"Oh, can't we talk this out properly?" Ron sighed, shaking his head. "I only asked a simple question. Is it really necessary to go to such extremes? You even want to kill me? Isn't that thinking a bit too highly of yourselves?"
Ron turned his gaze toward the Shandora warriors, who were still in shock after witnessing the effortless slaughter of the Guardians of God. "And what about you? I just want to know where Enel is. Can any of you tell me?"
The warriors stood frozen, unable to comprehend what they had just seen. The Guardians—enemies they had fought with for years, never able to overcome—had been killed in front of them with a single swing of this young man's sword. His power... could it rival even that of Enel, that so-called god?
Finally, Raki stepped forward, her voice firm but respectful. "You... sir, from the Blue Sea... you're looking for Enel? I know where he is."
"Oh? That's great!" Ron said with a smile. "Could you take me to him?"
"Yes," Raki nodded, though her voice wavered as she added, "but I have one request—please let my companions go. Can you promise that?"
"Of course!" Ron replied without hesitation. Seeing her willingness to cooperate, he had no reason to harm anyone. He wasn't a monster. As long as they didn't attack him, there was no need for unnecessary bloodshed.
"Raki, no!" Wyper called out, alarmed. The man in front of them was as terrifying as Enel, if not more so. What if Raki led Ron into a trap? Or worse, what if Ron and Enel were somehow connected? After all, Ron had killed Enel's guards, but that didn't necessarily mean they weren't enemies on some level.
Even if Ron was truly here to fight Enel, it was still dangerous. If Raki led Ron to Enel and things went wrong, she could end up dead. Enel wouldn't spare her.
But Raki didn't falter. "Wyper, enough! This is my decision," she said firmly. Reaching behind her, she pulled out a small pouch filled with dirt and handed it to him. "Please give this to Aisa."
Wyper accepted the pouch with trembling hands. He knew what this meant—Raki was prepared to die. His heart sank, the weight of her decision hitting him hard.
"Raki..." he began, but she cut him off with a quiet whisper.
"Wyper, listen to me. The man standing before us is unbelievably strong. He killed the Guardians like they were nothing, which means he's against Enel. If they clash, it could be our best chance to reclaim our land. Go back, prepare the others, and tell Aisa... I'm sorry I won't be there."
Wyper's fists clenched, his knuckles white as he struggled with his emotions. Their people's fight to reclaim their ancestral home had gone on for over 400 years. He could only grit his teeth and watch as Raki walked away.
Ron observed Wyper's reaction silently, recognizing the weight of the moment. He knew the entire story well, having studied the events of Sky Island. His true goal in coming here was to find the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and the golden ship. But there were other, more personal reasons too—Conis, Aisa, and Raki.
Conis was the first an angelic beauty from Sky Island, pure and kind. Aisa, the second, was a young girl from the Shandora tribe with exceptional Observation Haki. Despite being younger than Apis and Marianne, Aisa's natural talent was astounding, and Ron wanted her on his crew. Finally, there was Raki, the warrior standing in front of him.
Strong and brave, Raki was a fierce warrior of the Shandora tribe, but beneath her tough exterior was a gentle and caring soul. Her bond with Aisa was like that of a protective older sister, and Ron couldn't help but respect that.
"This way," Raki said, approaching Ron and Nami. "I'll take you to Enel."
Ron nodded. "Lead the way."
As they began walking, Nami's eyes flicked between Ron and Raki, narrowing suspiciously. She knew Ron well enough to sense that he was charmed by every beautiful woman he encountered. "That sneaky guy," Nami thought to herself, "he's probably interested in her now, too. Hmph!"
With Raki leading them, Ron wrapped his arm around Nami's waist again as they navigated through the dense jungle. After a while, they arrived at a cave, its entrance covered by a simple curtain.
"This is where Enel resides," Raki said, her voice tense. "We've been fighting his Guardians for years, but we've never been able to defeat him."
"Let's head in," Ron said, stepping forward confidently.
Nami hesitated for a moment, then followed, glancing back at Raki. The warrior woman bit her lip, contemplating whether she should flee, but ultimately chose not to. She knew that even if she ran, Ron could kill her in an instant. Plus, a part of her was curious to see how this confrontation would unfold.
They entered the cave, which led to a wide chamber. Ron's eyes immediately fell upon a massive golden ship sitting in the center. It was enormous—easily the size of a Marine warship, its gleaming surface reflecting the dim light of the cave.
Ron's face lit up with a grin. "Perfect. This is exactly what I was looking for."
Suddenly, a cold voice echoed from above the ship. "People from the Blue sea?" A figure appeared, stepping out from the shadows of the ship's deck. A shirtless man with four large drums on his back, each marked with three-hook symbols, stood tall, his gaze icy. "Did you kill my guards?"
"Enel!" Ron's grin widened. "There you are!"
Enel's eyes narrowed. "You're here for me? Are you ready to meet your end?"
The god's voice dripped with malice. "My plans were nearly complete. I built this ship to destroy Sky Island and descend to the Blue Sea, where I will rule the world. But now, you dare to challenge me?"
"World domination?" Ron raised an eyebrow. "I'll admit, your Rumble-Rumble Fruit gives you a lot of power, maybe close to that of the three Admirals. But you think you can conquer the world alone? Even the Four Emperors haven't managed that."
"The arrogance," Ron shook his head. "You're overconfident, Enel."
Enel's expression darkened with rage. "How dare you speak to a god like that! You will regret your insolence."
"A god?" Ron scoffed. "You? Please. You're no god. It's about time someone ended your delusions."
"Prepare to die, you arrogant fool!" Enel roared, slamming the drums on his back. In an instant, a blinding bolt of lightning shot toward Ron, crackling with deadly intent, aiming to reduce him to ashes.
But Ron stood his ground, unfazed, ready to show Enel just how mistaken he was.
...
P.S - please note chapters won't be frequent like it once was