Disclaimer: I don't own One Piece. I only own my OC: Aurora, Kai and Rose.
Chapter 43
The Ancient City of Shandora…
"Shiiii…" The snake's eyes abruptly popped open, two figures visible inside. They pushed, attempting to break free, but to no avail. The bulging sockets went back into place, the snake's eyes closing once more.
A beat passed… and then the figures pried the snake's eyes open a second time. Luffy stood in the left eye, peering out. He knocked against the optic as another smaller figure bounced over to his side. It was Aisa, the young girl having what appeared to be an argument with the teen. The eye snapped shut, the two blinking out of view.
"Blah!" the snake's mouth dropped open, three figures plummeting to the ground below.
"Pieh!" Pierre landed on his head, managing to save Aisa from suffering the same fate.
"Ouch!" Luffy landed on his back next to them.
Aisa patted the ground. "Eh… rock floor?"
"Heh… heh…" Luffy slowly got up. "Heh… heh… finally, we're out…"
"What happened here?" Aisa took in their surroundings.
"Oooooooooooo!"
"Ah…" Aisa followed the sound, the young Shandian catching up with Luffy atop the ruins. "Luffy!"
"YEAH! I FINALLY GOT OUT!" Luffy cheered, pumping his fists in the air. "Where are we? The ruins? Wow… look… we made it!"
"If that's true… then this… is our homeland…?"
Luffy peered out into the distance. "Wow! That's a big hole!" It was as he gazed at the hole that the Straw Hat captain noticed something else. Or rather… someone…
"Huh?! Luffy!" Aisa cried out when he jumped. "Wait for me! What are… where are you going?" The girl carefully made her way down, Pierre not far behind. The two eventually caught up to the teen. "There he is…!"
"ZORO! Oi! What happened to you!" Luffy shook the swordsman, but it was no use. He was out cold. "How did you… get like this…?!" The teen glanced at the bodies strewn around him, noticing one in particular was missing. "Where's Nami?"
"WYPER!" came the cry. "WYPER!"
Luffy peered down into the hole, finding Aisa kneeling next to the warrior's prone form.
"AAAAHH! Wyper… wake up…" the girl began to cry.
"Isn't that the bazooka guy?" Luffy recognized the Shandian. "Even a strong guy like him… who the heck did all this?"
"It's Eneru! Only he can do this kind of thing!"
"Eneru…? The "God"?"
"While we were trapped in the snake's stomach, my mantra didn't work at all, so I don't know what happened here…" Aisa admitted.
"Ack…"
"Eh?" Luffy turned at the sound. "Robin!"
"He took Miss Navigator…" the archeologist got out. "Heh…"
"H-Hey… stay awake…" Luffy held the woman in his arms. "He took who away? Nami?"
"Guh…!" someone else coughed. "Not just her…"
Luffy looked up, finding Kai awake as well. "Who did he take?"
"Nami… and… Aurora…" the fallen angel struggled to get the words out, finding it hard to breath. But he had to let Luffy know. "Straw Hat… listen. Eneru… he did things to Aurora in the past… bad things…"
"Hm? What are you talking about?"
"Miss Angel…" Robin picked up. "She was… his prisoner… before she met you."
"He hurt her, Straw Hat." Kai wheezed. "In ways… you can't even imagine. The old man… is the one who saved her. But now… she's in trouble again."
Luffy had a grim look on his face. "Where'd he take them?"
"…No idea…" Robin got out. "Listen… the island and this country… all of Skypiea will be destroyed…"
"You mean the sky island?!"
Aisa froze. "Ah… my village, too?!"
"Everything will… everything here will fall to the ground…"
"The criminals have entered the first gate!"
"Get them!"
"They will bring "judgment" to anyone near!"
Conis and Rose ignored the shouting, continuing on their way. They had to make it to Angel Island. They had to warn everyone of the impending danger. If not… all life would be lost.
"So… Eneru will go to where the gold bell is?"
"Yes…" Robin answered. "I'm sure of it… he will come back for i…"
"Are you okay?!"
Aisa's head whipped around, the girl sensing something through her mantra. "I got it! I hear three other voices on this island."
"Aisa…" Luffy directed his attention to the girl. "Take me there!"
"In Angel Beach… something caused quite a racket in Angel Island…"
"Ah… is it because of us?!"
"No…" Eneru responded. "It's probably just a small problem. Yahahaha…"
"Um… does that mantra ability require a known target to work properly?"
"Yes, but I am different." The God began to explain, unceremoniously dumping Aurora's body next to his throne. "Using mantra with my electrical ability, I can create sonic waves like radar. I can detect and pass judgment on anything in this island… and if I want, the entire country."
"Um so…" Nami was at a loss for words.
"This is the kind of ability most fitted for a God like me. Yahahahah…" he laughed. "The final scene of Skypiea… will be the banquet of the dancing angels. Won't you like to see their faces before they die? Yahahahah…"
Nami forced back a tremble of fear. 'He's too dangerous. I have to get myself and Aurora out of here fast… there must be a way out of here! I just have to find it!' The navigator froze when an angry expression crossed the God's face. "Wa…? Is something wrong?"
Eneru's gaze shifted around. 'Who can that be…?!' He got up from his throne. "…No… it's nothing…"
"What are you doing?! Arrest them!"
Rose veered the waver hard to the right, Conis hanging tight to the woman's waist. They'd just barely managed to avoid the attack meant to wipe them out.
"Fools! You can't get away! Arrest the criminals! Ah!"
Rose leaned back, jumping the dock and slamming the waver into Captain McKinley.
The White Berets gaped as the man was sent flying. "Captain! Wah!"
Various citizens gasped. "It's the Captain of the White Berets!"
"What happened here?!"
Rose and Conis leapt off the out of control waver, landing shakily on the ground. Without a rider to control it, the waver kept on moving, slamming into McKinley once more.
"Wah…! Captain!"
"Captain!"
"It's the criminals!"
"It's those blasphemous women!"
"Please…" Conis began. "Everyone, listen to me!"
"They attacked the White Berets!"
"Get out of here, criminals!"
"Yeah! You'll only bring us trouble!"
"Go away!"
Rose and Conis froze, shocked by the amount of animosity they were met with. A White Beret took this as his chance, charging toward the two with knife in hand. Conis acted swiftly, grabbing hold of the large weapon strapped to her back. The White Beret stopped in his tracks.
"This is a bazooka. I will fire if you get any closer." Conis warned. To further emphasize the point, Rose drew the lance she had strapped to her back, the woman having taken it from Gan Fall's home. It was luck that the former God kept a spare around.
With the threat neutralized for now, Conis began to speak once more. "Everyone, please go to Cloud's End! Escape to the Blue Sea!"
"What trickery is this, little girl?" McKinley growled.
"Captain…!"
The citizens of Angel Island could only stare. "…What is she saying?"
"God Eneru… is going to destroy this country! We will die if we stay here!" Conis shouted.
"…Ah? What nonsense!"
"What are you trying to do?! Go away!"
