"Shandian?"
Sengoku glanced at the figures depicted in the image, appearing distinct from the inhabitants of Skypiea, and his brow furrowed slightly.
Kizaru chimed in, "Marshal of the Marines, you need not wonder. It's likely, as you suspect, that they are an independent tribal group."
Aokiji nodded in agreement, "Indeed, there are countless sea-dwelling races, and it's probable that these Shandians are among them."
"Opposing the residents of Skypiea and attempting to overthrow the rule of God Enel?"
Sengoku couldn't help but smile.
So, Skypiea wasn't entirely under Enel's control. At least, there were warriors like the Shandians.
Although their behavior toward Luffy and his crew didn't seem very friendly, one thing was certain: their greatest animosity was directed towards Enel.
This meant that Luffy and his crew weren't alone in their quest against Enel.
They had the Shandians as allies!
It remained uncertain whether the Shandians' involvement would alter the course of the battle, but one thing was clear: having comrades standing alongside them was preferable to facing Enel alone.
Garp felt the same way, although he maintained his usual stoic expression. The slight relaxation of his fists indicated that the anxiety and tension in his heart had lessened, if only a bit.
"This time, with God Enel's command, the Three Priests have not only been free to move but have also deployed countless Divine Weapons."
"The Shandians have encountered and defeated many Divine Soldiers along their journey, even though they've suffered numerous casualties."
"However, their bravery in the face of the enemy they've longed to defeat has only grown. They haven't retreated."
"The Shandian leader, the War Chief Wyper, even engaged in a fierce battle with the Ordeal of Iron Priest."
"Despite the priest's formidable abilities, the Shandians, including Wyper himself, initially struggled to hold their ground."
"But Wyper, at the brink of death, closed in on the priest and unleashed a powerful cannon blast to his face."
"Boom!"
"In an instant, the Ordeal of Iron Priest fell into a coma!"
Witnessing this scene, Garp, Sengoku, and the others couldn't help but feel relieved.
These people were indeed commendable; they fought valiantly and even managed to defeat a priest. Impressive!
This would certainly relieve some of the pressure on Luffy and his crew during the upcoming battles.
However, what they didn't know was that the Shandians initially didn't cooperate with Luffy and his crew but instead posed a significant challenge to them.
"As the Shandians battled the Divine Soldiers in the forest, Luffy and his crew took action naturally."
"They discussed and planned to find an escape route and clues, but soon they encountered countless Divine Weapons."
"While these Divine Soldiers put up a fierce fight against the Shandians, they proved inadequate against passersby."
"Luffy, Zoro, Robin, and others dispatched them effortlessly."
"Then they continued their journey."
"Soon, Luffy encountered a familiar face: War Chief Wyper, who had recently defeated an ordeal priest."
"Facing Luffy, Wyper displayed strong hostility and fired a cannon at him."
"This angered the usually good-natured Luffy. How could he tolerate an unprovoked attack?"
"As a result, the two engaged in combat."
"Meanwhile, Zoro, who had been exploring the forest alone, also encountered the Shandians and ended up in a skirmish."
Seeing this turn of events, Garp and Sengoku, who had earlier praised the Shandians, were left dumbfounded.
Had they been wrong in their assessment? Weren't the Shandians supposed to be united against Enel, their common enemy?
Even Akainu, Kizaru, and the others found it hard to fathom the Shandians' thought process.
After all, their primary adversary was Enel. Why were they fighting against Luffy and his crew, who were on the same side in the battle against Enel?
This seemed like a perplexing strategy, antagonizing everyone except their own allies.
Not only did they confront Enel, but they also clashed with the Skypieans, and now, it appeared, with Luffy and his crew too.
This decision only complicated an already daunting battle with slim odds of success.
"Meanwhile, as Usopp, Nami, and Chopper piloted the Going Merry..."
"An uninvited guest silently made his way onto the pirate ship."
"That guest was none other than Enel himself."
"The moment he appeared, thunderclouds gathered in the sky, and a menacing aura enveloped the surroundings."
"The sudden shock left everyone's faces drained of color."
"Even though they were meeting him for the first time, the palpable danger and oppressive aura left no room for doubt."
"The man before them, with his lazy demeanor and the Thunder Drum on his back, was none other than the legendary..."
"God of Skypiea!"
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