Translator: PapaSmurf0700
On Angel Island, Gan Fall, alongside the leader of the Shandia tribe, paid a visit to Conis's house. Their presence also served to keep a watchful eye on the Straw Hats' ship, the Golden Merry. Little did anyone know, approaching the ship carelessly would expose them to the formidable formation Bai Ye had inscribed upon it.
Over freshly brewed tea, Gan Fall handed a cup to the tribe leader, broaching a subject of great importance, "Poneglyph?" The weight of the word hung between them.
The tribe leader sighed as he accepted the tea, his voice tinged with the weight of history, "Yes, it has been the cause of much conflict. Back then, the warriors of Shandora fiercely defended it against invaders."
Gan Fall, intrigued and concerned, pressed further, "And the outcome of that battle... was it a victory for your people?"
A sad smile touched the village chief's lips as he responded, "We claimed victory, yes. But it was pyrrhic. Only a handful of our ancestors survived the conflict. They are the forefathers of today's Shandia tribe. It was a devastating war."
Gan Fall struggled to comprehend the scale of loss described. He knew the prolonged conflict between the Shandia tribe and the Sky Islanders had been harsh, but nothing to this extent. The significance of the poneglyph, as explained by the village chief, shed light on the fierce determination of those ancient warriors.
This understanding deepened Gan Fall's perception of past events, including Wyper's staunch opposition to his earlier peace proposals. The historical context provided by the village chief painted a clear picture of the deep-seated grievances that had festered over centuries.
Sensing Gan Fall's troubled thoughts, the village chief spoke again, his voice firm yet conciliatory, "I hold no grudge. Continuing the hostilities makes little sense, whether for Sky Islanders or for Shandia. Our primary concern has always been to safeguard Shandora and its poneglyph."
Seeking to shift the conversation to a lighter topic the village chief added, "You might be interested to learn about the origin of the 'Master of the Sky'.
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At the same time, in a remote part of Upper Yard, Luffy and Nami, while on their quest for treasure, encountered a formidable adversary on a narrow path—the Master of the Sky, as termed by the village chief, but to them, it was just a gigantic snake.
"Roar!" the snake bellowed, its massive form looming over them.
"What a huge snake!" Nami exclaimed, taken aback by its size.
Luffy's face lit up with excitement; despite not having found any treasure yet, the thrill of facing such a gigantic creature was enough to energize him. Suddenly, the snake lunged, opening its vast jaws to snap at them.
With a loud crash, Luffy quickly wrapped his arm around Nami and leaped aside, narrowly dodging the attack. Nami, however, was not pleased. She grumbled about how she could have easily used her Clima-Tact to escape using a gust of wind. "Luffy, you—"
Their argument was cut short as the snake's fangs sank into a large tree where they had just been standing. The tree sizzled and smoked as it was rapidly corroded by the snake's potent venom.
"Just... just kidding," Nami stammered, her previous annoyance forgotten in the face of imminent danger.
But there was no time to dwell on close calls; the snake was relentless. Its massive tail, as wide as two of the Golden Merry ships, swept towards them with devastating force. The air it displaced rushed towards them like a tsunami, suffocating and immense.
Without hesitation, Luffy exhaled sharply, his body flushing a deep red as he activated his Gear Second. "Hang on!" he shouted, grabbing Nami once more. In an instant, they vanished from their spot just as the snake's tail crashed down, toppling another ancient tree with a thunderous boom.
After setting Nami down safely, Luffy gently placed his cherished straw hat on her head. "Hold onto this for me, Nami," he said with a determined smile. As he clenched his fists and stepped forward, his eyes sparkled with the thrill of the challenge ahead.
Facing the giant snake, whose every move wreaked havoc, Luffy's spirit surged with excitement. "Alright, let's have ourselves a real battle!" he declared, his grin widening. In a flash, he launched into the air, initiating his attack.
"Gomu Gomu no—Jet Pistol!" Luffy shouted, zooming towards the snake with a high-speed punch. The snake roared in response, reeling from the impact.
He didn't stop there; Luffy continued his assault with even greater intensity. "Gomu Gomu no—Jet Bazooka!" His arms stretched back, then shot forward, delivering a massive double-fisted blow that echoed through the air.
"Gomu Gomu no—Jet Gatling!" Luffy's fists became blurs, launching a barrage of punches that rained down on the snake, each hit accompanied by the creature's anguished roars.
From a safe distance, Nami watched the fierce battle unfold. Luffy and the massive snake were locked in a ferocious struggle, neither yielding an inch. She couldn't help but feel a mix of exasperation and admiration; Luffy was someone who could find excitement in any challenge, even when there was treasure to be found.
For a moment, Nami considered stepping in to remind him of their goal—the gold—but the sheer joy on Luffy's face made her pause. "Might as well let the fool have his fun," she thought resignedly, a slight smile tugging at her lips.
This fight was different from the one with Enel. The Master of the Sky was a formidable adversary with robust physical strength and venomous power, presenting Luffy with the kind of challenge he relished. To him, this was not just a fight—it was the epitome of adventure, the very essence of what it meant to be a man at sea.
As Luffy's excitement soared, he even decided to unleash his recently developed third gear technique. He took a deep breath, inflating his right fist before transferring the air to his right leg. "Gomu Gomu no—Gigant Whip!" Luffy shouted. With his now gigantic leg, he delivered a sweeping blow to the unsuspecting Master of the Sky.
Caught off guard by Luffy's sudden increase in size, the giant snake couldn't dodge in time and was struck hard in the stomach. It let out a loud, painful roar as a result of the impactful kick.
In an unexpected turn of events, the force of the kick caused the snake to regurgitate objects it had swallowed over the centuries, items it hadn't digested. Among the things expelled were glimmering treasures that immediately caught Nami's attention. "Gold?!!!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up at the sight.
Nami hurried over to the spilled treasures and quickly used a water technique to clean them. She was particularly drawn to a beautiful crown, which she examined closely and realized its apparent value. "This crown looks very valuable," she murmured, her mood lifting instantly as she held it.
As Nami considered the snake's size and age, she deduced it likely had swallowed various treasures over its many years. This realization sparked an idea. She turned excitedly to Luffy, who was watching the treasures with curiosity. "Hey, Luffy! This snake has a lot of treasure in its belly! So—" Nami motioned playfully as if to punch Luffy, who looked back at her with interest.
"Hit it hard for me!" she said with a grin, encouraging Luffy to continue the fight, hopeful that more treasures would be revealed with each powerful blow.