A young boy threw a rock at Conis' head. "God Eneru will never do such a thing!"
The girl flinched when the rock made contact, her temple beginning to bleed.
The boy froze, not having expected to actually hit anything. "Ah… sorry…"
Rose shared a look with the young girl, nodding her head. "It's ok…" The berry-haired woman threw down her weapon. Conis did the same with her bazooka.
"They threw away their weapons! Arrest them!"
"Yessir!"
"ENERU…!" Conis shouted at the top of her lungs. "IS NOT THE TRUE GOD!"
"What?!"
"What has she done…!"
"Quick! Get away from her! The judgment is coming!"
A moment passed, the citizens and White Berets scrambling to get away from the two women. But… nothing happened. There was no lightning strike. They were still alive. Conis and Rose dropped to their knees, letting out a slow breath.
"Huh…? They didn't get punished…? Why?"
"…She said such a blasphemous thing!"
"Even if it means losing our lives… there's something we must say." Rose began. "The last words of a survivor of God's militia were… "Skypiea will be destroyed!" And then…"
"He and my father were killed by Eneru…" Conis finished.
The young boy from before didn't understand. "Won't God help us?"
"There's no time." Rose spoke once more. "You must go to Cloud's End! Please!"
"Oh no… this is so sudden! We've been in the sky all our lives, we don't know how to survive in Blue Sea!"
"Are you saying you are going to sit here and die?!" Conis retorted.
"But… maybe there will be a miracle! Maybe Skypiea won't be destroyed! Maybe the God will change his mind!"
Rose glowered. "If there's one thing I know for certain, it is that Eneru is hopelessly powerful and cruel! A miracle will never happen! As of now, this country… does not have a God!"
"This is not the time to be praying!" Conis interjected. "If we survive, everything will be different! We must choose. Dead or alive, our lives depend on this very question. Do we, or do we not… give up on this country and run?!"
Luffy charged through the ruins of the once great city, Shandora. Pierre wasn't far behind, Aisa riding atop the bird who was in his winged horse form.
"Hah… are we there yet?!"
"That's the cave! Hurry!"
"Hm… those 5 survivors are still down…"
"Huh?"
Eneru jumped up onto the ledge of the ship. "I'm not very pleased right now. How can there be a mistake in my prediction?!"
"YOU MUST BE ENERU!"
"Eh?!" Nami jerked, instantly recognizing the voice. Tears began to stream down her face in relief. "Ah…! LUFFY!"
The shout was loud enough to rouse Aurora from unconsciousness, the angel slowly blinking her eyes open. She shakily pushed herself up, vision momentarily swimming. No doubt the strike to the head caused a concussion, but Aurora could feel her holy powers working to fix the damage. She carefully made her way to the edge of the large ship, peering down. The angel let out a shaky breath. "Luffy…"
The Straw Hat captain stood below, glaring up at the God. "What did you do… to my friends?!"
Eneru glared back. "Isn't this that other piece of trash?!"
"Escape to the Blue Seas! Pack your bags and hurry to the Cloud's End!"
"Do as that girl said! Hurry!"
All throughout Angel Island, it was a scene of chaos. Skypieans were running rampant. They gathered what belongings they needed, grabbed their families and made haste toward the dock. They had to get out of Skypiea before it was destroyed.
Meanwhile, Rose and Conis faced a much different challenge…
"Do you know… where the militia members are? My husband is in the militia."
"My son is in the militia, too."
"Mine as well!"
"Um… they…" Conis struggled to get the words out.
Rose gazed sadly over the group of Skypieans gathered. She'd already come to a horrifying conclusion. If Eneru killed that one member of the militia, there was no doubt he killed the others already. But… how in the world could they tell these people that?
"Actually… I don't…" Conis was still struggling to find the right words.
"What happened to the militia?"
"Where are they?"
"Do you know any-"
Captain McKinley stepped in front of the two women. "Leave the militia to the White Berets! We will find them and bring them to safety for certain! Go to Cloud's End immediately!"
"But, Captain…"
"Go now!" he ordered.
"Yes, yes…"
Conis and Rose could only stare in shock. "Captain…"
"I know everything…" McKinley admitted. "I was in the militia… Eneru… that evil man… Nonetheless, the most important thing is the people's immediate evacuation. The tragedy in Biruka must not be repeated."
"Biruka?"
"It is the sky island where Eneru was born." McKinley answered. "It's a bit south of here. 6 years ago, it vanished without a trace."
Conis started. "6 years ago… did he…?!"
"Yes. After destroying his homeland, Eneru came to this country. There were many who fought against Eneru, but no one came close to stopping him."
Rose bowed her head, thinking of Gan Fall. The former God had done everything in his power to try and stop Eneru after being overthrown. But… it had been no use. The man was too powerful.
"He is a… God. That is the best way to describe him considering what he can do…" McKinley continued. "We once served under Gan Fall as part of the militia. Then we betrayed the militia and served God Eneru."
"You what?!" Rose snarled, getting in the Captain's face.
"It was the only way to protect the people on this island!" McKinley defended their actions. "Yet… we are nonetheless powerless to help now. We thought that if everyone followed the rules and… nobody angered or disobeyed God then all would be well. Yet now… damn it all…!"
"No! You were right!" Conis interjected. "If everyone lives as you said, it will be a wonderful world!"
"!"
"Captain… can I leave the evacuation to you?"
"Where are you going?"
Rose smiled. "There are still some who need to know… they're our friends."
"Don't go back there!" the White Berets tried to stop the two women.
'The ones from Blue…' McKinley realized whom they meant. He stood at attention, giving the customary greeting of Skypieans. "Heso!"
Conis and Rose understood the message. "Heso!"
"Show some respect, punk. I am God!"
"Yeah right!" Luffy sneered. "You don't look like God!"
Aisa peered out from her hiding place back in the tunnel. "Wow, he's brave."
"Pieh…"
Nami leaned over to shout to her captain. "Luffy! Be careful!" The navigator flinched when Eneru glared in her direction, slamming her hands over her mouth. Aurora returned the cold look, planting her body in front of Nami's. Probably not the best decision, given her current condition… but the angel would be damned before she let Eneru hurt another one of her friends.
"Yahahahah! I hear the cheers of the angels. The citizens seem to know about the fate of Skypiea… Yahaha! I wonder where they are running to?"
Luffy didn't appreciate being ignored. "I said, you don't look… like God, stupid!"
"I will show you soon enough…"
Luffy didn't waste another moment, running up one of the large oars that extended from the ship. Once high enough, he jumped and stretched his arm to grab hold of one of the propellers. The Straw Hat captain swung his body around before launching at Eneru.
"I see…" the God took in the display. "So you are not a simple mortal after all… however…" Electricity began to build. "Are you of the… superman class or…"
"Wuoooooh!"
"Wait!" Aurora made a move to intercept, but Nami latched onto the angel with an ironclad grip. Her friend had suffered enough. Like hell she was going to let Aurora throw herself in front of another of Eneru's attacks. Luffy could handle himself… right?
