Chapter 126 The Altar of the Island of Gods! At this moment, the lions are taking a nap.
Angel Beach, the afternoon sun shines on the white sand, everything seems peaceful and serene.
However, this was shortly after the Straw Hat crew had finished enjoying a delicious lunch on Skypiea.
Boom!!!
Without any warning, the sea surface exploded, sending huge splashes of water dozens of meters high.
A "super express shrimp" with a size comparable to a naval warship and two huge crab claws broke out of the water!
Before anyone could react, the two enormous pincers had already clamped firmly onto the two sides of the Going Merry's gunwales.
"Ah!! That's the Express Shrimp! Its target is the Going Merry!!"
Usopp on the shore screamed in terror.
"Give me back my boat!!!"
Luffy reacted the fastest, stretching out his rubber arm to try and grab the stern railing of the Going Merry.
But the name "Express Shrimp" isn't just for show.
The moment it clamped onto the boat, its stern suddenly sprang up.
"Bang!!"
A sonic boom cloud, visible to the naked eye, was generated in the air!
The Express Shrimp, carrying the Going Merry, accelerated instantly. Its terrifying speed allowed it to break free from Luffy's grasp, leaving only a blur.
"stop!!"
Sanji was washing dishes on the beach at that moment. He threw down the plate and tried to catch up by stepping on the air.
But that was an extreme speed that even priests struggled to control, and in the blink of an eye, they were left far behind.
"Damn it!! We've lost them!!" Sanji slammed his fist on the beach, his face full of anxiety.
...
On the Merry.
"Waaaaaah!!"
The terrifying acceleration caused the ship to pitch backward violently.
Nami was thrown into the air by the enormous inertia and crashed heavily into the railing behind her.
As she watched Luffy and Sanji rapidly shrink and disappear from her sight, tears instantly streamed down her face.
"What's going on?! Where are we being taken?!"
"Waaaaah! Help!"
Chopper rolled around on the deck like a runaway marble, bumping his head all over:
"Doctor! Call a doctor!! Is there a doctor on the ship?!... Ah! I am the doctor!!"
Amidst the chaos, only two people remained unusually calm.
Robin sat on the deck chair, and even in this high-speed race, she still used the power of the Flower Flower Fruit with elegance.
"Twenty-round flowers, marigold".
Countless arms sprouted, firmly anchoring the panicked Nami and the tumbling Chopper.
Robin calmly observed the rapidly changing scenery around him:
"At this speed of movement... it seems they're heading to a very far place. And the direction is... that 'Island of Gods'."
The other "calm" person is Zoro.
Even as the ship rocked violently, and even as Chopper rolled over him three times, the great swordsman remained motionless against the mast.
The snot bubbles rose and fell with his breathing—he had actually fallen into a deep sleep!
As for Viktor...
He was in his room at that moment.
He was intently recording data on the various shellfish he had just collected from the beach in his notebook, the pen scratching softly.
"The Impact Dagger was used to make a slingshot for Usopp... The Flame Dagger increased the power of Sanji's kicking techniques... The Wind Dagger can be used to modify Waver..."
...
I don't know how much time passed.
The express shrimp traversed the winding and complex "galaxy" waterway and finally arrived at its destination.
"boom!!"
It released its grip and roughly tossed the Merry onto an ancient altar deep in the forest.
All around were enormous trees that blocked out the sky, and plants called "giant bean vines" coiled around them like giant dragons.
In the waters below the altar, groups of sky island sharks with razor-sharp dorsal fins roam.
"Where...where am I?"
Nami shakily stood up, holding onto the railing, when she saw the sign on the shore with ancient writing on it—"Altar of Living Sacrifice".
"Live...live sacrifices..."
Nami instantly turned ashen, her soul seemingly floating out of her mouth:
"We're doomed...we're going to be boiled..."
Just then, the surrounding noise finally woke up the green algae head.
Zoro rubbed his sleepy eyes, stretched, and looked around blankly:
"Huh? Is it morning already?...Why is it so noisy?"
"Click".
The cabin door was pushed open.
Victor closed his notebook and walked calmly to the center of the deck.
He looked at the gloomy jungle around him and the suffocating sense of oppression, and a slight smile appeared on his lips:
"No, it's not morning yet, swordsman."
"However... it seems some guys are eager to come and die."
With Victor and Zoro, the two main combatants, in place, the Going Merry, which had previously only emitted terrified screams, instantly exuded a terrifying aura that sent all the birds and beasts around it scattering.
That was the aura of an apex predator awakening.
"Herod! Her...
