Chapter 433: The Trial of the Holy Knights: Clash in the Clouds

During the third trial, as Zikt unleashed his full power, even Zoro and Sanji—despite pushing themselves to the limit—struggled to hold him back.

“Puh!”

“Puh!”

Under Zikt’s golden-red fists, both of them were taken down within just a few exchanges—though truthfully, neither seemed eager to keep fighting.

“Looks like this is as far as we go.”

“Ah, I really hate to admit it!”

The two of them lay sprawled on the ground, but there wasn’t even a hint of disappointment on their faces.

After repeatedly attacking Zikt, they realized he was like a smelly, unbreakable rock—no matter how hard they hit, they only managed to leave a scratch on the surface.

There was simply no breaking through his defense. After a while, the fight just lost its thrill. In the end, the two decided not to bother passing the third trial and quietly waited for it to end.

“Tch, what a snooze!” Zikt could feel the two had lost all desire to fight.

He’d just started to get into the rhythm of the battle, hoping to enjoy it, when suddenly they stopped short. That left him feeling more than a little annoyed.

Just then, over a hundred newly qualified participants from the second trial were brought in, and a wicked grin spread across Zikt’s face.

“Ya ya mailo!”

“Don’t come near us!”

Zikt charged into the crowd, swinging his fists wildly, sending people flying left and right.

Even though these folks were far too weak to be a challenge, beating them up at least let him vent some pent-up frustration.

In no time, only one fair-faced young man remained standing.

Zikt swaggered over with a pervy grin. “So young—are you fully grown yet? You’re already here.”

The young man looked terrified. “What do you want? Stay away from me! I quit, okay? I quit!”

In truth, he was thinking to himself: Since I passed the second trial, I at least have the right to join the Holy Knights. No way am I going to let myself get pummeled any further.

“You really leave me no choice.”

Licking his lips, Zikt crept closer. “Just be good.”

“Let me see—(in a booming voice)!”

“No, please, sir!”

“Bang!”

What happened next was really not fit for kids—even the sun itself looked embarrassed, slipping behind a cloud to cover its eyes.

After a moment, once everyone had collected themselves, Zikt stood before the group with his hands clasped behind his back. “Congratulations!”

“You’ve passed the second trial. Although you didn’t clear the third, you’re now qualified to become members of the Holy Knights.”

“Of course, some of you may not want to join the Holy Knights. In that case, there’s a hundred million berries’ worth of gold waiting for you—just take it and leave.”

Zikt stepped aside, revealing a long table behind him loaded with stacks of gleaming gold.

But this was a test too. Anyone who took the gold forfeited their right to join the Holy Knights.

“Hey, Zoro, Sanji, let’s go!”

Ye Fan appeared at their side without anyone noticing, patting them on the shoulder and marching straight for the gold.

“Heh, when did that guy get here?”

The group moved forward, a dozen or so people following close behind. After claiming their share of the gold, they headed down a small path nearby.

“Gold! Mine, mine—it’s all mine!”

Barely had the trio set foot on the cloud staircase before Nami rushed over, snatching every last bar of gold from their hands.

As for everyone else, after witnessing the power of Zoro and Sanji—and seeing Luffy giving it his all in the fourth trial—they had no intention of trying to steal the gold themselves.

“Now it’s just Luffy left up there.”

“The fourth trial is seriously way up there, and during the fight clouds keep blocking the view—who knows what’s actually going on?”

“Don’t worry. The fact that he’s still fighting means things can’t be that bad.” Though Zoro tried to sound casual, he couldn’t help glancing up at the fourth trial.

Up in the fourth trial, Luffy faced the strongest opponent he’d ever encountered.

Opera, seeing that Thunder Kai’s earlier attack had barely scratched Luffy, decided to kick things up to the highest level. “Billion Volt: Thunder God!”

A thunder giant a hundred meters tall appeared, its body crackling with overwhelming electricity that generated a powerful magnetic field. It twisted the air and shrouded both fighters in a veil of lightning.

“Zzzzt!”

For the first time, Luffy felt a real sense of danger. Pushed to his absolute limit, he crossed the final threshold.

With his heart pounding, first his hair, then his limbs, then his whole body turned white. And then Luffy threw back his head and burst out laughing.

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

That heartbeat thundered through the sky, but only a handful of people seemed to notice.

The first to hear it were the sea kings directly beneath Skypiea.

Down below, several sea kings, each nearly ten thousand meters long, were resting. “What’s that sound?”

“Wait… that’s the Drums of Liberation!”

“No way! It’s not time yet!”

“Quick, check on our king!”

Sea kings actually have their own methods to calculate when the great battle is due to begin, but right now it felt as if someone had jumpstarted events. The very first thing they thought of was their king.

If their current king hadn’t mastered the art of summoning sea kings, they’d all be in deep trouble.

Elsewhere in the deep sea, Zunesha wandered aimlessly. “Drums of Liberation?”

Hearing that familiar sound, Zunesha stopped in his tracks, pinpointed the source, and began heading toward the first half of the Grand Line.

Months ago, he’d sensed that one bloodline had been completely severed. Now, the only way for him to atone was to help the warrior of liberation.

Opera’s gigantic frame moved with shocking agility. He swung his fists at Luffy again and again.

“Hahahahahaha!”

Stunned, Opera watched as Luffy laughed, then reached out with his right hand and actually grabbed Opera’s lightning arm.

At that moment, Opera realized his right arm was completely out of his control. Luffy swung him back and forth like a toy.

But even that wasn’t enough for Luffy. Grinning, he grabbed Opera’s stormy arm with one hand and his leg with the other, swinging him through the air like a jumprope.

Opera wasn’t the type to go down without a fight. He kept surging with electricity, struggling to break free.

But all that raw electricity was pouring into Luffy’s body without doing a thing to harm him. Opera felt a wave of despair. Was this Luffy’s true power?

No wonder his father had staked everything on Luffy. With abilities like this, Opera couldn’t imagine how anyone could hope to win.

“Hey, Luffy, I give up. This is your win.” The electricity did nothing, and his control was slipping away.

The barriers around them were starting to disappear, and Opera didn’t want anyone outside to see him being tossed around like a toy. That was a blow to his pride.

“Huh? You’re giving up?”

“Lame—not fun at all!” Hearing Opera throw in the towel, Luffy casually flung him down to the ground.

His body unconsciously slipped out of Gear Fifth, returning to normal.