However, the pillar of lightning did not stop there.
At once, a second beam of thunder—which had been brewing within the storm clouds for some time—came crashing down from the heavens.
Davy Jones once again raised his trident and guided that column of lightning, redirecting it into the waters of the harbor. The impact exploded with a tremendous splash, sending waves rolling outward.
The "Supernovas" looked on in shock. None of them had expected such a terrifying force of nature—lightning itself—to be so easily commanded by Davy Jones.
It turned out that Davy Jones, through the use of his trident, could control the storms, rain, lightning, and mist within the surrounding seas.
The closer he was to seawater, the greater his power became; the wider the stretch of ocean, the more of nature's fury he could command.
The second lightning pillar, though immense in power, remained firmly under his control—its violent energy bent and guided by the trident toward the sea.
After that second strike, no third beam came. Apparently, the enemy had realized such attacks could no longer harm Davy Jones.
Even so, ordinary lightning continued to crash down across the island, the rumbling of thunder never ceasing.
Then Davy Jones gave his trident a shake, guiding the thunderclouds above to turn.
The cloud layer soon began to swirl like a massive vortex, spinning faster and faster until it broke apart completely.
The dark clouds dispersed, and the blue sky reappeared.
For the first time in who-knows-how-long, sunlight shone down upon Thunder God Island.
Only then did Davy Jones lower his trident and plant it into the ground. He turned his gaze toward the ever-composed Kuro, then toward the "Supernovas" who had instinctively backed far away.
When Davy Jones's gray-blue eyes swept across them, the "Supernovas" couldn't help but feel awkward.
They straightened their backs, not wanting to appear cowardly before him.
Their retreat moments earlier had been purely instinctual—after all, who could have imagined that Davy Jones possessed such overwhelming might?
Drake realized he had once again underestimated Davy Jones. Worry gnawed at him, but he had no way to report this to Marine Headquarters.
All he could do was silently pray that, during this time, no ordinary Marine fleets crossed their path. If they did, they'd only be marching to their deaths.
Before the "Supernovas" could even speak, a group of black-robed figures emerged from the tall grass and dense forest beyond.
They carried no Haki, no killing intent—they were simply ordinary people.
Having witnessed how Davy Jones diverted those monstrous lightning strikes and then dispersed the clouds above, awe filled their hearts. One by one, they fell to their knees.
"O Demon King… please, save us!"
"Demon King?"
Kuro remained silent, waiting to see Davy Jones's reaction before making his own move.
Davy Jones regarded the group for a moment and then asked, "Who are you people?"
They exchanged glances until one man, seemingly their leader, stepped forward and replied,
"We are the villagers who have lived on Thunder God Island for generations."
"You ask me to 'save you.' What do you mean by that?"
The man swallowed hard and said:
"Though Thunder God Island is constantly struck by lightning, we've developed crafts like 'thunder umbrellas,' 'storm-resistant cloaks,' and 'lightning-proof roofs,' so living here hasn't been too difficult."
"In fact, our unique environment has long protected us from pirate invasions."
At this point, the man's face darkened.
"But everything changed a week ago. A flying ship fell from the sky and crashed at the island's center, shattering completely. From its wreckage descended a man."
"He claimed to be the Thunder God from the 'Endless Earth,' who had arrived aboard the ark Maxim—Enel!"
"Enel, the Thunder God?"
Davy Jones felt the name stir a memory.
In an instant, he recalled where he'd heard it—Urouge, the "Supernova" from Sky Island, had spoken of this name shortly before his death.
According to him, Enel had once been defeated by Straw Hat Luffy.
After his loss, Enel had departed for the "Endless Earth," never to be heard from again.
And now, it seemed he had returned from that place—descending from the heavens and landing upon Thunder God Island.
While Davy Jones pondered, the villager continued:
"Enel commands the power of thunder itself. Thunder God Island's lightning seems tailor-made for him—he is unstoppable here."
"Yet for all his immense power, his temperament is cruel and deranged. He not only demands our submission but takes pleasure in tormenting us, enforcing absurd rules as he pleases."
