Sensing that Leo's words carried deeper meaning, Enel slowly raised his head, his pious eyes tinged with confusion, as if he couldn't fully grasp what Leo was implying.
Leo took a step forward, radiating a friendly aura. He walked up to Enel and asked with a chuckle,
"Tell me, if I were truly a god, what meaning would there be in having someone like you follow me?"
"This..."
Enel stared into Leo's eyes, which were as deep as the night sky, but he found himself unable to answer.
His own strength was like that of an ant in the eyes of a god.
Even his ability to peer into others' thoughts seemed useless against an omniscient deity.
What right did someone like him have to follow a great and powerful god?
Though he had once declared himself a god, he knew all too well...
Gods have no need for mortals to follow them.
Mortals are merely tools for the amusement of the gods.
And he wasn't even capable of providing entertainment for a god.
For the first time, the arrogant Enel realized just how insignificant he was—he couldn't even justify his desire to follow a god.
"I..."
He choked on his words.
But at that moment, Leo suddenly smiled again. With a wave of his hand, he used an invisible force to lift Enel, who was still kneeling on the ground.
"Do you remember what I just said?" Leo asked with a mysterious smile. "The god in your mind wouldn't stand on the same level as the mortals who believe in him..."
"However..."
"We are both standing on the same ground right now. Why do you think that is?"
Enel's eyes froze as he heard Leo's question again, doubt creeping into his mind.
Indeed.
In his understanding, gods don't converse with mortals, and mortals aren't worthy of standing on the same ground as gods.
Yet here he was, speaking on equal terms with the god he had acknowledged.
This was entirely inconsistent with his beliefs about how a god should behave.
"I... I don't know."
Like an obedient student, Enel shook his head slightly, his large earlobes swaying in the air as he did.
Seeing that he had captured Enel's attention, Leo's lips curled into a slight smile.
And in his heart, he thought: All those years of reading novels weren't for nothing after all.
To deal with someone as deep in their beliefs as Enel, you must adopt an even deeper mindset.
Leo smiled softly and said to Enel once more:
"That's because there are no gods in this world. In other words, anyone can become a god!"
"Anyone can become a god?"
Enel's eyes trembled as if he had just heard something extraordinary. He quickly asked, his tone anxious,
"Are you saying that I could become as powerful as you?"
"Of course!"
Leo nodded firmly.
With another wave of his hand, a vast scene appeared once more.
This time, what materialized was the image of a young boy wearing a red and white cap, with a yellow mouse-like creature tied around his waist with a nylon rope.
[*BGM*: I wanna be the very best~
Like no one ever was~
To catch them is my real test~
To train them is my cause~
I will travel across the land~
Searching far and wide~
Teach Pokemon to understand~
The power that's inside~
Pokemon!~
Gotta catch 'em all~
Our hearts so true~
Our courage will pull us through~
You teach me and I'll teach you~
Pokemon!~
Gotta catch 'em all!~
Gotta catch 'em all!~
Yeeaa.~
Every challenge along the way~
With courage I can face~
I will battle everyday~
To claim my rightful place~
Come with me the time is right~
There's no better team~
Arm in arm we'll win the fight~
It's always been our dream~
Pokemon!~
Gotta catch 'em all–~
It's you and me~
I know it's my destiny~
Pokemon!~
Ooooh, you're my best friend~
In a world we must defend~
Pokemon!~
Gotta catch 'em all–~
Our hearts so true~
Our courage will pull us through~
You teach me and I'll teach you~
Pokemon!~
Gotta catch 'em all!~
Gotta catch 'em all!~
Gotta catch 'em all!~
Gotta catch 'em all!~
Gotta catch 'em all!~
Yeeeaa!~
][TL/n: I don't know why, but when Ash was described, I suddenly wanted to sing this song lol.]
Yes.
Leo once again presented the story of Ash.
Only this time, the timeline began from the moment Ash and Pikachu first met.
At first, Enel was confused by the vision before him, unsure why the god was showing him this.
But soon...
