pile of bones behind him, kicking up cloud soil and shattering countless skulls.Zoro flashed forward, his eyes cold, and shurapierced straight in without mercy, completely ending the life of this priest of the Trial of Iron.Ohm's long sword fell to the ground with a "clatter," and the colored sphere rolled to the side, its rainbow light gradually dimming, just like the passing of its master's life.Zoro pulled out his sword, blood sliding down the tip of shura, dripping into the hollow eye socket of a skull at his feet, flowing slowly and staining the cloud soil dark red.A breeze blew across his blood-stained cheek, carrying a hint of coolness—He had passed this trial.He panted slightly and sheathed his sword.The continuous high-intensity battle and the use of Haki had consumed a lot of his stamina, but his spirit was increasingly high due to the victory.He flexed his slightly sore shoulders and checked the wound on his ankle caused by the iron thorns; it was just a superficial wound, nothing serious.He focused his perception on the surroundings; the aura in the direction of the Sacrificial Altar had stabilized, which meant Sanji and Chopper had resolved the trouble.This put his mind slightly at ease.In the forest not far away, the huge roars and the sound of breaking trees became clearer, and a huge white figure and a black figure were colliding fiercely.In the forest to the front left, there was also an unusual vibration."Making such a big commotion... Ink Meteor and Mark, what kind of monster are you two dealing with?"Zoro whispered to himself, a trace of imperceptible worry flashing across his brow.
Chapter 97: ConvergenceOhm's domesticated giant dog, "Holy," stepped out from behind the gnarled trees.Its muscles bulged like cast iron beneath its grey-green fur, and every step of its front paws left shallow craters in the ground. It growled, baring its white fangs directly at Ink Meteor.Ink Meteor's figure trembled, then transformed into a mighty black lion. Its pitch-black mane cascaded down like a waterfall, and its four limbs were firmly planted on the ground, as if it had merged with the cloud soil."Holy" swung its right paw with a fierce gust of wind, slamming it into the side of Ink Meteor's face. After a dull "thud," Ink Meteor's head didn't budge an inch, and its mane remained completely unscathed. Its left paw then attacked Ink Meteor's chest, but it was still in vain.The giant dog increased the speed of its strikes, landing blow after blow on Ink Meteor's waist and legs. A dozen punches landed as if striking solid steel, earning nothing more than a casual flick of Ink Meteor's tail.As "Holy" gathered its strength to pounce, Ink Meteor finally narrowed its beastly eyes, dropped its shoulder, and kicked off the ground. Its shoulder and back muscles tightened instantly like a full-moon longbow, and it slammed into the dog with an unstoppable "Iron Mountain Lean"!With a thunderous "Boom—," "Holy" was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily into and snapping a cloud-wood tree as thick as a leg. When it landed, only pained whimpers remained.Before it could struggle to stand, Ink Meteor's right paw straightened like an iron fist, and a "Crushing Fist" accurately struck its soft abdomen."Holy" instantly arched its back, sliding over twenty meters before barely coming to a stop.It tried to stand again, but Ink Meteor had already lowered its body, pinning the dog's flank with its hard dragon horns. With strength in its hind legs, it drove "Holy" against the cloud-wood like a nail—this was the deadly Bajiquan technique, "Elbow Strike to the Heart."The surface of the cloud-wood cracked with fine lines, "Holy"'s whimpering grew weaker, and its claws scraped powerlessly against the bark.Immediately after, Ink Meteor's left paw delivered a heavy "Palm Press" to the back of its head, forcing the dog's head into a shallow pit in the cloud soil."Holy" finally went completely limp, with only a faint growl left.Ink Meteor retracted its paw and stepped back, elegantly shaking its mane. Meanwhile, "Holy" lay sprawled on the ground, its fur covered in cloud soil, having lost even the strength to lift its head.Several cloud-wood trees nearby were broken, and the ground was cracked with spiderweb-like patterns, yet Ink Meteor remained completely unscathed—in just a few moves, it had completely subdued this fierce dog that was proficient in boxing.It was not that "Holy" was too weak, but that Ink Meteor had, unknowingly, grown to a terrifying level that could be called a master.On the other side, the hundred-meter giant python "Tiancong" coiled around a large piece of cloud rock like an ancient monster. Its torso was thicker than the going merry, and its grey-green scales shimmered coldly in the hazy light. Its abdomen was covered in an unnaturally dense layer of white fur, and its hissing caused sound waves to vibrate, disrupting the surrounding air currents.Mark stood before it, his figure as small as a grain of millet. He clenched his fist, wrapped in Armament Haki, leaped into the air, and slammed it hard against the hard python scales!With a crisp "Clang," only a faint white mark was left on the scales.The giant python was enraged, and its massive tail swept over like a landslide. Mark retreated in time, and the spot where he had been standing was smashed into a two-meter-deep crater."The external defense is so troublesome; it seems I need to overcome it with internal destruction!"Mark's thoughts raced as he struck consecutively at the python's vital points, such as its seven-inch mark and torso. However, the force imbued with Hakiseemed like a clay ox entering the sea; the python only twisted in pain, showing no internal injuries.Seeing the python's bloody maw coming to devour him, Mark's eyes flashed. He deliberately slowed his movements, allowing the dark abyss to swallow him whole."Since the shell is indestructible, then let you taste the flavor of 'Princess Iron Fan'!"Sliding into the python's stomach, the expected corrosive fluid did not appear. Instead, he saw a bizarre "junkyard": piles of ancient ruins, rotten ship planks, broken cloud-wood, and even tangled, glowing living vines."The creatures of Sky Island are indeed strange in every way!" He chuckled, and a swirling rainbow mist surged from his palm—his decomposition ability quietly activated.Touching the rubble, the stones turned into fine sand and vanished; brushing against the rotten wood, the wood turned into powder and dissipated.As the debris in the python's stomach was quickly cleared, its bloated torso visibly shrank.It twisted uncomfortably on the outside, but when the long-standing feeling of bloating disappeared, it felt unprecedented relief, even a hint of comfort.It seemed to understand Mark's intention and docilely opened its giant mouth, gently spitting Markout.Mark landed steadily, and the giant python "Tiancong" actually lowered its head, nuzzling his arm affectionately, as docile as a pet.On the edge of the cloud-wood forest, Zoro stood with his arms crossed; the hastily treated wound on his ankle had already scabbed over.Familiar footsteps approached from the distance, and he looked up—only to see Mark walking in the lead as if on a leisurely stroll, followed by the terrifying giant python. Ink Meteor had returned to human form, shaking its head relaxedly and following closely behind."Solved it?" Zoro asked. His gaze was slightly surprised when he swept it over the giant python, but when he caught a glimpse of the giant dog with its head drooping behind Ink Meteor, he didn't ask further."Yeah, got two temporary 'lackeys'." Mark nodded, pointing successively at the giant python and the boxing dog, "You guys wait here; the windmillcannot carry both of you.""I sensed a disturbance in the aura in the distance just now; let's go rendezvous with Sanji and the others first." Zoro looked toward the Sacrificial Altar, his tone plain but carrying a hint of imperceptible concern.Mark responded, and the two walked side by side toward the windmill. The broken cloud-wood and cracked cloud soil along the way silently told of the intensity of the battle just now.Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the Upper Yard at the Shandian encampment, the ox-horn skull emblem hanging on the spire tent looked ominous.Inside the tent, the reddish-brown skinned warrior Wipper sat by the fire, shouldering a bazooka and repeatedly wiping the weapon's casing. Half of his face and body were covered in mysterious blue cloud-pattern tattoos."The auras of the three priests have truly dissipated?" Wipper's voice was low, carrying a sense of scrutiny."Yes... very clearly. They have completely vanished." The young girl in the tribe, who was naturally gifted with excellent Mantra abilities, responded to him, confirming after closing her eyes to sense them."Good opportunity! Was it those Blue Sea people who did it?" A sharp light flashed in Wipper's eyes, like a hawk spotting its prey. "Pass the order! Assemble all combat forces, and immediately launch a full-scale attack on the Upper Yard! Take back our homeland!"On the other side, on a strange statue shaped like a monkey, a man with a hairstyle that exploded like spider legs was crouching—the Priest of the Ordeal of Swamp, Gedatsu.He stood up straight abruptly, his face full of disbelief: "Wh...what? Satori, Shura, even that iron lump Ohm has... has been defeated?"In his shock, he forgot to maintain that unique breath-holding state and gasped for several breaths, "These Blue Sea people... what on earth are they?!"Turning back to Luffy and Usopp. After defeating Satori, the two were sailing smoothly on the winding cloud path aboard the crow maru."Usopp, we seem to have been drifting for a long time, right?" Luffy crouched by the helm, his rubber body twisting back and forth, his face full of impatience."Exactly! By just drifting downstream like this, can we really reach the Sacrificial Altar? Could it be another strange trap?" Usopp complained as well, his long nose twitching uneasily.Suddenly, Luffy sprang up, his rubber arm pointing excitedly toward the side and back: "Look! Usopp! It's Zoro and Mark!""Huh? It really is them!" Usopp looked in that direction and also saw the figures on the windmill.Zoro turned his head, saw them too, and raised his hand to wave casually: "Hey, Luffy, Usopp.""What's going on?! How did they end up behind us?" Mark stopped the propeller of the windmill, his face full of confusion."Yo, second place~" Zoro stood at the stern with his arms crossed, a playful arc curling at the corner of his mouth as he watched the crow maru gradually approach."Why does that count as a ranking! You must have taken some hidden shortcut!" Usopp stepped on the gunwale and shouted at Zoro, unconvinced, "And we already finished off our opponent a long time ago!""That's right! We were much faster than you! You Three Sword Style guy!" Luffy immediately waved his arms in support."Hey! Luffy, 'Three Sword Style' isn't an insult!" Usopp quickly patted his Captain on the shoulder, whispering a reminder."What a bunch of immature guys... Time to go." Mark adjusted the headband on his forehead and sighed helplessly—his teammates' focus was always so peculiar.Just then, a clamor of battle cries came from afar, drawing closer."Oh~ I'm almost sick of hearing these kinds of battle cries in Alabasta." Zoro looked toward where the dust was rising, his tone plain.However, the next second, his eyes narrowed slightly: "No... this killing intent is directed at us!""Boom!" Before he could finish speaking, a cannonball whistled in, trailing a tail of fire!"A cannonball? This force and method don't look like the priests' methods!" Zoro judged instantly.Almost simultaneously, Luffy took a deep breath, his rubber stomach swelling into a huge balloon—"Rubber Rubber Balloon!""Bang!" The cannonball slammed solidly into Luffy's belly and was suddenly bounced back, exploding in the air in the distance."What's wrong with these Shandians? Attacking without rhyme or reason!" Mark frowned, a flash of anger crossing his face.Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—several figures stepped on agile wipers and sped past over their heads. It was Wipper and his subordinates.Wipper raised his hand coldly in the air, and another cannonball was fired at the windmill!"You won't stop, will you?!" Mark's eyes turned completely cold, and his figure instantly vanished from where he stood. The next moment, he appeared like a ghost in front of Wipper's wiper, his fist, wrapped in anger, striking directly at his jaw!The speed was immense. Wipper only felt a massive force strike him, and he was smashed toward the ground like a meteorite. With a loud "Boom," dust filled the air, and a human-shaped shallow pit was smashed into the ground."Leader Wipper!" The surrounding Shandian warriors exclaimed in unison; the strongest warrior in their eyes had been defeated by the opponent in one hit!Wipper struggled to crawl out of the pit, spitting out the dirt and blood foam from his mouth: "Pah! You are the Blue Sea people who have been causing trouble in the Upper Yard?""Knowing it's us, you still take the initiative to attack? Has your brain been rattled by an Impact Dial?" Mark landed not far away, his tone cold."This guy is the one who attacked us while wearing a mask when we first landed." Zoro stared at Wipper, his tone certain."Oh! So it's him!" Usopp used his finger to tap his chin, acting as if he were thinking. After a while, he suddenly realized, "Isn't that the guy who couldn't even beat our Ink Meteor?""Leader Wipper, should we... gather our strength to wipe them out?" A warrior wearing an ox-bone mask lowered his voice to ask for instructions.Wipper endured the pain, quickly scanning the unfathomable strength of Mark and the others, and gritted his teeth: "...No need! Them staying on the island to stir up trouble is more beneficial for us to take back the Upper Yard!"After saying this, he forced himself to gather his strength, leaped onto the high tree branches, and quickly disappeared into the depths of the jungle. Seeing this, the other Shandian warriors also followed closely behind and retreated."These people... where do they get their confidence? They act like uncivilized savages. Besides being tough and durable, their brains are probably full of Sky Island clouds."Mark couldn't be bothered to delve into it further; he turned and started the windmill's propeller. The two ships set sail again, heading toward the Sacrificial Altar.Deep within the magnificent temple, Eneru, perched high on the golden throne, showed no anger at the destruction of the three priests; instead, he was leisurely tasting bananas, a specialty of Sky Island."Satori, Shura, even that stubborn Ohm were solved so easily..." He put down the banana, a smile full of arrogance and interest slowly curling at the corner of his mouth, "Hehehe... This is finally a little interesting; they are worthy of being this God's new toys! Hahaha!"The wild laughter echoed in the empty temple.A moment later, he stopped laughing, resting his chin on one hand, his fingers tapping the golden armrest rhythmically, his eyes swirling with an unfathomable light: "So... should I increase the difficulty of this boring game just a little bit?"What an exciting choice...
Chapter 98: Eight People Gathered"Chopper? Where are you, Chopper!""Sanji! Answer me!"Nami stared at the scorch marks on the railing of the going merry, then looked at the empty deck, her clenched fists tightening as panic set in!She and Robin had just returned to the shore of the Sacrificial Altar from the island's edge, and seeing this, they knew the ship had been attacked."What on earth happened? Chopper! Say something!"Nami shouted toward the cabin, her voice laced with anxiety."I'm sorry, we're late… Stop hiding, okay?""The main mast of the going merry is gone."Robin spoke up suddenly, her face devoid of any expression."Perhaps they've already been hacked to pieces.""How can you say something so cold-blooded!"Nami instantly bristled, hands on her hips as she glared at Robin."Can't you hope for something better?""Thump, thump-thump…"A faint rustling sound came from the deck.Chopper, wrapped in bandages, slowly shuffled out and steadied himself against the ship's railing.Tears were already streaming down his cheeks, yet he bit his lower lip hard, refusing to let go."N-nothing scary happened! Wuu… really, nothing!""I know you're brave enough."Seeing Chopper like this, Nami's heart softened, and she quickly stepped forward to comfort him."Tell me, what happened? Where is Sanji?"On the other side, the crow maru was rushing forward through the twilight of Sky Island."Usopp! Floor it! Catch up to Mark and the others!"Luffy's voice rang in Usopp's ears for the third time, his hand incessantly patting Usopp's shoulder."Sigh—Luffy, this is already the maximum speed!"Usopp sighed, glancing at the small wind dials at the stern, his goggles sliding to the tip of his nose as he sighed helplessly."With just these two small wind dials, this is all the power we've got. We can't go any faster!""Wow—Sky Island has sunset clouds too!"Luffy suddenly leaned toward the bow, shielding his eyes from the setting sun with one hand, his neck stretched far out as he looked into the distance."So beautiful!""Yeah, aside from the constant surprises when we first arrived, it doesn't feel much different from the Blue Sea now."As soon as Usopp finished speaking, his pupils suddenly contracted."We're climbing a slope! Hold on tight!"The cloud road wound upward along the treetops of a towering ancient tree, its trunk so thick it could encompass the ship."Woohoo! This tree is too big!"Luffy shouted, craning his neck."Now is not the time to look at trees, Luffy!"Usopp wiped the sweat from his forehead, his goggles blocking the blinding glow of the setting sun."Why does this feeling seem so familiar… Don't tell me trouble is brewing again?""Oh—so high!"Luffy hurriedly pressed down on his Straw Hat, the wind pouring into his collar."Sure enough! This familiar feeling… it's… it's… we're about to fall!"Usopp stared at the sea of clouds below, his voice changing pitch."Hey! Mark! Move out of the way—we're falling down! Hahaha!"Luffy wasn't afraid at all; this height was nothing compared to the waterfall at the entrance of the Ball Trial."It's fine, there are just a few dozen Sky Sharks below."Zoro's voice came from below, cold and hard." 