A pirate's eyes lit up at the mention of the Silent Fruit, and he quickly shouted:
"Our captain had it! But… he entered the Forbidden Zone on Sky Island and was punished by 'God.' That fruit is probably still in the Forbidden Zone—or someone else might've picked it up by now!"
"The Forbidden Zone, huh?"
Whiteflame narrowed his eyes.
He knew exactly what that meant.
It was the only landmass on Sky Island—off-limits to all civilians,
the place ruled directly by God Enel.
Four hundred years ago, that land had been a part of Jaya Island,
once home to the ancient civilization Shandora, known as the "City of Gold."
After a Knock-Up Stream eruption, the land was launched into the White-White Sea,
becoming the so-called "Upper Yard", or "God's Island", now deemed forbidden.
"You gave me information, but not the fruit. So you get to keep your life…"
"As for the rest of you? Kill them all."
Flicking his cigarette away, Whiteflame turned and walked out of the tavern.
The moment he stepped outside—
The IBMs unleashed a slaughter.
In the blink of an eye, the entire tavern was transformed into a scene of carnage,
blood soaking the floor, IBM creatures feasting on corpses like wild beasts,
leaving only piles of bones behind.
The lone surviving pirate stood frozen, surrounded by blood,
his face blank, but his trembling legs and wet trousers told the real story—
He had been scared completely senseless.
Meanwhile — Inside the God's Shrine on Upper Yard
Three priests and the head of the divine guards were seated before Enel.
A man bare-chested, with long earlobes and four golden drums embedded in his back, opened his eyes.
Electricity flickered in his gaze.
He was the one and only God of Sky Island — Enel.
"Seems like we've got ourselves an interesting visitor."
"Another arrogant Blue Sea dweller?"
"They always talk big, think they're strong, but they all end up on their knees—begging for mercy before dying under your judgment."
The voice belonged to Shura, the "Sky Knight.(High Priest of the Ordeal of String)"
"Hahaha… I like that!"
"You three go greet him for me. And if you can—bring him to me.
I'd love to see the look on his face when he starts to beg."
Enel chuckled as lightning crackled in his eyes.
"Forbidden Land… God's Island…"
Whiteflame looked in the direction of Upper Yard.
His body floated upward, and with a flicker of golden photons, he vanished from sight.
Nearby Sky Island residents gasped.
"That's God's power…!"
"That Blue Sea man… why does he have the same power as God Enel?!"
"You're back!"
Rebecca cheered as Whiteflame reappeared beside them.
Across from her stood a new woman, unfamiliar to Rebecca,
but very familiar to Whiteflame.
Conis.
A Sky Island resident who once played the harp on Angel Beach.
She was the one who had helped Luffy's crew when they first arrived—
her kindness had once saved them from Enel's wrath.
"We're heading to God's Island," Whiteflame announced.
"No! You can't! That's where God Enel lives! If you get close, he'll punish you!"
Conis rushed to stop him.
"Let's go."
Whiteflame ignored her and raised a hand.
The group lifted into the sky and headed toward the forbidden land.
Conis stared after them, her expression full of worry.
"Foolish Blue Sea people… Arrogant as ever.
Charging into the Forbidden Zone just for a Devil Fruit…
To throw away your life like that—it's exactly the kind of death they deserve."
Enel had been watching Whiteflame's every move.
Upper Yard — God's Island
Dense jungle. Towering trees.
Wild beasts lurked in the shadows.
"Fan out. Find the Silent Fruit."
Upon arrival, Whiteflame gave the order.
All 39 IBMs burst into motion, scattering through the jungle to search every inch.
The pirate had said the fruit had fallen here,
but he hadn't known the exact spot.
In fact, he probably didn't even know where his captain had died.
Upper Yard was massive.
To find the Silent Fruit, Whiteflame would have to search it piece by piece.
"So this is God's Island? Looks like an ordinary forest to me."
baby-5 and the others walked through the trees, looking around.
Every now and then a beast would appear—
but before it could get close, Whiteflame's String-String Fruit powers would instantly cut it down.
"We've got company."
Whiteflame suddenly stopped. His tone was calm, but serious.
A bald man with angel wings, sunglasses, and a long sword stepped into view—
a massive white hound by his side.
It was Ohm, one of Enel's four High Priests.
"You dare trespass here?
Blue Sea scum really don't know their place."
Ohm rested his sword on his shoulder, his tone full of contempt.
Even the dog beside him growled menacingly.
"How bold of you to come here."
A fat man dressed in priest robes, with wings and sitting on a floating cloud ball, laughed.
This was Gedatsu, Priest of the Forest.
"From up here, you look so insignificant."
A third figure appeared, with spider-like hair and purple robes,
using a jet dial to hover in midair.
This was Satori, the High Priest of the Sky Guard.
Then a loud bird cry echoed overhead—
a purple bird swooped down, carrying a man with flight goggles and a curved mustache,
wielding the same type of lance as Gan Fall.
This was Shura, the Sky Knight.
In the blink of an eye, all four High Priests were assembled!
"Four noisy fools."
Whiteflame didn't waste any words.
He touched the ground lightly.
And then—he raised his hand.
[Earth Domain: Heaven-Splitting Spiral Fang]
With a roar, the earth surged upward, forming a massive dragon's head,
which snapped its jaws shut—devouring the four priests in one bite!
The rock dragon twisted into a spiraling stone column—
the four priests' bloody faces sticking out, crushed and broken.
They had been utterly defeated in a single blow.
"T-Too strong…"
Gedatsu coughed up blood, eyes wide in horror.
"Who… are you…?"
He glanced at the other priests—
some barely clinging to life, some already dead,
others unconscious from the impact.
He was the only one still barely standing.
"I held back, just in case I killed you all by accident…"
"But even with that… your weakness truly disappoints me."
Whiteflame's gaze was icy.
"Still, at least one of you is alive.
Now—tell me.
Where is the Silent Fruit?"
"The… Silent Fruit?
A Devil Fruit?
There's no such thing here…"
Gedatsu vomited another mouthful of blood.
"Then you can die too."
Whiteflame had no patience for small fry.
With a casual motion, the spiral column twisted again,
crushing all four heads into silence.
Clap clap clap…
Suddenly, applause echoed through the forest.
Everyone turned.
High above, perched on a giant tree branch,
a shirtless man with long earlobes was clapping.
"Enel."
Whiteflame narrowed his eyes.
"Now that was impressive."
"To kill all four of my priests so quickly—very impressive indeed."
"Even among the Blue Sea people, you're… quite something."
Enel stopped clapping and looked down,
his eyes full of smug amusement.
"But in front of a god…
No matter how strong you are—
you're nothing but a weak little bug."
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