Chapter 251: Zoro: Do Gods Bleed Too?
While the Straw Hat Crew was completely engrossed in the trial games, a surprise attack was brewing on the other side of Upper Yard.
Cloud-Hidden Village, the secret settlement of the Shandians.
Wyper stood at the center of the village, surrounded by fully armed warriors.
Their bodies were strapped with various Dial Weapons, and each of their eyes burned with fighting spirit.
"A group of Pirates has come from the Blue Sea."
Wyper's voice was low and powerful, "They brought news of Noland."
A stir rippled through the crowd.
Noland.
That name had been passed down among the Shandians for four hundred years.
The close friend of the great warrior Kalgara, that explorer from the Blue Sea.
His descendants had been searching for Shandora all along.
"They want to find Shandora, ring the Golden Bell, and prove that Noland did not lie."
Wyper continued, "They have already entered the trial grounds to challenge the Priests."
Kamakiri, a tall, lean warrior holding a long spear stepped forward:
"Do you believe them?"
Wyper fell silent for a moment, then nodded.
"They have proven with their actions that they are worthy of the friendship of the Shandian people!"
A light flashed in his pupils, "Just like Noland four hundred years ago."
He looked around, his gaze sweeping over the face of every warrior.
"Warriors of Shandia!"
"We have been suppressed by Enel for six years, forced to hide like rats!"
"Today, those people from the Blue Sea have created an opportunity for us."
"The Priests are being held back, and the God's Guard is leaderless!"
He raised his Burn Bazooka:
"This is our best chance in four hundred years! To take back Shandora! Today!"
"Oh—!"
The warriors' roars echoed through Cloud-Hidden Village.
Angel Beach, beside the Going Merry.
Gan Fall recalled what had just happened.
That Shandian youth named Wyper had found him and asked where the people from the Blue Sea on this ship had gone.
Gan Fall answered truthfully, "They went to challenge Enel. They should be undergoing the Four Trials now, facing the Four Priests!"
Wyper stopped before him, and the two locked eyes.
"Former God."
Wyper spoke, his tone without hostility, but also without respect, "In the past, I rejected your proposal. When we return victorious, we can continue the peace talks from back then!"
Gan Fall had once strived to end the war between the Shandians and the Skypieans.
Unfortunately, the negotiations had ended in failure.
And Enel's arrival—it was hard to say whether it was fortunate or unfortunate.
The misfortune was that Enel's immense power placed both the Shandians and the Skypieans under the terrifying rule of God.
The fortune was that Gan Fall saw a turning point for the two peoples to coexist peacefully.
Because in these past few years, Enel's appearance had made reconciliation between the Skypieans and the Shandians possible.
Watching the departing Shandian warriors, Gan Fall stroked Pierre's feathers, considering what more he could do.
Upper Yard, Skypiea.
Enel sat on his golden throne, toying with a golden apple in his hand.
His Mantra covered the entire Skypiea.
The life activities of those people from the Blue Sea, the life activities of those Shandians, were all clearly reflected in his mind.
"Interesting."
He muttered to himself, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
The life reactions of the Four Priests were still present, but they were fluctuating intensely.
It meant they had encountered real opponents.
The Shandians were breaking through the guards' defensive lines, fighting their way toward this place.
"Fine."
Enel stood up, stretching lazily.
"Before I leave this place, I might as well clean up you annoying pests."
In the jungle battlefield of Upper Yard.
The Shandian warriors surged forward like a black tide, breaking through one defensive line after another.
Leading the charge was the warrior demon Wyper, whose Burn Bazooka blasted away swathes of guards with every shot.
Enel did not move.
He simply stood there, sensing everything calmly, the smile on his lips growing wider and wider.
Finally, three figures broke through the last defensive line, landing on the sacred platform before him.
Wyper, Kamakiri, Raki.
Three Shandian warriors who had trained together since childhood, the three most powerful guardians of Shandora.
"We finally meet, Enel."
Wyper tightened his grip on the Burn Bazooka.
Enel tilted his head, looking at them with an amused smile:
"For six years, you've been hiding like rats. What gives you the courage to stand before me today?"
"Because today is the day you die."
