Just as Conis and her father were about to lead the group toward the nearby stairs, Will's expression changed. He suddenly stopped and asked,
"By the way, do you know what that place is, more than a thousand meters in that direction?"
He raised his hand and pointed toward a distant spot beyond the clouds.
Conis and Pagaya turned to look where he indicated, and their faces instantly paled as realization struck them.
"What's wrong?" Carina asked, noticing the shift immediately.
Issho frowned slightly. Even without sight, he could sense the fear radiating from the father and daughter.
"Something's definitely off over there," he murmured.
Like Will, he had already detected another, larger island in that direction—and above its clouds, numerous living presences.
Combined with Conis and Pagaya's reaction, the conclusion was obvious.
Conis recovered first. She forced down her emotions and managed a weak smile.
"It's… nothing."
"That place you pointed to… it's somewhere no one is allowed to enter lightly."
"It's the holy land in every Skypiean's heart—the Forbidden Ground, Upper Yard. That's where the current ruler of Skypiea, the self-proclaimed God… Enel, resides."
"Anyone who trespasses into Upper Yard has never returned alive. Over time, it became completely forbidden."
"God?!"
Carina, Nami, and the others stared in disbelief.
Issho's brow lifted slightly as he thought to himself, So even here, someone dares to falsely claim divinity…
Conis, having answered, couldn't suppress her curiosity any longer. She looked up hesitantly.
"Um… may I ask—how did you know there was another island there?"
"Have you been to Skypiea before?"
In her mind, only someone already familiar with the layout could point so precisely and estimate the distance so accurately.
Will's eyes glinted. A meaningful smile curved his lips.
"I've never been to Skypiea before."
"I knew there was an island because I 'saw' it—just now."
"Saw?!" Conis froze, then understanding dawned. Her pupils contracted sharply.
Will caught the reaction and pressed gently, "What, do people in Skypiea also have the ability to 'see' that far?"
Conis hesitated several seconds before answering.
"Yes… The God who now rules Skypiea—Enel—and his four priests can all see distant things."
"And Enel himself, as 'God,' can see every corner of the entire Skypiea."
"Eh?! Really? Further than Will?!" Nami exclaimed, hand over her mouth.
The rest of the crew looked equally stunned.
Even Issho felt a flicker of surprise.
If the girl spoke true, then this self-proclaimed God of Skypiea possessed Observation Haki nearly rivaling his own—impressive, if still inferior.
Meanwhile—
Half a minute earlier.
High above Upper Yard, inside a spacious shrine.
Several winged Skypieans stood in attendance.
On the largest seat lounged a tall man with a white headscarf, thick eyebrows, long earlobes adorned with gold hoops, bare-chested. Loose white pants hung low on his hips, and he was barefoot. Four thunder drums marked with three-tomoe patterns decorated his back where wings should have been. Gold rings glinted on his wrists, ankles, fingers, and toes. A golden staff rested beside his throne.
Below him stood four priests in distinctive attire.
One was rotund, clad in white, round goggles covering his eyes.
Another wore winter clothing and boots, a pilot's cap and goggles, and carried a lance.
The third wore purple, had darker skin, stern features, and hair that resembled spider legs.
The last was bald, wearing a vest and sunglasses, a tattoo on his right arm, gripping a long sword.
They had just received Enel's orders and were turning to leave when the God himself suddenly straightened, lazy posture vanishing. Interest sparked in his eyes.
"Interesting. I didn't expect an outsider to possess something similar to Mantra."
"What?!"
The four priests spun back, disbelief plain on their faces.
The bald swordsman stepped forward, voice low. "Lord Enel, do you mean those illegal entrants Commander Yama reported?"
"Exactly."
Enel rose slowly, took two steps, and raised his right hand skyward. A playful glint flashed in his eyes.
"Let me test him."
"Let's see what this one is truly capable of."
The moment the words left his mouth, his right arm transformed into blinding blue-white lightning and unleashed a massive bolt straight into the heavens.
"El Thor!"
"He's using that right away?!"
"Hoh hoh hoh~ That guy's finished."
"Pathetic."
The priests' faces lit up in the electric glow—first surprise, then amused whispers.
Enel ignored them. A faint smile on his lips, he reclined once more, plucked an apple from a nearby basket, and bit into it with leisurely crunching bites.
Back on Angel Beach.
The crew's reactions to Conis's explanation varied.
"Then do you know—"
Will began another question, only to cut off abruptly. His head snapped upward.
Issho turned his face to the sky at the same instant, eyes parting slightly to reveal a sliver of white.
Most surprising of all, Nami shivered and rubbed her arms, looking up a fraction slower.