As Leo accelerated the narrative, the story quickly unfolded.
Ash and Pikachu embarked on numerous adventures, overcoming countless difficulties and challenges, ultimately emerging victorious each time.
Being from Sky Island, where spiritual and cultural development was lacking, Enel, who had never even heard of fairy tales, was immediately captivated by Ash's journey.
He watched as a young boy from a small town and a seemingly weak electric mouse climbed to unimaginable heights, proving themselves in battle after battle.
In the end, Ash and Pikachu, though mortal, became as powerful as gods!
Watching Ash and Pikachu take on Pokémon with god-like strength in adventure after adventure...
Enel's blood surged with excitement, like a child watching a cartoon for the first time.
To think!
The illusions created by Leo were all real scenes from the Pokémon world, unlike the anime, which diluted the visual effects to save costs...
In this illusion, the legendary Pokémon that Pikachu battled truly possessed the power to destroy the world!
Dialga, the ruler of time, Palkia, the space-bending Pokémon, Giratina, who governs the mysterious antimatter world, Yveltal, the embodiment of destruction, and Arceus, the creator god of the universe.
Each of these legendary Pokémon, with their distinct responsibilities, were gods in Enel's eyes!
And yet, Ash and Pikachu, who hailed from a small village, still managed to fight them.
Thunder roared across the world, lightning illuminated the sky!
Seeing Pikachu's immense power, Enel felt ashamed of his self-proclaimed title as the God of Thunder. His face flushed with both embarrassment and excitement.
With Leo's narrative sped up, Enel watched several Pokémon movies, including theatrical releases featuring Pikachu, all within just ten minutes.
Snap!
At the sound of a crisp finger snap, Enel's dazed eyes suddenly came into focus, regaining their clarity.
"Sir... Sir..."
He spoke, slightly breathless with excitement.
At that moment, without Leo needing to say a word, Enel understood the lesson Leo wanted to impart.
Even an ordinary mortal could become a being akin to a god.
Anyone can become a god!
"Sir, I understand everything now!"
Enel looked at Leo, his fists clenched with excitement.
"You're telling me that there are no real gods in this world! Gods are just powerful individuals with special abilities!"
"If one has talent and is willing to work hard, even mortals can attain the same level of power as gods!"
"Exactly!"
Leo beamed with satisfaction at Enel's realization.
He gazed deeply into Enel's eyes and elaborated:
"When people encounter powerful, unknown beings, two reactions often occur..."
"Some will view these beings as indescribable, ineffable gods, retreating in fear and offering prayers, hoping for protection, completely unaware that the powerful beings couldn't care less about them."
"I think you're quite familiar with this feeling, aren't you?"
Leo narrowed his eyes and smiled at Enel.
"Yes."
Enel muttered and slowly nodded.
The residents of Sky Island had indeed regarded him as a god, worshipping him just as Leo described.
But in truth, in his eyes, all the residents of Sky Island were like ants.
Leo continued:
"The second type of person, upon encountering a powerful being, will seek to understand it, learn its secrets, apply that knowledge to themselves, and advance!"
"They rely on their own wisdom and hard work to take steady steps forward, gradually closing the gap with that powerful being..."
"And eventually..."
"They become powerful themselves!!!"
Leo's eyes bore into Enel's, his gaze intense as he smiled and said,
"Those who fall into the first category will remain ants in the eyes of the so-called [gods] their entire lives."
"But those in the second category will one day stand alongside the [gods], sharing drinks and enjoying life together!"
"Enel."
Leo's sudden calling of his name made the boy straighten up as if preparing to receive instructions, standing alert and focused.
Leo continued, "The gods are both real and false! But remember, gods are not unique; they are not alone!"
"You have exceptional talent, and you've shown the determination to harness it."
"Now, you must decide your path—will you be an ant in the eyes of the gods, or will you become a god yourself?"
Leo's words struck Enel like a bolt of lightning.
To be an ant or to be a god? There was no question in his mind—how could he, who once claimed to be a god, ever accept being an insignificant ant?
