One Piece: Killer Method #202

As Cedric and his companions departed from the Ordeal of Balls, they found themselves approaching the heart of Upper Yard. The colossal Giant Jack loomed ominously over the horizon, its immense form piercing the azure sky as it spanned the entire distance from the ground to the lofty God's Shrine—the dwelling place of Enel and his devoted followers. 

Beside the towering beanstalk, the remnants of the once-great Ancient City of Shandora lay scattered in disrepair, their grandeur reduced to a mere memory, now overtaken by creeping algae, moss, and the relentless growth of nature.

Cedric couldn't help but be captivated by the surreal beauty of the white clouds enveloping the ruins that sprawled around the colossal beanstalk. The City of Gold, now known as God's land, bore witness to the passage of time and the transformation of its legacy.

"So, this is Shandora, the City of Gold..." Cedric mused, his gaze fixed upon the expanse of clouds that encircled the ancient ruins adjacent to the towering Giant Jack.

Wyper, with a hint of bitterness, commented on the city's current state. "Now it is known as God's land—though not for long."

Cedric, ever confident and with a touch of humor, responded with a chuckle, his determination clear. "Oh, you'll be free to call it whatever you want once I beat the living shit out of Enel."

Wyper shot him a glare, resentful of Cedric's pivotal role in their quest, but he held his tongue, acknowledging the truth in Cedric's words.

As a group consisting of Cedric, Kieran, Gan Fall, and the Shandian warriors pressed forward, they traversed the ethereal landscape of clouds until they reached the ancient ruins. Their footsteps upon the weathered stone and overgrown flora echoed softly, filling the air with a sense of history and mystery.

However, their peaceful exploration was suddenly disrupted. The sound of paws clattering against the ground reverberated through the ruins, triggering a series of intricate mechanisms hidden beneath their feet. Confusion washed over everyone except Cedric, who remained calm, knowing what awaited them. 

Suddenly, a massive mesh cage emerged from the ground, its intricate lattice extending to encase the entirety of the ancient ruins. The group found themselves trapped within the confining structure, their movements restricted and their path forward blocked.

Perched atop a nearby building, a tall, bald man with a distinctive tribal tattoo adorning his left arm and small white wings on his back greeted them with a sinister grin. He extended his arms in a theatrical gesture, his voice carrying an air of zealotry.

"Welcome to the Trial of Iron, ye who blaspheme!" he declared, his words resonating with an ominous foreboding that hung heavily in the air.

Ohm, the man who had dramatically welcomed the group, continued his impassioned speech, his voice echoing through the ancient, encaged ruins. 

"The White-Barbed Iron Deathmatch has thus commenced, and the only way to escape-- to survive  is to fight one another until one side attains the victory!" Ohm's voice quivered with fervor as he proclaimed the rules of the ordeal. 

As he delivered his speech, numerous Perkan priests and fervent followers of Enel emerged from the shadows within the tattered ruins, adding to the eerie atmosphere of the scene.

Meanwhile, Tears glistened in Ohm's eyes, concealed behind his sunglasses, and his fingers moved to wipe away the streaming tears that betrayed his supposed emotion. 

"Such is the nature of humans!" he declared with a strange mix of passion and melancholy. He gestured dramatically with his sword, emphasizing his point. "We are destined to fight one another to achieve happiness, even if our mortal, frail bodies perish in these conflicts!"

His gaze fixated on Cedric's group, his eyes shining with an unsettling fervor as he pointed his sword in their direction. "Tell me, blasphemers, is there greater beauty than this?!"

Watching the bizarre spectacle unfold, Cedric couldn't help but shake his head in exasperation. The man's dramatic words and antics were too much to handle. 

"This sounds like a complete waste of time, so I'll leave it to you guys," he declared nonchalantly. Without further ado, he departed the ground with a graceful jump and propelled himself into the air, utilizing Geppo to soar toward the top of the cage with effortless agility.

