Chapter 43: Upper Yard
Yo! I don't know why this chapter wasn't uploaded three hours ago, but I guess I gotta do it myself. I've been sitting here for five minutes trying to think of something to write here, so I will just write this and be done with it.
GIMMIE POWER STONES TO CRUSH THEM UP AND SNORT THEM!!! I'VE RELAPSED ON POWER STONES LETS FUCKING GO!!!
Enjoy the chapter!
...
The Straw Hats were sailing on the 'Milky Road' from 'Angel Island' to 'Upper Yard' and had a nice meal before they got there.
"Ahh, that shrimp was delicious!! Is there any more, Sanji?" Luffy asked with a smile, making the cook and many others roll their eyes.
"Luffy, that thing was as big as the 'Going Merry', and you ate more than half of it," Sanji said as he shook his head before turning towards the island they were heading towards.
*SPARK*
'It's not like the last one that was essentially a bunch of clouds stuffed together. This one is an actual island with real ground and massive trees.' Sanji thought to himself after sparking his cigarette.
"Hmm?"
Sanji raised an eyebrow when he felt his arm hair stick up without the feeling of chills that generally accompany it. After a few seconds, Sanji looked like he understood and nodded before looking up.
*ZIZIZIZ*
"Static electricity, huh?..." Sanji muttered, and right after he spoke, a massive pillar of lightning just like the one that Luffy cut in half back at 'Angel Island' appeared above them and came down at them faster than the blonde cook could blink.
*SHNK*
*Tsk*
As Sanji applied 'Armament Haki' to his leg to handle the pillar of lightning, he heard a katana being unsheathed, making him click his tongue in annoyance.
"One-Sword Style: Bird Dance"
*FWOOOM* *ZIZIZIZ*
"Nice, Zoro!!" Luffy shouted with a grin before returning to eating, only to deflate in sadness when he remembered no shrimp was left. Zoro rolled his eyes as he sheathed his 'Wado Ichimonji' before laying back down on the deck. Of course, before he did so, he insulted Sanji.
"Be faster next time, Dumbass Cook." Sanji's eyebrow twitched when he heard that, but before he could respond, he felt his arm hair stick up again, making him look toward the island. They were just a few hundred meters away.
*ZIZIZIZ* *BOOOOM*
Everyone else looked toward the island when they heard a massive explosion, only to glimpse another pillar of lightning falling into the middle of the woods. Robin was the first to comment on it.
"It seems we aren't the only targets of this so-called God on this island." Robin pointed out, making most either get more scared than they already were or narrow their eyes in thought in the direction the lightning pillar was. The Captain of the crew, on the other hand...
"Ooo!! I wonder if we can team up with them!! Maybe it's a bunch of old guys like that Gong Fall guy!! I bet they have a bunch of cool armor and stuff." Luffy said with stars in his eyes, making everyone look at him in disbelief.
Before his crewmates could ask him what he was talking about, Luffy whipped his head back toward 'Angel Island' and narrowed his eyes.
"Some weird guys are asking Conis and her dad where we went." Luffy said, making everyone look back at 'Angel Island' as well. Luffy let out a sigh before turning around.
'I could sense that Conis and her Dad were lying to us, but I could also sense how terrified they were, a feeling that grew whenever we mentioned the God guy. They seemed to have calmed down a bit after I cut that lightning pillar in half, but they still never told us the full truth.' Luffy's thoughts were cut off when he saw Nami staring at him like he had grown a second head, confusing him.
"Uhh, Nami?" he asked questioningly, which seemed to have jolted Nami out of her trance.
"You were thinking. For like a minute straight, you sat still in thought. Do I have a fever?" Nami said and asked as she put her hand on her forehead, making Luffy pout before he said what he was thinking about.
"Why did Conis and her dad lie to us?" Luffy asked in confusion, shocking Nami and the other's listening in. Even if most knew 'Observation Haki', they couldn't sense emotions to the same degree as Luffy did.
It's the same as how nobody could see as far as his Usopp. It didn't mean he had the best 'Observation Haki' on the crew. It just meant Usopp's 'Observation Haki' favored long-range over close-range because he's a sniper. Zoro was the one to answer Luffy's question.
"I have no idea." The swordsman said, making Sanji look at him like an idiot.
"Thanks for the help, you green-haired dumbass," Sanji said mockingly, making Zoro's eyebrow twitch while he unsheathed his katana.
"What was that, Swirly?"
"What'd you just say?!"
