"Damn it, so all these balls are traps!"
Sanji nervously kicked a white cloud ball flying toward him.
Bang!
A violent explosion erupted, showering the three people on the Going Merry with sparks.
"They even hide gunpowder inside these things!"
Sanji pulled back his slightly scorched foot, his expression turning serious as he watched the countless white cloud balls floating in the sea of clouds ahead.
"If we want to keep moving forward, we'll have to deal with them. Who knows what kind of traps each one might hold."
"Then let's detonate them from a distance!"
Usopp's eyes brightened. Pulling out a few bullets, he aimed at the strange balls and shouted:
"Special Attack, Triple Gunpowder Star!"
Bang!
The shot struck three different cloud balls.
One exploded into countless flying knives that cut through the air.
Another burst open, releasing a swarm of sharp-clawed bats with bared fangs.
The third burst harmlessly into a single flower that drifted down.
"Nice one, Usopp!"
Sanji grinned as the path ahead cleared slightly, praising him with genuine relief.
"You're amazing, Usopp," Luffy added, his eyes shining. "As expected of our crew's chief sniper! So strong!"
"Chief sniper? That's right!" Usopp's face flushed red with pride. "I am the strongest, Sniper King!"
Emboldened by their praise, he fired more gunpowder stars into the distance.
"Ho ho ho! You think it's that easy to deal with my surprise balls?"
A round, spherical figure dropped from the sky, tossing more cloud balls that intercepted Usopp's attack.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The two projectiles collided midair, triggering a chain explosion.
Boom!
The massive blast sent a wall of flames surging toward the Going Merry.
"Oh no!" Usopp's face stiffened as the shockwave rushed forward.
"Get down!"
Sanji shoved Luffy and Usopp flat on the deck just as the flames roared past. His body, resistant to fire, shielded them from the worst of it.
"Finally, the enemy shows himself."
Extinguishing the flames clinging to his hair, Sanji clenched a half-burned cigarette between his teeth and looked at the rotund figure hovering above them.
"You round scoundrel, you're one of Enel's priests, aren't you?"
"Welcome to the Ball Trial," the man declared. "I am Satori, one of the Four Priests."
"Heh, fitting. You're just a ball yourself."
Sanji dropped his cigarette and vanished from the deck, reappearing midair with Geppo.
"As long as I take you down, I can get back to rescuing Nami-swaan and Robin-chwaan!"
He dove down, leg snapping forward.
"Collier Shoot!"
Satori's yellow glasses glinted as he twisted away.
"Oh, a neck-kick from the left? Predictable."
His hand shot out, striking Sanji's calf with a burst of energy.
"Impact!"
Buzz! Bang!
The force hurled Sanji spinning through the air.
"Sanji!" Usopp cried. "You're heading straight for those traps!"
But Sanji only smirked. "It's fine. Just a small problem."
He landed lightly on one of the cloud balls, using the rebound to spring back toward the ship before it could explode.
"What footwork…" Satori muttered, wary now. His traps had become stepping stones.
"Luffy," Sanji said calmly as he landed, brushing off his pants, "this round bastard's attacks aren't much, but he's mastered Observation Haki."
"Observation Haki!" Usopp gulped. "None of us here can use it… can we even win?"
"Of course. His control is shallow," Sanji replied, eyes narrowing. "Luffy, Usopp, don't interfere. I'll handle this alone."
His smile sharpened into determination.
"That damn moss-head already mastered both Armament Haki and Observation Haki. I refuse to fall behind him!"
He shot back into the air and kicked at the priest again.
"Poitrine!"
Usopp exhaled, bowing his head. "Then I'll leave it to you, Sanji…"
Luffy pouted, arms crossed. "But I wanted to fight too…"
---
Deep within God's Island—
"Two Hundred Million Volts, Raigo!"
Zzzzt! Zzzzt!
A massive figure of lightning energy formed in the sky, glaring down at Luffy.
"Die, blasphemer!" Enel roared.
Rumble!
Thunder split the heavens, shaking the island and sending a shock of fear through all who fought there.
"Did someone anger God?!" Ohm, the Priest of the Iron Trial, muttered as he dodged Zoro's slash. "Such terrifying lightning…"
Zoro, holding the Sandai Kitetsu, eyed the priest's shifting cloud sword with interest.
"What a strange weapon. Bald priest, is that thing unique to Sky Island?"
"Hmph! I didn't expect a pirate from the Blue Sea to know Mantra."
"Mantra? You mean Observation Haki?" Zoro grinned, raising both blades. "Only an idiot wouldn't be able to learn it."
He lunged, swords flashing.
Since Zoro had learned both Armament and Observation Haki, he and Sanji's constant quarrels always tilted in Zoro's favor.
Every time Sanji mocked him, Zoro only smirked.
"You can't use Armament Haki."
"Green-algae head!"
"You can't use Observation Haki."
"Big lost cause!"
"You can't use Armament Haki."
"Stupid swordsman!"
"You can't use both."
Sanji's temper nearly drove him to slice Zoro with a kitchen knife more than once.
"How did your blades turn black?" Ohm asked, wary as Zoro's swords coated in Haki cleaved through his iron clouds.
"This is Armament Haki. Don't tell me Sky Islanders have never heard of it?"
"Armament… Haki?" Ohm looked shaken.
"Then you're finished."
Drawing his third sword, Zoro clenched it between his teeth, his stance brimming with lethal intent.
"Three-Sword Style… Oni Giri!"
---