Sky Island.
A hidden place, Cloud Hidden Village.
This was where the Shandia people had built their new home after being driven from their ancestral land, Jaya.
"Whoosh!"
A figure burst out of the concealed flowing cloud entrance, sliding swiftly with a Wind Shell underfoot. On his back was a massive cannon that burned with a fiery glow.
He wore an ancient double-horned mask, his upper body bare, showing his scarred, muscular frame. In one hand he held a reddish-yellow shield, while his determined voice carried through the clouds.
"I must light Shandora's lamp! Even if it costs me my life, I will never give up!"
War Demon Wyper's eyes burned with unwavering resolve.
After steeling himself, he once again prepared to break into the forbidden ancestral land, the place Sky Islanders called the Holy Land of God—
Apaya Island.
---
"Woohoo! Hahaha!"
Nami rode her Waver through the clouds with exhilaration, her hair whipping behind her as she sped along the sea route.
"Huh?"
Turning sharply, the clouds broke apart. Before her eyes appeared a vast, lush forest that seemed to materialize out of nowhere.
"It's… huge!"
Nami stopped the Waver, staring in awe at the enormous tree before her. Its towering trunk stretched so high that she couldn't see the top.
"How can trees here grow this massive? They must be hundreds of years old!"
Every tree in the forest was frighteningly thick. Even more shocking, the base of these colossal trunks rested on land, not the island clouds that defined Sky Island.
"Sky Island has actual ground? Wait…"
Her eyes widened, realization striking her.
"Could it be… this is the missing part of Jaya Island?"
She remembered Shirogai's speculation. Back then, she dismissed it as his usual outrageous theory. The thought that Jaya Island could be blasted into the sky by the Knock-Up Stream had sounded absurd.
But the truth now stood before her.
"Oh my god… it's real. Jaya was carried up here by the Knock-Up Stream!"
Nami covered her mouth, trembling.
"Then… the gold must be here too! This has to be the 'God's Island' those Sky Islanders spoke about. They must have placed all their treasure here!"
Her excitement was cut off by greedy voices echoing through the trees.
"They're here! The Shandia guerrillas won't dare step in, so this is our chance to plunder it all!"
"If we find enough gold, we'll be rich forever!"
"Careful! Snakes everywhere!"
Nami quickly restarted her Waver, hiding in the shadows of the forest.
"Did I just stumble into the real God's Island?" she whispered, heart racing.
---
"Awoo! So tasty!"
Luffy gnawed a crab leg happily, juice dripping down his chin.
"The food on Sky Island is amazing!"
"Mmm, delicious!"
Usopp and Chopper stuffed themselves beside him, shoveling food into their mouths as though afraid Luffy would devour everything if they slowed down.
Robin sampled a Sky shrimp delicately, comparing its taste with the sea shrimp below. Zoro sat silently, chewing on a hunk of meat.
"I'm full."
Shirogai wiped his mouth with a napkin, putting it down neatly. He glanced at Sanji, who was staring out the window with a troubled look.
"Sanji, eat something."
Sanji exhaled smoke, shaking his head.
"I'm not hungry. But it's strange. Why hasn't Nami-chan come back yet?" His eyes scanned the distant White Sea with unease.
Conis and her father, Pagaya, exchanged worried glances.
"Father, could it be…"
"Yes, Conis. I'm afraid she might have…"
Their hesitation drew the crew's attention.
"What's wrong?"
Shirogai leaned slightly forward, studying Conis.
"Miss Conis, you look worried."
Conis pressed her lips together, sweat beading at her brow.
"Sorry, Shirogai. We didn't have time to explain all the taboos of Angel Island."
Her voice grew heavy with tension.
"There is a sacred forbidden zone near here. No one is allowed to trespass, not even a single step. With a Waver at full speed, you can reach it quickly."
Luffy perked up immediately, lobster head still in his hand.
"A forbidden sacred zone we absolutely can't enter?"
Conis nodded, her tone reverent.
"That island is where God himself resides. The sacred zone… Apaya Island."
"God?!"
The crew froze.
"Are there really gods in this world?" Usopp stammered, wide-eyed.
"Yes. This is God's Country," Conis whispered, trembling. "It's ruled by the almighty God Enel. We are his people."
Chopper dropped his crab leg, staring blankly.
"There's really a God…"
Luffy's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"Sounds fun!"
Shirogai gave a faint smile.
"Since God truly exists, then we've come too far not to pay him a visit."
"God, huh…"
Zoro's hand brushed his sword hilt.
"I wonder how many strikes it would take."
"Hey! You three idiots!"
Usopp's voice cracked as he jumped to his feet, horrified.
"You want to march into God's home?! Didn't you hear Miss Conis? It's forbidden! That's suicide!"
"That's right!" Conis's face paled, her voice rising. "No one may enter that land!"
"Forbidden zone?" Luffy mumbled through a mouthful of bread. "So, nobody's allowed inside?"
Everyone sighed in unison.
This only meant one thing—Luffy definitely wanted to go.
To him, "forbidden" meant adventure. It meant danger. It meant excitement.
In Luffy's eyes, Apaya Island was already calling his name.
---
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