As the crew beheld the Upper Yard, Tawna noticed something.
"Hey, was there a forest on the island in the map we found?"
"A smaller one than the one we're seeing. But then again the map is 200 years old, so we have to expect some inconsistencies." Nami said.
"That map might be older than that. Trees this large would take a thousand years to grow." Nojiko suggested
"I'm amazed trees like this can even grow on clouds," Double-D said. "Just what sort of mad science is this?"
"It's more nuanced than that. While clouds can certainly sustain plants due to the high moisture content, they still require vearth to properly grow." Conis clarified.
"What's vearth supposed to be?" Kaya wondered.
"I'm guessing it's what Skypieans call soil," Heart noted.
"Only a letter off from 'earth', to be honest." Noire shrugged.
As the Merry neared the entrance, the crew noticed the sides of the canal were dotted with cow skulls and stone statues. Further in were several wrecked ships.
"They've been sliced right in half..." Usopp noticed nervously.
Kuina bit her lip. "I've only heard of Mihawk being able to do something like that."
A giant pendulum suddenly swung down just as the Merry passed.
"RAZOR TORNADO!"
"BOON OF THE SUN!"
Carue spun in a circle, creating a powerful cyclone that sliced the pendulum off its fulcrum as Amingo created a giant cactus vine that spiked it away from the ship.
"I'm hearing shit coming down! This entire path is booby-trapped!" Gottfried called out.
Carue, Amingo, the Eds, Draco, and Sonson started working double time to destroy the pendulums as Boss and Ruby paddled the ship as fast as they could.
"Bad day! Bad day! Bad day!" Boss called out.
Ed, in a rare moment of thought, quickly thrust his hands out and called out his move.
"CRYSTAL BLOSSOM!"
The lovable oaf created a large ring of bright teal crystals to cover the Merry, causing the spears to bounce off them. The huge amount started to puncture through, but not many. Zoro, Noire, Sanji, and Gin were able to start destroying the ones that got close. One nearly hit Conis, but luckily Draco was able to to protect her by turning into a hybrid version of King Kong and shielding her with his sturdy hide.
"Good lord! This is madness!" Choi exclaimed.
"Kenjujujuju!" Mifune laughed. "In my opinion, this is my kind of party!"
Once they got through the spears, the next trap turned out to be a spinning circular blade that acted like a homing projectile.
"Gee, where's the rolling ball of doom?" Eddy quipped.
That got him whacked upside the head by Rolf.
"Do not grease the handles of fate for they will slide out like eels off Nana's backside!"
Luffy carefully timed when the blade approached and aimed for the center of it.
"GUM-GUM BAZOOKA!"
She launched her arms forward, knocking the blade off its path and right into the forest, where it finally stopped. Compared to that craziness, the sudden man-eating lamprey that showed up next just wound up tenderized by Boss and turned into lunchmeat.
"Not bad!" Sonson praised.
"We'll be eating good tonight!" Boss said proudly.
"So, was that another trap?" Vivi wondered.
"Actually, I think that just was a native creature. All kinds of dangerous monsters dwell in the cloud sea." Conis said.
"All this and we haven't even hit the ordeal part yet," Robin noted.
"Enel really doesn't want anyone getting close to him..." Kong grumbled as he smoked his pipe.
The canal soon reached a large statue with four openings.
"Ordeal of Swamp, Ordeal of Iron, Ordeal of String, and Ordeal of Balls. Count them up and you get four in total." Ben noted.
"How do we want to do this?" Zoro asked. "It looks like we get to choose which ordeal we go through."
"If we include Conis and Bandana Dee there's 48 of us, right?" Kuina noted. "Let's just have twelve of us take each ordeal."
"I'm calling Balls here and now. It sounds the least violent." Usopp immediately said. "Swamp makes me think of a sudden quicksand bog. Iron would be something like dropping heavy weights. String would be like having to use strings to cross a wide river. Balls sound like it would be that rolling ball trap Eddy was expecting."
"I'm sure it's more nuanced than that, otherwise the priests wouldn't be the ones in charge." N'Doul pointed out.
"Plus, what you're thinking about is the sorts of traps we've already been through." Luna added.
"Any insight, Conis?" Robin asked.
"I'm afraid only God and the priests know the full details of the Ordeals. But if we're going by least violent that would actually be the Ordeal of Swamp, since it has a professed survival rate of 50%." Conis said.