A strange laugh suddenly came from the sky.
A fiery figure spiraled down.
That was the priest in charge of the "Trial of the Rope"—the Azure Knight Shura, riding a three-foot-tall bird named "Fuza" that breathes fire.
Shura looked down at the people on the Going Merry with disdain:
"Are these monkeys from Qinghai? It's amazing that they managed to get here alive."
"I am the priest Shura! Now that I have become a sacrifice, I shall accept the punishment of the 'Trial of the Rope'!"
"Cut off your escape route first!"
Shura yanked the reins hard, and his heat-generating spear spewed out high-temperature flames. Using the speed of the firebird's dive, he thrust it directly at the mainmast of the Going Merry.
He intended to burn the sails and masts first, to plunge everyone into utter despair.
"No! The Going Merry!!" Chopper shouted in terror.
Just as the burning spearhead was about to touch the mast at the last second.
"Buzz".
A jet-black straight blade appeared out of thin air, blocking the path of the spear.
"clang----!!!!"
The deafening clang of metal echoed across the altar.
Sparks flew everywhere.
Viktor, wielding his knife with one hand, steadily parried Shura's powerful, heat-infused spear.
Although he didn't use his full strength, his terrifying wrist strength was like a mountain, preventing the Asura Firebird from advancing an inch no matter how much it flapped its wings.
"Hey, birdman."
Viktor slightly raised his head, his eyes coldly fixed on the priest in the air:
"This ship is our home."
"If we let you burn the mast... our captain will be crying."
"Wh...what?!"
Shura was shocked, his pupils dilated violently:
"It can actually block the heat spear?! And this power..."
Before he could react...
"Hey, Viktor, stop showing off all by yourself."
A lazy yet murderous voice came from the side.
Zoro had appeared on the ship's railing at some point, his three swords already drawn, gleaming coldly in the eerie jungle.
"So these are the priests of the Sky Island? They don't seem very durable."
It was locked in by two main forces at the same time.
In that instant, Shura felt an unprecedented chill run down his spine and straight to the top of his head.
This intense sense of crisis far exceeded that of any Qinghai pirates he had ever dealt with before.
These people... are not ordinary monkeys!
It's a man-eating lion!
"Tch! You guys are lucky!"
Shura did not linger in the fight. He suddenly pulled on the reins, using the firebird's excellent maneuverability to quickly gain altitude. After setting up an invisible "rope cloud" trap in the air, he quickly retreated into the depths of the dense forest.
"You run really fast."
Viktor watched the fleeing priest and sheathed his sword.
He glanced at the sky, which was riddled with traps, then turned to give Nami a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, Nami."
"From now on, this ship is under our control."
Victor pointed to the deck beneath his feet:
"In this jungle, no one can touch a single piece of wood."
"Um..."
Nami responded with a comment, and looking at Viktor's confident back, her fear subsided considerably.
But then I realized she still needed to be protected.
Her expression inexplicably turned somewhat gloomy.Chapter 127 The Gate of Trials! Luffy's Intuition and the Priest's Nightmare
We passed through the dreamlike exit of Angel Island.
Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp's trio finally arrived at the entrance to the legendary forbidden land—the "Island of God," Apayado.
"Yosh!! The great adventure begins!!"
Luffy raised his fists high, full of fighting spirit, completely oblivious to his status as a "criminal".
Behind him, Usopp was cautiously observing his surroundings.
He held the dachshund "Lasu" tightly in his arms, which was still trembling a little.
"Hey, Luffy, keep your voice down... This is God's territory..." Usopp muttered under his breath.
Sanji lit a cigarette, his eyes filled with a resolute, almost fiery, determination.
"Wait for me, Robin! I'm coming to rescue you from that god's clutches! This is the knight's trial of love!"
Soon, the three of them came to a stop in front of a huge pass.
Standing before them were four enormous stone gates, each inscribed with a different name and chilling numbers.
Trial of the Swamp (50% survival rate).
Iron Trial (Survival rate 0%).
Trial of the Rope (survival rate 3%).
The Trial of the Ball (Survival rate 10%).
"This...this is a death trap choice?!"
Usopp stared at the ridiculously low survival rates, his eyes practically popping out of their sockets.
He frantically counted on his fingers:
"Calm down... Usopp... We need to choose the one with the highest survival rate..."
"The Swamp Trial has a 50% chance of survival, meaning that out of two people who go in, only one will survive..."
"Wait a minute! There are three of us! Does that mean one and a half will die?!"
"I want to choose this one!!"
Before Usopp could finish his calculations, Luffy pointed his finger directly at the door marked "Trial of the Ball (10% survival rate)" without hesitation.
