Click.
The moment Enel saw Ozz catch lightning with his bare hand, something shattered inside him.
Mouth agape, eyes bulging, snot streaming from his nose
He looked utterly pathetic.
"Forget it. Playing with a greenhorn like you is getting boring."
Ozz showed no sympathy. His right hand curled slightly.
Crackling from his palm came a burst of black-and-red lightning.
What, he couldn't play with lightning too?
Still frozen in existential disbelief, Enel didn't even register the incoming attack.
Overwhelmed by Conqueror's Haki, he couldn't move a muscle, only stare helplessly as that hand drew closer.
One slender finger curled.
Thunk.
With a flick to the forehead wrapped in black Haki, Ozz knocked Enel flat. His eyes rolled up, and he collapsed backwards in a perfect starfish pose.
With a mere thought, Ozz brought himself and the now unconscious Enel back to the Oro Jackson.
Crocodile was reading the paper. Mihawk was cooking.
"Hm?"
Hearing the movement, Crocodile glanced up and noticed Ozz... and the long-eared stranger beside him.
"Who's that?"
She was long used to Ozz doing inexplicable things. This was nothing new.
But this time was different.
He'd gone out of his way just for one person. The last time someone had received that kind of treatment…
Well, that someone had been her.
"Picked up a new crew member. Bulking up the ship's roster."
Once Ozz confirmed it, Crocodile took a proper look at him. Mihawk came out of the kitchen with a knife still in hand.
"Because his ears are long?" Crocodile asked dryly.
"He's eaten one of the strongest Logia Fruits the Rumble-Rumble Fruit."
"Oh."
Their reactions were underwhelming, to say the least. Apparently, top-tier Devil Fruits didn't impress them much anymore.
"So?" Crocodile asked.
"So... he'll be great at running errands."
Like clockwork, all three avoided mentioning his combat potential.
Not because the Rumble-Rumble Fruit wasn't powerful, but because, honestly, the Oro Jackson didn't need Enel's firepower.
In terms of raw strength, Ozz alone could fulfill all the strategic roles Enel might've had ranged attacks, aerial superiority, mobility.
The only real value Enel added was convenience.
...
"Thunder Dragon!!!"
"How many times do I have to tell you? You're not getting away."
Back on Skypiea, Ozz emerged slowly from a cascading storm of lightning. Hands in his pockets, not a hair out of place.
This was the power of external Armament Haki armor if your Haki wasn't strong enough, you couldn't even ruffle his coat.
The blinding lightning faded slowly into the sky. A panting, wide-eyed Enel stood trembling.
He was at his breaking point.
These past days had been a nightmare. He couldn't run, couldn't win.
Even his strongest attacks, like the Thunder Welcome, only made Ozz shiver slightly.
Like someone caught in a chilly breeze.
Sure, part of it was that he was too young and still hadn't mastered his Devil Fruit.
But mostly... it was just bad luck.
He'd picked a fight with a final boss.
Not even the strongest fruit could make up that difference.
"So? You gonna behave now?"
Enel: thoroughly humbled.
"I... I get it. I'm not running anymore..."
Despite his grim and rebellious nature, shaped by a twisted childhood, Enel was now just another moody teenager brought to heel.
And if there was one thing Ozz was good at besides destruction it was reforming delinquents.
Just look at what he did with Doflamingo.
Honestly, between Enel and Doffy, it was hard to say who would grow stronger under Ozz's influence.
But reaching the threshold of admiral-level power? That was definitely within reach.
"Don't give me that look. You'll see, I'm a pretty easy guy to get along with."
Enel said nothing. His mind was still stuck on that devilish grin Ozz always wore.
If he could end the fight in one move, why keep following him around with that damned smile?
It was psychological warfare.
Thus...
The Oro Jackson welcomed its third crew member.
Little En...Enel.
...
"So this is the Blue Sea? It's... incredible."
Munching on an apple, Enel no longer called himself "God" at least not around Ozz.
They'd spent over half a month on Skypiea. After all, a journey wasn't just about fighting. It was about savoring every place, every culture.
Ozz had a blast.
When they left, he brought back souvenirs like Dial shells and other local specialties.
On the other end of the ship, Mihawk stood calmly with his arms crossed, gazing out at the sea.
"Hey, Ozz. What's your next move?
Do you... still need me?"
"Huh?"
Ozz was fiddling with some toys. When Mihawk spoke, he looked up, surprised.
"Why the sudden question? I was planning to head into the New World."
"Your dream... you've already achieved it, haven't you?"
Mihawk turned to face him, eyes earnest.
"Traveling with you has been a fun journey, no doubt. But... my swordsmanship has hit a plateau."
His words caught everyone off guard Ozz, Crocodile, even Enel.
Ozz: confused.
Crocodile: silent.
Enel: stunned (?ロ?)
Wait, what? He'd just joined was the crew disbanding already?
Could he sneak away now?
"You mean to say..." Ozz raised a brow.
"I want to go off on my own. Face swordsmen around the world. Forge the ultimate blade.
Only then can I truly create the world's greatest sword style."
Mihawk's eyes shone with unwavering conviction.
"When that day comes, I'll challenge you again, Ozz."
Ozz got it.
Following him around, winning without effort, wasn't helping Mihawk grow.
This was his 3D2Y.
Ozz clicked his tongue. Honestly, it felt a little weird. They'd been adventuring together for years.
But this wasn't a pirate crew. Mihawk had his own dream, and who was he to stop him?
Chasing your dream wasn't that the coolest thing of all?
How could someone who hadn't yet become the world's greatest swordsman be satisfied playing second fiddle?
Crocodile smirked and pulled the cigar from her lips.
"I've been meaning to say it too. You're the only one whose name echoes across the seas, Ozz.
It's about damn time I carved out my own reputation.
If Mihawk's going to train, I'll do the same. Time to level up."
She was finally starting to realize how important strength was. Her bounty had always lagged behind the other two.
"...I get it. Dragging you along every day might've been a bit selfish."
"But hey it's not like we won't meet again.
So go.
Go out there and shake the world under the name of Dotor Ozz!"
...
"Oh right. Enel, if you've got nowhere to go, go help Sami run errands.
I'll make you a Vivre Card so I can track you if you disappear again."
"Ah?!?"