Chapter 111 Mysterious Trial
After traversing layers of cloud sea, the going merry finally arrived at a dreamlike floating land—Skypiea territory.
This place was completely different from the white cloud sea they first encountered upon stepping onto Sky Island.
This vast island floated steadily above the White Sea, surrounded by lush green forests and gurgling rivers.
As far as the eye could see, the island's vegetation was dense and verdant.
The air was filled with a faint scent of earth and plants, brimming with vitality.
The sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling intertwined.
It was distinctly different from the other cloud islands floating in the sky.
Its land was solid and heavy, like a continent directly moved up from underground, completely unlike something that would float high in the sky.
Lin Ning and his group disembarked from the going merry and stepped onto this mysterious land.
Robin bent down slightly, extending her slender fingers.
She picked up a handful of soil from the ground, a thoughtful expression on her face.
She gently rubbed the dirt between her fingertips, her gaze deepening.
"This ground..." Robin murmured thoughtfully.
Lin Ning heard her, turned to look at her, and asked, "Is something wrong?"
Robin narrowed her eyes and said contemplatively, "It's 'land'..."
Nami tilted her head, asking in confusion, "Well, of course! Because it's 'ground'!"
Robin slowly stood up, her deep gaze sweeping across the surrounding forest.
Then she spoke softly, "But this is Sky Island, you know."
At her words, everyone froze.
Zoro frowned, looking down at the ground beneath his feet.
He kicked the dirt with his boot, and the solid feeling underfoot surprised him slightly.
"Indeed, it's not soft," Zoro muttered.
Usopp was also stunned for a moment, then he too stomped on the ground with his foot.
Feeling the sensation under his feet, he exclaimed in surprise:
"Right! Sky Island islands should be made of 'island clouds,' so why is it like this here?"
Chopper also jumped twice, wondering:
"This doesn't look like the cloud islands we've seen before; it's more like... land from the surface."
Lin Ning looked around, his eyes flickering slightly, and after a moment of thought, he said:
"Perhaps this island was brought up from below."
Sanji chuckled at the remark, lit a cigarette, and after exhaling a puff of smoke, said:
"What a joke, how could that be? Who could move an entire island from the ground into the sky?"
Robin heard this, the corners of her mouth curving slightly into a mysterious smile, "It seems... it's worth investigating."
But while everyone was discussing, Luffy could no longer hold back.
He clenched his fists, his expression gradually becoming impatient.
"Who cares about all that! Now, we need to find that 'what's-his-name'!"
"I can't take it anymore, I'm going to beat him to a pulp!"
With that, Luffy took the lead, heading deeper into the forest.
He stepped into this unknown primeval jungle without hesitation.
Lin Ning looked at his eager back, a slight smile playing on his lips.
He tightened his grip on the halberd, revealing an excited smile.
"Then let's go!"
"Let's see what the 'god' is capable of!"
Zoro grinned, his Battle Intent radiating as he said, "Finally, I can fight!"
Sanji stomped out his cigarette, adjusted his collar, and with a smile, slowly followed.
Nami sighed helplessly, rubbing her forehead, "These battle maniacs..."
Usopp, holding Chopper, trembled, shouting, "Waaah, are we just rushing in like this?"
But his feet honestly followed along.
Robin smiled slightly, "Since we're here, let's uncover the secrets of this island."
And so, the Straw Hat Pirates officially stepped into the Forbidden Land of 'God's Country,' Skypiea territory.
In a mysterious space, four figures hidden in the darkness sat together.
Their forms were obscured by the pervasive mist, their faces indistinct.
But their cold, ruthless tones carried an authority that transcended all living beings.
One of them spoke in a deep, chilling voice, "To dare to provoke 'god'... These Blue Sea people have committed a first-degree crime!"
Another scoffed, "What do they take God for?
Ignorant people who know no reverence, they deserve to receive 'God's' judgment!"
Following this, another person spoke slowly in a leisurely tone.
With a coldness that seemed to see through everything, "So-called 'crime'... is doing ignorant things."
Finally, a voice, like a sharp blade cutting through the air, said coldly,
"Being soft-hearted makes it impossible to enforce the Heavenly Dao."
The air grew even more oppressive, and the four exchanged glances.
