"Uncle, we paid you good money to come here, so you need to answer our questions seriously."
Jerry pulled out 5 Berries and waved them in front of Gan Fall's eyes, reminding the old knight that he was here to provide professional services.
Under Gan Fall's helpless gaze, Deuce rubbed his hands together, grinned, and posed his first question.
After their rapid-fire Q&A session, everyone finally had a clearer understanding of Sky Island's complex situation.
The story was both fascinating and tragic. Four hundred years ago, a section of Jaya—had been launched into the sky by a massive knock up stream. Because it was the only land in the White Sea that contained actual soil, the Sky Islanders immediately regarded it as sacred territory.
"The original inhabitants were the Shandians," Gan Fall explained, his weathered face growing somber. "They were launched up along with their homeland. But the Sky Islanders saw the soil as a gift from heaven itself."
Under the leadership of their God at the time, the Sky Islanders had waged war against the indigenous Shandians and eventually claimed Upper Yard for themselves. What followed was a bitter, seemingly endless conflict that had raged for four centuries—a war over sacred land that continued to this day.
"Then, several years ago, everything changed," Gan Fall continued, his voice dropping. "The current God, Enel, descended from another sky island with his followers. He defeated me—the previous God—and began his reign of terror over all of Sky Island."
"Yeah, I think I get the picture," Deuce said, closing his notebook and turning to Jerry for confirmation. "So Upper Yard is where our target is located?"
"That's right," Jerry nodded.
Before he could elaborate, Carina smacked him on the back of the head in frustration.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go already!"
Her enthusiasm was infectious. Not only Carina, but every other member of the crew had gleaming eyes—well, except for Brook, who couldn't exactly gleam since he lacked eyes entirely.
"What? You want to go to Upper Yard?" Gan Fall exclaimed, his customer service instincts kicking in as he tried to dissuade them. "Absolutely not! That place is far too dangerous!"
However, Jerry and his crew seemed to develop selective hearing, completely ignoring the old knight's warnings as they walked back toward their ship, chatting and laughing among themselves.
"Thanks for the information, Uncle Gan Fall! And thank you too, Conis!" Jerry called over his shoulder, waving cheerfully. "We'll see you around!"
After everyone had returned to the Black Nova, they quickly prepared to set sail, leaving behind a somewhat bewildered angel girl and an old knight who looked like he had more warnings to give.
"Let's go!" Jerry announced. "Straight to our destination!"
The Black Nova cut through the White Sea smoothly, and before long, everyone spotted their target—a lush, green island that stood out dramatically against the cloud landscape.
As they disembarked, the crew found themselves surrounded by towering trees and dense vegetation. The contrast between this verdant land and the cloud-based islands they'd just visited was striking.
"So this is the legendary sacred land," Ace mused, running his hand along the bark of an ancient tree. "I can see why everyone's been fighting over it."
"The soil here is incredible," Deuce added, kneeling to examine the rich earth. "No wonder the Sky Islanders consider it holy."
As the crew spread out to explore and share their observations, they suddenly heard an unusual sound—like someone stepping on a dry branch and snapping it underfoot.
Everyone turned toward the noise and spotted a small figure hiding behind one of the massive trees. A little girl was peeking out timidly, only half her head visible.
The moment she realized she'd been discovered, she quickly ducked back behind the tree trunk.
"Well, well! The criminals walked right into my territory," a booming male voice echoed through the forest. "I didn't expect to get bonus prey today!"
The laughter that followed was harsh and mocking. A moment later, a large man appeared, riding through the air on a strange bird. He wore the typical Sky Islander garb—small wings sprouting from his back, goggles, and a distinctive hat. Two upturned mustaches framed his sneering mouth, and he carried a gleaming spear that caught the dappled sunlight filtering through the canopy.
When this intimidating figure appeared overhead, the little girl silently crept around the tree trunk, moving closer to Jerry and the others. She curled up into a small ball, as if trying to make herself invisible.
The crew glanced at the frightened child—noting her khaki hat, light orange dress, and small backpack—before turning their attention to the obviously hostile man circling above them.