"Either way makes no difference to me… because… I AM GOD!" Eneru shot a large blast of lightning. "GOD'S JUDGMENT!"
"LUFFY!" the girls screamed, only able to watch in horror as even their captain was taken down.
The light began to fade, a large hole now embedded in the wall of the cave. The rock was black and charred, showing just how powerful Eneru's powers truly were. Aurora felt weak, the angel's knees beginning to give out on her. Nami's knees gave out as well, the two girls sinking to the floor, wrapped in a tight embrace. They drew comfort from one another. They needed it. Even their captain, the strongest of them, had appeared to fall. But… it was when they drew their gaze away from the hole… that they saw…
"Luffy?"
The boy stood several feet in front of Eneru, hands on his hips. He had a look of confusion on his face, unsure as to why everyone was so upset.
Eneru began to twirl his staff. "You are better than I thought…"
Nami and Aurora shared a look, both thinking the same thing. 'Did he dodge it?'
Eneru beat his staff against one of his drums. "60 million volts… THUNDER DRAGON!"
A large dragon formed out of lightning soared towards Luffy. This time, he was unable to dodge the attack. It hit him straight on.
"LUFFY!" Both girls screamed again. But… there was no need for concern. The sight before them perplexed the two. Luffy had taken the attack head on, and yet… he was still standing. The Straw Hat captain didn't appear to have a scratch on him.
Eneru was momentarily caught off guard, but didn't let it affect him for long. He lunged forward, pressing a palm against Luffy's chest. "100 million volts… SHOCK RELEASE!"
Nami and Aurora flinched, averting their eyes from the bright light. The navigator forced herself to look though. She had a theory in mind. 'Can it be… he's immune to lightning because of… his rubber body?'
Luffy frowned, throwing the God off of him. "STOP IT! YOU'RE ANNOYING!"
Eneru managed to right himself, sliding back on the floor of the deck. Luffy stayed standing, thoroughly unaffected by the lightning attack. The remaining bystanders could only gawk. It didn't seem possible…
Aurora chanced a glance in Eneru's direction and was stunned by what she saw. The expression on the God's face was rather comical and something that would have made the angel laugh if the situation weren't so serious. Honestly… it was an expression Aurora had never seen before. Eneru normally was relaxed, with half-lidded eyes and a calm but confident smile. But this… this was entirely new. The God looked completely lost and absolutely horrified. His eyes were bulging out of their sockets and his jaw looked like it would hit the ground at any second.
Was it possible…? Could Luffy… defeat the unbeatable God?
"Oooooh!" the boy charged.
Eneru attempted to shake himself out of his stupor. 'Come! Physical attacks are useless against me. You will pass through me and fall…'
The God was soon proven wrong. Luffy launched a powerful kick into the man's stomach, sending him flying back. Eneru landed heavily on his side, clutching his midsection in pain. It was the first time Aurora had ever seen the God act that way.
"Since Eneru's powers are lightning based, his attacks have no effect." Nami deduced. "The one man who can fight against lightning. Eneru had probably never thought that such a man existed!"
"So, you're saying…" Aurora almost couldn't believe what she was about to ask. "That Luffy is… Eneru's one and only… natural enemy?!"
Nami nodded in response, eyeing the two men closely. Eneru was still unmoving. "Did Luffy… win?!"
"…No." Aurora shook her head. "Luffy may have an advantage, but… it won't be that easy."
The God finally moved, maneuvering a safe distance away from the Straw Hat captain. "What the hell are you?"
"I ate the Gomu Gomu no Mi. I'm a rubber man!"
Eneru glared. "Rubber?"
Nami perked up, turning to face her friend. "I get it now… there's no rubber in the White-White Sea, is there?"
"Now that I think about it… you're right. Rubber has never existed here. Eneru would've never encountered it up until this point because it only exists down below in the Blue Sea."
Luffy charged towards the God once more. "I'm immune to lightning!"
"Mantra…" Eneru shut his eyes, concentrating on using his unique ability to detect Luffy's movements before he even made them. He shuffled to the left, avoiding the incoming punch.
Luffy whirled around. "Gomu Gomu… WHIP!" He shot his leg out, but Eneru dissipated in a burst of electricity. Realizing the man was now behind him, Luffy tried attacking once more, clapping his feet together. "SPEAR!"
Eneru merely evaded the attack the same way as before. He appeared behind Luffy, swinging his staff into the boy's face.
"Ngh!"
The God didn't stop there. He assaulted the Straw Hat captain once more with his golden staff.
"Ah… Luffy!" Nami cried out.
Aurora flinched in response, Eneru having pinned Luffy against the ship with his staff, the tip digging into the boy's neck. It brought back memories of the God doing similar things to her. The angel unconsciously brought her hand up to her neck, rubbing it.
"Guh!" Luffy gagged. "…Bleh."
"I have seen through your attack pattern. Not all my abilities are lightning-based. Even if you are immune to lightning, I can still deal with you in other ways."
"Grr!" Luffy growled, forcing the tip of the staff away and whipping his leg out in a kick.
Eneru dissipated into electricity. "Simple attacks like that are useless!"
"Damn it. I can't follow his movement."
Eneru sized up his opponent. 'What the hell is rubber? Does it also have to do with the brat's ability to restore his physical shape?' The God held his staff before him, electricity coursing through the object. "Thunder Alchemy!"
"Huh?"
Aurora couldn't breathe. She knew exactly what Eneru was doing. He'd altered the makeup of his staff countless times to turn it into a weapon. More often than not, it'd been used against her. The scars on her back were a constant reminder.
Nami gaped. "On the tip of his staff… he forged a trident!"
Eneru thrust the trident at Luffy. "This lightning attack has a physical form. Play time is over!"
"Wah!" Luffy jumped, barely able to avoid being skewered.
"Hahaha. Your weakness lies in your inability to attack."
The straw hat wearing boy said nothing, launching himself at the God once more. "Gomu Gomu… Crash!" Eneru faded from view, Luffy still in mid-air. "He disappeared?"
Aurora froze, the angel able to sense exactly where the God was. She yelled up at her captain. "Luffy! Behind you! He's using the gold as a medium to move around the ship!"
Luffy managed to turn himself around, Eneru's body emerging from the large golden face that adorned the front of the ship. He narrowly avoided being ripped apart by the trident, grabbing hold of the weapon. That turned out to be a mistake. "HOT!"
"Hahahaha. The trident can get even hotter when I install more electricity into it!" the God gloated. "Hm?"
"Gomu Gomu…" Luffy swung his foot out. "AXE!" The appendage came flying back, slamming Eneru into the deck of the ship.
"You little brat!"
"Gomu Gomu… MACHINE GUN!" Luffy's fists went flying, attempting to punch the man. Eneru didn't flinch away, managing to grab hold of the boy's wrists and stop the attack. "Eh? My arms… how did he catch them!"
"Luffy!" Nami could only watch as her captain was thrown into the deck.