They slowly extended their hands, as if deciding the outcome of some judgment.
"Quickly choose a Trial, and we will 'execute' them!"
Accompanied by the four cold voices, they each recited their respective Trials:
"Trial of the Swamp."
"Trial of Iron."
"Trial of String."
"Trial of the Ball."
Finally, the four of them simultaneously chanted in low voices, their sounds echoing in this eerie space.
"Only 'one' Trial can be chosen."
At the same time, before a towering giant mountain on Sky Island Skypiea territory.
Lin Ning and his group arrived at this unknown "Trial Grounds."
The sight before them was astonishing—a colossal Buddha statue stood on the mountain wall.
Its eyes were slightly closed, its expression solemn, as if it was looking down upon all beings, judging all who dared to trespass.
Below the Buddha statue, four deep tunnels led directly into the mountain's belly, their entrances carved with four large and mysterious characters:
"Trial of the Swamp."
"Trial of Iron."
"Trial of String."
"Trial of the Ball."
Each tunnel entrance appeared exceptionally deep, darkness swallowing everything.
As if unspeakable dangers lurked behind them, waiting for challengers to step inside.
"Trials?" Nami frowned, looking at the tunnels, a sense of foreboding rising in her heart.
Usopp glanced at them and immediately shivered,
"They don't sound like good places! 'Swamp,' 'Iron,' 'String,' 'Ball'—none of them sound friendly!"
Chopper recoiled, nervously looking at the four caves, "No matter which one, it feels like it will be very dangerous..."
Luffy, however, was unfazed, instead looking at the four tunnels excitedly, "Hehe, they sound like fun challenges!"
Zoro crossed his arms, his sharp gaze sweeping over the four entrances, "It seems the people on this island are already waiting for us."
Lin Ning stood to the side, narrowing his eyes as he surveyed the four tunnels before him.
"Swamp, Iron, String, Ball..." Sanji murmured, pondering the possible meanings of these four words.
Robin smiled slightly and said, "It seems we have no choice. Since we've come here, we must accept their so-called 'Trials'."
Nami sighed helplessly, "Hey! Do we really have to pick one and go in? Or maybe we can go around..."
Zoro scoffed at her words, "Do you think these people will let us go around?"
"You're right..." Nami pinched her brow, looking helplessly at the four Trial entrances.
Usopp suddenly swallowed, whispering, "Hey... can't we... not choose?"
Lin Ning nodded gently, a slight smile on his lips, "Of course we can!"
"So-called choices are only for the weak!"
"I will carve a new path!"
Lin Ning walked to the front of the group, holding his halberd.Chapter 112 Opening a New Path
Lin Ning's words startled everyone.
Luffy's eyes widened, and he looked at Lin Ning with a puzzled expression, scratching his straw hat as he asked,
"Lin Ning, are you going to choose one of the trial entrances?"
No sooner had he spoken than—
"You idiot!!" Nami's fist slammed hard on Luffy's head as she roared,
"Of course not! Didn't you hear Lin Ning say he's 'not choosing any' and wants to forge a new path?"
Luffy was knocked to the ground by Nami's punch, clutching his head and wailing, "Ow, ow, ow... so that's what he meant!"
Zoro crossed his arms, a slight smile playing on his lips, and a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Heh... looks like Lin Ning is about to make a move."
Lin Ning slowly walked to the front of the Buddha statue, a sharp light flickering in his eyes.
He didn't look at Luffy but gazed into the distance, his tone calm yet carrying an unquestionable authority.
"Luffy, our current strength no longer requires us to follow the rules."
"So-called rules are for binding the weak."
"But the strong can make rules, and even trample on them."
Lin Ning's voice was deep and powerful, like a sharp sword piercing into everyone's hearts.
Luffy listened to Lin Ning's serious words, scratched his head, and seemed to ponder for a moment.
Then he nodded heavily, a look of sudden understanding on his face.
"Then we'll make a rule that choosing this trial means victory!"
As he spoke, Luffy pointed at the entrance to the 'Trial of the Ball' not far away, his eyes filled with unwavering determination.
Zoro, Sanji, Usopp, Nami, Chopper, Robin: ..."That's not how you understand it!!!"
Everyone roared at Luffy in unison, their heads immediately filled with fury.
