"The useful Dials were scavenged by the locals long ago," Ron said. "You're lucky to have found an Impact Dial at all."
A hint of disappointment crossed Ace's face.
He had been hoping to find a Reject Dial, but he hadn't expected it to be this difficult.
Ron, however, simply pointed ahead. "Angel Island is right there. If you want something, it's easier to just buy it than to search for it."
Ace followed his gaze and saw Angel Island bathed in sunlight, looking exceptionally beautiful.
The island's buildings were a charming mix of order and variety, and the streets were bustling with life.
"We're here already?" Ace asked, seeing the main road of the island come into view.
The locals dressed much like the people from the Blue Sea, aside from the small, white wings on their backs.
"Are these people actually angels?" Jozu muttered, scratching his head in confusion.
"These locals could be a problem," Marco added, stepping forward.
"Don't worry about them for now," Ron replied. "They'll serve their purpose later."
"Heh, let's just find that guy Enel first," Jozu said with a predatory grin.
He swaggered into the middle of the road and came to a stop.
The surrounding Skypieans had already noticed the outsiders, eyeing them with suspicion and muttering about "Blue Sea dwellers."
They were curious but deeply wary.
At that moment, however, all eyes were on Jozu.
He took a deep breath, gathering his strength.
Then, with all the volume he could muster, he shouted.
"Enel, you trash! Get out here and bow before me!"
He roared the challenge several more times.
The natives scattered in terror, slamming their doors and shuttering their windows, sealing any crack that might let the chaos in.
Still, they peeked through tiny slits in their walls, secretly observing the commotion with fear and unease in their eyes.
They couldn't believe these Blue Sea people were bold enough to openly provoke "God" Enel.
To them, Enel's power was absolute, his authority unquestionable.
Challenging him was suicide.
They were both shocked and terrified, praying the outsiders' recklessness wouldn't drag them into the punishment that was sure to follow.
And sure enough, it came.
The clear sky instantly turned ominous as dark clouds swirled together.
A deafening thunderclap shook the skies and a brilliant blue bolt of lightning shot down from the sky like a divine sword, aimed squarely at Jozu.
It tore through the air with a sizzling crackle.
The Skypieans shut their eyes, bracing for the familiar, gruesome sight of a man incinerated for his insolence.
They had seen it happen too many times.
Anyone who dared offend God was met with heavenly judgment.
But what happened next made their eyes fly open in disbelief.
Just as the lightning was about to hit, the provocateur's right arm was suddenly coated in a layer of shimmering, black Armament.
He then swung his fist and punched the lightning bolt.
CRACK!
The devastating strike shattered like glass, fizzling into nothing.
If not for the lingering scent of ozone, they might have thought they'd imagined it.
"Is that it?" Jozu planted his hands on his hips, a mocking smile on his face as he looked up at the sky.
"That wasn't even enough to scratch me!"
Ron smirked, seeing Jozu's arrogance.
The big man was clearly itching for a real fight, just waiting for the signal.
Meanwhile, Whitebeard stood quietly to the side, letting his sons have their fun.
But his gaze seemed to look past the island, lost in a distant memory.
For a brief moment, a flicker of nostalgia crossed his weathered face, so subtle it was almost invisible.
Marco, who knew the Old Man better than anyone, noticed the subtle shift in his expression.
He knew it wasn't a sign of weakness, but a reminisce.
Marco relaxed slightly but remained vigilant, ready for anything.
In an unpredictable world like this, it never hurt to be cautious.
Just then, the sky erupted once more with a thunderclap that seemed to shake the world itself.
A second, much larger bolt of lightning crashed down with overwhelming force.
Jozu just looked up.
"Is this all? How boring."
Jozu stood his ground, staring up unflinchingly as the lightning descended upon him.
His body hardened, taking on the flawless sheen of diamond.
BOOM!
The bolt struck his diamond form and a powerful electric current spread across his body in a web of crackling energy.
Jozu chuckled, about to brush it off—but the next moment, his face twisted in pain.
"Damn, that's hot!"
The scorching heat made Jozu feel like he was standing in a pit of fire.
Even with his diamond skin, the intense temperature was unbearable.
"Tremor!"
With a violent shudder, Jozu unleashed a shockwave that rippled through his own body, shaking every last spark of electricity from his skin.
The air hummed with residual energy, but the threat to him was gone.
He shot Ron a resentful glare. "Ron! You bastard! You didn't tell me lightning was this hot." He rubbed his arm, where a faint burning sensation lingered.
"Serves you right for charging in alone," Whitey bay said, stepping forward protectively.
Jozu just shook his head, sighing to himself.
He knew arguing was pointless.
Instead, he looked back to the sky, channeling his frustration toward his unseen opponent.
"Enel, get your ass down here! I don't have time to play games with you!"
Silence followed his shout.
The Skypieans were already frozen in dumbfounded terror.
Ron too was puzzled.
Given Enel's arrogance, he should have appeared by now.
Just as the tension became unbearable, a series of deafening booms echoed from above, like heavenly war drums.
Four imposing figures descended from the clouds, followed by hundreds of Sky Island guards in a spectacular formation.
"Outsiders! Leave at once, or face the wrath of God!" one of them declared.
The guards rode strange, floating vehicles—Wavers powered by the island's unique Dials.
Ace's gaze was immediately drawn to them, his eyes sparkling with a familiar, fiery curiosity.
"Ron, look!" Ace exclaimed, pointing. "Are those the Dials you told us about? The ones they use to fly?"
Ron, surprised by Ace's keen interest, nodded.
"So cool! I want one!" Ace declared, his eyes burning with determination.
He then grinned. "So, who are these guys? Are they enemies?"
"Yes," Ron began. "They're Enel's Four Priests, and behind them are their subordinates, who—"
"That's all I need to know!"
Before Ron could finish, Ace had already launched himself into the air.
Crimson wings of fire erupted from his back as his right fist ignited.
"Fire Fist!"
A massive column of flame blasted the priests and their formation out of the sky.
They were completely stunned, realizing in their last moments that these intruders possessed powers just like their God.
Amid the chaos, Ace swooped down and snatched a Waver out of the air, already examining it eagerly.
Marco simply shook his head with a smile.
It was a one-sided fight anyway; might as well let the kid have his fun.
Just then, a door to one of the native houses burst open.
A woman broke free from restraining hands and stumbled out, collapsing right at Ron's feet.
She had golden hair, blue eyes, and small, pure-white wings.
"My lord," she pleaded, looking up at him. "Please, I beg you—save Skypiea!"
BOOM!
Before she could finish, a blinding flash of lightning split the sky.
A bolt far more powerful than the last came crashing down, aimed not at Jozu, but directly at Ron and the woman at his feet.
"This one... is for me?"
Ron tilted his head, his gaze sharp and unshakable.
He raised his right hand, his fingers forming a blade.
An impossibly sharp aura—a sword energy—condensed at his fingertips, shimmering like a physical weapon.
As everyone held their breath, Ron swung his hand up to meet the lightning.
There was a crisp tink that cut through the thunder.
The ferocious bolt of lightning, powerful enough to obliterate anything in its path, was cleanly split in two.
The two streams of energy passed harmlessly on either side of Ron before dissipating into nothing.
He stood there calmly, as if he had just swatted a fly.
The surroundings fell silent.
The Whitebeard Pirates, in particular, stared at Ron as if they had just seen a ghost.
One of them finally broke the silence.
"...What the hell did we just witness? Did he just cut lightning?"
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