Deep within the verdant forest, the canopy of colossal trees blotted out the sky.
Each massive trunk was estimated to require at least ten people to encircle, their heights ranging from tens to well over a hundred meters.
It was even more awe-inspiring than the primeval forest they had encountered in Little Garden.
Robin led the group through the dense woods. The trees boasted sprawling root systems that frequently obstructed their path. Fortunately, everyone possessed excellent footing and navigated the obstacles with ease.
It was as if destiny itself was guiding them.
Robin's team inadvertently stumbled upon a coastline, where they were met with the sight of half of a small, isolated castle.
This fragmented structure bore an uncanny resemblance to the small castle where Uncle Diamond Head had resided!
A shared realization dawned upon everyone.
Nami exclaimed excitedly, "Of course! That part of Jaya Island was indeed swept up to Sky Island, to Apayado! So, the legendary golden city of Shandora is slumbering on this very island!"
Chopper and Bepo echoed, their eyes wide with wonder, "Golden Country? Is there a lot of gold?!"
Nami grinned, arms akimbo. "Absolutely! Gold as plentiful as mountains! I knew Sky Island was the right place! And now, the treasure hunt begins! All the gold in this 'Chinjao' belongs to me!"
"Ohh!!" Chopper and Bepo, ever the simpletons, responded enthusiastically to Nami's declaration.
Marie continued to munch on her biscuits as usual, seemingly unfazed by the prospect of untold riches.
Tashigi, still struggling to fully embrace her role as a pirate despite being a Marine undercover agent, couldn't quite grasp their excitement. Fortunately, everyone was aware of her true allegiance, so she had abandoned any pretense.
Robin, too, was captivated by the idea of Shandora.
However, her interest lay not in gold but in the city's history.
"If this is indeed Shandora, then these enormous trees have been growing on Sky Island for four centuries," Robin mused aloud. "Perhaps the unique properties of the island's clouds and the environmental shifts have caused them to grow to such immense sizes. But even before that, these trees may have existed for a very long time."
Her voice grew with anticipation. "Shandora has a long and rich history, possibly stretching back even further. Maybe... maybe we'll find a piece of the historical truth that vanished 800 years ago!"
Robin's heart pounded with excitement at the thought.
Joining the Straw Hats at Carl's urging was the right decision!
In Alabasta, her quest for the historical text had ended in disappointment, leaving her with a desire to perish. Yet, Carl's words had resonated within her, giving her the strength to persevere.
And now, unexpectedly, after navigating through uncertainty, a new path had opened before her on Sky Island, offering a glimmer of hope for uncovering the lost history.
Perhaps... perhaps I should truly embrace life!
As long as I remain with the powerful Straw Hats, I can venture to countless dangerous places. Those are the very locations where true history lies buried!
Even... Laugh Tale, at the end of the Grand Line, holds everything I yearn to know!
The more she contemplated the possibilities, the more impatient she became.
"Then let's go find Shandora right away!" Robin urged, her voice filled with newfound determination.
Nami, mistaking Robin's enthusiasm for support of her golden ambitions, was overjoyed and brimming with energy.
It was at this moment that Wiper's Shandia forces rapidly converged on Apayado, their objective clear: the direction of the Giant Jack.
Enel immediately sensed the Shandians' movements and dispatched his Sky Soldiers with a dismissive wave of his hand.
Including himself, the survival game involving hundreds of individuals had begun!
Meanwhile, high in a certain cloud, Gan Fall, who had been enjoying the company of Conis and Pagaya, sensed the unsettling situation unfolding in Apayado. He swiftly donned his knightly armor, bid them farewell, and mounted Pierre, soaring towards Apayado.
Originally, as a former God, Gan Fall should have stayed out of Apayado's affairs, but this time, he felt compelled to intervene.
It wasn't long before the Shandians and the Sky Soldiers clashed, engaging in fierce combat. The sounds of gunfire, explosions, and screams echoed through the once tranquil forest, shattering the peace.
However, the Sky Soldiers lacked the leadership of the priests and quickly found themselves at a disadvantage.
Wiper led his warriors in a desperate, frenzied assault towards the Giant Jack.
Luffy, meanwhile, had settled back onto his sheep-head throne. His keen Observation Haki picked up the commotion of the battle, sparking his curiosity.
"Hey, Luffy, something seems wrong," Zoro said, his brow furrowed in concern.
"Yeah, it sounds like another fight broke out. And it's a big one, lots of people involved," Law added, his gaze directed towards a distant part of the forest.
"Heh heh! It's getting more and more interesting! I can't help but get excited!" Luffy grinned, adjusting his straw hat, eager to join the fray.
Everyone exchanged helpless glances.
This guy, Luffy, never cared about the details or the identity of his opponents; he simply loved jumping into the thick of things.
As for the remaining three priests and the self-proclaimed God Enel, Luffy could easily forget about them in his excitement, showing no regard for saving face for the enemy.
Just then, a series of bleating sounds echoed through the trees.
Two figures in white robes with short horns protruding from their bald heads appeared on a large branch, propelled by jet-powered skates.
"Blue Sea people? Nope! Baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
The two Sky Soldiers attacked simultaneously, extending their palms towards the Merry. Instantly, two sharp slashes materialized out of thin air.
Zang Gao swiftly deployed his two circular saws, successfully intercepting the energy blades.
"What's going on? A slash just appeared from his hand?" Zoro exclaimed, surprised. The others were equally bewildered.
"Weird guys. Are they some kind of sheep?" Luffy's focus, as always, was unconventional.
"It must be some kind of equipment," Law theorized. "Don't forget that the Dials on Sky Island are very unique and can store various forms of energy. Flame Dials, Wind Dials, and so on. Modifying them into weapons wouldn't be a problem."
He continued, recalling their previous encounter. "The Ball Priest from before also seemed to be equipped with a Dial device capable of generating powerful impacts. Therefore, these slashing attacks aren't entirely surprising."
Law's analysis was logical and insightful, further piquing his interest in the Dials.
If these Dials could be mass-produced and converted into weapons, even ordinary individuals could gain the power to contend with regular sailors!
"Baa! Blue Sea vermin, perish!" the two Sky Soldiers bleated, launching another attack.
Hina and Jinbe reacted instantly, leaping into the air and simultaneously kicking the two Sky Soldiers onto the deck of the Merry.
The force of their combined kicks was considerable, knocking the two Sky Soldiers unconscious.
Law stepped forward and removed the gloves from the fallen Sky Soldiers. Inside, he found the Slash Dials. After a brief examination, he confirmed their ability to generate cutting attacks.
"Amazing! So fascinating!" Luffy exclaimed, immediately snatching one of the gloves and unleashing a flurry of slashes at the surrounding trees.
Soon, the stored energy in the Dial was depleted. Luffy turned to Zoro with a wide grin. "Hey, Zoro! Save some of your slashes for me in this thing!"
"Can you stop playing around, you idiot?!" Zoro couldn't help but curse, but seeing Luffy's innocent smile, he relented.
With a sigh, Zoro drew his sword and slashed at the glove Luffy was wearing several times.
Luffy's grin widened even further as he resumed unleashing slashes, these new attacks significantly stronger than before, a clear indication of Zoro's superior cutting power.
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