Chapter 135 News from Sky IslandIn Luffy's eyes, anyone who tries to steal his crewmate is already deserving of a death sentence.So he didn't mind Arthur directly knocking out Bellamy.And just then, the tall man who had just appeared stood before them."Kid, are you going to Skypiea? That's a place those guys call a joke, and you still want to go?" the tall man said.Luffy nodded and said, "I have to go. I believe Skypiea definitely exists.""Zehahahahaha."Then the tall man smiled. He had just learned what happened inside, and he hadn't expected this group of guys to have such powerful combat strength.The tall man looked at Arthur."Those people always mock dreams, saying that people with dreams are idiots. In my eyes, they are the idiots. A person's dream will never end, Zehahahahaha!"His gaze made Arthur feel very uncomfortable. Then Arthur pulled Luffy and the others, quickly bypassing the loudly laughing tall man.And after Luffy and the others left, from the collapsed tavern, several figures and countless broken stones appeared.On the shoulder of a man wearing a white fur coat was Bellamy, who had been knocked unconscious by Arthur.He was still very shocked by the scene that had just occurred. Bellamy, who in his eyes was almost invincible, had been defeated with a single punch.And the Straw Hat Kid, who had been punched by Bellamy, was completely unharmed.What is going on with this Pirate Crew?Do they really only have that much bounty?Just then, their ship's doctor walked over, and she reached out to touch Bellamy."Sarkies, Bellamy's life force is dissipating. We need to treat him quickly."Cold sweat streamed down the female doctor's forehead.That seemingly delicate woman, with just one punch, had fractured Bellamy's entire body. Now, Bellamy's internal energy was extremely chaotic.If he wasn't treated in time, he could die at any moment."Those guys actually want to go to Skypiea, how ridiculous!" Just then, on the other side, another man emerged from the ruins."Tch, why didn't you say that just now? What's the point of saying it now?" At this moment, another man said."Heh heh, do you think you could withstand that punch?""Haven't you guys found any information about Skypiea?" Usopp asked the group.Nami shook her head, then grabbed Arthur's ear and said, "We haven't even started looking for information, and this guy already knocked someone out directly.""Hey, hey, hey, Nami, how can you blame me? They wanted me to be their crewmate! How could I agree? And they were looking at me with those kinds of eyes, I really couldn't stand it. Hmph, speaking of which, it's still your fault. If you hadn't made me wear these clothes, would this situation have happened?"Bang!Nami punched Arthur on the head.Arthur stopped speaking. If I can't provoke her, can't I at least avoid her?"What's wrong? You guys haven't found any information about Skypiea, so how are we going to get there?" Usopp waved his hand and said.Just then, Robin, who had been missing for a long time, suddenly appeared on the ship.Robin threw out a map and then said, "This is a map of this island, and on the other side of the island are people who have been exiled by this island. He should know about Skypiea."Arthur saw Robin, who had changed into a different outfit, and said, "As expected of Sister Robin, for gathering information, I have to rely on you for this kind of thing."At this, Nami gave Arthur a helpless look.However, with this map, they now had a goal, and they also had a route to sail. And if Nami's log poserecorded the magnetic force here, they would have to continue sailing, so within a certain period, they had to reach Skypiea."Let's go, depart!" Luffy said with a smile.The Going Merry continued to sail. Although it was just an island, reaching the other end would take a considerable amount of time.Arthur had intended to lie down and rest for a while, but he was stopped by Zoro."Is there something, Zoro?" Arthur asked curiously.Zoro nodded, his eyes becoming serious, and said, "Haven't you noticed that your state hasn't been quite right lately? Especially when dealing with enemies."Hearing this, Arthur was stunned for a moment.At this, Sanji and Chopper, who were beside Zoro, also nodded."It seems so."And Zoro continued, "Your body is very strange; it can allow you to increase your combat strength so much in a short period. But you currently don't have the mindset of a strong person, so if this continues...""You'll develop a very difficult-to-treat mental illness," Zoro didn't finish, and Chopper interjected."Mental illness?"How could I possibly get a mental illness?Arthur was at a loss for a moment.And at this, Zoro didn't speak, and Choppercontinued, "Yes, many people can develop some mental illnesses due to killing or stimulation. Because these illnesses are not physical problems, medication is very difficult to treat.""I can now perceive your two states, one during combat and one at normal times. If this continues, I'm afraid you might develop some mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia."Chopper said. He was a doctor and had some research into psychological illnesses.On the ship, everyone except Luffy had felt Arthur's change."So how do I treat it?" Arthur said."There are many ways to improve your mindset. For example, you can try meditating with me first," Zoro said.Meditation?He suddenly remembered one of Zoro's usual training routines, which seemed to involve sitting still."Yes, meditation is also a form of cultivation. It allows you to enter a state of emptiness, fully experiencing your surroundings and becoming one with nature. In this state, you can relax your mind and improve your mindset."Zoro explained.Arthur nodded. Better safe than sorry. After all, this was a hidden danger that needed to be resolved. What if he really developed a mental illness later? Wouldn't that be bad?Then, Arthur gave up his rest time and went with Zoro to the ship's deck, where they sat cross-legged on the ground and meditated."Naturally empty, feel nature," Zoro murmured.And Arthur followed Zoro's rhythm, beginning to relax his body, feeling the natural breathing, the gentle sea breeze passing by him.He suddenly remembered that he was still wearing Nami's short skirt.Thinking of this, his heart began to lose its tranquility.The Going Merry sailed slowly. Along the way, Arthur's heart was in turmoil. He simply couldn't calm his mind, constantly thinking about this or that.Even after the meditation session ended, his heart still hadn't settled down."Your mind is in chaos!"
Chapter 136 KulikateThe Going Merry slowly approached the shore, and the first thing that came into view was a huge castle."Wow, what a big castle! It looks like this Cricket is a very rich man," Chopper and Usopp exclaimed with surprise.Just then, Sanji took a puff from his cigarette and said, "I don't think so. It looks like he's someone who cares a lot about appearances. This is just a huge wooden board; it's not a real castle at all."At that moment, everyone looked at the castle again, and indeed, it wasn't real.The Going Merry docked, and everyone disembarked."It's fake, just as I thought," Usopp said, looking at the tall wooden board.Meanwhile, Robin was attracted to a book on a wooden stump nearby."'Noland the Liar,' is this a fairy tale from North Blue?" Robin wondered.As soon as Robin picked up the book, Usopp came over. In his opinion, this kind of book was perfect for him, and it was one of his favorite genres.Luffy had already walked into Cricket's room, which was empty at the moment.Arthur also followed into the room. He saw a photo inside and said, "The person in the middle should be the owner of this room, right? And the two people next to him, we seem to have encountered them at sea, and one of them was even kicked away by us.""Hahaha, really? How could I forget?" Luffy said with a laugh.Arthur then ignored Luffy and found a place to sit down. Seeing no one in the room, Luffy also walked out.At this moment, Arthur was contemplating his own problems. If what Zoro and Chopper said was true, his situation would be dangerous.He had heard of mental illnesses, especially conditions like psychosis or dissociative identity disorder.Would he still be himself at that time?Just as he was lost in thought, sounds came from outside."Luffy fell into the sea!" Usopp's shout rang out.Hearing this news, Arthur immediately rushed out of the room. The next second, he instantly jumped into the water.Currently, among the Straw Hat Pirates, only Arthurcould fight perfectly underwater.So he had now honorably become one of the Straw Hat Pirate Crew's salvage personnel.And the main person to be salvaged was none other than their captain, Luffy.Luffy, this unreliable guy, falling into the water had become a common occurrence.Soon, Arthur spotted Luffy and quickly swam towards him. Upon reaching Luffy, he immediately hoisted him onto his back and rushed towards the surface.Just then, he saw another figure also swimming upwards from below."There's someone underwater?"However, Arthur didn't pay him any mind and continued swimming towards the shore. The next second, with a splash on the water's surface, both Luffy and Arthur reached the shore.Upon reaching the shore, Luffy gasped for air."I'm saved!"Just then, a figure emerged from the sea, instantly standing on the shore. It was a muscular man with clearly visible eight-pack abs and a long face. He wore something like a crown on his head."Who are you people? Why are you in my residence?" The man's expression became wary upon seeing everyone.Hearing the man's words, everyone understood that the person in front of them was the one they were looking for."Excuse me for the intrusion, we're looking for you because we want to know about Sky Island," Arthursaid."Sky Island?" Upon hearing this, the man immediately burst out laughing."At this day and age, there are still people who believe in the legend of Sky Island? It's just a legend, no one has ever confirmed it!"Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent. Just then, Luffy stood up and asked the man, "Then, Uncle, does Sky Island really exist?"Hearing Luffy's question, the man also fell silent, but then he said, "Yes, it does."Luffy smiled and said, "I knew Sky Island must exist! Everyone, let's get ready to go to Sky Island!"After Luffy spoke, the man actually showed a surprised expression. He hadn't encountered such a person in a long time.At this moment, the man lit a cigarette. Just as he was about to take a step forward, his body suddenly became uncontrollable, and he fell directly to the ground.Seeing this, Chopper, as a doctor, immediately rushed over.Chopper's hand touched the man's body, then he sighed and told Zoro, "Zoro, carry him inside first."Zoro didn't refuse. Subsequently, everyone entered the room together.At this point, Chopper explained to everyone, "It looks like he's a diver. The illness he has is a very common one for divers.""Is this illness life-threatening?" Arthur asked."If this illness is not treated for a long time, it will certainly be life-threatening. However, this time there shouldn't be any problem; he just needs to rest for a while to wake up."Hearing this news, everyone breathed a sigh of relief."Since that's the case, let's rest for a while. It's fine to ask for information once he wakes up," Luffy said.Just as Luffy finished speaking, the ape-man they had encountered earlier pushed open the door to the room.Both groups stared in shock."You...""You..."Just then, Arthur suddenly stood up and said to the two, "This big brother got sick and fainted. We're here to save him."Hearing Arthur's words, Usopp said, "That sounds like a lie. How could anyone believe it?"However, these two were not ordinary people. The two suddenly clutched their eyes and cried, saying to Arthur, "You really are good people! Thank you!""..."It seems that in this world, lies are very easily believed, especially by pirates.Because most pirates are dreamers, their ability to discern lies is not as strong as that of idealists.This is both a strength and a weakness of the people in this world.Arthur then thought of the distant Blue Star, where everyone was like walking dead, oppressed by life, unlike the people in this world who chose to chase their dreams.Everyone there had dreams, but due to life, they buried their dreams deep within their hearts.However, neither world was wrong. Compared to this world, life on Blue Star was more stable, and the world was more peaceful, unlike here, where many people didn't have a quiet living environment and constantly lived in fear.And the most unstable factor in this world was that individuals could possess immense power, power capable of destroying the world.
