Although Wyper had momentarily forgotten who he was, he did not treat his fellow tribesmen as enemies. Deep inside, his instincts still told him they were his kin.
"Great Chief! What happened to him?"
Mantis rushed to Wyper's side with a worried look.
"Wyper! What's wrong? Do you really not remember us?"
Mantis could hardly comprehend what had happened. Just a few seconds had erased years of memories from Wyper's mind.
"This must be the danger Shirogai mentioned..."
The Great Chief frowned, his voice filled with unease.
"We'll know more once Shirogai returns."
"..."
More than ten seconds later, Shirogai stepped out of the black cube under the nervous gaze of the Shandia tribe.
Even he, a man with a will as firm as iron, experienced a fleeting moment of disorientation as he re-emerged from the Dark Confinement Room.
"Heh, Wyper, you're fortunate. You escaped without losing yourself completely."
Shirogai steadied himself, then glanced at the heavily bandaged Wyper and smiled.
"The results are good. He has already grasped both Armament Haki and Observation Haki."
With a casual motion, Shirogai clenched his hand. The pitch-black cube collapsed instantly, fading into nothingness.
"Phew..." He exhaled softly, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Not bad. Better than I expected. Even the [system] reacted."
For Shirogai, Wyper had been the first test subject. Using the power of the Dark-Dark Fruit in tandem with the Whisper-Whisper Fruit, he had devised a method to accelerate training—the Dark Confinement Room.
The idea came from the legendary "Hyperbolic Time Chamber" in another world's tale, a place where time flowed differently and warriors pushed past their limits.
Inside the Dark Confinement Room, time stretched unnaturally. A single second could feel like years. The Whisper-Whisper Fruit diluted time perception, amplifying the effect.
The results were staggering. Within moments, a person could undergo what felt like years of training.
But the side effects were equally terrifying. When the flood of memories and experiences rushed back all at once, it could easily shatter a person's spirit. If their will was weak, they would collapse into madness—or suffer brain death.
That was why Shirogai had never tested it on his own crew or the Straw Hats. As he had warned Wyper, the mortality rate was eighty percent.
Fortunately, Wyper's will was unyielding. He had endured. That was why Shirogai chose him for this trial—a man whose spirit rivaled that of Luffy, Zoro, or Sanji.
---
"Teacher!"
Despite the pain wracking his body, Wyper forced himself upright. His expression, usually fierce and unbending, softened into one of genuine respect as he looked at Shirogai.
The warrior once known as the "Battle God" now stood like a child before his mentor.
"Teacher, I... I think I've forgotten many things."
"It doesn't matter," Shirogai replied indifferently, waving his hand. "With your physique, rest will mend you."
"Teacher?"
Mantis, Braham, Raki, and the others exchanged bewildered looks. Wyper's sudden obedience felt unreal.
"The one who imparts knowledge is a teacher," Shirogai said with a teasing smile. "When Wyper regains full clarity, ask him about his experience. Then decide who among you dares to step into that place."
He glanced at the Great Chief, his eyes calm.
"I have other matters to attend to. I'll take my leave."
"Shirogai San, very well."
The Great Chief dared not press further. He knew this man's power was beyond human limits—closer to divine might.
"Shirogai San, let me try!" Mantis suddenly shouted.
"Don't be reckless," Shirogai replied. "Wait until Wyper wakes fully. Then decide. Don't forget—the chance of losing your mind is still forty percent."
He paused, his thoughts drifting. If only he had access to Law's Ope-Ope no Mi or Big Mom's Soul-Soul Fruit, the chances of survival would improve drastically.
With that, Shirogai rose into the air. His form shimmered, shifting into a streak of reddish-white light, and vanished into the clouds above.
The Shandia stared in awe.
"What a terrifying ability," Mantis muttered. He could not comprehend it. Hadn't this man once grown six black wings? Now he turned into light itself, much like Enel's lightning form.
---
God's Land – Angel Island
The streets were paved with soft, white clouds. Shops built from cloud walls lined both sides, painted in bright colors, while vibrant greenery sprouted in places one would never expect, decorating the town with surprising charm.
Some shops floated freely in the air, connected by stairways of island clouds, creating a scenery unlike anything in the Blue Sea.
"Wow! This town is amazing!" Luffy shouted with sparkling eyes.
"Hey, Usopp! Look, those shops are floating!"
"Is there anywhere that sells ingredients...? No, no, this isn't the time. Nami San and Robin San are waiting for me!" Sanji scolded himself while clutching his pack.
The three of them—Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp—wandered through the lively streets, their eyes darting from one marvel to another.
The Sky Islanders who noticed them, however, paled in fear.
"It's them..."
"Run! Stay away from them!"
Panic spread wherever they went. People abandoned the streets, unwilling to be caught up in whatever trouble these Blue Sea pirates carried.
"Meat! Meat! Meat! Where's the butcher?!"
Luffy scanned eagerly for food, drooling already.
"Idiot! Now's not the time for meat!" Sanji snapped. "Nami San and Robin chan are about to be sacrificed, and you're worried about food?!"
"...I..."
Conis walked with them, her expression tense. She wanted to speak, but hesitation weighed heavily on her lips.
At last, they arrived at the Angel Island docks, where strange-looking ships rested upon the sea of clouds.
"These are hotel ships," Conis explained, forcing a smile. "They're equipped with living quarters inside."
She pointed to one particular vessel. "This is my Black Raven. You can take it to the Land of Judgment."
"Eh? That one looks awful!" Luffy blurted. The duck-shaped ship paled in comparison to the grand, horned ships nearby.
"Those ones look way cooler," he muttered, pouting.
"I... I don't have the money to rent one of those..." Conis admitted, her voice small.
"Then we'll use this one for now," Sanji said. But his sharp eyes narrowed at her trembling. "Conis, what's wrong? You've been nervous since we left your home. Why are you shaking?"
"Luffy..."
Conis's lips quivered. Her eyes welled with conflict and fear.
"I..."
_____
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