---
The air was thick with anticipation as the Straw Hat Pirates wandered through the vibrant, cloud-based streets of Angel Island, trying to make sense of the strange land they had landed in. The locals, though initially wary, had begun to warm to the crew. Conis, the island's protector, offered them as much information as she could about the oppressive rule of Enel, the so-called Thunder God.
"We've lived under Enel's reign for years now," Conis explained as they walked along the cloud-stone paths. "He controls everything in Skypiea, from the weather to the people. No one dares defy him, not after what happened to the last rebels."
Ace grinned, his fiery spirit evident. "That sounds like the perfect place to start a rebellion."
"You really don't know what you're getting into," Conis warned, her voice tinged with concern. "Enel has immense power. His lightning is nearly unstoppable, and his priests are not to be underestimated. The Maxim, his floating palace, is far beyond anything we can imagine."
Luffy, walking ahead of the group, waved his hand dismissively. "We've faced worse! Right, guys?"
"Right!" shouted Chopper, his eyes filled with determination.
"Let's go meet this 'Thunder God,'" Zoro said, drawing his swords. "The sooner we do, the sooner we can knock him down a peg."
Sabo, his hands still crackling with lightning, looked up toward the horizon. "We'll need a plan, though. We don't know his full power yet. Getting into the Maxim won't be easy."
But before they could discuss further, a loud crack of thunder echoed across the island, sending the crew into alert mode. The priests had arrived.
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Enel's Priests – The First Trial
From the skies above, a group of priests descended in a storm of lightning and clouds, each of them wielding an ancient weapon or special ability. Leading them was Satori, the high priest with the ability to read the thoughts of others, followed closely by Ohm, the priest with control over lightning, and Gedatsu, the priest with the ability to create divine winds.
"You've trespassed into Skypiea, pirates," Satori declared, his voice booming over the storm. "Enel has decreed that all outsiders must leave immediately. You will face divine judgment for your insolence."
Luffy's eyes lit up with excitement. "I've been wanting to fight someone like you for a while!"
Sabo stepped forward, his body crackling with lightning as he prepared to strike. "We don't plan on leaving. We're here to take down Enel."
"Oh, you want to fight the Thunder God?" Satori chuckled, his voice echoing in their minds. "You will never get close to him. We are his servants, and you will fall before us."
As Satori raised his hand, the entire area was suddenly filled with intense pressure, his mind-reading power locking onto everyone's thoughts. "I can hear your every thought," he said with a malicious grin. "You cannot hide your strategies from me."
But before Satori could react, Ace moved, his body engulfed in flames. "You can read minds, huh? Well, I'll just make sure you can't think at all!"
Flame Fist – Ace unleashed a massive, concentrated burst of fire aimed directly at Satori, who barely dodged, but the flames scorched the ground beneath him.
Satori smirked, his power not even flinching. "Fool. You'll need more than fire to defeat me."
---
The Clash of Powers
The battle exploded in full force. Ohm unleashed massive bursts of lightning, his body turning into a living storm as he directed arcs of electricity toward the crew. Chopper, still adjusting to his Monster Point, barreled forward with a massive fist, sending shockwaves of air toward Ohm, but the priest simply vanished into the clouds, reappearing behind Chopper with a devastating electric strike.
Zoro quickly blocked the lightning with his swords, his body crackling with the energy, but he grinned despite the pain. "Heh, is that all you've got?"
Meanwhile, Gedatsu summoned massive gusts of wind, throwing the crew off balance. He laughed manically, his voice a strange mix of calm and insanity. "I control the winds! You cannot escape!"
Luffy, watching his crew take on these powerful foes, cracked his knuckles. "Looks like it's time to step up!"
"Gomu Gomu no...!" Luffy began, but before he could finish, Satori read his mind and anticipated the attack. He slammed his hands into the ground, creating a massive psychic barrier that blocked Luffy's movements.
"Your power is no match for mine!" Satori taunted.
---
The Power of Teamwork
But Luffy wasn't one to back down. He closed his eyes, concentrating. The wind howled as he unleashed his Mythical Nine-Tailed Fox Fruit power, his body surrounded by an aura of swirling fox tails. Luffy's mind shifted into focus, and with a burst of willpower, he broke through Satori's psychic barrier, sending a Gomu Gomu no Kong Gun—a massive punch infused with the power of his tails—straight toward Satori.
The punch hit with a resounding crash, sending Satori flying across the island, crashing into a cloudbank. But the priest quickly recovered, grinning.
"You are strong, pirate. But this is just the beginning."
Ace, his flames flaring, rushed forward to finish Satori off. "I'm not done yet!"
With a wild firestorm, Ace created a massive wave of flame that engulfed the area, forcing Satori to dodge once again. But in the chaos, Ohm and Gedatsu rejoined the fray, launching a barrage of attacks on the Straw Hats.
At that moment, Sabo shouted to his crewmates, his body surrounded by crackling lightning. "We need to combine our powers!"
He formed a massive bolt of lightning and hurled it directly at Ohm, knocking him off balance. The lightning collided with his body, short-circuiting his storm abilities. As Ohm staggered, Zoro seized the opportunity.
With a powerful slash, Zoro cut through the air, sending his Ittoryu attack toward Ohm. The attack hit with precision, disabling the priest.
"Is that all you've got?" Zoro smirked, sheathing his sword.
---
Victory, But a Long Road Ahead
With Ohm defeated and Gedatsu sent flying by a combination of Chopper's Monster Point and Luffy's relentless attacks, the remaining priests retreated into the clouds. Satori, too, disappeared, vowing to report back to Enel.
"You may have won this battle, but you will never defeat Enel," Satori's voice echoed in the wind as he vanished into the clouds. "The Maxim awaits you, but it will be your grave."
Luffy, panting but grinning, looked up at the sky. "We're not backing down! Let's go get him, guys!"
"Yeah!" Ace and Sabo said in unison, their flames and lightning crackling with renewed resolve.
As the crew caught their breath and prepared for the trials ahead, they knew that defeating Enel was only the beginning. They would need to face more powerful foes, discover the secrets of Skypiea, and uncover the mysteries hidden within the sky.
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End of Chapter 18
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