Usopp paled. "And... What about the other Ordeals...?"
"In order, the Ordeal of Balls has a survival rate of 10%, the Ordeal of Strings has a survival rate of 3%, and... No one has survived the Ordeal of Iron," Conis explained. "At least, that's how the priests report it. But I've yet to see anyone return alive from any of the Ordeals."
Eddy laughed. "Looks like ya bet on the wrong horse, Usopp!"
"Zoro, you're the most tactical member of the crew. Any insights on who should pick which?" Draco asked.
"I might have a few ideas but I'll need Double-D, Fuu, and Heart to help me out here.
"Indeed, we need to be wise about who we divide up," Double-D said in agreement.
Heart chuckled. "I have experience with this sort of thing."
"Alright, let's get this show on the road!" Fuu said, rolling up her sleeves.
The four got to work and soon eventually came up with a list of who would take which ordeal:
Ordeal of Swamp: Sonson, Nami, Gin, Axol, Ruby, Gottfried, Double-D, Calvin, Hobbes, Amingo, Melony, and Tawna
Ordeal of Balls: Luffy, Penny, Usopp, Kaya, Sanji, Ed, Fuu, Marianne, Choi, Lassoo, Saiko, and Conis
Ordeal of Strings: Draco, Kirby, Noire, Nojiko, Heart, Rolf, Vivi, Carue, Luna, Boss, N'Doul, and Bandana Dee
Ordeal of Iron: Ben, Zoro, Kuina, Hilda, Eddy, Mifune, Rosa, Chopper, Robin, Gonta, Kaizo, and Kong
"Yup, that looks good to me!" Tawna noted as she looked over the chart.
Four small boats, big enough to hold twelve people each, with crow figureheads then pulled up to the Merry.
"Looks like we'll be taking these into the Ordeals," Luffy noted.
"Stay safe..." Penny gently said to Ben, who smirked.
"Relax, love. There's one thing these Ordeals haven't prepared for...I'm Captain Sparrow D. Benjamin."
"You'll look after Kirby for us, will you?" Kaya gently asked Bandana Dee, who gave a salute.
"Poyo!" Kirby chirped as if to reassure Usopp and Kaya that he'd be okay.
"Good luck, kiddo," Kong said to Tawna. "Eat that ordeal for dinner."
Tawna chuckled and slapped her belly. "Metaphorically, of course."
"I want you both to stick close to your groups," Robin said gently to Calvin and Marianne. "I'll hold Hobbes up to looking after you, Calvin."
"Don't tell me what to do, Mom!" Calvin huffed, only to pale in shock when he registered what he said. "Uh, I mean Robin! Robin! I meant to say Robin!"
Many of the crew cooed at Calvin's slip, Robin herself smiling and chuckling as she tried to hide a blush. The sight of which made Marianne feel funny; on one hand, the brat saw Robin's best qualities but on the other, Robin was her mother figure, dang it!
Hobbes smiled and faked tearing up.
"Oh, you're finally opening up! Good thing too; that 'He-Man woman hater' attitude of yours stopped being cute in Alabasta. Actually, no when you were 7…Or was it…? Oh, I dunno. But hey! Its happening! Maybe you'll give that old playmate of yours a chance….What was her name again? Babsy? Susan? Suzy?"
"SHUT UP!" Calvin screamed as he leapt onto the tiger, a cartoonish cloud erupting from and covering most of their fight.
"Um, should we…?" Penny began.
"Nah, nah. Give them a minute." Sonson said. "They'll tire themselves out."
"…You're awfully certain of that." Axol noted.
"It's a sibling thing." Luffy added, to which Nami, Nojiko, Chopper and Luna nodded in agreement.
The crew, after Kuina and Zoro separated the boy and his tiger, split off into their individual teams, which sailed through each of the four gates. Each gate led down a dark tunnel until the boat reached the other side, where they fell off a waterfall into one of four areas.
-OP-
[ORDEAL OF SWAMP]
The Ordeal of Swamp Team wound up landing near a large swamp before getting out of the boat.
"Strange, the water here doesn't seem that difficult to traverse," Nami noted.
"We'll check it out," Axol said as he and Ruby dove in.
"Huh, doesn't seem too different from the normal cloud sea," Ruby noted as she swam around.