Chapter 137 Improved Mecha"Arthur, what are you doing?" Usopp asked, looking at Arthur.Just now, Arthur had asked for his toolbox, saying he needed to use his tools.Since Cricket hadn't woken up yet, the Straw Hat Pirates were free to do as they pleased.Arthur remembered the mech he had obtained a few days ago, so he took it out, preparing to study it carefully.That's why he had asked Usopp for his tools, intending to improve this mech."This is a mech I captured some time ago; I want to improve it to enhance our combat power," Arthurtold Usopp."Mech!"Hearing the word "mech," countless little stars appeared in Usopp's eyes.Few men could resist the allure of a mech.Arthur nodded.Then he ignored Usopp and looked at the mech in front of him.This mech wasn't something he had obtained from Witton, but rather from the Doctor.This mech was currently just a semi-finished product, not yet perfected, but the most core device of the mech was not missing."Currently, there's fuel and a power generation device, but these things are too cumbersome for the mech, and if we fight against strong opponents, they could easily expose weaknesses," Arthur muttered to himself, stroking his chin."This flamethrower device is not bad; if we let it replace kinetic energy, it might increase the mech's mobility."Without further ado, Arthur began to modify the mech, starting with its appearance, and Usopp, having heard about the mech, also joined in the modifications.Their speed clearly increased, and after a while, a mech shell was created; now, the mech's appearance had completely transformed into the shape of a robot."The steel body of the mech has excellent conductivity, which is a very big drawback, but it's very easy to improve; the mech's outer shell cannot be discarded, but if a non-conductive material is added inside, it will further improve the mech's strength and make driving it more comfortable.""Are you talking about Gomu Gomu?" Hearing Arthur's words, Usopp's first thought was Gomu Gomu.Arthur nodded.Indeed, Gomu Gomu is a very practical non-conductive material; if Gomu Gomu is added inside the mech, it can give the entire mech stronger defense.And if they are knocked down, there will also be a good cushioning effect, preventing the person inside the mech from being harmed."I have Gomu Gomu in my tools; I'll go look for it," Usopp said, entering the Going Merry and quickly bringing out the Gomu Gomu.Subsequently, the two continued to work, providing a Gomu Gomu lining inside the mech.Then, based on the power system provided by the Doctor who created this mech and his research results, the mech was further improved.This bulky mech became much easier to drive and was very nimble.The flamethrower's fuel was converted into the mech's power device, and electricity was set as the defense device.However, the only flaw now was that their electricity storage device wasn't particularly large, only able to store a small amount of power; in this case, the electrical defense mode could only be used for a short while and could not be used long-term at all.Thinking of this, Arthur sighed; this mech was currently only temporary equipment; for ordinary people, it increased their strength, but for strong individuals, the mech actually reduced their mobility.And Arthur's strength had already increased at this time, making this mech somewhat useless to him.But, it was cool!"For now, it can only be perfected to this extent; if I can buy more novel energy storage devices in the future, its mobility and attack power might be further enhanced," Arthur murmured.But Usopp was very satisfied with this mech.He patted his chest and said, "With this mech, Captain Usopp will also become a true strong man! It's me, after all!"Next, they were going to start testing the mech's specific values.Usopp volunteered to put on the mech, and Arthurdidn't stop him; after all, the mech was in the testing phase, and it would be better for Usopp to test it.Because it was easy to get injured.And others couldn't help much with this work; Luffyand the others were even less useful, completely useless.But the first thing Usopp did after putting on the mech wasn't to test it; instead, he ran in front of Luffy and Chopper and said, "Everyone, look! I've now become Robot Captain Usopp!""So cool, what is this? Usopp, can I play with it?" Chopper asked.Luffy, standing by, already had stars in his eyes."Robot, so cool!"Usopp saw the admiring gazes of Chopper and Luffy, filled with satisfaction."This is the first generation Usopp Robot designed by me, Captain Usopp; it can increase my powerful strength."With that, Usopp demonstrated an electric discharge ability."Awesome, awesome, awesome! Robot, robot, robot!" Chopper and Luffy said simultaneously.Amidst their shouts, Usopp switched the fuel movement to the flamethrower device.Since the fuel was converted into the power system, if he wanted it to spray fire, he would have to abandon power and switch it to flamethrower mode; although the mech could still move this way, it would require greater human effort."Rumble rumble!"The next second, flames shot out from the mech's hands."Flamethrower! Flamethrower! Flamethrower!"Arthur looked at Usopp, who was showing off, and sighed helplessly.The mech wasn't large, only capable of being driven by one person; rather than a mech, it was more like armor, as due to the limitations of fuel and the operating system, most of it required human effort to operate.Just then, Arthur began to form hand seals."Lightning Release: False Darkness!"A large amount of lightning instantly rushed towards the mech."Arthur, what are you doing?"Usopp watched the lightning rushing towards him, constantly backing away; however, how could he possibly dodge the speed of lightning? The lightning instantly covered his body, spreading across the steel frame.Usopp nervously swayed from side to side.The next second, he realized his body hadn't been harmed, so he calmed down; because of the Gomu Gomu protection, the lightning couldn't penetrate the Gomu Gomu at all, so ordinary lightning was completely isolated outside, perfectly protecting the person inside."Hahaha, Demon King Arthur, you can't possibly harm my Usopp Mech."Hearing this chuunibyou line, Arthur was also a bit speechless.However, it had now been tested that the mech's lightning resistance was very strong; next was to test its fire and water resistance."Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Chapter 138: How to Go to Sky Island (30 characters)After a period of testing, it was found that the mech's strike resistance was exceptionally strong. Because it was made of metal, ordinary weapons simply couldn't harm the person inside.And it had unparalleled lightning resistance; at least Arthur's Lightning Ninjutsu would have difficulty injuring the person inside the mech.Its water and fire resistance were also very strong. Water couldn't damage the mech at all, and as long as fire wasn't a long-term burn, it could completely withstand short bursts of flame.Arthur was very satisfied with these results, but he knew that such a mech could only deal with ordinary people. If it were up against masters who could cut through steel, the mech would be nothing more than a decoration.But this was already enough.Just then, Chopper in the room suddenly shouted."Everyone, he's awake."Awake?Everyone's gaze simultaneously turned to the inside of the room. At this moment, Cricket had already woken up."Uncle, you're awake!"The first thing he did after waking up was to walk out of the room. Perhaps for him, illness wasn't a difficult thing to overcome."Ah, thank you all."Cricket looked at everyone and said."Big Brother!" His two subordinates shouted at him simultaneously when they saw him awake.Cricket nodded, then looked at the Straw Hat Crew."Are you planning to go to Skypiea?"Luffy nodded and said, "Yes, that must be an interesting place. I've decided to go there for an adventure."Hearing Luffy's words, Cricket nodded, then smiled and said to Luffy, "It's been so many years since anyone went to Skypiea. Now Skypiea has become a legend. I was also driven here because of this matter. Are you sure you want to go to Skypiea?"At this moment, Robin walked over and said, "From what you're saying, Skypiea really does exist!"Cricket shook his head and said, "I already said, it's just a legend. I'm not sure if it's there or not. Although I believe it exists, I have no way to confirm it."Arthur shook his head. He felt that what Cricket said was a bit contradictory; he believed Skypiea existed yet wasn't sure if it existed.However, it was clear that Luffy completely believed in the existence of Skypiea. He just said, "Then Uncle, do you know how to get to Skypiea?"Cricket nodded and said."You've already seen the giant silhouette in the sky, right?"The Straw Hat Crew nodded."If that's the case, then around 12 PM tomorrow, there will be an upward ocean current rushing towards the sky. Ships can use this force to directly rush to Skypiea.""Wow, that's amazing! So ships really can fly!" Luffysaid with a smile."Theoretically, it's possible, but very few people succeed. Most people fall back down halfway," Cricket shook his head and said.Hearing him, Usopp immediately became nervous and said to Luffy, "Luffy, why are we still going to Skypiea? The Going Merry can't handle it at all. It's already full of holes, and it's such a dangerous place, shouldn't we just not go?"As soon as Usopp finished speaking, Cricket looked at their ship."Although that's true, you don't have to worry about the ship's problem. Next, my two brothers will help you reinforce the ship, but success or failure still depends on your luck!"Usopp burst into tears when he heard this news."My luck has always been good, so we will definitely reach Skypiea!" Luffy said with a smile.Seeing such a confident Luffy, Cricket also smiled."You are just like me. I also came here for a so-called dream. Ugh, it can't even be called a dream, maybe it's for a so-called lie. That's why I've been diving here for so many years, constantly searching for the treasure in that lie.""Are you talking about the treasure of Mont Blanc Noland?" Robin said."Yes! Mont Blanc Noland, although he was a figure from a few hundred years ago, by generation, he was my great-great-grandfather. In fact, I no longer have any blood relation to him, but our family has suffered discrimination because of him. But I know he was not a liar; on the contrary, he was the most truthful person."Nami nodded after hearing this, her eyes shining."So you're saying there really is treasure here?"Cricket shook his head and said, "I believe there must be treasure here, which is why I abandoned my crewmates and searched here for so many years. I believe I will definitely find it."Hearing that there was no treasure to be found, Nami lowered her head."Since you said this ocean current can rush to Skypiea, could the treasure have been swept up into the sky with the current?" Arthur noticed the problem and asked.After hearing this, Cricket was stunned."I've thought that too, but I have no way to prove it. If you're going to Skypiea, you must help me take a look.""Don't worry, Uncle, I will definitely help you prove it." Luffy agreed without a second thought."Hahahaha, in that case, let's eat now, and then I'll have my brothers help you reinforce the ships."Cricket smiled.