Chapter 28: Luminous Tail


Almost everyone brought their guard up from the intruder, who looks like they were responsible for frying the Sky Shark. Index, Charla and Happy who were closest stood back.

The man looked tall and had red messy hair. He wore a white coat with a black shirt and shorts. He glared at the group looking confident.

"W-Who are you?" Chopper asked frightened.

"Allow me to introduce myself, My name is Moses Reynald, and I'm a member of a rebel group called Luminous Tail," He greeted.

"Luminous Tail?" Levy repeated oddly.

"Are you guys responsible for splitting us up like that?" Charla accused.

Moses slowly nodded. "I apologize, Yozura's clones are still having trouble following orders. It was only supposed to teleport you all in different areas. I will give a strict punishment on her for that."

"Okay…" Charla said unsure how to respond.

"So why did you friend separate us up then?" Levy asked.

"Experiment," Moses responded coldly. " You aren't the only Blue Sea people we've come across. So this experiment would reveal your true nature. Will you sacrifice your own comrades to escape?"

"We would never do that!" Happy exclaimed.

"Anyway, is there a good reason why you enter Skypiea?" Moses questioned. "Especially from the dangerous route no less?"

"Well the second one it was luck," Levy answered. "But we were here due to our captain."

"Ah I see, and that old hag tricked you for paying a toll to enter, correct?" Moses questioned.

"W-Wait how do you know so much about all of this?" Lily asked suspiciously.

"I guess the simpletons didn't explain everything about mantra, didn't they, " Moses mumbled. "That's how the priests and Eneru know about everything."

"So like they're reading our minds right?" Chopper responded.

Moses turned around, not paying any attention to Chopper question. "...It seems he's approaching the ship soon."

"What?!" Jaune questioned. "What are your talking about?"

"I must take my leave right now, " Moses said. "I have my own agenda than to save you fools from danger."

"What battle!?" Levy exclaimed, however, Moses was already gone as he leaps up in the air and disappeared into the forest.

"That guy is really getting on my nerves," Jaune grumbled. "Even if he did save my life."

"Still, I wondered what he means by interfering with the battle that would happen?" Index questioned. Chopper was scanning at the back of the ship looking for anyone that might come near the area.

"Well, well, well," A man voice is heard as Chopper turned his head to reveal a giant bird and on top of it was a man holding a javelin. "Is that all of the sacrifices that are left?"

Chopper froze and quickly turned comically preparing to blow the whistles.

TWEEEETT~!


"Man~! This is boring~!" Natsu yawned with his hands behind his head. "There's gotta be something I can punch~!"

"Is that all you can think of doing?" Touma asked. "I mean are there any other hobbies you do that doesn't involve hurting others?"

"Well of course! I'm not just some muscle head!" Natsu scoffed.

"You seem to act like one," Cure Muse mumbled.

"Did you find anything Robin?" Fortune asked as she noticer Robin staring at something. Robin knelt down and brushed her hand on a piece of stone she noticed coming out of the ground.

"Cobblestone," Robin noted quietly. "We may find more clues if we see where these lead…"

"What did you find?" Nami slid down the root she'd standing. Wannai was behind her.

"Quiet!" Zoro suddenly shouted as he gripped the handle of one of his swords. "Nobody move…"

All of them froze in silence by Zoro's words. Natsu and Robin glanced upward seeing why Zoro shouted.

A sky shark dove out of the bottom of the Milky Road that was up above them. The monster's mouth was wide opened and it was headed straight for Nami and Wannai.

"Fire Dragon Iron Fist~!" Natsu roared punching the shark in the face.

At the same time, Robin had sprouted a dozen arms on both sides of the sky shark's mouth and clasped the top and bottom hands to keep the monster's mouth shut.

The Sky shark was knocked backward and crashed down into the Milky Road in front of them.

"T-That was too close," Touma sighed in defeat.

"What a day huh?" Robin remarked. Wannai and Nami were hugging each other looking terrified.

"Try to be more careful," Zoro said to the two.

"Yeah…" The two replied, timidly. "...Sure...thanks…"


Shura began by thrusting his lance out at Jaune who blocked it with his shield. "You know, you could at least say your name before attacking us!"