"Pretty lame for an Ordeal of Swamp," Calvin quipped.
"Heads up, folks! Looks like the priest is just ahead." Gottfried called out.
A black-haired figure approached, his arms crossed in an odd way with the hands not connected.
"What's with him?" Ruby wondered.
The figure stayed silent for a bit as Gottfried translated.
"I am Gedatsu of God's Army. All who trespass within are to be killed. Yeah, he's thinking that, but not saying it." The Transponder Snail recited. "SPEAK UP, WILL YA?! Most of us can't hear you if ya don't talk!"
Gedatsu looked shocked when he heard Gottfried.
"How careless! And you! How did you invade my mind so easily?! " He shook his head and covered the area with thick purple clouds. He then started at the group without speaking once more.
"Hang on, I think I know how to deal with this guy," Calvin said before closing his eyes and imagining a megaphone into existence as he called into it. "HEY! BLINK! ARE YOU HAVING AN ANUERYSM OR SOMETHING?!"
"He's saying the Ordeal of Swamp has begun. And if we want to get back on the boat in time we have to overcome the trial." Gottfried translated
Gedatsu started blinking rapidly.
"How careless! Those purple clouds are called Swamp Clouds. If you sink into them it will cause you to suffocate. They cannot be removed physically because they are not solid. Your trial in this Ordeal will be to defeat me and return to your boat before it reaches the edge of the swamp, or you will be trapped here forever."
"Sounds simple enough." Tawna said. "What say we kick this loser's ass, guys."
"Already planning on it!" Gin said as he turned into his Hybrid Form.
Gedatsu suddenly leaped into the air on a trail of clouds.
"He's using Dials on his feet that hold clouds," Nami realized. "What would you call those?"
"Milky Dials, apparently. I'm still in contact with the others." Gottfried said. "So far we've only been seeing Dials used for everyday life. But man, Conis ain;t kidding when she told us how Dials can hold anything!"
"Be careful, everyone!" Double-D said as he moved to tag Gedatsu by creating a trident of solid water.
Gedatsu narrowed his eyes. "Launching a trident of water right at my feet,"
"NEPTUNE'S TRIDENT!"
Double-D threw the water trident, only for Gedatsu to dodge it.
"Aww crap, he's gotObservation Haki!" Tawna cursed.
"That is the power of Mantra," Gedatsu taunted.
"Down where we come from, it's called Haki!" Amingo pointed out. "And we should know, our Captains have made sure we are well-versed in it!"
Sonson grinned. "Yup! Gotta make sure everyone's prepared for what the Grand Line throws at us!"
Gedatsu just stood there blankly. An uncomfortable silence then filled the air.
"Is he having a stroke?" Hobbes asked.
"I think what we're saying is too much for this guy's brain." Ruby quipped.
"Wake me up when he does something..." Melony yawned as she prepared to go to sleep.
"BREATHE, YA DUMBASS!" Gottfried shouted.
Gin chuckled. "The White-White Sea may have a lot of things that are different from the Blue Sea, but it has a lot of similarities too."
Gedatsu let out a large breath he had been unintentionally holding as he started to raise his arms.
"How careless!"
"He's about to launch something from the Dials on his arms! It's gonna hit the girls!" Axol noted in alarm.
"SWARMP CLOUD BURGER!"
Gedatsu fired off several Swamp Clouds from the Dials hidden in his sleeves, aimed right at Nami, Ruby, Sonson, Melony, and Tawna. Axol rolled through hand signs and then kicked Inkweaver into the air as it turned into a clone of him before they boh leaped in the way as the Swamp Clouds hit their heads.
Gedatsu smirked. "Now that you're caught, it won't be long before you suffocate."
Axol and his shadow clone quickly dove into the water, and Gedatsu scoffed.
"That won't help you. You'll still drown either way."
"Actually, that's not the case. You see Axol is a Fishman, an entity that is part fish and part human." Nami said smugly. "Ruby here is the same."
"And like fish, they have gills that let them breathe normally in water," Double-D added. "Specifically near their shoulders, just far enough away from their heads to not be affected by the Swamp Clouds."
Axol then surfaced, free of the Swamp Clouds, his clone also jumping up and grabbing his legs.
"And the water turns out to be great for diluting your Swamp Clouds just enough to dissipate them!"
Axol and his clone began spinning around like a twister wheel.
