Translator: PapaSmurf0700
The mere mention of a forbidden place brimming with gold sparked an unmistakable excitement in Luffy. Spinning around, he shouted towards Bai Ye, his voice bubbling with enthusiasm, "Sounds like an awesome adventure! I'm in!!"
Zoro, ever the skeptic, remarked dryly, "...Didn't you already know about it?"
Sanji chimed in with a sigh, "...This guy really is an idiot."
Undeterred, Luffy yelled, "Let's go now!!" and in his usual fashion, attempted to mount the Waver only to tumble into the sea yet again—his countless fall.
At that moment, Bai Ye, swiftly employing the Wind Trigram - Wind Rope technique, snagged Luffy out of the water, hoisting him onto his shoulder in a firm grip. Together with Zoro and Sanji, they readied themselves on their Jet Skis.
Before speeding off, Bai Ye called out to Nami, "Nami, just in case, I'm leaving Pagaya in your capable hands."
Nami gave a reassuring wave, "Don't worry, I've got this."
Sanji, unable to resist her charm, asked, "Nami-san, how about a farewell kiss?"
Nami shot back with a crisp, "Over my dead body!!"
With everyone ready, Bai Ye ushered, "Let's go!" and swiftly yanked Sanji away from any further distractions. The trio then sped off towards the mysterious skull that had appeared in the sky, their destination clear: Upper Yard!
Back on the shore, Pagaya, having just grasped the situation, was visibly anxious. He hurriedly turned to Nami, pleading, "Miss Nami, please call them back! It's a forbidden place; only gods are meant to tread there!"
Nami, with a comforting smile, assured Pagaya, "Don't worry, mister. That's exactly where we planned to go from the start."
-----
In the mystical shrine of Upper Yard, Enel, lounging leisurely, suddenly opened his eyes. A sly smirk spread across his face as he murmured, "Finally found you. A pirates from the blue sea?"
He straightened up, shifting his gaze to a servant nearby, and instructed, "The Shandia tribe is now just outside Upper Yard, and it seems they're coming for you. Don't disappoint me." His voice dripped with casual dominance, as if he was certain of his control over the unfolding events.
The servant, ignited by Enel's words, declared with fervor, "I will never let you down, Master Enel!" Bolstered by determination, the attendant squad exited the shrine, heading toward the outskirts of Upper Yard. Eager for combat, this unit, seldom used under Enel's command, was ready to prove their worth.
Meanwhile, Enel turned his attention to the four priests seated before him. Without uttering another word, his intentions were clear.
Satori, round and eager, couldn't contain his excitement. "I'll give the intruders a taste of my big balls," he declared with glee.
Gedatsu, ever so blunt, added, "Hmph, my Ordeal of Swamp will drown them in despair."
Ohm, with a cruel smile, touched the hilt of his sword, his voice thick with anticipation, "My sword! It has thirsted for action for too long!"
Shura, caressing his long spear, thought with a fierce gleam in his eye, "No matter who they are, they'll regret crossing paths with me."
Enel, reveling in the mood of impending doom, threw back his head and laughed heartily. Then, with eyes flashing like storm clouds ready to burst, he boomed, "Trials! Start!!" His command reverberated through the shrine, marking the beginning of a dire confrontation.
-----
Bai Ye's advanced modifications to the Jet Skis, with their enhanced speed and battery life, allowed him and his companions to swiftly reach the outskirts of Upper Yard. There, they were greeted by Wyper and the Shandia warriors, poised for battle.
Wyper approached Bai Ye with a look of concern etched across his face. "Are you certain? That all we need to do is hold back the minions of this so-called god?" he asked, his voice tinged with worry. Despite their previous discussions, the gravity of their task was not lost on him. "Do you understand what this entails? It means you'll have to..."
Bai Ye interrupted, his tone nonchalant as he set Luffy down from his shoulder and untied the wind rope. He casually cast the Golden Light Curse to rouse Luffy from his disorientation. "We'll be taking on the four priests and that so-called GOD by ourselves," he stated plainly.
He turned to face Wyper, his expression unwavering. "Whether it's the four priests or their god, they've never been opponents we'd need to stake our lives against," Bai Ye explained. His confidence was palpable, even as he continued, "The reason I chose to engage in this fight is simply to gauge our recent progress more directly."
As Bai Ye spoke, the Daoist robe he wore fluttered without any wind, and his presence exuded the aura of someone accustomed to overcoming great challenges. His slight smile and the calm demeanor he maintained spoke volumes about his readiness and the inherent strength he possessed.
Bai Ye faced Wyper and said with a calm determination, "They won't be able to stop us." He then pointed towards an approaching group of the god's minions. "Your opponents are over there."
Wyper paused, processing the situation, then slowly expressed his gratitude with a simple, "Thanks." He donned his mask, rallying the Shandia warriors to confront the god's attendants.
Bai Ye watched them leave, relieved. Wyper's usual stubbornness could have complicated things, but his acceptance was a good sign. From his knowledge of the original story, Bai Ye knew that the Shandia had struggled against the priests, with Wyper using a powerful but risky Reject Dial to achieve just a narrow victory over one. Their role here was mainly as a distraction.
This approach served dual purposes: it allowed the Shandia to participate without facing the overwhelming threat of the priests directly, and it provided Zoro and the others an opportunity to test their strengths.
Turning back to his own group, Bai Ye was about to strategize when Zoro's voice cut through the air, full of excitement. "The guy with the sword is overseeing the Ordeal of Iron. He's mine!" Zoro declared, tying his turban and jumping towards the cloud path that led into Upper Yard, although in the wrong direction initially.
"Hey Zoro, wrong way!" Bai Ye called out and Zoro corrected his course and chosen his path—the trial of iron.
Sanji, meanwhile, had opted to challenge Gedatsu, known for his physical strength and overseeing the Ordeal of Swamp, as Wyper had informed them.
Luffy had chosen the toughest opponent, Shura, who managed the Ordeal of String, according to Wyper's briefing on the priests' strength.
As for Bai Ye, he headed towards the Ordeal of Balls. This trial area was fraught with danger, filled with Surprise Balls that could unleash explosions, spikes, or even release poisonous snakes upon contact. The elastic nature of the clouds meant that any disturbance could trigger a disastrous chain reaction, setting the stage for a complex and perilous battle.
As Bai Ye stepped into the territory known as the Ordeal of Balls, a mischievous voice echoed nearby: "Oh ho ho~ Seems like you're the unlucky one today, huh?"
Turning, Bai Ye saw Satori perched on a Surprise Ball, his face twisted into a sinister grin. "Come on, let's see if you can handle my big balls!" Satori jeered, yanking a rope to draw another ball closer.
Just as Satori was about to boast about his most diabolical creation, Bai Ye interrupted with a sharp incantation. "Wind Hexagram — Crazy Gale!"
Instantly, a ferocious gale whipped up around Bai Ye, sweeping up everything in its path—including the ball Satori was handling and the one he was sitting on. Within moments, the balls detonated in midair with a thunderous boom!
Stunned into silence, Satori found himself floating amidst the debris of his own traps, which had now cleared the area of any clouds.
Bai Ye's voice calmly cut through the aftermath, almost mockingly: "You were saying something about big balls?"