"You heard me, Dumbass Cook." The two glared at each other briefly before Sanji suddenly threw a foot covered in 'Armament Haki' at Zoro's head as the swordsman unsheathed his katana.
*SHNK*
*BOOOOM*
"It seems the Vice-Captain needs to teach you some manners!!"
"I'll never call a shitty mosshead like you Vice-Captain!!"
"Alright, ignoring those two idiots..." Nami said while turning to everyone else. The two started fighting each other up in the air faster than she could see.
'At least they aren't fighting on the ship. I can feel the shockwaves from here.' Nami thought to herself before she just shook her head and ignored them.
"Didn't that lady at the gate say we would be criminals if we didn't pay for entry? That's probably why." She reasoned, making most nod their heads in agreement. The Captain of the crew just laughed.
"Shishishishi, We're already criminals. Who cares if they call us criminals up here, too?" Luffy reasoned, making Nami's face turn angry, which made everyone on the ship except Robin, who was watching in amusement, stand straight up without making a sound.
When Luffy saw Nami's face, he realized he had said something he shouldn't have said, so he immediately tried his best to calm her down.
"W-Wait, I was j-just joking, Nami." Luffy stuttered out, not that the navigator believed him at all.
*WHAM*
"Stop messing around, Luffy!! We're about to go fight a God that seemingly can control lightning!! I don't think I could meet a more irresponsible Captain anywhere in the world!!"
"I'm sorry!!! Please don't hit me again!!"
.
.
"There's sky sharks!! Sanji, let's catch them for lunch!!"
"We just ate, you idiot."
"Grandpa said to eat whenever I can cause you never know when you're gonna be able to eat again." Sanji looked at the drooling Luffy with a deadpan.
"While I agree with that, I know you just want to eat more because you're still hungry, " the cook said, making Luffy pout.
"So stingy…"
The Straw Hats had arrived at 'Upper Yard'; more specifically, they were just outside of 'Upper Yard', looking at what seemed to be a sacrificial altar surrounded by clouds filled with 'Sky Sharks', which are violent and vicious, attacking anything they can reach without hesitation.
Usopp and Sanji were by the railing to get a better look at the 'Sky Sharks'. They could both sense how there were countless 'Sky Sharks' in the clouds. They both looked back at their Captain when they heard him walking over.
"It's no good, Luffy. There are too many of them. It would take way too long to try to get them out of our way." Usopp said, making Luffy blink twice before he broke out in a smile.
"Hmm, I see," Luffy said, and before anyone could say or do anything else, he shut his eyes, grabbed the rope in his heart, and pulled as hard as he could.
*ZIZIZIZ*
Usopp flinched when Luffy used his 'Conqueror's Haki' to knock out all of the 'Sky Sharks'. After a few seconds, they all started floating to the surface, unconscious.
Usopp looked over at his grinning Captain with sweat dripping down his forehead.
"Wasn't that a bit excessive-"
"Gear 3rd"
"Huh?"
Usopp was stunned and silent when Luffy suddenly jumped into the air and blew air into both of his arms, making them both as big as a Giant.
Luffy's actions got everyone else's attention on the 'Going Merry' as he landed on the lower part of the staircase that led up to the sacrificial altar and brought his massive hands on either side of the ship.
"Gomu-Gomu no…"
They were all speechless when Luffy grabbed the 'Going Merry' on both sides and carried it into the air with his huge hands.
"Giant Ship Mover"
With seemingly little effort, Luffy brought the 'Going Merry' over the altar behind him before lightly placing it down at the top, where a cloud was just big enough for Luffy to place the ship on.
Luffy jumped back onto the 'Going Merry' after he let his arms shrink back down. He smiled when he saw everyone staring at him before looking at the two fluffy doctors of his crew.
"Chopper, Bepo, can you guys watch the 'Going Merry' while we explore?" Luffy asked the two. Bepo immediately nodded, but Chopper didn't look confident. Luffy smiled softly at the reindeer.
"Don't worry, Chopper, you'll do great!!" Luffy reassured, making Chopper smile and nod back.
With that settled, Luffy looked over at the giant vines that were in the perfect spot for them to use to swing over to the other side.
As soon as that thought entered Luffy's brain, he jumped up, grabbed a vine, and swung.
"AHHHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!"
Nami and Robin looked at Luffy weirdly when he let out a war cry as he swung to the other side.
"Can't you just use 'Moon-Walk'? Why do you have to use the vine? And why did he scream like that?" Nami asked, Robin, nodding in agreement and wondering the same.