"Coming for a combined attack...from behind?!"
"SORU!"
Axol suddenly vanished from sight and before Gedatsu could process how that was, he was struck from behind by the combined attack. Axol's clone turned back into Inkweaver, which he then used to draw up a large black bomb with a lit fuse as he gave a taunting salute.
"Sayonara!"
Gedatsu was sent flying from the resulting explosion as Ruby lunged forward with Gottfried hitching a ride on her head.
"Time for a little flashbang!" The Kraken Fishman declared as she swam through the Swamp Clouds before jumping up toward Gedatsu."UNDERSEA BLADDER BUSTER!"
Recalling the move taught to her by Kuroobi while she was still on the Arlong Pirates, Ruby delivered a powerful stretching dropkick to Gedatsu's stomach as Gottfried went next.
"SONIC STUN!"
The Transponder Snail launched a sonic blast aimed at the reeling Gedatsu's ears. Unable to focus his mind, Gedatsu was completely debilitated as Gin came in, tucking into his shell and spinning around with his tonfas out.
"CYCLONE SHELL SMASHER!"
Gedatsu was struck as Nami aimed her Clima-Tact at Gin as he kept the priest pinned to his spinning shell.
"CYCLONE TEMPO!"
Twisting the staff into an oblong shape, Nami threw it and created a cyclone from it that propelled Gin further into the air. The Former Krieg Pirate then untucked from his shell and turned back to normal as he let Calvin and Hobbes jump off his shoulders, the two having been riding on his shell.
"Sic 'em, Hobbes!"
Hobbes bit down on Gedatsu's side and dove down before letting him go and grabbing him in a wrestling hold.
"TIGER WATERFALL!"
Gedatsu was slammed into the ground as Hobbes jumped off so Calvin could kick him in the face after imagining some steel-toed boots on his feet to knock out a few teeth, followed by Amingo forming his fist into a giant spherical cactus mace that he slammed on Gedatsu to hammer him in.
Groaning in pain, Gedatsu tried to pick himself up, only for Tawna to fall on him butt-first, crushing him underneath her sheer girth before leaping off as she manifested one of her floating gauntlets and punched him toward Sonson, who enlarged her Ruyi Jingu Bang and swung it like a hammer.
"EIGHT TRIAGRAMS SMASH!"
Finally, Melony, who turned into her Fierce Deity Form dashed forward and did a crossing slash that severely injured the priest.
Coughing up blood, Gedatsu collapsed unconscious. Calvin imagined a large band-aid that had the ability to heal him before sticking it on his wound.
"Don't worry, those bruises will heal in a few hours because I'm just a nice guy like that."
"Hmmm, the Swamp Clouds haven't dissipated," Double-D noted. "Stand back, fellows!WHIRLPOOL!"
The sock-hatted boy launched a powerful whirlpool to clear the waterway, letting the group get back to the boat.
"Aww yeah! We kicked ass!" Gottfried cheered. "If only Hilda coulda seen that!"
"Let's hope the others are doing just as well," Nami said.
"If those other priest guys are anything like that loser, I think they have this in the bag," Calvin said.
As for Tawna, she had manifested her floating gauntlets to grab a stray Swamp Cloud for safekeeping, having an idea about it regarding Kong's Devil Fruit...
-OP-
Meanwhile, a young girl named Aisa was running to a small settlement made up of a number of teepees.
"There you are, Aisa. Where have you been?" Asked a man named Kamakiri. "Judging from the vearth in your bag, I'm guessing you snuck into Upper Yard again. If you keep sneaking in there, it's only going to cost you your life."
"Well, we have to do something! You haven't been able to beat Enel yet!" Aisa retorted as she ran to the main tent, where the masked man, named Wyper, had removed his mask and was speaking with the Shandian chief.
"That group I encountered in the White Sea has now entered Upper Yard. Judging from how they were able to hold me at bay before Gan Fall's arrival, I'm willing to bet they'll defeat at least one of the priests." Je noted. "I still question that old geezer's thinking that he can settle everything in Skypiea peacefully. The Great Warrior Calgara once said, 'Light the fire of Shandora.' In battle, there are only two outcomes. It doesn't matter who we have to fight. Whether it be Gan Fall or Enel, anyone who holds the title of God is the same to us. They must be eliminated!"
