Angel Beach
"Get ready, we're going to Upper Yard!"
After temporarily settling Pagaya and Conis aboard the heavily guarded Rayquaza to prevent Enel from launching sneak attacks, Kai's group set out toward that "God's" palace.
Riding flame clouds created by Kozuki Hiyori, everyone quickly reached the Holy Land forbidden to Sky Islanders, Upper Yard.
"Wow! There's real soil here!"
The moment Yamato stepped on this land, she crouched down in surprise, grabbing a handful of brown soil. All along the way, she'd only seen white Island Clouds. Suddenly seeing soil she normally took for granted felt incredibly novel.
Reiju observed the surrounding dense primeval jungle and solid earth thoughtfully. "Could this land be that part of Jaya Island blasted skyward by the Knock Up Stream back then?"
"Bingo."
Kai snapped his fingers. "Congratulations, you're correct. This is the entire Sky Island's only place with real soil, which is why it's been occupied by successive so-called 'Gods' as their stronghold."
"Then what happened to the Jaya Island residents who originally lived on this land?"
Reiju keenly grasped the key point. Such vast land blasted skyward—there couldn't have been no residents. Where did they go?
"This involves a tragic story spanning 400 years."
Kai briefly narrated. "People living on this land are called Shandians. Because Upper Yard was coveted by the then-Sky Island God, they were ruthlessly driven out."
"However, they never gave up. To reclaim their homeland and ring the Golden Bell again to fulfill their promise with Noland, they've been waging war with Sky Islanders for 400 years."
Does this plot sound familiar? Right—the Shandians were basically Native Americans. An innocent man gets into trouble because of his wealth. Without sufficient strength yet possessing unique treasures, meeting ambitious invaders—the outcome was naturally obvious.
Kai's group hadn't walked far on Upper Yard when a squad of pure-white-uniformed soldiers wearing special sliding shoes rapidly appeared, blocking their path. These well-trained soldiers moved swiftly, using their shoes' advantage to scatter like water, instantly forming an encirclement around Kai's group.
Their oddly shaped weapons pointed uniformly at the central "sinners."
"Blasphemous sinners—surrender!"
The lead soldier shouted sternly.
Kai ignored their demands, his gaze passing over these small fries and landing directly on four people with distinctly different auras behind them.
One was an expressionless bald man holding a strange weapon with only a hilt; beside him crouched a massive, fierce-eyed yellow dog.
One wore purple training clothes with spider-leg-like flamboyant hair, rolling his eyes in literal superiority.
One held a massive knight's lance, wearing an aviator cap and goggles, riding a purple giant bird.
The last was a red-haired man with a physique rivaling a sumo wrestler.
Kai recalled slightly—these were Ohm, Gedatsu, Shura, and Satori, the Four Priests. They'd originally caused the Straw Hat Pirates considerable trouble.
Only— "Shouldn't you four Priests each control a trial used to 'test' and toy with so-called sinners?"
"Trials?"
The Four Priests all froze, exchanging glances. Right! Why hadn't we thought of such an "interesting" idea?
Directly killing sinners indeed seemed somewhat monotonous and boring.
Bald Ohm's mouth curved into a cruel, playful smile. "For providing such a wonderful idea, sinners—we can consider granting you relatively 'swift' endings."
"Deeply rooted arrogance." Kai chuckled lightly. Should he say like leader, like subordinates? These people not only learned "Mantra" techniques from Enel but also learned his arrogance perfectly.
Was it because they'd been invincible too long on this isolated Sky Island? If so, let them experience the sea's vastness and cruelty.
"You guys go play."
Kai looked at his companions, tone as relaxed as distributing amusement park tickets. Master Kai was kind-hearted—he couldn't stand seeing people who didn't know their own limitations.
"Me, me, me!"
Yamato had zero qualms about taking on challenges, enthusiastically raising her hand first. The remaining three opponents naturally fell to Ace, Zoro, and Sanji.
After all, unlike Yamato, others aboard really couldn't be bothered with unnecessary fights.
Seeing these "sinners" casually assign them like dividing candy, the Four Priests' faces instantly darkened. How audacious!
Only they Priests decided sinners' fates—when was it sinners' turn to be so presumptuous!
"I've changed my mind now."
Ohm declared angrily, killing intent almost tangible. "I'll crush your bones one by one!"
