Chapter 117: I Will Stand Among the Gods! Enel's Identity!
Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 1.
"I can't... see clearly at all."
Alan stood at the epicenter of the battlefield.
He looked up, ignoring the stinging pain in his eyes, watching the scene unfold around him.
CRASH!
Countless lightning bolts continued to strike from the dark sky.
Each bolt blasted a massive crater in the ground, melting and destroying everything within.
But in contrast...
VMMM!
Columns of light rose continuously from the ground, clashing with the lightning and kicking up massive clouds of dust.
In the center of the dust, lightning, and light columns...
A bolt of lightning and a beam of gold collided repeatedly like two comets at exaggerated speeds.
But Alan knew—they weren't comets, but two people.
BOOM!
BOOM!
Their speed far exceeded Alan's ability to track.
He only saw flashes of light, but the dozens of sonic booms in the air indicated they had clashed dozens of times.
"Lord Yuji... is actually this strong."
Alan always knew Yuji was strong.
But he never knew Yuji was this strong—compared to the power Yuji displayed now, his previous fight at Master Port seemed like playing with a child.
But this thought didn't last long.
"Lord Yuji and that Enel... their battle isn't affecting me because of this Celestial Dragon."
Alan hugged the metal box he had taken off his back.
He recalled Yuji's teachings during their training.
"Alan, remember—strength cannot be achieved overnight. Even as an ability user, it's hard to become a top powerhouse quickly."
"But thought and will can."
"No matter what happens, think carefully—even if you are weak, there is always something you can do."
Like Alan now.
He knew the reason the massive destruction around him didn't harm him was the Celestial Dragon in his hands.
Enel was hesitant, afraid of hurting the hostage.
"I can't help in this battle."
"If Lord Yuji loses, with Enel's ability, I will definitely die."
"But—Lord Yuji will win."
So what he could do was simple.
"Leave here!"
"Leave this battlefield. My main body and other clones are on nearby islands, holding backup boxes... I can hide. Even if I can't hide, I need to create enough distance so Lord Yuji won't be held back by me."
Thinking this, he forced himself to stand up and sprinted toward the edge of the island.
Meanwhile...
"Smart kid."
Hovering in the air, Yuji flapped his wings.
Noticing Alan's choice, he nodded in satisfaction.
But just then.
"Where are you... looking!?"
A growl came from behind him.
"Thunder Beast!"
With Enel's roar, the lightning around him formed two massive lion-like thunder beasts, pouncing on Yuji.
Facing the incoming thunder beasts, Yuji didn't dodge.
"Light · Pleiades Guards."
He simply raised his hand.
From the intense light beside him, two massive figures wielding giant swords emerged—'Guardians of Light'.
Their giant swords swung, slashing the Thunder Beasts in two instantly.
Seeing this, Enel's expression darkened, but he didn't give up.
"Thunder Lance · Barrage!"
He raised his hand, and spears made of lightning spawned continuously beside him, shooting toward Yuji.
"Light · Blade Rain."
Simultaneously, countless light beams shaped into swords appeared beside Yuji, clashing with Enel's thunder lances.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The thunder lances were annihilated by the rain of light blades.
Then...
"Wings of Light."
Yuji's wings erupted with blinding light.
"Ryou Infusion · Light Speed Claw!"
Wind howled as his figure shot out with the sound of breaking air—his sharp dragon claws, coated in Ryou, slashed toward Enel at light speed!
"Mantra · Flash!"
Enel's Mantra activated, instinctively prompting him to dodge right.
But before that...
WHAM!
Yuji's massive tail intercepted his path on the right.
That wasn't Observation Haki.
It was the 'combat instinct' of ancient beasts honed through slaughter and hunting.
"Armament Haki · Thunder Fist!"
Seeing this, Enel knew he couldn't dodge and gritted his teeth.
His fist, coated in black Armament Haki and flickering with lightning, punched out.
At the same time...
"Thunder Body · Static Stimulation."
Fine lightning flickered over his body, and his muscles expanded visibly.
But...
BOOM!
The next moment, his lightning and Haki-coated fist was shattered. His body plummeted like a meteor, smashing another massive ravine into the already crumbling island.
"Seems you learned quite a bit after leaving Skypiea, Enel—"
In the sky, Yuji flapped his wings, looking down at the ravine.
In fact, Yuji was genuinely surprised.
He didn't expect to encounter Enel so soon after reading his file.
And he could tell Enel was clearly stronger than in the original story.
His fruit usage was more refined, and most importantly—he had mastered Armament Haki to a considerable degree, and his physique was much tougher.
Combined with the armor and his presence here... Yuji basically confirmed his earlier guess.
Of course, that didn't matter.
Because...
"That doesn't change the gap between us."
Yuji stated the fact calmly.
Yes—the gap.
True, Enel's Rumble-Rumble Fruit was one of the top Logia fruits.
Destructive power, versatility—it was flawless, especially its unrivaled 'Speed'.
But unfortunately, he was facing 'Yuji'.
[Glint-Glint Fruit LV4 - Can form light tunnels in the air for light-speed movement, create various light constructs. Emitted light possesses intense heat and power.]