"And what if I told you a rebel against Enel has been revealed?" A woman named Raki said. "Those warriors you encountered now have a Skypiean with them. A young woman. It's been the first time in six years that anyone has even considered trying to rebel. Besides, Gan Fall has never truly harmed any of us, neither as a Sky Knight nor as the former God. And he has not tried to directly confront Enel."
"Are you trying to suggest that Gan Fall shouldn't be our enemy?" Wyper asked. "When men face a common enemy, they get deluded into thinking that the one next to them is an ally."
"Only if you don't give them the chance to. You may be a berserker among our people, but that means nothing if you don't know how to direct that fury." Raki retorted sharply. "Or maybe you're too hung up on the legacy of your ancestor Calgara. Don't forget even he knew how to make friends with those that are not his direct enemy."
Wyper scoffed, but couldn't help but look out of the tent at the statue of Calgara.
Things had been different back then, Wyper always told himself. Those were t6he days before Devil Fruits. When Gods were merely warriors. Not such anymore; with Enel being so powerful….
And yet?
Wyper couldn;'t help but wonder; what if, just what if….Raki was right? What if there was a chance, small as it was….to NOT have to fight? To settle problems differently?
But there was his pride as a warrior to consider! A guardian of his people!...But if this meant his people would be spared and allowed to live?
Wyper let out a roar of confused annoyance.
-OP-
[ORDEAL OF BALLS]
Don't laugh.
Back at Upper Yard, the Ordeal of Balls Team had reached a large forest before getting out of the boat. The air around them seemed to be covered in big white balls.
"Looks like the Ordeal has already started," Conis realized.
Lassoo sniffed the air. "Reah, those balls have rings in them. Rhat one there smells like flowers."
"Oh, he meant THINGS!" Ed realized. "Haha! I am dumb!"
"You are dumb, but that's what we like about ya, Big Ed." Fuu chuckled.
Curious, Usopp touched the ball Lassoo was talking about, and sure enough flowers popped out of it. Chuckling, he offered them bashfully to Kaya as she giggled.
"Looks like you've already caught on to the source of this trial."
Everyone looked to see a rather comically rotund man approach.
"I am Satori, and you are surrounded by my Surprise Balls. These are made from special Ball Clouds and can be filled with anything. Not even I know what each ball contains. Some are harmless like the dud you just touched, while others hold deadly traps. To survive you must defeat me and return to the boat before it leaves this area. Otherwise, you'll be trapped forever!"
The whole time he was smiling and prancing about. Conis could feel a sweat drop forming on her forehead.
"I always assumed the priests were more... Spiritual, I guess?"
Choi chuckled. "Weeweeweewee! He seems pretty spiritual to me!"
Penny giggled. "I never knew priests were so...FRUITY."
"Not all priests, just these ones." Saiko said.
Lassoo noticed one ball incoming, and its smell gave him an idea.
"Fuu, aim me!"
"Got it!" Fuu said as she picked up Lassoo and took aim at the incoming ball while Satori grinned.
"Picks up the gun dog hybrid and fires... Wait... At the Surprise Balls?"
"DOC MORTAR!"
Lassoo fired a mortar shell at the Surprise Ball, which turned out to be filled with an iron ball, and caused it to create a chain reaction as it knocked into more and more Surprise Balls.
"Hey! That's my billiard technique! Satori called out before his eyes widened. "Oh crap!"
He wound up having to dodge multiple balls with a variety of creatures, weapons, and one that drenched him in vinegar. The last one caused an explosion that knocked Satori into a tree. Growling, he started gathering up the Surprise Balls, linking them into a chain and adding a dragon mask at the front.
"SURPRISE JEWELED CHAPLET: BALL DRAGON!"
"He's gathered up a bunch of incendiaries and blades in those balls!" Lassoo realized. "Rhy can smell the gunpowder and Rhyron!"
Saiko smirked as she created a long rifle with a scope and took aim as Usopp aimed with his slingshot alongside her.
"Let's show him our sharpshooting skills!"
"You got it, Saiko! One shot from a distance should take it out!" Usopp said."FLARE STAR!"
Satori was barely able to focus enough to dodge as the Ball Dragon was detonated right next to him thanks to Usopp's flare pellet and Saiko's sniper shot. Conis noted the Dials he dropped in his haste.
"Impact Dials. These can absorb attacks and redirect them. And it looks like they're pre-loaded."