With unwavering resolve, he declared, "I want to become a god! I want to be a being who can stand on equal footing with you, Sir!"
In the world of pirates, arrogance is in abundance. Leo's words ignited the pride within Enel, causing his eyes to shine with a renewed fervor. The power of lightning coursed through his body, flashing brightly in sync with his soaring spirit.
"Excellent! Such energy!" Leo exclaimed, his face lighting up with a smile. "You truly are someone I value highly! You were simply limited by a narrow vision!"
"I believe that now, having seen the vastness of the world, you will be the one to climb its highest peaks and gaze down upon everything from the summit!"
"Only by witnessing more of the world and recognizing the strength of others can you evolve into your true self!"
"Therefore, let's make a deal, Enel!" Leo gestured, conjuring an illusion of the Pokémon world surrounding them in a vast ring. "A deal that can broaden your horizons and strengthen your knowledge."
"Use your body to feel the new world! Embrace it, understand it, surpass it!"
"You will ultimately become a better version of yourself!"
*Discussion: How to change the mindset of a Chūnibyō? The answer is simple: make him even better!*
Leo chuckled and extended his hand toward Enel. "So, what do you say, Enel?"
"I..." Enel, driven by Leo's inspiring words, took a bold step forward, his eyes locking onto the divine beasts wreaking havoc in the vision before him. "I want to make this deal, Sir Leo!"
"As you wish," Leo responded with a satisfied grin, as a trading system interface materialized in Enel's mind.
"Now, choose the items you wish to trade!"
In an instant, Enel's mind was filled with a detailed system interface.
As the self-proclaimed god of Sky Island, Enel's wealth extended far beyond mere gold. Though gold constituted the majority of it, his vast collection of treasures was enough to astonish anyone.
The entire domain of the gods began to tremble as a massive amount of materials vanished as if swallowed by a void.
When Enel opened his eyes again, a Rotom Phone with a brightly lit screen floated before him.
Noticing the points that had been added to the system, Leo smiled and said, "Congratulations, Enel, you are now a VIP 5 member of the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce!"
"You're also the third VIP 5 member in the entire pirate world."
"I eagerly await the day you transcend this world and become a true god!"
"I won't disappoint you!" Enel replied confidently, his gaze quickly shifting to the Rotom Phone screen.
With a newfound understanding of transactions and Pokémon, Enel's eyes sparkled with excitement.
He checked his own status:
[Enel]
[VIP Level: 5]
[VIP Experience: 70,000/100,000]
[Current Points: 70,000]
"70,000 points!"
Even though Enel had little regard for worldly matters, he knew enough to recognize the immense value of such a sum. Converted to Baileys, that was a staggering 35 billion!
Though momentarily dazed by the sheer magnitude of his wealth, Enel quickly refocused on his ultimate goal—becoming a god.
Grinning, he suppressed his excitement, bowed slightly, and respectfully asked, "Sir, the points have been redeemed. Could you guide me on how best to use them?"
With his points ready, Enel eagerly anticipated the arrival of his own powerful Pokémon.
"Certainly," Leo chuckled. He had already selected a group of Pokémon that would be perfect for Enel.
However, he hadn't anticipated the immense value of Sky Island's gold. Upon seeing Enel's 70,000 points, Leo decided to narrow down the options, keeping only four suitable Pokémon in mind.
*Snap!*
Leo clicked his fingers, summoning four interfaces into the void.
On each screen, a legendary electric-type Pokémon was displayed: Zapdos, Raikou, Tapu Koko, and Thundurus.
Each of these Pokémon was incredibly powerful, with strength levels above 80. In the world of pirates, they were equivalent to an Admiral's level of combat power!
Naturally, their strength came with a hefty price, but Enel's substantial points balance meant he could afford any of them.
With the power to control lightning, legendary talents, and unmatched physical strength, each Pokémon was a perfect match for Enel at this point in his journey.
The four options—A, B, C, and D—were now laid out before him.
The final choice was Enel's to make...
(End of this chapter)