Chapter 45: The Heart Net and the Rope Trial Attack!

[Despite Sanji and Usopp's reluctance, there were no better options at the moment.]

"Let's trust Luffy's intuition," they decided.

As soon as Usopp said this, he closed his eyes, mustered his courage, and steered the ship towards the entrance of the Ball Trial...

Soon, after passing through a long, dark tunnel, they arrived at a massive waterfall.

In the air, they saw many white balls floating, which looked quite magical.

Curious, Luffy couldn't help but reach out to touch one. However...

A venomous snake suddenly emerged from it!

Startled, Luffy hastily punched it away.

At the same time, another ball floated in front of Sanji. Annoyed, and assuming it also contained a venomous snake, he kicked it without hesitation!

Boom!!!

A massive explosion echoed around them, leaving Sanji and Usopp, who had been standing next to him, with their hair blown back.

At that moment, the three finally understood the nature of the Ball Trial.

It meant that countless white balls floating in the air harbored various dangers. The experience felt like opening a blind box, full of thrilling surprises.

Just then, a peculiar man resembling a ball appeared before them.

Luffy recognized him immediately; he was one of the three priests who had pursued the Blue Sea people earlier.

Knowing he was an enemy, Luffy didn't hesitate to launch a Gum-Gum Pistol attack!

But the priest seemed to have anticipated it. He easily dodged the attack, even with his back to the trio, and then teleported in front of Luffy, slightly raising his palm...

Boom!!!

A powerful air cannon blasted Luffy and his friends away...

Red Hair Pirates!

"What is this?"

In an instant, Beckman and the others stood up.

As powerful individuals, they were certain, just from a glance, that this ball-like priest...

Had mastered Haki!

"Observation Haki..."

"Is this one of the four priests under Enel?"

The faces of the Red Hair Pirates turned grim.

They knew that Luffy and his friends hadn't yet mastered Haki.

For enemies who could use Haki, whether it was Observation or Armament, it was a devastating advantage!

Enel, an enemy who had not yet appeared, already exerted a terrifying oppressive force.

Now, even his subordinates could use Haki...

Did Luffy and his crew stand a chance of winning?

But what puzzled them even more was...

"The countless white balls floating in the air?"

"The palm emitting an air cannon strong enough to blast people away?"

"Could this priest also be a Devil Fruit user?"

At this moment, everyone was uncertain.

Even Shanks wasn't sure...

They had heard of Sky Island but had never been there, so they were unfamiliar with its creatures and weapons.

If this priest, who had mastered Observation Haki, also possessed Devil Fruit abilities...

Then the battle would be even more dangerous!

Just as the Red Hair Pirates and nearly every force watching the live broadcast were puzzled...

The ongoing broadcast provided an explanation!

[Luffy was sent flying, gritting his teeth in pain!]

[Usopp was shocked. Luffy was a Rubber Fruit user, greatly resistant to physical attacks. How could an ordinary strike cause so much pain?]

[The ball-shaped priest laughed, "This isn't a strike; it's an impact!"]

["What impact?" Luffy and his friends were confused, but they decided to attack first and ask questions later!]

[However, a despairing scene unfolded...]

[The priest seemed to predict their every move, dodging each attack while counterattacking first!]

[Even when Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp attacked together, they were constantly on the defensive, unable to land a single blow.]

[Even their ship was set adrift by the priest on a cloud-crafted river...]

[Left with no choice and unable to move without their ship, Luffy told Usopp and Sanji to chase after it while he stayed behind to face the priest.]

[However... the outcome was still the same: they continued to take a beating!]

[As the priest gloated, they learned of his ability to predict everyone's next move, called the Heart Net.]

[The air cannon released from his palm, called the Impact Dial, was a unique shell weapon exclusive to Sky Island!]

[Although Luffy and his friends were still baffled, they didn't realize...]

[The priest's arrogant boasting would soon become the key to his own downfall!]

[Meanwhile...]

[Nami, Zoro, Robin, Chopper, and the Going Merry had been transported to the Sacrificial Altar.]

[Despite being unfamiliar with their surroundings, they weren't planning to sit idly by!]

[They left Chopper behind to watch the ship while Nami, Zoro, and Robin ventured into the forest, crossing the shark-infested waters surrounding the altar in search of clues.]

[However... danger was imminent once again!]

[A man riding a bizarre-looking bird charged toward them menacingly!]

[He was also one of the four priests, with a survival rate of only 3%... the Rope Trial Priest!]

...