"You have picked a bad time… to tour the Sky Island, pirates of the Blue Sea." Eneru mused, twirling his staff. "I am God. I can easily predict the future. Not to mention your punches. After all, my will alone created this world!" He sat upon his throne. "You are foolish to stand up against me with such weak power. How about it? Witness by my side… the annihilation of this country. Yahahahah…"
Nami gasped. "What…?!"
Tears began to stream down Aurora's face, the angel falling to her knees once more. "Even with his rubber abilities… is Luffy… still not enough? Are we… doomed?"
"Max 200 million volt! Shock release!" Eneru blasted electricity into the ship, the large vessel coming to life and rising into the air.
"Ah! The big boat is moving! What do we do?" Aisa was worried. "Luffy! Nami!"
"Look! It is floating! The ark that will take me to the endless earth, Maxim!"
Aurora hunched in on herself, tears flowing more freely now. 'It's no use! This is it! Skypiea will be destroyed! All those innocent people…!' A sob escaped the angel's throat.
Nami glanced worriedly at the girl before turning to her captain. "What should we do, Luffy?!"
The boy said nothing, making his way over to Aurora. The angel flinched when something was firmly planted atop her head. She reached a hand up, the material underneath very familiar. It was… straw. Aurora's grip on the hat tightened, her entire body trembling as she fought to hold back her sobs. "Luffy…"
Being this close to the angel, Luffy saw for the first time the scars amassed in the center of her back. His gaze darkened. "He did this to you." It wasn't a question.
Aurora nodded. "I couldn't stop him then… I can't stop him now…" A sob escaped. "He's too powerful! My home, my friends, my family…! It'll all be destroyed! " Her crying grew more hysterical. "HE CAN'T BE STOPPED! THERE'S NOTHING ANYONE CAN DO-"
"Quit yapping!"
Aurora flinched as if she'd been hit. She chanced a glance up at Luffy. "But…"
"You are the future pirate king's friend… so stop being such a worrier!"
The angel sniffed, tears continuing to stream down her face. "Luffy…"
"Pirate King?" Eneru drolled. "What country does he rule?"
"He is the King of the Sea!"
Eneru smirked. "That doesn't sound half bad… let's finish this in the sky." As soon as he finished that sentence, the Maxim burst through the top of the cave it had been housed in. The ground crumbled, trees were obliterated, and wildlife ran for cover. "Yahahahaha! All the circuits of the ark… have been activated. I call it Deathpiea. In the mist of hopelessness, it is the savior of the world."
"…What's that supposed to mean?" Nami was perplexed. It was then the ship suddenly came to a stop, a mass of black cloud puffing out the top of the structure. "Ah…?! What is that?"
"What?" Aurora was just as confused. She'd never seen anything like this before.
"Yahahahahah!" Eneru laughed. "That is the thunder cloud. Using my energy, Deathpiea can produce clouds that contain strong electrical current running through it."
"Electrical currents?" Aurora didn't like the sound of that. Eneru could already pull lightning from regular clouds. If this was stronger somehow…
"With cloud of such thickness, Skypiea will soon be covered entirely in darkness. Then the clouds will be able to emit lightning ten times stronger than my attacks. This country will be completely eradicated!" The God held a hand to the sky. "Allow me to demonstrate."
Aurora screamed in horror, realizing exactly where Eneru was aiming. He'd sent a blast of lightning directly at Angel Island. The angel could only watch in despair, tears begun anew. "Why?! Why are you doing this?! The citizens of Skypiea have never done anything wrong!"
Luffy shared the sentiment. "Just because you think you are God, you will take away everything?!"
"Yes… life… earth… all are at my mercy!" Eneru thrust his staff turned trident at Luffy. "That includes you! The party is about to start!"
The Straw Hat captain managed to dodge, lashing out at the God with a kick. Eneru blocked it with his arm, jabbing with his trident once more. Luffy planted his foot against the weapon to shove it away, but ended up burned in the process. "Ah! Hot!"
Eneru laughed, pouring more electricity into it. "Yahaha… how do you like my trident?!"
Luffy threw his arms up to block the oncoming jabs, but was burned even further. "Ah! Ah! Ouch! Ouch!" He barely managed to avoid being impaled, blowing on the skin of his burnt palms.
"Oh no…" Eneru drolled, glancing at the railing he'd destroyed. "Did I do that?"
"Damn!" Luffy cursed. "He can predict all my movements…" An idea came to the boy just then. "Oh! Gomu Gomu… Baka!"
"What are you doing, Luffy?!" Nami shouted incredulously.
The boy had adopted a blank look on his face. It appeared as if nobody was home; there were no lights on upstairs. Eneru wasn't fazed, thrusting his trident at Luffy's head. The Straw Hat captain bobbed to the right.
"Huh?!" Eneru was baffled. How was he able to dodge? The God began repeatedly attacking Luffy, but the boy managed to evade each time.
Nami gawked. 'Using only his natural reflex to dodge… since he is not thinking, his movements can't be predicted.'
Luffy flipped back, face returning to normal. "Damn… because I turned into a dumb ass… I couldn't attack."
"You idiot! I was going to praise you, too!"
Aurora sweatdropped. "L… Luffy…"
"How do I get him like this…?! Oh!" Another idea came to Luffy. "Gomu Gomu… Octopus!" His legs turned to jelly, going limp beneath him.
"Stop using those stupid attacks!" Nami griped.
"It seems you are trying very hard to overcome my mantra…" Eneru twirled his staff. "That is understandable, of course… since it is the reason why I can dominate my opponents."
Luffy glanced back at the God's throne. "That's it!" He leapt backwards. "Gomu Gomu…"
"Nothing you do will work! You are only good at resisting lightning blasts!"
"Ah? The ship?!"
'I don't understand…' Aurora thought to herself. 'Why is he attacking the ship and not Eneru?'
"Octopus Rampage!"
"Fool! Trying to destroy my ship because you can't beat me?!" Eneru mocked the boy. "It is useless!"
Luffy paid no heed, continuing to kick and punch at the gold surrounding the throne. It was then that his idea became clear. He wasn't trying to destroy the ship. Luffy's attacks… they were rebounding in a random pattern so as to take out Eneru.
Nami finally caught on. 'That's right! The rebounded punches are completely random!'
"He can't predict it…!" Aurora came to the same realization.
"You can't get away now! Gomu Gomu…"
"W… Wait…!" the God coughed.
"BAZOOKA!" Luffy thrust both hands into the God's midsection, bringing him to his knees.
"…Oh!" Blood dripped from the man's mouth. Only one thought was on his mind in that moment. 'It's coming… run… must… run…'
"Gomu Gomu…"
'It's coming! Must… move…'
Luffy's arm stretched out behind him, twisted into a spiral.
"NOOOOOOOO…!"
"RIFLE!" The attack hit Eneru dead on, the God's large body crashing back into the gold face that adorned the front of his ship.
Aurora held a hand against her mouth in shock. Never had she seen this before. None had ever been able to lay a hand against Eneru, and even if they had… it never amounted to anything. The angel had always thought the God invincible, but… Luffy…
Nami shook. "He did it…! But… the ship…!"
Aurora had to steady herself as the ship began to rise once more. "Wha…?"