"Oh, where are my manners," Shura sarcastically responded. "I'm Shura, one of the followers of Eneru."

Jaune was still being pushed back by the javelin, right into the wall of the ship. He still had his shield up.

Lily appeared behind Shura preparing to swing his sword at him. However, he disappeared before Lily could slash him.

"You're gonna have to try hard than that," Shura scoffed as he appeared behind Lilly. Before Lily could react, Shura thrust his javelin into Lily's arm causing him to release his sword. However, a burst of flames shot out of the tip, making the wound he's inflicted much worse.

"L-Lilly~!" Levy screamed in horror.

"His spear can fire out flames too?" Happy exclaimed.

"AHH~!" Chopper screamed as he noticed the part of the ship was caught on fire by Shura's javelin. "This Ship's on fire~!"

"I'll put it out~! Solid Script: Water~!" Levy wrote the word "Water" quickly in the air causing a bright orb light to appear revealing the word covered in water. It shot towards the burnt area of the ship putting out the flames.

"Oh thanks, Levy," Chopper panted.

"Don't celebrate just yet," Shura shouted as he lunged at Levy.

"Solid Script: Iron~!" A giant word covered by iron appeared in front her causing Shura's lance to hit the iron.

Lily and Chopper appeared on either side of Shura with their fist pulled back. While Lily was known for his combat skills, Chopper wasn't so his looked a bit lazily.

Shura disappeared in their line of sight confusing them, "Where did he go?" Chopper asked.

Chopper, Levy, Jaune, and Lily were on high alert, looking everywhere for the priests. Levy felt him behind and quickly turned but was met with a fist in the gut knocking the wind out of her.

"L-Levy~!"

Levy collapsed on the ground KO'd from the hit. Shura smirked and disappeared again the moment Jaune thrust his sword at him.

"Hey you know it's cowardly to attack a woman!" Jaune growled.

Shura reappeared ready to kill Index from behind, Chopper angrily lunged at Shura who dodged by jumping off of Fuza and appearing on the railing of the Going Merry.

"This is quite a predicament Fuwa," Shura sighed. "You don't want to me to kill you or your friends, and don't want me to destroy your ship. You don't leave me with very much options."

"What about leaving us alone and let us leave?" Happy mumbled.

"It's my duty to fix the ship and protect the others until our friends get back!" Chopper shouted.

"Be assured you're friends are trying their hardest to get back here," Shura replied. "We weren't expecting Luminous Tail's clone machine separated you all in different areas."

"What are you talking about?" Jaune asked.

"They have a girl who ate the Copy Copy Fruit," Shura explained. "She's capable of creating copies of any human or object she touches. Copying their abilities, personality, and skills."

"W-Why are you telling us this?" Chopper asked.

"To leave a message to friends after I kill all of you here," Shura answered. This cause some of them to shudder in fear. "On this island, there are four areas each of which is governed by a different Priest. Our first rule is that when targets are in one of the areas, the other priests are not supposed to interfere with them in any way."

"I guess you guys don't get along with each other right?" Index questioned.

"You're right little nun, however, the Sacrificial Altar doesn't sit inside the perimeter of any of the areas," Shura answered. "Here we are in a free zone which means anyone can find those that are here and proper etiquette would have those at the altar killed the target until after they fail the challenges."

" So you're saying that Luffy's team are dead?!" Happy exclaimed.

"Calm yourself," Shura said. "The fact that I am here does not necessarily mean that your friends are dead at this point. I stand before you now with a different purpose of sacrifice.

"What so different about it...?" Lily grunted. "Do you mean if our friends get back here and rescue us we're free to go?"

"I doubt it's that easy," Index said.

"Well it depends on you and whether you and your crew can make you escape from the free zone fast enough," Shura said. "Hold that thought. The reason I'm here is that those are the judgment rules under normal circumstance. However, there's an exceptional situation that rules have to change a bit."

"Exceptional?" Charla repeated.

"Yes in this situation, blue sea dweller trespassed on the sacred land of the Upper Yard even if it was by another person." Shura reminded.

