Shrine.
*Crack!*
The moment Shadry died, the sky seemed to rage with a hundred thunderclaps.
Enel, who had been lazily lounging in his chair, suddenly erupted like a furious beast, his killing intent instantly filling the entire shrine. The many priests and maids within fell to their knees, kowtowing repeatedly to Enel.
They cried out, "God, calm your wrath, God calm your wrath, calm your wrath..."
Enel ignored the surrounding priests and maids. He frowned, sat up straight, lowered his head, and a hint of brutality flashed in his eyes.
He had foreseen Shadry's failure and death.
After all, the people from the Blue Sea who had arrived this time were unlike anyone he had ever sensed before.
He just hadn't expected Shadry to be so useless, being instantly killed by the opponent in a single exchange.
He didn't know what method the opponent had used, but he could sense that the person who had made the move was neither the one whose aura was completely still nor the woman who exuded a dangerous aura. It was merely any one of the youths in their group.
"Let's see how far you can get."
Enel exhaled, his body relaxing, his aura disappearing, and he returned to his usual self.
Leaning back in his chair, he turned to a maid kneeling nearby and said, "Apple."
"Ah! Yes, God."
The maid quickly stood up, took a red apple from a fruit basket, and walked to Enel's side, carefully placing it in his hand.
"Are you afraid of me?"
Enel looked at the trembling maid before him, raised the apple, and took a bite.
"God, calm your wrath, God calm your wrath."
Hearing Enel's voice, the maid's knees buckled, and she immediately fell to her knees, kowtowing incessantly. She didn't answer Enel's question, only continuing to admit fault.
She didn't know what she had done wrong or why she was admitting fault.
Enel lowered his hand, looked down at the maid, and a hint of impatience flashed in his eyes. "Get up, and get out of the way."
"Yes, yes, yes!!"
The maid's knees were still weak, and she couldn't stand up. She could only shuffle her legs and retreat.
Enel withdrew his gaze, looked up at the sky, and a fierceness flashed in his eyes.
So what if they were strong?
Could they be stronger than him, who controlled the power of God?
Even now, he still believed he was invincible, even though the opponent had instantly killed one of his top generals.
But so what? He was God!
He wanted to see if these people from the Blue Sea could truly reach him, if they could make it to him through the remaining Skypieans and his soldiers.
He wanted to see how many people they could kill.
Given his nature, he wouldn't feel even a shred of pain if all these priests and soldiers died.
Because, from beginning to end, he only believed in himself.
These subordinates were merely his servants; a master would never care about the lives of his servants.
His anger just now was partly due to surprise at the strength of these Blue Sea people, and partly due to anger at Shadry's incompetence.
It was good that such a subordinate, who was dealt with in a single exchange, died sooner rather than later.
...
After dealing with Shadry, they continued their advance.
Not long after Kotaro and his group disappeared, the Shandians, wearing their jet boots, gradually appeared.
They looked at the scene before them, at the gloves left behind by Shadry, and a deep shock flashed in their eyes.
"This is Shadry, isn't it? Shadry of the Orb Trial."
Brahm, pushing aside his hat that obscured his vision, stared with wide eyes at Shadry, who had turned into a black charcoal, disbelief etched all over his face.
They had all clashed with Enel's four priests before, so they knew how powerful these guys were.
Yet, such a powerful being was killed by those Blue Sea people without much of a fight.
They had been hiding nearby earlier. Although they hadn't witnessed the battle firsthand, judging by the time, the exchange had ended in an instant.
"Truly terrifying fellows!"
Kamachi, withdrawing his gaze, looked up ahead with admiration on his face.
"Let's go! Follow them."
Laki suppressed her shock and took the lead, walking forward. She wanted to see how these Blue Sea people would perform next.
Perhaps they might actually be able to pull Enel down from his divine pedestal.
If so, they would have another chance to set foot on Skypiea.
Compared to Gan Fall, the cruel Enel would never allow them to set foot on Skypiea in their lifetime.
Looking at Laki's retreating back, the others snapped out of their daze and quickly followed.
This time, their hearts were no longer filled with confusion as before, but with hope.
This was no longer a vague fantasy; they had truly seen hope in these Blue Sea people.
...
In a forest not far from Shadry.
Riding a strange bird, the rat-like Shura's face, already filled with anger at the moment of Shadry's death, turned even redder.
He glared at the forest ahead, cursing incessantly, "Useless, useless, useless, truly a waste."
And the forest around him was covered with threads invisible to the naked eye.
As soon as someone entered here, he could control these threads, binding those who entered like prey caught in a spider's web, instantly immobilizing them.
This was his Rope Trial.
Survival rate: 3%.
He didn't have to wait long. A red light flashed in his eyes as he sensed that group of Blue Sea people was slowly but surely approaching him.
Soon, they stood not far in front of him.
He didn't immediately pay attention to Kotaro and the others, but instead fixed his gaze directly on Gan Fall.
He had always wanted to fight this old man, but each time, he had managed to evade him.
"This time, let's see where you run."
Shura withdrew his gaze, patted the head of the strange bird beneath him with his right hand. Instantly, the bird let out a loud roar, flapped its wings, and soared into the sky.
"Old man, come up and fight! Let me see what qualifications you, an old man who should be in the grave, have to be called a god, to be mentioned in the same breath as a god."
"Elder Fo, who is this guy? So arrogant."
A Tao exhaled a puff of smoke and turned to look at Gan Fall.
"This fellow?"
Gan Fall looked up at Shura and said softly, "This fellow is called 'Shura.' He is a master who uses 'Heat' and 'Rope' shells. As for the strange bird beneath him, it's a monster with a 'Flame' shell in its mouth that can breathe fire."
"Heat shell?"
A Tao looked at the great spear in Shura's hand, and understanding flashed in his eyes. "So, this fellow's weapon, like your weapon, Elder, can become hot?"
"Mm!"
Gan Fall nodded and continued, "Since this fellow has called me out by name, I will step forward and fight him. Although I am old, I still have strength!"