"We no longer know how many have been killed by his lightning for resisting him—or simply for daring to think rebellious thoughts."
"We realized that in this world, only a Demon King could stand against a God. So please, Demon King, save us!"
If Enel was the "God," then Davy Jones's appearance indeed made him seem like the fitting counterpart—the "Demon King."
The villager spoke these words with all the courage left in his heart.
After all, he believed that Enel could hear people's thoughts.
Such blasphemy, even in one's mind, could bring down the "Judgment of God."
But having witnessed Davy Jones effortlessly deflect those divine bolts of lightning, they saw a glimmer of hope.
After a brief discussion, they decided to stake everything on Davy Jones.
Enel's unstable nature had already pushed them to the brink of despair. Even attempting to flee the island brought down his wrath.
Had he been a rational ruler—establishing even a cruel but predictable system—they might have endured. But his capricious cruelty left them no choice but to betray "God" and beg the "Demon King" for salvation.
Boom—!
Just as the islanders finished their plea, a deafening explosion shook the air. The sound pierced their ears like blades.
They looked up to see a piercing white light flickering in the sky—the remnants of lightning gathering once more, its sizzling growing louder and louder.
In the next instant, that light struck the ground among them, coalescing into a human shape.
He wore a white headwrap, with earlobes so long they hung to his chest, his bare upper body gleaming in the sunlight. Four drums were mounted on his back, and in his hand he held a golden staff.
"Enel…!" the villagers cried out in terror, recognizing him instantly. "Enel-sama!"
All the courage they'd mustered vanished at once. Mere mortals, they fell trembling to their knees, pressing their faces into the dirt, not even daring to run.
"It seems my training of you was still insufficient," Enel said, his tone dripping with contempt and arrogance. His gaze swept across them as though they were insects. "You actually dared to harbor rebellious thoughts."
"Enel-sama, we won't ever disobey again! Never again!"
The villagers groveled, abandoning all pride. Survival was all that mattered.
The "Demon King" might stand before them—but who could guarantee he would triumph?
They had witnessed Enel's divine power firsthand, and it was terrifying beyond measure.
Enel paid them no further attention. To him, they were beneath conversation.
His gaze turned toward the strangers who had just arrived on the island—especially toward Davy Jones.
"So you're the one who deflected my Divine Punishment?" Enel said, studying the monstrous figure before him. "You're the first since my descent to the Blue Sea who has managed to neutralize my attack."
The "Blue Sea," of course, referred to the world's ocean below—the one Davy Jones called home.
Enel's words brought back unpleasant memories.
Then he said:
"I'll ask you one question. Answer correctly, and I might spare your lives—perhaps even make you my priests."
Neither Davy Jones nor Kuro showed any change in expression, but the "Supernovas" bristled with anger.
To become Enel's "priests"? That was no different from bowing their heads in servitude!
They had only just submitted to Davy Jones—were they now expected to kneel before yet another overlord?
Did we become pirates just to keep finding new bosses to serve?
Enel's eyes swept across their varied expressions, but he didn't care.
"I'm looking for a man," he said. "He wears a straw hat. A rubber man named Monkey D. Luffy."
At those words, everyone's expression shifted.
"So, you do know him," Enel said, a faint smile twisting his lips. "Tell me where he is. I have business with him."
Indeed, Enel had unfinished business with Luffy.
Ever since gaining the Logia-type Rumble-Rumble Fruit, he had considered himself a god—obsessed with the thrill of domination and destruction.
His first experiment had been upon his homeland, Birka.
But the "invincible" god quickly grew bored.
After destroying Birka, he moved on to another Sky Island, Skypiea.
There, too, he crushed all opposition, driving out the false god Gan Fall, and established a new and terrible regime.
Yet Skypi
ea soon failed to amuse him as well.
His eyes turned then to the legendary "Endless Earth."
To reach it, he commanded the construction of the ark Maxim, intending to fly to that land and reign there as its god.
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