The Strongest Lunarian in One Piece

"Wow—"

"So this is the Sky Island?"

"The plants on that island are gigantic, almost as big as those on Elbaf!"

"But isn't Sky Island supposed to have no land?"

"Is that the legendary City of Gold?"

"Wait, there's fighting on the island..."

"It seems intense!"

The next day, at dawn, high in the sky at ten thousand meters, the massive island-cloud Homie hovered in front of the Island of Gods, Upper Yard. Tsuru, Lily, Linlin, Nef, and Baka gazed in awe at this island that looked no different from the islands of the Blue Sea below. But soon, they sensed chaotic energy on the island, with the scent of blood thick in the air and the sounds of fierce battle echoing as two groups clashed intensely.

"This island is actually part of the landmass from the Blue Sea below," El explained with a smile, gazing at the island. "About three hundred years ago, a massive Knock-Up Stream sent it soaring up here to the sky. That's why the legendary City of Gold, discovered by the famed North Blue explorer Mont Blanc Noland, vanished so suddenly—causing him to be labeled a great fraud."

"As for the Shandian people who lived here, they were incredibly unlucky."

"On Sky Island, apart from various clouds, there is no actual 'land.' So the inhabitants of the Sky Island had an intense desire for land. When they discovered this island, they seized it and drove the Shandians out. For hundreds of years, the Shandians have been fighting to reclaim their homeland, sacrificing countless lives, with generations of bloodshed and tears."

Whether the Shandians' relocation here was fortunate or not was hard to say. They were removed from the Blue Sea, sent up to the skies, and promptly encountered native Sky Islanders who coveted their land, took over the island, and exiled them. The ensuing three centuries saw endless conflict, with hatred deepening across generations. Still, at least the Shandian bloodline and heritage survived.

Had they not been expelled from the island three centuries ago, the "City of Gold" that Noland proclaimed on his return to the Blue Sea might have drawn fleets from North Blue, the world government, or other kingdoms, all greedy for the wealth in gold. The Shandians' fate could have been grim.

In a way, Mont Blanc Noland's actions—if they were unintentional—were both naïve and reckless.

"What!?"

"A massive Knock-Up Stream?"

"Is something like that really possible?"

"But the Shandians truly had it rough!"

"Thrown up to Sky Island with no way to return, and then their land is taken by the island's natives..."

Upon hearing this, everyone stared wide-eyed, mouths agape, looking at the enormous island in disbelief, shocked that a Knock-Up Stream could thrust something of this size so high into the sky.

After all, they'd seen Knock-Up Streams in the Blue Sea, but sending up a ship alone was already an impressive feat. What sort of power would it take to launch an entire island?

Many felt a surge of sympathy for the Shandians, admiring their resilience and fighting spirit. At the same time, most felt resentment toward the Sky Island natives who had essentially become invaders in the Shandians' homeland.

"I see..."

Listening to El's explanation about the feud between the Shandians and the Sky Islanders, Dr. Kureha looked at the island with fascination, awed. "The power of nature is truly something to be respected."

She didn't doubt El's story; her years of traveling the Grand Line had shown her countless inexplicable and extraordinary phenomena. The idea of a giant Knock-Up Stream propelling an entire island into the sky wasn't beyond belief.

"Hey, what's that?"

"People?"

"No way..."

"Wow! That cloud island is enormous!"

"And... it's alive? It's even smiling..."

"There are people up there!"

Meanwhile, the appearance of Atlantis immediately caught the attention of the two groups battling on the island's shore. They paused, cautiously watching the newcomers. One group wore strange outfits, while the others looked more like a primitive tribe. Both groups had peculiar white wings on their backs, more decorative than functional.

"I am the God of Sky Island... who are you?" A middle-aged man in armor, holding a spear, stepped forward. He looked up at the person leading this bizarre cloud island—a towering figure exuding an immense, almost overwhelming presence. But what unnerved him the most was the army: countless white, statue-like figures, each armed with swords and spears, looking human yet inhuman.

The Shandian warriors, fierce and tribal in their garb, held their spears, bows, and island-exclusive weapons at the ready, their gazes wary. But upon seeing the black wings and blazing flames behind El's head, as well as his giant, nearly nine-meter stature, they couldn't help but feel a chill of unease.

"Just arrived here, but I understand the reason for your conflict," El said coolly, looking at the so-called 'God' of Angel Island. "Strictly speaking, your people on Angel Island are the lowly invaders who shamelessly took over someone else's homeland. But the harsh reality of this world is survival of the fittest. As a pirate, I can't really call you dishonorable... so we don't intend to meddle in your feud with the Shandians."

"We're not interested in the island itself... but the gold here? The Fallen Angels Pirate Crew will be taking that."

"What!?"

"Damn pirates..."

"You won't take our gold!"

"The gold belongs to 'God'!"

Hearing El's brazen declaration, the Angel Island 'God' and his followers, the priests and the Sky Guard, glared at them with fury.

"Then you leave me no choice..."

El shrugged, his indifferent gaze turning icy as he clenched his right hand toward the Sky Guard members. "After all, if you feel entitled to occupy the Shandians' homeland, then I'm justified in taking your gold, don't you think?"

"So, if you're angry, blame your own weakness."

In the next instant—under the horrified gaze of the Sky Island God, the priests, and the Sky Guard—vines, branches, and roots surged from the earth, as though infused with life. They moved with shocking speed, piercing the bodies of the priests and soldiers, suspending them in the air, blood dripping, cries of agony filling the air, creating a terrifying spectacle.

"Curse you, you invaders!" the self-proclaimed God of Angel Island snarled, eyes wide with rage as he slashed wildly at the vines binding him. But more and more vines coiled around his limbs, lifting him helplessly into the air, no amount of struggling helping.

"Mamamamama! How foolish—anyone with half a brain would recognize the difference in power here!" Linlin sneered, her voice filled with contempt. "So, are you ready to lose everything?"

"Claiming to be gods with such feeble strength—how laughable," Tsuru, a former Navy Rear Admiral, remarked dryly. These Angel Island inhabitants were invaders themselves, and their actions were hardly noble. To her, the Fallen Angels Pirates claiming the gold seemed almost fair.