'Just a few dozen'? That's dozens of them! Hey!"Usopp was so anxious he was about to cry."Leave it to me!" Luffy curled his fist in the air."Gum-Gum—Gatling!"A barrage of fists pounded into the sea, splashing water a dozen feet high.By the time the crow maru landed steadily on the water, the Sky Sharks in the pool were all lifeless.Some Sky Sharks were severed in two with clean cuts, clearly the work of Zoro.The remaining Sky Sharks lay crookedly in the water, covered in punch marks—they had been hammered by Luffy."Luffy, you're still as reckless as ever."Mark's voice came over, his gaze sweeping across the deck."Where's Usopp?""Cough, cough! I'm here!"A head suddenly popped out of the water; Usoppgrabbed Luffy by the collar, his face flushed red."Luffy! Can't you look where you're punching! You almost beat me up too!""Sorry, sorry!"Luffy scratched his head, then his eyes suddenly lit up."Look! It's the going merry!"On the distant altar, the silhouette of the going merry was clearly visible."Nami! Robin!"Luffy waved his arms and shouted."It's Luffy and the others!"Nami immediately stood up straight, cupping her hands around her mouth to shout toward them."Watch out for the sharks in the water!""Already taken care of!"Luffy held up two large Sky Shark corpses wrapped around his rubber arms, shaking them back and forth."Don't drag it out! The ship can't even move!"Usopp turned his head to scold Luffy."But… don't you want to taste what Sky Shark is like?"Luffy hung his head, looking aggrieved."Now that you mention it… I really do want to try it."Mark rubbed his chin, condensed Rainbow Space at his fingertips, wrapped the two Sky Sharks, and stored them in the space."We'll cook them once we're ashore."Nami watched the group on the deck, all in a huddle, and finally let out a sigh of relief, pressing a hand to her chest."Thank goodness… they're all fine and in good spirits."A moment later, on the deck of the going merry.Usopp stared at the place where the mast had broken, his eyes glazing over."The, the mast… is gone?""I'm sorry, Usopp."Chopper clutched the corner of his clothes, full of grievance."Sanji and I tried really hard… but we still couldn't protect the mast.""Silly kid, what are you saying?"Usopp immediately put on a smile, knelt down, and patted Chopper's head."Are you okay? Are your injuries hurting?""Usopp…"Chopper couldn't hold it in anymore; he threw himself into Usopp's arms and cried uncontrollably."It's just the mast that's gone; it can be fixed."Mark suddenly spoke up, as if remembering something."By the way, where is Sanji?""In the lounge."Chopper lifted his tear-stained face and pointed toward the direction of the cabin.Mark pushed open the door to the lounge.Thick smoke billowed out, making him cough—the whole room was full of smoke, and he could barely see anyone.He quickly activated his ability to suck away the smoke, and only then did he see Sanji slumped in the sofa, his hair messy, with a pile of cigarette butts beside him."You guy… how many cigarettes have you smoked?"Sanji lifted his eyes, his voice raspy."Mark, am I too useless? I couldn't even protect the going merry… what are we going to do from now on?""You did your best."Mark walked over and patted Sanji's shoulder."Are your back injuries okay? No one expected the situation here; we'll fix the going merry, don't worry.""But…""Stop blaming yourself."Mark interrupted Sanji, raising an eyebrow."You don't look cool at all right now—Nami and the others are coming over."As soon as those words were out, Sanji immediately sat up straight, straightened his tie—which was half-gone and scorched—took a deep breath, and followed Mark out of the lounge.Just as he pushed open the door, he saw Chopperstanding by the railing, his little fists clenched tightly, his whole body exerting effort."I must become a reliable man!""Go for it, Chopper."Mark nodded with a smile, scanning the sky that was gradually darkening."It's already dark, and the ship will have to be fixed tomorrow. Speaking of which… I'm a little hungry."He looked at Sanji."Then let's go ashore first."Sanji immediately replied, his eyes regaining some sharpness."If the enemy comes, fighting on the ship is too risky—the going merry can't take any more abuse.""Right, it's more convenient to fight on land." Zoroleaned against the railing, nodding in agreement."Camping? I like it!"Luffy and Chopper immediately jumped up, performing moves no one could understand.Night had completely fallen, and the campfire on the shore of the altar crackled.Luffy held the roasted meat and took big bites, grease dripping down his chin.Usopp, from who knows where, produced a small blackboard, picked up a twig to use as a pointer, and cleared his throat."Ahem! Now, everyone, report the situation!""Chopper and I encountered a priest."Sanji spoke first, pointing to the vines not far away—a dark, blob-like thing was hanging there."That guy could use Observation Haki, rode a big bird, and used a flaming gun. There, that's the one.""You guys also ran into a ball-spirit?"Luffy leaned in to look, his eyes full of curiosity."That was clearly a person! At least when he was alive!" Nami couldn't help but pout; why roll him into a ball after killing him! Is it performance art?"Zoro and I encountered the priest of the Trial of Iron." Mark took a bite of the roasted meat."That priest had some strength, but he was still taken care of by Zoro.""It seems none of us had it easy."Nami put down the coconut juice in her hand, her eyes lighting up."By the way, Robin and I discovered a big secret—this island is actually the other half of Jaya!""What?!"Everyone looked up abruptly, faces full of surprise."That means…"Nami clenched her fists, her voice filled with excitement."This is the place the skull's right eye points to—the Island of Gold!""Gold?!"Luffy stood up with a "whoosh," his Straw Hattilting, his eyes shining brightly."I've been waiting for an adventure like this!""That's more like it, finally a correct reaction."Nami raised an eyebrow—she knew no one could resist the temptation of gold.She suddenly turned and reached out to grab Mark's ear."Mark! Pay some attention to the gold! That's gold!""Ouch, ouch, ouch!"Mark quickly swatted Nami's hand away, rubbing his ear."It's just gold, isn't it? I have mountains of it piled up in my Rainbow Space.""Who would complain about having too much money!"Nami put her hands on her hips and started lecturing."Can't you act a little more like a pirate?""Exactly, with treasure right in front of us, who wouldn't be tempted." Sanji flipped the meat on the grill, smiling in agreement."The enemy is strong enough; this fight should be satisfying." Zoro polished his sword, his eyes filled with anticipation.Luffy raised both hands, his voice drifting into the starry sky with the wind."Alright! Guys—let's go find the gold!"The light of the campfire fell on everyone's faces, their laughter mingling with the aroma of roasted meat, drifting far into the night on Sky Island.
