The next day, the Straw Hat Pirates began heading toward the location of the golden city as deduced by Nami and Robin.
This time, they still chose to split into two teams.
Ray, Nami, Sanji, and Usopp first sailed the ship to the coast near the golden city.
Luffy, Zoro, Robin, Chopper, and Chouchou traveled on foot toward the southern destination.
At the moment they set off, a group of over twenty Shandia people also invaded Shandora.
Seeing the Shandia people engage in battle with the current Priests and divine soldiers, the former god Gan Fall grew deeply concerned and entered Shandora.
In an instant, three forces converged in the sacred forbidden ground.
...
On Luffy's side, Chouchou took out two ropes with a slipknot at the front.
With a flick of his dog head, he looped these two ropes around Luffy and Zoro's necks.
The other ends of the ropes were tied around his own neck.
(Such a thing is called a slip leash in modern times; the more you struggle, the tighter it gets around the restrained area.)
Luffy and Zoro were furious when they found ropes around their necks.
"Chouchou, what are you doing!" X2
Chouchou shook his dog head in response.
"My master demanded I keep an eye on you two. He said you two would definitely cause trouble."
"But you don't have to tie it around our necks! It's like walking a dog."
Luffy felt Chouchou had gone too far.
Only Zoro was the directionally challenged one; he should be the only one leashed.
Why leash me?
Zoro's face darkened with annoyance.
Who did they think they were looking down on?
Everyone knew they had to head south—how could he possibly get it wrong?
"Get this dog leash off me!" Zoro drew his Sandai Kitetsu, threatening Chouchou fiercely.
"Otherwise, I'll cut you... and this rope!"
Chouchou looked disdainful.
"Go ahead and try! Don't blame me if I tattle to my master. Though I doubt the consequences would be too severe. At most, he might just go all out with 100% of his strength during your training sessions."
Hearing this, Zoro felt the hairs on his body stand on end and silently sheathed his Kitetsu.
Robin watched the scene, covering her mouth to suppress a chuckle.
Chopper was rolling on the ground laughing.
"Zoro and Luffy being walked like dogs by an actual dog. Hahaha."
...
Later, with a head full of bumps and sobbing pitifully, Chopper followed the others as Robin led them in an orderly march toward the ruins.
"By the way, Luffy, Master said that if Enel attacks us later, the safest place for us is to hide behind you."
"Huh? Of course I'd stand in front of you guys. Did Ray really need to remind me of that?"
Luffy blurted out his thoughts without filtering them.
But he felt a bit displeased.
What did Ray mean by that? Didn't he trust him?
Robin's lips curled into a slight smile as she observed Luffy's reaction.
Something new stirred within her lonely heart.
...
As for why Ray had taken a boat to travel separately—
Mainly because Luffy was on that side.
Even in the worst-case scenario, Luffy could hold off Enel long enough for Ray to reinforce them.
On this side, however, if Ray wasn't present, everyone would surely be wiped out by Enel.
Even though Ray wasn't certain whether Enel would intervene ahead of schedule, he still had to prepare for the worst.
In his mind, Enel's lightning was something none of the other Straw Hat Pirates members could withstand.
Luffy, being rubber, was immune to electricity.
Ray's Azure Dragon Break also possessed lightning properties, and by using Demonic Power, he could quickly heal any injuries.
As for the others—if they were struck by lightning measuring tens of millions of volts, surviving would truly be a miracle.
Unless this world's rules were biased, no carbon-based lifeform could endure that.
Ray didn't dare gamble on the entire Straw Hat crew having plot armor—the kind that made them immune to tens of millions of volts...
In short, Ray remained extremely cautious about Enel.
After all, based on his memories of the original story, too many things didn't add up.
His pre-transmigration memories of one piece were, in the end, a work of fiction—bound to differ from reality to some extent.
...
In the shrine atop the giant beanstalk.
Enel clearly sensed everything happening across the island.