"Huh?!!" Usopp screamed, "That's 10%! That's a dead end! Why did I choose that?!"
"Because it's a 'ball'!"
Luffy's eyes lit up, and he shouted confidently:
"I don't know what it is, but it sounds like a lot of fun! There must be lots of balls to kick!"
"Are you here for a picnic?!" Usopp exclaimed in exasperation.
"Fine." Sanji exhaled a smoke ring helplessly, put his hands in his pockets, and said, "Since the captain has made his choice, let's go."
"Anyway, whichever one we choose... we'll just kick all the bastards in our way away."
...
Pushing open the gate, the three entered a strange and mysterious forest.
The trees here are tall and twisted, and among the branches and above the grass, countless white spheres of different sizes float, like balloons made of clouds.
"Is this the trial of the ball?"
Usopp curiously approached a ball and gently poked it with his finger.
"Bang!"
The sphere exploded instantly, and a bunch of colorful venomous snakes sprang out from it.
"Whoaaaaah!! It's a snake!!" Usopp was so scared that he started tap dancing while hugging Rasoo.
"Oh? I'll give it a try too." Luffy chuckled and poked a ball next to him.
"Po~"
A beautiful bouquet of flowers burst forth, accompanied even by several doves of peace.
"Wow! It's a flower! That's amazing!" Luffy clapped.
"Tch, boring." Sanji glanced at the ball at his feet and kicked it, shattering it.
"puff--!!"
A thick, brown gas suddenly shot out—it was an extremely foul odor, comparable to that of a skunk.
"Cough cough cough!! It stinks!! What the hell is this?!"
Sanji's eyes watered from the fumes, and his elegant image crumbled instantly.
Just as the three were getting dizzy from these strange balls.
"Ho ho ho! Welcome to the Trial of the Ball! Lost little lambs!"
A series of playful, laughing voices came from the top of the tree.
A man who was round like a ball, wearing orange sunglasses, but with unusually nimble hands and feet, was jumping around on a huge ball.
Priestess - Shadley.
"I am Shadley, the priest who controls the 'Trial of the Ball'! Now that you have chosen this path, prepare to meet the gods!"
"Rubber rubber—pistol!!"
Without saying a word, Luffy threw a punch.
However, it was as if Shadley had eyes in the back of her head; she simply shifted her body slightly and easily dodged Luffy's incredibly fast punch.
"It's no use!" Shadley scoffed.
"First meat!" Sanji launched a kick from the side.
"Too slow, too slow!" Shadley did a somersault, dodging perfectly once again, and even patted Sanji on the head.
"What's going on? Can this guy read minds?" Sanji exclaimed in surprise.
"Hehehe! That's right! In this sacred realm, I know everything!"
Shadley pointed to her head, beaming with pride:
"Your movements, your breathing, even where you intend to strike next, I can hear it all clearly with my 'mind network'! I am God!"
Before he could finish speaking, Shadley's eyes suddenly turned cold, and his gloved, fat hand slammed down on Luffy's abdomen.
"Impact Shell!!"
There were no fancy moves, just a single palm strike.
"Bang!!!!"
A terrifying shockwave instantly pierced through Luffy's rubber body.
"Pfft!!"
Luffy suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood and flew backward like a cannonball, crashing into three huge trees before barely coming to a stop.
"Luffy!!" Usopp and Sanji were shocked.
Keep in mind that Luffy is a rubber man, so ordinary blunt force trauma has almost no effect on him. The fact that it made him vomit blood indicates that the attack caused severe internal injuries!
"Ho ho ho! That's the power of 'impact'! Even if you're made of rubber, it's useless!"
Just when Shadley thought victory was assured and was preparing to take care of the remaining two.
"cough..."
Amidst the ruins, Luffy staggered to his feet.
He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, pulled his straw hat down, and the playfulness in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a beast-like instinct.
"You can read my intentions, right..."
Luffy didn't rush towards Shadley, but suddenly turned around and swung his fist at a big tree next to him.
"Rubber, rubber—"
"daze!!!"
"What?" Shadley was taken aback. "He's hitting a tree?"
The next second, Luffy's fist did not stop, but instead used the rebound force of the rubber to bounce wildly against the surrounding tree trunks.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Countless fist shadows flew wildly through the forest, completely without any pattern, and several times they almost hit Luffy himself.
"What...what kind of move is this?!"
Shadley panicked.
His mind was in complete chaos, because in that instant, Luffy's mind went blank, and he himself didn't know where his fist would fly next!