----------Night.Mock Town.A man who had too much to drink was relieving himself. Just then, three papers floated onto his face."What's this?"The man pulled up his pants and took the three papers in his hand. They were three wanted posters."These are the three people from the tavern today?"At the tavern, he was one of those who witnessed Arthur's punch.The woman's strength was deeply imprinted in his heart.He first saw Luffy's wanted poster."Ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand, hundred thousand, million, ten million, hundred million." When he counted to a hundred million, his face had completely changed.He looked again."It's actually real? That Straw Hat Kid actually has a bounty of 100 million Berries." At this point, he picked up the other two wanted posters."Calamity Wind, Arthur, bounty 80 million Berries.""Bounty Hunter, Roronoa Zoro, bounty 60 million Berries."Seeing this, he quickly walked towards Bellamy's base with the wanted posters.Bellamy, in his base, was already awake, but he was completely paralyzed and unable to move.It must be said that the physical strength and recovery ability in the world of the Pirate King are not comparable to ordinary people."Bellamy, Bellamy, I saw the wanted posters for the three of them."Saying this, he handed the wanted posters to everyone.After seeing the wanted posters, everyone broke out in a cold sweat.Normally, they would have thought the wanted posters were fake, but after witnessing the strength of the woman among them, they no longer thought so."It looks like this time, we really bit off more than we can chew," the Vice Captain of the Bellamy Piratessighed and said.Because the lowest bounty among the three of them was 5 million Berries higher than Bellamy's highest bounty.
Chapter 139: Rushing to the SkyOn the street, a fat, tall man picked up a bounty poster from the ground."Sure enough, how could a team like that only be worth 30 million Berries?"The tall man said as he looked at the bounty poster.At this moment, three people appeared beside him, and seeing the bounty poster in the tall man's hand, they also smiled."Hahahahaha, don't mind those small fries. We can only attract the Navy's attention by capturing pirates worth over 100 million Berries. Prepare to move out, my lads. This Pirate Crew has a bounty of 240 million Berries."— — — — — — — — — — —A good night's sleep.The next day, Arthur woke up early, not because he couldn't sleep, but because the sound of ship repairs started early in the morning.When he walked out of his room, the first thing he saw was everyone busy with repairs. The Going Merry had been completely reinforced.Strangely, they had also added a chicken comb to the Going Merry's figurehead."The perfectly good sheep's head now has a chicken comb. How did it turn into a chicken's head?"Then Arthur walked out of the cabin."Does anyone need any help?" Arthur asked kindly.Hearing Arthur's words, Usopp said angrily, "Arthur, you're such a heavy sleeper! You didn't even wake up with all this noise?"Arthur scratched his head sheepishly. It was still very early, after all.At this moment, Arthur was no longer wearing the dress. After last night's 'trade' with Nami, he finally put on Nami's trousers.Although the style was a bit strange, it was much more comfortable than the skirt.Arthur stretched. The Going Merry was almost fully reinforced, and next, they were preparing to ascend to the sky.Cricket looked at the time. There wasn't much time left until noon at 12 o'clock."Straw Hat Kid, you all prepare to set off. My two brothers will lead the first leg of your journey. Trust their escort. However, whether you can successfully reach Sky Island will depend on your luck."Luffy nodded, and everyone boarded the Going Merry."My friends, let's set off! Next, we're heading to Sky Island."Everyone in the Straw Hat Crew nodded.They were all full of anticipation for Sky Island, but one person was an exception.That was Usopp, who was trembling with fear."How can a ship fly into the sky? Luffy, maybe we shouldn't go?" Usopp said."Sky Island definitely exists!"Luffy directly rejected Usopp with a single sentence. At this moment, Usopp looked at Zoro and Arthur.Both of them shook their heads in unison.They couldn't contradict a decision made by their Captain.Arthur looked at the sky. In fact, he was also somewhat looking forward to Sky Island. This world was truly amazing; there could actually be islands in the sky.Was he afraid?There was no longer a trace of fear in Arthur's heart; instead, there was a faint excitement.At this moment, he remembered what Zoro had told him, and then he thought of his former self."In just a few months, have I changed this much? If this is growth, isn't it too fast?"However, he then shook his head. Compared to his former self, his current self was more suited to this world, wasn't he?The Going Merry began to sail, with two ships sandwiching them in front, ensuring a smooth journey.By this time, Usopp had already hidden inside the armor. Perhaps only in this way could he feel a sense of security."Usopp, that's my armor!" Arthur said, looking at Usopp."Vice-Captain Xiao Ling, Captain Usopp has the right to use your things. You cannot object, understand?""..."Heh heh, fine, I won't argue with you.At this moment, Nami was looking at the log pose. The log pose's needle was still pointing to the sky, but as the needle's position got higher and higher, they would reach a vertical straight line with the log pose's position.They continued to sail, and not long after, shadows suddenly appeared, and the ocean currents became turbulent."It looks like we're about to reach the Knock Up Stream," Luffy said with a smile.Just then, the leaders of the two escort ships on either side said to them,"Straw Hat Kid, we've escorted you this far. Next, you'll be entering the Knock Up Stream zone. We wish you a safe journey."Everyone nodded and continued forward.The current grew more and more violent, forming a whirlpool as they continued to advance."Everyone furl the sails. We'll follow the current to the center of the current," Nami said to everyone.The sails slowly lowered, and the Going Merrycontinued to sail with the current.Even giant fish couldn't escape the whirlpool. The Going Merry endured immense pressure, constantly shaking."Everyone hold on tight! Don't let this current wash anyone overboard," Arthur said to everyone.After a few minutes of turbulent conflict, their ship fell into calmness."We're saved!" Luffy said.Everyone looked around and found that they were still surrounded by a whirlpool, and they were at its center.Just then, a sound came from a distance. The fat strongman they had encountered before appeared in the direction not far away."Straw Hat Kid, I've found you! I'll be taking your heads!"The Straw Hat Pirates heard the voice and looked into the distance. Four people were riding a raft, drifting outside the whirlpool.And in their hands were three bounty posters."Luffy, your bounty seems to have increased, and Zoro and Arthur have also been bountied," Usoppsaid, looking at them through a telescope."It increased? By how much?" Luffy asked excitedly.At this moment, Sanji snatched the telescope from Usopp's hand."Let me see if I've been bountied?"But the result was obvious; Sanji did not appear on the bounty list.Usopp walked over to Luffy and said, "Luffy, your bounty is now 100 million Berries. Arthur is 80 million, and Zoro is 60 million."Arthur was greatly shocked to hear this news. He hadn't expected his bounty to be even higher than Zoro's.However, if Robin was included, their Pirate Crew's total bounty would already exceed 300 million.Sanji, looking dejected, lowered his head and pointed at Zoro, saying, "Why does he have a bounty and I don't?"Just as Sanji finished speaking, a commotion suddenly came from the seabed."Everyone hold on tight! The Knock Up Stream is coming!" Nami interrupted everyone's conversation and shouted loudly.The next second, a powerful impact directly propelled the Going Merry into the sky.They soared into the clouds with the current."How can a ship go into the sky? We'll be in danger like this! I feel like the ship is falling," Usopp said, hiding in the armor again.At this moment, Nami's brows furrowed, then she suddenly sensed something and said to everyone,"This soaring current is accompanied by a huge sea wind. Let's open the sails and ride the sea wind straight into the clouds!"Everyone quickly opened the sails as ordered, and sure enough, Nami was right. A huge sea wind swept in, and the Going Merry flew up."Charge! Charge towards the sky!"