"Damn… you…!" Eneru slowly began to rise. "So… close… I was… so…" he coughed. "Heh… heh… My plans would have worked flawlessly if it wasn't for you…! Everyone would fear me… worship me…! My world… a punk like you… is no match for me! It is impossible! I am the almighty God! The almighty God!"
Down Below…
The skies had turned dark. The wind blew harshly. Two figures knelt on the ground next to the prone forms of their companions. Kai and Robin had woken once more, injured but alive. The ground began to shake, a large vessel appearing in the sky.
Robin froze. "…! A ship…?!"
"What the hell…?!" Kai couldn't believe what he was seeing. A ship afloat in the air?! "Just what exactly did we get ourselves into?"
"Look carefully, rubber man… this island is doomed… nothing can save it now…!"
"SHUT UP!" Luffy roared, aiming a punch at the God.
Eneru thrust his hands into the gold face adorning the front of his ship, the gold melting and bending to his will.
"Ah! The golden wall!"
"Thunder…" Eneru began to shape the precious metal. "Alchemy!" The gold formed into a ball around Luffy's fist, dragging the boy to the ground.
"Ah! Hot!" he cried out in pain.
"Luffy!" Nami screamed.
Aurora froze. She'd never seen Eneru do such a thing before. Sure, he'd molded his staff into different shapes, but he'd never manipulated that much gold in one go. But before… there had never been a need. None had ever been as much of a threat as Luffy.
"Yah… hah… ha…" Eneru wheezed out a laugh. "Yahahahah…"
"Ah!" Luffy strained against his prison. "I can't pull… it out…!"
"…Hah… rubber man of the Blue Sea… I have no desire to fight you…!"
"Let me go, you ass!"
Eneru merely kicked the ball of gold in response. "You are dismissed!" The object in question went sailing over the edge of the ship. "Farewell. You can keep the gold as a souvenir."
"…Waaaah…! Ah…!" Luffy was dragged across the deck, gravity taking hold. "Wah! Aaaah! G… G…!"
"Luffy!"
"Waaaah!" He cried out, barely managing to keep from going over the edge.
Eneru smirked. "With you out of the way, the world is mine once again! There will be no one to stop me!"
"In this world… there are a lot of people." Luffy began to speak. "In the Blue Sea… there are a lot of monstrous guys to defeat… someone like you!"
"Shut up, punk." The God pushed him over the ledge. "Fall with the sky island…!"
"You're just a-" Luffy was unable to finish his sentence, disappearing into the abyss below. "WAAAAAAAHH!"
"LUFFY!" Aurora screamed, spreading her wings and preparing to take flight. Her rescue was abruptly ended, a hand snaring around her ankle and slamming her into the wall of the ship. Molten liquid slithered around her frame, the heated metal causing her to cry out in pain. Eneru backed away, smirk still in place. The God had used his power to manipulate the metal much like before, only this time… he'd used it to trap Aurora.
The angel struggled against her confines, but it was no use. The gold had solidified in place. The metal was locked around her wrists, her waist, her ankles and her wings. Aurora could barely move. She was Eneru's prisoner.
"It's Luffy! Quick, catch him!" a voice rang out.
"Pieh!"
Nami ran for the edge of the ship. "Ah?! Aisa… Pierre!"
Aurora gasped, head swiveling in their direction. "No! Stay away! GET OUT OF HERE!"
"Yahahahaha… are they the owners of the voices I am hearing?" Electricity began to crackle and form around the God's body.
"You bastard!" Luffy called out. "Come and fight me!"
"Luffy! We will save you!" Aisa cried, Pierre diving for the Straw Hat captain.
"Yahahaha… it is useless!"
"NOOOOOO!" Aurora shrieked, straining against her bonds.
"Aisa… Pierre!" Nami called out a warning. "Watch out!"
"ENERU!"
The God merely grinned in triumph, delivering the final blow. "GOD'S JUDGMENT!"
The lightning blast ripped through the air, drowning out the sound of Aurora's wails. The angel slumped in despair, sobs wracking her frame. Luffy's hat tipped off her head, gently floating to the floor. "No! Luffy! NOOOOO!"
Nami was equally devastated. "LUFFY! AISA! PIERRE!"
"Yahahahaha…" came the quiet chuckle. "The feeling of sadness… is all that remains of those three."
Nami glared at the God.
"Now… no matter how you cry or revolt, you can't save this country."
Conis couldn't believe her eyes. 'That's… the ark made by God?'
"It's… huge…" Rose stuttered out, mirroring the girl's terrified expression.
"Over there, the North West shore… once they've found the gold, they will meet us there… and leave together. Then I will have lots and lots of gold!"
"N… Nami!"
Conis snapped out of her trance, the girl having thought back to an earlier conversation with the navigator. 'Wait for us…! We must get them to safety!'
"…Eh?" Eneru collapsed upon his throne. "After surviving such events… don't you have high hopes for the future?"
Nami turned her attention to the God. "Hopes for the future…? Yes. However, getting there with you… is not much different from being alone…!" The navigator declared. "What good is treasure if I am alone? After sharing so much of our dreams… instead of sacrificing them and leave with you… I would rather… have nothing at all!"
"No…!" Aurora managed to strangle the word out, her throat raw from her earlier screaming. She knew what was going to happen next. No one spoke against Eneru without paying the price.
The God's hand began to crackle with electricity. "You really do not value your life, do you?"
"What happened?! Suu! Hey!"
"Suu! Suu Suu!"
"Usopp and Sanji…!" Conis knelt down to the fox's level. "They were injured too badly to be able to move…"
"Suu!"
"They couldn't have gotten far in their state!" Rose tried to reason. "But… where could they have gone?!" The woman chanced a glance at the floating ship above them. "Is it possible…?!"
"Suu! Suu!"
"They are on that ship!" Conis was alarmed. "But their bodies… What were they thinking…?!"
Rose knew exactly what they were thinking. "They want to save their friends… no matter the cost…"
"I don't want to do this anymore!" a fearful Usopp cried, tugging on the rope attached to the belt at his waist. "If we go any higher, we won't be able to get back down, Sanji! Plus, the God is on that ship!"
The cook growled. "Don't you dare… wimp out now! God or no God, anyone who lays a finger on Nami and Aurora… will not be forgiven! We're coming, Nami… Aurora!"
Eneru stared down the woman before him. "There is only one way… out of this ship…"
Nami said nothing, refusing to back down. 'I don't want to fight this man, but… I am not staying on this ship any longer! No regrets!'
"Nami, don't do this!" Aurora shrieked.
"Such an unwise choice it was, giving up the life line you have been holding on to…! Unless… you are hoping that you can rely on… these two rats that sneaked in… a while ago."
"Eh…?"
"Two…?" Aurora breathed, perplexed by the God's words. "But who…?" The angel forced herself to focus, closing her eyes and feeling for any nearby auras. Their was her, Nami and Eneru… and…
"It seems they really are trying to rescue you… how foolish of them."