Usopp, looking desperate, clutched his head and wailed loudly:
"I thought Luffy would actually understand this time! But he's still that idiot after all!"
Nami clenched her fist, veins bulging, and shouted in exasperation:
"He understands nothing! Luffy, can't you use your brain at all!!"
Lin Ning's mouth twitched slightly, and he silently sighed in his heart.
Sure enough, saying these things to Luffy was like casting pearls before swine.
"Simply put—" Lin Ning simply switched to the most straightforward explanation,
"The four so-called 'priests' behind the mountain are too weak; we disdain to choose their simple trials."
"How can the weak give 'trials' to the strong?"
Lin Ning spoke, his gaze indifferently sweeping over the entrances of the four trial tunnels on the mountain wall, a hint of disdain curving his lips.
"Do you understand?"
Luffy was stunned for a moment, then he suddenly clenched his fist, a look of excited joy on his face.
"Oh—so that's what it means!!"
Zoro sighed helplessly, rubbing his forehead: "He's only just realizing it now..."
Sanji exhaled a puff of smoke and shrugged helplessly,
"Well... even though he's slow to react, he eventually understood."
Robin looked at Lin Ning, a slight smile playing on her lips. "That's quite an overbearing declaration..."
Usopp and Chopper, however, remained stunned, mentally complaining wildly:
"Why are you all so calm?! This is a god's trial! You're actually going to ignore it?!"
Luffy pouted and said with some dissatisfaction:
"So these 'trials' were made by those four guys behind the mountain! You should have said so earlier!"
Luffy and the others had detected them with Observation Haki when they first stepped onto this land.
After speaking, he even deliberately mumbled, standing with his hands on his hips like a sulking child, his mouth pouting high.
"You made me get excited for nothing; I thought it was going to be some incredible adventure!"
Zoro shot him an exasperated glance. "Hey, you idiot Captain, can you focus on the important parts?"
Robin chuckled softly, a hint of amusement in her eyes, and said,
"In other words, those four people are the masters corresponding to these four trials."
Nami crossed her arms and asked curiously,
"The title 'priest'... what does that mean?"
Lin Ning casually planted his halberd into the ground, a disdainful curve on his lips, and slowly said,
"I learned from Conis's memories that those four are the 'Four Great Priests' under Eneru, the God of Sky Island."
Chopper listened, his eyes wide with surprise, and exclaimed,
"Priests! They sound very powerful!"
Usopp clutched his head, looking as if he was about to wet himself, and stammered,
"Th-these are subordinates of a god! We're not going to fight the subordinates of a 'god,' are we?!"
However—
Lin Ning indifferently swept his gaze over the hidden Qi beyond the mountain.
A slight smirk played on his lips, and his tone was utterly contemptuous:
"To the residents of Sky Island, they might indeed be considered 'strong.'"
"But for us..."
"They're nothing but mere rabble."
Lin Ning's tone was light and breezy, but the arrogance and Haki in his words seemed to silence the entire air for a moment.
Zoro's lips curled slightly, his eyes gleaming with fervent Battle Intent. "Interesting, it's getting more and more interesting."
Sanji pulled out a lighter, lit a cigarette, and chuckled with narrowed eyes. "This guy sure talks big."
Nami and Usopp, however, were directly startled by Lin Ning's words, and Usopp shouted in shock:
"Hey, hey, hey! Can't you be a little more modest?!"
Nami also said with a speechless expression:
"'Mere rabble'? Those are subordinates of a god!!!"
Chopper, however, looked at Lin Ning with adoration, stars twinkling in his eyes, and excitedly shouted:
"So cool! Lin Ning!"
Lin Ning simply smiled faintly and slowly raised the halberd in his hand.
The air seemed to solidify at this moment.
Zoro immediately understood Lin Ning's meaning, a cold smirk on his lips, as he placed his hands on the hilt of his swords and said excitedly,
"I see... It seems our 'first mate' is about to make a move."
Lin Ning walked step by step to the front of the mountain, the halberd turning slightly.
The halberd blade pointed towards the mountain blocking their path, his eyes cold.
Usopp was suddenly startled, his face pale, as he frantically waved his hands and shouted loudly:
"Hey, hey, hey! Lin Ning! You're not planning to—"
"You're not planning to split this mountain, are you?!"