"That…"
Conis, confused by Will's sudden pause, started to speak—then saw him leap high into the air, rocketing straight upward.
Everyone else instinctively followed his trajectory and gasped.
A colossal pillar of lightning was plummeting from the heavens, aimed directly at their position.
The next instant—
BOOM!
The terrifying bolt struck Will head-on, erupting in blinding light and a thunderous roar.
"Will!"
Nami, Chopper, and the others cried out in alarm.
"This is… El Thor…"
Conis collapsed to the ground, trembling, staring at the lingering smoke. Terror drained the color from her face.
That lightning had been wide enough to engulf her and her father as well.
If that man hadn't intercepted it alone, everyone present might have been obliterated.
Robin and Issho remained calm. An attack of this magnitude posed no real threat to Will.
And they were right.
As the smoke rapidly cleared, a figure descended gracefully.
"How… is this possible?!"
Conis stared up at the tall, completely unharmed man and could not hide her shock.
"Will, are you okay?!" Chopper and Nami rushed over.
"I'm fine." Will brushed a bit of dust from his shoulder, voice calm. "Just a little lightning."
Relief washed over Nami and Chopper. That strike had looked apocalyptic, yet it hadn't even scratched him.
"Incredible…"
Even Pagaya, who usually kept his eyes nearly shut, opened them a fraction wider in open astonishment.
In all his years, he had never seen anyone survive El Thor.
After reassuring the two, Will turned toward the distant clouds shrouding Upper Yard. His tone grew grave.
"Ignorant of the vastness of heaven and earth, yet daring to strike first—he clearly doesn't take me seriously."
"So that's where Skypiea's 'God' hides."
Issho tilted his head in the same direction, deep in thought.
Will faced the group again, expression serious.
"The situation's pressing."
"I'm going to deal with that so-called God first."
"You all head to Conis's house and wait."
Without waiting for protests, he strode aside, gripped a massive stone pillar, uprooted it effortlessly, and hurled it toward the clouds over Upper Yard.
BOOM!
The pillar shot forward like a spear, slicing through the air.
Whoosh—
Before anyone could fully register the sight, Will vanished from his spot. In the next heartbeat he reappeared atop the flying pillar, standing steadily as it carried him skyward on its momentum.
Hands clasped behind his back, he gazed ahead—as though his eyes had already pierced the clouds and seen everything beyond.
"He… he's going alone?!"
Conis stammered, then urgently turned to the others.
"You have to help him!"
"He can't possibly defeat Enel by himself—and there are four priests, too!"
Yet no one looked worried.
Nami slipped an arm around Conis's shoulders and smiled reassuringly.
"Don't worry, Conis."
"If our captain says he'll handle it, he's absolutely confident he can beat that guy."
Carina joined them, grinning.
"That so-called 'God' only knows how to bully ordinary Skypieans."
"Against someone truly strong? He won't even register."
Robin turned to Pagaya with a gentle smile.
"Pagaya-san, please lead us to your home."
Pagaya, having regained some composure, nodded slowly.
"This way, everyone."
He started toward the stairs, and the group followed.
Conis still felt anxious, but Nami kept her arm linked with hers and guided her along.
There was nothing more she could do except pray silently.
I hope that man can truly end Enel's tyranny…
Back in the shrine.
Enel, sprawled lazily and crunching his apple, suddenly raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise.
"Oh? He actually withstood my lightning."
"This batch of intruders might actually have some strength."
"What?!"
The four priests, still present, gaped in shock.
They knew the devastating power of Enel's lightning all too well—some had felt it personally.
A casual strike from him could overwhelm any of them. The idea that an outsider survived it was unthinkable.
Yet it came from Enel's own mouth, so it had to be true.
Before they could process it, Enel sat forward again, elbows on his thighs, leaning in with an excited grin.
"Yahahahaha! This is getting interesting."
"The one who blocked my attack is coming straight to me."
In all his years ruling Skypiea, no one had ever offered him this kind of entertainment. Playful excitement danced in his eyes.
The priests heard the words and felt another jolt—followed immediately by burning anger.
Anyone who dared challenge God's majesty would not be forgiven.
Enel paid their reactions no mind.
With the Ark Maxim nearly complete, he had already grown bored of ruling Skypiea.
He had planned to amuse himself a bit longer before departing for the endless Vearth.
Now this bold intruder had thoroughly piqued his interest.
Rubbing his chin, he smiled and gave his order.
"You four—prepare yourselves."
"We're going to give our hardworking guest a proper welcome when he arrives."
"Yahahahaha!"
At their God's booming laughter, the four priests bowed deeply.
"Understood, Lord Enel!"
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