Nami didn't understand. 'Who?! Everyone other than Luffy are… and how did they get on the ship…?!'
Aurora's eyes snapped open, the angel recognizing the two auras instantly. "How… how are they moving…? They were…"
Eneru chose that moment to send a blast of lightning at Nami. The navigator was barely able to dodge. "Ah!"
"Yahahaha! No one will rescue you because I am taking care of you here and now."
Nami knelt on the ground, stealthily taking out her Clima-Tact. 'If I stay here, I will die for sure.' She chanced a glance at the angel. 'So will Aurora. I have to free her… and then we'll have to jump. The enemy uses lightning… what should I do…?'
Down Below…
Various hands sprouted from Zoro's body, maneuvering the swordsman through the ruins. The appendages continued their journey up the large stalk, bringing the pirate to a higher level. Kai flew up in that instant, Wyper's body slung over his shoulder. The fallen angel deposited the Shandian on the ground next to Chopper and Gan Fall.
Robin stood not far from the others, arms crossed as she used her powers to finish hauling Zoro up the stalk. She briefly opened her eyes. 'The sky is even darker now… it is coming… the destruction…'
"Are you from the Blue Sea?"
"Yeah! We flew up! Do you live here?"
Conis shook her head, breaking free of the memories. 'Why do I keep remembering about the past… is there really nothing I can do but that? Just standing here makes me more anxious…'
"Suu!"
Rose bowed her head. "Please… let them be safe. Let Aurora be safe…."
"Hey, birdy…!" Aisa attempted to shake Pierre awake. "Hang in there…!"
"Aisa! Aisa!"
"Eh…? Luffy?" the girl turned her head.
"Can you give me a hand here?"
The Shandian took in the position Luffy was stuck in, his head and feet embedded in the ground and body bent over backwards. "How did you end up like that?!" The girl made her way over, managing to help free the boy.
Luffy stood, hoisting the ball of gold over his head. "Alright! Heh… heh…" he panted from the exertion. "Damn! I can't take off this ball of gold!"
Aisa gawked, having not noticed it during his fall earlier. "Where did you get that?!"
"Right now we have to go to the bell place!" Luffy told the girl, ignoring her question. "I won't let Eneru get away with this!"
"Ok!"
Luffy ground his teeth. "Don't think I can be stopped like this! Follow the ship! I know where he is going to!"
"Yahahaha! That is interesting, girl…!"
Nami panted, holding her Clima-Tact at the ready once more. "Heh… heh… success…"
"That is one interesting weapon!" Eneru sent a blast of lightning at the navigator.
"Shock bubble!"
"Redirecting the attack with an electric current… that is a feat done using great knowledge over weather." Eneru appeared to be complimenting the girl.
Nami eyed the God warily. 'This is not going well…'
"Yahahaha! Unfortunately, that trick won't work if I throw a big one like this that you cannot predict the travel path for! Isn't that right?!" He twirled his staff, a large amount of electricity gathering in his hand. "I am a busy man, so… farewell!"
The navigator froze. 'This is the end…?!'
"NAMI, RUN!" Aurora screeched, fearing for her friend's life. The angel renewed her struggle, but the gold kept her locked tightly in place. There was nothing she could do.
"Eat this! Certain Death… FIRE STAR!"
Aurora jerked when she heard the voice, recognizing it instantly. She strained to find the owner, eyes landing on an all too familiar sniper.
Eneru slowly lowered his hand, having blocked the meager attack. He glanced over to the nearby doorway, expression blank.
"S… Sorry."
Nami couldn't believe he was here. "Usopp!"
"I see you have found your way to the deck." Eneru drolled.
"Heh… heh… where's Sanji?!"
"Eh? Sanji is coming, too?!"
"You mean he's not here?!" Usopp shouted back. "In that case…" The sniper abruptly turned, slamming the door shut behind him as he retreated.
"GET BACK HERE!" Nami roared.
"NO!" Aurora disagreed. "STAY AWAY!"
The door was opened, Usopp appearing once more. "Let's get it on, God!" The sniper was immediately forced to lunge from the doorway, barely avoiding the lightning sent his way. He tumbled to a stop next to Nami.
"Usopp!"
"Nami!" he popped up into a crouch.
"Yes?! What do you want?"
"Save me."
She punched the sniper. "Damn you! You are the one who is supposed to be saving me!"
"No… how can I possibly do that without any power?"
"Then why are you here?!" the navigator continued to rant.
"Umm…"
"What kind of rescue is this!"
"Stop fighting, both of you!" Aurora yelled. "Usopp! Take Nami and run!"
"Huh?" the sniper looked up at the sound of the angel's voice. His jaw dropped when he caught sight of her. "Aurora?! What the hell happened to you?!"
"That doesn't matter right now! Take Nami, find Sanji and get out of here!"
"We're not leaving you!" Nami declared.
"Oh yes, you are! My life is not worth both of yours!"
"But-!"
"JUST RUN!"
Nami flinched, not used to the angel raising her voice in such a way. The thought of leaving Aurora with this madman sickened her, but… the navigator knew the angel had a point. There was no way they could free her. Neither she nor Usopp would be able to break her free of her golden restraints. Even attempting so would be tantamount to suicide. It broke her heart, but… Nami knew they'd have to leave the angel behind if they wanted to survive and find a way to stop the deranged God.
Eneru, having heard enough, sent lightning at the two pirates. They screamed, barely managing to dive out of the way. Usopp landed in a crouch, his gaze landing on a familiar hat near Aurora's feet. "Eh? Is that hat…"
"Yes. It's Luffy's." Nami answered. "He fell off a while ago, but… he's probably still alive."
"It's just island clouds under here, so he probably didn't drown." Usopp reasoned. "Let's split up! Don't die!"
"Yeah. Ok!" Nami hurriedly covered her head, the navigator getting knocked off her feet by another lightning blast.
Usopp came to a stop, taking in one of the ship's more apparent mechanisms. "Look at this huge glass ball! I wonder if it will…"
"Usopp, look! It's the waver!" Nami pointed to the small vehicle. "I want to use that to get out!"
"You mean you want to jump off?!" Usopp couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Yes, there is a part of the forest with really soft cloud… I can land there!"
"Really?!" Usopp was forced away from the glass ball, the sniper managing to somersault out of the way of an attack. He got back up, a large bump noticeable on his head. "I'll get his attention! Go get ready."
"Alright!"
The sniper jumped atop the glass ball. "Take this Mr. God! Usopp… Curse! Like a sword piercing deeply into your body… wah!"
Nami cringed at the mental image. "No…! It hurts just hearing it!"
"Idiot! You will die if you don't cover your ears!" He turned his attention back to the God. "Like tearing your fingernails as if paper…"
Eneru stared blankly.
"Five huge pimples in your mouth…"
Aurora could tell from the God's aura that he was not amused. "Usopp! Get out of there!" She contorted her body every way she could, but it was to no avail. The angel couldn't break free of her bonds. "RUN!"
Eneru finally reacted, slamming his staff into Usopp's face.
"Pieh!"
