The Python and the Explore Team

Luffy shouts angrily with arms outstretched, “WEST IS THIS WAY!!!” while pointing left. A large fist impact SFX erupts above him. Off-panel, someone yells “HEY! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING, ZORO!I” In the next panel Nami, seated on a rock, points right and asks “…Would you please tell them that we’re going south, which is this wayI” Usopp yells “YOU DUMB ASS!!!” while Zoro points the opposite direction. Nami sighs, “*SIGH* YOU ARE SUCH AN IDIOT WITH NO SENSE OF DIRECTION.” Luffy, now holding a long stick, smiles and sings “LA LA LA HNMHNM HNM~~~♪” as he walks away. A small panel shows a leafy branch with the SFX “BI SHI!!”. An arrow sign labeled “EAST” points right.

Chopper excitedly holds up a stick and yells “Luffy, that’s a nice stick!!!” while Usopp and others search the forest floor calling “Stick, stick”. Luffy replies “Oh… okay~~~”. In the wider forest scene the group walks along a root-lined path. Nami asks “Nothing came at us when we went into the forest yesterday. Didn’t meet a priest, either…” Usopp answers “It’s a bit depressing actually.” Chopper laughs “Yup! Hahaha!” and adds “Eh~~~~ Chopper, you’re brave today.” Robin walks ahead thinking “I was worried that the forest would be a very dangerous place, but now I think it is really nothing to worry about. I feel a lot safer with these guys.” She turns and asks “Do they really want something to happen that badlyI” while thinking “…What a strange group!”

A massive serpent with striped scales lunges from the trees, jaws wide open. Its tongue flicks as it emits loud cries: “TSS RARA RARA…”, “BA GI BA GI BA JI…”, “PA GI”, “PAH GI”, and “SU SU…”. The Straw Hat group stands tiny in the foreground on the forest path, looking up at the enormous predator towering over them. Distant birds scatter in the sky above the canopy.

Aboard the Going Merry, the crew enjoys their slow cruise through the clouds. Usopp stands on the figurehead and declares, "OUR CRUISE IS GOING NICELY." Someone adds, "AR~~~THIS IS GREAT." Luffy calls out, "OI, NAVIGATOR! SPEED US UP." Nami replies from the railing, "THE WIND IS PERFECT!! THE DIRECTION IS PERFECT!!" She continues, "THE CURRENT OF THE MILKY ROAD IS TOO ROUGH, SO WE CAN ONLY RELY ON THE DIAL BOAT TO PUSH US ALONG." Usopp asks, "WHERE DID CHOPPER SAY HE PUT IT INI" Chopper answers, "MY NAME WOULD BE GAN FALL. IT'S GAN FALL." Nami points out, "OH, THE MEDICINE IS IN THE CUPBOARD BESIDE THE REFRIGERATOR." Sanji tells Usopp, "HEY, IT'S TIME FOR THE STRANGE KNIGHT TO GET SOME MEDICINE." Usopp warns, "THIS FOREST IS TOO CREEPY." Sanji insists, "BY THE WAY, SANJI, YOU NEED TO BE MY BODYGUARD." Usopp shouts, "ALRIGHT!! GO KARASU-MARU!!" Sanji snaps, "SHUT UP. I AM A BODYGUARD EXCLUSIVELY TO NAMI-SAN."

Gan Fall sits on the deck and begins, "OF THIS COUNTRY... PLEASE ALLOW ME TO TELL YOU... A LITTLE BIT OF THE HISTORY..." Usopp asks, "DID YOU FALL ON YOUR HEAD, OLD MANI" Gan Fall continues, "THE 'GOD' OF THIS ISLAND... I WAS... UNTIL SIX YEARS AGO..." He explains, "...LIKE YOU SAID BEFORE, ROUGHLY 400 YEARS AGO." A massive winged serpent bursts into view with a loud impact, its jaws open wide. Gan Fall narrates, "...THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF THE UPPER YARD IN SKYPIEA WAS..."

Gan Fall recounts the ancient arrival: "IT IS SAID THAT BEFORE THE APPEARANCE OF THIS ISLAND, SKYPIEA WAS A VERY PEACEFUL SKY ISLAND." Small winged people examine treasures from the Blue Sea that arrived via the knock-up stream. Gan Fall states, "...A MIRACLE. ALL THE VEARTH IN SKY ISLANDS APPEARED IN THAT MANNER. HOWEVER, FOR A PIECE OF LAND AS BIG AS UPPER YARD TO APPEAR IN THE SKY WAS TRULY..." The crew listens on the deck as Gan Fall concludes, "WE WERE VERY HAPPY. THE PEOPLE OF THE SKY AUTOMATICALLY ASSUMED THAT THIS LAND WAS A DIVINE GIFT, A HOLY LAND FROM HEAVEN."