"If even I don't know where I'm going to type... you probably won't be able to read it either!!"
"Bang!!"
A rebounding fist slammed hard into Shadley's round face.
"Gotcha!!!"
...
The scene briefly cuts back.
Deep within the Isle of God, aboard the Going Merry beside the altar.
Viktor was holding binoculars, observing the smoke and dust rising from the distant forest and the flashes of explosions.
"That's the direction Luffy and his crew went..."
Viktor watched the rising spherical cloud of explosion, a slight smile playing on his lips.
"Looks like we've encountered a rather tricky ability. But..."
"Let them make a scene, the bigger the better."
Viktor closed his binoculars, his eyes growing deep and unfathomable.
"I need to draw the attention of the priest and that so-called 'god' so I can get on with my business."
He pulled a yellowed parchment from his pocket—it was a copy of the "Ancient Map of the Island of Gods" that he had casually picked up while browsing in a bookstore on Angel Island.
Viktor's long, slender fingers traced the intricate patterns on the map, finally stopping at a specially marked location.Chapter 128 Jungle Encounter! Berserker Vaipa
Beside the altar on God's Island, the Merry lay quietly on the murky water.
"It's pointless to stay here forever."
Zoro rested his hand on the hilt of his sword, looked around at the dark and dense jungle, and a smile appeared on his lips:
"I'll go wander around the neighborhood and see if there's anything I can chop down, and maybe find something to eat while I'm at it."
Having said that, without waiting for anyone to stop him, the directionally challenged swordsman leaped off the boat and headed into the depths of the forest without looking back.
That direction was clearly the opposite of the correct exit.
"What a vibrant swordsman!"
Robin closed the ancient book in his hands.
She stood up, gracefully straightened her clothes, and gazed through the treetops as if seeing something much older:
"I'll also take a look around. Although this place is called the Island of Gods, these remaining architectural styles… are probably products of 800 years ago."
"As an archaeologist, I cannot stand idly by."
After saying that, Robin also jumped off the ship with light steps and left alone in the direction of the ruins.
"Huh?! Has everyone left?!" Nami exclaimed in a panic.
At this moment, Viktor finished tidying up his ninja tool bag, walked up to Nami, and handed her a white seashell.
"Nami, this sound shell is for you. It contains a recording of that old man Gan Fall's whistling."
"If you encounter danger, play this to call the old man."
After saying that, Viktor turned to leave: "I have something I need to confirm, I'll be right back."
Seeing the three powerful fighters disappear one by one, leaving only herself and Chopper, the "weak duo," Nami finally broke down.
She and Chopper hugged each other, weeping bitterly as they watched Viktor's retreating figure.
"You irresponsible bastards!! Are you just going to leave us here as sitting ducks?!"
"Gurgle, gurgle!!"
Clay, the crow perched on the railing, flapped its wings and cawed arrogantly:
"Hehe! Don't be afraid, big sister! This is the territory of the Sky Overlord! I'll protect you!"
Hearing the cries behind him, Viktor, who had already taken a few steps, stopped in his tracks.
He turned around and quickly formed a "Ren" seal with both hands.
"Shadow Clone Technique".
"Bang!"
A cloud of white smoke exploded on the deck.
After the smoke cleared, a "Victor" with a somewhat dazed look in his eyes, standing motionless, appeared next to Nami.
Viktor waved his hand: "I'll leave a clone for you guys to be bodyguards, is that alright?"
Nami looked at the clone, which didn't seem very bright, then crossed her arms and snorted.
"Hmph, at least he has some sense of responsibility."
...
Deep within the mysterious forest of God's Island.
"Huff... huff..."
After overcoming numerous hardships, Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp finally defeated the ball god, Shadley.
"That ball-man uncle is so annoying! But it's finally quiet!" Luffy laughed and continued deeper into the cave.
Just as the three were preparing to continue their search for gold...
"boom!!!!"
A massive, extremely powerful pillar of fire, several meters in diameter, suddenly erupted from the bushes in front of them and slammed into the ground.
The blast wave forced the three people back several steps, and thick smoke billowed from the scorched earth.
As the smoke cleared, a menacing figure blocked the way.
He was a man with dark skin, intricate tattoos on his body, and wings on his back.
He wore a mask that covered half his face, had a huge cannon mounted on his right arm, and his eyes were filled with undisguised murderous intent.
The guerrilla leader of Shandia – "War Demon" Vaipa.
"A person from Qinghai."
Vaipa raised the still-smoking, burning cannon, his voice as cold as iron:
"Get off this island! Or... die!"
