Chương 74: Chapter 74: The King's Woman!
Cloud Village.
This is the home of the Sandians, a people whose residences and decorations evoke the tribal cultures of ancient times.
Inside one of the largest dwellings:
"Cough!"
A man with a powerful build, a fierce expression, and tattoos around his left eye and shoulder lay half-reclined on a couch.
This man was Wyper, a descendant of the legendary warrior Kalgara of Shandia.
At this moment, Wyper's face was pale, and he was coughing violently. He was clearly severely injured.
Not far from him, a little girl was cradled by a beautiful woman with a black ponytail, dressed in lavender. The girl was Aisa, born with an extraordinary gift for Observation Haki, and the woman was Raki.
"Wyper, are you okay?" Aisa asked, her face full of concern.
Laki, too, glanced at Wyper nervously. Even though they had grown up together, Raki had never fully shared Wyper's intense views and was somewhat afraid of him.
"I'm fine! Cough!" Wyper spat out angrily, his expression filled with frustration.
He hadn't expected to be so badly injured by just one punch from a man from the Blue Sea. It was a humiliating blow for a descendant of the great warrior Kalgara.
It was Wyper who had attacked Ace and his crew when they first arrived on Sky Island. Sky Island often saw people from the Blue Sea to invade, but Wyper quickly realized something was off with this group.
These women—they were clearly newcomers from the Blue Sea, struggling to adapt to the Sky Island environment.
But the man…
Wyper clenched his fists, filled with bitterness. He had been completely overwhelmed, unable to fight back.
"It's hard to believe anyone from the Blue Sea could be that strong," he muttered.
In front of Wyper's couch, an old man dressed as a tribal chief gazed at him in disbelief. This was the current elder of the Shandians.
The elder was deeply shocked. Wyper was one of the strongest warriors of Shandia, especially known for his endurance. He was even capable of using the rare and deadly "Impact Dial" multiple times, something most warriors couldn't survive.
But a single punch from a Blue Sea native had left Wyper gravely wounded.
"I was just caught off guard! If I face him again, I'll hit him with the Impact Dial right away!" Wyper roared, pride flaring as he recalled the fight.
"Calm down, Wyper. They aren't our enemies. You attacked them first," the elder said sternly. "We need to reserve the Impact Dial for Enel."
Wyper's eyes twitched, still burning with resentment. Ace's punch had shattered his confidence as Kalgara's heir.
"Wyper…" Aisa murmured, her worry palpable.
Raki tightened her grip on Aisa, her lips pressed into a thin line. This was what she both feared and resented about Wyper. His desire to fight often seemed reckless, even senseless.
"Ah!"
Suddenly, Aisa clutched her head in pain and screamed.
"Aisa! What's wrong?" Raki asked, panicked.
"Aisa!" The elder also looked at her with grave concern.
Aisa had always been able to hear things others couldn't—the thoughts and voices of others, even the priests.
"I'm hearing screams! So many powerful voices…" Aisa gasped, her eyes wide with shock. "It's coming from the temple. It's not the priests—it's Enel! Enel's hurt!"
"What?!" The elder, Wyper, and Raki all froze in disbelief.
"Enel? Injured?" the elder murmured.
Enel's power was godlike. For the past four hundred years, the Shandians had fought ceaselessly with those from the Holy Land of Upper Yard and Angel Island, but no one had ever managed to defeat Enel.
In a single day, Enel had taken control of the Holy Land and Angel Island, defeating the former god, Gan Fall, and all his forces. His punishments, which came from the skies, were feared by all.
But now… Enel was injured?
"Who could have hurt Enel in his own temple?"
Wyper's mind raced, and a face flashed before his eyes.
"Blue Sea people…" the elder said solemnly.
"Impossible!" Wyper shouted, his pride getting the better of him. But he fell silent, realizing there was no other explanation.
Aside from those newcomers from the Blue Sea, who else could have possibly injured Enel at this time?
"Blue Sea people… hurt Enel?" Raki whispered, stunned. Could it be true? The god-like Enel, brought down by those from the Blue Sea?
"Whoever did it, this is a golden opportunity!" Wyper exclaimed, standing up despite his injuries.
"Wyper, don't be reckless. You're still wounded," the elder warned.
"Injury means nothing! If Enel's hurt, his temple will be in chaos. This time, I'll kill him and light the lamp of Shandora!" Wyper snarled, strapping on his weapon and heading out.
"We must join them, Raki," Aisa said, her face set with determination.
"Fighting is dangerous, Aisa. Even if you can hear their voices, you're not ready for battle," Raki said, hesitating.
"Please, if you don't take me, I'll sneak out by myself," Aisa whispered stubbornly.
Raki sighed, knowing Aisa wasn't bluffing. "Alright, but we'll stay behind Wyper and the others. If he catches us, he'll send you straight back."
Raki quickly began preparing their equipment. This was a chance to retrieve the precious soil, "Vearth," from Upper Yard—a resource more valuable than gold on Sky Island.
——
Avenue of Angels.
At this moment, Conis, carrying combat equipment, led Ace and the others to the starting point of the Trial of God.
