Jaya, City of Gold in the Sky! Head for God's Throne!

Nami, Zoro, and Robin work out that Jaya never dropped to the ocean floor but instead rose skyward, taking with it native creatures that adapted to the heights. By Nami's count, the airborne portion of Jaya is the City of Gold, and she cheerfully credits divine favor for her good fortune. The Shandia, meanwhile, launch their invasion of the Upper Yard against the priests. Luffy, Sanji, and Usopp clear the Ordeal of Balls at last and step into a grassy field strewn with skulls, which a nervous Usopp reads as a working scare tactic.

Crossing the Milky Road, the trio hears blasts and spots Shandia fighters soaring overhead. Wyper hurls an iron ball, but Luffy bounces it back using Gomu Gomu no Fusen, startling the warriors. Sanji recognizes Wyper as the guerilla who ambushed them on their arrival, and Wyper vows to kill Enel along with anyone who stands in his path before leaving, doubting the pirates will survive the island. Zoro's group reaches the ship and fears the worst on learning Chopper was attacked, only for the reindeer to emerge in tears. Luffy's party then reaches the road's end and rejoins the others after scattering a pack of Sky Sharks with the rapid-fire Gomu Gomu no Gatling Gun.

Judging the ship too dangerous to sleep aboard, the crew camps on shore and pools its reports about Enel's forces, including the priests, the power called Mantra, and the fabled City of Gold, after which Luffy resolves to plunder its riches. Drawn from chapter 252, the episode features a Funimation dub gag in which a terrified Usopp garbles Zoro's name into the 4Kids spelling, an animation slip leaving Luffy's chin uncolored as he laughs near the close, and an inconsistency where Sanji names the Sky Sharks despite their having been raised only within Robin's group. It belongs to the Skypiea storyline.