"Enough talk!!!"
Enel's roar tore through the heavens. In his Thunder God form, he was the very incarnation of divine punishment.
He threw a single punch.
A deluge of violent lightning poured forth like a breached floodgate!
The entire sky was swallowed by blinding blue-white radiance. The air warped and evaporated under the searing heat.
BOOM!
Wherever the lightning passed, the ground collapsed. Rock vaporized in an instant. Dazzling electric plasma surged forward like a tidal wave, devouring everything in its path!
And yet—
"Just right… five seconds left."
Gern's voice cut clearly through the thunderous roar.
The next instant, his figure vanished.
Not movement at extreme speed—
But true disappearance.
VMMMM!!
Shock Flash activated.
Gern's form flickered like a mirage within the lightning, slipping through the storm in a series of molecular-level blinks, each one perfectly aligned with the infinitesimal gaps between the bolts—as if every attack trajectory had already been foreseen.
Enel's pupils contracted violently.
"Your lightning is powerful…"Gern's voice echoed from left, then right, like Death whispering in his ear."But if it can't hit, it means nothing."
"Your Observation Haki talent is exceptional…"Another Shock Flash—lightning skimmed past his sleeve, yet not even a scorch mark remained."But you never bothered to truly develop it."
"You call yourself a 'god'…"Gern's figure abruptly appeared directly in front of Enel. Their gazes collided for less than a thousandth of a second."…yet you don't even understand the most basic principles of combat."
Each word landed like a sledgehammer, smashing straight into Enel's heart.
"ENOUGH!!!!"
Enel completely lost control.
His Thunder God body swelled madly, limitless lightning erupting from within. The entire Sky Island of Birka trembled beneath his fury. Clouds were torn apart. The atmosphere screamed in agony.
"I am a god!!"
"A god does NOT fight like a mortal!!!"
"Is that so?"
Gern's presence was suddenly right in front of him.
Enel froze.
When—?!
Before he could even process it, Gern was already within arm's reach. His right fist drew back to his waist, power coiling tight. A vortex of vibration condensed around his knuckles.
"Time's up."
"So now—my turn."
The moment the words fell, a straight punch wrapped in Armament Haki was unleashed.
"Black Shock · Piercing Star."
In that instant, Enel's Thunder God form shattered like glass.
"GHA—!!"
His eyes bulged. Blood erupted violently from his mouth. The shockwave blasted the air behind him into a visible vacuum fracture, a hollow ring torn straight through space.
His body flew backward like a kite with its string cut—
Only to be caught midair as Gern seized his shoulder.
"Do you know why I came looking for you to join me, Enel?"
Enel's vision blurred. A shrill ringing filled his ears, yet Gern's voice still reached him.
"Why…?"
The corner of Gern's mouth lifted slightly.
"Because I need a god."
"I will give you… a god's justice."
"A god's… justice…"Enel's consciousness drifted as his body slipped from Gern's grasp, falling like a meteor toward the earth below.
But Enel did not lose consciousness.
He lay amid the ruins, eyes locked onto the figure in the sky.
The oppressive force of Conqueror's Haki…The sheer destructive might of Armament Haki…And that terrifying Observation Haki that seemed to see through everything…
Gern had shown him what true power really was.
Even in the instant he was struck by Conqueror's Haki, something within him had awakened…
But the arrogance of a "god" would not allow him to bow.
That was why he had challenged him again.
And now—
Enel slowly raised a trembling hand, staring at Gern above.
"Heh… hehehe…"
He laughed.
He accepted it.
"So that's how it is…"
What he needed… was precisely this kind of power.
Because—
A god should be omnipotent.
...
"It seems you finally understand what you want."
Gern descended soundlessly, looking down at Enel lying on the ground.
The young "god" slowly raised his head, lips curling into a nearly deranged smile.
"Tell me… what is a god's justice?"
"All mortals must submit before god. Those who defy him are sinners—destruction is their only salvation."
"Those who question god commit blasphemy and must be struck down by lightning."
"Those unable to endure god's trials were never meant to exist."
Gern said nothing more.
Nor did he use hollow, hypocritical rhetoric about "justice" to twist Enel's will.
Because it was precisely this extreme, utterly pure divine madness that he needed.
The "god's justice" Enel would carry out would become the most radical variant of "justice" among Gern's subordinates.
It would fully sanctify violence as divine judgment.
Thus, Enel's joining would not strengthen the Marines—it would tear apart their false veneer of "justice," laying bare the truth that power itself is truth.
Or rather—
Compared to Akainu's "Absolute Justice,"Enel's "God's Justice" differed in only one key way:
Akainu still believed himself to be a "tool of the world."
Enel declared outright—
"The world is my tool."
It was precisely this extreme divine arrogance—so absolute it didn't even bother to disguise its hypocrisy—that Gern's forces needed most right now.
Because every team requires a spear—
One that accepts no threats from any power, proclaims itself supreme, looks down upon all, and treats every rule and warning as blasphemy.
And that ultimate spear was—
God · Enel!!!
"Hahahahaha!!!"
Enel's manic laughter echoed through the sky as lightning surged wildly around him.
He had thought Gern would be like the others—using fake "reasons" to restrain him, demanding he suppress his so-called "divine nature."
But instead, this man was even more compelling, more audacious than he had imagined.
"Is that really okay?!"Enel's eyes burned with fanatical excitement."Because if I truly become that strong…
I'll destroy even you!
Then I'll rule the Blue Sea as a tyrant—forcing the entire world to kneel beneath the thunder of 'god'!!!"
"Heh."
Gern's lips curved faintly, his gaze calm.
"If 'justice' only needs power as its foundation…"His voice was low, yet carried unquestionable authority."Then if you become stronger than me and proclaim yourself a god… why not?"
"After all, upon that sea…"He turned his head slightly. Morning light washed over his profile, outlining a cold, sharp arc."Clashes between absolute powers have never ceased—not for a single moment.
And all rules… were always meant to be written by the strongest."
With that, Gern turned and walked away.
Lippo, Snake Princess, and Tesoro followed closely behind.
The morning light fell like gauze, stretching their silhouettes long, gilding them in gold.
Enel slowly rose to his feet. Narrowing his eyes, he stared at Gern's retreating back, then suddenly grinned and shouted,
"Hey! Gern!"
Gern paused.
"On the Blue Sea—are apples unlimited?!"
Without turning around, Gern reached into his coat, pulled out a bright red apple, and casually tossed it backward.
The apple traced a perfect arc through the air. Enel caught it, lowered his gaze, and looked at it.
"What do you think?"Gern's voice drifted back on the wind, carrying a faint, teasing smile.
"Hahahaha!!!"
Enel laughed loudly, slinging his golden staff over his shoulder as he strode forward to follow.
Lightning spread beneath his feet, as though paving a divine road leading down into the world of men.
"Then let the Blue Sea… prepare itself to welcome the descent of a god!!!"
..
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