Chapter 140 Above the SkyCarried by the strong sea wind, the Going Merryrushed into the clouds."Is this the Cumuloregalis cloud?"Nami said, feeling the clouds around her. Countless clouds had gathered, becoming very solid, like seawater.After passing through the cloud layer, the clouds above were thick enough for a ship to float.The next moment, everyone appeared above the clouds, and the Going Merry floated as if it were on the open sea."The air pressure here is very low. Everyone be careful. We can easily suffer from oxygen deprivation in this situation," Arthur said to the group.At this point, he was already feeling a slight discomfort. For a normal person, encountering high-altitude climate would cause oxygen deprivation, let alone being tens of thousands of feet in the air. If they exerted themselves too much, he might not recover."We really are above the clouds! Is this Skypiea?" Luffy excitedly asked the others."Is that water below?" Usopp looked down, stepped directly out of his armor, and wanted to go down to investigate."Usopp, be careful, that's…" Arthur hadn't finished speaking when Usopp had already jumped into the clouds.After all, they were clouds, still different from the sea.After entering the cloud, he felt his body rapidly plummet.The buoyancy of these clouds was much weaker compared to the sea."Luffy, quickly save him! These clouds make it very difficult for someone to float. Usopp might be in danger. Below is tens of thousands of feet of open air; falling would mean certain death," Arthur said.Hearing this, Luffy's arm quickly stretched out downwards, and just then, Robin's hands grew on Luffy's arm. The clouds had a slight scent of the sea, but the suppression of Devil Fruit abilities was not very strong.By this time, Usopp had already sunk to the bottom, and then he looked down."I'm going to die! I'm going to die! I'm going to die!"Usopp's tears were already flowing; he had already foreseen his death.Just then, a pair of hands suddenly appeared and firmly grabbed him."Luffy, you can pull him up now," Robin said to Luffy."Alright!"The next second, Luffy's arm began to retract, and just then, a giant creature suddenly appeared. Zoro and Sanji moved simultaneously, instantly killing the giant creature.Because they were clouds, the density of these creatures was much lower than that of creatures in the sea. Their defensive power was much weaker than the Sea Kings in the ocean.Finally, Luffy rescued Usopp.The rescued Usopp gasped for air on the ship's deck."Usopp, why do you have to be like Luffy?" Arthursaid helplessly.Usopp didn't answer Arthur's question. At this moment, Chopper, who was nearby, suddenly cried out."Everyone, someone's coming!"No sooner had Chopper spoken than a masked person charged towards them, instantly knocking Luffy to the ground. Then Zoro tried to attack, but due to the low oxygen content, he was not accustomed to the environment and could not exert his usual strength.The next second, that person defeated all three main combatants of the Straw Hat crew.Just as he was about to attack Arthur,An old man suddenly appeared and blocked the attack for him.Seeing the attack blocked, Arthur also breathed a sigh of relief; he hadn't had time to form a hand seal just now.It would take some time to adapt to such an environment. He just wanted an oxygen tank right now.Upon seeing the old man's arrival, the assailant quickly left the area.At this point, the old man did not pursue them but turned to face the group and said, "Greetings, I am Gan Fall, the Sky Knight. It seems you are people from the Blue Sea, aren't you?""Blue Sea?" Nami asked."Blue Sea is what we call the people from the seas below," Gan Fall said."Yes, we came from there," Luffy said."It's been a long time since warriors from the Blue Sea have come to Skypiea. I didn't expect to still see people from the Blue Sea arriving at Skypiea."Arthur nodded inwardly. Nowadays, in the Blue Sea, Skypiea had become a legend, so it was normal that many people hadn't come here.Afterward, Gan Fall did not linger for too long. He simply told them some essential knowledge about Skypiea, then gave them a whistle. If they blew this whistle, he would appear, but they would have to pay a certain fee.The whistle was ultimately entrusted to Nami for safekeeping. Arthur felt that unless Nami's life was on the line, the whistle would likely not be blown."I didn't expect there to be ocean currents in the sky," Nami said, looking at the log pose."Didn't you see that the clouds ahead look different from the clouds beneath our ship?" Arthur said, pointing at the clouds ahead."Different?" As he spoke, Luffy's arm stretched out and hit the cloud.However, he bounced back from the cloud. The next second, he seemed to have discovered something fun and immediately jumped onto the cloud."These clouds don't fall at all! This is so much fun!"Seeing Luffy's actions, Usopp and Chopper's eyes lit up."I want to play too!"Then both of them jumped onto the clouds. Arthurlooked at this cloud layer and said, "These clouds should be similar to our land; they should be a unique type of land in Skypiea."Nami and Robin nodded.Then the Going Merry sailed quickly until they saw a building engraved with the four large characters: "Heaven's Gate."They slowly docked, and at that moment, an old woman with wings walked out."Look, everyone, they have wings! Are they angels? Are we really dead?" Usopp said."What are you talking about? If we were dead, would we still be together?" Arthur said.But Usopp seemed not to understand Arthur's words and said, "I died with you all; this is truly a sad story."Arthur ignored him and took out his phone to take pictures.But he wasn't the only one taking pictures; the old woman from Skypiea was also photographing them."I am the Skypiea Inspector. Are you here for war or sightseeing?"War? Sightseeing?"We're not here for war!" Luffy said."Then you must be here for sightseeing! Sightseeing in Skypiea requires each person to pay one billion Extol!""One billion! How much is that in Beri?""No matter how you look at it, one billion sounds like a huge number, doesn't it?"Everyone was startled by her number, one billion."So if we don't pay, we can't enter Skypiea?" Namiasked at this point."No, you can still enter even if you don't pay."Upon hearing this news, Nami hadn't spoken yet; her original intention was to inquire about the exchange rate. But at this moment, Luffy had already spoken."Then we won't pay!""Next, our special express shrimp, a specialty of our public island, will take you to the island," the old woman said to the group without saying anything else.After she finished speaking, they felt their ship begin to shake. The next second, two claws grabbed the Going Merry, and they instantly felt themselves flying away.Before they flew far, they heard the old woman's voice."I am the Skypiea Inspector. There are eight illegal intruders. I request the gods to send down punishment!"
Chapter 141 Angel"Luffy, it seems like we're in trouble." Arthur clearly heard the old woman's voice."Trouble? What trouble do we have?" Zoro asked when he heard Arthur's words."Didn't you hear just now? That old woman said she was going to find a god to judge us, saying we were illegal stowaways." Arthur waved his hand and said."What! A god to judge us?!" Usopp and Nami both covered their faces with fearful expressions and shouted loudly."A god? Is this really heaven? Are there even gods?" Sanji took a puff from his cigarette and asked.Arthur also shook his head; he didn't know what a god truly was, but hearing the old woman's words, this god might possess great power, otherwise, he couldn't be the ruler of this world.There were many rulers who called themselves gods; after all, if Sky Island existed, it wasn't strange for gods to exist."Who cares what kind of god he is? We're not here to fight. Why should he judge us? If he does something unbearable to us, I'll punch him away!" Luffy said to everyone, waving his fist."Luffy, that's a god! How could a god be defeated?" Usopp looked at Luffy like that and said helplessly.But Arthur was unfazed and said to Usopp, "Do gods really exist in this world? Even if they do, they are just people with great power. I just saw the old woman's aura, it wasn't very strong, nor was it like the legendary angels who can easily kill humans. So, the god on this Sky Island might just be a powerful human with strength. We just need to be stronger than him. How could we not be able to punch him away?"Hearing Arthur's words, Robin, who was nearby, nodded.She also didn't believe in the existence of so-called gods. Throughout history, there have been many rulers who claimed to be gods; these titles were just what they gave themselves. Once people acquire power, the things they do often become strange.Because of the express shrimp's fast speed, they quickly passed through the canal made of clouds and arrived in a sea-like expanse of clouds."We've arrived." Luffy looked ahead. They had found the island, but unlike islands on land, these were made of clouds.The Going Merry slowly docked, and Luffy and the others couldn't wait to land on the island. Because the beach was made of soft clouds, it was even more comfortable than a real beach on land."It's so comfortable! The beach here is so soft, it feels like I'm on a marshmallow." Chopper closed his eyes and lay on the clouds, muttering to himself."Let's go down too." Arthur said to everyone."Wait a moment, I'm going to change my clothes." Nami said.Afterward, Arthur didn't wait for Nami and directly, along with Zoro and the others, dropped anchor and then landed on the white shore.Arthur looked at the clouds beneath his feet, then squatted down and touched the ground."How strange. Although these clouds are soft, they have a certain hardness. It feels like stone, yet also like cotton. Such a thing is truly interesting."Then, Arthur saw a lounge chair nearby and immediately lay down on it."It really is so comfortable! It would be great if we could make a lounge chair like this on the ship."However, Arthur shook his head at this point. According to his calculations, such naturally formed items could not be used long-term on the ground.If explained scientifically, it's about air density. The air density here is significantly lower than on the ground. That's why these clouds can be preserved for a long time. If they were on the ground, they might dissipate very quickly.At this moment, music from a stringed instrument suddenly drifted from nearby.Arthur looked into the distance."An angel?"Sanji's voice was the first to emerge, because this time the angel wasn't an old woman, but a young and beautiful woman.Just then, the woman walked towards them."You must be people from the Blue Sea, right? Hello, I am a native resident of Sky Island. My name is Conis; you can just call me Si Si." The angel girl said with a smile.At this moment, Nami, wearing a swimsuit, walked over and asked, "This is our first time on Sky Island. Could you tell us a bit about the situation here?"Arthur looked at Nami and muttered, "This outfit seems a bit familiar."Si Si nodded. It seemed the residents here were also very warm and hospitable. Arthur didn't feel any powerful aura from the angel in front of him, so the people here should be similar to those of the Blue Sea, mostly ordinary people, just with an extra pair of wings."This is the beach of Sky Island. It's been a long time since people from the Blue Sea came here. This…"Si Si hadn't finished speaking when a middle-aged angel, riding what looked like a jet ski, rushed towards them.However, it seemed his driving skills weren't very strong.The next second, he crashed violently into a large tree.But the tool under his feet greatly interested both Nami and Arthur."I'm sorry, are you not hurt?" the middle-aged man said.We're not hurt, but I think you crashed pretty hard! Arthur thought to himself."Dad, how was your harvest today?""It was a great harvest today! Are you all from the Blue Sea? If you don't mind, you're welcome to visit my home."Everyone hadn't expected the residents of Sky Island to be so warm and hospitable, so they readily agreed.They followed the two angels deeper into Sky Island. The constant stream of Sky Island residents made everyone truly believe they had arrived in heaven.However, the way they looked at the Straw Hat Crew was the same as how the Straw Hat Crewlooked at them; they were probably curious about each other."This is my humble abode."Along the way, the middle-aged angel told everyone about the island's customs. Afterward, the middle-aged angel opened the door and invited them in."Luffy, let's go in. What are you thinking about?" Arthur asked, looking at the dazed Luffy."I'm wondering why I couldn't learn that uncle's vehicle just now, but Nami learned it instantly?"It turned out that just now, both Luffy and Nami had used the mode of transport under the middle-aged angel's feet, the tool called waiba.The result was obvious: Luffy simply couldn't learn it, and Nami's last remark had stung him."Luffy, an idiot like you will never be able to learn this kind of vehicle!"Arthur patted Luffy's shoulder and said, "Let's go in! The uncle and Sanji said they're going to make us Sky Island cuisine; it must be delicious.""Awesome, awesome, Sky Island cuisine, Sky Island cuisine!"Arthur helplessly rubbed his forehead. Sure enough, as soon as Luffy heard about food, he couldn't think about anything else.