Ohm, seemingly unfazed by Cedric's escape attempt, chuckled derisively in response. "There is no escape, young blue-sea dweller! The only way out is to defeat me, but that is impossible!" he proclaimed with an air of arrogance. He shook his head dismissively. "The survival rate for the Trial of Iron has been 0% thus far, and it will remain so!" He concluded, his words carrying a hint of finality.

Despite Ohm's confident words, everyone below continued to watch in blank amazement as Cedric tore through the iron mesh surrounding the ruins, defying the man's claims. 

Clearing his throat, Ohm redirected his gaze to the people gathered below, seemingly in a state of denial. He adopted a more serious tone as he declared. "There is no escape from the White-Barbed Iron Deathmatch except by defeating me, Ohm, the Skybreeder!" 

As he spoke, a giant white dog emerged behind him, standing on its hind legs and engaging in an odd display of shadow boxing.

Kieran shot Ohm a blank look, his brow furrowing in bemusement. "Someone just escaped, though," he pointed out, speaking in a matter-of-fact tone.

Ohm's eyes twitched beneath his glasses, and he seemed determined to cling to his narrative. "No. You are mistaken. Fear has distorted your senses and showed you a man escaping to create a false sense of hope!" he retorted with unwavering conviction.

However, Kieran was not one to mince words or sugarcoat the truth. He folded his arms across his chest and spoke bluntly, "No one said he's a man. You just admitted seeing the same thing we did."

The tears streaming down Ohm's face intensified, but rather than stemming from fervor, they appeared to be born from embarrassment and frustration.

Gan Fall, always the diplomat and mediator, couldn't bear to watch the awkward exchange any longer. He stepped in, his hand resting gently on Kieran's shoulder. "Why don't we leave it at that, young man? Perhaps fear has indeed played tricks on our minds," he suggested, offering a graceful exit from the conversation.

Ohm, taking the opportunity to regain his composure, wiped away his tears and cleared his throat. "Now then! Let us fight and struggle against each other!" he proclaimed, rallying his followers and declaring the official start of the death match.

The Perkan priests surged forward, their robes billowing as they charged the Shandians, determination gleaming in their eyes. Amidst the chaos, Ohm's gaze remained locked onto Kieran, his eyes shimmering with an overwhelming rage. He was singularly fixated on making Kieran pay for the embarrassment he had suffered.

"Blue sea blasphemer! You shall pay for blaspheming God!" Ohm bellowed, flourishing his flowing cloud sword with dramatic flair.

Kieran couldn't help but smile faintly in response to Ohm's seething anger. "I don't remember blaspheming God, only speaking the truth..." he remarked, his voice calm and measured. 

Shadows converged around him, coalescing into an array of deadly weapons, each one directed at Ohm with unerring precision.

...

Cedric couldn't suppress a wry smile as he observed the unfolding chaos below, the Shandians and Perkan priests clashing in a fierce, chaotic battle. With a sense of detachment, he turned his attention skyward, determined to ascend alongside the towering Giant Jack. 

As he soared upwards with practiced ease and reached his destination, he soon found himself surrounded by yet another army, an assortment of individuals with diverse appearances and garb.

Among the eclectic group were chubby, goat-like men, their curious and bewildered expressions contrasting with the fervor of their comrades. Regular Perkan priests, identifiable by their traditional attire, were also present, their devout devotion to Enel evident in their stern countenances.

 Adding to the motley crew were strangely dressed men who appeared as if they had stepped out of a medieval-era storybook, their thick black beards giving them an air of archaic authority.

Yet, two individuals in this peculiar assembly stood out from the rest. One, adorned in an aviator's hat and boasting a thin, pointed mustache that seemed to split into two, bore an uncanny resemblance to a classic cartoon villain. 

The other was a tanned, muscular figure with wild, branching black hair that took on a bizarre, almost otherworldly shape.

The man with the mustache boldly stepped forward, brandishing a lance with an air of unwavering confidence. He pointed the weapon squarely at Cedric, his voice carrying a tone of authority and challenge. "You've done well to reach this far, blue sea dweller, but this is as far as you go!"