Chapter 99 MerryThe Upper Yard forest was filled with a mysterious and tranquil atmosphere as night fell.Of course, this tranquility was quickly broken by the Straw Hat campsite.In the center of the camp, the bonfire crackled.Sanji was busy around a sturdy-looking large stainless steel bucket.Inside the bucket, slices of Sky Shark meat from the pool next to the Sacrificial Altar were gently rippling in clear water, along with exotic vegetables native to the Sky Island.The most eye-catching of all were several carrots that Sanji had carved into perfect heart shapes with his incredible knife skills—these were symbols of love he had prepared for Nami and Robin."Marimo! Don't just stand there like an idiot!" Sanjishouted at Zoro, who was standing to the side with his arms crossed. "Use your swords to stack some stones into the bonfire and heat them until they're red-hot! Hurry up!"Zoro: "Huh? You perverted cook! My swords aren't meant to be used as fire pokers for you!""Less talk! Do you want to eat or not? Or has your Marimo head evolved to the point where it can photosynthesize?" Sanji lit a cigarette, blew a perfect smoke ring, and unleashed his trump card."...Tch." Zoro's mouth twitched, but in the end, he grumbled and drew "wado ichimonji" and "yodo himawari," used them like forks to skewer several clean, flat stones, and stuffed them into the hottest part of the fire. He muttered under his breath, "If it tastes bad later, I'm going to cut you..."Not far away, Nami and Robin were carefully studying the maps of Jaya and the Sky Island by the light of a camping lantern.Nami pointed to a spot on the map, her eyes turning into ＄＄ symbols: "Robin, look here. This must be the legendary 'Golden City of Shandora,' right?"Robin nodded with a smile: "It's very likely. The gold Norland mentioned seeing in the right eye of the skull should be here."She tilted her head slightly, hearing Sanji and Zoro's classic bickering, and smiled.On the other side, Usopp, Chopper, and Mark were sitting cross-legged on the ground, engaged in a "Poker Battle of the Century."Chopper: "Bomb!"Usopp: "We're on the same team, Mark is the landlord, look closely, Chopper!"Chopper: "Mind your own business, so what if I have a lot of bombs?"Usopp: "Fine, fine, you're awesome! Go ahead."Chopper: "A small 4."Usopp: "You silly reindeer, do you even know how to play Fight the Landlord..."The poker battle immediately escalated into a boxing match!"It's ready, you shitty cook!" Zoro grumbled, using his swords to lift a few red-hot stones."Hurry up! Throw them in the bucket!" Sanji shouted.Zoro flicked his wrist, and the scorching hot stones landed in the stainless steel bucket with a series of splashes."Whoosh!" The previously calm water instantly boiled violently, white steam shot into the air, and a rich aroma immediately filled the surroundings."Meat! Is the meat ready?!" Luffy, who had been running around the campfire, rushed over with his eyes shining, his rubber arm stretching out to grab the lid."You rubber idiot! Don't lift the lid!" Sanji was quick, blocking Luffy's hand with a flying kick, then quickly pressing the lid down tightly. "How is it supposed to cook if you don't cover it? Do you want to give everyone diarrhea, you idiot Captain?!"Under Luffy's eager gaze, after simmering for a few minutes, Sanji finally announced: "It's done! A Sky Island specialty, Sky Shark and Vegetable Heart-Warming Stone Stew!"He first carefully served two bowls with the most ingredients and the freshest soup, and presented them to Nami and Robin with his most elegant posture: "Nami-san~ Robin-chan~ please enjoy, this is a special dish filled with love!"Then, he distributed a large bowl each to the eager Luffy, Usopp, Chopper, and Mark. Finally, he begrudgingly served a bowl to Zoro."Wow! Delicious!" Chopper ate until it was teary-eyed."So delicious! This stone stew is really not bad!" Mark picked up a roll of fish meat and squinted his eyes in enjoyment.Luffy had already started his devouring mode and couldn't even talk.Usopp bragged while eating: "Mmm! As expected of the chef recognized by me, Captain Usopp, this flavor is worthy of a banquet!"Sanji was basking in the praise of the two ladies when suddenly, his gaze swept over and he discovered a serious problem.At the same time, he heard Usopp chewing and saying vaguely: "Hey, the shape of this carrot is quite unique..."Meanwhile, Zoro, with a "what is this thing" expression, was stuffing the last bite of food (including a heart-shaped carrot) into his mouth.Sanji's hair seemed to stand on end. He pointed at Usopp and Zoro and let out a heart-wrenching scream: "You two bastards—!! That was the love carrot meant for Robin! Spit it out! Especially you, Marimo! Your Marimo heart doesn't deserve to eat my love carrot!!"Zoro swallowed the last bite, looking confused, and burped: "The taste wasn't bad."The bonfire crackled in the forest clearing, sparks and black smoke from the wood drifting into the ink-blue night sky.Luffy lay sprawled out on an old tree root, his rubber belly rounded and full. He patted his stomach and sighed: "Ah~ I'm full, I'm full!"Watching the black smoke slowly drift toward the ink-blue starry sky. "Tomorrow we go find the gold!"Chopper happily carried a stack of shiny plates—cleaned to a reflective shine by Mark's ability—and while trotting past, its hoof accidentally stepped on Luffy's foot."Ah! Oh no!" Its body tilted, the plates slipped from its hands and were about to smash onto the ground, so Chopper simply closed its eyes.Suddenly, several fair arms sprouted from the ground, as if they had eyes, and steadily caught every plate."Saved! Thank you, Robin!"Chopper hurriedly hugged the plates tight, glanced back at Luffy, and snorted with its little nose: "Hmph!"Robin crouched by the fire, poked the wood, looked up at her companions, and said seriously: "It's late. We need to put out the fire; it will expose our position."Luffy sprang up, hands on his hips, deliberately pinched his voice, and put on a deep tone: "What nonsense are you talking about! Did you hear that, Usopp? She actually wants us to put out the fire!""Well, you can't blame her." Usopp stood up slowly, completely ignoring Robin's confused expression. He put his hands on his hips and struck a flashy pose. "After all, she's a woman who came from the darkness, how would she understand this!"Robin blinked, looking bewildered: "Huh? What are you guys talking about?"The next second, the scene shifted dramatically—Luffy and Usopp fell to their knees at Robin's feet, pounding the grass with their fists, howling at the top of their lungs: "Who puts out a campfire while camping!" "Exactly! People can go hungry, but the campfire cannot be extinguished, that's the rule!""You two idiots, cut it out!" Nami couldn't stand it anymore. She stuffed the empty bowl in her hand to Chopper and scolded them with her hands on her hips. "How many dangers are in this forest? Priests, guerrillas, and monsters hiding who knows where...""Are there monsters too?" Chopper's ears perked up, and it shrank behind Usopp.Taking advantage of Nami scolding Luffy, Usoppsnuck away on tiptoes, leaving Luffy alone to take the heat."Mark! You're the Vice Captain, do something about them!" Nami had no choice and turned to call for "reinforcements."But Mark had already returned with Sanji and Zoro, carrying firewood—stacked higher than Chopper, and he had even casually built a sturdy wood rack.Mark brushed the wood shavings off his hands: "This firewood should be enough to burn until dawn."Nami stared at the pile of wood, collapsing powerlessly onto the grass, her face full of despair, as if to say "I can't carry this team": "Mark, even you...""Don't worry, except for Eneru, we'll take down anyone who comes." Mark smiled, still holding a piece of unburned firewood, completely unaware of the dozens of glowing green eyes lighting up in the darkness behind him. "Wild beasts are most afraid of fire.""Wild beasts... behind you...!" Nami, sharp-eyed, jumped into Robin's arms in fright, pointing behind Mark.A low whimper came from the forest, and a one-eyed white wolf slowly walked out—with a scar over its eye, it stared at everyone fiercely, making "woo-woo wah-wah" sounds, as if it were saying something."Chopper, translate." Sanji took out a cigarette but didn't light it, staring at the white wolf.Chopper poked half its head out from behind Usopp—it had hidden in the wrong direction—but still leaned over to the white wolf, imitated a wolf's howl "Awoo," and translated: "You bunch of outsiders, you're so noisy! Get lost and go to sleep!""What did you say?" Sanji raised an eyebrow, and Luffy rolled up his sleeves, ready to step forward."It's not what I said!" Chopper was anxious and aggrieved, then continued translating: "You aren't here to take my territory, are you? This grass, these trees, everything here belongs to yours truly!""Bang!" Nami raised her hand and punched the white wolf on the head, a crisp sound ringing out: "The gold isn't yours!"The white wolf hugged its head and shrank behind a tree root, paws touching the big bump on its head, while the wolf pack behind it had been ready to move.The white wolf howled lowly at the pack: "Forget it, even if we all go together, we won't be able to beat them..." Then it looked at Nami, its tone a bit cheeky: "Miss, that punch of yours had power, I really like you."Nami and the white wolf king exchanged a look, and a flash of golden light inexplicably flashed in their eyes.Later, the style shifted abruptly—dancing with wolves. Amidst the crackling of the bonfire, chaotic footsteps suddenly rang out. Everyone gathered around the campfire, dancing an unknown dance to the rhythm of the