Chapter 142 The Function of Shells"Si Si, could you explain the uses of these shells to us again?" Arthur asked curiously. At this moment, he was very interested in all kinds of shells.Si Si nodded and said to the group, "Life on Skypiea is closely related to shells. Almost all the tools we use in our daily lives are made from shells. For example, there's the Tone Dial, which can store sound. Besides that, there are also shells that can store fire, store wind power, and so on.""Even our mode of transportation, the waiba, uses a shell as its primary power source."At this moment, Arthur was already captivated by Skypiea's shells.These shells were simply too practical; they could store energy. If modified, they could almost replace all energy sources.This meant the energy problem was practically solved."Then, Si Si, how do we obtain these shells?" Arthurasked. Since he had come to Skypiea, he definitely wanted to take more shells back with him. He could then use the shells to create more practical tools. Even their armor could be modified using shells to gain greater power."Ordinary shells can be found on the beach, but because the energy a shell can store is related to its size, larger shells usually need to be purchased on the streets."Arthur nodded and continued, "Oh, by the way, there's an exchange rate between our Blue Sea currency and your Skypiea currency, right? What is the exchange rate?"Si Si nodded and said, "Of course there is. After all, quite a few people from the Blue Sea come here. The exchange rate is 1 to 10,000."Arthur sighed. He hadn't expected such a large exchange rate. So the one billion the old woman mentioned earlier was equivalent to one hundred thousand, which they could still afford.Arthur had already made a decision: after dinner, he would go buy some of these energy-storing shells.Soon, the dishes that Sanji and the uncle had collaborated on were finished. When it came to food, Arthur's palate had become picky, as Sanji's cooking skills were truly excellent.However, his appetite wasn't large, and he finished eating quickly.At this moment, Sanji took a deep drag from his cigarette and said, "Where did Nami go? Why hasn't she returned yet?"Arthur shook his head. However, given Nami's navigation skills and sense of direction, she shouldn't make a mistake. After all, she wasn't Zoro."Why do I have a bad feeling? This island is very close to our Skypiea's sacred land, which no one is allowed to enter. If she rode a waiba, she could get there quickly. If that young lady has entered there, then we're in big trouble," the middle-aged angel said at this moment."Sacred land?" the group questioned.The middle-aged angel nodded again and said, "Yes, there is a piece of land here that belongs to your Blue Sea. It is the dwelling of God, a place we are absolutely forbidden to enter. We call it the sacred land."Hearing the middle-aged angel's words, Arthur also had a bad feeling.Unbeknownst to them, Nami had already arrived at that very land, just as they had anticipated."God, are there really Gods in this world? Like the legendary Gods?" Chopper said, trembling. After all, in the Blue Sea, Gods were legendary beings, completely crushing human existence.The middle-aged angel nodded."This Skypiea is ruled by God Enel. He possesses unparalleled power and can know our every move," the middle-aged angel said."What? A God who can know our every move? Doesn't that mean our every action is under God's surveillance?" Usopp said, his body trembling as he spoke.Zoro, standing nearby, scoffed, "I don't believe in God!"Arthur nodded.Yes, we must believe in science!But Luffy's focus was elsewhere. His eyes lit up as he said, "Is there an island that can't be set foot on here? Is it really absolutely forbidden to enter?"Luffy likes to show everything he's thinking on his face, and anyone with eyes could tell he was now interested in that island."Luffy, that's an island that can't be set foot on! With God there, we can't possibly go!" Usopp shouted at Luffy, but who could stop Luffy, who had an adventurous spirit?However, at this moment, Arthur had already begun to analyze the middle-aged angel's words."If that God Enel can really know everyone's actions, then that person is indeed terrifying. After all, even in the Blue Sea, there's no one like that.""Are you talking about Observation Haki?" Zoro turned his head and asked Arthur.Arthur nodded.It should be known that Sanji and Zoro had witnessed the top-tier Three Types of Haki. They had seen Observation Haki that could cover an entire island in that illusion.Thinking of this, Zoro's expression gradually became excited.If he could slay a God, that would truly be a joyous thing."Uncle, have you ever set foot in the so-called sacred land?" Arthur asked.The middle-aged angel shook his head, "How could that be? We can't possibly go there. Some people once set foot there, but they never returned.""Are you implying they were killed by God?"Hearing Arthur's words, the two angels dared not speak further, as it was a taboo.But from their expressions, everyone already understood."If Nami really landed on that island, she might be in danger. Let's set off now to find Nami."Arthur said to the group.On the shore, the group had already boarded the Going Merry, but the sea breeze was quite uncooperative. To reach the sacred land mentioned by the middle-aged angel, it would take a long time. Skypiea's climate was different from the Blue Sea's, and they didn't know when there would be suitable wind power."It's a shame you're a sailboat. If you were powered by shells, you'd get there very quickly. But I advise you not to go there; it's a forbidden place," the middle-aged angel said.Upon hearing the words "forbidden place," stars seemed to twinkle in Luffy's eyes.Just then, a group of crawling Skypiea residents crawled towards them."What's wrong with those guys? Why are they crawling?" Luffy asked curiously."Who knows? Maybe they're perverts!" Arthurwaved his hand and said.And just then, those people came around them, then took out a few photos and said, "You seven are the stowaways from the Blue Sea, aren't you!"Stowaways?The group fell silent."We didn't pay the fee to enter this country, so does that make us stowaways?" Arthur asked.The leader of the angels nodded and said to the group, "Stowaways must be punished by God, but don't worry, being a stowaway isn't a major crime. As long as you obediently accept the punishment, there won't be any problems, and you'll become safe tourists.""What? Just a false alarm then. What kind of punishment do we need?" Sanji said."You just need to pay ten times the compensation. 10 billion Extol per person will do.""..."
