Enel's golden staff crackled with lightning, transforming into a spear of thunder as it thrust toward Soifon.
But she didn't stop moving. In an instant, her Shunpo erupted at full speed, leaving behind more than a dozen afterimages all around him.
Enel froze for a moment, stunned.
What kind of technique was that?
That single moment of distraction was enough for Soifon to land another mark on his shoulder—another Hornet Crest bloomed upon his skin.
Oguro immediately noticed something.
Enel's speed wasn't actually greater than Soifon's.
In theory, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit could allow movement close to the speed of light—but in practice, that was impossible.
The reason was simple: the limits of the human body.
Elemental transformation might let a person survive the strain of lightning-speed travel, but no mind or reflex could consciously control movements at light speed.
Push past that limit, and forget about killing an enemy—just surviving would be a miracle.
By that logic, even against Admiral Kizaru, Soifon wouldn't necessarily fall behind!
"Damn it! How dare you stain the body of a god! You'll pay for this!"
Rage flared across Enel's face as thunder raged around him, shooting up into the heavens.
"Judgment of God!"
A pillar of lightning, more than ten meters thick, tore through the sky and crashed down. The sheer destructive power of it made the people of Skypiea tremble.
"God's wrath!"
"Will Skypiea be destroyed?!"
"Mom! I'm scared!"
The entire sky island was in chaos.
Facing the massive lightning strike head-on, Soifon charged straight at Enel.
Enel sneered. "If you plan to die with me, you're mistaken! Did you really think lightning I summon could hurt me?"
Guided by his Mantra (Observation Haki), the pillar of divine punishment tracked Soifon's every move.
She was almost within striking range now—close enough to see the smirk on Enel's face.
Then Soifon whispered calmly, "Bakudo #81: Dankū."
A transparent spiritual barrier materialized above her head.
The thunderous pillar struck it with full force.
BOOM!
The explosion of light and sound ripped through the air, waves of energy scattering in every direction.
But even with all that force, the divine strike couldn't pierce the thin veil of spiritual power.
"What—impossible!"
Enel had expected resistance, but not this… not so easily.
Soifon didn't care what he thought. She flashed forward with Shunpo, pushing her speed to the limit. The Suzumebachi in her hand stabbed directly at Enel once again.
"How many useless attacks are you going to try?!" Enel snarled. "You're just making a fool of yourself!"
But this time, Soifon's aim was precise—she targeted the same spot she'd already marked earlier.
And then… Enel's heart suddenly tightened.
"Mantra… it's telling me… if I get hit again… I'll die?"
He froze.
How could a mere stain on his body be dangerous?
That brief hesitation sealed his fate.
The blade of Suzumebachi pierced the center of the previous Hornet Crest.
Another mark bloomed, the two overlapping into a black, eight-pointed pattern.
"Nigeki Kessatsu."
Two hits—certain death.
Soifon spoke coldly, lowering her weapon.
"A false god dares to boast before true Shinigami. You really don't know your place."
"You…" Enel tried to speak, but his expression suddenly twisted.
The overlapping marks began to glow pink, spinning slowly as they merged.
In that instant, he felt it—his soul was being devoured, erased piece by piece.
Enel wanted to resist, but he couldn't move. His consciousness was slipping into nothingness.
"So this… is the power of a real god…?"
With those last words, the marks fused completely, and Enel's soul was annihilated.
His body disintegrated into dust—only the glowing sigil remained, shimmering in the air.
Oguro sighed quietly.
Only Enel would have made this fight so easy.
He had always crushed weaker foes with his fruit's power, never once facing a real challenge.
Those two moments of hesitation—and his arrogance toward Soifon's mark—were mistakes no experienced officer would ever make.
On the Grand Line, arrogance kills faster than any weapon. You never know what kind of trump card your opponent might have.
"He's… dead?" Robin stared, uncharacteristically shocked.
What kind of power was that? To kill with only two strikes…
And judging by Rukia and the others, all of their abilities came from the blades they wielded.
Could it be… they'd found a set of Fruits with similar powers?
No matter how she reasoned, it made no sense.
As for Soifon calling herself a Shinigami—Robin dismissed it as a self-styled title meant to intimidate enemies.
After all, according to all historical research from Ohara… true gods didn't exist.
Oguro, however, didn't care what anyone thought. The system's familiar voice rang in his mind—he was ready to absorb the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
"Ding! Unclaimed soul detected. You may exchange it for one Legendary Lottery Ticket!"
Without hesitation, Oguro made the trade.
Sure, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit could make someone as strong as a Marine Admiral…
But its weaknesses—seastone and seawater—were too fatal.
Summoned Shinigami were far more reliable.
"Let's move. We're heading to the temple."
The group climbed toward the highest point of Skypiea—the temple Enel had ruled from.
At the base of the grand staircase, a squad of priests and guards blocked their path.
"This is the domain of God Enel! None may enter!"
"Your false god is already dead," Rukia said coldly. "Surrender now if you wish to live."
"Lies! God Enel is fighting at the frontlines right now! How dare you mock him!"
The guards raised their muskets and cannons, aiming at Oguro's crew.
Nami smiled lightly. "Or maybe… he was fighting us just a few minutes ago?"
The guards' faces stiffened.
"Impossible! God Enel is lightning incarnate! No one can defeat him! Capture these blasphemers!"
They opened fire.
But Soifon merely scoffed and moved. Her figure blurred—then every soldier was sent flying before they even realized what happened.
"They must have more of Enel's followers ahead. Let's finish this quickly," Oguro said casually.
"Yes, my lord."
Soifon and the others vanished into thin air.
***
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