Before finishing, his bladeless hilt suddenly trembled as a white cloud blade shot out!
Sky Island's specialty—Dials! Sky Island had various miraculous shells: Tone Dials for recording and playing sound, Lamp Dials for light, and many more. Sky Islanders' lives fundamentally couldn't function without them.
With lifestyle shells naturally came combat shells. Jet Dials shooting powerful wind, Impact Dials absorbing and releasing impact—similarly diverse varieties.
Ohm's was even more special—a Milky Dial. It could spray Sky Island's unique clouds for both living and combat. Currently, the Milky Dial ejected "Iron Cloud" with steel-like hardness!
"Leave this one to me!"
Zoro's eyes flashed brilliantly with fighting spirit, charging toward Ohm, whose temperament most resembled a swordsman among the Four Priests.
However, the next second, his brows imperceptibly furrowed. Walking earlier, he hadn't noticed—now suddenly exerting himself, he immediately felt his breath slightly stagnate and his chest somewhat stuffy.
This place's air was considerably thinner than the Blue Sea's.
"Heh, consider it weighted training."
Zoro licked his somewhat dry lips. Not only didn't he retreat, but his fighting spirit burned even fiercer.
Seeing only a green-haired youth charging at him while others showed no intervention, fury in Ohm's eyes nearly erupted. What do you take me for? Think this is playing house?!
"Arrogant brat! Say goodbye to your companions!"
Ohm roared, swinging his cloud blade. In an instant, the iron cloud maintaining blade form suddenly transformed as if it had life!
"Iron Whip!"
The solid iron cloud instantly stretched and extended, becoming a razor-sharp white whip that tore through the air with a piercing shriek, lashing toward Zoro! The force and tricky angle would have impressed any skilled whip master.
"Two-Sword Style: Hawk Wave!"
Zoro reacted with lightning speed, hands gripping his blade hilts. Facing the roaring white cloud whip, he violently slashed in a cross! A sharp "×"-shaped shockwave burst forth, meeting the cloud whip head-on!
Bang!
The air blast exploded. The white cloud whip was forcefully deflected. Ohm felt his palm tremble, slightly frowning. This brat has some skill.
Putting away his slight contempt, expression becoming serious, he immediately controlled the iron cloud's recall and re-condensed it into blade form.
Simultaneously, Zoro was also startled internally. That collision's feel wasn't like slashing illusory clouds but rather like cutting steel. This strange cloud's hardness exceeded imagination.
Quickly adjusting his mindset and stance, Zoro charged forward again.
"Two-Sword Style: Ni-Slash!"
Under Zoro's control, dual blades carved cold arcs, horizontally slashing toward Ohm.
"Hmph, petty tricks!"
Ohm snorted coldly, his wrist turning as the iron cloud again transformed.
"Iron Fork!"
Clang!
The fork-shaped iron cloud precisely caught Zoro's incoming dual blades. Under my Mantra, all attacks are within my grasp! Smugness flashed through Ohm's eyes.
Before Zoro could change tactics, that fork catching the dual blades suddenly twisted and split at the head!
Swish!
Several sharp cloud spikes shot from the fork like venomous snakes, rapidly stabbing toward Zoro's undefended chest and abdomen.
Not good!
Zoro's pupils contracted. Battle instinct made him instantly mobilize his body's thin Armament Haki to cover his chest.
"Ugh!"
Several cloud spikes struck Zoro with a muffled grunt. Massive impact made his chest ache, throat sweet as a trace of blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
"Interesting!" Zoro casually wiped blood from his mouth, grinning.
Ohm was internally shocked. Such a hard body. That strike earlier didn't feel like hitting flesh but more like hitting a steel plate. This was his first time encountering this.
Meanwhile, the other three Priests suffered miserably.
"Swamp Cloud Burger!"
Gedatsu with spider-leg-like weird hair, used Milky Dial to create a large mass of swamp-like sticky Swamp Clouds. He roughly kneaded it into a ball with both hands, throwing it toward the horned girl with a fierce grin.
However, his swamp cloud ball just left his hands when Yamato had already disappeared from her spot.
"Thunder Bagua!"
Yamato didn't care about fancy techniques—just one strike cured Gedatsu's Priest addiction.
"Pff!"
Before Gedatsu could even scream, his eyes instantly rolled white, his mouth spouting blood. His entire body flew like a broken sack, continuously smashing through over ten thick trees before disappearing deep into the forest.