"You bastard!!"
Luffy hates guys who immediately start shouting for battle, especially when they're blocking his path on his adventure.
Without saying a word, the two started fighting instantly.
"Rubber rubber—machine gun!!"
"Incendiary Cannon!!"
Boom boom boom boom!!
Luffy's countless punches clashed with Vaipa's continuous barrage of fire in the air, creating a series of explosions.
Surprisingly, this man named Vaipa displayed an extremely high level of physical skill.
Even without the predictive ability of the Mind Network.
But thanks to his honed warrior instincts and the high mobility provided by his Wind-Blowing Skateboard, he was able to fight Luffy to a standstill.
"It's not over yet!!"
A cold glint flashed in Vaipa's eyes.
He suddenly slid in front of Luffy, but instead of using the Incendiary Cannon, he raised his left leg and kicked Luffy hard.
Luffy instinctively used his arm to block.
"Sizzle—"
The moment they made contact, Luffy suddenly felt as if all his strength had been drained by a water pump, and his body instantly became weak and sore.
"Ugh... I'm out of energy..."
Luffy's legs buckled, and he almost knelt down.
"Seastone?!" Sanji exclaimed in surprise from behind.
The berserker's shoes and knee pads were inlaid with Seastone, which is specifically designed to counter ability users!
"On Sky Island, Logia-type Devil Fruit users may be invincible, but Devil Fruit users... I have plenty of ways to kill them."
Waipa snorted coldly and, taking advantage of Luffy's weakness, raised the incendiary cannon to fire.
Just when the battle was at a stalemate.
"rustle."
The leaves rustled softly.
Viktor's figure appeared silently on a high branch.
He didn't intervene immediately, but instead crossed his arms and observed the battle below from his elevated position.
"Is this the leader of the Shandian guerrillas? He's certainly a formidable character."
Viktor's gaze narrowed slightly as he looked at the massive piece of equipment on Vaipa's right arm.
"The power of that incendiary cannon... no, it contains more than just Flame Shells."
"That dangerous fluctuation... is it a'shock shell'?"
"That's a double-edged sword that can shatter an enemy's internal organs, but it can also backfire on the user."
Vaipa, below, with her beast-like instincts, keenly sensed the gaze coming from above.
"who?!"
He reacted extremely quickly, raising his hand to unleash a fireball at the top of the tree.
"boom!!"
The tree canopy was blown apart.
But before the flames could engulf the branches, Victor had already activated his Body Flicker Technique, transforming into a black shadow and landing steadily beside Luffy.
"Tch... another rat." Vaipa took a step back, watching the newly appeared boy in black warily.
Victor reached out to support Luffy, whose legs were still a little weak, and patted the captain on the shoulder:
"Are you alright, Captain?"
"Ah... I lost all my strength when that guy's shoe touched me." Luffy shook his arm.
"This guy is a stubborn warrior, carrying hundreds of years of hatred. It's no use trying to reason with him."
Viktor looked at the murderous-looking Vaipa, slowly drew a kunai from his waist, and smirked slightly.
"However... I have a way to calm him down."
...
Right now.
At the very top of God's Island stands the Shrine of God.
The camera slowly pans up, passing through layers of clouds, and arrives at an extremely luxurious palace.
A man with extremely long earlobes, carrying a thunder drum on his back, and bare-chested, was lounging lazily on a golden throne.
God Enel.
He held a bright red apple in his hand, took a bite, and the crisp "crunch" sound echoed in the empty hall.
Although they were far apart, he seemed to know everything that was happening on the island.
That was the terrifying Observation Haki that covered the entire Island of Gods—Mind Net.
"Yay hahaha..."
Enel chewed on an apple, a mocking smile on his face, as if he were looking at a caged beast.
"I heard...those noisy sounds."
"The rats from Qinghai, and those reckless Shandian wild dogs... they've all gathered together."
He swallowed the apple, his eyes flashing with divine arrogance and cruelty:
"The game is getting more and more interesting."
"Pass down the order and have all the remaining priests mobilize."
Enel casually tossed the leftover apple core down into the clouds:
"Let the show, titled'Survival Game,' beginChapter 129 The Truth of the Golden City and Nami's Nighttime Whispers
At the altar on God's Island, a bonfire flickered in the night.
"Everyone!!"
Looking at Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp returning safely from the depths of the forest.
Nami, who had been on edge the whole time, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
A relieved smile spread across her face. But when she saw that Viktor was missing, her eyes widened.
"Luffy! Where's Victor?!"
Viktor was the last to return.