white wolf's steps. The wolf king even brought over several jars of fruit wine, and even the picky Mark nodded after tasting it.Zoro clinked his wine jar against the wolf king's with a "clang," his face flushed red, and he almost hooked his arm around the wolf's neck to become sworn brothers.The party lasted until late at night, and everyone fell into a deep sleep, using the soft cloud wolves as pillows and huddling by the bonfire.Before dawn, Mark was awakened by two hushed voices—it was Usopp and Zoro."Zoro, I beg you, just come with me!" Usopp tugged at Zoro's sleeve, his voice kept extremely low."Can't you go yourself? How old are you, still afraid of the dark?" Zoro impatiently brushed his hand away."It's just to take a leak, right? Let's go and come back quickly!""You heartless man!" Usopp muttered, sneaking into the woods on tiptoes.Mark found it interesting and followed quietly.The forest was very quiet, with only the "drip-drop" of dew hitting the leaves, when suddenly a "thump... thump... thump..." sound came—muffled and heavy, it was the sound of wood being struck.Usopp's footsteps paused, and he turned his head stiffly like a robot, looking toward the source of the sound.AI Model: gemini-3.0-flashThe morning mist was hazy, and the silhouette of the going merry floated faintly in the distance, charred marks still visible on its sails."There shouldn't be anyone on the ship..."He muttered, hiding behind a tree and peeking out, wanting to get a closer look.By the time he moved to the shore of the Sacrificial Altar, the mist had cleared slightly—a dark figure was crouching by the going merry, holding something and hammering the hull rhythmically."Ahhh—!!!"A piercing scream cut through the morning mist. Usopp's legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground.When Zoro rushed over, he saw Usopp pointing at the going merry, trembling and shouting, "A... a ghost!"As soon as he finished speaking, his eyes rolled back, and he fainted."Scared unconscious just by going for a pee! What a coward."Zoro clicked his tongue in disdain, bent over to hoist Usopp onto his shoulder, and headed back toward the campsite.Mark, however, stood on a tree branch and didn't move—He stared at the dark figure by the going merry, watching as the shadow stumbled while moving the mast.He watched as its arms trembled while hammering nails, missing several times before realigning,until the eastern sky turned pale. Only then did the shadow slide down the hull, gently pressing against the Sheep-headed figurehead before slowly fading into transparency.The morning sunlight spilled into the forest, and the Straw Hat crew gathered around the going merry, their faces filled with genuine surprise."I told you I didn't see it wrong!"Usopp rubbed his red, teary eyes—he still hadn't fully recovered from the shock of fainting.His fingertips touched the unevenly driven nails on the deck as he whispered, "There really is a ghost repairing the ship..."Nami reached out to touch the mainmast—it had been completely broken yesterday, but now it stood firmly.She felt the mast, full of doubt: "Even the mainmast has been fixed... who would go out of their way to help us?""A single person couldn't lift such a heavy mast."Robin walked around the ship, stating objectively: "It would take immense strength to accomplish this.""And... the other party seems very familiar with this ship's condition.""To be honest, though, the craftsmanship is quite poor."Sanji knelt down and poked a crooked nail, frowning as he complained."The nails aren't even driven in properly; it's a messy patch job.""To think there's such a kind person!"Luffy sat on the gunwale, swinging his legs and laughing lightheartedly, not thinking deeply about it at all."It must be a kind soul passing by! We have to thank them properly when we meet!""But besides us, everyone on this island is an enemy!" Zoro turned around, his hand resting on his sword hilt.His tone was full of confusion: "In a forbidden place like this, who would risk danger to repair our ship? And know it so well...""It certainly wasn't an enemy who fixed it."Mark climbed up the mast from below the deck, his expression more solemn than the companions had ever seen."Look closely—the wings and the comb are gone.""Only the mast, the deck we use most often, and your Special Seat, Luffy, have been repaired.""Would a stranger know what the going merryoriginally looked like?""It's not in Flight Mode anymore?"Luffy was the first to shout, pointing at where the wings should have been and scratching his head. "Why didn't they fix everything together?""If you put it that way, the person who fixed the ship must know us, right?"Usopp pinched his chin in speculation. "Could it be an islander we met before? But we don't know anyone that capable...""They even remembered to fix this small window on the gunwale."Sanji looked out through the window, still not thinking of Merry herself, just finding it strange. "It couldn't be...""Who could it be that knows our ship so well?" Nami frowned, going through everyone she could think of, but still had no clue."Mark, do you know something?""Stop guessing."Mark walked to the Sheep-headed figurehead, his fair palm gently stroking the eternally smiling head.His movements were so light, as if he were afraid of hurting it. "Don't we have one more companion?""It has never abandoned us, even though we've put it through so much.""Could it be Ink Meteor? But he's always with you?" Chopper tilted his head, not catching on at all.Mark shook his head, his gaze falling on Luffy, his voice very soft:"Do you remember what you said when we first got the going merry?"Luffy blinked, then reached up to press down on his Straw Hat, his fist clenched above his head, his voice without a hint of hesitation—He had that same look of stubborn seriousness from back then: "From today on, the going merry is our companion. No matter where we go, we're taking it with us."As soon as he spoke, Mark finally continued, each word like a stone falling into water, rippling through everyone's hearts:"It's Merry. It was Merry itself, enduring the pain to fix itself.""It has a Klabautermann. It couldn't bear to leave us; it wants to keep carrying us forward.""The going merry fixed itself? How is that possible!" Nami took two steps back, her pupils shrinking—These words were like a bolt of lightning, instantly illuminating all the overlooked details.She suddenly remembered how, every time she shouted "reefs ahead" at the helm,Merry would always react faster than she anticipated, turning slightly to avoid them;She remembered how every time they said "on to the next island," the sails would unfurl with a rustle, as if nodding in agreement.She covered her mouth, tears suddenly welling up and dripping onto the deck, her voice raspy:"Merry... she's been with us all along... watching us put her through so much, yet she never blamed us...""? Klabautermann? Merry fixed herself?" Seeing Nami cry, Luffy finally realized and began to panic.He knelt down, his palm pressed firmly against the deck—just as he always did when they docked, patting Merry and shouting, "Good job!"His eyes turned red, but he stiffened his neck to keep the tears from falling. "Merry... were you in a lot of pain?...""A Klabautermann is born from the bond between the crew and their ship."Robin's eyes were also red as she explained softly:"She watched us set sail from the East Blue, watched our noisy squabbles,""watched as we left countless scars on her, yet she still pulled us out of danger time and time again.""She isn't just wood; she truly sees us as companions and remembers every one of our habits.""Merry!"Chopper suddenly threw himself onto the Sheep-headed figurehead, his small paws hugging the wood as tears flowed uncontrollably—He sobbed, his shoulders shaking. "I'm sorry... I didn't protect you well last time,""I'm sorry... for doodling on the deck, I'm sorry...""We always leave you in tatters, yet you're still fixing yourself, still wanting to carry us..."Sanji pulled out a cigarette, but just as he was about to light it, he crushed it. His Adam's apple bobbed several times—"So clumsy... fixing it so poorly, and having the mast burned by that piece of trash Shura before...""Does it hurt, Merry? I'm going to go slaughter that 'God' right now to avenge you."Tears fell from Usopp's eyes. He was the one who knew the going merry's condition best, and his voice was choked with emotion:"I'm sorry... I thought someone else fixed it, I didn't even think of you... Merry!"Zoro turned his head away, the veins on his hand gripping the sword hilt bulging—He spoke in a muffled voice: "Don't worry. Even if we have to search the whole world, we'll find a shipwright who can fix you... We won't leave you behind.""She wants to keep carrying