All of the special energy from the Pokémon world surged into Enel's body, instantly altering his physique.
A special ability worth 5,000 points is no trivial matter!
To put it in perspective, 5,000 points of Aura power or Psychic power would be enough to elevate an ordinary person to the level of a powerful warrior like the Warlords of the Sea.
So, one can only imagine the profound transformation that 5,000 points worth of the Thunder Physique would bring to Enel!
Especially considering the perfect compatibility between the Thunder Fruit and lightning...
Leo was confident that with this special ability, Enel would be able to carve out his own path!
After all, this was the first successful fusion of the Pokémon world with the world of pirates, and Leo had high hopes for Enel's future.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
Enel, who had just acquired this special ability, immediately called forth Thundurus. With a glance at Leo to seek permission, he ordered Thundurus without hesitation:
"Thundurus, hit me with 100,000 volts!"
"Thundurus!"
Fully recovered after three days of rest, Thundurus flexed his strong muscles, which instantly bulged as two golden bolts of lightning shot from his palms toward Enel.
Crack!
The blinding lightning struck Enel, surrounding the man, who habitually wore minimal clothing, in a storm of electricity.
Yet, the thunderbolt, powerful enough to split mountains, hit Enel like water into the sea, not causing the slightest ripple.
However, as the lightning enveloped him, Enel's eyes widened in shock. His mouth opened in a crazed grin.
"It's here! It's here! It's here!!!"
He roared in ecstasy.
Countless electric currents danced across his skin, eventually seeping into his body.
Even after Thundurus retracted the move, the lightning continued to surge around Enel's body.
Feeling the transformation occurring within, Enel shouted in excitement:
"I can feel it... My power is rising!!!"
A layer of pitch-black blood armor suddenly materialized on his body.
With the increase in his Thunder Physique, the energy and blood within him instantly reached a state where he could fully unleash Armament Haki!
The enhancement was indeed significant!
Enel was thrilled beyond belief.
He wanted to laugh out loud, but remembering Leo's presence, he restrained himself, hiding his glee behind a slight smile.
At this moment, Leo smiled and conjured two cups of milk tea.
Using his telekinesis, he handed one to Enel, summoned a stone bench behind him, and asked with a smile:
"So, how does the Thunder Physique feel? Does it live up to your expectations?"
"Perfect!"
Enel accepted the milk tea, slowly sitting down, still brimming with excitement.
"With this power, it won't be long before I can elevate my Armament Haki to the level I envision!"
"At that time, Sir Leo, I will surely impress you!"
"I swear, I am destined to stand on equal footing with you!!!"
Enel solemnly declared his resolve.
But Leo just chuckled.
"You don't have to wait until later..."
Unfazed by Enel's fervor, Leo looked at him with calm, penetrating eyes, and slowly said:
"There's a great opportunity for you right now."
"Enel, how would you like to be my assistant?"
"!?"
Enel's hand holding the milk tea suddenly shook, causing the sweet liquid to spurt out through the straw, drenching him.
But he paid no attention to the mess. Instead, his eyes widened, and he stammered in disbelief:
"F-Forgive me, Sir Leo, did I hear you correctly...?"
Seeing Enel's cautious demeanor, Leo smiled softly and repeated his offer:
"I'm asking if you'd like to join the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce and become a dimensional merchant like me?"
"I..."
Enel nervously wiped the milk tea from his hand. A flash of lightning incinerated the stains on his body, leaving only ashes that fell to the ground.
"I do!!!"
Thud!
Enel dropped to his knees before Leo once more.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he exclaimed excitedly:
"Although I don't know how I've earned your attention, I swear..."
"I will give it my all and will not disappoint you!!!"
With that, Enel bowed his head to the ground.
The fervor in his expression was even more devout than the last time.
Leo smiled lightly at the sight of the once-arrogant Enel bowing before him. With a wave of his hand, an invisible force lifted Enel to his feet.
Leo spoke: "Don't get too excited yet, Enel."
"According to the rules of the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce..."
"Before you officially join, you must pass a small test to prove your worthiness."
As he spoke, Leo made a significant investment, using points to create a true illusion, pulling Enel's consciousness into it.
"What... What is this place?"
Enel's vision blurred, and in an instant, he found himself in a mysterious corridor.
"This is the Dimensional Corridor."
At that moment, Leo's ethereal figure appeared before Enel.
With a gesture, the scene around Enel seemed to come alive, flowing like water.
And that's when Enel realized...
The space around him wasn't just any corridor...
It was one world after another!
A parade of bizarre scenes unfolded before him, leaving this once-arrogant youth in awe and admiration.
He was like a student encountering a textbook for the first time, greedily absorbing everything he saw.
The world of ninjas using seals to release ninjutsu; the world of shinigami wielding soul-cutting blades in battle; the world of mafia igniting the flames of resolve to showcase humanity's glory; the world of demon slayers fighting demons with mortal bodies...
Although each world passed by in a flash, their vibrancy left a deep impression on Enel's heart, captivating him completely.
What puzzled Enel was that...
In his eyes, these mysterious and wonderful worlds seemed to be stored in some strange container, neatly organized.
At that moment, Leo's voice echoed in his ears again.
"As you can see, these are the dimensions and planes under the control of the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce."
"And the pirate world you're from is among them!"
As he spoke, another world appeared before Enel.
Perhaps because it was his home, Enel could clearly "see" that the pirate world was contained in a massive, sealed "fish tank."
Unlike the other worlds, the water in this tank was eerily calm.