Nami was also scared, taking a step back, looking at Lin Ning with a shocked expression:
"Are you kidding?! When you split it, be careful not to hit me..."
Lin Ning smiled faintly, gripping the halberd, his voice resounding with power:
"The strong do not walk the trials opened by the weak."
"I will—forge our own Dao!!"
Boom!!!
Lin Ning gripped the halberd with both hands, his entire Aura surging wildly, rampant in all directions.
In an instant, the earth rumbled, the air solidified, and a storm erupted!
Lin Ning stomped his foot abruptly, and dozens of cracks instantly appeared on the ground.
He was like a God of War, carrying an unstoppable might.
Holding the halberd, he fiercely cleaved towards the mountain peak blocking everyone's path!
"Boom—!!!"
The moment the halberd blade fell, the entire world seemed to fall silent for an instant.
Immediately after—
"Crack—"
A terrifying slash, like thunder, crashed down, directly tearing apart the entire mountain peak with overwhelming force!!
"Boom—rumble rumble!!!"
Under Lin Ning's single blow, the entire mountain was... directly split in half!!!Chapter 113 Priestess Shadley
Usopp, Nami, and Chopper were completely stunned, their mouths agape, their eyes nearly popping out.
"Th-this… this…"
Usopp pointed at the massive mountain that Lin Ning had split open with a halberd, stammering, "Th-this mountain… was… was split open by him… with one halberd?!?!?"
Robin smiled, her eyes filled with admiration, "What incredible power…"
Luffy was momentarily stunned by the sight before him, then he clenched his fists and shouted excitedly, "Hahahaha! Lin Ning, you're so cool!"
Lin Ning put away his halberd and smiled faintly, stepping into the path he had carved.
The air in the jungle was hot and humid, with dense vines and towering trees intertwined.
Clouds and mist lingered among the treetops, making the entire environment appear even more mysterious.
It was eerily quiet all around, with only the occasional bird chirping and the rustling of leaves in the wind.
But within this silence, there was a palpable sense of hidden danger.
"Bang—!"
A violent explosion echoed from the center of the jungle, making the leaves tremble wildly.
Birds scattered, and then a cloud of rolling dust rose into the air.
"Ah ah ah!!"
A familiar figure was blasted backward, falling flat into the mud.
His mouth was full of dirt, his legs pointed skyward, and he had a bewildered expression.
"Luffy!!" Nami and Usopp cried out, rushing towards him.
Chopper's eyes widened in fear, and he quickly opened his medical kit, preparing for first aid.
Lin Ning merely glanced over, his tone calm: "Don't worry, it's just a small explosion."
Zoro crossed his arms, his mouth twitching as he said, "…What an unforgettable guy."
Sanji sighed, pulled out a lighter, lit a cigarette, and lazily exhaled a puff of smoke:
"Seriously, when will this guy ever get rid of his clumsy habits?"
Usopp slapped his forehead in exasperation: "He'll probably never change…"
Luffy lay on the ground, spitting out the mud from his mouth with an annoyed expression: "Who did that?! I'm going to beat him up!"
He grumbled through gritted teeth as he sprang to his feet, hands on his hips, glaring angrily around him.
"These white spheres are actually traps?!" Nami frowned, looking at the countless white spheres scattered throughout the jungle, her face wary.
"These balls aren't all explosive balls, are they…?" Usopp's face instantly turned pale, his body trembling.
Robin bent down, carefully examining the debris on the ground, and slowly said,
"No, these balls are not just explosive devices, but some kind of special mechanism…"
Luffy frowned, his Observation Haki quietly spreading, sweeping across the entire jungle.
Then his gaze sharpened, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly: "…Hmm? There's only one person in this area?"
Hearing this, Zoro's eyes turned cold, and his hand rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist, his Battle Intent growing stronger:
"The explosion was so loud just now, why didn't the other three come to support him? This guy… is quite arrogant."
Robin looked around, observing the dense primary forest, and said in a deep voice,
"It seems that each Shinkan is responsible for a different area.
This area clearly corresponds to the previous 'Trial of the Ball'."
