Chapter 84: Enel Closing In
"The Shandian guerillas have only eighty-three remaining. The God's Army is down to thirty-four. After tonight, I wonder how many will be left."
Enel plucked a small bunch of grapes from the nearby fruit platter, tilted his head back, and popped them into his mouth, mumbling, "Well~ Let's set a goal. Fifty people sounds about right."
"Before tomorrow, I will ensure only fifty people remain on this island!" Standing slowly from his throne, lightning began to crackle around Enel's body, slithering like fine blue snakes.
The next moment, his entire being transformed into berserk thunder, like condensed blue liquid, emitting sizzling, crackling sounds. In the blink of an eye, he vanished from his spot, shooting straight up into the clouds at extreme speed.
Evening. Deep within God's Land, Upper Yard...
The Going Merry rested securely on the sacrificial altar, located in the center of a lake where Sky Sharks swam leisurely near the surface.
Surrounding them, towering giant trees cast layer upon layer of shadow. Within the dim forest, occasionally a Divine Soldier or guerilla warrior would dart out to attack.
Unfortunately for them, none could even cross the lake before being struck down. Gradually, no one came to disturb them anymore.
"Never thought you were actually the previous God."
Under a large tree near the altar, the group sat circled together. Frieren casually waved a hand, conjuring a flame to light the prepared firewood in the center.
Gan Fall had explained to them about the four hundred years of continuous war between the Skypieans and Shandians ever since God's Land arrived in the sky.
"But, according to what you said, wasn't it the Skypieans who stole the Shandians' land?"
Nami couldn't help but ask. Based on Gan Fall's words, combined with the information they learned on Jaya Island, the Shandians were the original inhabitants here.
After God's Land was carried into the sky by the Knock Up Stream, it was the Skypieans who attacked out of greed, drove away the Shandians, and claimed the sky island for themselves.
"Although it's somewhat shameful to admit, that is indeed correct," Gan Fall nodded directly, acknowledging the truth.
"However, Old Me has no way to return four hundred years ago to prevent it all. Nowadays, God's Land has already become the faith of the Skypiean people, and even more so for the Shandians."
"Persuading either side to give it up is impossible. Old Me could only strive continuously to end the conflict between the two tribes, allowing both sides to coexist peacefully and live together on this God's Land."
Gan Fall lowered his head, a look of sorrow on his aged face, his elderly voice carrying,
"Just as success was imminent, God Enel arrived. He seized everything, ruling here through the terrifying threat of divine punishment..."
"Is that Enel really so strong? None of you could defeat him?"
Regarding Usopp's question, Gan Fall simply pointed towards Frieren. "Just like how she casually creates a sea of fire... he's already beyond someone who can be defeated by numbers alone."
"Enel possesses the power to destroy islands. The once-prosperous sky island Birka... is now a dead city because of him."
Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but look terrified. Such a thing was simply appalling.
Reiner pondered. Massacring an island... if Enel tried that in the Blue Sea, ten lives wouldn't be enough for him.
Forget Akainu, even the slacker Kizaru wouldn't possibly let him go.
"Old Me knows it's presumptuous to drag you into this war, but relying on our own strength... it's truly..."
Gan Fall looked crestfallen. Enel was too strong. Without borrowing the strength of these Blue Sea people, this country truly saw no hope.
"What are you talking about? Aren't we already dragged into it?" Zoro spoke nonchalantly.
Luffy also punched the air and yelled indignantly, "Yeah, yeah! Besides, this God guy totally sucks!"
"Hey Luffy! Didn't you hear what the old man said!? Enel has the power to destroy islands!"
"Yosh! Then let's go beat him up tomorrow!" Luffy declared, his expression firm, stomping his foot heavily on the ground.
"Is that how you interpret it!?"
"Ai~~" Usopp sighed, looking down at the pouch at his waist.
"Old man, you said Priests... besides Shura, whom Reiner dealt with today, there are three others, right?"
"Mm. They respectively preside over the Ordeals of Iron, Swamp, and Ball," Gan Fall confirmed, taking out a map from his coat and pointing to a location.
"This is the entrance to the Ordeals. Apart from Shura, the other Priests should be guarding their respective trial grounds."
"Leave them all to me this time," Zoro stated coolly, his hand resting on his sword hilt.
"Hey! Who allowed you to pick all three, Moss Head!?" Sanji lit a cigarette, looking discontentedly at Zoro. "First come, first served! Let's compete and see who gets 300 points first!"
"Interesting. Let's give it a try then."
Zoro smirked, turning to Reiner with interest. "What about you? Want in?"
"Hm? Smells like a plot. What are the stakes?"
"Loser washes hair while doing a handstand!" Zoro and Sanji shouted in unison.
Reiner: "."
"Heh heh, waiting for me, were you? I refuse." Reiner scoffed, decisively rejecting the offer. So vengeful.
Trying to trick me? Impossible! Absolutely impossible!
"Um... I want to try... Can you let me join?"
A stammering voice spoke up. The crew looked strangely towards Usopp.
"Usopp! Did you take the wrong medicine!?"
Chopper yelled frantically, "I know! It must be the Sky Island food! It's poisonous! Usopp, hold on, don't die!"
Usopp: "."
"It's not that, Chopper! I'm fine!" Usopp held down the frantic Chopper, looked down at his waist pouch, and said:
"It's just that... training with Reiner and the others all this time... I want to test my own growth."
Plus, the Slash Dial I got today...
Usopp stood up, head held high, chest puffed out, one foot planted on a tree root. "That's right! Starting today, the great Captain Usopp is graduating from the Weakling Trio!"
"Not bad! Finally looking a bit like a man."
"What kind of talk is that!?" Usopp yelled indignantly.
"However, defeating a Priest won't be that easy," Reiner reminded Usopp. The Priests' overall strength was mediocre, but their Mantra was quite troublesome for most of the crew.
Zoro and Sanji naturally wouldn't have problems, but Usopp defeating a Priest right now was still a bit of a stretch. Reiner took out a pink shell covered in small holes and tossed it to Usopp.
"I stored this Impact Dial full. Its power can blow a hole through that big tree behind you. Keep it as a backup."
"Ah, okay! Thanks, Reiner!" Usopp fumbled to catch the Impact Dial, then looked back at the massive tree trunk that would require two or three people to encircle.
This recoil could probably break my arm, Usopp couldn't help but swallow nervously.
Reiner had harvested several Impact Dials from the enemies that attacked them earlier. Gan Fall had explained them and demonstrated their usage.
Impact Dials could store kinetic energy and release it as a shockwave. There was a limit to the maximum power they could unleash at once; they couldn't release all stored energy instantly.
There was also a limit to how much kinetic energy they could store; Red Ogre had shattered one earlier.
Meanwhile, deep within the forest...
"Wait, God!" A Divine Soldier in a white robe looked up frantically at Enel perched on a tree branch. One of his comrades lay on the ground, charred black all over.
"Aren't we on the same side!? Why!?"
"Because you did not receive God's favor."
Enel spoke coolly, his voice cold. He raised his hand, and a blue lightning snake shot out from his fingertip, instantly piercing through the Divine Soldier on the ground.
"And... eighty-two left..."
(End of this chapter)
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