A Splash of Trouble

The Karasumaru glided smoothly across the cloud sea, its wings slicing through the mist as it followed the winding path known as the Milky Road. A serpentine river of denser, translucent cloud lined with glowing markers, the Milky Road seemed peaceful on the surface—but every one of them knew it couldn't last.

Luffy leaned over the front of the boat with excitement sparkling in his eyes. "This place is amazing! It's like we're flying!"

Usopp, hunched in the back, gripped the railing with white knuckles. "Flying straight into danger, more like!"

Y/N sat between them, her eyes alert, scanning the edges of the cloud river for signs of movement. Grimm sat curled beside her, now in his larger cat form—his sharp ears twitching at every sound.

"You smell something, Grimm?" she asked, brushing her fingers across his sleek fur.

He growled low in his throat.

Sanji, at the helm, puffed out a cloud of smoke. "He smells a trap. So do I."

Just then, a flash of movement from the clouds above caught their attention. A spear launched down toward the ship. Y/N whipped her hand out, conjuring a swirling vortex of water midair. It deflected the spear into the cloud sea below.

"Ambush from above!" she shouted.

Several more projectiles came raining down—darts, arrows, even strange net-like cloud traps.

Luffy grinned. "Let's go!"

As more attackers descended on dials, riding cloud boards, the Straw Hats and Y/N sprang into action. Luffy launched a Gomu Gomu no Pistol and sent two of the attackers flying into the clouds. Sanji kicked another in the face midair, his foot igniting briefly.

Usopp shot off an exploding star that lit up the mist, scattering the enemy.

Y/N raised a hand and summoned a whip of seawater, cracking it like lightning to sweep a trio of ambushers into the mist.

Grimm leapt into the fray, transforming into a huge black lion and pouncing on one of the riders. With a roar, he sent him tumbling from the sky.

In minutes, the ambush was repelled. But the group's relief was short-lived.

"LOOK!" Luffy pointed ahead.

Out of the clouds emerged a massive stone hand, the fingers outstretched like a forked path. A large statue at the center bore an ominous message etched into its base. The cloud river split into four channels, each finger labeled with a single word:

Swamp. Iron. String. Balls.

Usopp squinted. "What... what kind of place even has these kinds of trials?"

Sanji frowned. "Seems like we've got to pick
Y/N nodded. "Swamp and string sound like traps. Iron... probably worse."

Luffy crossed his arms and grinned. "Balls!"

"Wait, what?" Usopp turned on him, aghast.

"I like the sound of it! Balls are fun!" Luffy declared, stretching his arms in excitement. "Let's go!"

Before anyone could argue, the Karasumaru shifted, following the cloud channel labeled Ordeal of Balls. A dial triggered beneath them with a loud chime—and the boat dropped.

"AAAAAHHHH!" they screamed as the river disappeared and they plummeted.

The boat crashed through layers of soft cloud until they landed in a dense cloud forest, the ground solid enough to walk on but covered in white mist. Strange, floating spheres bobbed gently around them—each about the size of a large melon, some marked with odd symbols.

Usopp scrambled to his feet. "What kind of nightmare playground is this?"

Luffy poked one of the floating balls. It burst open, releasing a flurry of flower petals.

He laughed. "See? Fun!"

As if on cue, another ball floated near. Grimm hissed a warning. Luffy tapped it—and it exploded in a burst of flame, sending everyone flying.

"Okay! Less fun!" Luffy coughed.

"Surprise balls," Sanji muttered, brushing soot off his jacket.

A voice echoed through the forest.

"Well, well. Welcome to my Ordeal."

From the mist floated a strange man with large ears, wearing puffed pants and rings around his wrists. His smile was eerie, and his eyes sparkled with a knowing gleam.

"I am Satori, one of God Enel's priests. This is my domain. You're trespassers, and I've been given the honor of testing you."

Luffy stepped forward. "We're just here to rescue our friends."

Satori chuckled. "And you think I'll let you do that? Not without passing my ordeal."

With that, he clapped his hands, and dozens of Surprise Balls began floating toward them.

Sanji cursed. "Everyone, move!"

The clearing erupted in chaos. Balls exploded into nets, fire, gas, and even small creatures. Y/N spun her water whip in wide arcs, clearing a path through the barrage.

"Grimm, go high!" she shouted.

He leapt onto a tree.

Satori vanished and reappeared behind Usopp, landing a heavy blow.

"How—?!" Usopp stumbled.

"I can hear your thoughts," Satori said with a smug grin. "It's called Mantra. Your movements are meaningless to me."

Luffy launched a punch, but Satori dodged it with ease.

Sanji tried to flank him, but the priest moved as if he knew every step ahead of time.

"I can't land a hit," Sanji growled.

Y/N narrowed her eyes.

She closed her eyes and moved, allowing her instincts to guide her whip. It snapped out and grazed Satori's cheek.

His eyes widened. "How—?"

Luffy grinned. "Let's go!"

The fight turned chaotic again, but with a new strategy. The group fought using instinct and unpredictability.

Sanji zigzagged, never telegraphing his next move. Usopp used his dials and traps. Grimm swooped from above, transforming mid-dive into a pouncing panther that forced Satori back.

Y/N conjured a burst of mist, obscuring their positions. Then, through the fog, Sanji appeared with a deadly gleam in his eye.

He jumped high and spun downward, his leg igniting with friction.

"Concassé!"

The flaming heel struck Satori in the chest, sending him crashing into a tree and knocking him out cold.

Everyone froze.

"...Is he down?" Usopp asked.

Grimm sniffed the air. "Out cold."

Luffy whooped. "YEAH! Nice kick, Sanji!"

Y/N gave him a small smirk. "Show-off."

Sanji brushed imaginary dust off his coat. "Just doing my job."

They regrouped, catching their breath.

"We beat him," Luffy said, looking ahead. "But we've still got to find the others."

Usopp flopped to the ground. "Let's just... not pick any more trials with the word 'balls' in them."

Y/N knelt beside Grimm, scratching behind his ears. "We made it through. But we need to move. Who knows what's coming next?"

With the priest defeated and the forest behind them, they pressed on deeper into Upper Yard—toward a confrontation that would test them like never before.