"What!? He actually cut through God's attack!?"
At the prow of the Ark Maxim, Enel—holding his golden staff—watched as that roaring slash split apart his divine judgment. His expression instantly changed.
"A Logia-type… user of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit?"
Shiryu frowned, a cigar between his lips.
"One of the most destructive Logia fruits, comparable to those of the three Admirals. But ever since its previous user died, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit vanished without a trace."
"Never expected it to be eaten by such a strange, long-eared freak."
Shiryu observed Enel carefully.
"Flying ability, huh?"
Enel had also noticed Xia Te and the others.
Though momentarily shaken by the slash Weevil had unleashed earlier, his arrogant nature quickly reasserted itself. He regained his composure and declared haughtily:
"Feel honored, Blue Sea dwellers! The god now grants you supreme glory—allowing you to become his new servants!"
"…Is something wrong with this guy's brain?"
After a brief silence, a trace of bloodlust flickered in Shiryu's eyes.
If someone had dared speak to him like that in Impel Down, they'd have been dead already.
"This guy may be an idiot, but he's developed the Rumble-Rumble Fruit quite well. He also has innate high-level Observation Haki—even you won't find it easy to deal with him."
Xia Te chuckled.
"Capture him alive. If he refuses to submit, kill him. Once the fruit reincarnates, it's yours."
In the original story, Shiryu ate the Clear-Clear Fruit—a power that seemed fairly underwhelming.
Perhaps it synergized well with his swordsmanship.
But no matter what, it couldn't compare to the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
Given Enel's personality, making him submit wouldn't be easy.
If he couldn't be tamed, then killing him and waiting for the fruit to respawn was the better option.
A look of excitement spread across Shiryu's face as he slowly drew Raiu.
"Perfect. Those small fry earlier weren't nearly enough to satisfy me."
In the next instant, Shiryu vanished, reappearing above Enel.
Raiu was fully unsheathed, reflecting a blood-red gleam.
"Hmph! Foolish Blue Sea dwellers—rejecting the grace of a god! In that case, you shall all become sacrifices!"
Enel snorted coldly, striking the tomoe drums on his back with his golden staff.
"30 Million Volts—Thunderbird!"
Arcs of electricity formed a massive thunderbird that screeched as it charged toward Shiryu.
"Boring!"
Coating his blade in Armament Haki, Shiryu sliced the thunderbird in half as easily as cutting tofu, then continued descending like a meteor toward Enel.
"Hmph! Fool! Do you really think such attacks can harm a god!?"
Seeing that Shiryu used a sword—not a rubber body like Luffy—Enel dropped his guard, standing still and allowing the attack to come, intending to demonstrate his invincibility.
However—
At the instant Shiryu's Haki-coated blade came within five centimeters of his chest—
Enel's innate advanced Observation Haki sensed a deadly threat.
His expression changed drastically.
In a flash, he transformed into lightning and retreated.
Slash—!
Shiryu's blade cut through the air, leaving behind a streak of blood.
Enel reappeared more than ten meters away, his chest now bearing a half-meter-long wound.
Fortunately, it hadn't reached his vital organs.
"Impossible!? How can a god be injured!?"
After being defeated by Luffy's rubber body, and now wounded by Shiryu's blade—
Enel felt his entire worldview collapsing.
"As expected of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit—just like Kizaru's power, it excels not only in offense but also in escape."
Shiryu said coldly.
"To dodge that attack under those conditions… seems the captain was right. Your Observation Haki is indeed advanced."
A bloodthirsty grin spread across his face.
"But you're still just a country bumpkin—born with Observation Haki, yet you don't even know what Armament Haki is?"
"Armament… Haki?"
Enel frowned deeply—clearly hearing the term for the first time.
"Weevil."
At that moment, Xia Te spoke calmly.
"Yes, big brother!"
Weevil leapt forward. Despite his nearly seven-meter-tall body rivaling Whitebeard's in size, his speed was astonishing—barely inferior to Enel's lightning movement.
In an instant, Enel felt a massive shadow looming behind him.
Turning his head, he saw a gigantic naginata descending.
There wasn't even time to activate his lightning ability.
He raised his golden staff with both hands to block.
CLANG!!!
A deafening metallic collision rang out.
They remained locked in a stalemate for about three seconds—
but Enel could clearly feel it.
His golden staff… was starting to crack.
How is that possible!?
This is pure gold!
Just how monstrous is this guy's strength!?
CRACK—!
As Weevil applied more force—
the golden staff was split clean in two.
The naginata slashed across Enel's chest.
Combined with Shiryu's earlier strike—
it carved a massive X-shaped wound across Enel's chest… no, across his entire upper body.
"AAAAAAARGH!!!"
Enel's scream echoed across the skies.