Above the Sea of Clouds.
The Ark Maxim floated upon the sea of clouds, its hull constructed from special metals and Sky Island materials, exuding an ancient yet imposing aura. The massive ship resembled a moving fortress.
On its sides, enormous blue gear-like structures could be seen, while the bow featured a striking golden relief of a colossal human face, radiating the majesty of a "god." The word "God," painted in red lacquer, was emblazoned on the cabin, declaring dominion. Below it, a long white pole hung, seemingly capable of piercing through the clouds. The entire vessel exuded a cold, mechanical oppression, a manifestation of absolute rule.
On the deck below, Bahr looked up at the Ark Maxim and remarked, "This ship is huge—bigger than a Marine battleship."
He had known the Ark Maxim was massive, but he hadn't expected it to be this large. Its scale surpassed that of standard Marine vessels, approaching the size of the Navy Headquarters' largest warships. It could even rival an aircraft carrier.
Enel stood barefoot on the ship's railing, golden staff in hand, his calm expression unable to conceal the pride in his voice. "Impressive, isn't it? This is the one and only ship in the world—one only a god like me can command."
Seeing the stunned expressions on Bahr and the others, a sense of superiority surged within him. The fact that these "insects" were awed by his creation filled him with indescribable satisfaction.
Bahr curled his lip, unimpressed by Enel's boasting, but he couldn't be bothered to respond. Instead, he led Nico Robin and the others onto the deck.
Passing through the entrance beneath the golden relief of the colossal face, they stepped into another world. The interior was dazzling, bathed in golden light, the sheer opulence leaving them speechless. A crimson carpet stretched across the floor, leading to a grand throne-like seat atop a flight of stairs—exquisitely crafted, majestic, and no different from a king's throne, embodying the dignity and authority of a "god."
Witnessing this spectacle, Bahr internally mocked Enel's flamboyance, thinking the guy was way too extra. But then again, considering Enel's chuunibyou tendencies, it suddenly made sense.
Nico Robin walked to the side and lightly brushed her fingers against the wall, murmuring thoughtfully, "This... must be gold."
"Don't be ridiculous! Where would anyone get this much gold?" Miss. Valentine's eyes widened in disbelief.
Robin remained composed, her tone firm. "Jaya was once known as the City of Gold. It's likely that all the gold from the island was melted down for this."
Enel cast a glance at them, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You people of the Blue Sea call it gold. Its excellent conductivity suits this god's needs perfectly."
Miss. Valentine and the others were stunned. The idea of using such an astronomical amount of gold to build a ship was beyond imagination.
Enel, reveling in their shock, struck the pipe beside him with his golden staff, causing lightning to crackle forth. "This is the source of power. My lightning is converted here into energy to propel the Ark."
Bahr's eyes traced the winding golden circuits along the walls and immediately understood—this was the Golden Circuit, channeling electricity to every corner of the ship.
"Keep up. This god will show you the full majesty of the Divine Chariot." Enel pointed his staff toward the staircase, eager to impress these "country bumpkins."
Bahr shrugged, intrigued by the Ark Maxim himself, and the others naturally followed.
Ascending the spiraling golden staircase, they arrived at the third-floor resting quarters. Light-emitting shells hung from the ceiling, casting a soft blue glow over the velvet tapestries lining the walls. The interplay of light and shadow made the corridor seem like a dreamscape.
Pushing open a gilded, intricately carved door, they were met with an ethereal blue radiance. The floor was densely embedded with light-emitting shells, their glow swirling like a river of stars, surreal and mesmerizing.
At the center of the room stood a four-poster bed three meters wide, draped in pristine Sea Cloud Beast fur. Above it, an antique-style chandelier housed a modified light-emitting device crafted from an Impact Dial Shell.
Damn, Enel really knew how to live in luxury.
"Only a god is worthy of resting in such chambers," Enel declared, deliberately glancing at Bahr. Seeing the flicker of amazement in the man's eyes, his smirk widened.
Descending further, they entered a spacious chamber filled with intricate machinery. Massive blue gear-like structures dominated either side.
Enel explained, "This is the power conversion system. My lightning drives these gears, which in turn power the propellers on the ship's sides."
Following his gesture, they could see three enormous propellers extending from the hull. These propellers not only provided lift during flight but also allowed for agile adjustments to the ship's posture in battle.
Moving toward the stern, they encountered an even larger propeller, its diameter exceeding ten meters, its blades thick and razor-sharp.
"This is the main propulsion propeller," Enel said. "Combined with the Wind Shells unique to Sky Island and my lightning, the Ark Maxim can soar freely through the skies, far surpassing any ship you've ever seen in speed."
Bahr and the others stared at the colossal propeller, imagining the ship cutting through the clouds at high speed. It was nothing short of a flying fortress.