"Just follow this cloud path, and you will enter the forbidden land of Upper Yard. Ahead lies the Trial of God, overseen by Enel's priests," Conis explained, pointing at the cloudy passage.
The residents of Angel Island, watching Ace and the others—dressed so differently from themselves—and Conis, who was armed, retreated in fear.
"Are these people going to face God's punishment?" they whispered. "Why is Conis dressed like that?"
In the distance, a group of men wearing white berets and blue-purple uniforms crawled toward Ace and the group.
"What are they doing?" Nami asked, confused by the strange sight.
"They're part of the White Berets unit, responsible for maintaining order on Angel Island," Conis explained.
"Oh? So they're enemies too?" Nojiko asked as she loaded her weapon.
"No, no! They're not like Enel's priests," Conis said hurriedly, nervously trying to stop her.
"Are you the intruding Blue Sea people? And Conis—why are you dressed like that?" shouted the leader of the White Berets, McKinley. He noticed Conis's gear and yelled, "Throw those weapons away, Conis! God will punish you!"
"No!" Conis replied boldly. "I'm going with them to defeat Enel!"
At her words, the citizens of Angel Island hiding nearby and the White Beret troops stared at her in disbelief. A wave of panic erupted.
"Conis has lost her mind! This is blasphemy!"
"Stay away from them! God's punishment is coming!"
"Don't get caught in it!"
The residents scattered in fear, and Conis bit her lip in frustration.
Have we really become like this under Enel's rule? she thought. Even friends and family are abandoned when they offend him. This has to change.
Conis clenched her fists.
"Stop saying such crazy things, Conis!" McKinley shouted, drenched in cold sweat.
"God is merciful," he continued, "and hasn't punished you yet. But stay away from those Blue Sea people!"
"Captain McKinley!" Conis called out, lifting her face with determination. "Can't you see how wrong this is? In the past, we always stood together through any hardship. But now, when someone offends Enel, we trick them into facing God's trial. Even if it's someone close, we watch as Enel kills them!
Angel Island wasn't always like this! Why have we become like this? Now, Ace and his friends are willing to defeat Enel. Shouldn't we unite and fight alongside them?"
"She's gone mad! Conis has gone mad!" the residents screamed.
"God, strike Conis down! She's a heretic!"
Hearing their words, Conis bit down harder on her lip until it bled. McKinley and the White Beret troops looked conflicted, their expressions wavering.
"Stop this nonsense!" McKinley roared. "Defeat God? How could anyone possibly do that?"
His men shifted nervously, knowing that even questioning Enel was blasphemous. But why hadn't Enel's punishment come yet?
"Conis." Ace gently tugged on Conis's hand, pulling her back. "You can't change their minds right now."
"Ace…" Conis murmured, her eyes stinging with emotion.
"They won't listen. Instead, they want God to kill me. Why does it have to be this way?"
"They're just too scared," Ace said softly, "believing that Enel's power is beyond human strength. Don't let their fear taint your pure heart."
Conis looked up at Ace, feeling the warmth of his hand as he gently stroked her blonde hair. His kind smile soothed her troubled heart.
"Whatever you want to do, I'll help you accomplish it, my future musician," Ace promised with a gentle smile.
At that moment, Ace retracted his conqueror haki, lifting the shield he had used to block Observation Haki.
Meanwhile, in the temple…
"Hah... Hah..." Enel sat up with difficulty, gasping for breath. "You filthy Blue Sea scum! How dare you hurt a god?"
As the power of his Thunder Fruit returned, Enel's eyes glistened with rage. He was determined to annihilate the Blue Sea people with his lightning. This time, he wouldn't underestimate them.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, Enel's eyes narrowed. "My heart network is back?"
A smirk crossed his lips. "A mere Blue Sea dweller thinks he can challenge a god by blocking my heart network? How laughable!"
Lightning crackled around Enel's body. "Oh, and there's a little girl stirring up trouble on Angel Island, questioning my divinity? Then let them both perish."
With one hand raised to the sky, Enel declared, "God's Judgement!"
"Boom!"
A blinding bolt of lightning shot upward and vanished into the sky.
Back at the starting point…
Conis looked up at Ace, still unsure of his words. 'My future musician?'
Suddenly, the sky lit up brilliantly.
"It's coming! God's punishment!" the residents of Angel Island screamed.
"The only fate for those who defy God is death!" they cried.
"Conis…" McKinley's bloodshot eyes were glued to the blinding pillar of light descending from the heavens. Despite their fear, some of the citizens were torn, not wanting to see Conis die. But the fear of Enel was overwhelming. They knew that any disobedience would cost not only their lives but the lives of their families as well.
"Conis…" McKinley muttered, his heart heavy. They knew Enel was no true god, but to resist meant death. They could only endure.
"Hey, why is it so bright?" Ace asked, looking up.
In the next instant, the lightning bolt crashed down. But before it could strike, a powerful sandstorm surged upward, intercepting the bolt.
Conis, McKinley, and the people of Angel Island stared in disbelief.
The blinding light of God's Judgment had been repelled by a whirlwind created by a young girl.
"How dare you face our king directly, Come out, Enel!" the figure in the storm declared.
As the sandstorm settled, Vivi emerged, her face determined and smiling confidently.
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