Wyper raised the Burn Bazooka and pulled the trigger without hesitation!
At the same time, Kamakiri's flaming sword slashed out with a searing blade of light, and Raki's Breath Dial Rifle fired bullets!
All three attacks struck Enel simultaneously—
And passed right through his body.
Enel's body transformed into a bolt of lightning, reforming behind the three of them.
"Hahaha!!"
He let out his distinctive laugh.
"You ignorant mortals, do you understand now the gap between a god and humans?"
He raised his golden staff and struck the drum on his back.
"Thirty Million Volts—Kiten!"
A bolt of lightning took the shape of a beast, roaring as it pounced on the three!
Boom!!
Wyper and the others were electrocuted until their bodies were charred black, collapsing to the ground with smoke rising from them.
Enel looked at them and shook his head:
"What a pity."
"I had thought of taking you as my followers and bringing you to the endless land."
His gaze suddenly drifted toward the nearby forest.
There, a life signal had been watching all along.
Enel's lips curled into a smile as his body once again transformed into lightning, vanishing in an instant.
In the forest, Robin stood before an ancient ruin.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement.
The architectural style here, the inscriptions on these reliefs—they all bore similarities to the ancient texts she had studied in the Blue Sea.
Moving forward, she heard the sounds of battle.
Carefully following the noise, she witnessed Enel instantly defeating the three Shandian warriors.
Immediately after, Enel transformed into lightning and disappeared.
Robin's heart skipped a beat as she sensed something unusual behind her.
Before she could react, a bolt of lightning had already materialized behind her.
Enel.
Robin's pupils contracted, but she quickly regained her composure.
"A Logia-type Devil Fruit User with the Goro Goro no Mi."
She slowly turned around, wearing an expression of just the right amount of surprise.
"An incredible power."
Enel laughed:
"Of course, because this is the power of a god!"
He examined Robin, a flicker of interest in his eyes:
"You're different from the others."
"You don't have that fanatical fighting spirit—only... curiosity?"
Robin did not deny it.
"Interesting."
Enel lowered his golden staff.
"Since you passed the trial, I am willing to give you a chance."
"Swear loyalty to the god and join me in journeying to the endless land."
Robin was taken aback.
I was just focused on archaeology, how did I accidentally pass the interview?
But looking at the situation, fighting is not an option.
The strength of the man before me far surpasses that of the priests.
Agreeing for now isn't necessarily a bad idea.
She bowed slightly:
"Great God, I am willing to follow you."
As soon as the words fell—
"I knew you, the last woman to join, couldn't be trusted."
A familiar voice came from the forest.
Zoro walked out slowly, carrying his swords.
His appearance naturally meant that the priest Ohm had already been defeated.
As Zoro spoke, a strange smile appeared on his face—it was unclear whether he truly didn't trust Robin or was just joking.
Enel's eyes lit up as he looked at Robin:
"Perfect, then let's begin—"
"Kill your former companion to prove your loyalty to God."
Robin fell silent for a second, then turned to face Zoro.
"Sorry, Zoro."
Zoro's lips curled: "Bring it on!"
Robin crossed her arms—
"Two-Handed Flower!"
Countless arms sprouted, but their target wasn't Zoro—it was Enel!
The arms instantly wrapped around Enel's neck and body, attempting to snap his spine!
Enel was stunned for a moment, then laughed.
His body transformed into lightning once again, easily breaking free from the arms' grasp.
"Interesting."
He reformed, "You dare deceive the all-knowing God?"
Robin didn't answer, only watched him warily.
"An ambush of this level is nothing to God—"
Before he could finish, a dark shadow flashed!
"Three Sword Style: Oni Giri!"
Zoro's swords were already slashing toward Enel!
Enel's pupils contracted—
The pitch-black blades cut through the air, slicing into his body!
Blood splattered!
Enel staggered back, staring in disbelief at the wound on his chest.
Zoro also frowned.
This strike was infused with Armament Haki. Under normal circumstances, it should have severely injured a Logia User.
But this man, despite such a serious injury, was still standing?
No matter—if he could land the first strike, he could land a second!
"So even gods bleed?"