Chapter 89 The Sun God Appears at the Crossroads of TrialsBefore he could finish speaking, a dense whooshing sound echoed through the dense jungle along the riverbank, as countless sharpened wooden sticks rained down on the phoenix-tailed ship.
Sanji's face instantly darkened, a deep frown forming on his forehead: "These bastards, they're so disrespectful!"
He stomped his foot, launching himself into the air like an arrow, using Moonwalk to leave a trail of afterimages in mid-air. His legs spun like windmills, kicking away all the wooden arrows aimed at the ladies.
"Hey, green-haired moss, move a little! Don't just stand there!"
Zoro and Luffy stood like two gatekeepers at the bow, too lazy to move, letting the wooden arrows pelt them.
These shoddy traps didn't even leave a mark on their "iron-clad" defenses; instead, the deck beneath their feet was littered with broken wooden arrows.
Sanji landed on the deck, looking at the two pretentious fools, and couldn't help but complain, "Could you two be any lazier?"
After the group finally managed to get through the barrage of wooden arrows, the deck was covered in arrows, a classic scene of "borrowing arrows with straw boats."
"Oh~ beautiful Miss Conis."
Luffy tucked a wooden arrow under his arm, struck what he thought was a cool pose, and leaned close to Conis, spouting cheesy pick-up lines straight out of the 21st century.
Conis nervously gripped the hem of her dress tightly, her face flushed to her ears, completely bewildered by this cheesy advances from another world.
Thump!
Nami, her anger reaching its limit, her fists steaming, yanked Luffy back and turned to C.C., who was sitting next to her eating pizza, complaining, "C.C., aren't you going to do anything about this guy?"
"What's there to do?" C.C. elegantly took a bite of her pizza, her eyes languid. "You'll understand when you're as old as me. Loving someone isn't about possession, it's about letting them roam free."
Nami was on the verge of tears: "I'm only eighteen! Why am I seeking advice on love from an ancient monster who's lived for thousands of years?!"
Just then, the trap ahead escalated again. A giant boomerang-shaped steel blade, carrying terrifying centrifugal force, spun and flew towards them.
"Aaaaah! We're doomed! Luffy, the ship you chose is too big! We can't dodge it!"
Usopp frantically spun the helm, but because Luffy hadn't chosen the small, compact Kararu Maru from the original story, this luxurious phoenix-tailed ship seemed incredibly cumbersome.
This series of actions instantly raised the dungeon difficulty to hell level.
Zoro, watching the massive circular blade hurtling towards him, slowly straightened up, his hand resting on his sword hilt: "A new sword technique... can knock someone out without even hitting them?"
Then, Zoro's eyes widened suddenly, bloodshot, and he roared at the circular trap: "No-Sword Style: Scary Slash!"
Luffy: "..."
What the hell is that name?!
Luffy was so angry he almost flipped the table: "Are you an idiot?! Shinra Tensei!"
With a casual flick of his wrist, an invisible repulsive force erupted, sending the massive steel trap flying hundreds of meters to the riverbank, crashing down a large swath of trees.
Luffy stared at Zoro speechlessly, gaining a whole new appreciation for the bizarre thought processes of his teammates.
"Luffy…" Nami's voice trembled.
"What are you afraid of? This is special training for Zoro and Sanji, it has nothing to do with you guys," Luffy calmly reassured her.
"Then why don't you just dock and let us down!" Nami roared angrily, her fangs bared.
"Are you sure?" Luffy grinned mischievously at her. "Didn't you see that lightning bolt that struck Conis? Enel's attacks cover the entire map. Without me as your lightning rod, I can't guarantee you wouldn't turn into a roasted pig."
Nami, thinking of that lightning bolt that was comparable to divine punishment, shuddered and immediately ran to C.C., sobbing for comfort: "C.C., look at him! He scared me again!"
Vivi, standing nearby, smiled wryly and advised, "Just accept your fate, Nami. At least staying with Luffy is the safest option for now."
Just then, Karu's scream rang out: "Quack quack quack!"
"Karu!!"
Vivi, in a fit of rage, punched each of the two still-dazed men, finally rescuing the duck that had almost fallen into the river.
Nami knelt on both knees, hands clasped together, eyes vacant: "God... save me..."
Usopp, seeing Nami's prayer, grasped at a straw, his eyes lighting up: "I see! Whether the god is real or not, showing sincerity is never a bad thing! Nami, wait for me, I'll do it too!"
The others stared at the two idiots bowing to thin air, exasperated.
Just then, the next wave of attacks arrived. Huge lampreys rose from the cloud river, their gaping maws lunging at the group.
The rest of the voyage became a personal showcase for Sanji and Zoro. The two took turns, attempting to incorporate their recently mastered Marine Six Powers into their swordsmanship and kicking techniques. Although their movements were still somewhat clumsy, their power was astonishing.
Soon, the group arrived at a large fork in the road.
Above the four dark openings were written: Trial of the Rope, Trial of the Ball, Trial of the Iron, Trial of the Swamp.
"Is this god trying to play a game with us?" Sanji, cigarette dangling from his lips, glanced at the four signs, then suddenly had an idea. A lewd grin spread across his face. "How about we choose the Rope Trial? Hehehe..."
Everyone stared blankly at this lecherous cook. His mind was definitely filled with all sorts of indescribable images.
"This god is really boring. If he's so capable, why doesn't he just come out and fight?" Zoro said disdainfully.
Nami rolled her eyes. "It's a blessing he won't show up!"
Then, Nami began to pray devoutly, "God, please protect us and keep us safe..."
Usopp echoed her like a broken record, "Agreed! Agreed!"
Nami quickly added, "Oh, and please also bless me to find a huge pile of treasure..."
Everyone: "..."
"That's your real purpose, isn't it!?"
Meanwhile, deep within God's Island.
"They've committed a second-degree heinous crime! What do they take God for?!"
"They must be punished! These sinners must be brought to an end in this trial."
"The sins of mortals often stem from their ignorance."
"Complacency cannot uphold justice!"
"I am God!"
"Swamp!" "Iron!" "Rope!" "Ball!" "Sun God!"
The voices of the four high priests suddenly stopped: "..."
"Wait a minute, didn't something strange sneak into the MindNet chat room just now?"
"Listen to me, I am the Swamp Trial Officer..."
"Hmm, I am the Iron Trial Officer..."
"I am the Rope Trial Officer..."
"I am the Ball Trial Officer..."
Luffy's lazy voice suddenly interrupted: "I am the Sun God."