Chapter 143 Punishment"Nami!"Luffy and Zoro had already decided to act, but because God Enel stopped them, they ultimately did not make a move.Just then, Nami rushed back."Everyone, whatever you do, don't fight them! We just need to follow his punishment," Nami said nervously to the group, looking as if she already knew some things."But Nami, we have to pay 8 million Berries," Arthursaid to Nami.Upon hearing this number, Nami, who had originally intended to reconcile, immediately became agitated.Bang!Her waiba directly rode onto the leader of the guards."I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," Nami apologized immediately after regaining her composure.But 8 million Berries, they would absolutely not pay.Arthur rubbed his forehead; he knew that if Namiheard that number, it definitely wouldn't end peacefully.And those guards, seeing their officer knocked down, instantly became enraged.Seeing this, Arthur realized reconciliation was impossible, so he also prepared to act. However, Nami stopped him and said, "I didn't do it on purpose. It's my first time on a waiba, so I'm not very skilled and accidentally couldn't brake. You shouldn't mind, right? I'm sorry.""What do you mean? Weren't you very skilled the first time?" Luffy shouted."Idiot!" Usopp punched Luffy, stopping him, but the words had already been spoken."You actually attacked us! You have now committed a second-degree crime on our Sky Island, and you are doomed to die."At this moment, Nami still wanted to say something, but Arthur said, "We are already doomed to die; they won't let us go. No matter how much we try to reconcile, there's nothing more to say. Besides, we are pirates to begin with, so why should we be afraid of their crimes? And they are clearly imposing charges on us!"Hearing Arthur's words, Luffy and Zoro nodded.Seeing that this war was unavoidable, Nami also sighed helplessly."Since you have confessed your guilt, let us show you our power!" With that, the soldiers took out their bows and arrows and shot at the Straw Hat Crew.The arrows shot out instantly, forming countless white cloud lines, and these cloud lines were solid, just like the ground.Arthur quickly retreated, dodging the arrows' attack.Subsequently, the soldiers jumped onto the cloud lines. The shoes on their feet were like roller skates, sliding quickly on the cloud lines, and then they launched an attack on him."Are these solid clouds? However, these clouds should be highly conductive!" Arthur smiled.Then, he formed hand seals, and a powerful lightning bolt appeared from his hands."Lightning Release: Lightning Ball."The next second, several lightning balls shot from Arthur's hands, instantly entering the cloud lines created by their arrows.The lightning quickly spread along the cloud lines, and in just a moment, all the guards who had been sliding on the cloud lines were struck by lightning and fainted on the ground."Who exactly are they? Why do they possess such powerful strength?" the middle-aged angel on the side said in surprise.After all, although this group of guards were not God Enel's strongest guards, their strength was not something ordinary people could compare to.Defeat messages flashed continuously in Arthur's mind."These guys are so weak, but their attack methods are so interesting," Luffy walked over and said with a smile."Clouds are made of water, and even these solid clouds cannot escape this law, so they are the best conductors. As long as you use lightning attacks, they will be defeated very quickly," Arthur said.By defeating these guards, the Straw Hat Crew had already committed a serious crime on this island. Now they only had two choices: the first was to await judgment, and the second was to escape from here.Clearly, Nami and Usopp chose the second option.But Luffy didn't think that way; his idea was to explore the forbidden island.No matter how unwilling Nami and Usopp were, they couldn't refute the captain's opinion.If they didn't take risks, what kind of pirates would they be?Arthur was too lazy to argue with them; he only cared about the final outcome, so he walked directly to the ship, took out a lounge chair, and lay down.Just then, Si Si, who had been silent, walked over and said, "Actually, there's a place even closer to the Blue Sea."At this moment, Arthur and Robin noticed that Si Si's eyes were a bit strange when she said this.However, Nami still believed the angel Si Si's words and prepared to act.Just as everyone was about to set off, Luffysuddenly said to the middle-aged angel, "Uncle, can I get the food from earlier to go?""Of course."Hearing the uncle's agreement, Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp walked towards the middle-aged angel's house.Nami sighed at the sight."At a time like this, they're still thinking about food!""After all, he is our captain; there's nothing we can do about it," Arthur said."In that case, we'll drop anchor for a while and wait for them to get on the ship," Nami said, looking at the log pose.Zoro nodded and pulled up the anchor.And just as they had finished pulling up the anchor, the Going Merry had just started to move when they suddenly felt a violent tremor from beneath the ship."What's going on?"Arthur stood up and said to the group.From beneath the Going Merry, a special fast shrimp, a specialty of Sky Island, suddenly appeared.The next second, the Going Merry was directly carried away by the fast shrimp."What's happening? Why is there a fast shrimp? Where is it taking us?" Nami said in a panic."It's very possible that God's punishment has begun. This fast shrimp might be taking us to the place of punishment," Robin said, stroking her chin, analyzing.[Ding, detected host's emotional fluctuations, emotion value +1000]????"System, what emotional fluctuations did I experience?"[Detected, host's emotional fluctuations are primarily excitement.]Hehe, alright!I really want to know if God is a carbon-based lifeform.If I can truly meet the so-called God, it would be a very good research project.However, based on his guess, the other party should just be a person with powerful strength.At this moment, Zoro wanted to use his sword to deal with the fast shrimp, but Arthur stopped him."Zoro, there's no need to deal with this shrimp. If it's truly taking us to God's territory, wouldn't that be a perfect opportunity for us to see what kind of guy this so-called God is?"Hearing Arthur's words, Zoro nodded, a look of excitement on his face."That suits me perfectly."
Chapter 144 The Earth in the SkyAfter an unknown period, the Express Shrimp finally stopped, placing them in a place that resembled an altar."What is this place? The God isn't going to eat us, is he?" Chopper said pitifully."If he were to eat you, it would probably be braised," Robin said with a soft laugh.Hearing Robin's words, Chopper became even more frightened, clinging tightly to Arthur's pant leg."It's alright, it's alright, I'll protect you," Arthur said with a smile.At this moment, they looked outside; they were now surrounded by a group of sky sharks.There were so many of these sharks that it would be impossible to kill them all in a normal fight, and countless more were gathering in their direction."What should we do? We're trapped here," Namisaid to everyone.Just then, Robin looked at the surrounding walls and said, "This place has a very long history. I suddenly have an idea to go and see this forest.""Sister Robin, this forest is very dangerous! How can we get out of here? And there are monsters everywhere!" Nami's eyes were already welling up with tears.Zoro, however, said nothing; he also wanted to go out for a walk."Such ancient places usually have many antiques, don't they? Those things should be very valuable, right?" Robin said with a smile.The next second, everyone witnessed Nami's strange change of expression.Her eyes suddenly became fixed, and she said to Robin, "I also think this place is pretty good, so I've decided to go out and see it with you. If we can pick up some treasure, that would be even better."Chopper looked at Nami and said, "Why have your eyes turned into the shape of Beri?"However, it was clear that Nami had already been easily swayed by Robin.But Arthur didn't want to move, so he said to the others, "I don't want to go to this forest. I'll stay here and watch the ship."He wasn't scared; he just wanted to sleep for a while."Alright then, Zoro, Robin, and I will go exploring. Chopper and Arthur, you two stay behind and watch the ship," Nami said, already very excited about this adventure.Seeing that everyone had made up their minds, Robin smiled, then activated her Devil Fruit ability, and at that moment, a vine appeared beside them."Are we going to use this to get to the shore?" Zoro asked.Arthur nodded.Zoro tugged on the vine, testing its safety, then he cleared his throat and shouted loudly, "Ah! Ah! Ah!""Zoro, why are you making such sounds?" Namiasked.Zoro said indifferently, "We're supposed to be ropes, aren't we? Shouldn't we make sounds like that?"Then, he leaped lightly."Ah!!!!"But with the sound, his body flew over the sky sharks below and reached the other shore."Do you really have to make such strange sounds?" Arthur said, lying on a lounge chair and looking at Zoro, smiling.Although it was a bit embarrassing, it was still quite fun.Then, Robin lightly leaped onto the vine, then landed effortlessly, her movements smooth and continuous.When it was Nami's turn, she trembled, but eventually, remembering the Beri, she overcame her fear and leaped across directly."Help! It's so high!!!"Nami quickly moved towards the shore in the air, but a large tree stood in front of her. Just as she was about to hit the tree, countless arms suddenly grew from the tree, embracing Nami."Thank you, Sister Robin."Nami breathed a sigh of relief; if it weren't for Robin, she really might have crashed into the tree.At this moment, Zoro looked at Nami and said, "Whose fault is it that you didn't learn from me?""..."Just then, Robin looked at the ground and said, "It's so strange in Skypiea; how can there be land here?"Indeed, the ground they were standing on was not sky clouds, but actual land.Then, they entered the jungle, while Arthur, enjoying his leisurely moment, slowly closed his eyes."They've all left. It's just me and Arthur. What should I do? Why don't I repair the ship?" Then, Chopper began to repair the ship.The sound of the repairs disturbed Arthur, so he said to Chopper, "Chopper, take your time with the repairs. I'm going to rest in the cabin. Don't call me if it's nothing, and don't call me if it's something."Chopper nodded, then heard a bang as the cabin door closed."Don't call him whether it's something or nothing?"Chopper looked at the empty deck, and for a moment, he felt a little scared.Meanwhile, in the distance.Luffy and his two companions embarked on the path of the God's Trial to rescue Arthur and the others.They also encountered their first enemy, a chubby priest."Welcome to the Trial of Orbs. This is a death trial with a 10% success rate."The priest said with a smile."What?! Only 10%? How is that any different from dying?" Usopp cried."Tch, so what do we have to do?" Luffy asked the priest."It's simple: defeat me, and you pass the trial."Then, the priest flashed to the side of the three on the small boat, and then raised his hand."Bang!"There seemed to be strange equipment on his hand, and in an instant, he sent Luffy flying."What kind of power is this? It actually knocked Luffy down?" Usopp said, but the next second, a palm appeared directly in front of his eyes.With another bang, he also flew out.Seeing his companions all sent flying, Sanji kicked out."Are you going to kick my abdomen?" the priest laughed.Immediately after, he dodged Sanji's attack with a flash.And at this moment, his attack was also ready."Observation Haki?" Sanji said."My move is called Mantra! Die!"However, the next second, he showed a surprised expression, because Sanji easily dodged the priest's attack."How is that possible? How could you dodge my attack?" the priest said incredulously.At this, Sanji took a deep drag from his cigarette."Ever since the Alabasta Kingdom incident, I've deeply reflected on my strength, so I haven't been standing still during this time. I also have the ability you're talking about!"Having said that, Sanji kicked towards the priest."A leg attack?" It was clear that this priest was a flexible fat man; with a light leap, he dodged Sanji's attack.Then, he launched an attack on Sanji, who dodged with Observation Haki."How is that possible! How can a person from the Blue Sea have Mantra!" the priest said incredulously."Tch, don't be so conceited!"For a time, the two exchanged blows back and forth."Since we both possess Observation Haki, I will definitely not lose to you, because there are three... two beautiful ladies waiting for me!"