Yamato lightly landed back beside Kai, hand shading her eyes like viewing scenery toward where Gedatsu vanished, tilting her head. "Oops, seems he might've died accidentally."
Kai shrugged—you treated him like Luffy; how could he not die?
Aerial battlefield
Sky Rider Shura was confronting Ace. Shura patted his purple giant bird. The bird understood, opening its mouth to spit—no, not aged phlegm—flame breath at Ace. Its beak was equipped with a Flame Dial capable of storing and releasing fire.
"No wonder they say even dogs won't eat the Flame-Flame Fruit."
Kai internally complained silently. In this world, anyone could play with fire. Now even birds could breathe fire—where was Logia's dignity?
"Turn to ash under flames, sinner!"
Seeing Ace neither dodge nor evade, Shura released confident laughter. But he didn't notice the "sinners" watching below all showed strange smiles.
Surging flames instantly engulfed the freckled youth, yet Shura's anticipated screams never came.
"Really, someone actually attacks a Flame-Flame Fruit user with flames."
From within the flames came Ace's somewhat speechless complaint. Immediately, surging flames seemed to possess life, becoming incredibly docile, completely converging into Ace's open palm.
"Flame Commandment: Fire Pillar!"
Under Ace's control, docile flames suddenly became violent, transforming into a massive spiral fire pillar shooting back toward aerial Shura at astonishing speed.
"Mere flames!"
Facing the menacing fire pillar, Shura looked supremely confident. Though not knowing how this kid controlled flames, as long as it remained fire, it absolutely couldn't escape his Flame Dial's restraint!
He patted the bird head again. That giant bird immediately opened wide toward the incoming fire pillar, like a whale swallowing water—actually continuously swallowing the surging fire pillar, flames instantly disappearing without a trace.
"Could this bird be some Mythical Zoan user?"
Those below who didn't understand were confused. Breathing and swallowing fire—this was beyond normal beasts' capabilities.
"That's just the Flame Dial's effect."
Kai briefly explained the Flame Dial's characteristics.
Robin asked in surprise, "Then wouldn't that perfectly counter Ace?"
Kai shook his head. "You're underestimating Devil Fruit power. Flame Dials can absorb flames, true—but there are limits."
"Look there!"
Following Kai's guidance, everyone looked toward the giant bird. Sure enough, under Ace's continuous, inexhaustible flame infusion, it had completely lost its previous ease, its eyes showing humanized panic.
Not good—about to overflow!
Sensing terrifying heat from the Flame Dial in its beak, the bird desperately tried to flap and escape the area. But it was too late.
"Hmph, want to escape? Not that easy!"
Ace's eyes sharpened, suddenly increasing flame output.
Boom!
A muffled explosion.
A massive fireball violently burst from the bird's mouth! Scorching flames instantly engulfed it and Shura on its back.
"Aghhh!"
Shura was violently thrown by the explosion, heavily crashing to the ground, body blackened and smoking. He couldn't care about his own injuries, frantically looking toward his bird.
Currently, the flame-surrounded purple giant bird had completely lost signs of life, emitting the smell of roasted poultry.
"My bird!"
Witnessing his beloved bird's death, Shura's eyes blazed with fury, extreme rage instantly overwhelming his reason. He grabbed his dropped lance, charging madly toward Ace like a man possessed.
Fueled by rage, Shura's thrust channeled all his strength—incredibly fast, the lance tip aimed straight at Ace's heart!
"Die, bastard!"
In the next instant, Shura's furious expression suddenly froze.
"How is this possible? This—this is an ability only God possesses?!"
His lance had truly struck the target, piercing through the body without obstruction. In his experience, enemies struck this way were definitely dead. Yet the freckled youth before him still stood there casually, even nonchalantly adjusting his slightly crooked orange hat.
Where the lance penetrated, orange-red flames danced. This familiar scene quickly reminded Shura of that deity he revered. In that instant, his faith shattered.
"Nothing impossible—merely elementalization."
Ace's tone was flat, showing no pride. He could hardly feel proud about this—only isolated places cut off from the outside world like Sky Island would view this ability as divine power.
"It's over."
"Fire Fist!"
Ace wasted no words. His arm transformed into blazing flames, instantly piercing through Shura.
Without the ability to elementalize, Shura faced only one fate.
Death!