Felina and her group followed Manhu as they slowly entered the Shandian village.
On both sides of the path, dense trees stretched skyward, their leaves rustling softly as a gentle breeze passed through. The air was calm, almost serene. Yet within this quiet, Manhu began recounting the long and painful history of his people.
His voice was low and heavy, as if carrying the weight of centuries.
They were the descendants of the Shandians, the original inhabitants of Jaya, who had been violently swept into the sky four hundred years ago by the catastrophic Knock Up Stream.
But their suffering had not ended there.
According to Manhu, when they first arrived on this Sky Island four centuries ago, they were mercilessly driven out by the ruler of the land, a man who proclaimed himself the God of Skypiea. That so-called god seized Jaya by force, renamed it Upper Yard, and declared it sacred ground reserved solely for himself.
From that moment on, the Shandians began a long and brutal struggle to reclaim their homeland.
For four hundred years, they never stopped fighting. Again and again, they charged the enemy lines, trying to break through and reclaim what was rightfully theirs. Yet despite their courage and countless sacrifices, they failed every time. Instead, generation after generation fell in pools of blood, their lives extinguished on the battlefield.
As Manhu spoke, Felina and the others frowned, anger quietly building in their hearts. The idea of someone abusing overwhelming power to steal another people's home filled them with disgust.
The land where the Shandians now lived was known as Hidden Cloud Village.
Nestled deep within the mountains and forests, it was extremely well concealed. Though the Shandians dressed in a primitive style, their architecture closely resembled that of Angel Island.
As Felina's group entered the village, many Shandians cast curious glances their way. At first, some mistook them for Sky Islanders and instinctively revealed hostility.
Thankfully, Manhu and his companions quickly explained that Felina and the others had come from the Blue Sea below. Once that was made clear, the villagers relaxed and greeted them with sincere, unguarded smiles.
To the Shandians, anyone from the Blue Sea was, in a sense, kin.
Just as they were nearing the center of the village, a dark-skinned boy with war paint on his face and a bright red headband came sprinting toward them, shouting loudly:
"Uncle Manhu, are these prisoners you captured?"
"Wiper, don't talk nonsense. They're our guests," Manhu said gently, placing a broad hand on the boy's head.
Wiper frowned and muttered unhappily, "Uncle Manhu, stop patting my head. It's embarrassing. I'm going to become the strongest warrior of the Shandians one day."
As he spoke, he slapped Manhu's hand away.
Manhu burst out laughing. "Oh? Big words, kid. You've still got a long way to go. You can't even beat me yet."
Wiper's face flushed red. He glared fiercely at Manhu and shouted, "Just you wait. It won't be long before I defeat you. Don't cry when that happens."
Hands on his hips, he looked full of confidence.
Manhu laughed even harder. "Alright, alright. I'll be waiting to see when you manage that."
Then he asked, "Is your grandfather home?"
"I went out training early this morning and just got back," Wiper replied sheepishly. "I don't know if Grandpa's home."
"Then lead the way," Manhu said.
"Got it. Everyone, follow me," Wiper called out as he dashed ahead.
Watching the energetic boy, Manhu sighed and said to Felina and the others, "He's the chief's grandson. A bit mischievous. Please forgive him."
"It's fine," Felina replied casually.
Soon, they arrived at a courtyard near the village center.
Before they even reached the gate, Wiper shouted, "Grandpa! Grandpa! Come out, we have guests today!"
Moments later, the gate opened, and an elderly man in his sixties stepped out. Seeing Wiper, he smiled kindly.
"Wiper, why are you back so early today?"
"Grandpa, Uncle Manhu said there are guests from the Blue Sea, so I came back with him," Wiper said, pointing behind him.
The old man followed his gaze. When his eyes landed on Felina's group, a spark of excitement lit up in his otherwise clouded eyes.
"Chief," Manhu greeted respectfully.
"So it's you, Manhu. Well done this time," the old chief said with praise.
Then, turning to Felina and the others, he smiled warmly. "You've come a long way. Please, come inside."
They nodded and followed him into the courtyard.
As they walked, introductions were exchanged. From the chief, Felina learned that his lineage traced directly back to Calgara, the great Shandian warrior who had forged a deep bond of friendship with Noland four hundred years ago.
Once seated in the reception hall, the old chief could barely contain himself.
"Miss Felina," he asked urgently, "do you have any news of Lord Noland from four hundred years ago?"
Felina nodded.
The old chief immediately stood up, his voice trembling. "Please tell us. Lord Noland saved the Shandians, yet we misunderstood him. Our ancestors carried deep guilt. Calgara never had the chance to apologize after we were sent to the sky. That regret became his, and it became ours."
Felina sighed and recounted the story she had heard from Eli Winters.
When she spoke of how Noland was branded a liar and executed, tears streamed down the old chief's face.
"It was the Shandians who wronged Lord Noland," he said sorrowfully.
Felina continued softly, "Noland never blamed you. He tried to return to fulfill his promise to ring the Golden Bell. Fate simply played a cruel trick. Until his final moments, he insisted the City of Gold existed. His descendants still search for it, trying to prove he never lied."
The old chief wiped his tears, his voice heavy. "We failed as descendants. We couldn't even protect our homeland, and we lost the Golden Bell."