Gan Fall explains, "...SO THUS STARTED THE WAR FOR THE LAND....BUT THIS ISLAND ALREADY HAD RESIDENTS... THOSE RESIDENTS WERE CALLED THE SHANDIANS." Usopp asks, "AND THEY WERE FORCED OUT OF THIS PLACE!I" Gan Fall confirms, "YES. THEY CAME TO THE SKY ALONG WITH THE ISLAND. SO THEN THOSE GUYS ARE PART OF THE ANCIENT CIVILIZATION OF JAYAI THAT IS CORRECT. THEY'RE THE RAIDERS...I" Nami realizes, "FOR 400 YEARS, THE SHANDIANS HAVE BEEN AT WAR WITH THE CITIZENS OF THE SKY. THE PEOPLE OF THE SKY ROBBED THEM OF THEIR HOME OUT OF SELFISH INTENTIONS... THE SHANDIANS ARE TRYING TO RETRIEVE THEIR HOMELAND. THAT IS SO." The Going Merry sails onward beneath the giant snake as the story unfolds.

A massive spotted python looms with jaws wide open, its head dominating the panel as dramatic sound effects burst around it. In the background, an elderly man with a long ponytail sits calmly. The scene shifts to Nami seated with a serious expression as two armored figures gesture wildly. One shouts, "SO THEN IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT!!" Another adds, "THAT'S... SAD..." The elderly man, Gan Fall, responds with closed eyes, "~~~THAT IS CORRECT. IT IS AS YOU HAVE SAID..." Nami turns and asks, "WHO'S 'GOD ENEL'I" The old man replies, "WHAT ABOUT ENELI" while a small figure sweats and mutters, "EXCUSE ME... OH, THE MEDICINE......PI YEH..."

Gan Fall continues his explanation with a stern gaze. "HE GAVE THE GOD'S MILITIA AND THE SHANDIANS A DEVASTATING DEFEAT. SINCE THEN, HE HAS BEEN IN CONTROL OF UPPER YARD..." He adds, "SIX YEARS AGO, WHEN I WAS STILL THE GOD... HE APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE, LEADING A POWERFUL ARMY." Looking aside, he notes, "...BUT FOR THE SHANDIANS, IT MATTERS NOT WHO THE GOD IS. THEY SIMPLY CONTINUE FEROCIOUSLY TRYING TO RECLAIM THEIR HOME. I HEARD THAT THE GOD'S MILITIA IS HELD CAPTIVE SOMEWHERE, DOING INTENSE LABOR, BUT I DO NOT KNOW THE DETAILS." In the lower panels, he explains further about the Shandians' attacks and mistaken escapes, while Sanji questions, "WHATI THEY TRIED TO KILL US JUST BECAUSE OF THATI" and reacts with surprise to the story of their arrival.

Sanji sits with a cigarette, listening intently as Gan Fall states, "IF WHAT YOU SAID IS TRUE, THEN GOD-ENEL IS NOTHING BUT A TYRANT." The old man continues, "THEY ARE CONSIDERED CRIMINALS, SO THEY CANNOT STAY IN THEIR HOMES, WITHIN ENEL'S SPHERE OF INFLUENCE. WAS TO HELP THOSE ESCAPEES REACH OTHER SKY ISLANDS SAFELY. ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I BECAME THE KNIGHT OF THE SKY..." Suddenly, an armored warrior lunges forward, striking Sanji and yelling, "TYRANNIZING...I NO. IT IS WORSE THAN THAT. THE ALMIGHTY 'GOD' SEES ALL!! HEY, HEY, HEY, STOP THE BLASPHEMY, YOU BRAT!!" Nami watches with concern. Gan Fall adds, "THROUGH THIS PROCESS, THE CITIZENS DEVELOPED 'AN AWARENESS OF SIN'. AND PUSH THE CITIZENS OF THE SKYPIEA TO TAKE PART IN CAPTURING THE TRAVELERS. NONETHELESS, ENEL USES VARIOUS EXCUSES TO TURN TRAVELERS LIKE YOURSELVES."

Gan Fall's face fills the panel against a dark background as he declares, "...AS IF HE REALLY IS AN ALMIGHTY GOD....HE IS A POWERFUL MAN, INDEED... WHEN ONE FEELS THAT ONE HAS SINNED BY ONE'S ACTION, ONE BECOMES THE MOST VULNERABLE. ENEL KNOWS THIS. HE CREATES THESE 'LOST LAMBS' AND CONTROLS THEM." Nami reacts with shock, hand to her face, thinking, "THE ANCIENT GOLDEN CITY HAS REALLY GONE TO AN INCREDIBLE PLACE......WHEN WE FIRST WENT TO ANGEL BEACH, I ACTUALLY THOUGHT THIS WAS A PARADISE... THIS IS ABSURD..." Below, a massive python coils around ancient ruins with a small vessel visible. Nami asks, "THAT 'GOLD' THING. WHAT IS THATI" as a voice responds, "...NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT... THE THINGS THAT YOU WERE SCREAMING ABOUT LAST NIGHT..."

