Chapter 18 — Ash vs Enel
"Damn it! Stop him! He can't be allowed to reach God Enel! If he does, even if we win the battle, God will still punish us!"
Ohm's expression twisted with fear as he shouted. As one of Enel's priests, he knew all too well just how brutal Enel could be.
"Hey~ hey~ are you pretending I don't exist?"
Tai Chi: Blast Power!
Suddenly, a shadow darted through the air. It was Tuan, the round-bodied Panda. With explosive speed, he dashed forward and intercepted Satori, swinging a massive paw down with crushing force.
"Impact Dial!"
Satori, sensing danger, quickly raised his arm and triggered the Impact Dial hidden in his palm. The device absorbed the impact and released it all at once, colliding with Tuan.
BOOM!
"Holy! Smoke screen!" Ohm barked.
Responding to his master's order, the Sky Wolf named Holy released a dense cloud of smoke around the forest and Ohm prepared to use his Mantra, what Sky Islanders called Observation Haki, But what he didn't know was that Ash's crew member, Gin, had been
honing that exact ability for weeks.
Ghost Hammer: Frenzy!
Gin burst through the fog and slammed into Ohm, fists flying. Despite having a Devil Fruit, Gin was deliberately holding back, using this fight to train his physical prowess and Observation Haki.
Poker, usually the timid one, took a deep breath. His resolve burned as he thought about the long road ahead and how badly he wanted to help Ash. Gripping his massive ring-blade, his body swelled from 1.7 meters to over 3 meters tall. revealing muscle and fury.
"Let's do this!" Seeing Poker ready himself, Gan Fall the former God of Skypiea, stepped forward, sword drawn, and locked eyes with the priest Gedatsu.
"Two versus one, Seems like the odds are in our favor."
---
Inside the Heavenly Sanctuary
Enel casually took a bite of an apple as his golden staff leaned against his throne. He barely lifted his eyes when Ash entered.
"So, Human… what business do you have with a god?"
Ash walked forward without hesitation, voice steady. "Name's Monkey D. Ash, born in the Blue Sea, I heard you're strong, so I came to invite you to join me."
"Yahahaha! Are you kidding me?" Enel laughed arrogantly. "I am a GOD!"
"Oh?" Ash smirked. "Are you really that strong?"
"I'm invincible!" Enel declared without blinking.
"Then how about this: if I beat you, you will join me."
"HA! A god never loses!"
Then that sounds like a yes to me.
Ash's arm darkened with black Haki as he launched forward using Soru, one of the Navy's Six Styles. His attack wasn't flashy—but it carried terrifying weight.
Enel, floating mid-air, scoffed. "What's a punch going to do to me?"
BOOM!
The punch was simple, brutal, and precise, imbued with Armament Haki, Enel was caught off-guard.
Pain exploded through him as his body contorted mid-air. His pride shattered in an instant.
Ash stood tall as Enel crumpled to the ground in front of him.
God? That's it?
Ash shook his head. "You've got a strong Devil Fruit, sure, But in the New World? There are plenty of people who'll kill you in one move if you act cocky."
"How—how could you hit me?" Enel asked, horror creeping into his voice.
"Simple, What you Sky Islanders call Mantra, we call Observation Haki, And this?"
Ash raised his blackened fist again. Armament Haki, It lets me touch your real body, no matter what Logia devil fruit you have.
Enel gritted his teeth, then suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Yehahaha! You gave away your secret, fool!" He transformed into lightning and shot into the sky, trying to keep his distance.
Feel the judgment of a god!
20 Million Volts: Thunder Strike!
A colossal bolt of lightning split the sky and came crashing toward Ash. Thunder roared across Skypiea as the skies darkened.
Ash's voice echoed calmly.
"You done?"
He was already in the air.
Ordinary Punch!
BOOM!!!
Ash's fist blurred as he dropped from the sky like a meteor. A massive shockwave exploded beneath him. Enel didn't even have time to go intangible.
The punch cratered the sanctuary, Enel's golden palace? Obliterated.
---
Back in the forest
Shandians looked toward the heavens as thunder crackled overhead.
"Wyper! That lightning… it's coming from the Holy Land!"
"Did someone challenge Enel?"
"An angel?"
"Hmph, no way. They wouldn't dare," Wyper scoffed. "Let's go."
The warriors began their march toward the Holy Land.
---
Meanwhile, Enel climbed out of the rubble. Blood trickled from his nose. His golden staff trembled in his grip.
"You… you dare mock a god?!"
30 Million Volts: Thunder Beast!
Striking the drums on his back, Enel summoned a massive thunder wolf that howled and lunged.
Tai Chi: Return to Void!
A Black and white Circle appear infront of
Ash's hand and met the thunder wolf midair. There was no explosion, just silence, as the beast unraveled into sparks and vanished.
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To be continued…