us on our voyage."Mark pointed toward the large tree on the shore, his voice also raspy. "I watched from the tree last night—""She was clearly so tired, yet she still wanted to fix herself, still wanted to go with us.""You have to understand, when the going merry was built, she wasn't meant to challenge the Grand Line."He paused and looked at everyone, his tone solemn:"She has never abandoned us when we were in danger. Even if her sails were torn or her hull was leaking, she held on to get us to safety.""Now the going merry is sick, just like when Namiwas too feverish to stand, or when Chopper was too injured to walk—""Would you abandon a companion like that?""Absolutely not!" everyone shouted in unison, their voices thick with tears but firmer than ever.Luffy clenched his fists, tears hitting the deck;Nami wiped her tears but nodded vigorously;Sanji sniffled and turned away to wipe his eyes;Usopp wiped his tears, shouting, "I'll never let you get hurt again, Merry!";Zoro straightened his back, his grip on the sword hilt tightening."Then we'll heal her."Mark reached out, gently pressing his hand against Merry's deck. "A ship's life is in its keel—""I've checked; Merry's keel is intact. She can still hold on.""We'll find the best shipwright and fix her up beautifully,""just like when we were in the East Blue, and let her continue to carry us to find the One Piece."As soon as he finished, a gentle voice drifted softly into everyone's minds—Like the gentle "creak" Merry made every time they docked safely, it was soft:"Thank... thank you... I... still want... to carry everyone... much further..."That was Merry's voice.Luffy clenched his fists, large tears splashing onto the deck. He looked up sharply, his lowered Straw Hat unable to hide his trembling voice:"Don't say such silly things! We're the ones who should say thank you! Merry!"Nami wiped her continuous tears and nodded hard, images of the going merry breaking through giant waves in every storm flashing before her eyes;Sanji turned his back, his shoulders shaking slightly as he took a hard drag of his cigarette, as if trying to suppress the sob rising in his throat;Usopp was already sobbing uncontrollably. He knelt down, his forehead against the deck, as if trying to feel the heartbeat of their invisible companion through the wood:"I'm sorry... Merry... we were too stupid to realize until now..."Even the toughest one, Zoro, had red eyes. He gripped the wado ichimonji tightly, as if he could draw shared memories of this silent companion from the blade that had witnessed their entire journey.Chopper hugged the Sheep-headed figureheadtightly, pressing his furry cheek against it and sobbing, "We will... we will definitely heal you!"A silent vow filled the air, firmer than any grand declaration.
Chapter 100: RecruitmentThe sun had just climbed over the clouds of Sky Island, casting slanted streaks of golden-red light across the green fields.Mark twisted his wrist—the going merry was resting safely in the System Space, and only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.He turned and shouted to the group, "Target: the Golden Right Eye! Find the gold, return to the Blue Sea to fix the ship, and let's go!"With breakfast buns still gripped in their hands, the group had already stepped onto the forest's green path.Eating as they walked, the food tasted even better than usual.Luffy clutched a broken branch like a conductor's baton, his off-key singing echoing through the trees: "The islands to the south are so warm~ Pineapples are tasty, heads are heating up—stupid idiots!"The tune was completely off, but he swayed his head and sang with increasing joy."So noisy!" Mark plugged his ears with his fingers, backing away with a look of disgust.But just as he took half a step back, Usopp leaned in and picked up the tune: "The islands to the north are so cold~""Go sing up front!"Mark raised a leg and gave Usopp a light kick on the butt; it wasn't hard, but it sent him stumbling forward.He stumbled right next to Luffy.Usopp rubbed his rear and reached back to grab Luffy's shoulder.The two of them huddled together and continued howling: "The islands to the south...""Gold! The Golden City, Shandora!"Miss Nami's voice suddenly rang out as she poked the "Golden Right Eye" mark on the map, her eyes sparkling with greed."We're going to be rich! Let's just buy the best Adam Wood to fix the ship!"She hadn't stopped muttering about "gold" and "fixing the ship" the whole way, her steps half a beat lighter than the others.Sanji walked by her side, picking small pink and white flowers from the roadside and casually twisting them with vines into two flower wreaths.He shook the wreaths in his hand and gently offered them to Miss Nami, squinting his eyes with a smile."Miss Nami, these are for you. They suit you perfectly."Chopper, carrying his small blue backpack, was rummaging through the grass.He stuffed herbs that looked useful into his bag, "Wow, so many anti-inflammatory herbs!""Hey, Zoro,"Mark nudged the green-haired man beside him with his elbow."Looks like we're the only ones with nothing to do."But Zoro didn't respond—He stared at the back of his blackened hand, frowning and muttering quietly:"Is this it? Armament Haki...""Heh! Turns out I'm the only bored one."Mark let his hands hang, just about to consider summoning Ink Meteor to take a nap."Wait!"Something suddenly flashed in his mind, and he came to a dead stop."Holy crap! Blackened hand!"Mark's eyes widened, and he grabbed Zoro's hand, turning it over to inspect it.Zoro was taken aback by the sudden grab.He scratched his head, looked up at the sky, and asked awkwardly:"What are you doing?""Hit me!""What?" Zoro was speechless!Mark suddenly shouted out of the blue.Everyone stopped in their tracks and turned to stare at the two of them—No one expected Mark to say such a thing; they all looked like curious onlookers.Luffy, who had been howling along with Usopp, was abruptly interrupted by the "Hit me."When he turned toward the sound, he happened to catch sight of Zoro's blackened hand and immediately stopped howling.He "whooshed" over, grabbed Zoro's arm, and yelled:"Zoro, you've mastered Armament Haki? Quick, try hitting me!"Zoro raised an eyebrow, and his three swords unsheathed with a "shing," the blade light dazzling."Oh~ I've never heard such a request in my life.""...Why are you drawing your swords?"Mark slipped back two steps like his feet were greased and said urgently."I told you to use your fist! Not a sword!""Oh, sorry. Force of habit."Zoro casually flicked his wrist, and the three swords sheathed with a "shink."He then clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking.Just then, a "baa—" sound of a goat suddenly came from the nearby bushes."A goat?"Just as Luffy turned his head, Zoro's fist flew out—grazing Luffy's ear and slamming into the chest of an attacking Divine Soldier with a "bang!"The impact dial on the Divine Soldier's body shattered into pieces with a "crack."The man was sent flying backward.He hit a tree trunk with a "thud" and slid down, motionless."Got my hopes up for nothing."Luffy pouted and rubbed his hands."I thought I could catch it for Sanji to make a whole roasted goat..."Mark rubbed his chin, watching Zoro pull back his fist, his interest in being hit completely gone—thinking to himself, "Looks like he really awakened Armament Haki; he can even shatter an impact dial."After all, what idiot would let someone hit them for no reason?"Zoro, hit me, you idiot!"Luffy wouldn't let it go and made a face at Zoro."Bam! Pow pow!"The next second, Luffy was squatting on the ground clutching a head full of bumps, hissing in pain....Zoro clenched his fist, his grin nearly reaching the back of his neck, looking smug and punchable."Hmm?"Mark suddenly frowned—a branch ahead creaked as it bent.A shirtless man crouched on it with a rocket launcher on his shoulder.The face revealed was all too familiar—it was Wipper, the leader of the Shandia.He stared at them, his voice none too friendly: "Blue Sea dwellers, what are you doing in the homeland of the Shandia?""None of your business."Mark rolled his eyes and started walking forward."This land was ours to begin with! Eneru's head, I will eventually...""None of my business! Let's go!"Mark interrupted him directly.The others also looked away and moved forward—who cared about his grudges? His strength was lacking, but his attitude was big."Halt!"Wipper's temper flared instantly, and the rocket launcher clicked onto his shoulder.The muzzle swung toward the group."I don't want to waste words. I'll get rid of you all right here today!"Just as he was about to pull the trigger, a bolt of lightning suddenly exploded between heaven and earth with a "crack!""You want my head? Lowly insect."Eneru's voice rang out