"Who are you supposed to be?" Ace stepped forward, looking up at the aerial threat with his hands casually in his pockets.
"I am Shura, Priest of String!" the man declared, his bird mount hovering menacingly. "God Enel has commanded me to bring divine punishment upon you criminals who dare defile this sacred land!"
His tone was arrogant and dismissive, as if he were dealing with insignificant insects rather than potentially dangerous pirates.
"Oh my, it seems we've encountered one of our intended opponents already," Brook observed, stepping forward while adjusting his grip on his cane sword. "I've been aboard this ship for quite some time now, but my contributions to our battles have been rather minimal. How embarrassing."
The skeleton turned toward his captain and vice-captain. "Mr. Jerry, Mr. Ace, would you permit me to handle this gentleman?"
Jerry and Ace exchanged glances, then nodded slightly. Neither moved to stop Brook as he walked into the open clearing.
When Brook had first acquired the legendary black blade Shusui after defeating the zombie samurai Ryoma, he'd initially considered switching weapons. After all, he'd witnessed Ryoma wielding that very sword and knew he could replicate—or even surpass—those techniques.
But Brook had ultimately decided to stick with his trusty cane sword. Shusui was heavier overall, which didn't quite suit his agile fighting style. More importantly, he wanted to test Jerry's theories about developing a black blade through constant use and the application of Armament Haki.
Recently, he'd been training diligently, trying to awaken his dormant Haki according to Jerry's detailed instructions. Even though he wasn't certain whether he could transform his current weapon into a legendary black blade, Brook firmly believed that the best weapon was always the one that felt most natural in your hands.
Brook tilted his skull upward, fixing his empty eye sockets on Shura, then suddenly launched himself skyward with explosive force.
"A skeleton? Some kind of Devil Fruit user?" Shura muttered, momentarily surprised by his opponent's unusual appearance.
The priest quickly recovered, dodging Brook's initial aerial assault and countering with a swift spear thrust aimed at the musician's ribcage.
Brook moved like a phantom through the forest canopy, using the thick branches of the towering trees as stepping stones and platforms. His incredible agility allowed him to stay airborne without fear, matching his low-flying opponent's mobility.
However, despite his continuous and increasingly rapid attacks, Brook found himself unable to land a solid hit. Shura seemed to anticipate every move, dodging or blocking each strike just moments before impact.
"Observation Haki," Brook murmured to himself, recognizing the telltale signs.
Jerry and Ace frequently used this ability during their sparring sessions aboard the ship, giving Brook plenty of opportunities to observe its effects firsthand. Moreover, Jerry had been generous with his knowledge of Haki training methods. Though Jerry's own Haki awakening had come through his system, that hadn't stopped him from sharing the techniques taught by masters like Rayleigh or Kaido.
Observation Haki training was mandatory for everyone aboard the Black Nova, while Armament Haki was optional based on individual interest and aptitude. Thanks to this regimen, even crew members who hadn't yet awakened their Haki had significantly improved their reaction times, agility, and combat awareness.
"Hmph! This is Mantra!" Shura boasted, easily weaving between Brook's attacks. "Your every movement is laid bare before me!"
The priest's mastery of what Sky Islanders called Mantra—their term for Observation Haki—allowed him to remain calm and controlled while dealing with Brook's multi-directional assault. However, Brook's constant movement made him equally difficult to pin down and strike.
Realizing that conventional attacks would prove ineffective against an opponent with precognitive abilities, Brook decided to change tactics entirely. Instead of trying to outthink his enemy, he would simply overwhelm him with pure speed.
Brook began moving even faster, becoming little more than a blur as he launched a relentless barrage of strikes from every conceivable angle. His assault forced Shura into a purely defensive posture, desperately parrying and dodging while searching for an opening to counterattack.
As the aerial battle reached a stalemate, Jerry led the rest of the group toward the frightened little girl who remained huddled behind the tree.
As they approached, Jerry knelt down to her eye level and spoke in the gentlest voice he could manage:
"Hey there, little one. Would you like to come with us to see some pretty goldfish?"
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