"You must regain your full power," Kain said in his usual cold voice. "In your current state, you are an easy target. You could be assassinated from a distance."
Enel looked at him. Showed no emotion on his face, but inside, he was listening carefully.
"How?"
"We have a system. Similar to the one in the room where you were allowed to regain part of your abilities. But this system is different. It will help you regain your full power... without it disappearing again."
Kain stopped talking.
"But... what?" Enel asked.
"It all depends on your will," Kain said. "If you fail... you may suffer some deformities. The system is a capsule. You enter it. No exit until the cycle is complete."
A moment of silence.
"How long will it take to get out?" Enel asked with serious expression. He knew it was dangerous.
"I don't know," Kain answered honestly. "Perhaps a day... or less... or you will never come out alive."
Enel looked at the ground. Thinking. He had nothing left to do. Trapped in this place. Weaker than the fighters here. The dream of treasure and power had evaporated. There was nothing on the moon. What remained?
He raised his head.
"I am ready."
Kain had been contemplating Enel's features as he thought. He read something in his eyes he hadn't expected. Surrender? No. Something else. A decision.
"Good," Kain said. "We will prepare. We will do maintenance and clear any issues. Then we begin. Go and prepare yourself. I will summon you."
Enel turned his back and left.
At Sanada's home, Rin was preparing to go out. She wore her simple clothes. Slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Be careful on the way," Sanada said from his place.
Rin smiled. "Do not worry about me. I am your daughter."
She left.
The path was rocky. Gray moon rocks stretched in every direction. No trees. No wind. No plants. Only rocks and long tunnels to pass through. Above them, the transparent dome protected them from radiation, preserved oxygen, and maintained gravity.
Rin walked quickly. After a while, she reached the city.
Buildings rose around her. White, gray, and blue. She laughed. Happy as usual. As if she had never seen this sight before. Even though she came to the city from time to time, she enjoyed the liveliness. The people. The cities. She walked and looked at things. Turned around to see everything.
She didn't pay attention to what was in front of her.
She collided with someone.
Fell to the ground.
"Can't you see in front of you?" she said as she was getting up.
Enel looked at her. His face cold as usual.
"That question is directed at you," he said.
Rin paused for a moment. Then closed her eyes and smiled. She knew she was the one at fault. She laughed. A light, beautiful laugh.
When she opened her eyes, she saw who was standing before her.
Tall. Taller than most known people on the moon. Pale-skinned. With long, strange ears...
All these features... did not belong to the moon.
"You... you are the Earthling?!" she shouted loudly.
"Yes," Enel said coldly. "And what of it?"
Rin exploded with jumping and screaming. She was overjoyed. "Amazing! Amazing! I've met him! It's you!"
Enel smiled faintly. Took a step to leave. But she grabbed him.
"Where are you going? Wait! I want to know so much! How is Earth? How do you behave? How is your life?"
"I don't have time to talk."
Then he walked.
The joy disappeared from Rin's face. Her features fell. As if she had lost something precious.
Enel stopped. Saw that. Felt something. Didn't know what it was.
He returned to her.
"What do you want to know?"
Joy returned to her face as if it had never left.
"I want to know everything!"
They began walking together. Rin was jumping with joy. Enel walked beside her.
"Sky Island," Enel said. "There... the Shandia tribe. They preserve memories. They dance. They repeat words they don't understand."
"And Earth? How is it?"
"I never really went to Earth. I was in the sky. But I heard... there's a blue sea. Vast. Endless. And pirates. They come to the island sometimes. Some are stupid. Some..."
He remembered Luffy.
Stopped talking.
"Some what?" Rin asked.
"Nothing."
Rin looked at him with wide eyes. Drinking every word. Every detail he told. She didn't want to miss anything.
Suddenly, a shadow fell on the ground. Rin looked up.
Kain's servant.
"Enel-sama," the servant said. "Kain is summoning you."
Enel rose from his place. He had been sitting on a large rock. Brushed the dust off his clothes.
"Can we talk again?" Rin asked in a faint voice.
Enel looked at her. Her eyes clung to hope.
"I don't know."
Then he walked.
Left her sitting on the ground. She watched him until he disappeared behind the buildings.
"I don't know..." she whispered to herself. "It's as if he won't return."
She felt something strange. As if she would never see him again.
Enel entered the room. In its center, the capsule stood. Made of white and transparent metal. Blue light emanated from inside.
He entered the capsule.
Before Kain closed the door, he paused.
"There is something," Kain said. "I didn't tell you."
Enel looked at him. Said nothing.
"If you come out of the capsule alive... you will not be as you were."
Enel paused for a moment. "What do you mean?"
"This capsule was originally used to enhance and develop abilities. And Devil Fruit users used it in ancient times... to transition to the second stage of their fruit's power."
Enel's eyes widened slightly.
"Which means if you survive... you will reach the second stage of your power. And you will be amazed by the level you will achieve."
Enel smiled. A wide smile. Enthusiasm returned to his eyes.
"Therefore..." Kain said. "Do not fail."
He closed the door.
Enel stood inside the capsule. The blue light grew brighter. Looked around. Surrounded by glass. Saw only his reflection.
"The second stage," he whispered.
He pressed the start button.
The capsule vibrated. Dense blue light filled the space. Then turned white. Then blinding. Enel could no longer be seen.
Kain left the room. Walked to the control room. Sat before the screens. Through the unbreakable glass, he saw the capsule. Saw the light glowing.
"Now we wait," he said to himself.
He placed his hand on the control panel. Began operating the system.
Enel was inside.
How long would he stay there?
Would he come out alive?
And what would he become if he came out?
Questions with no answers. Only the light glowed. Time passed. And Kain watched in silence.
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