Sky Island, Birka

When Gern and his group set foot on this small island, it was eerily quiet all around, with only the faint whimpering sound of the wind blowing.

“Something’s not right here.” Tesoro looked around, his brows furrowed.

“According to Gan Fall, Birka is the training ground for the priests of God's Country.

It should be very lively, with an atmosphere similar to a scholarly holy land like Ohara.”

“Indeed.” Snake Princess gently stroked the hilt of the sword at her waist, nodding in agreement: “There’s a dead silence here, as if it’s been…”

“Ruled by a dictator.” Gern interrupted her, his gaze directed at the towering white palace in the center of the island.

Hearing this, Tesoro suddenly turned to look at Gern.

“Vice Admiral Gern, is the fellow ruling here the ‘God’ you’re looking for?”

“That’s right.” Gern’s lips curved into a slight smile, a hint of playfulness flashing in his eyes, “And, he should already know we’re here.”

“Know we’re here?” Snake Princess’s pupils contracted, and she instinctively looked towards the distant palace.

“At this distance, even Observation Haki would be absolutely impossible…”

“It is Observation Haki.” Gern said calmly.

“What?!” The three of them exclaimed simultaneously, and Libo’s rabbit ears stood ramrod straight.

“This…” Tesoro’s voice trembled slightly, as if his worldview had been completely refreshed, “Is this a distance that Observation Haki can detect?”

Gern did not answer, but casually found a cloud stone to sit on, motioning for Libo to come over: “No need to look for him, he will come to us.

We’ve been traveling for a while, so let’s rest.”

Hearing Gern’s words, Tesoro didn’t think much of it; he had only been surprised by the “Observation Haki” Gern mentioned.

As for Gern’s so-called “God,” based on his analysis of Gan Fall’s comparisons, he felt it was just some special individual.

After all, the people of Sky Island didn’t even know Haki existed.

…

At the same time, Birka God Palace, Throne Room.

On a pure white cloud-shell sofa, a young man with pale skin, a slender build, unusually long earlobes, and fluffy short golden hair

Was lying on his side, naked from the waist up, wearing only loose white trousers, with trembling priests kneeling before him.

“Crunch!” A crisp biting sound echoed in the dead silent hall, and the spines of the prostrate priests shivered.

“I know what you’re thinking?” Eneru took a bite of an apple, his eyes hazy as he looked at the few priests before him and said softly,

“If there are still powerful warriors, bring them! I will deal with all of them.”

“No… there aren’t any more! Lord Eneru.” A priest slightly raised his eyes, looking at Eneru, who was lying on the sofa, eating an apple, appearing lazy, calm, and approachable.

This fellow was originally just an ordinary, weak resident of Sky Island, not even possessing the talent to become a priest.

But suddenly one day, this good-for-nothing gained the power to control and transform into lightning!

Immediately after, in just half a month, he single-handedly defeated all the Sky Island warriors in Birka and took control of this island.

“You are…” Eneru’s apple-eating motion suddenly paused, and he looked at the priest, then raised a finger and smiled.

“Deceiving me.” As he spoke, blinding lightning flashed through the hall, and three priests, without even time to scream, had their pupils turn white, black smoke rising from their bodies, as they lay still on the ground.

After doing all this, Eneru flipped over, took a white headband, and wrapped his fluffy curly hair.

Then he picked up his golden staff, stretched, and suddenly burst into loud laughter.

“Hahahahaha!” The frenzied laughter made the crystal chandelier on the ceiling shake violently.

The young God spread his arms, and lightning intertwined around him, forming a dazzling halo.

“I am… God!!”

At this moment, Birka had not fully submitted, and Eneru, having just tasted the sweetness of power, was intoxicated by this pleasure.

The boundless earth? God's Country? Sky Island holy land? These distant concepts could not compare to what was before him:

Kneeling masses, trembling enemies, and that feeling of being above all things…

The ultimate pleasure of becoming ‘God’—it felt so good!!

After indulging himself for a while, Eneru suddenly closed his eyes, using his talent to listen if anyone in Birka was dissatisfied with him today.

At this time, Eneru had not yet developed the full island-wide Mantra, but his Observation Haki talent already allowed him to hear the thoughts of many people, especially…

“Carrots, carrot cake, carrot juice, carrot stewed carrots, carrot ice cream…”

“Gern just peeked at my chest, should I lower my neckline a bit more?

Wait… that look in his eyes… could he be thinking of something on the sea of clouds tonight… Ah ah ah! No, no, no~”

“The ‘Calamity’ faction does feel like it’s walking on thin ice among the current Marine factions; we must have two plans, and both must be strong!

However, compared to this, I wonder if Sky Island has any special products. I still want to buy some to take back to Stella. Why is this God taking so long to arrive…..”

Eneru suddenly opened his eyes: “??? ‘

“What is all this nonsense? And why is this man…”

He concentrated again, trying to read Gern’s thoughts among the four, but it was like listening to nothingness.

What made him even more uneasy was that he vaguely felt the other party seemed to be… sensing him in reverse!

“Ignorant Blue Sea dweller!” Realizing he was being countered, Eneru was furious and instantly transformed into a lightning bolt, disappearing from his spot.

…..

On Gern’s side, time passed minute by minute, and it was still quiet all around, with only the occasional sound of the wind.

“Gern, will he really come?” Libo squatted beside Gern, idly poking the clouds: “We’ve waited so long…”

“Be patient.” Gern rubbed her head.

Libo tilted her head: “What if he never comes?”

“He will come.” Gern smiled slightly, “Because…”

No sooner had he spoken than the distant sky suddenly darkened.

Dark clouds rolled, lightning flickered, and a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, striking directly towards their location!

“Watch out!” Snake Princess instantly drew her sword, the blade a streak of light, splitting the lightning in two.

However, the split lightning did not dissipate; instead, it formed an crackling lightning cage around them.

“Those who trespass upon God’s territory shall die…” A low voice came from all directions, thunder rolling in the clouds.

Immediately after, a figure slowly descended from the dark clouds.

It was a slender young man with unusually long earlobes, almost reaching his shoulders.

He was naked from the waist up, wearing only loose white trousers, with four taiko drums on his back and a golden staff in his hand.

“Blue Sea dwellers, you should not have come here.” Eneru’s voice was devoid of emotion, yet contained an undeniable majesty.

“Eneru.” Gern slowly stood up and looked up, “We finally meet.”

Hearing Gern call out his name, Eneru’s brows furrowed slightly: “You know my name?”

“Of course.” Gern chuckled, “After all, I came specifically to find you.”

“Find me?” Eneru sneered, “For what? To beg for blessings from me, a ‘God’?”

“No.” Gern looked him directly in the eyes, “I’m here to invite you to join me.”