lazily, blue-white electric arcs appearing like a swarm of snakes.Long ears drooping, long blond hair combed back, with a white cloth wrapped around his forehead.Bare-chested, wearing harem pants, he floated barefoot in mid-air.The four Tomoe drums on his back trembled slightly with the electric arcs."Boom!"Wipper pulled the trigger without a second thought, and the shell exploded in front of Eneru.White smoke and dust instantly enveloped the area.When the dust settled, Eneru was completely unharmed—he tossed a Milky Dial.The dial expanded into a fluffy cushion with a "poof," and he sat cross-legged on it with ease.He calmly uttered two words: "Boring."As he spoke, he tapped the drum on his right shoulder and shouted coldly, "30 Million Volts: Thunderbird!"The phoenix-shaped thunderbird shot out with a "whoosh."Wipper only had time to scream once before falling to the ground smoking, motionless.Eneru turned to the Straw Hat crew and smiled faintly: "Hehe... interesting Blue Sea monkeys.""Your struggles have actually amused me.""Kneel, for this God bestows upon you a great honor—""Who is this psycho?"Luffy pointed at Eneru, looking completely bewildered."Smack!"Usopp smacked the back of Luffy's head, though his own teeth were chattering."Are you an idiot? Someone this weird who can use lightning must be that so-called God!"Nami shrank back, trembling all over; fear made it almost impossible for her to breathe.Robin maintained a calm posture, crossing her hands at her sides, but fine beads of cold sweat broke out on her forehead.Sanji's cigarette slipped from his lips, and his right foot quietly stepped back half a pace as he assumed a fighting stance.An unprecedented seriousness settled between his brows.Zoro's three swords came out together with a "shing," their cold light reflecting the electricity surrounding Eneru.Three pairs of eyes were locked onto the incarnation of lightning in mid-air.Usopp scrambled behind a giant rock, the sound of his teeth chattering audible.Yet he still forced himself to raise his slingshot.Eneru floated in mid-air, lazily picking his ear.His long blond hair drifted slightly in the static electricity."This God bestows upon you the honor—of becoming part of my 'Divine Army'.""Follow me to the Fairy Vearth to build a true kingdom of God."Luffy raised a hand to press down his Straw Hat, his clenched fist resting at his side: "The Fairy Vearthsounds a bit interesting.""But I'm not going to be anyone's subordinate—""I'm the man who's going to be the Pirate King!"Robin crossed her arms, a faint, mocking smile on her lips: "A kingdom built on fear and slavery is ultimately just a tower of sand.""Am I right, 'Lord God'?"Eneru narrowed his eyes and said flatly, "Humans do not fear God; fear itself is the true God.""I am God. What is wrong with that?"Mark crossed his arms and sneered, "Arrogance needs strength to back it up. Do you really think you're invincible?""Throughout your entire lives as mortals,"Eneru casually twirled a strand of electric arc, his voice devoid of any emotion."The peak you can reach is but dust beneath this God's feet.""A frog in a well."Mark scoffed.Zoro pointed his blade directly at Eneru, his voice cold and hard: "Enough talk. This is the perfect chance to see if I can cut through lightning."Flames ignited under Sanji's feet with a "whoosh":"A bastard who isn't even fit to carry Miss Nami's shoes dares to call himself a god?"Eneru's gaze suddenly turned cold, and the electric arcs around him crackled: "So, what is your answer?""We refuse!"Their voices overlapped without a hint of hesitation."Refuse?"Eneru's voice sounded like it was dipped in ice."Do you know what this means? It means you have chosen annihilation!"The clima-tact in Nami's hand trembled slightly.Usopp grit his teeth and pulled his slingshot even tighter."Sacrilege!"Eneru roared, and the lightning in his palm twisted into a sharp spear with a "hum.""Insects dare to defy God? Then use your bodies to truly feel the wrath of God!"The lightning spear shot through the air toward the group with a "whoosh!""Three Sword Style: Bull Needle!"Zoro stepped forward quickly, crossing two swords to catch the lightning spear with a "bang."Electricity crawled up the blades and covered his arms. He clicked his tongue, his arms shaking from the numbness, but he didn't retreat a single step."You bastard! What kind of god attacks a lady!"Sanji scooped up Nami and retreated rapidly, the flames at his feet leaving an afterimage."Gomu Gomu no Bullet!"Luffy's arm suddenly stretched out, his fist slamming straight toward Eneru."Too slow."Eneru gave a sinister smile and snapped his fingers."Snap!"A bolt of lightning struck precisely in Luffy's path, the exploding light forcing him back.The attack was instantly cut short.Eneru floated higher, looking down at the slightly disheveled group, his voice cold."Kneel and beg for mercy now, and this God might show mercy and leave your corpses intact.""Hundred Flower Bloom!"Robin crossed her hands in the distance, and vine-like arms suddenly sprouted from the ground, reaching out to entwine Eneru.But as soon as they touched the electricity surrounding him, the arms emitted blue smoke with a "sizzle" and were instantly repelled.She bit her lip, cold sweat sliding down from her temple: "As expected, it won't work...""Glutton!"Mark suddenly shouted, and the scattered lightning around surged toward his palm."Backlash—!"The gathered lightning suddenly accelerated and reflected back at Eneru with a "boom!""Hehe,"Eneru scoffed, not even bothering to dodge."I am lightning itself. What were you thinking?""Who said I was attacking you?"A mischievous grin curled on Mark's lips.In the moment Eneru was dazed, Usopp took the chance to fire his slingshot: "Special Attack: Rotten Egg Star!""Splat!"The rotten egg exploded in front of Eneru's face, splattering dark egg liquid all over him.The stench filled the air instantly."I actually... *ugh*... didn't notice?"Eneru was so nauseated he dry-heaved on the spot, hurriedly using lightning to burn the air, but he couldn't get rid of the smell.He glared at Usopp, his eyes looking like they wanted to devour him."You actually used electric waves to interfere with my Mantra, and then used this filthy stuff that poses no danger to me... Clever plan!"Seeing the group still resisting stubbornly, Eneru's last shred of patience was completely exhausted: "Incurable!""Since you are bent on seeking death—"He threw his arms wide, and endless thunderclouds gathered from all directions.The sky of Sky Island darkened instantly, and the aura of destruction was so heavy it was suffocating."Then let everything return to nothingness! 200 Million Volts: Amaru—!!!"Luffy felt the unprecedented pressure, but his gaze became even firmer, his fist wrapping in solid Haki.His arm stretched out with a "whoosh": "Gomu Gomu no—"Zoro bit the wado ichimonji in his mouth and held the other two swords to his sides, the blades glinting coldly: "Three Sword Style Secret Technique..."The flames under Sanji's feet leaped higher, the ground scorched black and cracking: "Diable Jambe!"The roars of the three, along with the gathered power of Mark, Robin, and Usopp, overlapped.Finally, they merged into a shout that shook the forest: "Siege Cannon!!!"The destructive pillar of the Thunder God collided violently with the combined strike carrying their dreams.A wave of light instantly overturned the entire forest, and even the clouds were shaken into a churning frenzy.At the same time—"Eh~! Where are my friends? Where on earth is this?" Chopper stood in the ruins, bewildered in the wind.
