At the entrance to the Trial Grounds of God's Island.
The Going Merry creaked as it avoided deadly traps scattered across the sea of clouds, finally reaching a small safe zone.
"Wuwuwuwu, Sky Island is too scary! Way too scary!"
Usopp trembled, glancing back at the huge eel Sanji had just kicked away, then at the distant explosion echoing through the island. His face turned pale.
"Even the entrance is filled with wrecked ships and insane traps. If we go deeper into God's Island, won't it be even worse?"
He nervously laughed, his voice dry and cracking, as he glanced at Luffy and Sanji.
"Luffy, Sanji! I—I think I've caught a rare disease! The moment I step onto God's Island, I'll die! Maybe you should just turn the ship around and send me home instead!"
"Idiot!" Sanji snapped, his cigarette bouncing slightly as he spoke. "It's already too late. Look ahead, we've reached the place of trial."
"Wow! A giant!" Luffy leaned over the Merry's bow with childlike excitement as the massive stone statue loomed in front of them. "Are we going inside its mouth?"
"Wait… are those four entrances?"
Usopp's jaw dropped as he spotted the stone gates beneath the giant's mouth, shaped like fingers. Panic shot through him as he read the markings.
"Ball Trial, Rope Trial, Iron Trial, Swamp Trial… Which one do we pick?!"
"Hahaha, is it just choosing one? How interesting!" Luffy laughed, his eyes sparkling as the Merry sailed closer. "There are four! Which one should we take?"
Sanji muttered irritably, smoke trailing upward. "Tch, this god is just playing with us. Feels like he's mocking us."
"Oh! So it's a game?" Luffy's grin widened. "Then I'll choose Ball! That one sounds the most fun!"
"Luffy, this isn't about fun!" Usopp's voice cracked as he waved his arms. "These are trials! TRIALS! That sounds terrifying!"
Luffy tilted his head. "Really? Should we pick Rope instead? Or Iron? Or maybe Swamp?"
"Hisss…" Usopp's face twisted as he imagined each option. Shaking his head in dread, he whispered, "Forget it… Ball! Ball sounds the least terrifying. The others… they'll be worse for sure."
"Then Ball it is!" Luffy clapped his hands, pointed at the gate, and laughed. "Let's go, Merry!"
"Why do I have a bad feeling about this…" Usopp muttered, his throat dry. His gaze darted nervously. "Wouldn't it be smarter to wait for Shirogai to come back before we head in?"
"Usopp." Sanji took a long drag of his cigarette, slowly letting the smoke slip out. His expression turned serious. "Have you noticed something?"
Usopp blinked. "What?"
"Our reliance on Shirogai… it's been growing. All of us."
Usopp frowned, unsure. "Isn't that a good thing? He's capable and knows everything."
Sanji flicked his cigarette ash, eyes narrowing. "But think carefully. Ever since Shirogai showed his overwhelming strength, the crew has leaned on him more and more. He's powerful, no doubt, but that's dangerous for us."
Luffy, steering the Merry toward the Ball gate, grinned. "Hey! We're about to enter! Don't worry so much."
Sanji's expression didn't change. "Having a powerful companion is a blessing, sure. But Shirogai's enemies… they're monsters. He's already fighting foes at the level of Marine Admirals."
"So what?" Usopp puffed out his chest, courage momentarily swelling. "Shirogai can fight two Admirals at once! With him around, we're safe!"
Sanji turned sharply, his gaze piercing Usopp. "And what about you? What happens if we keep relying on him without growing stronger ourselves? One day, we'll face enemies too powerful, and if Shirogai is taken out or distracted, we'll all be wiped out."
The weight of those words hit Usopp, leaving him speechless.
Luffy suddenly turned, his grin wide. "Hehe, Usopp. Companions can be relied on… but you shouldn't be dependent."
Usopp scratched his nose, embarrassed. Deep down, he knew Sanji and Luffy were right. Ever since Loguetown, Shirogai had become a pillar for all of them. Every invention, every strategy—he was there. The more Usopp thought about it, the guiltier he felt.
Sanji's voice cut in again, calm yet firm. "Haven't you noticed? Shirogai sometimes steps away on purpose. He leaves us to handle danger ourselves. That's not neglect—it's training."
Usopp's eyes widened. "Wait, you mean… he's letting us grow?"
"Exactly," Sanji said, taking another drag. "If he solved everything for us, we'd stay weak forever."
Usopp sighed in relief. "I thought… I thought he didn't trust us."
"Idiot." Sanji smirked. "He trusts us enough to let us struggle."
"Hey! I see an exit!" Luffy shouted, leaning dangerously over the bow. A bright light shone ahead as the Merry shot through the stone gate. "Do you think it's the wrong way? Maybe only one is real, and the rest lead straight down off Sky Island?"
"Luffy, don't jinx it!" Usopp screeched, panic seizing him. "If we fall, we're done for! We're not Shirogai—we can't fly!"
Sanji grit his teeth, sweat forming at his temple. "Tch, don't overthink. There's no way it's—"
Splash!
The Merry shot out of the exit, riding on a burst of sea cloud before soaring into the air.
For a moment, silence.
"…Looks fine to me," Sanji muttered.
"That's a lie!" Usopp shrieked, his eyes bugging out. Below them, the sea cloud ended abruptly, replaced by a sheer drop into nothingness.
"We're falling!!!"
The Merry plunged downward, the three of them screaming in unison as the wind roared past.
"Noooooooooo!!!"
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