Big Pan and his group were enjoying themselves on Angel Island, wandering through a lively district known as Cute Street. Just as the mood was at its peak, a group of heavily built men wielding all kinds of weapons suddenly appeared like ghosts, surrounding them in an instant.
The leader was tall and broad, his face full of menace. He shouted aggressively,
"If you know what's good for you, surrender now!"
Big Pan exploded with anger.
He had never been one to swallow humiliation. Without a word, he charged forward like a raging beast, plunging straight into the crowd. The Dragon Coil Staff in his hands whistled through the air, every strike accompanied by blood and screams.
Seeing this, Felina and the others joined the fight without hesitation.
With their current strength, these attackers never stood a chance. Before long, the street was littered with bodies, some dead, some badly wounded. The scent of blood filled the air. Cute Street, once bustling with laughter, fell into a dead silence, broken only by heavy breathing.
What followed, however, left them deeply frustrated.
The residents of Angel Island had always been wary of outsiders, and now, seeing strangers fighting so violently in the middle of the street, their fear and anger ignited. They did not know these attackers had been sent by Enel. All they saw was bloodshed.
Anger spread rapidly.
More and more residents rushed over, weapons in hand, surrounding Big Pan and the others. Even though Big Pan's group had clearly demonstrated overwhelming strength, rage drowned out reason. A far larger conflict was about to erupt.
Left with no choice, Felina ordered a retreat. They could not slaughter an entire town.
Big Pan clenched his teeth in frustration but followed as they took to the air and left Angel Island behind.
Originally, Felina planned to regroup with Eli and the others. Instead, their hurried escape led them to a strange and secluded village.
Just as they approached, people dressed in peculiar, primitive clothing poured out of the village like a tide. Their attire was unusual, their expressions openly hostile, as if facing sworn enemies.
A man with black paint smeared across his face stepped forward, glaring sharply.
"Who are you? Why have you trespassed here?"
Before Felina could respond, another large man with the same black markings roared angrily,
"Chief Manhu, I say these must be Sky Island scum! Stop talking and kill them all!"
He raised his blade, ready to attack.
At that moment, another man stepped out and shouted,
"Qiyu, are you blind? Look at them properly. There's a giant bear and a fish-looking guy among them. How could they be Sky Islanders?"
Silence fell.
The group began whispering among themselves.
"Oh. I didn't notice," Qiyu said awkwardly, scratching his head.
"That's because you're an idiot," the man replied smugly.
"You bastard, Tada. Say that again and I'll tell everyone about you spying on A-Si bathing," Qiyu yelled angrily.
"Are you insane?" Tada panicked. "Why would you shout that out loud?"
The others immediately stared at Tada with disgust. He looked respectable, but who would have guessed.
Manhu's face darkened.
"Enough. Qiyu, Tada. Keep this up and I'll send you both back to feed pigs."
The two instantly shut up.
Manhu cleared his throat, clearly embarrassed.
"My apologies. You've seen a joke at our expense."
Felina waved her hand with a smile.
"It's fine. We were the ones who disturbed you. Could you tell us about this place?"
Manhu studied them carefully before asking,
"Are you from the Blue Sea?"
"No," Felina answered honestly. "But we did come up from below."
"In that case, please come with us. Our chief may wish to speak with you."
Felina exchanged glances with Big Pan and the others, then nodded. They followed Manhu into the village.
Guided by Enel, Eli, Fiona, and Robin soon arrived at a small Sky Island.
Birka.
The sight before them made all three frown. Fiona and Robin both kicked Enel without hesitation, causing the already badly injured man to cough up blood.
Eli did not stop them. If Enel had not still been useful, he would already be dead and his Lightning Fruit reclaimed.
Birka lay in ruins.
White ground scorched black. Buildings reduced to rubble. Burned remains scattered among the wreckage, filling the air with a stench that made the stomach turn.
"When you destroyed Birka," Eli asked coldly, "did you find any historical records?"
"Why would I care about the history of weaklings?" Enel sneered.
"Do you know where they stored such records?" Eli pressed.
"I was despised from childhood. Do you think I had access to that?" Enel replied, his expression twisted.
"Don't test my patience," Eli said calmly. "I have many ways to make you suffer."
After a long pause, Enel spoke darkly.
"There is an underground complex to the west. Many books were kept there. I don't know if that's what you want."
"Lie again and I'll beat you," Eli said flatly.
They reached the underground structure soon after.
The entrance was deeply hidden, but Eli found it easily. Once inside, soft yellow lights flickered on automatically, revealing a massive oval chamber beneath the island.
Eli shot Enel a sharp look.
"I didn't destroy the place with the books," Enel said quickly. "They weren't worth anything to me."
"Good," Eli replied. "For your sake, they'd better still be intact."
Inside the archive room, three blackened human skeletons lay on the floor. Eli glanced once and looked away.
The shelves held few books.
He picked one up. Weather records.
Not what he wanted.
One by one, they searched. Nothing about Birka's origins.
Two hours later, Eli closed the final book, disappointment etched into his face.
"Anywhere else?" he asked.
Enel shook his head.
Eli expanded his Observation Haki, covering the entire island. Enel stared at him in shock.
Minutes later, Eli withdrew it.
No records.
But one place caught his attention. A section of the island was simply gone, as if something had taken a massive bite out of it.
"Let's regroup with Felina," Eli said, smiling faintly.
Fiona pointed at Enel.
"What about him?"
Enel panicked.
"I can join you. I'm strong. I can be useful."
"For someone like you," Eli said calmly, "no."
"If you hadn't destroyed Birka, I might have considered it. But now, you die."
"Why?" Enel roared. "They tormented me! Beatings, humiliation. They even tried to kill me! Why shouldn't I take revenge?"
Eli sneered.
"Then tell me. How did you survive?"
Enel froze.
Memories surfaced.
Food from an old man. Clothes from a woman. A young figure cutting his ropes in the dead of night.
They had all stood against him in the end.
And so, he killed them too.
"Every place has good and evil," Eli said quietly.
"It's time."
"No. I'm a god. I can't die!" Enel screamed.
Eli did not answer.
Fruit scattered across the ground.
Space locked.
Throat crushed.
A fruit changed.
Picked up.
Exiled.
Done.