For the self-proclaimed God, Enel, the techniques known as the "Electromagnetic Cannon" and "Raikiri" held a significance that went far beyond mere combat utility. These were not just attacks; they were the tangible results of his hellish training under the Governor-General of the Beasts Pirates, Kaido.
Currently, these were the two foundational techniques he focused on mastering above all else. One was designed for long-range devastation, while the other was honed for lethal close-quarters combat.
Enel could still hear Kaido's rough, drunken voice echoing in his memories, the lesson seared into his mind as clearly as a lightning brand.
"Listen well, brat. There is no point in wasting time on flashy, theatric tricks. In this sea, combat moves fall into only two categories: single-target annihilation and mass destruction. That is it. The true essence of any technique lies solely in its destructive output. Your Rumble-Rumble Fruit is formidable, yes. Electricity, to put it simply, is raw energy. The higher you condense that energy density, the more terrifying your destructive power becomes."
Enel had taken those brutal teachings to heart. He had stripped away his arrogance and approached his power with the mind of a scholar and a warrior.
To the untrained ear, the "Electromagnetic Cannon" sounded like the superior technique. It was loud, bombastic, and covered a wide area. However, in terms of pure lethality, the "Raikiri"—the Lightning Cutter—was vastly superior.
The physics behind it were simple.
No matter how much power Enel poured into the Electromagnetic Cannon, it was a projectile formed outside his body. Once fired, it became a separate entity. It was difficult to manipulate mid-flight, and from the moment of launch, the energy contained within the orb began to dissipate, consumed by air resistance and distance.
Raikiri was different.
As a melee technique, the lightning blade remained connected to Enel's physical form. He could constantly feed it fresh voltage, maintaining a stable, high-frequency loop of plasma. This connection allowed for perfect control and prevented energy loss, resulting in a cutting edge with infinitely higher density than a projectile.
The results spoke for themselves. Even Doflamingo's awakened threads, thick as arms and hardened with the invisible armor of Armament Haki, offered no more resistance than spider silk against Enel's blade. They were severed instantly, cauterized by the intense heat.
If such a blade were to strike a human body, the result would be catastrophic.
On the ravaged battlefield, Donquixote Doflamingo stood amidst the falling remnants of his white ocean. His brow furrowed tightly behind his sunglasses as he watched his carefully constructed "Birdcage" disintegrate into harmless string.
He was genuinely irritated. Even if the lightning blade hadn't touched his skin, the ease with which it sliced through his Haki-infused defense was alarming. It was a testament to the sharpness of that hissing, blue-white energy.
Furthermore, in high-level combat, surprise was a key element. Some techniques only worked once; a seasoned opponent would never fall for the same trick twice, especially when that opponent was a Logia-class Devil Fruit user capable of moving at the speed of lightning.
"Then..." Doflamingo muttered, his fingers twitching.
He prepared to escalate. The ground beneath his feet began to rumble again, the white threads surging like a restless sea, ready to rise for a second, more violent wave.
However, before Doflamingo could launch his next assault, the lightning in the sky vanished.
Enel, having dismantled the trap, did not retreat to the clouds. instead, he voluntarily deactivated his Logia elementalization. He dropped from the air, landing solidly on the debris-strewn ground. He stood straight, looking across the battlefield at the Warlord.
"It seems our Devil Fruit abilities are at a stalemate," Enel said, his voice calm but carrying across the distance. "They cannot decide the winner today. In that case..."
Enel raised his hands. The air distorted around his fists as they were suddenly coated in a layer of pitch-black, metallic sheen.
"How about we compete in Haki next?" Enel suggested, a fierce grin spreading across his face. "It just so happens that I want to measure exactly how powerful a Warlord of the Sea truly is."
It was clear that Enel had not forgotten Kaido's earlier warning—that he was not yet a match for the Heavenly Yaksha. That doubt fueled his desire to test himself.
Hearing the challenge, Doflamingo frowned for a split second, feeling a surge of annoyance at being underestimated. To be challenged to a contest of Haki by a rookie was an insult. However, his expression quickly relaxed, returning to his signature smirk.
Logically, this was the best outcome.
Doflamingo's goal in coming to Wano was not to fight a death match against a Logia user. His objective was to prove to Kaido that he possessed the strength required to be an executive, a "Fourth Calamity." He had already displayed his Devil Fruit mastery. A prolonged battle to the death would be messy. If he lost, it would be humiliating. If he won, he might accidentally kill a valuable asset of the Beasts Pirates, causing endless political trouble.
"Fufufufufu! No problem at all," Doflamingo laughed, his stance shifting. "As you wish, Enel!"
"Then I won't hold back!"
Whoosh!
