Chapter 20 – Enel joins the Crew
Tai Chi: Yin-Yang Reversal!
This was one of the special abilities Monkey D. Ash unlocked after mastering Tai Chi to a certain level. By tapping into the flow of yin and yang, he could momentarily shift his presence into the void—existing in a parallel state, disconnected from the Physical world. For those brief seconds, no matter how devastating the attack, even lightning from a so-called "god" like Enel couldn't touch him.
But this ability wasn't omnipotent.
It only lasted five seconds, and once used, would go on cooldown for an entire week.
Naturally, this was because Ash hadn't fully perfected the technique yet. If his strength ever approached that of the legendary One Punch Man—Saitama himself—then he wouldn't even need to dodge. He could tank thunderbolts as casually as brushing lint off his shoulder.
If Ash could max out his Golden Light Incantation, he'd be able to freely switch between the Yin Lightning Form and the Yang Lightning Form, countering even god-tier attacks like Enel's head-on.
But right now? He wasn't there yet.
The road to true power was long and full of obstacles. For now, he'd have to find new ways to toughen up his defenses.
Maybe layering a hundred or even a thousand Golden Bell Shields?
After all, if an enemy can't break your defense, they'll eventually wear themselves out. Even those stronger than you can be slowly grinded down.
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"No way! Even if you beg me, this god refuses to learn such a lame ability!
I'm the almighty God of Skypiea, capable of anything!" Enel boasted, proudly crossing his arms.
"As a god, I cannot lose. I will not lose! 200 Million Volt: Amaru!"
Driven into a corner, Enel stopped holding back. His 200 million volts of lightning surged through his body. His muscles expanded, his frame enlarged, and his god-like form emerged—boosting both speed and power.
But he forgot something important.
Against an opponent who wielded Armament Haki, becoming bigger only made you an easier target.
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"Hah... Looks like I'll have to teach this guy a good old-fashioned lesson. Why are you so damn stubborn?" Ash narrowed his eyes, shaking his head in disappointment.
"Let's end this."
Ash's gaze sharpened. A pair of black and white Tai Chi Bagua gauntlets materialized on his fists. He activated both Observation Haki and Armament Haki to their peak.
BOOM!
With a burst of air, Ash disappeared from sight. In the blink of an eye, he appeared all around Enel like a swarm of afterimages. In just one second, he threw hundreds of punches—raining down like a thunderstorm.
Enel, now in his massive form, stood frozen like a punching dummy, taking it all.
"STOP! Stopstopstop—I accept! I accept your invitation!" Enel howled from the bottom of a deep crater, his voice cracking through the pain.
Ash slowed his fists, but kept going, acting like he hadn't heard anything.
"AAAAAH! I give up! Enel surrenders! Please, Captain Ash, let me join your crew!"
A moment of silence… then Ash grinned and stopped.
"You should've said so earlier. Don't worry, I was holding back a bit." He chuckled, though Enel's swollen, bruised face said otherwise.
"Pfft—BAHAHAHA! o(*≧▽≦)ツ┏━┓"
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Enel: "..."
This bastard totally did it on purpose…
Still, lying beaten into the dirt, Enel accepted reality. If you can't win—join. At least you live.
"My bad, Enel, couldn't help myself. Pffthaha~" Ash said, still giggling.
"Boss! Is this the so-called 'God' of Skypiea? Why does he look like a popped balloon? 〣( ºΔº )〣" said Tuan Tuan, the fat little crewmate, waddling in with Gan Fall and the Shandian warriors. He openly laughed at Enel's state.
"Ahem! Tuan Tuan, show some respect. He's family now." Ash coughed and turned to introduce Enel to the rest of the Smile Pirates.
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"Did… did you succeed?" Gan Fall asked, staring in disbelief at the battered 'god'.
Ash nodded. "There's no God Enel on Sky Island anymore. Just Enel, member of the Smile Pirates."
"That's… wonderful!" Gan Fall exhaled with relief. Enel's brief rule had already left deep scars. He even destroyed his homeland—Birka. This reversal brought hope.
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"Alright, crew! Time for more good news!" Ash announced. "Enel stockpiled tons of gold to build his ark. Go collect it all—we're taking it with us!"
"Really? Boss, you're the best! °˖✧︎◝︎(⁰▿⁰)◜︎✧︎˖°"
"Then it's official—Enel, I accept you as a crew memeber!" Tuan Tuan declared proudly, patting Enel's arm (since the man was way too tall for a shoulder tap).
The sight of a 1.6m guy congratulating a 2.66m lightning god was priceless.
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"STOP!"
A loud voice interrupted them. Wyper, one of the Shandian warriors, stood at the edge, gripping a Bazooka tightly.
Ash's eyes turned cold.
BOOM—
[Conqueror's Haki] erupted.
A wave of invisible pressure swept the area. One by one, Shandian warriors collapsed, eyes rolling white. Even Wyper, strong as he was, dropped to one knee, using his bazooka as a crutch. Sweat poured down his face as his knees trembled.
"You dare—"
"I don't like people pointing guns at me," Ash interrupted coldly. "I just gave you a little taste of deterrence. Don't worry—they're only unconscious."
"That was… Conqueror's Haki?!" Gan Fall gasped.
"You know this ability?" Enel zipped beside him in a flash of lightning, visibly intrigued.
Gan Fall nodded. "I saw it once. Over 20 years ago, a pirate from the Blue Sea used it—Gol D. Roger. I've never forgotten it, hahaha!"
"Roger… The Pirate King?!" Carina's face went pale, then she covered her mouth in shock.
Even the silent, stoic Gin took a long, hard look at his captain. Ash had mastered the same terrifying aura once wielded by Gol D. Roger.
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Ash scratched his head casually. "It's just basic training, really."
"Now then…" He turned toward Wyper, voice calm but dangerous. "What exactly did you want?"
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To be continued…