Enel firmly believed in Kizaru's philosophy: Speed is Weight. That concept had become the primary direction for developing his Devil Fruit abilities. Especially in close-quarters combat, his terrifying speed provided him with a massive, undeniable advantage.
However, an advantage did not guarantee victory. Many apex fighters couldn't physically move as fast as lightning, but by relying on Advanced Observation Haki, they could effortlessly predict his trajectory and intercept him.
During his previous duel with Bardock, Enel had utilized careful observation to discover Bardock's psychological weak point. He successfully managed to enrage the Great Ape and temporarily shatter Bardock's Observation Haki. It worked, but the final outcome was catastrophic. Trying to replicate that specific psychological tactic on a completely unfamiliar enemy like Dragon would be infinitely more difficult and far riskier.
Following his defeat to Bardock, Enel had meticulously analyzed his combat flaws. He concluded that to defeat absolute monsters who possessed Advanced Haki, he needed to either become significantly faster, or master significantly stronger Haki himself.
Developing Haki was a slow, grueling process of gradual accumulation. However, he could increase his combat speed immediately. He realized that the microsecond delay caused by transforming his physical body into pure lightning for movement, and then transforming back into a physical body to strike with Armament Haki, was a massive vulnerability.
He needed to eliminate that transition entirely.
Enel already possessed the Amal (Thunder God) form. In that state, he didn't need to revert to human form to physically strike. However, the traditional Amal form was massive and sluggish. He had spent the last month intensely modifying and compressing the technique. Today was the perfect opportunity to test it.
"Two Hundred Million Volt: Amal - Extreme Speed Form!"
Unlike the colossal, towering giant of his original Amal form, this 'Extreme Speed' variant was only slightly larger than Enel's natural body. However, the electrical energy contained within was terrifyingly dense and hyper-compressed. Furthermore, he heavily coated strategic points of his electrical body in thick, pitch-black Armament Haki, making him look like a Thunder God wearing a suit of dark armor.
BOOM!
Enel vanished, initiating his assault.
This time, his movements were impossibly smooth. Without the microscopic delays caused by constantly shifting between intangible lightning and a physical body to attack, his overall combat speed multiplied exponentially.
Dragon's perpetually stoic expression finally cracked. His brow furrowed deeply. 'He's too fast.'
Even with Future Sight, Dragon was struggling to physically react in time. He could still see exactly where Enel was going to strike, but intercepting the attacks with effortless precision like before was no longer possible.
CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!
The deafening sound of high-speed collisions filled the sky. Enel materialized seemingly everywhere at once, launching a relentless, omnidirectional barrage. Dragon was finally forced to abandon his stationary defense. He began rapidly dissolving into the wind, constantly shifting his position in the sky to trade space for time, desperately trying to keep up with the onslaught.
"Hee-haw! That is genuinely impressive!" Ivankov gasped, his eyes wide as he tracked the chaotic battle above. "The Rumble-Rumble Fruit is terrifying. If I were the one fighting Enel right now, I would have been completely overwhelmed by now."
Ivankov knew exactly how monstrously strong Dragon truly was. The fact that Enel was pushing the Supreme Commander this hard was an absolute testament to the Skypiean's raw power.
Bardock watched the fight intently, mentally simulating how he would counter Enel's new 'Extreme Speed' form if they fought again. Hearing Ivankov's praise, Bardock turned to the Okama. "Supreme Commander Dragon must still have a few trump cards hidden away, right? After all, he shares the 'Monkey D.' name. Does he know how to use the Marine Hero's legendary 'Fist of Love'?"
Ivankov flinched in genuine surprise. He hadn't expected Bardock to possess such detailed, classified knowledge about Dragon's lineage and Garp's specific combat techniques. The Okama didn't answer directly, simply saying, "Hee-haw! Just keep watching, Bardock-boy. You'll see soon enough."
Up in the sky, the intense battle continued.
Despite launching a relentless, high-speed assault, Enel couldn't manage to break through Dragon's defenses. It looked like Enel had the upper hand, but internally, Enel knew he was in serious trouble.
Applying this form in actual combat for the first time, Enel realized a fatal flaw: the Amal - Extreme Speed form drained his physical stamina and Haki reserves at an absolutely terrifying, unsustainable rate. This was an ultimate, all-or-nothing trump card, not a technique meant for prolonged combat. He was already running on fumes.
If he could eventually train his physical stamina to the point where he could maintain this form for several days straight, it would become an invincible technique. But right now, his time was up.
Suddenly, exhausted, Enel's flawless combo slightly misaligned.
Dragon's eyes flashed fiercely. He instantly capitalized on the microscopic opening. "Dragon Claw Fist!"
It was the exact same technique he had used earlier, but this time, it was fundamentally different. Thick, crackling black lightning violently erupted from Dragon's clawed fingers. Just like Kaido's Thunder Bagua, Dragon could actively choose whether or not to infuse his attacks with Advanced Conqueror's Haki.
The terrifying, ACoC-infused claw swept toward Enel.
Before the attack even connected, Enel's highly honed instincts screamed at him. A massive, invisible 'DANGER' sign practically flashed over his head. In a desperate, final bid for survival, he threw his Haki-coated golden staff up to guard his chest and violently propelled himself backward.
THOOOOOM!
Enel was struck by the massive, invisible shockwave of Conqueror's Haki without Dragon's hand even physically touching him.
