Chapter 42 : Zoro

["Is it us who are being tested!?"] Luffy exclaimed, bewildered.

["That's correct. The envoy of Enel will take your friends to the Living Altar deep within the Sky Island, and you must rescue them!"]

["If you refuse, your friends will likely be sacrificed, but if you accept..."]

["You must traverse the forest guarded by the priests, enduring trial after trial, with the odds of survival being almost... Zero!"]

[Through Uncle Kujima's narration, Luffy and his companions finally comprehended everything.]

[It turns out that these trials involve facing the Four Priests!]

[The Four Priests serve the God of Sky Island and are Enel's attendants. Each of them is immensely powerful, and the trials are even more formidable, categorized as...]

[Trial of the Swamp with a 50% survival rate, Trial of the Ball with a 10% survival rate, Rope Trial with a 3% survival rate, and the Trial of Iron with a 0% survival rate in the end!]

[Only by overcoming these four trials can you reach the final Living Altar and reunite with your captive friends.]

[But whether you can save them... remains uncertain, simply because no one has ever survived these four trials.]

[No one has made it safely to the Living Altar when their friends were taken captive!]

[However, Luffy, Sanji, and even the timid Usopp, after hearing these words, displayed no fear whatsoever.]

"I see, so we have to go through trials to find Zoro," Luffy remarked.

["As long as you can defeat these so-called priests, you'll be able to rescue your friends!"]

[Seeing Luffy's smile and his relaxed demeanor, Uncle Kushima and his daughter Conis couldn't help but be astonished.]

[For a moment, they wondered if they hadn't explained it clearly enough.]

[This trial, with a zero percent chance of survival, an existence that no one has ever survived, and yet you're laughing?]

[The two couldn't understand, let alone believe that Luffy could reach the destination and rescue their friends.]

Wano Country... Onigashima!

In a dark and eerie chamber, a colossal figure sat upon a throne.

This figure possessed black hair, a shawl, long horns resembling dragon horns, a dragon scale tattoo on the left arm, and an X-shaped scar on the abdomen.

This wild and imposing figure was none other than one of the Four Emperors, on par with Shanks and Whitebeard, and renowned as the world's strongest creature...

Kaido!!!

"The God of the Sky Islands... Enel?"

"Gan Fall has been defeated..."

Kaido muttered to himself, a pensive expression on his face.

As a user of the Fish-Fish Fruit: Mythical Type, Model - Eastern Dragon, he possessed the ability to soar through the skies.

For him, the Sky Island, an arduous destination for ordinary individuals, was an easily accessible location.

Even during moments of boredom, he would occasionally ascend to the Sky Island just to leap off and seek amusement through suicide.

If one were to ask who possessed the most knowledge of the Sky Island on these seas, aside from Kaido, there would likely be no other.

Consequently, he was aware that Gan Fall served as the God of the Sky Island.

However, he hadn't set foot on the island in several years, and information from both locations hadn't intersected, leading to...

Kaido also learned from a live broadcast that a significant transformation had occurred on the Sky Island!

The God of the Sky Island had changed!

Nevertheless...

"This newly appointed God appears to possess impressive strength, much more intriguing than Gan Fall!"

"Perhaps, when I find myself with leisure time, I'll venture up there for a little spar."

"I just wonder how many blows he can endure from me..."

Kaido muttered, a sinister smile curling at the corners of his lips.

[While the trials presented no immediate danger to Luffy and his friends in their mission to rescue Nami and the others, a new predicament emerged.]

[They hailed from the Blue Seas and were utterly unfamiliar with the terrain, unaware of the trial's entrance, let alone how to traverse the Sea of Clouds.]

[In this regard, Conis, Uncle Kujima's daughter, took it upon herself to guide them.]

[As they journeyed, passing through the Sky Island town, the residents gave them a wide berth, their faces etched with fear.]

[Luffy and his crew observed this, perplexed but unfazed.]

[Finally, under Conis's guidance, Luffy and his group arrived at the location where the Sky Island ships were anchored.]

["These ships will carry you across the Sea of Clouds to the Trial Grounds' entrance. Good luck..."]

Luffy and Sanji, along with Usopp, smiled, expressed their gratitude to Conis, and prepared to board the ships.

However, before departing, Luffy paused, turning back to pose a question.

"As we're about to part ways, could you explain why you're so frightened and insisted on seeing us off?"

Upon hearing this, Conis was momentarily taken aback. Then, with a smile, she replied, "What are you talking about? I'm not afraid..."

But before she could finish, Luffy interrupted with a serious expression, "Yes, ever since we met you, you've been trembling. Your fear intensified when we arrived here."

Upon hearing this, Conis was completely flabbergasted. Her attempt to conceal her emotions crumbled entirely.

Meanwhile, in the Windmill Village...

At the pier where Luffy, Dadan, Makino, and other villagers had gathered, a small raft was approaching from a distance.

Though most present were engrossed in the sky's live broadcast, a few sharp-eyed individuals noticed the raft in the sea.

"Look, a ship is approaching us!"

All eyes turned toward the source...

On the small raft, a man with green hair and three swords strapped to his waist stood erect.

Everyone present was struck with shock!

Even upon their first encounter, this figure was unmistakably familiar to everyone in attendance.

Recognizing him at a glance!

Wasn't this the individual from the live broadcast, the one who had willingly faced peril to save Luffy's life?

One of the Straw Hat Pirates' members...

Roronoa Zoro, Zoro!!!

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