In the blink of an eye, both figures vanished from their starting positions.
To the spectators watching from the sidelines, the captains and soldiers of the Beasts Pirates, the two fighters were nothing but blurs. They reappeared in the center of the battlefield an instant later, their movements synchronized in violence.
A thunderous roar, sounding like the collision of heavy iron and stone, echoed across the island.
Enel and Doflamingo clashed, each unleashing a high-powered kick.
Boom!
The impact of their Armament Haki created a shockwave that rippled through the air, kicking up dust and sending sharp gusts of wind sweeping across the faces of the onlookers.
The battle instantly escalated into a high-speed melee. They fought across the torn earth and leaped into the sky, trading blows with frightening speed.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Explosions of kinetic energy rang out rhythmically. Neither man used their Devil Fruit powers. There were no lightning bolts, no parasite strings—only pure physical strength and the hardening of Will.
The difference in their demeanors was stark. Enel's face was alight with the thrill of battle, his eyes wide with excitement. Doflamingo, on the other hand, wore a solemn, tight expression.
Doflamingo had known that Enel was talented. Kaido wouldn't have considered him for a Calamity position otherwise, and the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was legendary for a reason. But Doflamingo had not expected the man's talent for combat to be this monstrous.
If the intelligence reports were correct, this man didn't even know the concept of Armament Haki three months ago.
Yet now, as their shins clashed and fists collided, Enel's Armament Haki displayed a density and defensive durability that felt nothing like a novice. He fought with the solidity of a veteran who had survived the New World for years.
Doflamingo's brow furrowed deeper.
Although his primary goal was simply to gain Kaido's approval, the idea of struggling against a newcomer—a rookie who had just come down from the sky—wounded his pride. Even if the opponent was a Logia user, for a former World Noble and a current Warlord to be stalemated in a Haki duel was humiliating.
Sensing his opponent's hesitation, Enel's grin widened. He caught Doflamingo's kick and spoke, his tone dripping with provocation.
"It is pointless for us to waste time with these probing attacks. We are just sparring, after all. So..." Enel stared directly into Doflamingo's shaded eyes. "How about you let me witness the power of a King? Show me your Conqueror's Haki!"
The casual arrogance in Enel's voice struck a nerve. The air around Doflamingo instantly turned frigid.
"Fufufufufu!"
A cold, menacing laugh bubbled up from Doflamingo's throat, mixed with genuine anger.
"Since you asked so nicely," Doflamingo hissed, his veins bulging slightly on his forehead. "It would be rude of me to refuse. Have it your way!"
As the words left his mouth, a terrifying, dark red aura erupted from Doflamingo's body. It was a wave of pure domination, the physical manifestation of his will to rule.
Enel, standing in the eye of the storm, felt the pressure instantly.
However, Enel's expression did not crumble. He did not foam at the mouth or faint. After enduring countless beatings via Kaido's "Thunder Bagua," the members of the Beasts Pirates who trained in the volcano had developed a significant resistance to the pressure of a Conqueror.
Standing firm within the red/black aura, Enel scoffed.
"Is this it? Is this your Conqueror's Haki?" Enel taunted, unimpressed. "It seems that even the Haki of a King has levels to it."
"Fufufufufu, naturally!"
Doflamingo understood exactly what Enel implied. Compared to Kaido, the strongest creature in the world, his own Conqueror's Haki was indeed smaller in scale. But that didn't mean it was weak.
"Conqueror's Haki is still Conqueror's Haki," Doflamingo said, his voice dropping an octave. "For those like you, who have not awakened the disposition of a King, you will never truly understand the gap in our power."
"Is that so?" Enel crouched low, electricity crackling faintly around him. "Then show me the gap!"
"As you wish!"
Doflamingo vanished.
This time, the speed was different. In a fraction of a second, Enel's Observation Haki screamed a warning.
Right side.
Doflamingo's leg was already sweeping toward him, aiming for his head.
Enel reacted on instinct. He raised his right arm, coating it heavily in Armament Haki to block the strike, just as he had done dozens of times in the last few minutes.
But the moment he initiated the block, a sudden sense of dread washed over him.
Boom!!!
This was not an evenly matched exchange.
The moment Doflamingo's leg connected with Enel's arm, reddish-black lightning crackled violently at the point of impact. An overwhelming, crushing force—far beyond anything Doflamingo had displayed previously—smashed through Enel's Armament defense as if it were glass.
The kinetic force transferred instantly from his arm to his entire torso.
Enel was launched. His body transformed into a blur, tearing through the air like a cannonball fired at point-blank range. He flew backward, skipping off the ground once before smashing violently into a massive boulder located over 1 kilometer away.
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