"Usopp!" Nami cried, hurriedly yanking the waver into an upright position. 'I have to hurry! I have to jump off at the right time to land on that spot!'
"Ou!" The sniper choked out a sound, Eneru continuing his assault.
Nami hopped atop the waver, maneuvering around the deck. She glanced to her right. 'Perfect! That giant beanstalk marks the spot!'
Eneru realized what their plan had been all along. "So, you have been trying to escape. Well, being your opponent… I will not let you get away so easily…!"
Nami flinched, but continued on, making her way towards the fallen sniper. "Usopp, take my hand!" She reached out. "Your hand!"
He weakly began to lift his arm. Eneru slamming the tip of his staff atop Usopp's hand halted the action. Nami sped by, arm still outstretched with nothing to grasp. Aurora watched the scene play out, her eyes wide in horror and her heart in her throat.
Electricity began to build behind Eneru. "Running away is not an option, I'm afraid…! God's…"
"USOPP!"
A figure suddenly appeared, kicking the sniper out of the way. He landed heavily on the back of the waver. "Ah!"
Tears began to well in Aurora's eyes. Sanji had managed to save Usopp… but at the cost of his life. "No…!"
The cook smirked. "Go."
"SANJI!" Nami screamed.
A hand landed atop hers, forcing the waver forward. "Nami, go! It's that way, right?!"
"Eh?!"
"JUDGMENT!"
Lightning rocked the Maxim, the beam illuminating the entire area. Aurora closed her eyes against the harsh light, unable to witness the downfall of her friend for a second time. Sanji had managed to survive once… but twice? She just hoped Nami and Usopp made it off the ship.
"When did you learn how to ride this?" the navigator questioned Usopp.
"I didn't. I'm using my manly intuition! Let's fly!" the two went soaring over the edge of the Maxim, freefalling through the sky.
Eneru's body crackled with residual electricity. "Leap of faith, is it? Unfortunately, jumping down… does not guarantee an escape from my attack." His gaze traveled to the figure behind him. "Hm?"
"Hey… don't just… stand there talking… trash…" the cook, who was somehow still standing, goaded. "Ah… wait… before that… excuse me, but…" His hand visibly shook as he removed the cigarette from his mouth. "I was going to borrow your light, but… where the hell were you aiming…?!"
Aurora fought back a sob. "Sanji…"
The cook managed a glance back at the angel, sending a wink in her direction. He returned his attention to Eneru. "…Ah… is that… the face of utter defeat I see in your future?"
Eneru said nothing, merely watching as the blonde finally collapsed. It was as he turned back to his throne that the ship shook. The sound of multiple explosions echoed from within, causing the God's eyes to widen in alarm. The black cloud that was puffing from the top of the Maxim suddenly ceased. Aurora flinched when the ship began to list to one side.
"What was that?! The ship…?" his gaze landed on Sanji. "Can it be that you… damn you!" he cursed. "What did you do to the ship…! Damn! What did he do?! Did he halt the wheels?!"
Aurora watched as Eneru practically flew inside, no doubt to the engine room. She glanced up at the darkened sky. 'Whatever Sanji did worked, but… something tells me it's only temporary…'
A noise off to the side caught the angel's attention. The end of a grappling hook clutched the ship's railing. Mere seconds later, a certain long-nosed sniper appeared, hoisting himself back aboard. Aurora could only stare, wondering when and how he'd managed to perform such an act. It had to have been when he and Nami were making their escape…
"Heh heh…" Usopp panted, grinning in triumph. He'd made it back onboard. Now all he had to do was grab Sanji and… Aurora…
The sniper ran towards where he remembered seeing the angel, coming to a halt before her. His gaze roved over her golden restraints, mind racing with possible solutions to free her.
The angel recognized the look in his eye. "Usopp, don't. There's no time. Eneru could be back any second. Just take Sanji and go!"
The sniper rummaged around in his bag, looking for a tool that could break her binds. "No way! I can't just leave you like this! Not with him!"
"Usopp, just listen! If Eneru comes back and sees you, he will kill you!"
"And if I leave you here, he'll kill you too!"
"No, he won't!" the angel argued. "Remember what I told you? Eneru abused me both physically and mentally, but…. he never once tried to kill me. He considers me too valuable a prize to give up. I hardly know why! But… I have a better chance of surviving than you. Please! Take Sanji and go!"
The sniper paused, gaze locking with that of Aurora's. "But…"
"Usopp… it'll be okay. I'll be okay. Please… just save yourselves."
The curly-haired teen was torn. On one hand, he desperately wanted to save his friend from the tyrant that made her life a living hell. On the other hand… Usopp knew she was right. Eneru could appear at any moment and strike him down like he had Sanji. Then what good would he be? Thought it pained him to do so, Usopp had no choice but to leave Aurora trapped where she was. He just had to believe what she said was true and that Eneru wouldn't kill her in the mean time.
The sniper hurried over to Sanji's prone form, grabbing the cook and leaping over the edge. "Usopp… ah-ah-aaah!"
It was only when they were fully out of sight that Aurora breathed a sigh of relief.
"Ah-ah-ah-ah-aaaaah! Nooo…! I don't want to die! Aaaah! Aaaah!" Usopp continued to scream the whole way down, somehow managing to keep a grip on Sanji. Springs had been released from the sniper's boots, most likely meant to cushion the fall. It turned out to be for naught. Usopp landed headfirst into the cloud, Sanji's body coming to lie mere feet away.
"Usopp! Sanji!" Nami's voice rang out, the navigator dashing towards the two with the waver in tow.
"This voice… it's Nami! I'm glad she is alright."
"Sanji! Are you alright?" she knelt next to the cook's body. "I'm sorry for all the trouble!"
"Hey! Over here!" Usopp's muffled voice called out.
Nami hurried over, grabbing hold of his legs and beginning to yank. "Stay still…"
"Ayaaah!"
Nami ignored the sniper's wailing, pulling him free with one final tug. Seeing that he was okay, she directed her attention to the towering stalk behind them. "See that beanstalk?! It looks just like the one in the ruin… we must be standing on the island cloud covering the ruin…"
"The ruin? You mean the golden city?"
"Yes, but Eneru already took all the gold." Nami responded. "Zoro is still at the ruin that is directly below us."
"I get it, but…" Usopp craned his neck, staring up at the flying ship.
Get on." Nami grabbed the waver. "We have to find the others."
"Oh." The sniper did as told, throwing Sanji over his shoulders.
"On this sky island… there is no longer a place that is safe."
Robin gazed up at the flying ship warily. 'That ship is… really heading for the golden bell after all…!'
"Oi, Nico." Kai piped up. "You think those two are still up there? Something seemed to be happening if that lightning was any indicator…"
"…I'm not sure."
"ROBIN!"
"Ah!" the archeologist turned at the sound of her name.
Kai turned as well, eyes widening at the two rapidly approaching figures. "Incoming!"
"WAAAH!"
"What?!" Robin acted quickly, using her powers to sprout extra limbs and catch Aisa and Pierre before they collided.