Chapter 145 Battle against the PriestOn the deck, Chopper was using a small hammer to patch up a hole in the Going Merry."I'm going to be a brave man and fix our ship," Chopper muttered to himself as he repaired the vessel.However, feeling the surrounding breeze and seeing the sky sharks constantly swimming below, his body involuntarily trembled a little.Just then, the hammer slipped from his hand and fell directly below the altar.Chopper completely panicked."Should I go get the hammer? If I do, those monsters will definitely eat me," Chopper said.After a long struggle, Chopper still decided to go down and retrieve the hammer.The process of getting the hammer was smooth; he easily picked it up. However, just as he was about to return to the ship, a sky shark suddenly leaped out of the air."How terrifying!"Chopper's scream rang out as he quickly ran towards the Going Merry.He was safe, though it was a close call.Just as he was catching his breath on the deck, a voice sounded from behind him."How come only you, little fellow, are left on the ship? Where are the others?"Hearing the voice, Chopper quickly backed away, then turned his head."Who... who are you?"The person in front of him was a man riding a giant creature. His face was fierce, making Choppertremble with fear."I am a Azure Sky Knight, one of God's priests. I have come here to deal with you illegal intruders."Hearing the word "deal," Chopper immediately started to tremble.However, a Azure Sky Knight was not someone who would spare an opponent just because they trembled. Immediately after, the weapon in his hand activated, and a ball of flame appeared.The flame shot out, directly igniting the Going Merry's sail."Don't destroy our ship! I just managed to repair it!"Seeing the Going Merry being destroyed, Choppergrew anxious, but facing the fierce man, he dared not make a move."Someone like you is truly boring here."The Azure Sky Knight chuckled, then picked up the weapon in his hand and launched an attack at Chopper.Pfft.The next second, Chopper's body was directly pierced. However, Chopper's body was not like an ordinary person's; even with his body pierced, his consciousness remained. At this moment, he remembered what Arthur had said.This was a critical moment; how could he care about so much? But the damage to his body already prevented him from making a sound.Just then, a whistle appeared beside him. He suddenly remembered what that old knight grandpa had once said: no matter what, as long as he blew the whistle, that guy would appear, though it would cost a certain fee.Isn't this the most dangerous moment?The next second, a loud whistle sounded.Inside the cabin, Arthur heard the violent whistle and opened his eyes. He usually slept very soundly; it was difficult to wake him unless there was danger. This was also because the Straw Hat Pirates were always chaotic, and he was already used to not being woken up.Arthur had already detected the sounds outside."It sounds like there's a fight outside."Thinking this, Arthur showed a tense expression. After all, Chopper wasn't particularly good at fighting yet.Then, he stepped out of the room.Before him lay Chopper on the ground and the man sitting on the giant flying bird."Who are you? Why are you attacking us?" Arthurasked, his brows tightly furrowed."I am a Azure Sky Knight, here to eliminate you illegal intruders. So, there's another person on the ship? I wonder what your combat strength is like," the man said.So, it's an enemy!Arthur slowly walked in front of Chopper, shielding his body."Are you alright?" Arthur asked.Chopper didn't speak, but the wounds on his body already proved his current state."To harm my companion, it seems you've already prepared for death!" Arthur said to the Azure Sky Knight above, a sinister smile on his face.Such a seemingly harmless person, yet why does he give off a feeling of being targeted by a venomous snake?The Azure Sky Knight broke into a cold sweat, looking at the man in front of him."I am a Azure Sky Knight! You're the one who's going to die! Don't underestimate us priests."Saying this, the Azure Sky Knight quickly charged towards Arthur, his weapon pointed at Arthur's chest.Arthur, in combat mode, showed no fear."Your hand will turn into a venomous snake and attack me," the Azure Sky Knight said.And the next second, Arthur's right hand transformed into countless venomous snakes, rushing towards the Azure Sky Knight."Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"However, the Azure Sky Knight, who had already predicted Arthur's movements, easily dodged Arthur's attack with a slight sidestep."This ability to predict an opponent's actions, that must be Observation Haki, right?" Arthur licked his lips, muttering to himself.At this moment, he seemed to not take the Azure Sky Knight seriously at all.Ding, sensing host's emotional fluctuations, Emotion Value +1000.Arthur showed an excited smile. Then, with a flash, he appeared beside the Azure Sky Knight. The Chakra in his body rotated, and his fists continuously attacked the Azure Sky Knight.However, all of Arthur's attacks were dodged without exception."Your movements have been seen through by me. You can't possibly hit me. Prepare to die!"In a gap between Arthur's attacks, the Azure Sky Knight seized the opportunity, tightened his grip on his weapon, and attacked Arthur directly."Pfft!"Arthur's shoulder was struck by the Azure Sky Knight. The next second, flames erupted directly, burning on Arthur's body.Feeling the pain, Arthur showed no panic; instead, his eyes became even more excited."That really hurts!" Arthur said, licking the corner of his mouth.And this scene, Arthur's actions, made the Azure Sky Knight break out in a cold sweat.Who exactly is this guy? Why does he have such an expression after being hit by my attack?However, the next second, Arthur ignored the flames on the Azure Sky Knight's weapon. Instead, he directly grabbed his weapon with his hand.Blazing flames burned on Arthur's hand, but the intense pain did not make Arthur show any sign of retreat."Can't you dodge anymore?"The Azure Sky Knight had already predicted Arthur's next move, but if he dodged, he would have to abandon his weapon."Damn it, if I get hit by that move, I'll definitely get injured."The Azure Sky Knight twisted his body, directly abandoning his weapon and choosing to dodge Arthur's attack.However, something unexpected happened: Arthur's right hand grabbed the Azure Sky Knight's weapon, pulled the weapon out of his body, but he did not launch an attack."If there are no surprises, this equipment should have a Flame Dial, a specialty of Sky Island, right? Those shells are indeed interesting things."At this moment, the little white snake on Arthuropened its eyes, then opened its large mouth and swallowed the Azure Sky Knight's equipment."Since you've abandoned your weapon, then the Flame Dial on this equipment is mine.
