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"Do I have to... fight that guy's sword shadow?" Nojiko clutched the challenge permission card in her hand, feeling slightly worried.
"Don't worry. Even though it's his swordsman shadow, the young Shiki probably didn't have the strength he had when I fought him," Ikki reassured her. "You can view a simulation of his swordsmanship first. Once you're confident you can defeat him, challenge him in the Sword Enlightenment Room."
He turned to Vivi. "And Vivi, while these two bottles of nutritional potions won't get you to S-level Life Force, they'll bring you close quickly. Don't neglect your training."
Vivi nodded firmly. "I understand, Ikki. I'm going to train right now."
She stood up, said goodbye to Nami and the others, and headed straight for the gym.
Robin followed suit, remembering she still had two bottles of B-level nutritional potions she hadn't used yet.
"What about you? Aren't you going to train?" Ikki glanced at Nojiko behind him.
"Hehe, being here is training for me," she smiled. "After all, you asked me to activate my Demon Mark. If I don't spend time with you, I won't be able to activate my innate Demon Mark, and that would be a shame, wouldn't it?"
Nojiko removed her shoes and slipped into the pool, settling next to Ikki.
When Nami saw this, she immediately pouted.
Ikki didn't mind Nojiko's behavior. He closed his eyes and continued enjoying the healing properties of the hot spring water.
A few hours later, when everyone was ready, Ikki personally took control of the one-eyed manta ray formed by Nojiko's Minazuki.
He directed the Explorer straight upward from the area where the knock-up stream was located. They quickly disappeared from the sight of nearby onlookers.
"Using this method to reach Sky Island!" Cricket Montblanc, the descendant of the great explorer Noland, watched as Ikki and the others vanished from view. "A man who can trigger such a battle shouldn't be underestimated," he sighed. "Hopefully they can find the City of Gold."
"Ikki, you mentioned before that there are gods on Sky Island," Nami approached Ikki as he guided the Traveler upward with the manta ray. "If we arrive like this, won't that god be angry and attack us?"
"Why are you asking this now?" Ikki glanced at Nami with a smile.
"Don't worry, we'll probably have a conflict with that guy anyway."
"A conflict? But he's a God, Ikki! Can't we live peacefully with him?"
"Peaceful coexistence isn't possible. You want gold, and Robin wants historical monuments. Either of those will lead to conflict with him," Ikki explained. "But don't worry—even though he calls himself a god, he's just a person who ate the Rumble-Rumble Fruit."
"Rumble-Rumble Fruit?" Nami blinked. "Is that the Devil Fruit that Blackbeard mentioned?"
"That's right—a Logia-type fruit that controls lightning," Ikki nodded, placing his hand on Nami's shoulder. "Though he controls lightning too, I don't think he can compare to your Gonryōmaru."
Nami looked down at Gonryōmaru at her waist. After using its Bankai form, she believed what Ikki said. Her fear of facing a "god" completely disappeared.
"If I'd known he was just a Devil Fruit user, I wouldn't have worried so much," Nami patted her chest, giving Ikki a reproachful look.
"No more talking—we're almost there," Ikki smiled, increasing the manta ray's flight speed.
With his Advanced Observation Haki's enhanced perception, Ikki chose not to land on Sky Island gradually. Instead, he took the Traveler directly to Enel's location.
Soon, Enel, who had been resting, opened his eyes and looked toward Ikki and the others.
"More people from the Blue Sea?" he mused. "Coming directly to God's sanctuary? What arrogant Blue Sea dwellers."
Enel sneered, pointing his golden staff at the sky. Seconds later, a thunderous roar echoed as a massive lightning bolt encompassing the entire Traveler fell from above.
"Here it comes," Ikki smirked, preparing to intercept the lightning.
But Nami drew her sword first, swinging a sharp golden thunder strike that cut Enel's lightning pillar in two. The broken lightning passed harmlessly on both sides of the Traveler and fell toward the Blue Sea.
"Hmm?" Enel's eyes widened slightly. "You cut through my divine punishment? Interesting... it seems there are some remarkable Blue Sea people this time. Perhaps I should let them participate in God's Trial."
With that thought, Enel calmly returned to his position, using his powers to inform his four priests to welcome Ikki and the others.
But while Enel could sense Ikki's location, Ikki could also sense his. Ignoring everyone else on Sky Island, Ikki accelerated the manta ray directly toward Enel.
"Coming straight to me? Interesting. Let's see what kind of Blue Sea dwellers have arrived this time," Enel smiled coldly.
"Ikki, was that thunder just now the power of the god you mentioned?" Vivi asked nervously, glancing with amazement at Nami, who had casually cut through lightning with her sword.
"Yes, and there he is," Ikki nodded slightly. With a thought, he brought the manta ray to a stop in the square where Enel waited.
In addition to Enel, his four appointed priests were also present in the square.
"What disrespectful Blue Sea dwellers, coming here directly!" Ohm, one of the four priests, rushed forward waving his sword. "Do you know who stands before you?"
Ikki transformed the manta ray back into a regular Minazuki and returned it to Nojiko.
Without hesitation, Nojiko slashed at the charging Ohm. Her Iron-Cutting Realm swordsmanship easily cut through Ohm's blade and left a long gash across his body.
"Impossible! Ohm defeated?" The other three priests, who had been about to attack, froze in shock as they saw Ohm collapse in a pool of blood. "With just one move? How? Ohm's blade is harder than ordinary iron. How could it be cut so easily?"
"Well... you defeated my strongest priest?" Enel raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "And that woman who cut through my lightning earlier... Hahaha, you're quite intriguing."
When he noticed the other three priests had stopped advancing, his face darkened. "Cowards are not qualified to be priests."
With a cold snort, Enel sent three lightning bolts toward the remaining priests. They didn't even have time to react before being struck down by the powerful electric shocks.
After doing this, Enel turned his attention back to Ikki and his crew.
"You people are skilled! Submit to me and become my priests," he commanded. "I'll forgive your trespass into the forbidden area this time."