Wasn't Yuji's 'Glint-Glint Fruit' (LV4) also a top-tier Logia?
In a duel of speed and power based on fruit abilities, they were evenly matched.
But...
"When fruit types and strengths are similar, gaps in other areas become the deciding factor."
Even with the same Logia, an Admiral using it versus a random grunt using it were completely different concepts.
The fundamental difference wasn't the fruit, but the 'biological individual'.
Physique, vitality, strength, muscle, Haki, even combat instinct—every gap influenced victory.
This was where Yuji felt Enel had improved most compared to the original story.
His fruit development was deep, even learning to stimulate his body with electricity and Armament Haki to burst with greater strength and hold more lightning.
Yuji was certain—if current Enel returned to Skypiea to fight original Luffy, Nika would likely die halfway.
But...
[Fusion Fruit · Tyrant Pteranodon LV4]
Yuji, possessing the physical power of two fused Ancient Zoans, wasn't current-era Luffy.
With this Fusion Fruit, Yuji's 'Ryou' and frontal combat power were arguably the strongest among all current Zodiac members.
This was the summary of the battle.
In a one-on-one fight to the death, Enel had no advantage over Yuji—his only potential advantage was long-range attacks via Mantra, but that space was gone now.
Enel was strong.
But Yuji... was stronger.
However...
"Don't get cocky... insect."
Rising from the ravine, Enel didn't think so.
Though covered in wounds.
His words remained defiant.
"I admit your ability surprised me... but that's all."
He noticed Alan fleeing but didn't care.
He realized Alan and Yuji didn't intend to kill Saint Anbokamu immediately.
In that case, no matter how far the kid ran, his Mantra could lock onto Anbokamu's aura instantly.
So compared to Alan, his priority was... the guy in front of him.
"You seem to know my background?"
He said deeply.
"Of course, our organization's intel network is vast—Enel, the man from Sky Island Birka, Rumble-Rumble Fruit user."
Yuji chuckled. "As for now... although not fully investigated, I guess you're currently a Celestial Dragon's dog?"
As he said this.
Yuji felt Enel's aura... change!
KABOOM!
Lightning erupted from him again.
Grind! Grind!
Piercing sounds came from his mouth—his teeth grinding furiously.
"You..."
He growled, staring at Yuji.
Lightning in his eyes outlined pure rage.
Undoubtedly—this attitude felt more familiar to Yuji than the "cold loyal dog" persona earlier.
This was the Enel he remembered.
Arrogant, violent, insufferable.
"Who are you calling... A CELESTIAL DRAGON'S DOG!?"
As his words fell, unprecedented lightning crashed from the sky.
But this time—the target wasn't Yuji, but Enel himself.
BOOM!
Violent lightning struck him, and Enel slowly raised his hand.
"Hm?"
Yuji saw clearly—a layer of lightning coated the armor on Enel's body.
Lightning circulated between his body and armor, erupting with intense power.
At the tip of his staff, lightning formed a sharp structure resembling both a spear and a scepter.
"You think you know me? Insect!"
"You have no idea... what kind of power I have obtained!"
Unprecedented Haki and lightning surged from Enel.
"Thunder God Armor · Equip!"
"Thunder God Lance · Anchor!"
"Charge Efficiency - 70%"
Words fell, and he vanished.
"Hm!?"
This time, even Yuji exclaimed in surprise.
Because in that instant, Enel's explosive speed far exceeded his previous limit!
Yuji instinctively turned to dodge, but it was too late.
His chest was pierced!
SQUELCH!
Immense force and a piercing sound followed.
"..."
Enel's angry face appeared before Yuji, now wearing a savage grin.
His breathing was slightly ragged—clearly, this burst of lightning put pressure on him too.
But now, he felt only joy.
"I gave the core of 'Maxim' to the Gods, and they gave me power and the possibility of becoming a God—as long as I serve long enough and earn enough merit."
"I will have the chance to stand alongside the Gods."
His voice surged with long-suppressed emotions. "So do you understand? Insect—"
"I will inevitably become one of the 'Gods'!"
He pulled hard.
BOOM!
Terrifying destructive power... exploded from within Yuji's body!
"Annihilation · Thunder Blast!"
The lightning, coated in Armament Haki, was blinding.
Even Yuji's Ancient Zoan physique exploded instantly.
Heart burst, blood flowed, bones shattered, limbs severed.
"Hahahahaha!"
Seeing this, Enel laughed maniacally.
He knew... even a Mythical Zoan with near-Logia abilities and immense vitality couldn't survive this.
"Insect, this is the consequence of opposing God, you..."
He growled in satisfaction, bordering on madness.
But...
"..."
In an instant, Enel sensed something wrong.
Because the shattered remains of 'Yuji' didn't fall.
On the contrary.
VMMM!
The rain of blood, bone, and flesh... began to emit light.
Countless beams of light became 'bonds', stitching and reconnecting everything.
"I thought so."
Yuji's figure reformed almost instantly, his voice calm.
He looked at Enel with understanding.
"You are currently a member of the 'God's Knights', aren't you?"
☆☆☆
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