"S-So Luminous Tail was trying to get us killed?!" Happy shouted in horror.

"For the crime of running away someone must pay for it with their lives," Shura said. "This is the way of the world when they will also be punished...so they can realize their mistakes!"

"I WON'T LET YOU!" Chopper angrily lunged at Shura clumsily while Shura dived down at him. He stabbed his lance right into Chopper's right arm, causing the reindeer to yell in pain from the flames adding extra damages.

Chopper landed hard on his back grunting in pain of the injuries. While Jaune and Lily lunged at him next.

"Let's get Levy in the sick room!" Charla ordered. She, Index, and Happy rushed to her aid while Jaune and Lily were distracting Shura. Chopper was struggling to stand up holding his arm in pain.

"You two are really pissing me off," Shura grumbled a bit as he was evading every slice attack with ease. He stabbed his lance on the deck and he swung around kicking both of them, Luckily Jaune brought his shield up while Lily crossed his arms to block the kick.

"Damn it, we can't even land a hit on this guy!" Jaune growled.

"I don't have time to deal with you two," Shura as he swung his lance at the two in rapid motion, Jaune was hit in the side and crashed into Lily sending both of them off the Going Merry and into the sea of clouds.

"Lily~! Jaune~!" Chopper shouted in horror. He dived right into the clouds.

"Chopper~!" Index shouted.

"He seems to forget that he can't swim," Charla sweatdropped.

"Ugh~!" Levy groaned as she slowly stirred up. "W-What just happened?"

"Levy you're awake~!" Happy said.

"Where are the others?!" Levy asked as she shot up.

"If I have to guess they're sleeping with the sharks by now," Shura said as he walked over to them. Happy went in front of the girls,

"S-Stay back!" Happy threatened but was shivering in fear.

"Or what? You'll hit me with your Max speed magic?" Shura questioned. "I'll make this quick and painless death."

Shura was about to stab Happy. Levy tried to summon another IRON to block it but she was still winded from the attack.

Before Shura's tip could meet into Happy's forehead, Shura tensed up and quickly brought his lance to block another lance.

"Sorry to keep you waiting~!" Gan Fall apologized.

"I-IT GAN FALL THE SKY KNIGHT~!" Happy and Index cheered.

"Ugh~" Shura grunted as he fended off Gan Fall's attack and pushed him back. "I wasn't expecting company!"

Gan Fall jumped off the ship and landed on Pierre and flew up in the air. Shura did the same with Fuza catching him as he pursues Gan Fall.

"GAN FALL!" Shura hollered as he flew straight at the Sky Knight.

"I knew you wouldn't let us down Sky Knight~!" Chopper cheered.

"We're not dealing with an amateur opponent Pierre," Gan Fall informed. "I wouldn't disappoint our opponent with anything but our best."

"PIERRRE~!" Pierre cawed.

"What could that decrepit old relic possibly be doing here?" Shura wondered. He then addresses to Fuza. "Do you feel like putting him in his place?"

"CAAW~!" Fuza shrieked.

"YOU'RE RIGHT FUZA!" Shura laughed mockingly. "We don't need two Gods on this island!"

Happy, Charla, Index, Last Order and Levy couldn't help but stare in awe as the two flying warriors were clashing against each other's lances mid-air.

Shura grunted from the recoil of the attack. Meanwhile, Gan Fall swooped down and flew by the Sacrificial Altar.

"GO~! SKY KNIGHT~!" The five cheered as Pierre soared over his head while Gan Fall was beside his opponent.

Shura thrust his lance at the two, but Pierre flew up in the air to avoid the attack. The bird then dropped down on Shura's other side with his wings angled upward. He then flapped his wings downward and Shura's eyes widened in alarm to find Pierre alone.

"W-Where did he go?" Shura dreaded a bit. He froze when he heard Gan Fall's armor rattled behind him.

Shura panicky lashed out his lance at the Sky Knight. But Gan Fall dodged it only receiving a scorch mark on his left cheek.

Gan Fall narrowed his eyes as he slapped his gauntlet into Shura's chest. Suddenly Shura was sent flying off and dropped like a rock.