Lin Ning snorted softly, his gaze sharply sweeping around, his eyes narrowing slightly, a cold glint flashing in them:
"It seems our oppressive force is still too weak… You actually think you can stop us by yourself?"
As he spoke, Lin Ning slowly raised his halberd, its sharp blade cutting a cold arc through the air.
The surrounding air seemed to solidify, and a sense of oppression instantly permeated the entire jungle.
The next second, his gaze suddenly locked onto a giant tree deep within the jungle.
"Haa… Haa…"
Shadley, the Shinkan hidden behind the tree, felt his heart pounding like a drum, sweat constantly dripping from his forehead.
He had never imagined that he would be discovered so quickly!
This Blue Sea person was not only terrifyingly strong but also proficient in Observation Haki!?
"Damn it! How is this possible!"
He had intended to remain hidden, but it was meaningless now.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, then gritted his teeth and slowly stepped out from behind the tree.
Bang—!
Accompanied by a heavy thud, a round figure appeared before everyone.
Shadley's body was unusually large, round like a giant ball of flesh.
White feathers covered his shoulders like a cape, and the wings on his back trembled slightly with his movements.
He wore a pointed hat on his head, and his face was covered in sweat.
But his expression tried to appear calm, with a hint of superiority.
He puffed out his round belly and said in a deep voice,
"Hmph, what arrogant Blue Sea people! You actually dare to trespass into God's territory!"
But looking at him, everyone couldn't help but raise an eyebrow slightly.
Zoro crossed his arms, a sneer playing on his lips:
"This is a Shinkan? He looks like a glutton who just finished eating."
Sanji lit a cigarette, gently exhaled a puff of smoke, and teased,
"Hey, hey, I thought all Shinkan were agile masters, but this guy is as round as a ball."
Nami also covered her mouth, giggling: "Is it because he's too fat that he uses balls for the trial?"
Hearing their mockery, Shadley's face instantly turned red, and he roared in anger,
"Shut up! You ignorant Blue Sea people, you don't understand the terror of the trial at all!
I am Shadley, the Shinkan of the great 'Trial of the Ball'!
What you have now stepped into is the place of God's test!
Here, there is only failure and death!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly raised his hand, and the giant white spheres around them began to vibrate violently, as if activated by some force.
"The trial… officially begins!"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Countless white spheres instantly exploded, unleashing powerful shockwaves.
The surrounding trees swayed violently, and flying dust and raging air currents swept through the entire jungle!
But facing this sudden attack, Lin Ning and the others remained unmoving.
They didn't even show any surprise.
Luffy blinked, his lips curling in disdain: "So, it's just fireworks…"
Zoro drew wado ichimonji and said calmly, "What a boring Move…"
Sanji flicked his hair and slowly stretched his wrists: "So, who's first?"
Nami, Usopp, and Chopper were already trembling with fear.
They frantically hid backward, shouting: "Don't ask! Of course, you guys go!!"
Seeing that everyone was fearless, Shadley immediately gritted his teeth.
He vigorously waved both hands, and streams of white spheres flew wildly towards the group.
Lin Ning slowly raised his halberd and lightly swept it.
"Boom—!"
A slash cut through the air, instantly crushing all the white balls!
Shadley's pupils suddenly constricted, and he took a step back in horror.
His legs couldn't help but tremble: "H-how is this possible…!"Chapter 114 Sanji Takes Action
Just then, Sanji, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, stepped forward and flicked the ash lightly.
"Since everyone else is so uninterested, I'll take the lead."
When Shadley saw Sanji step out instead of Lin Ning, he immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
He had been using his Observation Haki to sense the enemy's Qi.
Lin Ning's Qi was unfathomable, making Shadley not want to face him from the start.
And Lin Ning, who had made a simple Move earlier, indeed confirmed this; Shadley was no match for him at all.
Luffy and Zoro also exuded a dangerous Qi, making Shadley subtly uneasy.
Now it was Sanji who stepped forward… Compared to those monsters, this blond kid should be easier to deal with, right?
"Very good! I'll start with him!"
Shadley waved his hands, and countless white orbs around him immediately began to spin wildly.
Like a torrential storm, they flew rapidly towards Sanji!
"Die! White Orb Explosion!"
However, facing the dense attack of white orbs, Sanji's expression remained calm.
