Chapter 49

Grandline, Paradise, skyisland

As if pulled by a magnet the group, with giddy expressions of excitement on their faces, soon arrived on the island in the sky. The island itself wasn't that much different from the ocean of clouds they had seen when they arrived in the sky. The main difference though, if there was one to mention, was that the clouds they had previously bounced around on were being used by the angel like inhabitants of the sky to build and shape their houses from, looking like they had sprouted straight out from the ground they were build on.

Strolling through the streets Azul ventured through a lot of stores, only to be confronted with the problematic that his currency didn't work up here, so they searched for a bank and found one. Surprisingly it was possible to exchange money from 'the bluesea' as it was called up here for the currency of the sky 'extol', which they did and continued their shopping spree, now tasting various foods until their stomachs bloated or they nearly spit the food out due to the strange tastes. The women of the group, namely Nami and Robin, of course couldn't resist the female urge to visit the various clothes and shoe shops and ended up with a whole pile of bags filled with outfits they probably would never wear anyways...

Usopp meanwhile had fallen in love with something called a 'dial'. A dial was nothing more than the shell of a snail which possessed various uses, ranging from recording sounds or smells, to releasing fire or wind or even absorb and release force from said dial, making them a possible combat asset for anyone smart enough to utilize, which prompted Usopp to exchange various dials with the various people of skyisland with things from the bluesea.

Azul could only snort at the mans antics. In his eyes Usopp wouldn't be able to proceed for much longer on the grandline if he continued to rely on his childish tricks. But he would hopefully learn his lesson when he met someone he couldn't beat with such useless nonsense. Even though Azul doubted somehow that Usopp would ever really learn his lesson since he had a cowardly soul, from what Azul had been able to see so far. But maybe even that could change, who knows...

Their shopping trip, as awesome as it had been, had soon though come to an end when a small group of similarly clothed men had arrived before them, calling themselves the 'white barrets', the police force of the skyisland, and demanding the group to surrender themselves into their custody for breaking several laws that sounded suspiciously like bullshit to Azul, who could only snort at the mens words. When the men actually tried to grab Azuls arm, along with the strawhats behind him, that had yet to decide on how to react, Azul simply looked at the officers and released a concentrated wave of conquerors haki with sharpened eyes, making the people in his vicinity vibrate slightly, before the officers one after the other collapsed before Azul, bringing screams of horror about from the inhabitants of skyisland.

Thinking the problem was resolved Azul turned around back to the store they were at when something inside him screamed to dodge aside, which he did without hesitation, and not a second too late. Where he had stood just a second ago a giant bolt of blue lightning struck down on the earth, ripping the earth asunder, and making the surroundings shake from the booming sound and impact the bolt of lightning had just caused.

"F.u.c.k!" Azul cursed, having been too careless in his excitement and joy of the place, not suspecting any threats to be in his vicinity. A lesson learned the hard way which he wouldn't forget so soon afterwards.

Still shocked from what had happened, Azul arrived to the only conclusion that he thought could be possible in conjuction with what had happened before the impact. Someone was behind this and that someone had the ability to actually control lightning!

Standing up with a jump from his sitting position, Azul raised his former lowered guard back up, now sure he was in enemy teritory. Walking over to a shaking blonde girl with a pink dress and small wings on her back, Azul asked her what she knew about this.

"T-that was gods judgement" she stuttered out, obviously in fear from the lightning bolt.

"God? I doubt that... No matter. Where can I find this 'god' you are speaking about?" Azul asked with a frown on his otherwise hardened face. He had a bill to settle with this 'god', whoever the f.u.c.k that was. Nobody attacked him like that and got away with it!

"God resides in the Upper Yard, along with his four priests..." she spoke, calming down slowly after which she introduced herself as Conis and took the group back to her home where she lived together with her father, from which the group soon learned all the two knew of the god called Enel and his four priests: Satori, Shura, Gedatsu and Ohm. Each of the priests put the one to be judged through a trial, each different depending on the priests.

Now that they had been attacked by god Enel, the two angels were sure that the group would have to go through with the trials, which brought a grin to Azuls face, now that this had all become a little easier. Soon afterwards they, instead of waiting for another attack, journeyed towards the Upper Yard, which in the end turned out to be nothing other than the island they had been told to go looking for by the old man Cricket: Skypea and its golden city!

Though none of the group knew that they were in for a rough time the coming days.

And so they arrived at Skypea.

'Let the battle begin!' Azul thought to himself on top of the flying lamb, a blank look on his face, not betraying his thoughts to anybody that may be observing them already as he suspected...