Well, it seems Patreon is intent on taking down my page, so I went ahead and made a new one: patreon(.)com/AlexandrusTL
If you want to read ahead of schedule and support my work, feel free to head over there.
For now, I can only post two chapters. It's really late over here, haha.
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"Huff… huff… huff…"
Enel lay on the ground, his body covered in wounds. He was completely powerless, his chest rising and falling as he gasped for air.
Every punch and kick from Aeridar carried the crushing weight of a mountain-splitting blow. Since Enel's body was far less durable than Aeridar's, he would not have been able to stand up at all if not for the stimulating effects of the lightning.
The high-speed combat with Aeridar had also drained his stamina, so by the time his Amaru state was broken, he was too exhausted to fight back.
"To think that the user of one of the strongest Logia fruits, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, has such little power. I'm quite disappointed." Aeridar slowly descended from the air, his arms crossed, and tilted his head as he looked at the gasping Enel.
"D-Don't you dare… talk to me like that. I… I am 'God'! I cannot lose!" Enel struggled on the ground for a long time before he could barely roll over and kneel. He still refused to admit defeat.
"You're only stronger than the people of Skypiea and the Shandians, so no one has ever refuted your claim of being a 'god.' But now, I am stronger than you. If anyone is a 'god,' it's me," Aeridar said with a look of disdain and a sneer.
"I am 'God'! I will… kill you!" Enel reached out toward Aeridar, his body trembling.
Smack!
Aeridar smacked Enel's hand away, then grabbed him by the neck and lifted him up with one hand. "Do you think having the Rumble-Rumble Fruit makes you invincible? The sea below is full of monster-level powerhouses. There are many who are no weaker than me. There's a saying down on the ocean that has always been true: the strongest isn't the ability, but the person. There are only the strongest people, not the strongest abilities!"
Thud!
Aeridar threw Enel to the ground.
"Cough, cough, cough…"
Enel knelt on the ground, coughing and clutching his neck, which was now marked with clear fingerprints.
"What's the point of ruling a sky island? The sea below is vast," Aeridar said in a low, condescending voice, looking down at Enel. "Weaklings living with weaklings can only ever be weaklings."
Enel trembled at his words.
"What do you call a god among a group of weaklings? The God of Weaklings?" Aeridar taunted. "Then what does that make me? The God who defeated the God of Weaklings?"
"Hmph. You're just talking big. All you want is to make me your subordinate," Enel said, slowly standing up and staring at Aeridar.
"No, just a companion." Aeridar held up his index finger and shook it.
"A companion?" Enel frowned.
"That's right. Only those who I truly acknowledge are my brothers, family, and companions. Those I don't are my subordinates," Aeridar said with a slight smile.
"Hmph. Sounds good," Enel grunted, turning his head away. But then he spoke in a slightly wavering voice, "This God asks you, are there really that many powerhouses in the Blue Sea? Is it really that vast?"
"Heh heh…" Aeridar chuckled. He could tell Enel was losing his nerve.
Still, Aeridar answered him seriously. "Of course. The four seas, the Grand Line, the Red Line—there are countless countries and islands, like stars in the sky. The World Government, the Marines, the Seven Warlords of the Sea, the Yonko, the Revolutionary Army… there are as many powerhouses as there are hairs on an ox. This world is far more exciting than you can imagine. Isn't it true that you can only be a true 'god' by defeating those powerhouses?"
"Is that so…" Enel's eyes narrowed slightly as he lowered his head. He had always believed that a "god's" destiny was to rule the vast, endless land above. But now he learned that the Blue Sea below was far larger than Skypiea and filled with incredibly powerful people.
"Why could you hit me? As a being of lightning, physical attacks should have no effect on me."
Enel suddenly looked up and asked, confused. He had always been puzzled by this. In his mind, only the sea and Seastone should have had an effect on him.
"That's called Haki. Your Mantra is a type of Haki," Aeridar explained.
"Haki? What is that? There are many types?" Enel asked, confused.
"Haki is a way to fight against Devil Fruit users. It's divided into three types. The Mantra you have is Observation Haki. Although the range of your Observation Haki is great, its fundamentals is terrible," Aeridar said, pointing at Enel with a mocking tone.
"Shut up! Stop talking!" Enel's face flushed in embarrassment as he grew angry out of shame. In the previous fight, his Mantra was clearly inferior to Aeridar's, putting him at a disadvantage the entire time.
"And this is Armament Haki," Aeridar said, holding out his index finger, which was now as black as metal. "It can enhance a person's defense and attack. It's like an invisible armor that can also be used as an attack. It can hit the real bodies of Logia users, but unlike Seastone, it can't take away their abilities. You can also channel it into weapons to strengthen them. In other words, to become a top-tier powerhouse, these two types of Haki, Armament and Observation, are indispensable."
"…Armament Haki… What a strange and useful ability. Was it created to kill gods?" Enel's eyes flickered. Without Haki or Seastone to counter them, Logia users like him were truly no different from gods.
"Who knows?" Aeridar shrugged. The origin of Haki was unknown. It might have something to do with the Void Century, possibly recorded on the Poneglyphs. But currently, the only person known to be able to read the Poneglyphs is Nico Robin, and perhaps the Gorosei of the World Government know as well.
"What about the other one?" Enel continued to ask.
"Conqueror's Haki. It's a quality of a king. Unlike Observation and Armament, Conqueror's Haki is innate. It cannot be learned later or inherited from one's parents. It's determined by one's spirit," Aeridar explained a little, then teased, "This is a much more symbolic title than calling yourself a 'god.'"
"Tch. This God is a unique existence," Enel said, his face turning red but he quickly lifted his chin and forced out the words stiffly.
"Yes, yes, of course. The Logia-type Rumble-Rumble Fruit user possesses the ability to control the might of the heavens." Aeridar said with a crooked grin, the corner of his mouth curling, "So, 'God,' do you want to come down with me and see how wonderful this world is?"
"Hmph. That's not a bad suggestion," Enel said with a hint of pride. "But don't you dare think you can command me or give me orders."
"I told you, we're companions, friends, even family. Why would I command or order my own family? Isn't that right, God Enel?" Aeridar said softly with a smile, his words filled with a different meaning. "Besides, I'm just inviting a 'god' to see the wonder of this world."
"That's right, to see the wonder of the world!"
In that instant, Enel was moved.