"30 million Volts... Thunderbird!"
Enel struck the drum on his right shoulder, conjuring a lifelike blue thunderbird that streaked toward Rayquaza.
As was its custom, Rayquaza retaliated by exhaling a Hyper Beam.
BOOM!
The two techniques collided, annihilating each other in mid-air.
This clash of powers had already repeated dozens of times; against Enel's offensive, Rayquaza remained perfectly composed.
"Excellent! The stronger you are, the happier I am. Only a creature like you is worthy of me!" Enel laughed heartily. He unleashed his techniques one after another as if they cost nothing, turning the entire sky into a lightning prison.
"No matter how you look at it, this is just too much." Zoro gripped his sword hilt, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. "Were you guys fighting a monster like this before?"
"Yes. Back then, a single strike took us all down." Gan Fall, the former "God," spoke with a mixture of fear and hatred. "He is a true monster, a terrifying being possessing genuine, grand power. If gods truly exist, they probably look something like that."
"Is the guy we wanted to defeat really like this? We were way in over our heads!" The Weakling Trio began to wail and cry again.
A similar question arose in the minds of Crocodile and Aokiji: His ability seems identical to Aomori's, both use lightning. Which one is the true user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit?
Identical fruits cannot exist simultaneously in the world, so one side must have a secret.
After observing for a while, they noticed a clue: That's it! Elementalization! We've never seen Aomori turn into his element, so he isn't a Logia user. Then what kind of fruit could it be?
The two were once again plunged into confusion.
Seeing the strong enemy but only able to watch, Luffy grew restless. "Dammit, I really want to go up there and fight that guy!"
"It's no use, Luffy. This isn't an opponent we can handle. Better leave it to Aomori-san," Usopp said.
"No!" Luffy shook his head. "That guy is mine. I decided a long time ago that I'm going to send him flying with one punch. Is there any way for me to get up into the sky?"
"There might be a way." Ace rubbed his chin, thinking seriously. "Leave it to me. I'll get us both up there to fight that guy!"
"Really? That's awesome, Ace!"
"Give me a moment." After reassuring Luffy, Ace quietly approached Crocodile and chummily threw an arm around his shoulders. "Old Sand, do me a favor, will you?"
Crocodile glanced at him sideways. "You want me to carry you up there with sand?"
"Bingo!" Ace snapped his fingers. "As expected of Old Sand, always so sharp. Thanks in advance."
"I haven't said I'd agree to it."
"Eh? I already bragged about it in front of my little brother. Do you really have the heart to see my reputation plummet?"
"What does that have to do with me?" Crocodile brushed Ace's hand away. "I can help you, but you must agree to one condition."
"What condition?"
"I haven't thought of it yet. How about you owe me one?"
"I can't do anything that goes against Pops," Ace said warily.
"Don't worry, it'll have nothing to do with the Whitebeard Pirates."
"Fine, it's a deal. While you're at it, can you take this Seastone off me?" Ace chuckled.
"I can't help you with that. Ask him yourself."
Who "he" was went without saying.
"Alright." Ace scratched his head and slowly sauntered over to Aomori. Before he could even speak, he heard Aomori say:
"Sure."
Aomori tossed him a key. "Do a good job. Don't let me down."
Though he didn't know how Aomori knew his intent, being free of Seastone was a massive relief. Ace nodded. "You don't even have to say it. I'm going to have a blast!"
The next moment, all the Seastone fell from his body.
The familiar power returned in full.
Ace laughed as raging flames, unseen for so long, erupted from his body. They formed a giant palm that scooped up Luffy and hurled him into the air.
"Here we go, Luffy!"
"Hot! Hot! Where did this fire come from? Ace, did you eat a Devil Fruit too?" the airborne Luffy shouted in surprise.
"Yeah, I'm a Flame-Man who ate the Flame-Flame Fruit." Ace transformed into fire and blasted off from the ground, soaring alongside Luffy. "Enough talk, let's take him down! I've been itching to knock him down a peg."
"Haha, let's do it!"
The two smiled at each other and threw their fists toward Enel, who was not far away.
