Chapter 118: Eat This Punch and Even Gods Will Die!
In fact.
Reading the [High West Attack Incident] report, seeing Enel pardoned and seemingly joining a Celestial Dragon-affiliated organization...
Roy had a guess.
After all, few organizations are related to Celestial Dragons. The two most famous are obviously the 'Five Elders' and the 'God's Knights'.
The former commanded all Celestial Dragons, representing the 'Highest Authority in the World'.
The latter held the power of life and death over ordinary Celestial Dragons, representing 'God's Force'.
But clearly, Enel couldn't belong to either.
Because to join them, one must be a 'Celestial Dragon'.
So there was only one answer.
God's Retainers (God's Blades)—a subordinate organization of the God's Knights.
Members of this organization could participate in the Celestial Dragons' grandest 'Native Hunting Competition' held every three years.
Top rankers in the competition could become 'God's Knights' and receive excellent rewards.
Yuji wasn't sure if this organization allowed 'non-Celestial Dragons' to join, but now...
He was certain.
KABOOM!
As Yuji spoke, blinding lightning erupted from Enel again.
"You... how could you possibly know..."
Shock filled his voice.
Enel's expression turned unprecedentedly solemn.
Yes.
Yuji's guess was correct.
Three years ago, when Enel was carelessly captured by those insects calling themselves the 'Sky Guard'...
A man appeared.
A Knight of the Limozif Family, belonging to the God's Knights.
He took Enel, and the box Enel treasured—the core of the 'Ark Maxim' he found in the ancient ruins alongside the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
That was the source of his salvation.
The God's Knight brought Enel to Mary Geoise.
To Enel, it felt like heaven.
As mentioned before—Enel considered himself 'God'.
He believed 'God' had the right to possess anything.
He believed 'God' had the right to kill any creature.
He believed 'God' was a higher being that should be distinct from humans.
He believed 'God' was an existence bringing fear and despair to the world, permitting no offense.
Seeing the Celestial Dragons, the Five Elders, the God's Knights, the rulers of this world, and their wealth, power, and strength... Enel realized.
'God' already stood above the heavens.
He didn't need to create a divine realm to rule the 'Sky'; this world itself was a ruled divine realm.
He just needed to... become one of the Gods.
Coincidentally, the Gods gave him this chance.
"You found this item. That Lord is very pleased. You also possess decent power."
One of the Five Elders had said.
"Be grateful. You may join the God's Retainers and gain greater power—hmm... your family allegiance shall be to the Limozif Family."
As mentioned, God's Retainers were subordinates of the God's Knights, naturally allegiant to a specific Knight's family.
"After earning enough merit, you may participate in the 'Native Hunting Competition' and earn the chance to be promoted to a 'Celestial Dragon'."
That was why he obeyed 'Saint Anbokamu'.
Because Anbokamu was the son of the God's Knight he served.
Undoubtedly, for the arrogant and violent Enel, this submission was torture.
But he had no choice—for his ambition to become God, he had to endure.
Until today...
A mortal insect said the name 'God's Retainers' to his face.
This shocked Enel, but also brought unprecedented... Joy!
Because the existence of God's Retainers and God's Knights was top secret, unknown to mortals.
In other words...
"Capture you for interrogation... no, even killing you will earn enough merit!"
With a low voice, Enel swung his staff without hesitation.
"Thunder God Lance · Anchor, 100%!"
From the tip of his lance, blinding lightning flashed again, stronger than before.
Looking closely—ancient patterns shifted with the lightning on his thunder-absorbing armor and staff.
That was the 'Power' he gained after joining the God's Retainers.
[Thunder God Armor] and [Thunder God Lance], weapons and armor crafted for him by St. Jaygarcia Saturn, the 'Warrior God of Science and Defense', using ancient Lineage Factor technology to amplify his Rumble-Rumble Fruit!
BOOM!
The Thunder Lance swept across, severing Yuji's arm again.
But...
"Is this the power you gained by being someone else's dog?"
The next moment, Yuji's body turned into bonds of light, reassembling.
"I have to say, the power is decent."
He commented earnestly. "Pity, it's useless against me."
"Impossible!"
Seeing this, Enel's eyes widened in disbelief.
Then he gritted his teeth. "I don't believe it. Once isn't enough... I'll kill you countless times!"
Powerful lightning poured into the 'Thunder God Lance' and 'Thunder God Armor' again. He reappeared behind Yuji with extreme speed.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Each thrust of the lance, combined with the armor, unleashed power enough to flatten a small island.
But...
"..."
Yuji didn't even dodge. He let his body be pierced and shattered repeatedly, then healed continuously.
The incredible recovery was incomprehensible to Enel.
Mythical Zoans with such recovery existed, like the 'Phoenix Fruit'.
But...
This guy clearly had Logia-like elementalization and exaggerated physique and strength.
This exceeded the knowledge Enel learned in the God's Retainers.
"What are you?"
Yuji clearly had no intention of answering.
"I told you."
His gaze was calm and cold. "You can't change the gap between us!"
Speaking, he clenched his claws.
"And, I don't have time to waste with you anymore."
At this moment, Enel clearly observed—golden patterns flowed under Yuji's scales.
[Sun-Sun Fruit LV5 - Cells can store light energy. Consuming light energy grants extreme vitality and overall stat boost.]