She smirked as she got an idea, and attached an Impact Dial to Lassoo's chamber, and gave a nod to Fuu.
"FIRE!"
"RIGHT AWAY!" Lassoo barked."DOC IMPACT!"
Satori wound up blasted through a tree by the released impact. Sanji then leaped up above the dazed priest.
"COLLIER SHOOT!"
He landed a hard-flying kick right to Satori's neck. Sanji then landed on his hands to deliver a downward kick.
"EPAULE!"
Satori felt himself get dizzy as the attack hit his shoulder. Luffy grinned as she joined Sanji for the next attack.
"COTELETTE!"
"GUM-GUM GATLING!"
Sanji used a series of rapid-fire kicks to Satori's large chest while Luffy slammed the priest's back with rapid-fire punches. Sanji finished with a final strike right to the center of Satori's chest.
"POITRINE!"
Satori flew screaming right into a nearby tree, which bounced him back as Marianne took out her paintbrush and then channeled her Devil Fruit power into it.
"YELLOW DRILL!"
Drawing a drill shape, the former Baroque Works Agent sent a spinning drill of yellow energy into Satori, pushing him up into the air as Choi leaped up in his Hybrid Form and grew to larger size.
"GIGANT STOMP!"
With his enlarged foot, Choi stomped Satori back down, allowing Kaya to turn into her Hybrid Form as well, running on all fours before jumping up and swinging her leg.
"RANKYAKU: TIGER CRESCENT MOON!"
A crescent black and white wind blade shot out and cut a gash over Satori's chest, making him scream in pain as Fuu injected Ed with a drug that gave him increased jumping as he squatted down before leaping up as he formed his arms into stone before creating a giant hammer.
"PREPARE TO MEET YOUR MAKER!"
"Oda...?" Satori asked deliriously before Ed brought the literal hammer down.
"TITANSTONE HAMMER!"
Satori was sent rocketing down, losing consciousness on impact with the massive beating he had just taken. Penny went over and then held her hands out as they glowed a bright green, healing the worst of the priest's injuries but still leaving enough that he'd be out of the fight for a good long while.
"The benefit of having the powers of a nature fairy is that nature is healing."
"Apparently all the priests know Observation Haki, but it's not a perfect technique. Random attacks and rendering the user unable to focus are great ways of dealing with it." Luffy said.
"And with the beating we were giving him, he couldn't focus to save his life." Saiko chuckled.
Meanwhile, Conis was looking over Lassoo.
"So who designed this... Gun? Dog? Gun dog? Whatever he is, he's very well-built."
"Oh, he's actually a science experiment by Dr. Vegapunk. He's the smartest man alive down in the Blue Seas." Saiko explained. "Grandpa Henzo always admired him."
The group got back on the boat to sail out of the forest. As they did, Conis made sure to collect a few Ball Clouds while being careful not to accidentally open them.
-OP-
"You're certain about this?" Wyper asked Aisa, who nodded.
"My Mantra detected that two voices have stopped in Upper Yard. Both of them priests of Enel."
The warrior Braham rubbed his chin. "Aisa's been gifted with the ability to use Mantra from birth. If she can no longer hear two of the priests, then someone's either defeated or killed them."
"What are you thinking, Wyper?" Another warrior named Genbo asked. "You think we can just charge Upper Yard now and try and take it back? Or should we play it safe and see if the other two priests are defeated as well?"
"We will not wait. This may be our best chance to retake Upper Yard." Wyper declared as he stood up. "Gather all our warriors! We move to crush the remaining priests immediately! And if by the grace of Heaven, they are defeated before we can get there, then we'll just move on to the rest of Enel's army!"
The Shandian warriors all cheered in agreement. Though Aisa was worried.
"The people who defeated the priests are scary. What if they kill Raki? Or any of the others?"
"They won't. Kong is with them. You remember Kong, right?"
Everyone did; the strange Ape-like being who fought Enel when he first came to power. The same who had saved them from many beasts and helped wherever he could, even cleaning the bells.
And the same who gave Wyper tips on how to fight like a proper berserker.
"Well, if he's here we may have a chance."
-OP-
[ORDEAL OF STRINGS]
The Ordeal of Strings Team ad reached a shallow valley not far from the seashore. As they made their way past the river, Draco noticed something pass through his body, which turned to purple hellfire via hisDisaster-Disaster Fruit.