"Gomu Gomu no… Pistol!"
"Fire Fist!"
The elongated rubber fist and the fist of flames streaked together toward Enel, who was locked in combat with Rayquaza.
"It's going to hit!" Nami cheered.
However, Enel seemed prepared. He stepped aside, dodging their pincer attack. He tilted his head to look at the falling Ace and Luffy, his face full of annoyance. "Where did these flies come from? Don't interrupt my battle. 30 million Volts... Thunder Dragon!"
A thunder dragon, even larger than the thunderbird, roared downward, trailing brilliant lightning.
"Old Sand!" Ace shouted.
"I know," Crocodile replied flatly. He flicked some sand, created by corroding the ground, beneath the pair, forming a sand cushion.
With the sand as a stepping stone, Ace and Luffy jumped to either side, dodging the thunder dragon.
The unobstructed thunder dragon plummeted straight toward those below.
"Oh no!" Luffy said anxiously. "Nami, run!"
"Don't worry about them," Ace chuckled.
The moment he spoke, a thick wall of ice rose from the ground, shielding everyone. It successfully intercepted the thunder dragon.
"Whew..." Aokiji slowly exhaled a puff of white mist. "Please refrain from attacking us spectators. It would be quite a bother."
"W-we're saved!" Usopp and Chopper cried tears of joy, scrambling behind Aokiji. They had officially found their "gold thigh" to cling to.
"Ice... To think there's another Logia user." Sanji took a puff of his cigarette, his curly eyebrow twitching. "Wait, the sand guy seems to be one too. Combined with Luffy's brother, there are three Logia users in Aomori-san's team? That's terrifying."
With a lineup like this, they could probably stroll through Marine Headquarters and leave unscathed.
"Fire and Ice?" Enel spared a brief glance at Ace and Aokiji, but his confidence didn't waver in the slightest. He firmly believed his lightning was the ultimate power.
"Luffy, let's go again!"
"Right!" Seeing that there was someone below who could withstand Enel's attacks, Luffy no longer had any reservations and went all out.
"Gomu Gomu no… Bazooka!"
He swung both arms far behind him, stretching them to an incredible length. Using the snap-back force, he slammed both hands toward Enel like a rocket launcher.
"Hmph. An attack like that isn't even worth dodging; there's no way you can hit me." Enel stood his ground confidently, his attention fixed only on Ace and Rayquaza.
"Heh, such is the tragedy of a man who hasn't read enough books." Aomori chuckled softly, watching as the "God of Thunder" Enel got hit in the face by the "Sun God" Nika, a classic scene.
"Impossible!" Watching his own teeth fly past his eyes, Enel couldn't believe it was real.
"Why? Why was he able to hit me?!"
Ace was also stunned. His first thought was that Luffy had learned Armament Haki, but he quickly dismissed it: It took me two years at sea to learn that. How could Luffy learn it so fast? Impossible, impossible...
"Luffy... he punched 'God'!" The members of the Straw Hat Pirates stood with jaws dropped, equally incredulous.
"He is Garp-san's grandson, after all. Impressive," Aokiji smiled with pride.
"What's going on?" Robin asked Aomori in confusion. "I saw you hit Crocodile before too. Is it the same reason?"
"No, it's different," Aomori shook his head and explained. "I use Armament Haki. For Luffy, it's likely an elemental disadvantage. He ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, and rubber doesn't conduct electricity."
"Oh~" Robin realized. She then asked, "Can I learn that Armament Haki too?"
Even though she wasn't a frontline combatant, she needed the ability to protect herself. In a team full of powerhouses, Robin felt she had to work on increasing her value to avoid being marginalized.
"Yes, you certainly can." Aomori thought that if Robin could coat her sprouted limbs in Armament Haki, her strength would increase significantly. With a well-placed "clutch," even the Four Emperors or the Three Admirals would find it hard to bear.
"Then train with me when you have time."
"Alright."
Back to the sky.
"Weird. Why didn't you dodge? Is there something wrong with your head?" Luffy tilted his head, genuinely puzzled. "But it felt good to punch you. I'm happy."
