The Sky Island sky instantly lit up like day.
A thick bolt of lightning, like the wrath of a Heavenly God, tore down from above the clouds, striking directly at the group!
The lightning covered everything, unstoppable!
At this moment, Lin Ning stood there calmly, holding his halberd, his eyes slightly narrowed, without a hint of panic on his face.
He didn't make a move — because he knew someone was already prepared.
"Swish—!!"
Just as the lightning was about to strike the group—
Zoro moved!
A sharp, unparalleled Aura suddenly erupted, his right hand already firmly gripping the wado ichimonji at his waist!
"Swish!"
A flash of white sword light was fleeting, like a meteor streaking across the night sky!
Zoro drew his sword with one hand, the blade sweeping gently, as if cutting through water, and that thick bolt of lightning was directly severed in half by this one strike!
Boom—!!!
The lightning exploded in front of Zoro, turning into countless tiny electric lights, dissipating into the clouds.
Everything was completed in a flash of lightning.
Usopp and Nami still stood in place, looking at the terrifying lightning from a moment ago, stunned and confused.
Usopp, still shaken, gasped for breath, patting his chest and saying:
"You scared me to death!! What happened!? Why did lightning suddenly strike out of nowhere?"
Nami also frowned, looking seriously at the distant sky, muttering:
"This weather... it's not right..."
Chopper looked at Usopp, then at the sky, utterly bewildered, and asked foolishly:
"Huh? What just happened?"
Meanwhile—
Zoro had already slowly sheathed his sword, calmly returning the wado ichimonji to its scabbard, his gaze on Luffy, his voice deep and full of Battle Intent:
"Luffy...?"
Luffy didn't speak, he just lowered his head, slowly pressing down on his straw hat.
His fingers slowly tightened, the smile on his face completely gone, replaced by a chilling killing intent.
—At that moment, Nami and Usopp really almost died.
This wasn't a game; it was an attack on his companions!
Luffy slowly raised his head, his eyes sharp as blades, and said coldly:
"...Of course, we can't pretend nothing happened."
Zoro's lips curved slightly upward, revealing a bloodthirsty Battle Intent: "Heh... Exactly."
Sanji also grinned, took a puff of his cigarette, his eyes glinting with a dangerous light: "Yeah, how can we just tolerate it."
Nami and Usopp were stunned.
—They finally realized that in that instant, they really almost died.
Nami's face instantly turned pale, she looked at Zoro incredulously, and asked with lingering fear:
"So... that lightning just now, was meant to kill us?"
Zoro didn't answer, he just quietly gazed at the sky, the Battle Intent in his eyes already ignited.
Usopp was drenched in cold sweat, trembling as he said:
"Are you kidding me!? Who would use lightning to strike people right away!!"
Luffy slowly clenched his fist, his eyes burning, and said with a firm tone:
"We have to find him, I'm going to teach him a good lesson!"
Just as Luffy and the others decided to set off, a startled cry suddenly rang out—
"You actually defeated the Divine Punishment, that's truly amazing!"
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, only to see a slender, pretty Young Miss standing on the sea of clouds not far away.
She had long, light pink hair, slightly curled at the ends, and a pair of azure eyes full of surprise.
Behind her were a pair of pure white small wings, and she wore white Sky Island clothing.
She was like an angel from a fairy tale, exuding a pure and gentle Aura.
"Ah! An angel!!"
Sanji's eyes instantly turned into hearts, and he looked as if he had been struck by lightning.
He knelt on the ground, staring at the Young Miss in adoration, exclaiming fervently:
"Such a beautiful Young Miss! This must be a gift from Heaven!"
Usopp couldn't help but exclaim: "Is it real or fake? There really are angels on Sky Island!"
Zoro, however, rolled his eyes, glanced casually, and snorted noncommittally.
The Young Miss saw the Straw Hat, paused slightly, then showed a gentle smile and said softly:
"My name is Conis, are you from the Blue Sea?"
Luffy walked up with a grin, answering without hesitation:
"Yes, we flew up from below! Do you live here?"
Conis nodded, saying softly:
"Yes, I am a resident here, but... how did you anger the gods?"
Hearing the word "gods," Lin Ning's eyes flickered slightly, and he asked with a hint of confusion: "Gods?"
Conis's expression became serious, with a hint of reverence and fear, and she said in a low voice:
"Yes, the God of Sky Island, the omnipotent and omniscient 'God' Eneru."
"Heh, someone actually calls himself a God."
Zoro sneered, his hand on his sword hilt, his eyes sharp, his tone full of mockery:
"How arrogant."
"Shh!!" Conis's face changed drastically when she heard this, she waved her hands in panic, and whispered urgently:
"Please don't say that! Blaspheming God like that will lead to annihilation!"
Luffy tilted his head, asking carelessly:
"Like that lightning just now?"
Conis nodded nervously, her eyes revealing unease.
After hearing this, Luffy frowned slightly, the smile on his face gradually receding, his gaze becoming firm and sharp, and he said:
"Where is that guy?"
Conis was startled, and asked in confusion:
"Who?"
"That guy named 'Roux' or whatever."
Luffy clenched his fist, his eyes sharp as blades, his tone carrying a hint of coldness:
"I'm going to go beat him up!"
Conis covered her mouth in shock, her eyes full of disbelief.
She had never seen anyone dare to challenge God so directly. What kind of monsters were these Blue Sea people?!
Lin Ning ignored Conis's surprise, his pupils slightly red, his special Observation Haki activated.
His consciousness traversed Conis's past memories, rapidly searching for information about Eneru.
A moment later, he withdrew his gaze and said lightly:
"Is it the Forbidden Land, Skypiea territory?"
Conis's eyes widened, she covered her mouth in surprise, and blurted out:
"How do you know that place? Have you been here before?"
Lin Ning didn't answer, he just looked at her quietly, his eyes as calm as water.
Zoro's lips curved slightly, his hand on his sword hilt, his Battle Intent chilling:
"Since we know the destination, let's just kill our way there!"
Sanji elegantly adjusted his collar, smiling at Conis:
"Beautiful angel Young Miss, let's say goodbye here."
As Lin Ning informed Nami of Skypiea territory's location, the Straw Hat Pirates unhesitatingly boarded the going merry and set sail!
Conis stood on the shore, watching their ship gradually sail towards the unknown Forbidden Land, her heart filled with complex emotions.
"These Blue Sea people... they're actually going to Skypiea territory on their own..."
"Do they really... have a way to fight against God?"
Just as the going merry completely disappeared from her sight, a familiar figure appeared beside her.
"My dear daughter."
Conis was startled, she turned her head sharply, it was her father, his brow furrowed, a trace of solemnity on his face.
"Those who caused the Divine Punishment... did they go to Skypiea territory to undergo the trial, or did they run away?"
Conis looked at the going merry, gradually fading into the distance, and said in a low voice:
"Dad... I hadn't even guided them, and they already went to Skypiea territory on their own..."
Conis's father's expression froze slightly when he heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, then he said in a deep voice:
"Is that so..."