The primal forest of Upper Yard trembled under the roar of thunder.
The colossal "Giant Jack" vine pierced straight into the heavens, like a ladder to paradise.
At the center of the storm vortex, tens of thousands of meters above—
A massive golden ark radiating cold authority—
The Ark Maxim.
It hovered arrogantly, overlooking the land below that teetered on the brink of destruction.
"Gomu—Gomu…"
Deep within the forest below, a figure suddenly leapt onto a towering ancient tree that blocked out the sky.
Luffy hooked his legs tightly around the canopy.
His arms stretched backward like two endless serpents, grabbing onto a distant stone pillar.
His body creaked like a fully drawn bowstring.
Under his skin, his blood surged wildly, driven by Vajra Inner Energy.
"Launch!!"
Luffy shot into the sky like a blazing meteor.
The wind howled past his ears as the jungle below blurred into green.
At the very moment he began to lose momentum—
His eyes sharpened.
His arms extended another hundred meters—
Hooking firmly onto the golden edge of the Ark Maxim.
With a powerful pull—
He flipped up—
Landing onto the radiant golden deck.
At the center of the deck—
A figure sat upon a golden throne.
Enel.
Bare-chested.
The four tomoe drums behind him stood out ominously.
One hand supported his chin as he half-lidded his eyes—
Cold.
Detached.
Viewing all life as insects.
The moment Luffy stepped aboard—
Enel's Mantra had already locked onto him.
But he didn't even bother to stand.
"Struggling to survive under the will of a god?"
"What a disobedient lamb."
His voice was calm—
Yet carried the pressure of rolling thunder.
Luffy dusted off his straw hat.
He walked forward steadily.
Each step echoed heavily across the golden deck.
His gaze held no fear.
Only judgment.
"You're the so-called god trying to wipe everyone out along with this island?"
"I'm not letting that happen."
"Oh?"
Enel raised his eyelids slightly, a cruel smile forming.
"Mortals love to speak of 'saving others'…"
"Yet before absolute power, your will is more fragile than clouds."
"Shut up!!"
Luffy snapped his head up.
His eyes were sharp as drawn blades.
"Killing innocent people just because you feel like it…"
"Trash like you—bullying the weak—dares call yourself a god?"
"Today—"
"I'll kick you down from that fake throne!"
"Big words."
Enel's expression turned cold.
He slowly stood.
Blue-white lightning crackled at his fingertips.
"I'll show you the price of angering a god."
"1 Million Volts—Discharge!"
A bolt of lightning shot forward like a raging dragon—
Striking Luffy square in the chest.
Blinding light engulfed the ark.
Electric currents surged wildly across the deck.
But—
Luffy didn't move.
Didn't dodge.
He stood there—
Completely engulfed in lightning.
When the smoke cleared—
He was still standing.
Not even a single strand of hair was singed.
"Frozen in fear?"
"Pathetic Blue Sea trash."
Enel scoffed—
But then—
He saw Luffy casually brushing dust off his chest.
"…What?"
His pupils shrank.
"20 Million Volts—Discharge!!"
A thicker bolt roared out.
The heat alone nearly burned the oxygen from the air.
Still—
Nothing.
Luffy stood there.
Expressionless.
As if the lightning was nothing more than a passing breeze.
"This… this is impossible!!"
Enel panicked.
For the first time in his life—
Fear gripped him.
"100 Million Volts—Discharge!!!"
"BOOOOM—!!!"
A massive sphere of lightning exploded above the ark.
Electric waves spread outward—
Shattering distant clouds.
When the light faded—
Luffy still stood there.
Unharmed.
He tilted his head slightly.
Disappointment in his eyes.
"That's it?"
"…Impossible…!!"
Enel staggered backward.
His golden staff nearly slipped from his hand.
"I am lightning!!"
"I am the natural force that judges all things!!"
"Why… why are my attacks useless against you?!"
Luffy slowly raised his right arm.
A dense, almost tangible layer of Armament Haki coated it—
Dark.
Heavy.
With a faint golden sheen under the sunlight.
"You really are a clueless fool."
His voice was deep and steady.
"Don't think eating a Logia fruit means you can do whatever you want."
"This sea is far bigger than you can imagine."
His body leaned back slightly.
His arm vibrated—
Like an engine revving to life.
"Armament—"
"Rocket!!"
"I am a god!! You can't hit me—!"
Enel panicked, his body turning into lightning.
"BOOM—!!!"
The black fist didn't pass through.
It struck.
Solidly.
As if grabbing hold of something real—
The punch smashed into Enel's chest.
In that instant—
His so-called divinity—
Shattered.
The impact exploded like a nuclear blast.
The force pierced through his back—
Crushing the thick golden deck beneath him into a massive crater.
"Guh—!!"
Enel's face twisted.
His chest caved in from shattered ribs.
Blood sprayed violently, staining his ornate trousers.
His body—
Like a rag—
Was slammed into the wreckage.
All his arrogance—
Gone.
The Ark Maxim tilted violently.
Even the thunderclouds above trembled, destabilized by their master's defeat.
Luffy lowered his fist.
Standing at the edge of the ruins—
He looked down at the fallen "god."
His voice was cold.
"Today—"
"I'll show you what real power looks like."
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