He carried several enormous "sky lobsters" with one hand, still waving their claws, as easily as if he had just returned from grocery shopping.
"Victor!"
Nami noticed that Viktor's clothes were stained with some forest dust and leaves.
She immediately jogged over and gently patted the dust off his shoulders.
Then, in full view of everyone, she opened her arms and hugged him tightly, burying her face in his chest.
"That's great...you're back too."
"Cough cough... Nami-san..."
Sanji, who was standing nearby, turned ashen-white upon seeing this.
He knelt on the ground, biting his handkerchief tightly, letting out unwilling sobs:
"Why... I went on an adventure too! Why didn't I get a loving hug! Only that bastard first mate... Damn it!!"
However, as a top-notch chef, Sanji quickly turned his grief and anger into appetite.
"Since we have such top-quality ingredients, let's have a seafood feast in the sky!!"
Sanji showcased his skills, using the unique seasonings of Skypiea and the giant Sky Lobsters to create a table of fragrant and top-quality dishes.
"Delicious!! The shrimp meat is so springy and chewy!!"
Luffy's mouth was stuffed full of meat, and his eyes were shining with happiness.
Perhaps because the atmosphere was so lively, Luffy even managed to persuade a few Skypiea Cloud Wolves with the help of Clay's translation.
He led a few Sky Island Cloud Wolves around the campfire and danced his signature silly and cute dance.
"Whoosh~ The barbecue is so delicious~ I'm a wolf~ You're a wolf~ We're all wolves~"
...
After a hearty meal and drinks.
The group sat around the campfire, physically exhausted but mentally excited.
Victor took out a small bag of soil, which he had collected specifically when he was on Jaya Island.
Then, he grabbed a handful of soil from God's Island and spread it out in front of everyone.
"look."
Viktor pointed to two piles of dirt and then took out a half-finished house pattern that he had copied in the forest:
"The soil is exactly the same. Moreover, the architectural style here is a perfect match for the other half of the house on Jaya Island."
The firelight illuminated Viktor's confident face as he slowly spoke:
"Rolando did not lie. Golden City did not sink to the bottom of the sea, but was swept up to a height of seven thousand meters by that huge, towering current."
"What we are standing on now is the legendary country of Shandora."
"The gold...is on this island."
This conclusion instantly ignited a fierce fighting spirit in Usopp, who had only wanted to escape, and Nami's eyes even turned into Beli symbols.
"The Golden Land…it really exists!" Robin stared at the rubbings, his eyes glazed over.
Driven by this yearning for the unknown and the desire for gold, the group gradually succumbed to the drowsiness from days of travel.
Luffy lay sprawled out on the deck and fell asleep, Zoro leaned against a tree with his sword in his arms, and the others also found places to sleep.
...
In the stillness of the night, the chirping of unknown insects echoed from the depths of the forest.
Inside the Merry, Victor's cabin was still dimly lit.
He was sitting at the table, organizing his notes about various Sky Island Shells by the light of an oil lamp.
"Click".
The door lock clicked softly, and the door was gently pushed open.
Nami walked in, wearing a silk nightgown.
She didn't turn on the light; the cool moonlight shone through the porthole onto her long orange hair, making it appear exceptionally soft and also revealing a hint of fragility.
"Nami?" Viktor put down his pen, somewhat surprised.
Nami didn't say anything. She walked barefoot behind Viktor, suddenly stretched out her arms, and hugged him tightly from behind.
Her cheek pressed against his broad back, her body trembling slightly.
"Victor…"
Nami's voice had a slight nasal tone:
"I was really scared when that big shrimp took the boat away today..."
"Luffy, Zoro, Sanji, and you... you're all so strong, it's like you're not afraid of any monsters."
"But I... I'm just an ordinary person."
Nami gripped Viktor's clothes tightly:
"In this unknown sky, facing those strange priests and monsters, I felt so small and useless... When danger comes, I can only wait for you to come and save me..."
Viktor felt the trembling and dampness behind him, and his eyes softened instantly.
He turned around and pulled Nami into his arms.
A hand gently patted her back, soothing her unease as if comforting a child.
"fool."
"It is precisely because you are an ordinary person that you were able to follow these monsters here and face those powerful enemies that even the Navy fears... that proves that you are braver than anyone else."
Viktor looked at the pitiful Nami in his arms, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.
Indeed, Nami's nautical talent is top-notch, but in the New World, a place teeming with monsters, her physique and combat strength are definitely weaknesses.
The Weather Stick is powerful, but it's a skill-based weapon, and it's dangerous if you get close to it.
"This is not a long-term solution..."
