BOOM!!!
The Desert Rose burst out of the tunnel and splashed down onto the White Sea, sending up a wave of foaming clouds.
"Whoa! So this is Skypiea? Amazing!"
Nami stood on the bridge, eyes wide with excitement.
Before them lay an island resting atop layers of thick, milky-white clouds — like a floating city straight out of a fairy tale.
Roughly a third of the island was covered in soil and lush forest.
From above, that patch of land resembled the upper half of a skull — just a head and two hollow eyes staring toward the horizon.
"This is the part of Jaya Island that was blasted into the sky by the Knock Up Stream," Oguro explained. "The legendary City of Gold is right here."
He went on to tell them about Skypiea's history.
"Originally, the Sky Islands had no soil. But when part of Jaya was sent flying upward, the Skypieans saw it as a divine blessing. For decades, they fought the Shandia tribe from Jaya for control of the land — until they finally took over.
"Now, they call this island the 'Upper Yard,' or God's Island. The temple built here serves as the dwelling of Skypiea's so-called ruler — their god."
Oguro smiled faintly. "Both the Golden Bell and the Poneglyph are located inside that temple."
As his short explanation ended, the Desert Rose drifted to a stop beside the beach.
A Skypiean soldier soon approached.
He looked mostly human, except for the small, delicate wings sprouting from his back. Holding a long spear, he eyed the group suspiciously before speaking.
"Blue Sea people, huh? Entry fee — one billion Extols per person!"
"What?! One billion?!"
The number instantly set off Nami's instincts. She exploded on the spot.
"Are you trying to rob us?!"
The soldier snorted proudly. "These are the great god's decrees! If you refuse to obey, you'll be fined ten times the amount! I advise you to behave yourselves."
"God?"
At those words, Soifon let out a cold, mocking laugh.
"The ruler of a tiny floating island dares call himself a god?"
She had heard it clearly from the Soul King himself — the so-called "God's Island" was merely home to Skypiea's leader.
If the being there were truly divine, the Soul King would have mentioned it out of respect for an equal.
Oguro nodded in agreement. "Exactly. He's just a Logia user — the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Because no one here has ever seen such power, he fancies himself a god."
The others quickly caught on.
So that was it — just a frog at the bottom of a well, full of self-importance.
Robin, however, looked uneasy. "I've heard of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. It's said to be the most powerful Logia of the past eight hundred years... even stronger than the Admirals' Fruits. If we anger him, things could get dangerous."
She wasn't wrong — Soifon was powerful, but could she really handle someone at Admiral level?
Oguro's expression turned oddly amused. "You're right that the fruit is powerful. But if you're expecting much from Enel himself, you're going to be disappointed."
Robin blinked, not understanding.
Before she could ask, the soldier roared, "Insolent Blue Sea scum! How dare you speak the god's name so casually!"
"You've committed blasphemy! Come with me at once to face divine judgment!"
He leveled his spear at Oguro.
Instantly, Soifon, Rukia, and the other Shinigami released a chilling aura.
Boom!
An overwhelming wave of spiritual pressure crashed down, flattening the soldier to the ground. His limbs trembled — he couldn't even move.
"How dare you raise a weapon toward the Soul King's chosen! A false god dares to offend the true divine ruler?"
Soifon's tone was deathly cold, and her reiatsu grew even heavier.
The soldier's body nearly sank into the cloud ground beneath him.
"Impudent!"
A golden bolt of lightning suddenly split the sky, crashing down toward Soifon like divine punishment.
Boom!
A blackened crater formed where she stood — but Soifon's figure was already gone.
"A mere mortal dares challenge the authority of a god?"
A man floated down from the heavens, barefoot, draped in white cloth, his long earlobes hanging to his chest. Four golden drums glimmered behind his back, and in his hand rested a golden staff.
"You're Enel, the one who calls himself god?" Soifon said coldly, her gaze sharp as a blade.
"A mortal cannot comprehend the greatness of a god," Enel replied calmly. "I am the embodiment of thunder itself — divinity incarnate."
Without warning, his body turned into lightning and flashed forward, appearing directly before her.
"In the presence of god, all resistance is meaningless! El Thor!"
His arm transformed into a streak of pure lightning, stabbing straight toward Soifon's forehead.
But the attack passed cleanly through her.
A mirage?
Enel froze in surprise.
"Looking the wrong way?"
Her cool voice came from behind him. Soifon's body flickered into view, Suzumebachi reversed in her hand as she slashed toward the back of his neck.
Yet Enel didn't even try to dodge. The blade struck home — and passed straight through, meeting only an arc of crackling electricity.
As expected, no damage.
Soifon's eyes narrowed. "So that's how it is... then let's try this."
"Sting all enemies to death... Suzumebachi!"
Her Zanpakutō shifted into its Shikai form, resembling a wasp's stinger attached to her right middle finger. She thrust it into Enel's back.
Enel smirked arrogantly.
"I am lightning itself! A true god! Your mortal weapon cannot touch me!"
And indeed — there was no physical sensation of impact. The electricity of his elemental body even numbed Soifon's arm slightly.
Robin's face tightened. "It's no use! Logia users can't be hit that way!"
Soifon was strong — but if her blade couldn't connect, it meant nothing.
"No," Oguro said softly, a grin forming on his lips. "It's working."
Everyone turned — and saw it.
A black butterfly mark had appeared on Enel's back.
The Hornet Crest.
She hadn't harmed his body — but her Zanpakutō's power had still activated.
Physical attacks might fail against elemental bodies, but Suzumebachi's ability targeted the soul itself.
"Hm? What's this? Some trick?"
Enel's expression darkened as he glimpsed the mark.
His Mantra gave no warning — meaning it wasn't directly harmful. But to have his divine body marked by a "mortal"? To him, that was unforgivable humiliation.
"I'll hang you before my temple and let ten thousand bolts pierce your heart!"
With a roar, Enel unleashed a surge of power.
"Discharge... Twenty Million Volts!"
A massive column of lightning erupted toward Soifon — but she had already moved, vanishing with Shunpo and reappearing beside him.
"Impudent!"
Enel's fury boiled over.
How dare this mortal repeatedly defy him — a god!
In a burst of light, he transformed fully into lightning and counterattacked, striking back at Soifon with divine wrath.