Next, they descended to the lowest level. The door slowly opened, revealing a chamber lined with over two hundred large, shell-like objects.
"These are the rare Jet Wind Shells—the Ark's auxiliary power source."
Enel's expression was smug. "In critical moments, they can unleash powerful gusts to enhance the ship's mobility or serve as a unique offensive measure in battle."
Then, Enel led them to the weapon control center, where a massive console stood.
"This is this god's ultimate weapon. From here, I can unleash 'Ten Thousand Lightning' and 'Lightning Advent.' When 'Ten Thousand Lightning' is activated, the device generates a vast thundercloud, channeling my lightning to rain down countless bolts upon the area below, reducing everything to ashes."
Standing before the console, Enel's eyes gleamed with madness and confidence. "'Lightning Advent,' on the other hand, uses my lightning to resonate with the device's storm clouds, summoning a colossal bolt capable of annihilating an entire island."
At this, the group paled—except for Bahr, who was already familiar with Enel's abilities and remained unfazed.
After touring the weapon control area, Enel led them back to the deck. Step by step, he approached the divine throne and spread his arms.
"From here, this god can oversee everything. The Ark Maxim is my mobile castle—yahahahaha!"
His laughter echoed in the wind, brimming with unshakable dominance.
Bahr watched Enel's arrogant, nose-in-the-air demeanor and resisted the urge to punch him. Instead, he declared, "Alright, we're taking this ship to the 'New World.'"
The Ark Maxim's ability to fly would allow them to bypass maritime restrictions. If things went south, they could always make a quick escape. Not to mention, the ship's "Ten Thousand Lightning" provided devastating area bombardment, while "Lightning Advent" was an island-leveling doomsday weapon. It was the perfect strategic asset—offense and defense rolled into one.
"Hey! Who said you could decide that?" Enel's golden staff struck the deck with a loud clang. "The Ark Maxim is this god's personal chariot! Even if we're going to the 'New World,' I give the orders!"
"If we're traveling together, what's yours is mine," Bahr shot back, rolling his eyes. "Unless you'd rather leave this beauty here as decoration?"
Enel's retort caught in his throat, his face flushing. He lifted his chin haughtily. "Fine. The divine chambers and throne belong to this god. The rest is yours to mess with. But if you dare dirty the 'Divine Throne,' prepare to be struck by lightning!"
"Deal!" Bahr snapped his fingers, utterly indifferent.
The Ark Maxim relied entirely on Enel's lightning powers—without him, it was just a hunk of metal. Besides, dealing with a chuunibyou like Enel was simple: just indulge his "god" delusions.
Bahr didn't care about formalities. As long as Enel listened when it mattered, the rest was whatever.
Satisfied with Bahr's compliance, Enel nodded approvingly, twirling his golden staff with flair. "Good. This god acknowledges you!"
He straightened his back, chin practically pointing at the sky, though inwardly, he was nervous. After all, he was no match for Bahr in a fight. If things escalated, his "godly" dignity would be in tatters.
Bahr ignored the theatrics and waved a hand. "Alright, let's check if this thing still works. We're heading to your 'God's Island' first."
Though the massive ship had miraculously avoided capsizing after its fall, the impact had undoubtedly caused damage.
"Why go to God's Island?" Enel's expression stiffened, clearly reluctant to return.
"Got some business there," Bahr replied casually. "By the way, do you know where that 'Golden Bell' on the island is?"
"The Golden Bell..." Enel's lips twitched uncontrollably as memories of his humiliating defeat at the hands of the Straw Hat Boy flooded his mind.
He snorted and turned away. "How should I know where it washed up? This god has no time for such trivialities!"
Nico Robin took a graceful step forward, her gaze shifting to Bahr. "Boss, is there something special about that 'Golden Bell'?"
Bahr studied her with a meaningful look before breaking into a cryptic smile. "That 'Golden Bell' is inscribed with what you seek."
Robin's pupils constricted violently. From the moment Bahr mentioned it, she had harbored a vague suspicion. Now, her guess was confirmed.
"Let's move out," Bahr said with a chuckle, waving his hand.
Enel curled his lip, his reluctance plain, but he still sauntered over to the divine throne. Placing his hands on the golden cylinder before him, he raised his chin. "Watch closely. This is the true power of the Divine Chariot!"
"Discharge—200 Million Volts!"
Brilliant lightning erupted from Enel's body, coursing along the cylinder's surface before spreading through the golden circuits across the entire ship.
In the power chamber, the massive blue gears groaned as they began to turn. A synchronized hum rose from the lower decks as two hundred Wind Shells opened simultaneously, their powerful gusts causing the deck to tremble. Slowly, the Ark Maxim began to ascend.
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