[Glint-Glint Fruit LV4 - Body can transform into light, generating light energy.]
Yes.
The Sun-Sun Fruit, obtained from Peclo, was the source of this spectacle.
This fruit, theoretically requiring constant sunbathing to store energy, underwent a qualitative change in the hands of a 'Glint-Glint Fruit' user.
Infinite light energy combined with the Tyrant Pteranodon's terrifying vitality made Yuji a truly 'endless, unkillable' monster in normal combat.
The only way to kill him was like how Nezumi killed Peclo... destroying all cells and their stored light energy in one hit with power exceeding the storage limit.
But clearly, Enel lacked that power.
"No... I am the man who will become God!"
Enel refused to give up. "You mortal insect, I can't lose to you..."
As he spoke, Enel retreated rapidly.
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
He struck the drums on his back with his staff.
VMMM!
His Rumble-Rumble Fruit was pushed to the limit.
Countless lightning bolts surrounded him, forming a faint, giant thunder avatar.
But the next moment...
VMMM!
The giant thunder avatar began to compress.
VMMM!
VMMM!
Compressing continuously, it finally converged into Enel's lance and armor, making them emit blinding thunder light.
"Thunder God Armor · Thunder God Lance · Limit Break - 120%!"
At this moment, Enel's face paled visibly, his aura fading rapidly.
As the name suggested, this power exceeded his physical limit.
"It only lasts less than five minutes, but that's enough to kill you!"
"300 Million Volts · Thunder God Lance!"
He roared, thrusting the lance.
But...
"Five minutes?"
The next instant, Enel saw a hand.
"Doesn't need that long."
It appeared beside Enel with a flash of light—from start to finish, Enel's Mantra didn't even track its appearance.
"I told you, I don't have time to play with you."
Hearing Yuji's whisper, Enel's hair stood on end.
Something was wrong—he sensed it.
Because when his lance, gathering his strongest power, struck that hand... it failed to destroy it completely. It only charred the scales, which were instantly repaired by the light-filled cells.
And that wasn't the only anomaly.
Enel saw—rainbow brilliance flickered on Yuji's scales.
His arms, which should have become wings in Beast Form, grew out.
But the wings on his back remained, becoming even larger.
Most strangely, something surrounded his body.
"Fruit Awakening?"
Enel thought first.
But then he realized it was wrong.
Surrounding Yuji wasn't the 'Flame Clouds' of Zoan Awakening, but clusters of phantom crimson.
A moment later, Enel realized.
It was the physical change caused by overly powerful vitality, excessively pumping muscles and heart, and rapidly flowing blood.
The crimson merged with Yuji's golden light, creating a dazzling 'Red-Gold' color.
In the final moment, Enel saw Yuji's eyes.
In the ferocious vertical pupils... lay an intense spirit.
That spirit gave Enel a genuine illusion.
He felt placed on an infinitely vast ancient land, stared down by an irresistible, powerful creature.
[Tyrant Pteranodon Fruit LV4]
[Extra Effect - Ancient Form: Can consume massive stamina to activate 'Ancient Bloodline' for a short time, entering 'Ancient Form', unleashing even greater strength and vitality.]
"Run!"
Enel made the decision instinctively.
But...
It was too late.
BOOM!
The massive wingspan appeared behind him. The Ryou-covered fist erupted with speed and power that shook the air.
"You said you want to stand in the heavens, alongside the Gods?"
"Then, let me verify—"
The next moment...
Enel felt something hit him.
CRACK!
He heard the Thunder God Armor crack and the Thunder God Lance shatter.
CRACK!
He heard the island foundation below crumbling under the impact, and the sound of the island sinking into the sea.
Finally, he heard his body and ambition shattering together, and Yuji's calm, cold question.
"Do you think the trash you call Gods would die if they ate this punch?"
Clearly.
Enel could no longer answer this question.
At the same time, Sabaody Archipelago, Grove 13.
"Damn those bastards."
The fierce man dragged away from 'Shakky's Rip-off Bar' earlier rubbed his head, leaving his room alone.
He wanted some fresh air to sober up.
"He used to be such a bold guy, but staying in Sabaody made him so timid."
As mentioned, he hadn't been in Sabaody long.
His pirate crew was wiped out, so he came to join a friend to head to the 'New World'.
"Saying a 100 million Berry Supernova was insta-killed by that bar proprietress... impossible. Where would so many monsters come from?"
Clearly, he didn't believe his friend.
"Hm? It's noisy."
Opening the door, the fierce man heard loud noises.
He frowned, looking toward the source—Grove 1, along with Groves 2 and 3, seemed chaotic.
Then...
"...Eh?"
His gaze froze.
In his vision, Grove 1 was gone.
Yes—Grove 1 of Sabaody was sinking rapidly.
He could faintly see the ruins on the island, and...
FLAP! FLAP!
A massive figure with giant wings, glowing with light, flying slowly toward another island.
"Th... that is..."
He was speechless.
What happened? What was that massive glowing Pteranodon?
Clearly, no one could answer him.
Just then, he heard commotion from another direction.
"..."
He turned instinctively.
He saw, on the nearby sea.
A warship approaching slowly.
The words written on the warship stunned him.
He lost his balance and fell off the roof.
"Th... th... that is..."
The pain of fracture couldn't mask the horror in his voice.
"Why... is HE here!?"
☆☆☆
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