Just as Enel controlled the thunderball in the sky, he prepared to swing the golden staff in his hand toward Sakazuki.
"Dark Hound!"
Sakazuki didn't wait for the thunderball to fall. His right hand turned directly into magma, forming a giant fist of lava to meet the attack head-on.
BOOM!
A loud noise spread throughout the entire Sky Island. The clouds in the sky vanished without a trace. Enel looked at the exploded thunderball, shocked and horrified by the sheer power of Sakazuki's punch.
At this moment, Enel had no thought of continuing to fight this monster. Just as he was about to make his escape, Sakazuki's voice echoed from afar.
"Oh? Is the frog in the well retreating to his nest?"
Enel was both shocked and angry. "Who's running away!" he shouted furiously.
"I'll stand here and take your hit. Can you land it?" Enel said boldly. In his mind, he justified his earlier loss—he had simply been careless and hadn't had time to fully elementalize to avoid the attack. This time, he'd be careful.
Enel fixed his eyes on Sakazuki's movements, not daring to blink.
"Yeah?"
As soon as the word left Sakazuki's mouth, his figure blurred into an afterimage and disappeared. The next moment, Sakazuki's fist made direct contact with Enel's abdomen.
"Ugh!"
Enel spat out blood and staggered backward uncontrollably. He collapsed to the ground, clutching his abdomen in pain. He stared at Sakazuki's blackened fist with a look of terror.
"What is this? How can you hit my intangible body?"
"How about it? There are plenty of people in the world who know how to do this. What will you do now?" Sakazuki said, waving his fist coated in Armament Haki.
Enel's face turned complicated. Sakazuki had clearly overpowered him. This wasn't like the time the Straw Hats countered his abilities with rubber. This time, he had been thoroughly defeated. He began to consider fleeing to the Infinite Continent to survive.
"Enel! Are you really going to escape to some desolate place where no one knows you, lick your wounds in solitude, and cling to that ridiculous dream of being a god?"
Hearing Sakazuki's taunt, Enel's emotions surged. "How do you know my name?"
Enel had no idea why this stranger had come to Sky Island and picked a fight with him.
"Because I came here specifically to find you! You once destroyed your hometown, Birka, didn't you?"
Enel was utterly shocked and speechless. How did this man know so much about him?
"Originally, as a Marine Fleet Admiral, I should execute you for such a heinous act."
Enel's face contorted with anger. "You make it sound so easy! Do you know how they treated me there? Just because I'm wingless and different!"
Tears filled Enel's eyes as he recalled his painful childhood. He roared at Sakazuki in frustration.
"I know."
Sakazuki's calm words cut through the tension. "That's why I have no sympathy for the people of Birka. A place filled with discrimination and cruelty deserved its fate. But claiming to be a god and enslaving the residents of Sky Island afterward—that was your mistake! Those people didn't harm you. How are you any different from the bullies who tormented you?"
Enel fell silent, unable to refute Sakazuki's words.
"What? You have nothing to say? Then I'll execute you just as you executed Birka. Any complaints?"
Enel's expression wavered as he recalled his days of hardship—running, hiding, and starving. He sighed deeply and seemed to accept his fate.
"Are you going to kill me?"
Sakazuki's stern gaze met Enel's defeated one.
"I've already killed you."
Enel's eyes widened in confusion as Sakazuki continued.
"I killed the arrogant Enel who claimed to be a god. The new Enel before me now has his life granted by me. Do you have any objections?"
Enel chuckled bitterly. "Do I dare to object? So, you want me to surrender to you?"
Sakazuki shook his head. "It's not about surrendering to me. It's about helping me."
Enel was puzzled. "Help you? You're so strong. Why would you need my help?"
"You think I'm strong? There are more than five people in the Blue Sea as strong as me."
Enel was stunned. Could there really be so many monsters capable of defeating him?
"Moreover, countless people in the Blue Sea are suffering the same oppression you faced as a child. They endure the tyranny of the Celestial Dragons, who claim to be descendants of the Creator."
Sakazuki's words struck a chord. "I sympathize with their suffering, just as I understand yours. That's why I need your help to overthrow the Celestial Dragons and their enslavement."
Enel listened intently as Sakazuki explained the forces and situation of the Blue Sea in detail.
"So, you're the Fleet Admiral of the Marines, the strongest force in the world. No wonder you're so powerful!" Enel admitted, sitting on the ground. He realized his defeat was not unjustified.
"Formally introduce myself. I, Sakazuki, am the current Marine Fleet Admiral."
Sakazuki extended his hand to Enel, who was still sitting. His voice carried a solemn weight.
Enel hesitated briefly before replying, "Then let me introduce myself. I, Enel, am currently... uh... a Marine Recruit?"
The two clasped hands as Sakazuki helped Enel to his feet.
"With me guiding you, you'll become a vice admiral within a year and eventually stand among the generals."
They exchanged determined smiles, sealing their unlikely alliance.
Inside the Ark Maxim:
Enel is taking Sakazuki to visit his outstanding work.
"Boss, how are you? My ship is awesome!"
"As long as there is enough food to keep me full, I can drive this ship and float in the sky forever. The world is so big that I can go anywhere!"
Sakazuki nodded. He had to admit, this ship was really impressive.
There are many famous ships of various types in the pirate world. Some are made from Treasure tree Adam . For example, the legendary Oro Jackson, the ship of the Pirate King Gol D. Roger, was constructed from the wood of the Adam tree and was said to be indestructible.
When it comes to uniqueness, no ship rivals Enel's Ark Maxim. It's not just because of its golden adornments and impressive design, but also due to its functionality. This ship can create dark clouds, which, when combined with Enel's lightning attacks, unleash devastating power capable of destroying small islands, making it comparable to Pluton. Furthermore, under Enel's control with his Goro Goro no Mi abilities, the ship has unlimited power and can fly anywhere in the world.
Unlike other ships limited to the sea, the Ark Maxim can break free from gravity and even venture beyond the earth, as Enel demonstrated by reaching the moon.
Sakazuki grew increasingly satisfied as he observed the ship. If he had a vessel like this powered by magma, he wouldn't have to rely solely on Moonwalk to traverse the skies. With Enel and his ship, he could harness its potential in any mission.
The two stepped out of the cabin. Sakazuki's eyes landed on the peculiar golden figurehead at the bow and the word engraved on the hull. He frowned.
"Change the word 'god' on the hull of the ship. Replace it with 'thunder' or 'electricity' or something similar," he instructed. "When we reach , those so-called descendants of the Creator might not take kindly to this."
Enel considered Sakazuki's suggestion and agreed. Using his peculiar Metallurgy technique, he melted the golden character "god" and replaced it with "thunder".
"Boss, it's done. Shall we leave for Blue sea now?" Enel eagerly asked, clearly excited to experience the "world outside the well."
"Not yet. Let's collect some more gold before we go," Sakazuki replied.
Enel watched as Sakazuki leaped off the ship and began dismantling the golden bell tower on Upper Yard. He scratched his head, puzzled.
"Does someone as powerful as the boss really need money?" he muttered to himself.
"Don't just stand there. Come and help!" Sakazuki's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
Enel quickly set aside his doubts and got to work dismantling the structure.
After a long while, the two finally filled the Ark Maxim with gold. The cabin shimmered with its golden cargo, and Sakazuki nodded in satisfaction.
Just as he was about to instruct Enel to start the ship, a sound interrupted him.
Bru******************************Bru
The Den Den Mushi in Sakazuki's pocket began to buzz.