Viktor secretly pondered, "Perhaps it's time to find her a suitable Devil Fruit."
"The Rumble-Rumble Fruit? That belongs to Enel. To get it, you have to kill him first."
"The Snow-Snow Fruit? Or some kind of Paramecia-type Devil Fruit that can be used in conjunction with the Weather Stick? It seems we need to put this on the agenda."
Just as Victor was contemplating his future plans.
The person in his arms stirred.
Feeling the warmth of Viktor's chest and his firm heartbeat, Nami looked up.
The tear tracks at the corners of her eyes were still wet, but in the moonlight, her brown eyes looked exceptionally beautiful, as if they were filled with a pool of spring water.
She looked into Victor's eyes, which always held a smile, and now only her reflection was there.
That feeling of being protected and cherished transformed Nami's fear into another intense emotion.
Nami suddenly stood on tiptoe and hooked her arms around Viktor's neck.
A warm breath brushed against Viktor's chin, carrying the fresh scent of oranges.
Her eyes became hazy and burning; she was no longer the shrewd navigator, but a little woman yearning for comfort.
"Victor…"
Nami leaned close to Viktor's ear, her voice as soft as a feather brushing against his heartstrings, yet carrying an irresistible allure:
"Stop thinking about those plans..."
She gently bit Victor's earlobe:
"Tonight...I want..."
...
The camera slowly zooms out, passing through the corridor, and freezes on the quiet cabin outside the Merry.
The night breeze gently stirred the half-open curtains, obscuring the figures of two people embracing and collapsing inside, and also concealing the room's enchanting atmosphere.
On the table was a glass of tea that Victor had only drunk half of and which had long since gone cold.
At that moment, without anyone touching it, rapid ripples appeared on the surface of the water in the cup.
It was a rhythmic vibration coming from somewhere unknown.
The teacups clinked slightly on the tray, making a soft, tinkling sound.
"Ding...ding...ding..."
At first, it was intermittent, like pearls of all sizes falling onto a jade plate, gentle and tentative.
But as time went on, the frequency of the vibrations became increasingly rapid.
The ripples spread across the cup, even splashing a few drops of water onto the table, leaving a dark stain.
In the quiet night on the island of gods, these soft, continuous sounds are like the most beautiful melody.Chapter 130 Survival Game! A Judgment Called "God"
The following morning, sunlight filtered through gaps in the clouds, dappling the cabins of the Merry.
Viktor's room was now a complete mess.
Shirts, trousers, and even a silk nightgown were scattered all over the floor.
The line stretched from the doorway all the way to the bedside, as if a fierce "world war" had taken place here last night.
An ambiguous atmosphere still lingered in the air above the bed.
Nami lay on her side in Viktor's arms, her breathing steady and long.
Her signature long orange hair was casually spread out on the white pillow, intertwined with Victor's jet-black hair, the black and orange blending together, indistinguishable from one another.
Her brows were furrowed last night because she couldn't bear it anymore.
Finally, she relaxed in her sleep, a satisfied smile on her lips.
The blanket only covered half of her body before slipping down to her waist.
Her fair, jade-like shoulders, as smooth as the finest mutton fat, were completely exposed, and the lines of her collarbones were exquisite and alluring.
On that crystal-clear skin, there were a few conspicuous red marks.
Like a few plum blossoms blooming in the vast snowfield, silently telling the story of last night's madness and lingering affection.
Victor had already woken up. He propped his head up with one hand and quietly admired the beauty in his arms.
"Hmm..."
Looking at the alluring red mark, Victor's Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his index finger twitched.
His hand slowly slid down Nami's smooth back, preparing to "comfort" the navigator who had worked hard all night once again.
"Sizzle—Sizzle—"
Just then, the tranquility of the early morning was shattered by a piercing crackling sound of electricity.
Immediately afterwards, the man who called himself "God"—Enel—speaked his lazy and arrogant voice, which resonated clearly throughout every corner of the island via the Cloud Shells that adorned the entire island:
"Hahaha... Good morning, monkeys of Qinghai."
Viktor's hand froze in mid-air, his brow twitching sharply.
Nami was also awakened by the noise, and rubbed her eyes groggily.
The broadcast continues:
"Now that everyone's here, let's start playing a game."
"The rules are simple. There is gold on this island, and there is an exit. Whoever can reach the top of the giant bean vine in the center of the island wins."
"However…" came the sound of Enel taking a bite of an apple, "that's three hours from now, if you're still alive."
"Flee as fast as you can, before God's judgment comes!"
