Gan Fall gazed at Shirogai: "Your perspective surprises me. Yet it seems to carry a depth I had not expected."
"To become a savior demands sacrifice — your own life, and the lives of those close to you," Shirogai said quietly.
Gan Fall's expression flickered.
Shirogai continued, "A savior need only cast aside life and dreams, and fight to the death against enemies. But those suffering, awaiting rescue, face harder burdens—they must cry out, wait for that savior to appear, and yet swallow their own pride to negotiate with villains. They become complicit, hurting other innocents in the process."
His lips curled in a strange, faint smile. "What an interesting world we live in."
Silence fell.
Gan Fall said finally, "Those who surrender without resistance, who swallow their dignity — they do not deserve salvation."
Shirogai looked down at him calmly. "You wish to be saved? Very well. First show the savior that you are worthy — that you have not given up faith in resistance. Otherwise, why should you be saved?"
"I grasp your meaning, Shirogai," Gan Fall sighed, lowering his spear. "We Sky Island people will give everything. We will slay God."
Shirogai flicked his wrist. Wax liquid pooled and hardened into beds. He had Nami, Usopp, and Sanji lie across them.
"Hehe, salvation never rests in the hands of others — it lives in the hands of those who suffer," he said with a soft smile. "So stop waiting for a savior. Become it yourselves."
Whoosh—
Whoosh—
Two plump figures appeared on the bow of the Going Merry, making a comical entrance.
"It was you… Big Brother Satori…" the two deputy divine soldiers, Satori and Little Satori, said as they rushed forward, glaring with righteous anger.
"Ice Block: Twin Thorn Spears."
Shirogai didn't even turn. Two crystalline ice spears appeared at his side and shot toward them.
"Ah!"
"Ah!"
They screamed as the spears struck. Their bodies froze solid, then shattered, collapsing into the cloud paths below.
Gan Fall, who had just raised his spear in defiance, stood slack-jawed, feeling useless in that moment.
"Make the choices you must," Shirogai said, ascending into the air, hands clasped behind his back. "The future is born from your choices."
He became a beam of light and vanished into the sky.
"Ah…" Sanji, lying on the wax bed, bolted upright, his eyes blazing. "Damn it! Where is that so-called God? I'm stronger than that swordsman!"
Usopp shivered and curled into a corner, eyes squeezed shut. "Has that God not left yet? Be careful… or I'll have my fifty thousand little brothers from the forest beat you to death!"
Nami shot upright, chest heaving. "You bastard! You dare shock me like that? Next time — I'll have Shirogai beat you to death myself!"
Gan Fall hovered nearby, awkward and embarrassed by their reactions. As expected of Shirogai's companions — their recovery ability was remarkable.
…
Crackle crackle…
A blinding, scorching lightning flashed.
"Ha ha ha, Gedatsu actually lost to someone like you — pathetic!"
Enel sneered, releasing his grip on Chopper's neck. The scorched, unconscious reindeer dropped heavily to the ground.
Chopper lay motionless, mouth agape, limbs twitching weakly.
"Sixth one." Enel frowned, surveying the area. "The seventh aura is gone. Must have been eliminated by someone else. Don't tell me you blame me for failing our bet?"
"Enel, your Observation Haki is still flawed," Shirogai's amused voice spoke up from behind him.
Enel's pupils constricted. He spun around, face cold. "What do you mean? Are you saying I missed that aura?"
"Of course," Shirogai said as he knelt to feed Chopper a healing mushroom. Then he looked at Enel with a gentle smile. "You have long mixed Observation Haki with human electrical waves to monitor every action on Sky Island."
Enel's face hardened, but he had to admit inwardly: his Observation Haki was inferior to Shirogai's.
"Hmph. And?" Enel challenged.
"Your inability to distinguish overlapping auras shows your Observation Haki is not perfected. The remaining person is my captain — currently inside the Sky Monster's belly."
Enel's eyebrows rose in astonishment. "Inside the python's belly? Hmph. The python's aura overpowered the Blue Sea fellow's aura — no wonder I missed him."
Shirogai met his gaze. "Enel, do you wish to quit now? Let me be frank — you are no match for him."
Enel scowled. But then he laughed, strange and harsh. "Ha ha ha — as if I'd believe that."
Shirogai shook his head, smiling dryly. "Suit yourself. But you're free to join me in finding the Sky Master. He's wandering near the ruins."
Enel fixed him with suspicion. "Could it be you fear your last companion will fall, and you want to complicate things for me?"
Enel's Observation Haki could not detect Shirogai's subtle presence, which made him restless, always alert to some hidden attack.
"Don't worry — I keep my word. I just don't want to miss the final act." Shirogai's voice floated toward the distant entrance of God's Island. "The Sky Island survivors and Shandia Tribe have assembled. Their goal is unanimous — slay God."
Enel sneered. "What use are those weaklings?"
"Even ants bite snakes to death." Shirogai's tone held a measured regret, like seeing a ghost of the future. "Enel — you will regret your arrogance."
"How can a god fear mortals?" Enel replied, voice dripping with scorn.
…
"Wow! Where am I?" Luffy looked around the cavern, bewildered. "It's so dark. How did I even fall? And where is everyone?"
He kicked at dust and rocks and began exploring.
"Hello? Anyone here? Shirogai, Sanji, Zoro, Usopp…" he called, his voice swallowed by silence. Only the dripping of water echoed back.
…
Hiss, hiss…
The Sky Monster drifted through the forest, moaning. It burped weakly, but couldn't expel the bug lodged in its throat. A stomach ache gnawed inside it.
Where can I go to find help… a doctor to examine this nausea?
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