Zoro and Usopp looked at them like idiots before glancing at each other and shaking their heads.
"It's obvious you just don't understand, so there's no need to explain," Zoro said, and before they could respond, he jumped.
"AHHHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!"
Nami and Robin sweatdropped at the shout Zoro made before turning to Usopp for an explanation, only to see the sniper about to jump as well.
"Like Zoro said, you just wouldn't get it." He said, not looking at them, before jumping.
"AHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!"
In disbelief, Nami and Robin watched Usopp swing over to the shore before looking at each other. Robin couldn't help but crack a smile.
"Well, they're right in that we don't understand. I'm baffled."
.
.
"What?!"
The servants feeding him grapes and fanning him were surprised when their God suddenly became shocked and shot up out of his lying-down position.
"What is that I'm feeling?" Enel questioned out loud incredulously.
Enel considers himself an immortal god because of his invulnerability to physical attacks, which comes with possessing a Logia-Type devil fruit, and his use of his high-level "Mantra" in conjunction with his ability to read electric signals from afar.
This gave him a radar-like awareness of all the happenings in 'Skypiea' while massively extending his attack range.
The ability to listen in on any conversation across all of 'Skypiea'. The ability to create, control, and become lightning at will. Combining the two allows you to smite down anyone who goes against your will.
Enel figured abilities like these could only belong to a god; thus, he believed he had the authority to do, take, or destroy whatever he pleased and was capable of doing anything.
This idea was reinforced when Enel learned 'Advanced Observation Haki', or the ability to see into the future for a few seconds at a time.
But when Luffy let his 'Conqueror's Haki' run wild to knock out all of the 'Sky Sharks' in his way, for the first time since he ate the 'Goro Goro no mi' and only for just a few moments, Enel was unable to sense someone's presence.
"How was I unable to sense him with my 'Mantra'?! Even if it was for just a second, how could that be possible?! " Enel shouted out in confused anger.
After a few minutes of throwing a temper tantrum, destroying the room, and scaring the hell out of his servants, Enel looked over at the servant closest to him, a young woman with blonde hair who flinched and looked at the ground when they made eye contact.
"You, tell Shura I order him to go destroy the ship of the 'Blue Sea' dwellers at the 'Sacrificial Altar'."
.
.
As the Straw Hats walked around the jungle, trying to find anything that could lead them toward the God they've been looking for, Robin realizes that 'Upper Yard' was once a part of Jaya and that it was launched into the sky via the 'Knock-Up Stream'.
She realizes this by taking the map of 'Jaya' and putting the map of 'Skypiea' above it, forming a skull with one eye. The eye is in the same spot as the sacrificial altar, and the cracks in the skull depict the 'Milky Roads' that connect each part of 'Skypiea' together.
"With that in mind, it isn't unreasonable to assume the 'City of Gold' exists as well as somewhere around here."
*SQUEE*
Before anyone could process what Robin just said, Nami let out a squeal of happiness and marched into the forest.
"Let go!! Time to find the 'City of Gold'!!!"
Before she could go more than a few steps, Luffy grabbed her shoulder and pulled her back, making her glare at him.
"Let go, Luffy!! I will find the 'City of Gold' and nobody can stop me!! Not even you!!" She shouted with determination. Luffy just laughed before he nodded toward the forest.
"Shishishi, a group of strong people, comes from that way. They'll get here soon." Luffy said, making Nami's eyes widen before she hid behind Luffy's back and peeked over his shoulder.
"That guy that attacked us with the bazooka when he first got up here is coming at us from over there, and he's got friends," Luffy said louder as he pointed into the forest, getting everyone to look over.
Right as he did so, a group of about 30 people mostly wore animal pelts as clothing, with a few exceptions. Most of them had tattoos covering large portions of their bodies.
They also had wings on their back similar to those of the 'Skypieans' except they are longer and have a more defined shape than the 'Skypieans'.
The Straw Hats noticed the group of people all had their guards up and were staring at them warily.
Luffy looked at the man who had attacked them when they first came up to the sky, who was now not wearing a mask.
The man was tall, covered by various tribal tattoos across his left shoulder and the left side of his face. He had a long brown mohawk that followed into a braid that went slightly past his waist. He was shirtless and wearing a grass skirt with a rope belt.
At the moment, he was smoking a cigarette with a scowl as he glared at Luffy.
The man glanced at a little girl with short brown hair hiding behind the legs of a black-haired woman standing next to the man before looking back at Luffy and speaking up.
