After hearing the news that Enel had been killed, Ohm's mentality completely collapsed.
He simply couldn't comprehend how a powerful, god-like being such as Enel could possibly lose.
Even more incomprehensible was how strong this silver-haired man, the one who had killed him, must be.
This was the fatal limitation of the Sky Island people.
Having proclaimed themselves gods, they had yet to see how vast, and how monstrous, the true world really was.
"Honored guests from the Blue Sea!" Ohm groveled, his entire demeanor changed.
"Would you like to visit our largest attraction, the shrine, now? The scenery there is undoubtedly the best! From that vantage point, you can see all the sights of Sky Island. It's the perfect spot for travel photos!"
Zoro looked on, utterly exasperated by the man's pathetic fawning.
Ray, however, simply let him be.
Since the priest had admitted defeat, he could live a little longer.
In Ray's eyes, the lives of ants were insignificant, so long as they hadn't offended him.
But his mind wasn't on the priest.
A deep, unsettling feeling pricked at the edge of his consciousness.
He pondered, what is it?
This island should no longer hold any threats.
The scent of Enel's corpse still lingered in the forest—he was definitely dead.
This priest and the Shandia posed no threat.
So what was this feeling?
Just then, Chopper and Chouchou successfully reunited with the group, having followed their scents.
The only one left was Robin.
"Chouchou, go bring Robin back."
"Okaay."
Chouchou immediately transformed into his demonic form.
The terrifying energy washed over the clearing, frightening Ohm's large white dog, Holy, so much that it rolled onto its back and promptly acknowledged Chouchou as its new big brother.
Only then did Luffy finally react.
"Hey, why are there two Chouchous?"
Everyone was speechless.
...
Following Robin's scent, Chouchou quickly found her.
He hadn't arrived during a battle, but in the immediate aftermath of one.
To protect the ruins, Robin had been forced to lure her opponent—a fat Divine Soldier Captain—away from the delicate structures.
Even so, parts of the ancient stonework had been carelessly destroyed by the brute.
"You have no understanding of the importance of these ruins," Robin stated, her voice cold with a rare, controlled fury.
"Ruins represent the traces of past lives. History needs to be remembered."
The Divine Soldier Captain had only sneered. "With just you, a woman who only knows how to run? Take this! Slash Attack: Full Power!"
He had brandished his signature weapon: ten connected Slash Dials, all set to release at once.
But Robin had looked at him with utter contempt.
"Mil fleur" she said. "Tenfold Dragon Claw Strikes!"
Ten arms, each ending in the dragon-claw shape Ray had taught her, bloomed across the captain's body.
It was brutally efficient.
Two claws stabbed directly into his eyes, blinding him.
Two more twisted his own Slash Dials, turning the cutting edges toward his own chest.
The remaining claws struck with vicious, precise force at his most vulnerable spots.
The simultaneous attacks sent pain shooting straight to his brain.
He lost consciousness before he even hit the ground.
Robin, using her ability, had unceremoniously moved him to the edge of a cliff and provided a high-altitude bungee jump, minus the safety rope.
Just as she was about to turn back to the ruins, Chouchou arrived.
"Sister Robin, my master sent me to fetch you."
Seeing Chouchou, Robin's serious expression broke into a happy smile.
"Alright."
...
Soon, everyone was gathered beneath the giant beanstalk.
The former god, Gan Fall, had also regained consciousness under Chopper's care.
He looked at Ray with an expression of pure disbelief.
"You... you really defeated Enel?"
Chouchou, back in his small dog form, was offended.
"Old man, don't you believe in my master? Watch out, or I'll eat you!"
"Chouchou!" Nami quickly stopped him, then turned to Gan Fall with a calm smile.
"Sir, please trust us. Ray is far stronger than you imagine. Besides, if Enel were still alive, would he have just stood by and watched us defeat all his Priests?"
Gan Fall considered this. It made sense.
And yet...
"Esteemed ones, I don't doubt your strength," he said. "But Enel is someone who doesn't care whether his subordinates live or die."
Ohm, desperate to be useful, chose that moment to interject.
"He's right!"
"What's the reason?" Sanji asked, lighting a cigarette.
Ohm took a deep breath. "Before this all began, Enel told me this was a 'survival game.' He said only the last four survivors would accompany him to the 'Infinite Earth.' He... he thought I stood a good chance, so he told me. But he said even if all of us died, he wouldn't care. As long as he had four survivors, that was enough."
Usopp was perplexed. "That doesn't make sense. Why would he assume the last survivors would just go with him?"
Gan Fall sighed. "Perhaps Enel truly believed that everyone must submit to the will of a 'god.' As the former god, I know that 'divine decrees' are a powerful tool for control. It's possible he simply couldn't imagine anyone defying him."
The group had little interest in debating the psychology of a dead man.
Luffy, especially, was vibrating with impatience.
"Adventure, adventure! Let's head towards the shrine!"
"Bald guy! Lead the way!"
"Right away!" Ohm scrambled to his feet. "Handsome gentlemen, beautiful ladies, and fierce beasts, please follow me closely!"
But as the group began to move, they noticed Ray was still standing in place.
"Ray?" Robin asked, her voice quiet.
She had clearly noticed his behavior was different.
He didn't respond.
He had fully activated his Observation Haki, setting his sense of smell to lock onto Enel's last known location.
His Haki detected nothing.
His sense of smell clearly picked up the scent of a corpse.
The evidence was absolute.
So why did this sense of unease persist? What had he overlooked?
Ohm, already walking ahead, turned back when he noticed the group had stopped.
He couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"Everyone, you..."
BOOM!
Just as Ohm was about to ask, a pillar of lightning several meters wide struck him directly.
It shattered his consciousness instantly, leaving only a charred black silhouette that collapsed to the ground.
In that horrifying, electric-blue flash, Ray finally understood.
His blood ran cold.
"He isn't dead!"
--------
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