Translator: PapaSmurf0700
Gedatsu looked confused as Sanji mentioned "Observation Haki." He tilted his head and asked, "Observation Haki? What is that? Is it something everyone in the blue sea can use?"
He was genuinely surprised. Gedatsu had always believed that the ability to sense others' actions, known as Mantra on Sky Island, was unique to his homeland. Now, hearing it had another name and was used elsewhere challenged his understanding.
Sanji, a bit impatient with Gedatsu's surprise, replied, "It's just like your Mantra. Same thing, different name."
Seeing the disbelief in Gedatsu's eyes, Sanji couldn't help but smirk. "You really thought you guys were the only ones with this kind of power?" he asked, a bit rhetorically. Gedatsu's ignorance made him think of the narrow perspective of someone who has never seen the world beyond their own borders.
Sanji, feeling a mix of amusement and irritation, flicked away his cigarette. "Honestly, I'm starting to get annoyed," he confessed. "I thought you were skilled fighters relying on your unique abilities, but it seems you just lean heavily on your Mantra."
With a fluid motion, Sanji raised his leg high. A burst of intense heat enveloped his foot as he activated his Diable Jambe technique effortlessly—a move that once required a frantic spinning start. Now, after taking Bai Ye's marrow cleansing pill, it seemed his innate abilities had awakened further.
Sanji felt a surge of power coursing through his veins, a strength that felt as if it had been there all along, just waiting to be unlocked. He glared at Gedatsu, his eyes sharp and serious.
"Let me show you what real fighting skill looks like," Sanji declared. Then he unleashed his attack: Diable Jambe - Premiere Hache!
The air crackled with heat as his flaming kick cut towards Gedatsu, marking the sky with a trail of fire.
-----
In the sacred shrine of Upper Yard, Enel lounged comfortably, an apple in hand, seemingly detached from the unfolding events. He casually remarked to himself, "Looks like Gedatsu has failed too."
To an outsider, Enel's dispassionate tone might suggest he was merely a bystander rather than a leader whose subordinates were actively engaged in battle. Indeed, Enel's interest in the wellbeing of his four priests was minimal. To him, they were merely participants in a relentless trial of strength and loyalty; their survival meant they were worthy of his cause, and their defeat meant dismissal.
With Satori and Gedatsu already defeated, Enel remained unfazed. His thoughts drifted instead to new intrigues. "Observation Haki?" he pondered, a hint of curiosity in his voice. "The blue sea seems intriguing. Should I venture there?" He quickly dismissed the thought, his focus returning to more pressing ambitions. "No, Fairy Vearth is what matters. The blue sea pales in comparison."
His gaze, sharp and penetrating, seemed to pierce through the walls of the shrine to the depths of Upper Yard where he imagined the ongoing conflicts. "Sura and Ohm won't stand a chance either. It looks like I'll be needing new priests today."
For Enel, poised to journey to the Fairy Vearth, selecting capable followers was paramount. Impressively, Bai Ye and his companions, having dispatched the four priests, appeared as ideal candidates for his new entourage. In Enel's eyes, a god should be surrounded by the strongest warriors.
At this moment, Enel had already mentally recruited Bai Ye and his group into his ranks, oblivious to their true intentions. The notion that they aimed to confront and defeat him hadn't crossed his mind. After all, in Enel's view, a god doesn't lose. Could he?
-----
Iron Whip! Boom! The attack sliced through the air as Zoro nimbly dodged, the tension palpable in the clashing of metal and wills. Ohm, his sunglasses reflecting the sun's glare, flashed a taunting grin and mocked, "Is this the swordsman from the blue sea? Yet you haven't landed a single strike on me, hahaha!"
Zoro's scowl deepened at the words, the insult stinging sharper than the swipe of any blade. It wasn't that he couldn't handle his opponent; rather, it was Ohm's infuriatingly unconventional weapon that grated on him. "Asshole!" Zoro spat out, frustration boiling over. Ohm's weapon wasn't just a sword—it was a bizarre hybrid, crafted from cloud yet as sharp and solid as iron, able to switch form at a whim. His signature move, the Iron Whip, involved softening the blade into a long, whiplike form before slashing it forward, presenting Zoro with a formidable challenge.
Zoro's hands tightened around his swords, the black haki coating them like a promise of power. He recalled a pivotal conversation with Bai Ye, back on the deck of the Golden Merry, that now echoed poignantly in his mind. Bai Ye had questioned, almost casually, "Aren't you too obsessed with Armament Haki?"
At the time, Zoro had merely looked puzzled. After all, Bai Ye himself had stressed the importance of haki as the key to survival in the Grand Line's latter half. More than that, Zoro's ambition to surpass the world's greatest swordsman Hawkeye, who wielded a legendary black-bladed sword, made mastering haki seem essential.
Zoro had reshaped his entire training regime around haki, prioritizing it above all else in his relentless pursuit of strength. This shift, though well-intentioned, was perhaps misguided. Bai Ye had inadvertently set them on this path, aiming to prevent a repeat of past tragedies like those at Sabaody Archipelago by ensuring his crew mastered haki swiftly.
However, Bai Ye had overlooked something crucial: the holistic development seen by Zoro and others during their two-year hiatus, a period of intense growth that was about more than just haki. Zoro, in particular, had refined his swordsmanship under the tutelage of the world's best.
On the ground of Upper Yard, Zoro nimbly sidestepped another vicious swipe from Ohm. The clash of their wills was as palpable as the salty sea breeze. Zoro remembered something Bai Ye had told him earlier, about the true essence of strength and swordsmanship: "If the swordsman is not strong enough, what good is the hardness of his sword?"
This reflection made Zoro realize his haste to match the legendary Hawkeye wasn't just about hardening his blade with Haki. He had been so eager to prove himself, thinking if he could just perfect his Haki, maybe he could stand toe-to-toe with Hawkeye. Zoro's natural stubbornness had often served him well, but it had also blinded him at times, like during his bold stand in Shells Town.
With a fresh clarity, Zoro let go of his obsession with brute force. It wasn't just about making his sword as indestructible as Hawkeye's famed black blade Yoru; it was about honing his own skills, his inner strength. As Ohm's next attack came, Zoro dodged with a fluidity born of newfound insight.
Zoro then sheathed two of his swords and held only his beloved Wado Ichimonji. Facing Ohm, who was still a good distance away, Zoro's lips curled into a confident smirk. "Think you're out of reach?" he taunted, gripping his sword's hilt tightly. In one swift, fluid motion, he drew his blade and executed a magnificent strike.
"One Sword Style: 36 Caliber Phoenix!"
The air itself seemed to split, carrying the force of Zoro's resolve towards Ohm. This was more than just a physical attack; it was the embodiment of Zoro's journey, his growth, and his unyielding spirit.