One week later, the first half of the Grand Line lay beneath a flawless blue sky.
The White Gull rested quietly upon the sea. A gentle breeze brushed across the water, lifting fine ripples that lapped rhythmically against the hull, producing a light, pleasant sound.
On the deck, Lipo was leaning over the railing. Her fluffy rabbit ears swayed softly with the wind as she held a carrot in one hand, taking small bites now and then while gazing curiously into the distance.
"Gern, hasn't this guy had enough yet?" Lipo turned her head toward Gern Reginald Sigmar, who was lounging lazily in a deck chair. Her eyes then flicked toward a certain someone sitting atop the warship's mast."Is beating up pirates worth only a few million really that fun?! Hmph!"
She bit down hard on her carrot in irritation.
"Aww, he just got to the sea—everything's still new and exciting for him," Gern replied lazily, rolling over slightly. The black blade Bahuang rested at an angle beside his chair."Besides, I asked Tesoro. Pirates show up pretty often in these waters, so it should—"
Before he could finish, Tesoro's voice rang out from the lookout.
"Ten o'clock direction—pirate ship spotted!"
Almost at the exact same moment, a streak of blue lightning shot out from the mast!
"Hahahahaha! Finally!"
Enel's figure appeared atop the mast in an instant. His golden staff rested casually on his shoulder, long earlobes swaying in the wind, excitement glittering in his eyes.
In the distance, a medium-sized pirate ship slowly approached.
A skull emblem was painted on its sails. On deck, more than a dozen pirates shouted and waved their weapons wildly.
Judging by the ship's size and flag, it was nothing more than a small-time pirate crew with bounties in the millions.
"Hey! Look over there!" a lookout on the pirate ship suddenly shouted, pointing at the White Gull."There's a Marine ship!"
"What are you scared of?!" The pirate captain drew his curved blade and sneered."A little warship like that is perfect to rob. That'll bump my bounty up another notch! Get the cannons ready, boys!!"
Then—without warning—a bolt of lightning struck straight down onto the pirate ship's mast!
"Mortals…"
Enel's lips curled into an exaggerated grin as he thrust his golden staff toward the pirate deck.
"Face your god."
"What's this guy talking about…?" The pirates stared at one another in confusion.
The next second, that confusion was frozen permanently on their faces.
"Pretending you can't hear me? How amusing."
"Divine Punishment!!!"
Enel raised his arm high. Dark clouds instantly churned overhead.
A massive lightning pillar several meters wide descended from the heavens, striking dead center on the pirate ship!
BOOOOM!!!
Amid the deafening explosion, the wooden vessel tore apart like paper. Wherever the blazing white lightning passed, everything was carbonized—then vaporized.
The pirates didn't even have time to scream before they were reduced to ash within the lightning.
The shockwave kicked up towering waves. The sea surface collapsed inward, leaving a massive depression as surrounding water rushed back in, forming a brief, violent whirlpool.
When the lightning finally faded, the pirate ship was gone—utterly erased. Only a few charred planks floated weakly atop the sea.
"Hahahahaha!"
Enel stood atop a drifting fragment of wreckage, throwing his head back in laughter.
"Did you see that?! This is the fate of those who dare blaspheme against a god!"
His laughter echoed across the ocean, filled with madness and exhilaration. Lightning danced around him, electrolyzing the seawater and sending wisps of white vapor into the air.
Back on the warship deck, Enel returned with a satisfied smile.
"Well? Have you learned to fear the power of a god?"
"So… so amazing!"
Lipo, ever the enthusiastic audience, stared wide-eyed as her carrot slipped from her hand."So those moves actually hurt people?!Then why couldn't you hit Gern before? Tell me! Enel!"
"..."
"…Forget it." Enel snorted, looking at the overly supportive Lipo."You're also someone who can hurt a god. I won't argue with you."
"Tell me~! It was really cool just now!" Seeing Enel turn to leave, Lipo suddenly reached out—
And grabbed his long earlobe.
The two of them ended up tugging each other a short distance.
"..."
After a brief silence, both of their expressions shifted almost simultaneously from blank confusion to shock.
"Wahhh! Your ear came off!"
"AAAH!! Damn rabbit!! That's a god's ear!!!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
Snake Princess leaned back against Gern's side, watching the scene with amusement."This guy really has no idea what 'restraint' means."
Tesoro frowned as well."Vice Admiral Gern… is it really okay to let him act so freely? Once we get back to Marineford, Headquarters' discipline—"
"Discipline?" Gern replied with a faint, inscrutable smile, mimicking Enel's tone."That's something meant for mortals."
As he spoke, he caught sight of Enel being strangled by his own earlobes after frightening Lipo, and quietly turned his head away.
"…Maybe gods just have their own way of doing things."
"Vice Admiral, you have zero confidence when you say that."
Meanwhile, Enel—having finally straightened himself out—seemed to sense Gern's gaze. He snapped his head around, golden staff pointing straight at him.
"Gern! Did you see that just now?!That was the power of a god! Those insects weren't even worth me getting serious!"
Gern chuckled softly. His voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to Enel's ears.
"Well done.But there are far stronger pirates in the second half of the Grand Line."
"Stronger?" Enel's eyes lit up, lightning crackling within his pupils."Where?! I'll go judge them right now!"
"Easy." Gern waved a hand."We still have someone to wait for.This little ship's supplies are running low—we're planning to hitch a ride back to Headquarters on another branch's warship."
Enel clicked his tongue, arms crossed, impatience written all over his face."Wait for who?"
"For—" Gern was just about to answer when—
"BWOOOOOO!!"
A thunderous horn blast suddenly tore through the calm sea.
On the horizon, a massive dog-headed Marine warship came charging forward, splitting the waves.
"HEY!!! GERNN—!!!"
A booming, heroic shout echoed like thunder.
The next instant, Monkey D. Garp leapt from the deck, cloak billowing violently in the wind.
Like a diving beast of prey, he came crashing straight toward the White Gull!
"Hahahaha! I'm here to pick you up!!!"
"Vice Admiral Garp???"
Gern froze for a split second—then seemed to realize something. A flicker of blue light caught the corner of his eye, and he whipped his head around.
"Wait! En—"
"Heh… hehehe…"
Enel lowered his head, shoulders trembling as a low laugh escaped his throat.
"Excellent…"
He slowly raised his head, his body fully elementalized. His grin stretched nearly to his ears.
"To dare face a god the moment you arrive…"
Violent lightning erupted from his body. The deck beneath his feet instantly carbonized, the air filling with a sharp, acrid stench.
"Among all the mortals I've destroyed since coming to the Blue Sea…"
"I shall proclaim you… the strongest!!!"
Before the words had fully fallen—
Enel transformed into a blinding bolt of lightning, shooting toward Garp in midair at near-teleportation speed!
And then—
THUD!!!
A dull impact echoed.
Enel flew back even faster than he had charged, slamming into the deck.
His body was embedded into the planks in a perfect star shape, eyes rolled back, a thin wisp of smoke curling from his mouth.
Garp landed steadily on the White Gull, scratching his shoulder with a puzzled expression.
"Gern… did I just bump into something?"
He glanced down at the deck."And what's with this guy? It's broad daylight—why's someone sleeping here?"
Gern looked down at the unconscious Enel, the corner of his mouth twitching.
"…It's nothing."
"That's nothing?!"
"Young body, good health. Falls asleep instantly. Totally normal."