"I'll drive the Sky Islanders out of our home," Wiper said fiercely, clenching his fists.
"Well said, kid. You've got spirit."
A voice suddenly echoed through the hall.
"Who's there?" the chief and Manhu shouted in alarm.
In the next instant, three figures appeared out of thin air.
Felina and her group broke into smiles.
Felina hurried forward, hooking Eli Winters' arm and whispering, "Brother Eli, are you done with your business?"
"More or less," Eli replied with a smile.
Seeing no hostility, the chief and Manhu relaxed slightly, though shock surged through them. These people had appeared without any warning at all. If they meant harm, the entire village would be powerless.
After a brief exchange with his companions, Eli turned his gaze to Wiper.
"Kid, what's your name?"
"You don't look much older than me. Why are you calling me a kid?" Wiper protested, though caution lingered in his eyes.
Eli laughed. "Because strength rules this world. I'm stronger than you, so calling you a kid is perfectly reasonable."
"Hmph. That's not decided yet," Wiper retorted stubbornly.
"Oh? Is that so?" Eli said calmly.
He raised his hand.
In the blink of an eye, Wiper vanished and reappeared right in front of Eli. Eli lightly tapped the boy's head a few times, then sent him back to where he stood.
Cold sweat poured down the chief's and Manhu's foreheads.
What kind of power was that? Even the so-called god Enel had never felt this terrifying.
As for Wiper, his legs nearly gave out. For a moment, he thought he was dead.
Then, suddenly, a thought struck him.
Wiper dropped to his knees, eyes blazing.
"Sir, please take me as your disciple. I want to train under you."
Everyone froze.
Then the chief and Manhu exchanged looks, their eyes lighting up. If Wiper could learn from someone like this, reclaiming Jaya might not be impossible.
Eli was briefly startled, then looked at the sharp-eyed boy with approval.
Quick to seize opportunity. Promising.
But he did not accept disciples lightly.
"Get up," Eli said with a smile. "I have no intention of taking a disciple."
Disappointment flickered across Wiper's face, mirrored by the others.
Then Eli continued, "That said, I can train you for a while."
Wiper's face flushed red with excitement. "Really? Thank you, Teacher."
"Don't celebrate yet," Eli warned. "Training with me is brutal. If you quit halfway, don't bother starting."
"I won't," Wiper said firmly.
They remained in Hidden Cloud Village.
During that time, Eli returned briefly to Angel Island to bring Simon and Baize over and stored away the Silver Dragon, since they would be staying for a long while.
Time passed in steady training.
Two months later, Wiper fell from midair and slammed into the ground. At the moment of impact, his muscles contracted and hardened, preventing serious injury.
"You still lack fine control over your body," Eli said, patting his shoulder. "Your use of Shave isn't stable yet. Focus on physical conditioning for now."
"Yes, Teacher," Wiper replied respectfully.
"Go train," Eli said, waving him off before reclining on a lounger made of specially processed clouds.
Two months had passed.
The calendar now read Sea Circle Year 1511.
Yet Eli's strength had barely improved, especially his control over space, which remained stubbornly stuck at forty-nine percent.
Eli rubbed his chin and spoke to the system.
"System, show my status panel."
Age: 16
Endurance: Near-Emperor
Speed: Near-Emperor
Spirit: Emperor
Devil Fruit: Modified Space-Space Fruit
Space Mastery: 49%
Haki:
Observation Haki, Top Tier (Mid-Level Future Sight)
Armament Haki, Top Tier (Flowing Haki)
Conqueror's Haki, Top Tier (Conqueror's Coating)
Haki Techniques: Six Paths of the King
Dragon Path, Tiger Path, Bear Path, Whale Path, Ox Path, Eagle Path
Devil Fruit Techniques:
Spatial Slash, Spatial Barrage, Storage Space, Twin Kamui
Intangibility, Redirection, Warp, Distortion
Teleportation, Spatial Lock, Spatial Walk
Void Exile
Spatial Gate
Spatial Arcana:
Radiant Cross
Spatial Compression
Spatial Collapse
Swordsmanship: Seventh Realm, Nothing Remains Uncut
Sword Techniques:
Piercing Form, Flying Slash, Phantom Blade, Breaker Form, Void Slash
Combination Technique: Ultimate Void Judgment
Overall Strength: Near-Emperor
(The highest tier in this world. Emperors are a title, not a level.)
Companion: Big Pan
Age: 10
Haki:
Observation Advanced
Armament Top Tier (Flowing)
Conqueror's Top Tier (Coating)
Techniques:
Eight Desolation Staff Art
Shockwave, Martial Break
Stacked Tides, Spell Form, Wheel Guard
Shadow Staff, Dual Polarity Staff
Divine Evasion performed with a staff
Strength: King Tier
Prosperity Points: 38,683
Stored Items:
Logia Fruits: Magma Fruit, Lightning Fruit
Ancient Zoan: Tyrannosaurus Fruit
Paramecia: Swim-Swim Fruit, Flutter Fruit, Float-Float Fruit
Standard Zoans: White Ape Fruit, Bee Fruit
Modern Speedboat, Disguise Mask
Two Annihilation Railguns
Two Purification Potions
Technological Fortress
Mechanical Flight Module
Assorted Treasures
Special Items:
Life Gourd (4 drops)
World-Stabilizing Stele