The Shandia people had breached the defenses and were clashing with his divine soldiers.
The two remaining Priests were already waiting in their trial grounds for the Shandian to arrive.
Gan Fall had also reached the Cloud River above Shandora, riding on Pierre, who had transformed into a Pegasus.
Not far ahead of Gan Fall, several Blue Sea People were fleeing by boat.
Enel yawned and casually waved his hand, summoning a massive divine lightning punishment.
The maids and attendants serving him in the shrine had no time to react before Enel killed them all.
"The Maxim is complete. I suppose it's time to pay a visit to the previous god."
Picking up his golden staff, Enel stretched lazily.
Then, he transformed into lightning and moved towards where Gan Fall was.
…
Gan Fall's expression was stern at this moment.
When he entered Shandora, he had encountered a Shandian person, from whom he learned that this attack by the Shandian people was a desperate fight to the death.
Either they would successfully reclaim their ancestral land, or they would all die here.
"Shandia people, why won't you wait a little longer? It would be so wonderful if I could achieve peaceful coexistence."
Gan Fall muttered to himself, unwilling to see the Shandia people continue to sacrifice themselves.
At this moment, he made up his mind—no longer avoiding Enel, he would defeat him and achieve reconciliation between the Sky Island residents and the Shandia people.
"Yahahaha~ Gan Fall, you're just a failed god from the past. What ability do you have to achieve peaceful coexistence?"
A mocking voice came, and Gan Fall immediately tensed up, staring in shock at the lightning floating before him.
"Enel, as a god why are you stepping in so soon?"
Enel looked at Gan Fall, who had already raised his spear and prepared for battle, and casually picked his ear with his pinky finger, speaking as if to himself.
"I came here to tell you two things.
First, today is my last day as the god of Skypiea. The ship 'Maxim' that your former godly team built for me is now complete, and I have granted them their freedom.
Second, I want to make a bet with you. Let's wager on how many of the 80 people currently engaged in the chaotic battle in Shandora will remain in three hours."
Gan Fall frowned deeply.
Enel's words revealed a message that terrified him to the core.
His former godly team had 500 members.
And at this moment, there were only 80 people on the island of Shandora.
Fewer than 10 were Blue Sea People, over 20 were Shandia people, and the rest could only be Enel's own divine soldiers.
So, where had all his godly team members gone?
The conclusion was obvious.
At this thought, Gan Fall flew into a rage, completely ignoring the bet Enel wanted to discuss, and shouted angrily.
"By granting them freedom, you mean you killed them all? How dare you call yourself a god? You're nothing but a scum!"
With that, Gan Fall swung his spear and, in an instant, pierced through Enel's body.
However, no blood flowed.
His furious strike had no effect on Enel's lightning form.
Enel transformed into lightning and instantly appeared beside Gan Fall, who was still reeling from the momentum of his attack.
"20 Million Volts, Discharge!"
Accompanied by crackling sounds, the former god of Sky Island, Gan Fall, along with Pierre beneath him, fell from the sky, his body charred black, his eyes rolled back, and his consciousness lost.
Just as Gan Fall was about to fall into the Cloud River, a voice called out.
"Sanji, get ready to rescue him!"
Nami directed Sanji, intending to save the severely injured old man.
After all, this Sky Knight had helped them when they first arrived on Sky Island and were still adjusting.
How could they stand by and watch him die now?
Enel, seeing the Blue Sea People below interfering in his battle, felt slightly displeased.
"Mortals, how dare you meddle in a god's battle. I shall send you to your deaths."
With that, he prepared to unleash his lightning.
Suddenly, a figure shimmering with emerald gold instantly appeared before him from below.
With the arrival of this figure, a fist wreathed in crimson lightning slammed into him.
Sending him crashing heavily into the ground.
A single strike from tokijin and even a god must retreat.
"You think you can kill me? With just that?"
The silver-haired figure looked down indifferently at the god spitting blood below, his gaze calm as still water.
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