He was violently launched backward like a cannonball, plummeting from the sky. With his incredible kinetic vision, Bardock could clearly see that Enel had been knocked completely unconscious the absolute microsecond the Haki shockwave made contact.
Honestly, Enel was incredibly lucky he had instinctively retreated. The true, devastating lethality of the Dragon Claw Fist was achieved by physically grabbing the opponent and detonating the Haki directly into their body. If Dragon had managed to grab him, Enel would have absorbed the entire, catastrophic force of the attack internally.
Mansherry sighed heavily. She immediately hopped off Bardock's shoulder and ran over to where Enel had crash-landed to begin her healing process.
Fortunately, his injuries weren't nearly as severe as last time. He only had a few broken ribs and some mild internal bleeding.
If any ordinary doctor on the Grand Line had heard Mansherry casually dismiss 'internal bleeding' as a minor inconvenience, they would have likely fainted from professional shock.
As Dragon floated back down to the ground, his wind dissipating, Bardock politely clapped his hands. "As expected of the Supreme Commander of the Revolutionary Army. You handled Enel's ultimate speed form flawlessly, and secured the victory remarkably fast."
"In truth, Enel is incredibly strong," Dragon admitted, his tone respectful. "However, I have significant past experience fighting an opponent who utilizes a nearly identical, extreme-speed fighting style. That prior experience allowed me to properly anticipate and counter his high-speed assaults."
Dragon shook his head slightly. "Furthermore, Enel was far too eager for a quick victory. Given the absolute speed of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, if he had simply adopted a hit-and-run tactic, it would have been incredibly difficult for me to definitively defeat him."
Speaking of that specific fighting style, Dragon couldn't help but recall his former Marine colleague and frequent sparring partner—the absolute master of tactical slacking, Borsalino.
"Commander Dragon, it's obvious your Observation Haki has reached the pinnacle of 'Future Sight'," Bardock said, his eyes burning with genuine eagerness. "Would you be willing to offer me some pointers on how to awaken it?"
"It's not that I want to hide the secret from you," Dragon replied honestly, crossing his arms. "I've tried to explain it to many people in the Army. The problem is, it's an incredibly abstract 'feeling' that is nearly impossible to quantify with words. I managed to awaken it completely naturally during a life-or-death battle.
"I believe that to awaken Future Sight, two absolute prerequisites must be met. First, your baseline Observation Haki must already be exceptionally vast and refined. Second, you must engage in a desperate, high-stakes battle against an overwhelmingly powerful opponent. The more intense the physical and psychological pressure, the higher the chance of a breakthrough. But naturally, that also makes it incredibly dangerous."
Dragon offered a few more highly nuanced, theoretical tips based on his own experiences. Bardock listened intently, feeling he had gained a significant amount of valuable insight. "Thank you for the guidance. By the way, I've heard rumors that you used to be a Marine. Why did you ultimately leave the Navy?"
Dragon's expression darkened slightly as horrific memories of systemic corruption and Celestial Dragon atrocities flashed through his mind. He shook his head slowly, refusing to elaborate on the specific horrors he had witnessed. "I simply couldn't find the 'Justice' I was searching for within the Navy's ranks. That is why I founded the Revolutionary Army."
Dragon looked at Bardock intensely. "Bardock. Join us. With your crew's terrifying strength and unique abilities, I guarantee we could successfully liberate countless oppressed nations from the World Government's tyranny."
Dragon wasn't just looking at Bardock's raw combat power. Every single member of the White Dragon possessed incredible strategic value. Mansherry's miraculous healing could save thousands of soldiers, and Nico Robin's unparalleled historical knowledge was invaluable. If they joined the cause, the Revolutionary Army's overall effectiveness would instantly skyrocket.
"I deeply appreciate the offer, Mr. Dragon," Bardock smiled politely but shook his head. "However, a true revolution is not a dinner party. It requires massive bloodshed, endless war, and devastating sacrifices. For my crew as we currently are, carrying the absolute weight of the world's freedom is far too heavy a burden. We are adventurers, not soldiers."
Bardock paused, his smile widening slightly. "However... we are absolutely willing to provide the Revolutionary Army with as much logistical and indirect assistance as we reasonably can."
When it came down to a choice between the Revolutionary Army and the Celestial Dragons, Bardock would back Dragon's faction every single time.
Dragon didn't push the issue. He was a patient man. The fact that Bardock was actively willing to align himself with them diplomatically was an incredibly positive first step.
At that exact moment, the heavy wooden doors of the church opened, and Robin walked out.
"Bardock," Robin said, her tone professional and decisive. "I've finished my discussion with Kuma. I've thoroughly analyzed the Revolutionary Army's ideologies, and they align with our goals. I strongly suggest we utilize the Dandelion Merchant Guild's vast logistics network in the West Blue to secretly provide the Revolutionary Army with funding and essential supplies. If I manage the operation personally through a series of encrypted shell companies, we can guarantee absolute anonymity. The Guild's civilian employees won't even know they are supplying a revolution."
"That works for me. You have full authorization to manage it," Bardock nodded in agreement. He quickly added a firm condition. "There is only one strict rule: you must ensure our absolute anonymity. We are absolutely not ready to openly declare war on the World Government or paint a massive target on our backs yet."
"Understood," Robin nodded.
"That is incredible news," Dragon said, his perpetually stern face finally breaking into a genuine, warm smile. "Shall we head inside and finalize the logistical details?"