He didn't even take the cigarette out of his mouth, as if he didn't take this attack seriously at all.
Whoosh!
Just as the white orbs were about to hit him, Sanji's foot moved lightly, and his figure instantly vanished!
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Consecutive explosions erupted in the air, flames splattered, and shockwaves stirred up large amounts of dust.
But Sanji's figure had already strangely weaved through the gaps in the explosions!
He seemed to have predicted the trajectory of all the white orbs in advance, precisely avoiding all attacks at the last moment.
Even those white orbs that ambushed him from behind, Sanji didn't even look back, easily dodging them.
This astonishing dynamic vision and reaction speed completely froze Shadley's expression, his eyes filled with horror.
"H-how is this possible!?"
Shadley's eyes widened, his voice trembling slightly: "You, how do you also know Observation Haki?!"
Lin Ning, Luffy, and Zoro, who were watching from a distance, remained calm.
They commented on Sanji's fighting style with interest.
Lin Ning nodded slightly, praising: "Sanji's Observation Haki is becoming more and more proficient; his evasions have almost no wasted movements.
And his perception of danger is becoming more precise.
Luffy, Zoro, you two should also practice Observation Haki well."
Luffy and Zoro both nodded; they naturally knew the importance of Observation Haki.
Especially when facing speed-type or long-range attacking enemies, Observation Haki's role is particularly crucial.
Sanji stopped at this moment, turning his head to look at Shadley.
He showed a puzzled expression: "Observation Haki? Are you referring to Observation Haki?"
Shadley was stunned for a moment, his face filled with shock:
"So… so Observation Haki is called 'Observation Haki' in the Blue Sea?!
But… this skill is a gift from God, a divine skill that only God should master!
How could you Blue Sea people possibly know it?!"
His worldview seemed to be violently impacted!
In Sky Island, people regarded "Observation Haki" as a special ability bestowed by God.
Even throughout Sky Island, those who could master this skill were extremely rare.
The reason why the priests could do whatever they wanted in Sky Island was because they were proficient in "Observation Haki."
They could accurately predict the enemy's movements, gaining an absolute advantage!
But now, these guys from the Blue Sea not only mastered Observation Haki, but even used it more skillfully than himself?
This was simply the greatest provocation to the "authority of God"!
"A frog in a well…"
Sanji gently exhaled a puff of smoke, a playful smile appearing at the corner of his mouth:
"It seems your so-called 'divine skill' is nothing special after all."
Shadley's face flushed with anger, and he gritted his teeth, roaring:
"Presumptuous! I will let you witness the true power of God!"
A ferocious glint flashed in Shadley's eyes as he manipulated countless white orbs to furiously assault Sanji.
A triumphant smile appeared on his face: "Even if you know Observation Haki, with such airtight attacks, you have nowhere to escape!
Even Observation Haki will be blown to smithereens!"
But Sanji slowly put away his smile, his feet shifting slightly, adopting a fighting stance.
"In that case…"
"Then I won't play with you anymore."
Facing the overwhelming white orbs, Sanji showed no panic whatsoever.
He subtly quirked his lips, his eyes filled with disdain: "Airtight? Nothing special."
"Moonwalk!"
Sanji kicked off the ground, and his entire body instantly shot into the air.
He took several steps in the air, actually suspending himself mid-air!
Shadley's pupils contracted sharply at this sight.
But what shocked him even more was that Sanji's right leg ignited with a blazing fire at that moment!
The scorching flames churned and danced in the air, illuminating the entire battlefield and causing the surrounding temperature to rise sharply.
"Such a petty trick, yet you dare to show off in front of me?"
Sanji, with a cigarette in his mouth, took a deep drag, his eyes cold, then suddenly lifted his leg—
"Diable Jambe — Rankyaku!"
A Rankyaku, mixed with scorching flames, roared out from Sanji's toes, like a blade tearing through the air.
With an unstoppable surge of Qi, it directly slammed into the densely packed white orbs.
Boom—!
The scorching flame blade Qi instantly swept across the battlefield, and countless white orbs were detonated in the air, forming a series of deafening explosions!
A massive fireball shot into the sky, illuminating the entire forest, and the explosive shockwaves spread in all directions.
