Gan Fall struggled for a long while, but in the end, he still couldn't bring himself to ask Sherwin for help.
The shadow Enel had left in his heart was far too deep. Back then, he was defeated before he even had the chance to react.
Because of that, Gan Fall couldn't imagine anyone who could actually defeat Enel—and he didn't want to drag these surface dwellers and those adorable little Felynes into the affairs of Skypiea.
So, he could only give a helpless, bitter smile before saying,"Looks like you don't need my help after all… But still, I hope you can spare Wyper. He really not a bad person—just has a bit of a temper."
Sherwin nudged Wyper, who had already regained consciousness but was still pretending to be out cold.
"Stop pretending. I know you're awake. Let have a proper talk. Who are you? And why are you trying to drive us away?"
"Hmph! Just kill me already! The Shandians don't need help from Skypieans! We'll never bow to anyone!"
Wappa completely ignored Gan Fall goodwill. Instead, he tore off the mask on his face with force and glared viciously at him—then had the nerve to provoke Sherwin, who hadn't even planned to hurt him… and whom he clearly couldn't beat anyway.
That exactly the kind of hardheaded fool I can't stand!With people like this, there no point arguing—but if you don't give them a little beating, it feels like you're holding back too much.
Sherwin eyes glinted dangerously as he looked Wyper over, silently calculating just how many of his bones he'd have to break to vent his frustration.
Gan Fall noticed that dangerous gleam in Sherwin eyes and gave another weary smile. He quickly stepped in between them, preventing Sherwin—who was clearly irritated—from actually killing the stubborn brute.
"Let me explain," Gan Fall said, sighing softly. "There a reason the Shandians turned out this way. And we're partly responsible."
He took a deep breath and began slowly,"This all started four hundred years ago… with the sudden appearance of that island."
Although Sherwin still remembered the general events of Skypiea story, some of the details were hazy.
So, he decided to listen carefully to Gan Fall explanation. Besides, Robin—the archaeologist—and the curious Felynes were all deeply interested in such tales, listening with full attention.
"So it turns out you're the real bad guys, old man meow?"
(ω)
After hearing the tragic history of the Shandians, Klee Meow immediately shot Gan Fall a disdainful look.
"Pierre!"
The spotted bird named Pierre stretched out its neck, about to peck the rude little cat who had just insulted its master—but halfway through the motion, it suddenly froze.
We're gonna die we're gonna die we're gonna die we're gonna die we're gonna die we're gonna die!!
Pierre animal instincts were screaming danger. Terrified, the spotted bird hastily retracted its head and hid behind Gan Fall, trembling violently.
Only then did Sherwin, Robin, and the other Felynes withdraw their sharp gazes and turn their attention back to the old man telling the story.
"…"
Gan Fall mouth twitched slightly. He patted Pierre gently to calm it down, then sighed and continued,
"You're right. In this four-hundred-year-long conflict, the Skypieans were indeed the ones in the wrong."
"Hmph!"
Wyper, still lying on the ground, let out a mocking, disdainful laugh.
Earlier, Sherwin group hadn't even bothered to tie him up. Instead, Haibara Meow had done a simple bandage job on him.
But seijuro and Link Meow had hit him a bit too hard at the end—so even though Wyper physical strength was impressive enough to rank among the tough ones in the One Piece world, he still couldn't move properly now.
Yet, someone as stubborn as him wouldn't yield even if every bone in his body was broken.
"One day, we Shandians will reclaim our homeland!"
Gan Fall gave him a long, deep look before continuing to speak to Sherwin and the others.
"When I served as 'God,' I had already planned to reconcile with the Shandians—to welcome them back to the 'Island of God.' I even reached an agreement in principle with their chieftain.
But every time we were about to finalize the peace, it was always Wyper and his faction who stood in the way…"
Wyper snarled back with open contempt.
"For four hundred years, how could all the pain and blood the Skypieans caused us Shandians be erased just by a few words of yours?! Either all Skypieans leave our homeland—or you bring a hundred people who don't fear death as sacrifices, and offer their heads! Otherwise, we will never coexist with you!"
Sherwin could somewhat understand Wyper anger. Though his demand was bloody, the Shandians were, by nature, a primitive and unrefined people—barbarians, even. It wasn't surprising that he'd say something so extreme.
The true source of conflict between the Skypieans and the Shandians wasn't just the half of Jaya Island that was blasted into the sky—it was the centuries of accumulated hatred between their peoples.
And with Wyper, the passionate young leader of the Shandians, being the kind of impulsive, hot-blooded man he was, convincing him to let go of that hatred was no simple task.
Still, there was one thing Sherwin couldn't quite figure out.
When Roger had come to Skypiea back then—hadn't he noticed any of this? Roger could hear the Voice of All Things, couldn't he? With his personality, if he knew about the situation, there no way he would've ignored it.
After thinking about it for a while, Sherwin concluded that the only explanation was this: during the time Roger visited Skypiea, the Shandians must have been hiding in the Cloud Village to recover, and the two sides simply never crossed paths.
Facing Wyper aggressive pressure, Gan·Forl could only sigh helplessly — the two of them had already gone through countless fruitless arguments about this, so he ignored him and kept telling Sherwin and the others everything that happened afterward...
"Just as I was trying to get both sides to coexist, Enel suddenly attacked from some Sky Island with his subordinates…
Shandia and my divine squad were routed, and so, from three years ago, the 'Island of the God fell into Enel hands. I went from being the 'god' of the Sky Island to what I am now — a 'Sky Knight.'"
When Gan·Forl mentioned Enel, a trace of unease showed on Wapa face beneath his anger there was also a sliver of fear and despair.
But quickly he crushed that little bit of fear and retreat, gritted his back teeth and snarled, "I will take Enel head! I will reclaim our Shandia homeland!"
"That Enel guy sounds really powerful, meow! Brother Sherwin, let blow that bad guy to pieces!"
(=ω=)
Ever since blowing things up on Reef Island and then teaming up with Sherwin to take down the sand crocodile, Klee Meow had been itching for the next "worthwhile" opponent.
This Enel sounded seriously strong, and he even had a group of subordinates called "God Soldiers"…
Wouldn't that mean she could have another blast?
"No! You absolutely cannot be Enel match!" Gan·Forl hurriedly warned.
"Back then, my men and I didn't even last ten minutes against Enel subordinates — and that was before he intervened personally, when he only sent his priests and God Soldiers. When he did act himself, I fell before I even had time to react."
Wyper didn't seem to want to see such a cute little Felyne like Klee Meow running off to her death either.
Rarely, his tone softened a little as he said, "He right. Enel strength is unfathomable. We couldn't even get close to him — we were driven back by his priests before that.
The few companions who managed to approach him didn't even touch him in the blink of an eye, they collapsed, bodies charred black. We don't even know how he attacked."
"You're kidding…" Sherwin scratched his head, finding it hard to believe.
"It been three years already, and you still haven't figured out what Enel ability is?"