The moment Enel stepped out of his resplendent, gold-laden palace, he activated his Mantra.
Through that godlike perception, his consciousness expanded across the entire island, instantly locking onto his subordinates scattered in every corner. His command rang out, cold and absolute:
"Mobilize everyone. Arrest those who dared show disrespect to a god."
With Mantra, every movement made by Fiona and the others lay completely exposed before him.
As for Enel himself, he transformed into a bolt of lightning and shot straight toward Gan Fall's stronghold.
In an instant, blinding lightning tore through the heavens, illuminating the sky as though the world itself had been split open. The sudden spectacle sent waves of terror rippling across the island. Some people trembled uncontrollably, faces drained of all color. Others, having once witnessed Enel's cruelty firsthand, felt their fear surge anew.
Gan Fall's residence, Upper Yard, had once been a place of peace. But as lightning raged across the sky, tension swept through the land. His subordinates stared in horror. This was not an unfamiliar sight.
Years ago, this same lightning man had slaughtered countless people here. If Gan Fall had not fought with everything he had back then, Upper Yard would have fallen completely. And now, after all these years, Enel had returned, radiating an even more terrifying presence than before.
Enel had no interest in ants.
With a flash, he ignored every defensive formation and flew straight toward Gan Fall's palace. The guards who attempted to stop him were treated as nothing more than empty air.
Landing before the palace, Enel lifted his chin arrogantly and shouted in a voice filled with divine pressure:
"Gan Fall. Hand over the Blue Sea man who killed my subordinates. Now. Otherwise, today you will witness what true divine power looks like."
The instant Enel appeared, Eli Winters sensed him.
Compared to Eli's Observation Haki, Enel's Mantra was nothing more than a crude imitation.
Inside the palace, Gan Fall's face darkened the moment he heard that familiar voice.
Back when Enel had first obtained his lightning power, he had challenged Gan Fall. At the time, Gan Fall had survived only through cunning and luck, and because Enel was still inexperienced. If that had not been the case, Gan Fall would have died.
But now, Enel had returned stronger than ever. Gan Fall knew that he alone stood no chance.
Even so, he forced himself to remain calm and turned to Eli.
"Eli, please wait here for a moment. I will go see what is happening."
Eli waved his hand and smiled lightly.
"He's clearly here for us. We might as well go together."
Gan Fall paused, then nodded after a moment of thought. Borrowing Eli's strength might be his only option.
When they exited the palace, they saw Enel surrounded by Gan Fall's men. Every single one of them looked tense and pale, bodies trembling despite their numbers.
At the center, Enel stood relaxed and contemptuous, a mocking smile on his face.
Gan Fall's rage flared.
"Enel! You dare step onto my land again. You are truly shameless."
Enel glanced at him dismissively, then turned his gaze to Eli, Robin, and Fiona.
"So it was you three who killed my men?"
"It wasn't me. I didn't do it. Don't slander me," Eli said smoothly, pointing at Fiona. "She did."
Silence.
Robin blinked.
Fiona blinked.
Gan Fall blinked.
Even Enel blinked.
That triple denial almost broke everyone present.
Fiona rolled her eyes and stepped forward, hands clasped behind her back.
"I killed them. What about it, long-eared thief?"
Eli was deeply impressed.
Robin shot Fiona a strange look. She had not expected such words from someone who looked so gentle.
Gan Fall and his men were completely numb. This girl had a death wish.
Lightning crackled around Enel's body.
"You dare mock a god. I will turn you into ash!"
"Come on, then," Fiona replied coolly. "Long-eared thief."
Enel snapped.
"Die. Thirty Million Volts. Thunderbird!"
He slammed his staff against the drum on his shoulder. A phoenix-shaped lightning beast screamed through the air toward Fiona.
"Fall back!" Gan Fall shouted.
He did not need to. His men were already fleeing for their lives.
Meanwhile, Eli and Robin stood calmly behind Fiona, completely unconcerned.
"How shameless. Sneak attack," Fiona said casually. "Thread Shield."
Her fingers flicked.
A pitch-black shield formed in front of her, stopping the Thunderbird cold.
The threads were black because they were conductive. To block lightning, Fiona had coated them in powerful Armament Haki, isolating the electricity entirely.
Enel's eyes went wide.
"Impossible. Someone resisted divine power?"
Before he could recover, two blades struck from behind.
Thanks to Mantra, Enel barely avoided them by transforming into lightning. But to his horror, the blades curved midair and struck again.
This time, they cut him.
Pain exploded through his legs.
For the first time in his life, fear drowned out Enel's arrogance.
"So this is a god?" Fiona mocked. "Ignorance truly is terrifying."
Enel roared in fury.
"I will not lose to mortals!"
Lightning surged violently around him.
Eli's expression sharpened.
"He's charging something big."
Enel gathered all his lightning and enveloped himself within it, transforming into a towering thunder deity.
"One Hundred Million Volts. Thunder God Descends!"
The massive hand slammed downward.
Fiona snorted.
Black threads burst from the ground, intercepting the strike. She leapt onto her blade and charged straight at him.
No matter how Enel attacked, every blow was blocked.
As she closed in, Fiona's fingers danced.
Thick black threads surged like serpents.
Enel dodged desperately, but there were too many.
One wrapped around his leg.
Panic seized him.
He tried to burn it away with heat and lightning, melting the thread, but more followed, binding his entire body.
Then Fiona struck.
Two clean cuts.
His legs severed. Blood sprayed.
The Thunder God collapsed.
Before Enel hit the ground, Fiona caught him with a thread and immediately shackled him with Seastone cuffs.
Smooth. Clean. Efficient.
"Nice work," Eli said, applauding.
"He was weak," Fiona replied flatly.
Enel nearly cried.
Eli crouched before him, smiling.
"God, where did you get your Devil Fruit?"
"What Devil Fruit?" Enel muttered.
"…What?"