The ground was torn with cracks, and dust and smoke billowed into the air.
Shadley stared dumbfounded as his proud "Trial of the Ball" was destroyed by a single strike from Sanji.
The smile on his face froze, turning into an expression of disbelieving horror.
"This… how is this possible?!"
The firelight reflected on Sanji's cold face as he calmly exhaled a puff of smoke in the air.
His voice was calm and indifferent: "Don't bring out such useless Moves to make a fool of yourself."
Shadley's heart pounded frantically, he could already feel an overwhelming sense of pressure.
He wanted to use Observation Haki to predict Sanji's next Move, but—
He couldn't sense anything at all!
Sanji's figure suddenly vanished in mid-air!
"What?! Where is he?" Shadley suddenly looked up, a wave of panic in his heart.
But the next second, boom—!
A loud bang echoed in the air, and Sanji's figure appeared instantly above Shadley's head like a meteor!
In Shadley's eyes, Sanji seemed to have torn through space, instantly arriving directly above him!
Shadley's pupils contracted violently; he wanted to escape, wanted to counterattack, wanted to do something.
But in the face of Sanji's absolute speed, he didn't even have time to raise his hand!
Sanji's eyes were cold, the flames on his right leg danced in the air, like the flames of judgment, shining with destructive brilliance.
Boom—!!!
Sanji's right leg, burning with raging flames, fiercely kicked Shadley's head!
Shadley's head was as if struck by a thousand-ton hammer; his entire plump body slammed towards the ground at an extremely fast speed, crashing down with a boom!
Boom—!
The ground directly exploded into a deep pit, and sand and dust flew everywhere!
The entire jungle trembled violently from this single kick; flocks of birds in the forest scattered and fled, and countless leaves were shaken down.
Shadley's body was heavily embedded in the ground, unconscious, his life unknown!
—Instantly killed by Sanji!Chapter 115 Campfire in the Dark
"Sanji, well done!"
Luffy excitedly waved his fists.
Lin Ning smiled slightly, "Sanji's use of Rankyaku is quite good; his speed and power are well-balanced. It seems his recent training wasn't in vain."
Hearing everyone's praise, Sanji smugly tossed his golden hair from his forehead.
He leisurely exhaled a puff of smoke, a slight smile playing on his lips:
"Hmph, of course. As the strongest fighter and cook on this ship, I must always maintain peak condition."
However, no sooner had he finished speaking than a disdainful snort came from beside him.
"Tch, just a small fry. What's there to be so proud of?"
Zoro stood with his arms crossed, a nonchalant expression on his face.
He didn't even spare Sanji a glance, as if the battle just now wasn't even worth mentioning.
The atmosphere instantly froze.
The smug expression on Sanji's face stiffened, his eye twitched, and he almost crushed the cigarette in his hand.
The next second, his right foot was instantly covered in a deep layer of Armament Haki.
The pitch-black color, reflecting the leaping flames, exuded an astonishing power.
"What did you say, Mosshead?!"
"Bang—!"
He stomped the air fiercely, his entire body seemingly transforming into a black lightning bolt, instantly tearing through the air.
Accompanied by a violent sonic boom, his right foot, carrying raging flames, slammed towards Zoro!
Zoro was startled and immediately drew his swords to defend himself, "Perverted Cook, are you looking for a fight? Just what I wanted!"
He tightened his grip on the sword hilt, and his surrounding Aura suddenly surged.
Armament Haki instantly covered the blade, and Battle Intent ignited in his eyes.
A battle was about to erupt!
—But just as they were about to collide, a terrifying, low growl suddenly came from behind them:
"You two, that's enough!!!"
"Bang!!!"
In an instant, two terrifying iron fists mercilessly smashed onto the back of Sanji's and Zoro's heads!
"Thud—!!!"
With a loud crash, the two were instantly slammed into the ground.
Only their wiggling legs were visible, their entire bodies embedded directly in the earth.
The one who acted, of course, was—
Nami, in her angry form!!
Veins bulged on her forehead, and her fists were still in their striking posture.
"You two idiots! You just finished a fight and now you want to fight each other?! Can't you be quiet for a while?!"
Zoro's and Sanji's bodies were still embedded in the ground, with huge bumps swelling on top of their heads.