"Whoa~!" Happy and Index gasped as they watched the terrifying Priest from the sky. "Sky Knight you're our Hero!"

"What...just happened?" Charla asked in disbelief.

Fuza swooped down and caught Shura before he could into the sky of clouds. At the same time, Gan Fall landed on Pierre back;. "One more hit in the right should do him eh Pierre?"

"This fight is so intense," Levy said. She then noticed Lily emerging out of the Sea of clouds while carrying Jaune and Chopper who were both unconscious.

"Lily~!" The five exclaimed. Lily flew onto the ship with the two unconscious boys and collapse.

"I HAD ENOUGH!" Shura yelled. "You're nothing but a pathetic shell of your former self! And I'm through playing games with a fool! You showed up to this fight a criminal which leave me only one option...taking you out!"

"Hmm?" Gan Fall grunted.

"You mean he wasn't even trying?" Levy exclaimed.

Shura lower his goggles and snapped out his arms. "Behold the Ordeal of String~!"


Luffy groaned as he struggles to push himself up. The battle against Satori still went downhill for the six of them. Cure Rhythm who was also struggling to get up was the only one to land a hit on him, but only due to him wanting it to happen.

"HOH HOH HOO!" Satori laughed as he floated above him. "You're still alive! I'm impressed! And as a reward for good behaviour, we're going to finish our little fun for today with I received several awards for!"

"He's already putting his trump card?" Rhythm mumbled.

"My super-secret surprise~! Ball Dragon~!"

Behind one of the tree, a menacing decorative dragon head floated into view. It was easily the same size of the Surprise Clouds and had evil green eyes and a wide tooth filled mouth.

"W-What is that thing?!" Rhythm exclaimed.

"It looks like all you did is string a bunch of Surprise Clouds," Luffy noted.

"Is that the best you can do?" Nora smirked. Despite taking a beating. "That's a bit disappointed."

"Oh you won't be for long!" Satori taunted while going near his Surprise Dragon. "The Dragon is loaded with explosive surprises and all kinds of delightful shrapnel!"

"B-But that means, "Usopp gasped.

"If you ever touch the firebomb ball that's hidden somewhere on its body it will be over for you and your friends!" Satori cackled. "You'll be blown to bits in ensuring inferno~! HOPE YOU LIKE FIREWORKS GO BALL DRAGON~!"

The Dragon flew over towards the three and behind it were a long chain of surprise clouds.

"Let's blow that thing out of here~!" Nora announced as hammer turned into a grenade launcher.

"Yeah get ready for my Gum Gum Pistol~!" Luffy swung his arm.

"GUYS NO~!" Usopp ran over and tackled them causing the ball dragon to fly over them around them and looped around the clearing. Sanji leaped up while Kuroko grabbed Rhythm and teleport out of the way.

"You idiots~!" Usopp hissed at them. "He just told us if we touch that thing that it explodes! Do you want to die a fiery death?"

"Then how are we gonna fight it!?" Nora shouted

"That's just it, we can't fight it~!" Usopp said while the three ran from the Ball Dragon. "We need to run~!"

The Ball Dragon swoop down at the three. "So what do we do now!?"

"I don't know you're the captain~!" Usopp snapped. He then got an idea. "Okay on three, jump!"

"One...two...three~!"

Nora, Luffy, and Usopp lunged to the side as the Ball Dragon barreled through the place they were just in their direction.

"Shishi~!" Luffy laughed.

"That was a close call~!" Nora chuckled nervously

Usopp looked down and realized that the three were holding onto a Surprise Ball. "Oh no! This is bad!"

As soon as he finished, the Surprise Ball they clung unto exploded. The three landed on the ground motionless.

"HOH-HOH-HOO~!" Satori laughed as he floats over to them on his Surprise Cloud. "Well aren't you three quite the little survivors aren't you."

"Okay, now you're just toying with us!" Usopp yelled.

"Correct~!" Satori said chirpily. "It wouldn't be as much fun if you didn't experience the full power of the Bal Dragon head came around a tree floated next Satori. "SHALL WE CONTINUED~?!"


Next Chapter: The Light of Shandian