As return time drew near, the chaos among the explorers intensified—calmness was gone.
In these situations, when one person acts, others are swept up by the frenzy.
If you don't even have the guts to snipe a kill during a free-for-all, you might as well not mix in these spaces.
The boldest explorers tried to ambush Enel, while the more rational targeted explorers from rival spaces, aiming to loot from the Deadman's Chests.
After all, Devil Fruits are easy to identify; if you find one in a Deadman's Chest, it's instant profit.
The dozens of explorers who made it to Sky Island were the elite of this world's entrants—anyone who survived to this point surely had good loot. Getting a Deadman's Chest meant huge gains.
In the melee, Enel lashed out angrily with thunder at those who dared attack him.
But third-tier explorers weren't pushovers—these were all newcomers to tier three, but their base stats were at least 50. Some who had eaten Devil Fruits in this world had stats close to 60.
So they weren't entirely outclassed by Enel. One adventure team leader from the Divine Space, along with two teammates, launched a fierce ranged attack on Enel. As the main tank, he shielded his teammates while they kept firing at Enel.
They were truly skilled and daring. Originally, they intended to kill Enel as soon as they set foot on Sky Island, but seeing the complicated situation and the presence of Body Killer at Enel's side, they held back.
If not for Body Killer, the three of them would've attacked Enel long ago.
Now, with the battle in chaos and Gusion having already wounded Enel, they saw no reason to wait—if they didn't act, Enel might get killed by Gusion at any moment.
"You can block my thunder?!"
Enel was shocked to see the burly three-eyed man block his lightning with an icy crystal tower shield. He'd never seen anyone do that before—not even Gusion, who usually had to dodge his lightning all over the place.
Body Killer also frowned. He recognized the explorer—used to be a second-tier in the previous world, and they'd even crossed paths.
But knowing someone means nothing in them; when interests conflict, there's no friendship. Now that they were enemies, he wouldn't hesitate to kill an old acquaintance.
He hadn't expected that even after teaming up with Enel and fighting so long, they still hadn't taken down Gusion—worse, their own injuries had triggered the other explorers' greed.
Once someone takes the lead, others follow.
Now, explorers from both Divine Space and End Space wanted to kill Enel for the reward, making things complicated.
As Body Killer pondered, a sudden chill struck him. He quickly flapped his wings and dodged, but couldn't fully avoid the black-red blade that severed both legs at the knees.
It was Gusion—he'd seized the opportunity as Enel was distracted fighting others, broke through the lightning blockade, and nearly killed Body Killer.
"We can't go on like this! Enel, initiate the plan!"
Body Killer shouted as he retreated, thinking that the longer this dragged on, the more unpredictable things would get.
Individually, these explorers weren't strong, but if they teamed up against him and Enel—plus Gusion as the main threat—it would be a nightmare.
Enel's face was grim, but he agreed. They were surrounded and desperately needed an overwhelming attack to wipe out all enemies.
He raised his hand, firing thunder into the sky. The lightning seemed to trigger something in the white sea behind his shrine—waves surged.
Among the startled cries of nearby explorers, a massive ark surfaced from below the white sea and soared into the sky.
"Ark Maxim? He has it already?!"
An explorer who had just attacked Enel barely dodged the thunder, and seeing the ark, got chills.
"No, it's not the golden ark. This is a cheap version."
Someone analyzed that the ark wasn't made of gold like in the anime, probably because of material limitations here—Enel had to use copper.
But quickly, someone realized it wasn't about the material. In the original, Enel's Raigo with the ark destroyed his homeland, Birka—wiping out an entire sky island!
In fact, copper conducts electricity better than gold. The later golden ark may not have been as powerful as this initial version.
Remembering Raigo's terrifying power, the explorers who'd just attacked Enel began to retreat in fear.
Now, none of them wanted to try their luck anymore—they just wanted to escape Sky Island, even if it meant jumping off the island.
The explorers were decisive. Except for Snow Wind's group, who were locked in their own fight, nearly everyone else fled for the edge of the sky island, trying to avoid Raigo's range.
Enel blocked Gusion's path with thunder as he flew toward the ark, taking a lightning scepter from the prow and spreading his arms like a god descending to earth.
If not for the blood still flowing from his abdomen, he would've looked even more imposing.