So calm, it seemed as though the entire world had stopped—no waves, only loneliness.
In this solitude, the world began to decay. Starting from the bottom of the tank, filth appeared, slowly spreading to cover the entire tank.
Leo's voice resonated:
"All dimensions and planes are akin to the pirate world right now."
"The fish tank represents the world's boundaries, upholding the pirate world's existence."
"However..."
"When no one tends to this fish tank over time, everything within it succumbs to decay."
As Leo's voice reverberated, the decay of the pirate world within the fish tank intensified.
Corrupting filth rapidly coated the inner walls of the fish tank.
"When the world is damaged to a certain point, nothing within it retains value..."
"Such a world will ultimately face destruction!"
Bang!
With a magical resonance, the fish tank, which encapsulated the pirate world, could no longer withstand the corruption.
Suddenly!
With a sharp crack, the fish tank exploded.
And the entire world emerged from the fish tank, dissolved into illusion, and vanished completely.
"This..."
Enel's eyes trembled in shock.
Although it was merely a fish tank before him, he could distinctly sense the despair and emptiness within the shattered world.
Just as he was about to succumb to the enormity of this reality, Leo appeared beside the fish tank again.
Calmly, Leo continued:
"The role of the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce is to care for these worlds, to prevent or slow the speed of their corruption."
As he spoke, under Enel's astonished gaze, the shattered fish tank restored itself as if time had reversed.
But as the fish tank resumed its previous state of decay, Leo opened the lid, dipped his finger into the tank, and stirred it gently.
With the infusion of new energy, the traces of corruption were instantly washed away by the current and gradually disappeared.
Once the world was clear and free from corruption, Leo slowly withdrew his finger and closed the tank's lid.
He then turned his attention to Enel, introducing him to the mission: "This is our duty."
"The employees of the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce oversee the fate of countless planes and dimensions, maintaining peace and stability."
"In the Chamber of Commerce, we are granted powers and authority akin to [gods], but we must perform duties and tasks that resemble those of [humans]."
"But!"
"Not everyone can wield such divine power without losing their way."
"Therefore, before new members join the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce, they must undergo a stringent trial to ensure they are the right candidates."
"So, Enel, are you truly ready to join the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce?"
Plop!
In that moment, the entire environment around him shattered.
Enel's consciousness returned to reality, but his legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground.
"I..."
He slightly parted his lips, trying to pledge his loyalty to Leo.
Yet, the scene he had just witnessed was so overwhelming that he couldn't muster the courage to speak.
However, Leo was in no rush.
Instead, he stayed by his side, patiently waiting for his composure to return.
After all, the illusion had been crafted using the power of the world's origin.
Given his current affluence, this illusion was even more impactful than the one experienced by Garp before.
For someone like Enel, not collapsing from being insignificant in this illusion was beyond Leo's expectations.
If Enel could shed his arrogance, he indeed might be a talent worth nurturing.
After a while, Enel, still engrossed in what he had witnessed, took a deep breath.
His mind cleared, and a bright white lightning flashed in his eyes.
He stood up straight and clenched his fists.
"I'm ready!!!"
As if summoning all his strength, Enel mustered the courage to finally declare.
Instantly, Leo's face lit up with a smile.
"Excellent! I knew I didn't misjudge you."
Leo clapped his hands lightly and applauded Enel:
"After witnessing such a scene, you still have the courage to stand..."
"You truly have the qualifications of a dimensional trader."
Leo chuckled, then with a wave of his hand, granted Enel the weakened authority of the dimensional trading function.
Thus, like Meowth, he could act as a trading node, conducting transactions on Leo's behalf.
As Enel sensed the new capabilities in his mind, he marveled once more at the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce's mystique.
For a moment, he even believed he had become a [god]-like figure.
But at that moment, Leo said:
"So, Enel, next, let's discuss your trial mission!"
"Please, tell me!"
Enel, with a solemn expression, appeared attentive.
Leo stood up from his seat, approached Enel, and with a quiet smile, said:
"Your mission is to manage this Celestial Gym and assist me in completing the pirate world transactions!"
"The criteria for completing the mission are as follows:
1. More than 100 traders at VIP level 5 or above become gym trainers;
2. The total transaction volume exceeds 5 million points;
3. Achieve the status of a star-breaking powerhouse."
"When you fulfill these three criteria, you will become a full-fledged member of the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce."
"During the trial, you will be designated as Dimensional Merchant Leo's intern assistant."
"While you won't receive higher authority or rewards from the Chamber of Commerce during your internship, I can privately extend some longevity to my assistant."
Leo smiled softly and with a casual gesture.
Suddenly!
A life force surged into Enel's body, transforming him from a man in his thirties into a vibrant young man of seventeen or eighteen!
Leo said softly,
"I have added 20 years to your life."
"I hope that within these 20 years, you can complete the Chamber of Commerce's trial."
"I..."
Feeling the rejuvenation of youth, Enel's heart filled with determination!
Despite the trial mission seeming daunting, for some reason, he was filled with hope.
Seeing Enel so motivated, Leo laughed heartily.
Although Leo spent 10,000 points to create the illusion and restore Enel's youth...
He used these 10,000 points to gain a highly valuable ally.
Why is Enel an intern assistant?
Because during the internship, Leo is not obligated to pay him any salary!
This arrangement is far more convenient than simply persuading people through the system!
Moreover, Enel is an ally with unlimited potential!
Thunder Fruit + Thunder Physique + Thundurus...
This extraordinary combination is capable of creating a formidable force that could astonish the world!
(End of this chapter)