"Anybody else feel that?"
"Yeah, something's been passing through my sand body," Vivi said.
"Poyo!" Kirby said, looking like he was tangled up in something before Heart summoned a cutlass to cut him free.
"I can feel and sense something that is like a cloud...but with the consistency and diameter of string," N'Doul noted.
Rolf narrowed his eyes and carefully ran his fingers along something, N'Doul doing the same.
"Bad day!" Boss exclaimed in realization. "The entire valley's been booby-trapped with strings!"
"They feel the same as the clouds we've been encountering, almost like String Clouds," Nojiko noted. "This must be how the Ordeal of String is conducted."
Luna inspected them as well. "The strings aren't razor wire, but from the feel of it they have enough tensile strength that a bunch of them wrapped around a living being would render them unable to move and leave them a sitting duck."
"Hey, only Vivi gets to make the duck jokes around me!"
"But she does have a point. Without a Logia or a Devil Fruit that alters the body in some way, you'd be hard-pressed to pass this trial." Noire noted. "No wonder it only has a three percent survival rate."
"The strings may have a high tensile strength, but I'm willing to bet they can still be cut," Draco said before hunching over."ASH HYDRA!"
A hydra head made of volcanic ash burst out of Draco's back, snaking around to gather all the strings to render them visible.
"RAZOR FLURRY!"Carue cried, firing off his razor-tipped feathers, cutting through all the strings at once and leaving the valley clear of obstacles.
"I must admit I didn't have Devil Fruit powers like yours in mind when I crafted this Ordeal."
Everyone noticed that with the String Clouds cleared, there stood a man in an aviator suit sitting atop a large bird.
"My name is Shura, the priest in charge of this trial. But now you must defeat me in order to return to your boat before it sails out of this valley and leaves you trapped. Fuza, attack!"
The large bird launched a stream of fire from his mouth using a Flame Dial. However, Kirby ran in front of the flames and inhaled them all, transforming as he donned a cap made of flames with an emerald gemstone in the center, his pink skin also taking on a dark red consistency.
"FIRE KIRBY!"
"Waawa!" Bandana Dee squeaked in amazement.
"But how...?" Shura muttered.
Heart chuckled. "Kirby here has a very special power; he can inhale just about anything and gain powers based on what he's swallowed!"
After shaking off his surprise, Shura leaped in and tried to impale Kirby with his Heat Lance, only for Bandana Dee to thrust a spear with a Flame Dial attached to it, the two fire attacks canceling each other out.
"That's one brave little creature," Nojiko noted before smirking. "Now it's my turn;GREAT RIFLE!"
Shura sensed the sea clouds turning into the shape of rifles and firing bullets at him as he got out of the way, only to then sense Boss coming at from behind. He quickly whirled around to attack, only for his eyes to be rendered dizzy by the wobbling Buru Buru Blade, allowing Boss to knock the priest for a loop. Fuza tried to interfere, only for N'Doul to come racing in.
"Forgive me, poor creature." The blind vagrant apologized as he turned into his Hybrid Form."FLOWING RIVER STRIKE!"
With a precise water-infused strike from his cane, N'Doul sent the bird slamming into the valley cliff. As for Shura, Rolf pounced, transforming into his Full Beast Form as he opened up his mouth.
"HYDRO SNIPE!"
Shura was struck by a precise bullet of water that shot out of Rolf's mouth. Meanwhile, Vivi was bouncing off the valley cliffs before forming her arms into giant sand hands.
"DESERT HAND!"
Clapping the giant constructs around Shura, Vivi then leaped back as Luna bloated up into her Blueberry Form, Boss winding up the Buru Buru Blade to launch her into Shura like a flying boulder.
"I may have lost my ship...but its spirit lives on!" Heart laughed as she summoned her old ship, the Partenaire, out of her Treasure Gate, which rammed into Shura and sent him flying over to Noire, who took out five cards and threw them out.
"CHAIN CARD!"
The cards all formed ethereal red chains as they formed a chainlink cage around Shura, which suspended him in the air as Kirby launched up and used his Fire Transformation to turn into a blazing fireball that slammed down into Shura.
"BURNING DASH!"
"FIRE HYDRA!"Draco shouted, thrusting out his arm as it turned into a hydra made of fire that collided with Shura from below.