Luffy's face fills the panel as he screams in terror, "IT'S A SNAKE~~~!!!" while waving his arms wildly. "RUN AWAY ~~~~!!!" he shouts as laughter erupts from him. Below, Zoro lunges forward with a fierce glare, yelling "I'LL CUT YOU IN HALF....!!" A calm female voice asks, "HEY BIG GUY..." Robin stands nearby, thinking, "IS THIS AN EFFECT OF THE SKY ISLANDS' ENVIRONMENTI THE SIZE-" Luffy's eyes bulge in panic as he cries "AAH~~~!!!" The bottom of the page shows the massive, striped body of an enormous python coiling and shifting with heavy motion lines and the sound effect "うねり うねり" accompanied by impact bursts.

The giant python rears up with jaws wide open, roaring "JYDRA AAAAA AA!!" The massive head lunges downward. In the chaos below, a figure is hurled through the air with a loud "WUAA!!!" as the snake strikes. Another voice yells "BA GON!!" while a small figure plummets, shouting "AH!!!" The snake's coils thrash violently amid heavy impact effects.

The enormous python crashes through the jungle as Zoro swings his swords, exclaiming "HOW CAN A BODY SO BIG... MOVE SO FAST!!II" Robin leaps between branches while the snake's head snaps forward. Scattered cries of "JYOOOOO~~~~!!" and "JYOO...!!" ring out. At the bottom, Luffy stares in horror and shouts "SO SCARY~~~~!!!" Robin replies calmly, "IS PROBABLY BETTER..." Zoro growls, "IF IT'S LIKE THAT... RUNNING AWAY..." while sweating, and Luffy adds "P...POISON...!II" as the group reacts with fear.

The giant python lunges with its mouth gaping, the sound "ズドドドドッ..." echoing as it roars "JYD RAAAA AAA..." A small winged figure on a bird-like creature taunts, "YOO-HOO-HOO POISONOUS SNAKE, OVER HERE~~~~!!!" and "YOUR FOOD IS RUNNING AWAY!!!!" while laughing "AH HA HA HA HA AH A!!!" The rider commands "FOLLOW ME!!!" Zoro warns from the side, "DON'T TOUCH THE POISON. YOU'LL DIE INSTANTLY!!!" In the next panel Robin is seen mid-leap as someone shouts "ROBIN, WATCH OUT!!" amid the snake's thrashing coils and impact sounds.

A massive striped python rears up with jaws open as a small figure clings to its body. A voice mutters "PHEW!" while another says "TOO BAD." A large hand appears with multiple fingers blooming outward as someone shouts "CINCO FLEUR" and "YIJI YIJI YIJI!!" The python thrashes violently amid huge impact lines and dust clouds marked "ZUUUUN" and "AW OO OO OO!!!" The scene shifts to a dense forest floor where a masked, long-haired figure reacts in alarm. "JYOR AAAAA!!!" echoes as the figure yells "BAH, NOT GOOD." and "GOO RU..." while smaller sounds like "PAR GO!!" and heavy impacts fill the air.

A woman in a wide hat and tank top stands in the jungle, hand on her chin, thinking aloud: "I PROBABLY SHOULD JUST GO AHEAD AND WAIT FOR THEM AT THE DESTINATION..." She continues, "I'M BACK TO WHERE WE WERE BUT... WHAT SHOULD I DO...I NOBODY IS HERE, DID I GET LOST...I" Suddenly a massive "GOOON" sound erupts. The woman panics amid swirling leaves and impact effects, crying "HE... HE... HELP~~~~!!! WHERE IS EVERYONE~~~~!!!I" and "I~~~~ GOT~~~~ LOST~~~~!!!" as "OH NO!!!" appears nearby.

A tall man with a staff stands in the jungle, hands on hips, musing: "AH WELL... THEY'LL BE FINE BY THEMSELVES. I'VE MEMORIZED MOST OF THE MAP ALREADY, TOO. IT WAS TO... THE RIGHT. WHERE DID THEY GOI I STOPPED THEM WATCHING FOR A LITTLE BIT AND..." Luffy appears in the foreground, scratching his head with a worried look. He says "THEY GOT LOST, DID THEYI KIDSI WHERE ARE THOSE GUYS...I DARN IT, DARN IT... I THINK I'LL JUST MEET THEM AT THE RUIN. SHE SAID 'A STRAIGHT LINE TO THE SOUTH!' SO IT'S GOTTA BE WHERE IT'S WARM..." A sign reads "THE SURVIVAL BEGINS" as large sound effects "BOKAAN!!" and "CHIIN!!" ring out.

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