"Enel," Arthur called out. There's only one day off each month, originally given to students so they could visit home.
Normally, Arthur never takes a break. He rests when his strength plateaus. But today, he didn't train.
It's been a year and three months since he obtained the Thunder Fruit. Arthur is now the strongest in Bika, both in reputation and power.
With the boost from the Thunder Fruit, he'll surely become a supernova even in Qinghai.
"God," Enel, Arthur's personal bodyguard since finding the Thunder Fruit, exclaimed. He's always by Arthur's side, except for a few instances, being an orphan from Sky Island.
"Go find Urouge, Byrnndi and Luffy. Tell them to leave for Raijin Island tomorrow," Arthur commanded.
Enel's eyes lit up. "God! Is it time to start?"
"Yes," Arthur smiled. "It's been long enough. I'm strong now, and you're ready. No need to wait any longer."
"Yes! I'll inform them right away! They must have been eagerly anticipating it, God," Enel said. He and the others, who are the most talented and optimistic followers of Arthur, are aware of part of Arthur's plan.
Sharing things that most people don't know is a good way to build trust and closeness.
Early the next morning, Enel, Urouge, and the others stood outside the palace, brimming with excitement.
There are three reasons why they are so thrilled:
Firstly, they want to engage in real combat to further develop their skills.
Secondly, they aim to make contributions. Arthur has established unique titles on Sky Island.
Thirdly, they know that near Jaya Island lies Bath, Raijin Island, a favorite among sky residents. Bath is renowned for its legendary infinite continents.
At 8 o'clock in the morning, a group of thunder and lightning appeared outside the palace, gradually forming Arthur.
"God," the five of them exclaimed as they looked at Arthur.
"Let's go!" Arthur nodded, leading the way towards the island.
A boat designed according to Arthur's specifications awaited them. It lacks sails and is powered by wind shells, a Kojima specialty.
With its streamlined yacht-like design, it boasts impressive speed, taking about five hours from Bika to Raijin Island.
"God, once we reach Raijin Island, will we immediately start a war?" Naguri, a bearded and imposing figure, asked Arthur.
Urouge's question caught the attention of others, who also focused on Arthur.
After more than a year of bonding and training, Arthur's elite camp is fiercely loyal, aggressive, and less peaceful compared to other Sky Islanders.
"No," Arthur replied, causing some confusion among them. Wouldn't conquering Jaya Island and Raijin Island require starting a war?
"War is the last option. Our goal is to conquer Jaya Island and Raijin Island peacefully, to have them accept my leadership instead of fighting. War would only make the Jaya Islanders resist my rule," Arthur explained.
The five nodded, their initial excitement dampened slightly.
Initially, they were prepared for a large-scale conflict, even willing to kill if necessary. Additionally, without initiating a war, they might not earn much recognition.
Among the five, Enel is particularly concerned about recognition. Previously despised on Bika Island for lacking wings, Arthur's acceptance and granting of Viscount status due to finding the Thunder Fruit changed everything. Now, no one on Bika looks down on Enel; instead, they envy him.
This shift in perception has fueled Enel's determination. The once scornful Jaygarcia Saturn's turned envious, giving him a newfound purpose in life.
Even though he was born with ambition for this, Enel's goal is simple: to transform envy into respect.
"In that case, my life is wonderful!" Enel has often thought. Every time he imagines those who once despised him now looking at him with respect, he feels a sense of fulfillment.
After boarding the boat, Arthur settled on the cloud sofa on the top deck while Urouge steered. The group chatted and laughed as they sailed toward Jaya Island.
Initially excited about the prospect of war, they later relaxed, confident in their abilities and the Bug Arthur's presence, not fearing the conquest ahead.
Time passed swiftly. Four hours had elapsed since their 8 o'clock departure, and they were just an hour away from Raijin Island.
Except for Urouge, who had experience beyond Bika Island, the others were filled with anticipation.
As they neared their destination, a black dot caught their attention. Jaya Island is usually white due to its cloud composition, indicating that they were approaching Raijin Island.
Arthur's Jaygarcia Saturn turned thoughtful. "If everything goes smoothly, the islanders might not resist much..."