The two fire attacks created a glorious explosion that launched the priest into the opposite cliff from his bird. Kirby landed back down gently, discarding his transformation and smiled as Bandana Dee joined him, the two doing a merry dance with a happy victory fanfare seemingly playing out of nowhere.
"So much for that Mantra of his!" Carue quipped.
"Good to know our training sessions have been going so well," Draco noted proudly. "The others should be finishing up their own trials. Once we meet up, let's see what we can find about Upper Yard."
-OP-
[ORDEAL OF IRON]
The Ordeal of Iron Team approached the area, where the priest in charge, Ohm, was waiting for them.
"Here you stand taking the Ordeal of Iron, the only Ordeal that none before you have ever survived. I have taken up this task for one purpose. Humans in their frailty fight each other for happiness, even though such happiness can only be achieved through peace. Their frail bodies are destroyed in such conflicts. I can do naught but weep at this hypocrisy, and strive to bring an end to the suffering of any human who undertakes my Ordeal."
Zoro scoffed. "Spare me the philosophy. If humans were really so frail, they'd have gone extinct after only a few short wars. Enough to count on one hand.
"And your viewpoint is too narrow-minded. Humans are more apt to seek happiness among each other, rather than fighting for it." Mifune added.
"As an archaeologist, I can say with confidence that human history is only 2% conflict at best," Robin said.
Ohm was taken aback. "Do you not drown in perpetual war the same way the sky islands have for the last four hundred years?"
"What kind of war even lasts that long?" Eddy asked incredulously.
Ohm was stunned, the idea that any part of the world could experience lasting peace rather than never-ending war shaking him.
"The... The Ordeal has begun! Hidden in this plain are Eisen Dials that will trigger barbed wire made of Iron Clouds. To pass you must reach me, and then defeat me."
"Oh, this'll be fun!" Kaizo grinned as he turned into his Devil Form. "Let's rock this joint!"
Chopper and Kong started to sniff out where the Eisen Dials were while Gonta sent out swarms of insects to scout, letting Mifune and Kuina trigger them from just far enough away to slice through the Iron Clouds. Ohm started to get out his Eisen Sword. But in his unfocused state, he couldn't use Mantra to detect what Robin was doing.
"TRES FLEUR!"
Three arms grabbed Ohm and held his arms in place as Zoro came charging in.
"SANTORYU OGI: SANZEN SEKAI!"
Ohm's Eisen Sword was slashed to pieces, leaving him open for Eddy to jump in, turning his fist into solid lead.
"BULLET PUNCH!"
With a punch as fast as a bullet fired from a gun, Eddy slugged Ohm in the gut, making him vomit up blood as Rosa came in, having absorbed the remains of the priest's Eisen Sword to take on its consistency and slam him in the ears, discombobulating him.
"GANTA GUN!"Ben shouted, firing a powerful bullet made of blood from his palm.
Kaizo smirked, charging what he called "Sin Energy" into his fist before punching, sending a fist of pure red energy at Ohm to send him flying into the air.
"SIN ROCKET FIST!"
"MORE-MORE HUNDREDFOLD UPPERCUT!"Hilda shouted, boosting her jumping power a hundredfold to deliver a rising uppercut with her hammy fist.
Kuina turned into her Full Beast Form and flew up above Ohm before striking him down with her firey tail feathers.
"BLAZING SKEWER!"
Ohm crashed down in a badly burned heap but was just barely alive. His dog Holy quickly rushed in but was detained by Kong with a prison of clouds.
"That was surprisingly fast," Mifune noted. "I feel kinda cheated out of showing what I could do."
"Once we broke his worldview his focus couldn't recover, making his Observation Haki useless," Robin explained.
"The others should be reaching the end by now. Let's hurry and meet up with them." Kuina said.
As the gang headed off, Kong took some of the Iron Clouds and absorbed them into him, chuckling and nodding his head in approval as he rejoined the others.
Knightmare Lord A/N:
Needed to have a chapter dedicated to the Ordeals. Hope you liked how I found a way to include almost the whole crew in action!
I left Mrotrax to handle the lore bits in this chapter. I want to make sure he doesn't have too much on his plate since we both really want to get to Water 7, that's when things really heat up!
Mrotrax A/N:
Thank ye kindly, buddy.
Hope I delivered on my end!