Their Souls seemed to have been knocked flying into the air by Nami's punch, floating in the sky.
"Ugh... it hurts so much..." Sanji's voice came from the dirt.
Zoro's head swayed, seeing stars, "That damn woman..."
Lin Ning stood to the side, shaking his head slightly, a helpless smile on his lips.
"These two guys, they'll never change this bad habit."
Luffy glanced at Zoro and Sanji, who had been violently suppressed by Nami, and shrank his neck in fear, secretly deciding—
"Can't make Nami angry!!"
So, he immediately turned around, pretending nothing had happened, and strode forward, even walking at the very front of the group!
"Hahaha! Everyone, hurry up, we're off!"
Everyone couldn't help but laugh at Luffy's guilty little actions.
Lin Ning smiled softly and stepped to follow.
The sky gradually darkened, and the sun was like a golden fireball.
It slowly sank below the horizon, and the air was filled with a faint orange afterglow.
In the jungle, the light spots that filtered through the dense leaves also began to become scarcer and scarcer, eventually disappearing into the endless darkness.
As night fell, the jungle's atmosphere became even more silent, broken only by the occasional sound of wind and distant animal cries.
"Grumble—" A low growl from a stomach broke the silence, and everyone's gaze involuntarily turned to the source.
Luffy clutched his already somewhat "deflated" stomach, looking pitiful.
He looked at Sanji with longing eyes: "Hey, Sanji, can you make some food first?"
Sanji glanced at him, raising an eyebrow slightly, "You, are you always this hungry?"
Then, he looked at the sky and saw that it had gradually changed from orange-red to purple-blue, and he couldn't help but be stunned, saying softly:
"Before I knew it, it's almost dark."
Nami sighed softly as she put away the book she had casually taken out:
"After experiencing so much today, coming from underground to Sky Island, it feels like a very long time has passed."
"Yeah, it's really tiring." Zoro said unhurriedly, dusting off his hands, then suggested:
"Why don't we rest here for the night? It's already late anyway."
Lin Ning nodded gently, his gaze sweeping around, finally settling on an open space ahead.
"The environment here is good, let's stay here."
He pointed ahead to an open area.
A clear river flowed nearby, its gurgling water sounding very peaceful.
Luffy immediately raised his hands, shouting excitedly: "Alright! Camping! Let's have a feast!"
He pulled Chopper, and they cheered together, almost jumping with excitement.
However, Usopp's face was solemn, and he looked around, unable to help but frown:
"Hey, wait a minute! This is enemy territory, what kind of camping are you talking about?!"
But clearly, Luffy's excitement had completely drowned out Usopp's concerns.
He ignored him, still walking towards the river with a smile on his face.
"There are so many Sky Sharks here! Let's catch a few and roast them!"
The ripples in the river reflected a faint silver light, and several very peculiar sharks swam on the surface—
These Sky Sharks, unique to Sky Island, had ferocious forms and darted through the river.
"Hahaha! Now we can eat to our heart's content!" Luffy's eyes lit up, and he squatted down, ready to act.
As soon as Chopper saw Luffy so happy, he immediately ran over to watch the fun.
Soon, everyone took on their respective roles, quickly set up camp, and the bonfire was blazing fiercely not long after.
The firelight illuminated everyone's faces, and the warm atmosphere slowly permeated everyone's hearts.
Luffy held a piece of roasted Sky Shark, grinning so wide his mouth wouldn't close.
He mumbled indistinctly, "This is so delicious! It's awesome!"
Nami sat to the side, holding a book about Sky Island that she had brought from the ship.
She was diligently flipping through it, trying to find some useful information, and she occasionally looked up.
She looked at Luffy, who was wolfing down his food, and couldn't help but shake her head: "Honestly, you can eat so much of anything."
Just then, Sanji slowly walked to the bonfire, his peripheral vision sweeping over Luffy, then he chuckled self-deprecatingly:
"That guy..."
Zoro leaned casually against a tree, closing his eyes to rest, a slight smile on his lips: "This feeling isn't bad at all."
In this quiet and warm atmosphere, everyone enjoyed this rare moment of peace.
Although they knew it was just a brief pause in a long journey.
But at this moment, they cherished this fleeting tranquility enough.