Skypiea, Aaru.
On a giant vine so immense its top was invisible.
There was a shrine.
The shrine was enclosed by a wall.
The ground was thick island clouds.
Inside the shrine, a battle was underway.
The combatants were Gedatsu, one of Enel's four high priests, and Ohm.
Gedatsu, also known as "Nirvana," was the priest in charge of the "Swamp Trial" with a 50% survival rate, symbolizing "Joy" among the emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure. He wielded the "Jet Whistle" and the "Cloud Whistle," which could generate swamp clouds.
He was an interesting character.
His distinctive features included spider-leg-like hair, purple clothing, and a perpetual expression of biting his lip and rolling his eyes.
Ohm, in contrast, was the priest in charge of the "Iron Trial" with a mere 0% survival rate, symbolizing "Sorrow." He possessed the "Cloud Whistle" capable of spewing iron clouds and was skilled in swordsmanship.
He was a bald, burly man wearing sunglasses, with a greatsword forged from iron clouds tucked into his waist.
Beside the two combatants stood two rather peculiar individuals.
One was an exceptionally fat man.
He wore a yellow hat, yellow gloves, and yellow shoes on his hands and feet, with several spheres floating around him.
He himself sat on one of the spheres, chuckling to himself.
It was unclear what he found so amusing.
This was the priest of the "Ball Trial" with a 10% survival rate, symbolizing "Joy" among the emotions, a bizarre man shaped like a ball named "Gedatsu."
Next to him stood a man who resembled a rat, wearing a pilot's cap and goggles.
A bald bird of prey lay at the man's feet.
This was the priest of the "Rope Trial" with a 3% survival rate, symbolizing "Anger." His name was "Shura."
These were Ohm, the "Sky Breeder," Shura, the "Sky Knight," Gedatsu, the "Forest [Gedatsu]," and "Nirvana," the "Sky Guard Chief." Together, they were the four Skypiean priests, all directly obeying the commands of "God" Enel. With these four present, it was impossible for their true master, Enel, to be absent.
Deep within the training ground stood a pavilion.
A man with his upper body bare was lazily reclining on a chair inside the pavilion.
The man wore a white headscarf, his earlobes were very long, and golden earrings dangled from his ear tips. Instead of the small wings unique to Skypieans, a large ring adorned his back, with four large tomoe drums attached.
He wore lantern pants on his lower body, and his feet were bare, adorned with golden rings on his toes.
The man lay on the chair, his left hand propping up his head, while his right hand held an apple. He was eating the apple with great interest as he watched Gedatsu and Ohm battle.
This man was "Enel," who bore the title of God.
It was he who, four years prior, arrived on Angel Island, usurped Gan Fall's divine position, and had since ruled Angel Island with a tyrannical hand.
Perhaps after watching for a while, or perhaps out of boredom, Enel swallowed the last bit of apple in his mouth, tossed the core aside, stretched, and yawned, a bored expression on his face.
"Eh!"
Just then, Enel, who had been about to get up and leave, suddenly sat up straight, his right hand stroking his chin, a gleeful smile spreading across his face.
"More interesting guests have arrived?"
"And that old man Gan Fall, too."
The old man wasn't staying hidden in the heavens but dared to appear in the land of gods, within his perception range.
"I hope these fellows bring me some amusement!"
Enel looked up, staring at the priests still fighting outside, and let out a loud laugh.
"Yahaha!!"
"Alright, stop!"
Upon hearing Enel's shout, Gedatsu and Ohm froze. They exchanged glances, one retracted his fist, the other his sword, and both retreated a few steps, standing alongside the other two priests, all looking at Enel, awaiting his instructions.
Enel must have called them to a halt because more fools had come to intrude upon the land of gods!
Indeed, they didn't have to wait long.
Enel glanced at everyone and said, "Alright, you four, go prepare yourselves. We have some interesting fellows from the Blue Sea coming, likely to Aaru!"
"Hmm..."
He stroked his chin in thought, then looked up and smiled at the four priests, "Yahaha!! This time, I'll only have one person come here."
"And that old man Gan Fall is mingling with those Blue Sea folk. What a tenacious old man!"
"Gan Fall?"
Gedatsu looked up at Enel, a spark of excitement flashing in his eyes.
"Leave that old man to me. He's the Sky Knight, and I'm the Sky Knight. It's a perfect match for us to have a battle. If that old fellow dares to come, I'll make sure he never leaves."
"Every time, these Blue Sea folk just want to come straight to Aaru."
Ohm, the bald man, sat cross-legged on the ground, pondered with his head down, then looked up at Enel and asked, "Speaking of which, what is the purpose of these Blue Sea folk coming here..."
"Hmm."
Enel's expression paused. He then lowered his legs, reached for an apple from a fruit plate served by a nearby attendant, leaned back in his chair, lifted the apple, and took a bite.
Crunch!
He chewed a few times, swallowed the apple, and smiled at the four priests, "Heh heh!! Those guys are here for the gold!"
"Gold?"
Gedatsu exclaimed, "Why would these guys know about the existence of gold?"
Crunch!
Enel lifted the apple, eating as he spoke, "This island was originally a Blue Sea island. It's not surprising if some Blue Sea folk know about the gold here."
"Of course, they might make their move today, or they might play around for a bit before making their move tomorrow. The Shandians, who've heard rumors, might attack again."
Crunch!
Enel swallowed the apple in his mouth and paused before saying, "This Aaru has areas under each of your jurisdiction, and rules that you cannot interfere with each other!"
"My only requirement is that you absolutely do not disturb the plan that is about to begin in the back mountain, nor allow these people to reach the Golden City. My ship isn't built yet, and I can't let these guys ruin this gold!"
After speaking, Enel finished the apple in his hand, tossed the core, and let out a loud laugh.
"Yahaha!! Nothing else matters, you can go all out and do as you please. I only require that by the end of this trial, only one person remains. I don't care about anything else."
As he spoke, Enel sat up straight, placed his hands on his knees, leaned forward, rested his head on the back of his hands, stared at the four priests, a cold glint in his eyes, and asked, "Can you do it?"
"Of course, we can."
The four priests answered loudly in unison.
Their expressions varied: excitement, solemnity, joy, anger, much like the personalities they represented.
However, despite their different expressions, their voices were filled with cold indifference.