"Ugh! Thanks!" Aisa told the woman. Her eyes popped out of her head at the sight of extra appendages. "Wah! Your arms!"
"What the hell?" Kai had turned his attention elsewhere. Luffy had appeared on the beanstalk, swiftly making his way up. "Straw Hat! Is that a ball of gold attached to your hand? Where the hell did that come from?!"
Luffy ignored the question. "Does this vine lead to the golden bell?! Eneru is going to be there, right?!"
"Yes." Robin answered. "You have to hurry before he leaves."
"Ok!"
"Luffy?!" Aisa called out, but she went unheard. The Straw Hat captain kept on climbing. He had to get to Eneru. He had to stop him. He had to save the others!
Robin leaned down to speak to the young girl. "Hey, where is the navigator? The girl with orange hair. And the angel."
"Eh? Nami? And that other girl… Aurora? They're still on the ship… in the sky. But… I can't hear their voices though…"
"There!"
"Eh?" Aisa turned at the sound of an approaching voice.
Nami slid to a stop in front of the group. "We're here! Aisa! You're alright!"
Robin blinked in surprise. "Miss Navigator and Mr. Long Nose!"
Kai did a head count. "Those three are here, but… we're short one angel." He glanced up at the Maxim, feeling for the bright glow of Aurora's aura. "She's still up there…"
"Nami!" Aisa threw herself at the navigator, hugging her tightly around the waist.
"Aisa, where's Luffy?!"
"Oh!" Usopp realized there were more people present. "Zoro! Chopper! The old man! That raider, too?! Damn, everyone is down…?!"
"Luffy went up the vine… to rescue you!" Aisa told them.
"Eh?! To where Eneru is?!"
Robin nodded. "It is a little late to try and stop him…"
"We are running out of time!" Usopp reminded them. "Let's leave quickly!"
"How about this…" Nami quickly came up with a plan. "I catch up to Luffy with the waver, and the rest of you go back to our ship!"
"Eh?!"
"We're not done here!" the navigator stated. "Aurora's still up there! And if anyone can save her, it's Luffy!"
"Why'd you leave her in the first place?" Kai inquired. "If you weaklings could escape, I find it hard to believe she couldn't do so as well. Besides, I thought you people were all about not leaving anyone behind."
Nami rounded on the fallen angel. "Eneru trapped her!"
"Yeah!" Usopp chimed in. "He was able to melt the gold on his ship and bind her with it! There was nothing we could do to break her free!"
Kai blinked owlishly at the declaration. "Melted… the gold?"
Nami nodded. "He can use his devil fruit powers to heat up metal to the point that it's malleable. That's how Luffy's hand got trapped in that gold ball and how he restrained Aurora. It's not like we didn't try to rescue her! She told us to leave!"
"Aurora knew there was nothing we could do." Usopp continued. "She sacrificed herself so that we could live."
Kai let out a snort, shaking his head in derision. "Yeah… that sounds like something a true angel would do. Putting others before themselves. What an idiot…"
Nami glared at the fallen angel, but refrained from decking him. She had more important matters to attend to. The first of which being to catch up to Luffy.
"Aaah!" Luffy let out a battle cry, charging up the beanstalk towards the Maxim. "Heh… Heh… Eneru! I'm coming for you…! You won't get away! YAAAAH!"
The God had to be stopped. His reign of terror had gone on long enough. The Skypieans and Shandians had suffered, his friends had been hurt, and Eneru planned on destroying the sky island. Then there was Aurora…
The God had hurt his crewmate… his nakama. Sure, most of it had occurred before he met the angel, but that didn't matter. Luffy cared deeply for his friends, and no one got away with hurting them, whether it be past or present. He would save Aurora and stop Eneru once and for all.
He had to.
Aurora froze when the Maxim rattled back to life, the angel craning her neck to gaze upward. Black cloud began to billow from the top once more, darkening the sky further. It would appear Eneru had gotten the ship working again. That wasn't good… for her or for Skypiea.
The God reappeared. "…Hunh… finally, it's working again…"
Aurora glared at the God but didn't breathe a word. It would do her no good.
"The wind… stopped…" Conis murmured. "Everything just… stopped…!"
Rose bit her lip, not liking this one bit. It was still… and quiet… too quiet. Something wasn't right. She watched the flying ship cautiously, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck prickle. "He's up to something… but what?"
The two flinched when lightning struck nearby, burning down a tree in the forest. From there… it only got worse.
Aurora felt her body begin to shake, fear taking over. It had started out as one lightning strike, but now…
The angel attempted to curl in on herself, but it was no use. Her restraints made it impossible. She could only watch as numerous bolts of lightning struck the land she called home. It was the beginning of Skypiea's demise.
Eneru smirked. "This is it… the party… has officially started. THUNDER STORM!"
"Damn him…" Luffy cursed the God. "I have to… get up there…!" The boy struggled to run up the beanstalk, the golden ball attached to his hand proving to be quite the hindrance. The weight slowed him down. He should be up there by now. "EEENEEERUUU!"
A pillar of lightning miles wide struck the ground mere feet from where the Straw Hat pirates stood. Usopp and Aisa were sent flying back. Nami, Robin and Kai barely held their footing.
"Aaaah!"
"Wah!"
The sniper popped back up. "That last lightning strike… was waaaay too close!"
Nami hopped aboard the waver. "Everyone go back to our ship! I will catch up to Luffy!"
"Okay!"
Nami revved the engine, beginning to make her way up the stalk. 'Even if Luffy climbs all the way to the top… the enemy is still floating too high in the air…! Plus this country will be eradicated soon. How will we escape then?!"
"Hurry!" Usopp called to the archeologist and fallen angel. "We have to get these…" The words died on his lips when there was movement off to the side.
"Wyper…" Aisa breathed softly. The Shandian had risen, badly injured but still alive. Though… he might not stay that way for long, if Eneru succeeded.
"Mr. Swordsman!" Robin was startled by Zoro's awakening.
"And the old man!" Kai's head whipped towards a now kneeling Gan Fall.
Zoro grunted. "Ugh…"
Gan Fall had a glare etched into his features. "…Eneru!"
"Great! You are all awake! Let's move!" Usopp ordered.
"Has it started…?"
Kai got down on one knee, wrapping Gan Fall's arm around his shoulder. "Unfortunately… yes."
"Hang on tight!" Robin told them, cradling Chopper in her arms. "We can't stay here any longer."
"Wyper…" Aisa couldn't take her eyes off the warrior. She could sense something was off. The man appeared lost in thought.
"YAHAHAHAH!" Eneru's laugh rang out from above. "WHAT A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT!"
"Wyper!" Aisa shouted at the man, attempting to snap him out of his trance. She even went so far as to march up to the warrior, tugging on his hand. But he wouldn't budge.
"Wyper… your ancestor, Calgara, the great warrior… had one reason why he must retake our home."
"Only one reason?"
"Yes! It's what Calgara regretted the most! The great Calgara had a… very good friend…"
"Calgara's friend?"
"Yes… 400 years ago… his name was… Montblanc Noland."
