123. Upper Yard

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Enel stood up quickly as he spoke, wasting no time. Despite his worn-out coat, he continued to wear it, clutching the remaining fruits in his hands.

Anos observed him with a slight smile and chose to say nothing.

"Where are we going? I'm very familiar with Skypiea!"

Enel eagerly began to explain.

"There seems to be a place called the Shrine here. Do you know about it?"

Anos turned his head, smiling as he asked.

"Oh, the Shrine? Of course, I know it! I've been there several times, but the people there usually don't let me stay long. I've sneaked in a few times, though it's the biggest and most important place in all of Skypiea!"

Enel said enthusiastically.

"I didn't expect you to be so familiar with this place. Alright, let's go. I'll take you there this time," Anos said, beginning to walk ahead.

The Shrine wasn't particularly far, but it would still take about an hour on foot. Skypiea wasn't a vast place, but it had its share of distance.

"Brother, why are we going to the Shrine? Nobody there is a good person or at least, I don't think so."

Enel continued to chatter as they walked. Anos found the boy to be quite the talker. Considering Enel's sharp mind, it was natural for him to be expressive.

Faced with loneliness and the cold stares of others, Enel had endured and clung to his circumstances.

Even in the future, when he would rise to power as the self-proclaimed "God" of Skypiea, he never chose senseless violence.

This revealed a kind-hearted nature beneath his rough exterior.

All he needed now was the right guidance. With a lack of moral clarity and no sense of friendship, there was still a long path ahead for him.

"Enel, have you ever thought about becoming strong?"

As they walked, Anos turned to glance at Enel, who was trailing behind, seemingly lost in thought.

"Strong?"

Enel scratched his chin with his dirty hands, pondering deeply before responding blankly, "What's the use of being strong?"

"When you're strong, you can protect the people you care about and achieve many of your goals. Even in the face of helplessness, your strength can safeguard what matters most to you," Anos said calmly.

"Then I've decided I'll become strong! And one day, I'll find a way to help you, brother!"

Enel declared with conviction.

As they conversed, they reached the edge of a dense forest. Beyond it lay land, a rarity in Skypiea.

This land, known as the Upper Yard, had risen from 10,000 meters below. Its presence, starkly different from the cloud-made terrain of Skypiea, had turned it into a forbidden area revered by the island's people.

The soil and massive trees were protected as a sacred anomaly.

Standing on the forest's edge, Anos marvelled at the massive trees growing in such an extraordinary place.

"Brother Anos, follow me! I know a faster route. This place is full of traps set by the Shandians. If we're not careful, we could get caught or worse!"

Enel exclaimed, running ahead to guide the way.

"Enel, slow down! I'll take the lead," Anos called out, scanning their surroundings with interest.

When Enel heard Anos's voice, he hesitated, standing on the roots of a massive tree.

In an instant, Anos appeared beside him, grabbed his shoulder, and the two vanished.

Moments after they disappeared, two figures emerged from the forest.

The newcomers were bare-chested with dark skin and strong physiques. Their braided hair and animal-skin clothing gave them a rugged, tribal appearance.

If not for the contraptions on their feet, one might mistake them for savages.

The devices on their feet resembled skates but allowed them to hover slightly above the ground, emitting a faint sound of rushing air.

"Wiper, didn't you say you saw two people here? Where are they now?"

One of them, holding a mace-like weapon, questioned the other.

"How would I know? I heard voices here just moments ago, but they vanished into thin air!" Wiper replied, clutching his spear.

"We should leave. If we stay too long, the priests might show up," the first man said.

"Braham, why do you always worry? Those priests are too busy to care about us right now. I checked the Shrine yesterday some visitors from the Blue Sea are staying there, so the priests likely won't bother us today," Wiper replied confidently.

Though their purpose remained unclear, it was evident from their demeanour that these two were not to be underestimated.

The hovering devices on their feet alone provided a significant advantage.

Meanwhile, Anos and Enel had reached the Shrine gates. Unlike other parts of Skypiea, the Shrine's architecture utilized clouds processed into materials of remarkable hardness.

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