Chapter 101: Decisive Battle of the Thunder God"Siege Cannon—!!!"The combined attack, gathering the faith and strength of the Straw Hat crew, turned into a brilliant torrent,slamming solidly into Eneru's massive "Thunder God" body!Rumble!!!Amidst the deafening explosion, that giant body composed purely of lightning,was actually torn open with a huge hole, as chaotic arcs of electricity splashed wildly like a wounded beast!"Ugh...!"Eneru's originally divine and lazy face suddenly contorted, a look of disbelief flashing across it.He had indeed elementalized in advance, but the impact brought by Luffy's fist wrapped in Armament Haki,and that tangible sensation, far exceeded his expectations.The speed of elementalization was actually slower by a negligible yet crucial instant!A trace of bright red blood seeped from the corner of his mouth and slid down his chin."Pfft... cough cough... you can actually touch me... damn it!"Eneru subconsciously wiped away the blood, looking at the dazzling red on the back of his hand,his golden pupils first filled with astonishment, then were swallowed by overwhelming rage."Oh?"Even though Sanji was in danger, he still didn't forget to keep a cigarette in his mouth, raising an eyebrow in mockery."So the blood of a so-called god is also red? It seems you're no different from us 'ants' after all."These words were like the final spark that ignited a powder keg."Shut—up—!!!"Eneru's roar turned into the most terrifying thunder between heaven and earth, and the clouds of the entire Sky Island trembled under his fury."Humble insects! Filthy Blue Sea monkeys! You dare... you actually dare to harm a god's body?!""Unforgivable! Absolutely unforgivable!"The last bits of contempt and playfulness completely vanished, replaced by the purest killing intent, wanting to completely annihilate everything before him!"200 Million Volts: Mamaragan—Heavenly Punishment!!"He no longer held anything back, his arms raised high, and from the endless vortex of thunderclouds, a devastating thunderstorm poured down like a waterfall!It was no longer an attack aimed at individuals, but turned the entire area into a pool of deathly lightning!The ground scorched and cracked, the air filled with violent electricity, every breath carrying a stinging numbness.Zoro gripped yodo himawari, slashing through the incoming thunderbolts one by one."All things can be cut, Demonic Fire—Flying Dragon Blaze"The red sword qi shattered the hideous thunderbolts one after another, but the powerful impact still made his arms go numb.Blood from his split webbing soaked the hilt, and his feet retreated continuously, leaving deep furrows.Sanji's figure turned into a red stream of light, dodging at high speed in the thunderstorm, yet he was still grazed by the spreading electric arcs, his suit sleeve instantly turning scorched and smoking."It's no use! We can't get close at all!"Nami dodged with difficulty, the clima-tactappearing so powerless before such divine might."His attack range is too large! If this continues, we'll all be worn down and killed here! We must split up!"Luffy punched away a thick bolt of lightning striking toward Usopp; he was panting, but his eyes were incredibly sharp as he made a decision in an instant."Did you hear that! Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Robin! Take Nami and go first! To that Golden Ruin!""But Luffy!"Usopp cried out in alarm."Shut up! Only Mark and I aren't afraid of his electricity!"Luffy roared, using his body to draw away another pillar of lightning, enduring it head-on, his whole body surrounded by electric light."This is a Captain's order! Go find the gold!!"Mark flashed to Luffy's side, the rainbow-colored "Glutton" vortex between his palms spinning frantically,doing his best to absorb the violent lightning energy around them to ease the pressure on everyone, fine beads of sweat seeping from his forehead."Go! We'll stay behind to block him!"Zoro and Sanji didn't hesitate; they knew this was the only way to survive right now."Don't die here, idiot Captain/stupid Vice Captain!"The two roared in unison and immediately took action."Miss Nami, Robin, follow me!"Sanji took the lead and rushed toward the ruins."Usopp, keep up!"Zoro slashed through the burning obstacles ahead.Nami gritted her teeth, put away her map, and followed closely.Robin took a deep look at Luffy and Mark, then turned to retreat as well.Eneru floated in the center of the thunderstorm, watching the group split up, a smile that seemed cold after extreme anger appearing on his face."Running in different directions? Dreaming of prolonging your pathetic lives? Good... very good!"He didn't immediately put all his effort into stopping the retreating team,because to him, Luffy, who could actually touch him and make him bleed,and that hateful Mark, who could absorb his power, were the thorns in his side that had to be crushed first."I'll let you small fry live for a few more minutes."Eneru's voice was ice-cold, and more thunder dragons and thunder beasts condensed around him."Once I've personally electrocuted these two insects who offended divine authority into charcoal, I'll go and crush the rest one by one! No one will escape!"Even more terrifying attacks smashed toward Luffyand Mark like a storm.Meanwhile, on another shattered Cloud Island far from the main battlefield."Ugh... everyone? Luffy? Zoro? Mark? Where are you guys?"Chopper popped out from a pile of soft vines, shaking his dizzy little head.He had accidentally wandered a bit far earlier to collect a rare Anti-inflammatory Cloud Grass, unknowingly arriving at this place full of ruins.Looking at the completely unfamiliar and messy environment, the little reindeer was so scared that tears welled up in his eyes, and he shivered while clutching his small backpack."I must... I must find everyone..."He transformed into Heavy Point, trying to increase his sense of security, trudging through the ruins with difficulty.Suddenly, a tall figure staggered out from the mist ahead.The person had hair like spider legs and wore a dark blue suit; the scariest thing was—his eyes were completely rolled back, showing no pupils!"Waaaaah! A ghost?! No, it's a Priest!"Chopper's fur stood on end in fear, jumping three meters high; upon landing, he immediately transformed into the agile Jumping Point, ready to flee at any moment.The person was none other than the Sky Guardian Leader, Gedatsu.Because he often "forgot to breathe," he was still dizzy and rolling his eyes from holding his breath.He tilted his head, his rolled-back eyes seemingly "looking" in Chopper's direction, with no movement for a long time.A Divine Soldier nearby rubbed his eyes and finally spotted Chopper, hurriedly warning:"Ge-Gedatsu-sama! Over there! There's a strange raccoon dog intruder!""Hmm...?"Gedatsu seemed to have just received the signal, slowly turning his head and sluggishly raising an impact dial, aiming at Chopper (roughly)."Blue Sea... intruder...""I'm a reindeer!"Chopper subconsciously corrected him, then quickly realized."Wait! Now is not the time for that!""Jet!"Gedatsu suddenly thrust out a palm, and a powerful shockwave blasted out—but because his aim was off, it hit a boulder three meters to Chopper's left, blowing it to pieces."..."Chopper and the Divine Soldier were stunned."Gedatsu-sama! You missed! It's the raccoon dog on the right!"The Divine Soldier shouted anxiously."Oh..."Gedatsu slowly adjusted his direction and raised his hand again.Chopper turned and ran in terror."Swamp Cloud!"Gedatsu threw another small Dial, but it landed too close, and the Swamp Cloud went "splat," perfectly covering the head of the Divine Soldier who was directing him."Mmmgh! He... help! Gedatsu-sama!"The Divine Soldier sank in instantly, leaving only his limbs struggling outside.Gedatsu seemed completely unaware, still striking an attack pose in Chopper's general direction, muttering: "..." (since his mouth was closed, it was unclear what he was saying).An extremely comical yet dangerous chase began.Gedatsu's attacks either missed or hit somewhere else for no reason; sometimes he even tripped himself.He struck all sorts of strange poses that looked powerful but were actually full of openings, always a beat too slow.Chopper was screaming in fear, switching between various forms:Using Horn Point, he endured a glancing shockwave, the impact making him see stars;Using Jumping Point, he narrowly leaped over a Swamp Cloud that suddenly appeared under his feet (this time Gedatsu actually threw it in the right direction);He even ran so hurriedly that he crashed headlong into a nearby bush, spinning around dizzily."I-I can't just keep running!"Chopper plucked up his courage, seeing Gedatsustrike another pose to use a Jet Dial just as a loose Cloud Brick was under his feet."Arm Point!"He rushed over, not to attack, but to stomp hard on that Cloud Brick!The Cloud Brick loosened, Gedatsu's center of gravity instantly became unstable, his attack pose deformed, and the "Jet" fired into the sky.As he wobbled, trying to maintain his balance, his foot slipped—and stepped right into the Swamp Cloud he had thrown earlier that hadn't dissipated yet!"Hmm...?"Gedatsu looked down at the Swamp Cloud that had reached his thighs, trying to pull himself out, only to find that the more he struggled, the deeper he sank.Now's the chance!Chopper took a deep breath, his gaze becoming firm: "Kokutei Roseo!""Bang!"A heavy blow landed precisely on the chin of the temporarily immobile Gedatsu.Gedatsu's eyes rolled back (though they were already white), and he passed out completely, his body slowly sinking into the Swamp Cloud, leaving only a few strands of spider-like hair exposed."I... I won..."Chopper slumped to the ground in exhaustion, panting heavily, still lingering with fear."Sky Island is so terrifying... where on earth is everyone..."He didn't dare stay, immediately choosing a direction he thought was correct and continuing his journey to find his friends.