Maxim

At the Skypiea, Angel Island Shore, two members of the Divine Squad are on patrol. One holds a bow and the other a staff. They hear a mechanical engine sound approaching: "Pararira pararira~♪". The archer points and says, "Hey, look..." The other replies, "Hm?" As the sound gets closer, the archer says, "That girl..." and the other confirms, "Yeah, there's no doubt about it. It's the blasphemer, PAGAYA'S DAUGHTER!" Nami is shown speeding across the cloud sea on her waver, looking determined.

Nami rides her waver through the ancient stone ruins. Enel's voice calls out to her, "Are you planning on bringing that along?" Nami stops and looks up, replying, "Yes, But if I can't, that's fine by me... I... I'm quite fond of this thing, actually... T-thank you very much." Enel, looking down at her, says, "Well......I do not think it will work at the land we are headed to, But whatever... Do as you wish."

Nami parks her waver and walks into a large cavernous area draped with massive curtains. Enel stands waiting for her, holding his golden staff. Nami looks up in absolute shock, exclaiming, "WHA!? Just what is this thing..." Enel smiles confidently and says, "Your surprise is quite understandable... This is only ship of its kind in the world! And only I can control it."

Enel continues his explanation, "It's powered by lightning. Although I have plenty of energy to spare, I needed a material that could transmit my power into machines as much as necessary! And that material was the gold lying on this island!" He spreads his arms wide, laughing, "The residents of this land are quite fortuitous... Because in their moment of death, They will be able to see the world's only flying ship! Yahahaha!" Nami drops to her knees in despair, thinking, "IT CAN'T BE...! A FLYING SHIP!? IF IT REALLY DOES FLY OFF INTO THE SKY... THEN I WON'T HAVE A CHANCE TO MAKE MY ESCAPE!"

A massive double-page spread reveals the Ark Maxim in all its glory. It is a colossal, intricate flying ship with a giant golden face sculpted on the front. The ship features numerous propellers, large oars extending from the sides, and the large kanji for "God" (神) painted on its hull. Nami stands tiny in comparison before the massive vessel. Enel's voice booms out, "THE ARK, 'MAXIM!' WITH THIS, WE WILL REACH THE LAND OF ENDLESS VEARTH, FAERIE VEARTH! YAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

Back in the Ancient City, Shandora, the giant snake Nola is lying motionless among the ruins. Its massive head rests on a broken stone building. The snake's eyes are blank, and its tongue hangs out loosely. Slowly, its jaws begin to pry apart with a creaking sound, "OPEN OPEN".

The giant snake remains draped over the ruins. Its mouth twitches slightly, "TWITCH", as it continues to be forced open, "OPEN OPEN". Inside the dark cavern of the snake's mouth, Luffy is standing with his arms raised, physically pushing the massive upper and lower jaws apart with his bare hands. He looks strained and covered in dirt.

Inside the snake's mouth, Luffy holds the jaws open while Aisa knocks on the fleshy interior, "KNOCK KNOCK SQUISH SQUISH". Luffy struggles, saying, "SHUT...". Suddenly, the jaws snap shut with a loud "CRASH!". The giant snake violently thrashes its head back, screaming in agony, "AGHH!", as something bursts from within.

Luffy, Aisa, and Pierre the bird are violently expelled from the snake's mouth, tumbling onto the ground with an "UGH!" and "OOF!". Aisa lands on her hands and knees, panting, "A stone floor...!...Ah-". She stands up, looking around at the massive stone pyramids and ruins. "HUFF... HUFF... Finally... We're out. What is this place...?" Pierre lies dizzy on the ground. Aisa calls out, "PI... PIERRE... Luffy!" Luffy is shown on his hands and knees, trembling with exhaustion.

Luffy suddenly leaps up, throwing his arms wide and screaming in triumph, "I'M OUUUUT! I'M FINALLY OUTSIDE!" Aisa looks around in awe at the sprawling ancient city. "WHOA, LOOK! THIS PLACE IS HUGE! WHERE IS THIS PLACE!? THESE MUST BE CITY RUINS!" She realizes, "Could it be... That this place is... My people's homeland...?" Luffy, grinning widely, says, "Maybe the giant golden bell... Is here somewhere...!?"

Luffy notices something nearby. "Whoa... There's a huge hole..." He immediately dashes off towards it. Aisa turns, "Huh!? Luffy! Wait! Where are you going!? What is it this time!?" She and Pierre run after him. Aisa spots him ahead, "Ah! There he is!"

Luffy finds Zoro lying unconscious and heavily battered among the rubble. Luffy grabs him, yelling, "ZORO! HEY WAKE UP! WHAT'RE YOU DOING!?" Luffy looks shocked and angry, "How could you have been here... And let all this happen...!" He looks around the devastated area, "Where's Nami? I don't see her anywhere!...!"

Luffy spots another fallen figure. "WIPER! WIPEEERR!" Aisa looks on in horror. Luffy stands over Wiper's charred body, "WAAAHHH! Even Wiper was...!...It's that bazooka jerk! He was pretty strong too... But everyone here was beaten!" Luffy sits down, frustrated. "It's Enel! He's the only one capable of this!" Aisa says, "Enel...? Is that the god? I couldn't use my mantra at all while we were inside the snake, So I can't say for certain what happened here but...!" Luffy suddenly notices someone else, "UGH......Ah! Robin!"

Robin is lying on the ground, injured and panting. "PANT... MS. NAVIGATOR... WAS TAKEN AWAY... PANT...!!?" Luffy kneels beside her, "Hey... It's fine, you can talk slowly... So Nami was taken away by the god-dude!? To where!?" Robin replies, "I DON'T KNOW... PANT... BUT LISTEN... AT THIS RATE... THIS LAND... SKYPIEA WILL BE DESTROYED..." Aisa is horrified, "Sky island will be WHAT!? E... Even my village!?"

Robin continues, "EVERYTHING! ENEL AIMS TO RETURN ALL THE PEOPLE LIVING IN THE SKY BACK TO THE SURFACE." A brief glimpse of the Shandia village is shown, with someone asking, "Is Aisa still not back?" "Not yet." "What a troublesome child." Another panel shows Nami speeding on her waver, being chased by Divine Squad members shouting, "THE BLASPHEMER HAS ENTERED GATE 1! ARREST HER! Get away from her! Or you'll be caught up in God's Judgment too!" Robin tells Luffy, "Then... Enel's going to... Show up for sure at the place where the golden bell is!? Yes... I'm certain... It'll be all over if you wander the island and miss your chance to find him... DON'T WORRY!"

Aisa looks resolute, tears in her eyes. "I can tell! I can sense two voices moving across this island....I'm sure they're Nami, And Enel!" Luffy's face is shown in a close-up, his expression fierce and determined. "GOOD... TAKE ME THERE!"

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