Viktor sighed, pulled the blanket up for Nami, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes:
"Typical dictator's twisted sense of humor...it's infuriating."
...
Half an hour later, on the deck.
The group quickly assembled.
Although Nami had changed her clothes, her cheeks were still slightly flushed, and she would steal glances at Viktor from time to time.
Based on the map and the current situation, the group quickly devised a plan to divide into groups.
The treasure-hunting team (southbound): Led by Luffy, including Robin, Chopper, and Zoro.
Their mission was to venture deep into the forest to find the Golden Bell and the ruins, and incidentally, to beat up that god.
The ship guard team, commanded by Nami, includes Sanji, Usopp, and two major animal warriors—Clay and Rasoo.
Their mission was to take the Going Merry away from the dangerous altar area and to the sea to meet them.
With assignments completed, everyone prepared to depart.
"Wait a minute," Victor suddenly spoke up, "I'm not in any group."
Luffy tilted his head, looking puzzled. "Huh? Viktor, aren't you coming with us? Aren't you going to protect Nami?"
Viktor adjusted his gloves, a cryptic smile playing on his lips.
"I'm at ease with Sanji, Usopp, and Clay on Nami's side. As for you guys... I don't need to worry about you at all."
Viktor turned around, looking in a certain direction of the forest, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:
"I'm a petty person. Yesterday, that priest riding a bird almost burned our ship with that shot."
"I don't like leaving these potential problems unresolved. So… I'm going to clean up some of the 'garbage'."
Upon hearing this, Zoro grinned and tied his bandana around his arm.
"I see, so you're going for revenge? Don't die too horribly, First Mate."
"Take care of yourself, you directionally challenged green algae head."
...
The operation begins.
Not long after the treasure-hunting group entered the forest, Zoro, who was terrible with directions, unsurprisingly got separated from the others at the first fork in the road.
"Damn it, where did Luffy and the others go?"
Zoro gets lost in the jungle but unexpectedly encounters Braham, a Shandian warrior wielding two "flash guns".
"Outsiders, die!"
"Bang! Bang!"
Braham used the Wind Shell skateboard to move at high speed, while his twin guns emitted intense light and invisible "wind bullets".
"What is this? I can't see the trajectory?!"
Zoro was caught in a tough fight and could only dodge on instinct.
After being blinded by the light, he closed his eyes, and his previous insights came to mind.
"If you can't see it, then use your hearing."
"Listen to their breathing..."
On the other side.
Luffy was so excited that he ran too fast and didn't even have time to see where he was going before everything suddenly went black.
"Gurgle."
A colossal sky serpent, as large as a mountain range—"Lord of the Sky" Nolan—opened its massive maw and swallowed Luffy whole, backpack and all.
Luffy blinked inside the snake's belly: "Huh? Why is it dark?"
...
God's Island, the Trial of Ropes area.
The place is full of dead trees, and between the trees are countless thin cloud ropes that are almost invisible to the naked eye.
Viktor walked alone, hands in his pockets, seemingly leisurely through the deadly trap zone.
"Whoosh—"
A whooshing sound came from the sky.
The priest Shura, riding the fire-breathing, three-foot-long bird "Fuza," wielding a heat-generating spear, swooped down from the sky, his eyes filled with a cruel smile:
"Found you! You lone idiot!"
"How dare you trespass into my territory alone? Within my Rope Cloud Domain, any movement will result in you being entangled and unable to move an inch!!"
Shura roared, his spear spewing flames as he thrust it straight at Victor's throat.
However.
The black-haired boy did not panic as he had expected.
Viktor merely touched the ground with his toes, and his whole body leaped up lightly.
The next second, something happened that made Shura's eyes almost pop out of their sockets.
Viktor did not land on the tree trunk, but stood steadily on an extremely thin cloud rope that was originally used to entangle the enemy!
He was like a weightless feather, rising and falling gently with the cloud rope, yet walking on flat ground.
"What?!" Shura exclaimed in shock. "We're standing on the rope cloud?! That's a trap!!"
Victor stood on a thin rope in mid-air, his black trench coat fluttering in the wind.
"Sizzle—"
He slowly drew the black knife from his waist, its blade reflecting a cold light in the sunlight.
Victor looked up at the astonished priest in the sky, gently beckoned with his finger, and a cold smile, like a hunter spotting his prey, curled at the corner of his lips:
"Surprised? This is just basic skill for a ninja."
"Come down, birdman."
In Viktor's eyes, the three tomoe slowly rotated, locking onto the figure in the air:
"Let's settle the accounts we didn't finish yesterday."
"Let me teach you... what real 'hunting' is."