"Aisa, you said they were strong earlier. Do you still think so now that we are close to them?" The man asked the little girl hiding behind a woman's leg. The girl nodded her head in confirmation.
"Mhmm. They are solid. I don't know if they're stronger than Enel, but most of them are really strong." The girl said, making the man nod and look back at the pirates he attacked earlier.
Funnily enough, the people they talked about were having a similar conversation.
"They seem pretty strong," Luffy said as he scanned the group. He could tell they were all fighters, which made him grin.
He tilted his head in confusion when he saw some of them with burnt-black skin on the ground getting wrapped in bandages. After a few seconds, Robin spoke right behind him.
"They must've been the targets for the second pillar of lightning we saw on our way here. It's incredible they only have a few who seem to have gotten hit by it." She said, making Luffy look understanding.
"So, they are gonna go fight the God guy too?" Luffy wondered as he tilted his head to the side in confusion.
Luffy's words made the man leading the group, and the one who attacked them with a bazooka when they first got up here scoff in annoyance.
*SCOFF*
"What do you mean "fight the God guy too"? It's us who are going to kill Enel; if you get in our way, we'll kill you, too." The man said before turning around and walking back into the forest, prompting most people with him to follow, leaving the Straw Hats in confusion.
Luffy tilted his head at the little girl. The same one who had said they were strong earlier was left standing there alone. He grinned when he saw that even though her knees were shaking in fear, she still looked up at him in determination.
"You said you guys are gonna fight Enel, right?" The girl asked, making Luffy nod in confirmation.
"That's right. Even if your friends try to stop us, I'm gonna beat that guy up." Luffy said. He was surprised when his words made a giant smile appear on the girl's face.
"You promise?!" She shouted out, making Luffy's smile grow as he nodded again,
"Yeah, I promise. That guy pissed me off and messed with my friends."
The girl beamed up at him before looking at the forest in horror.
"Aisa!! What are you doing?!! What did I tell you about running off on your own?!"
"I'm coming!!!" the girl shouted back, terror on her face. She shook her head and looked back at Luffy with a huge smile.
"You better keep your promise!!"
They all watched as the girl ran into the forest like the group she came with left.
Luffy turned to Nami with confusion all over his face, but when he saw Nami also had no idea what was going on, he looked at Robin. She looked back at him and slightly tilted her head, silently asking why he was looking at her.
He just pointed at where the Shandorians disappeared into the forest and tilted his head.
"What was the point of that? The little girl just wants me to beat up the God guy, but the other people seemed like they wanted to fight." Luffy asked Robin, but before the archaeologist could answer him, Zoro spoke up first.
"I have no idea. They just said they're gonna kill this God Enel guy, and if we get in their way, they'll kill us too. I don't understand at all." He said in similar confusion, making Luffy look at him with an understanding look, one that was mirrored by his Vice-Captain.
Robin smiled in amusement at the two before she answered Luffy's question.
"Well, that little girl said that we were 'Very Strong' while looking at Sanji and you two, so I'd take a guess and say that little girl has strong 'Observation Haki'. They are most likely going to try to kill this 'God Enel' and don't want us interfering." Robin said, making Luffy nod in understanding before looking at her in confusion.
"Wait, you said the little girl looked at Sanji, Zoro, and me when she said we were strong? Why didn't she say Law, too? He's pretty strong." Luffy asked as he looked around, not noticing Usopp getting his heart pierced by the unintentionally mean words.
"The Great Captain Usopp is the strongest one on the crew..."
Of course, these muttered complaints went in one ear of his Captain and straight out the other.
Luffy's face became increasingly distressed when he couldn't find his doctor on the 'Going Merry' anywhere. Everyone realized what he was doing and looked around, only to discover the doctor was nowhere to be found.
"Where the hell did Law go?!"
.
.
"Room"
A transparent, light blue sphere was formed around 'Angel Island' for a second, and during that second...
"Shambles"
Law appeared back at 'Angel Beach' after enjoying some much-needed quiet time away from his loud and energetic crew.
*SIGH*
"Back to the chaos..." He muttered to himself as he looked around. When he did so, he realized there was no one at 'Angel Beach' except for himself.
"Where the hell did they go?"
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
ntc15
ntc15 Yo! If you think Enel should be able to sense Luffy while using his 'Conqueror's Haki' or if you feel that isn't how 'Observation Killing' works, I don't care. I wanna write it like this, so I will.
Anyway, the next chapter will be more set up and after this will be mostly humor or fighting until the end of the arc, so look forward to it!
Thanks for reading and hopefully see you next chapter!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
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