Chapter 146: The Fall of the Sky Knight"Who exactly are you?" Azure Sky Knight could no longer suppress the questions in his heart.These guys in front of him must be invaders from the Blue Sea, but why are they different from those people in the past?"Who are we? You're the one chasing us, so why are you asking who we are? You're quite interesting. But you only need to remember that I'm quite interested in you all." Arthur said with a cold laugh.This was the first time Azure Sky Knight felt fear in front of others; a feeling he had only experienced before God.Unlike Enel's overwhelming power, this guy in front of him gave him an extremely strong sense of darkness.It was terrifying."I am one of the priests under God. If you do anything to me, you will be punished by God."This time, Azure Sky Knight actually cowered."Oh, what is God's punishment?" Arthur said indifferently."You don't understand God's power at all. It's a power that no human can contend with!" Azure Sky Knight said.Hearing these words, Arthur's eyes showed no fear, but rather more excitement."Hahahahaha, God? If he's a carbon-based lifeform, he'll always have weaknesses, won't he!" Arthurburst out laughing and said."If he truly has no weaknesses, wouldn't that be even more exciting?"At this moment, for some reason, in Azure Sky Knight's eyes, Arthur was even more terrifying than God Enel.Was he really so unconcerned?"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"This time, Arthur's hands simultaneously transformed into countless small snakes, rushing towards Azure Sky Knight.In a critical moment, Azure Sky Knight wanted to use the flying creature under his feet to escape, but how could Arthur let him escape so easily?Azure Sky Knight's Mantra had completely lost its effect, because his own mind was already in chaos."Run!"Azure Sky Knight said to the flying creature beneath him.However, at that moment, a small snake had already bitten the flying creature's leg.And the accelerating flying creature finally flew into the sky, escaping Arthur's attack range.Just as Azure Sky Knight thought he had escaped and breathed a sigh of relief.A voice sounded from behind him."Do you think you can escape my pursuit like this? You're underestimating me too much?"Fear continuously spread through Azure Sky Knight's heart."How is this possible? When did you get here?" Azure Sky Knight turned his head and saw that Arthur was already behind him."Since you're about to die, I might as well tell you. Actually, I've been watching you from behind the whole time!"Arthur said with a smile.He wasn't stupid; why would he tell the other party his attack methods?Actually, the small snake just now carried Arthur's main body.And the one who launched the Hidden Shadow Snake Hands was merely a clone."Since you already know, then go to hell!"With that, Arthur's arm transformed into countless small snakes, directly engulfing Azure Sky Knight. And after the small snakes engulfed Azure Sky Knight, they did not stop, subsequently tearing at the flying creature beneath his feet."Congratulations to the host for killing an A-class character and gaining 1000 experience points.""Congratulations to the host for killing a B-class creature and gaining 100 experience points."After killing the flying creature, Arthur's body rapidly plummeted.However, Arthur had already prepared; he quickly formed hand seals. Just as he was about to reach the ground, a strong wind blew from Arthur's hands, counteracting his downward force.Arthur landed steadily on the ground.However, his expression at this moment was still cold and sinister."Who's there? Come out, I've already found you."Arthur looked up at the sky and said.Chopper, who was seriously injured, had already bandaged his wounds. Hearing Arthur's words, he looked up at the sky.Just then, Gan Fall, riding his Pegasus, slowly landed on the deck of the Going Merry."Another flying guy? I wonder if you'll bring me a hint of pleasure?" Arthur said, staring intently at Gan Fall.Such a gaze made Gan Fall unconsciously take a few steps back.What's wrong with this guy? He wasn't like this when I first saw him."What are you saying?" Gan Fall said, then he saw Azure Sky Knight lying on the ground and showed a surprised expression.He then thought of Arthur.Did this guy kill Azure Sky Knight?He could feel that Azure Sky Knight had just died, and the one who killed him could have been two people: one was the severely injured little guy in front of him, and the other was this cold and sinister woman.However, the outcome was obvious."Arthur, he's our helper, not an enemy!" Chopperimmediately shouted when he saw the situation was wrong.Even as his companion, he was somewhat afraid of the current Arthur.It seemed that Arthur's mental problems had appeared, and they were more serious than before.Hearing the familiar voice, Arthur regained his composure."So he's a friend. In that case, there's no problem."Hearing Arthur's words, Chopper and Gan Fall both breathed a sigh of relief.And in the next second, Arthur suddenly snapped back to reality."I actually killed Azure Sky Knight, and so cruelly?" Arthur, of course, still retained the memory of killing!But recalling the circumstances of his killing, he himself felt a little fear.Was that still me?No, that was me. If it wasn't me, why would I feel like I did these things?Arthur's mind was a bit chaotic at this moment.He thought of his past self, only a very short period, just a few months.His current self and his former self had undergone earth-shattering changes.And these changes were unconsciously altering him. If Chopper and Zoro hadn't reminded him, he would even feel that these changes were correct, were right."Am I really going to become a serial killer?" Thinking of this, Arthur felt a lingering fear.Subsequently, he ignored Chopper and Gan Fall and walked into the cabin alone.He just wanted to calm down now.Seeing Arthur leave, Gan Fall's heart secretly breathed a sigh of relief."What exactly is wrong with that guy? And was that you whistling?" Gan Fall said.Chopper nodded."It was me whistling. I remember you said that as long as I whistled, you would appear. And just now, the guy on the ground almost killed me, so in a critical moment, I whistled. I just didn't expect my companion to wake up, and his mental symptoms became even more severe." At this point, Choppersighed."So your companion killed Azure Sky Knight?" Gan Fall asked.Chopper nodded.He was a doctor, especially familiar with the characteristics of human life, and Azure Sky Knightand his pet on the deck were both completely dead."Yes, but he now has a severe mental illness, which he simply cannot control."To prevent Arthur from losing control, Chopperdecided to create several sedatives to suppress his mind.
Chapter 147 Adventure PreparationAfter Chopper and Gan Fall talked for a while, they heard Nami and Robin's voices from nearby."Chopper!""Nami, Robin, Zoro!"Seeing everyone arrive, Chopper was extremely excited, as if tears were flowing from his eyes.And at this moment, as luck would have it, Sanji's voice also came from the other side."Miss Nami, Miss Robin!"Unlike Chopper, Sanji seemed to only see Robin and Nami.At this moment, the Straw Hat Pirates gathered once again.Seeing the Straw Hat Crew approaching from a distance, Gan Fall showed a surprised expression.After all, he knew that if they came from that location, they must have undergone the God's Trial.The so-called God's Trial was not something that could be easily passed.Even he found it difficult to defeat a few priests; he had to admit that he was getting old.Seeing Luffy and the others, Nami also showed an excited expression, after all, in a place like this, the more people, the more reliable it would be.This place was very dangerous.After everyone boarded the Merry, Usopp's first sight was the damaged sail."Usopp, I'm sorry, I didn't protect our ship well," Chopper said, still wounded.Usopp stroked his chin, and Chopper was already prepared to be scolded."Chopper, are your injuries alright?"Hearing Usopp's words, tears of emotion welled up in Chopper's eyes."I'm fine, thank you, Usopp, I will definitely become a brave person in the future." Usopp's single sentence successfully ignited Chopper's fighting spirit.Seeing the determined Chopper, Usopp smiled, then went to the ship to find his repair tools, preparing to fix the Going Merry.Immediately after, Chopper explained what had happened there to everyone."You mean there was also a priest here, but he was killed by Arthur?" Zoro asked, his brows tightly furrowed."Is this him?" Luffy touched the priest's corpse and asked everyone.Chopper nodded."Arthur's mental state is even more terrifying now; during the battle, the expression Arthur showed made even me feel scared," Chopper said."So where is Arthur now?" Sanji lit a cigarette and asked."He's in the cabin right now."Everyone opened the cabin and found Arthursleeping soundly."It seems he used a lot of stamina in the battle just now, so let him rest well!" Sanji said, and then everyone nodded.At this time, Gan Fall did not leave; he wanted to see what these people would do.After all, their current actions had severely violated Enel's rules; Enel would definitely not stand by and do nothing. Even if the Straw Hat Crew wanted to withdraw from this struggle now, they couldn't.Although Enel's power was deeply imprinted in his heart, he had once encountered a Pirate Crew, and those guys were just like the current Straw Hat Crew. He felt that the people in front of him might also bring them hope.Just as everyone was about to analyze the situation, Luffy said to Sanji, "Sanji, I'm so hungry, can you make those Sky Sharks into food for me?"At this point, all the Sky Sharks surrounding them had been eliminated by everyone.Sanji didn't refuse, after all, after such a long time, everyone was hungry.By the time Arthur woke up, it was already getting dark. He looked at the sky, then walked out of the cabin. He found that Luffy and the others had also arrived; they were gathered together, discussing what to do next."Arthur, you're awake," Sanji was the first to notice Arthur had woken up and asked.Arthur didn't speak, just nodded, and then walked over to everyone.At this moment, Robin on the side said, "This land here is part of Jaya Island, and if I'm not mistaken, the gold mentioned in Uland's tall tales should be stored here."Hearing the word 'gold,' Nami immediately interjected."Yes, gold! There's a legendary abundance of gold here!"As Nami spoke, her expression grew more excited."I smell adventure, I've decided to look for that gold!" Luffy said with a smile.And at this moment, Usopp was already hiding inside the armor he and Arthur had modified together."Everyone, listen to me first. You need to know that the enemy we are about to face is a God, that legendary invincible existence. If we continue to stay here, we might suffer the God's pun... punishment," Usopp said tremblingly, perhaps only the armor surrounding him could give him a sense of security at this moment.And upon hearing the word 'God,' the Straw Hat Crew seemed even more interested.Because almost no one among them believed in the existence of a God.And Nami, who did believe in God, had cast aside the so-called God due to the presence of gold."The God will definitely guide us to the gold, right, Usopp?"Nami said with a smile.Usopp broke out in a cold sweat, staring blankly at Nami and saying, "Hehehehe, your eyes have already turned into the shape of Berries."Then he looked at Chopper!Chopper was full of fighting spirit, constantly cheering himself on towards the sky."I want to be a brave person, I want to be a brave person, I want to be a brave person!"A helpless Usopp lowered his head. In the end, he decided that adventure was fine, but he couldn't appear. He would hide in the armor and be Robot Usopp.Arthur, on the side, took a couple of bites of food and lowered his head, looking at the determined group.For some reason, he was a bit troubled at this moment. If he truly became that kind of irrational monster, would the Straw Hat Crew still accept him?Then he shook his head.Never mind, that question can wait for later.At this moment, Zoro on the side noticed Arthur's unease and asked, "Arthur, haven't you rested well yet? If not, you can go rest some more."Arthur shook his head and said, "It's nothing, I'm just thinking about what kind of guy this God will be."Thinking of this, Arthur looked at Gan Fall.Gan Fall nodded and said, "God Enel is a very powerful person. He can use the power of lightning in nature, and his Mantra is especially strong, almost covering any area of Skypiea."Using the power of lightning in nature?Arthur stroked his chin, thought for a moment, then said to everyone, "Could the opponent be a Natural Devil Fruit user?"Gan Fall nodded; even those on Skypiea knew about the legends of the Devil Fruit, not to mention he himself was the former God."A Natural Devil Fruit user, that's a bit troublesome," Luffy said, scratching his head."If the opponent's ability is lightning, then it can only be more troublesome, but Luffy, you are Gomu Gomu, you should be non-conductive, right?" Arthursaid with a smile."I guess so!" Luffy was dumbfounded; he actually had no idea that Gomu Gomu was non-conductive.Zoro on the side looked at his sword and muttered, "Although I'm not very proficient with Armament Haki yet, I want to know if my sword can cut through lightning?"[Late night chapter, good night]