Boom… Boom… Boom…
Another round of thunderous explosions rolled through the air. In the commercial district of the Water Capital, civilians glared toward Scrap Ship Island with open resentment, grumbling among themselves.
"Those damn pirates are starting again!"
"Yeah. My kid hasn't slept properly for days."
"How long is this supposed to go on?"
"It never ends. If this keeps up…"
Their complaints were cut short when someone yanked them back.
The reason was obvious. At the entrance to the commercial street stood two figures, one large and one small, both with ferocious expressions and bizarre appearances.
The larger one was huge and bloated, with a misshapen, ugly face that looked almost childlike. Snot hung from his nose, and he gripped an enormous long-handled blade in his hand.
The smaller one was an elderly woman dressed in flashy clothes. Her lips were painted a vivid red, sunglasses covered her eyes, and she leaned on a cane. She was short and hunched, her face lined with deep wrinkles, wrapped in a leopard-print coat.
This strange pair instantly drew the attention of every shopkeeper and passerby on the street. Yet the two of them acted as if no one else existed, chatting to themselves without a care.
"Mama, Mama, I'm so hungry!!!"
The big man stared at the food on display in the surrounding shops, greasy and rich with the scent of meat. Drool ran down his chin, and any merchant who caught his gaze turned pale on the spot.
The old woman, however, showed no sign of temptation at all.
"Don't rush, MY SON. As long as you listen to Mama and deal with those pirates, once we get their treasure, you can eat as much as you like."
"Really, Mama…?"
"Of course it's true. When have I ever lied to you?"
The hulking giant immediately burst into joy, swinging his long-handled blade around. The motion stirred up a violent gust that swept across the entire commercial street, leaving the surrounding civilians trembling in fear.
"That's great! Then, Mama… let's move out right away…"
But the moment he finished speaking, the old woman stomped hard on his foot.
"Idiot… idiot… Look how many people are here. And there are Marines and World Government eyes everywhere. Even if we beat them, how much treasure do you think we could get?"
She spoke with a sly, scheming smile, leaning casually on her cane.
"But once we're out at sea, it's a different story. When they set sail, we follow them quietly, kill them all, and take their ship and treasure. Then we'll never be lacking anything again."
"Mama… Mama… you're amazing!"
"Of course I am, you foolish son. Mama was once a woman Whitebeard himself took a liking to…"
Just then, another thunderous roar erupted from the sky. This time, it was even louder, so powerful that it made the ears of everyone in Water 7 ache. Along with it came blinding blue lightning and a shockwave that tore through the air like a raging hurricane.
…
Yemu was never the type to keep things to himself. Whenever he gained some insight or inspiration during training, he would share it immediately with those around him, hoping they could benefit from it as well.
Having grown up alongside Yemu since childhood, Enel benefited the most. From Yemu's words, he could always pick up on ideas that sounded unbelievable at first, yet became fascinating paths of development once he thought them through and tried them out.
Unlike Yemu, who focused on cultivating both body and will, Enel knew his own physical body could never match Yemu's.
But he was also keenly aware of where his strengths lay. Aside from basic training, he devoted the vast majority of his time to developing his Devil Fruit abilities, using them to forge a combat system uniquely his own: the Eight Thunder Gods.
Lightning as blade.
Lightning as armor.
Lightning as power.
Combined with Haki.
From this, he created forms that surpassed the power of a mere Thunder God: Heavenly Thunder God, Great Thunder God, Fire Thunder God, Earth Thunder God, Hidden Thunder God, Roaring Thunder God, Charging Thunder God, and Dark Thunder God, collectively known as the Eight Thunder Gods.
Over a month after arriving on the Grand Line, Enel had further incorporated techniques from Rokushiki and Fish-Man Karate, making him even more confident in his Eight Thunder Gods.
Now, facing Chinjao descending from the sky with that unmistakably terrifying force, Enel was filled with excitement. His entire body began to tremble.
"Finally… I can fight! A fight without any restraints!!!"
At that moment, Enel's fervor made Flare and the others nearby feel something was off. He looked far too much like a villain, completely different from the usually quiet Enel.
Yemu, however, said nothing to stop him. Instead, he spoke as if encouraging him.
"Yeah. No restraints. Fight to your heart's content."
Lightning flickered across Enel's body as blue thunder wrapped around him, as though he were wearing a cloak of electricity.
Stimulated by the current, his cellular activity was pushed to its limits. His physical defense and explosive power surged dramatically.
Even so, it still wasn't enough. The techniques of Rokushiki followed.
His blood began to surge, his muscles pulsed faster, and all the power in his body gathered into his fists.
As pitch-black Armament Haki coated both fists, Enel leapt into the air, driving his punch straight toward Chinjao's flat head.
"Eight Thunder Gods: Heavenly Thunder God."
Among the Eight Thunder Gods, this was a strike balanced in attack, defense, and explosive force.
In that instant, time itself seemed to freeze.
The blackened fist collided with the blackened head.
This was not only a clash of Armament Haki, but a direct confrontation between the Eight Thunder Gods and Hasshoken.
"Crackle… crackle…"
"Wave… wave…"
"Boom…"
In a single moment, pirate hunters on Scrap Ship Island, mercenaries atop the walls of the Seven Shipyards, and the Vinsmoke family soldiers aboard the four warships all felt a terrifying shockwave slam into them. A hurricane-like gale followed immediately, sending everyone tumbling.
The air crackled with electricity, and the sky blazed with blue lightning.
"!!!"
Suspended in midair, Chinjao stared in surprise at the young man before him, the one wielding the Goro Goro no Mi, who had actually blocked his finishing move. With a hint of admiration, he spoke.
"You brat… you actually stopped my ultimate attack."
Enel met his gaze with defiant arrogance and shot back.
"Thanks for the compliment. But your strength doesn't seem all that impressive."
Those words made Chinjao's expression darken slightly, his voice turning cold.
"Looks like if I don't get serious, I'll really end up being looked down on by you brats."
As soon as Chinjao finished speaking, a terrifying aura burst from his body and pressed straight down on Enel.
Enel felt it instantly, his power immediately suppressed.
"Conqueror's Haki… damn it. Why can't I awaken this power…"
Hearing this, Chinjao let out a ferocious grin.
"This is a power only those with the 'qualities of a king,' those destined to stand above others, can awaken! How could a greenhorn like you ever possess it?!"
"You're nothing more than a lucky kid who ate the Goro Goro no Mi. Do you really think you can rule the seas just by relying on a Devil Fruit?"
"You're far too young. Let me, a pirate of the older generation, teach you a lesson. I'll show you exactly where this world is truly cruel."
With that, Chinjao raised his fist, Armament Haki coating it completely, and slammed it down with ruthless force.
In an instant, Enel's body shot away like a meteor, crashing straight into Water 7…
Boom…