"Guess?"
After Zoro's response, he dashed toward Enel without hesitation.
Seeing Zoro's lack of respect, Enel's anger flared. His voice was filled with murderous intent as he declared, "Since you're so disrespectful, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"I was just careless earlier. Do you really think you had a chance to touch me? I am lightning itself!"
With that, Enel's body transformed into pure lightning, disappearing in an instant.
Zoro skidded to a halt, glancing around warily.
The next moment, Enel's voice boomed from the heavens, "Divine Judgement!"
A massive thunderbolt crashed down from the sky. Zoro's eyes widened, and he rolled out of the way just in time. But no sooner had he avoided the first strike than a barrage of lightning strikes came at him from all directions.
Narrowing his eyes, Zoro covered his sword with Haki and held it defensively in front of him.
Boom!
The impact sent Zoro flying, slamming him hard into a tree. He spat out blood, pain rippling through his body.
Rising to his feet, Zoro locked eyes with Enel, his gaze stern. Enel's speed was overwhelming, and his lightning attacks nearly impossible to avoid. The only way to counter him would be to master Observation Haki, which would allow Zoro to predict Enel's moves in advance.
But the problem was that Zoro felt as if he was on the brink of awakening this power, yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't quite grasp it.
To make matters worse, landing a hit on Enel was growing increasingly difficult. Enel had been caught off guard the first time, overly confident in his Logia abilities. Now that he knew Zoro could hurt him, he had become much harder to strike.
Zoro's injuries were piling up. Without the protection of Armament Haki, he would have already been knocked out by Enel's relentless electrical assaults.
Taking a deep breath, Zoro stood up, sheathing his swords. He closed his eyes, blocking out the world around him. Enel's attacks were fast and far-reaching, but to dodge them, Zoro needed to fully unlock his Observation Haki.
He recalled what Kai had once taught him about feeling the breath of life around him.
Enel, noticing Zoro's stillness, sneered, "What, have you realized you're no match for me? Planning to accept death quietly?"
"If you tell me how you managed to hit me before, maybe I'll be merciful and spare you."
Zoro didn't respond, remaining silent with his eyes closed.
Enel's face darkened as the seconds ticked by.
Half a minute later, Enel's patience ran out. He glared at Zoro, his eyes full of malice. "Fine, if you won't talk, then don't say anything at all. You can repent in hell!"
With a casual flick, Enel tapped one of the thunder drums on his back.
A massive thunderbird began to form from the drum, lightning crackling as it took shape.
"Thirty million volts: Thunderbird!"
"Hahaha... perish, you blasphemous Blue Sea fool!"
The giant thunderbird streaked toward Zoro at terrifying speed, carrying the force to destroy anything in its path. The pressure grew as it closed in, but Zoro remained motionless.
At the last possible moment, a flicker of light appeared in Zoro's mind. In the darkness behind his closed eyes, he saw the thunderbird.
He saw it!
Zoro's eyes shot open, a spark of confidence flashing in them. His Observation Haki had awakened.
But despite this breakthrough, the thunderbird was now too close for him to dodge. Zoro didn't panic. His hand moved to the hilt of his sword, Wado Ichimonji.
In a heartbeat, Zoro drew his blade.
"One Sword Style: Lion's Song!"
Zoro's sword sliced cleanly through the thunderbird, splitting it in half. Lightning scattered in every direction, exploding across the trees and earth.
Enel's eyes widened in disbelief.
"How is this possible?" he muttered. His thunderbird—his deadly attack—had been severed by a single strike. It had never failed him before.
After a long pause, Enel's expression shifted, his tone suddenly serious. "It seems... you're a worthy opponent after all."
He tapped the drum behind him again, this time more deliberate in his movements.
"Sixty million volts: Thunder Dragon!"
But this time, Zoro's newly awakened Observation Haki allowed him to predict the attack. Before the thunder dragon even fully formed, Zoro dodged it effortlessly.
Enel's jaw dropped. "Heart Network," he murmured, realizing that Zoro had awakened his Observation Haki. That's why he had stood still earlier—to trigger the ability under pressure.
Thinking back to how he had mocked Zoro earlier, Enel's face flushed with embarrassment. He had been playing right into Zoro's hands.
Furious, Enel scowled. "So what if you've awakened Observation Haki? You still can't touch me. I'm invincible!"
"And even if you can predict my moves, it's pointless if you can't dodge them. The area my lightning attacks cover is too wide. You're still no match for me!"
"Is that so?" A grin spread across Zoro's lips. "Let's put that theory to the test."
Without another word, Zoro sprinted toward Enel like a shot arrow.
Enel raised his hand slowly, electricity crackling in the air.
"Eighty million volts: Discharge!"
Lightning bolts erupted from Enel, filling the entire area with destructive energy, leaving Zoro no space to dodge.
But Zoro kept moving forward, his eyes focused.
"One-Hundred and Eight Pound Phoenix!"
A massive wave of sword energy erupted from Zoro, cutting through the lightning and clearing a path.
"What?!"
Enel's expression twisted in shock.
"Ghost Slash!"
Zoro's figure blurred as he passed Enel in a flash.
In the next second, a deep gash appeared on Enel's chest. Blood splattered, and he coughed up more as he stumbled backward.
Zoro, panting heavily from exertion, almost collapsed. His stamina was nearing its limit.
"How's that move?" Zoro taunted, but before he could catch his breath, his senses screamed a warning.
"One hundred million volts: Discharge!"
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Power Stones would be appreciated if you liked the story.