"Dammit! You dare humiliate me!" Having finally steadied himself, Enel could no longer suppress his killing intent. He shouted at Luffy in a rage: "You're dead! No one can save you!"
He flipped his wrist, transforming into violent lightning. "El Thor!"
A pillar of lightning shot from his hand. Before Luffy could react, he was completely engulfed by the electricity.
"Luffy!" Ace called out in worry, simultaneously hurling a dragon made of flames at Enel. After witnessing so many high-level battles, he had been innovating his own techniques.
This was a move he created by mimicking Enel's thunder dragon. He could control its direction to improve accuracy, and it looked cool to boot.
Perhaps to avoid failing again, Enel stopped posturing and used his lightning to cancel out the incoming fire dragon, though it cost him the chance to follow up on Luffy.
After launching the fire dragon, Ace jumped onto a sand cushion and hurried to Luffy's side. Just as he was about to support his younger brother, he saw Luffy standing up straight as if nothing had happened.
"Eh? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." Luffy checked his body and confirmed, "I'm totally fine. I was wondering why."
"Incredible." Ace rubbed his chin, giving a pitying look to the dumbfounded Enel. "Luffy, looks like you might be that guy's natural enemy."
"Natural enemy?" Luffy was confused.
"Natural enemy?" Enel refused to believe such claims. "I am God! How could God have a natural enemy? This is all an illusion!"
Refusing to accept it, he called down bolt after bolt of heavenly judgment upon Luffy.
This time, Ace wasn't worried. He moved off to the side, smiling as he watched Luffy bathe in the lightning; he even found time for a quick nap.
When the lightning dissipated, Luffy was still standing exactly where he had been, his clothes perfectly intact.
"No... impossible!" Enel's mouth fell open, and snot even started to run from his nose, his image was completely ruined.
"Is this a miracle?" Gan Fall couldn't help but shed tears. He knew it wouldn't be long before Enel was defeated.
Fate had shifted; the "God" would finally be pulled from his pedestal.
"Go, Straw Hat boy! Send that cruel God flying! Bring peace to Skypiea!"
"Go, Luffy! Knock him out!" Nami and the others cheered along.
"I was going to do that anyway." Luffy cracked his knuckles, a smile full of battle intent appearing on his face as his aura flared like a torch.
In contrast, Enel's mental state had completely shattered.
"I knew this would happen. Enel, can't you be a bit more competent?" Aomori, relegated to the background, shook his head. He thought to himself: You clearly have strength on par with an Admiral. You need to pull yourself together, or I won't get a chance to make an appearance.
As if Aomori's silent encouragement had worked, Enel's body crackled with electricity. The unnatural expression on his face faded, replaced by grim seriousness.
He looked at Luffy and said, "Straw Hat boy, your existence is slightly unexpected. But do you really think you can defeat me? Don't make me laugh. I am God, the God destined to rule the world!"
"You're always going on about being a 'God.' Isn't it annoying?" Luffy picked his ear and took a combat stance. "Save the big talk for after you've beaten me."
Feeling choked by the retort, Enel nodded awkwardly. "Very well. That is exactly what I intend."
He had pushed the thought of Rayquaza to the back of his mind. The priority was defeating this brat who might be his natural enemy.
Riding the lightning, Enel gripped his golden staff and charged at Luffy. Since long-range attacks were useless, he would try close combat.
"Hey, don't forget your opponent is also me." Ace chuckled, swirling his flames as he jumped toward Luffy's side.
In the air, the ignored Rayquaza's eyes flashed, and a brilliant light began to gather in its mouth.
It was a creature that held grudges; it wouldn't allow an opponent to hit it and then just walk away.
After all, it was here first!
The battle in the sky reignited. Three men and one dragon clashed, illuminating the dark night like broad daylight. It attracted the attention of the Priests and the native Shandians on the island, as well as the residents of the distant Sky Island.
Would the "God" emerge victorious, or would the outsiders succeed in their deicide?
This question loomed in everyone's hearts.