The moment Gusion saw the Maxim, he knew things were bad. He hadn't expected Enel to build it six years early.
He'd underestimated the situation—if he could help Kaido develop, Body Killer could surely help Enel build the ark.
Enel had probably finished the hull long ago, but couldn't figure out the core design. Body Killer helped him fix that.
Gusion searched for a strategy. His teleport was still on cooldown, so he couldn't close in. If he used the Barbarian King's Bow, even if Enel couldn't dodge, Body Killer would block it for him.
If Enel unleashed Raigo, endless lightning would cover Sky Island, ending the battle.
Just as Gusion considered using Dankū to endure the lightning for a desperate attack, a familiar shadow emerged from the ruins beside him.
"Mr. Gusion, don't rush."
A familiar female voice made Gusion instinctively turn his head.
"Black Lily?"
He didn't expect to see his old client here, nor did he understand why she was so calm with Raigo about to be unleashed.
"It's me."
Black Lily nodded. "He can't use Raigo. The first half of the battle is about to end."
Gusion frowned. "Are you sure?"
Time was critical. If Black Lily couldn't guarantee it, he'd have to charge in.
He could survive jumping off Sky Island, but ending the world that way felt too humiliating.
"Watch."
Black Lily didn't explain, just pointed at the ark.
At this moment, Enel stood before the ark, arms spread, scepter in hand, controlling the ark like a remote. He gathered lightning, the clouds flashing and rumbling with nature's might.
Unlike Enel's own lightning, if the ark summoned a real thunderstorm, it would be true divine wrath—hundreds of millions of volts. Gusion would die instantly if struck.
But as Enel prepared to watch the people below scatter and wail, his smile froze.
He realized the ark was no longer responding. After drawing in some storm clouds, nothing happened. The clouds wouldn't listen to him or release lightning.
"What's going on?!"
Enel roared in anger, looking at Body Killer, thinking it was a design flaw. Body Killer had guaranteed the ark could work.
Body Killer was just as confused, but quickly figured it out. He glared at Black Lily standing by Gusion. "Black Lily! It's you!"
Black Lily, petite beside Gusion, pulled at the black bandage on her face and spoke softly, "You shouldn't have messed with me."
She was Black Lily, the Curse Killer. Did they think she'd done nothing all this time?
"A medium?! What did you use?!"
Body Killer really started to panic. Without the ark, he'd be completely on the defensive.
No, it wasn't the ark's fault. The ark was mechanical—no matter how strong Black Lily was as a curse killer, she couldn't curse objects. She had cursed Enel, who was now unable to use his powers.
Without Enel's help, he'd have to face Gusion and the scheming Black Lily alone—there was a real chance of defeat.
"Medium?"
Black Lily's bandage twitched, as if smiling beneath. She echoed Body Killer's earlier words: "Guess."
Body Killer turned sharply to the ark—Enel had been fine until he touched it. Was the ark the medium?
But Black Lily didn't answer, just turned to Gusion. "I'll hold Enel off. He won't appear on the battlefield for ten minutes. Is that enough?"
Gusion grinned, showing white teeth. "Ten minutes? I'll kill him in five!"
"What did you do to me?!"
Enel shouted in anger and fear, finally realizing it wasn't the ark, but himself.
He couldn't use the ark or Raigo—he could barely float, and black marks crawled over his body, spreading.
Despite being lightning, he couldn't resist the curse, which scrambled his energy.
Enel staggered, barely maintaining his form, launching a feeble bolt of thunder far weaker than before.
Luckily, most explorers had already fled in fear of the ark. The fastest had jumped off Sky Island or into the white sea.
Otherwise, seeing Enel so weak, they'd have swarmed him for the kill.
Of course, Gusion wouldn't miss this chance. He used Shunpo, creating sonic booms as he charged upward.
Enel, struggling, fired lightning at Gusion, but missed. Then he felt a force dragging him toward the Maxim.
On the ark, a black spot appeared. Black Lily stepped out, a dark chain at her waist, its other end attached to Enel's navel. The chain pulled him toward her.
"Your opponent is me."
Black Lily smiled at Body Killer and waved goodbye.
Body Killer ground his teeth in frustration. Before he could attack Black Lily, Gusion's blade was already upon him.