Location: Hidden Cloud Village (Shandian Settlement)
"Enel's voice... has disappeared."
The words hung in the air like smoke.
Laki froze. She looked toward the Island of God (Upper Yard). Lightning still danced in the distance, but the oppressive presence that usually accompanied it... was gone.
"Aisa," Laki said sternly, her voice trembling slightly. "We Shandians take pride in our honesty. We do not lie about such things."
"I'm not lying!" Aisa shouted, tears streaming down her face. "His voice is gone! Completely gone!"
"The thunder out there right now... it's coming from someone else. Someone who feels... strange. Not like a Skypiean. Not like a Shandian."
Aisa struggled to describe the aura she felt. It was a mix of a human soul and something ancient and earthen, overlaid with the chaotic energy of lightning.
"Enel is gone. Really gone!"
Before Laki could stop her, Aisa took a deep breath, faced the direction of the shrine, and screamed at the top of her lungs.
"ENEL! YOU BIG STUPID JERK!"
"AISA!"
Laki tackled the girl, covering her mouth and diving behind a rock formation. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the Divine Judgment (El Thor). Everyone knew Enel could hear everything. To insult him was a death sentence.
One second passed.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
The sky remained clear. No pillar of blue light descended to vaporize them.
"He... didn't strike?" Laki whispered, looking up in disbelief.
"What is going on here?"
Wiper, the Berserker and leader of the Shandian Guerrillas, stormed out of his tent. His Burn Bazooka was strapped to his back, his face set in a perpetual scowl.
"Wiper!" Laki stood up, dusting herself off. "Aisa says Enel's voice vanished. And she just cursed him to his face, but no judgment came."
Wiper's eyes narrowed. He looked down at the little girl.
"Aisa. Swear on the Great Warrior Calgara. Is it true?"
"I swear!" Aisa wiped her tears, standing tall. "I swear on the ancestors! Enel is gone!"
Wiper took a deep breath. He looked toward the Shrine of God, a fire igniting in his eyes.
"I NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED HIM AS GOD ANYWAY!"
He shouted it to the heavens. A challenge.
Still, the sky was silent.
"Guerrillas!" Wiper roared, his tattoos flexing as he gripped his bazooka. "To the Island of God! We take back Shandora TODAY!"
Location: Upper Yard, The Ruins of Shandora
Storm paused his sparring session with the Clay Whitebeard.
His Observation Haki (Mantra) picked up a group of intense, burning souls moving rapidly toward the center of the island.
"Natives? Or Blue Sea immigrants?"
Storm dissolved his clone back into mud. He glanced at the Blue-Eyes White Dragon resting nearby.
"Let's go say hello."
Storm leaped onto the dragon's head.
WHOOSH!
The massive white dragon spread its wings and launched into the air, crossing the jungle in seconds.
Location: Upper Yard Jungle
The Shandian Guerrillas were moving fast, sliding along the Milky Road. Suddenly, a shadow blocked out the sun.
"STOP!"
Wiper skidded to a halt, signaling his men. They raised their weapons—spears, dials, and bazookas—aiming at the sky.
A massive white dragon hovered above them. Its pressure was immense, far more terrifying than the lazy arrogance of Enel. This was a predator.
"What is that monster?!" Kamakiri shouted, gripping his blade.
"It's him!" Aisa pointed a trembling finger at the figure standing on the dragon's head. "He's the one! He defeated Enel!"
"Defeated... Enel?" Wiper's grip on his bazooka tightened until his knuckles turned white.
The dragon slowly descended, landing with a heavy thud that shook the cloud floor. Storm jumped down, his white coat fluttering in the wind. He looked calm, unbothered by the dozen weapons pointed at him.
"People of Jaya," Storm said smoothy. "Why are you trespassing on my territory?"
"Jaya Islanders?" Wiper stiffened. He stepped forward, shielding his people. "We are Shandians. Warriors of Shandora. We have come for Enel."
"Enel is dead," Storm said simply.
The words hit the warriors like a physical blow. The God who had terrorized them for six years... dead? Just like that?
"Dead..."
"Can we finally return home?"
"Is the war over?"
Whispers erupted among the ranks. Hope, fear, and disbelief mingled in the air. But Wiper remained tense. He stared at Storm, assessing the threat.
"So," Wiper glared, his voice rough. "You killed Enel. Does that make you the new 'God' of Skypiea?"
"That's an interesting question."
Storm walked closer, stopping just a few meters from the Berserker.
"By the law of the sea, I killed him, so I take everything. This island is mine."
Wiper raised his Burn Bazooka, aiming it directly at Storm's chest. "Then you are our enemy. We will not trade one tyrant for another! We will fight for Shandora until the last drop of blood!"
"Relax," Storm chuckled, ignoring the cannon in his face. "I have no interest in being a 'God'."
He looked Wiper in the eye.
"Tell me, descendant of Calgara. What do you think of 'Gods'?"
The atmosphere froze. The jungle went silent.
"In any case," Wiper spat, his eyes burning with resolve. "Anyone who rules under the name of 'God' is an enemy we must eliminate!"
"Excellent answer."
Storm clapped his hands, a sharp sound in the quiet clearing.
"So-called Gods are just monkeys in fancy robes. I couldn't agree more."
"Welcome to my Sky Island, Shandians. Put down your weapons."
Storm smiled, but his eyes were serious.
"We have business to discuss. Business regarding a certain Golden Bell."
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