Chapter 78: Ordeal of Iron
Satori's round body twisted awkwardly in mid-air, barely dodging the first strange hand.
But before he could celebrate, the other two hands struck like coiled snakes, hitting his left kidney and the side of his face with precision!
THUD! THUD!
The expected pain didn't come.
[Huh? It doesn't hurt? Is my defense really this strong? Ho ho, hoooo! I truly am the strongest Priest!]
Ecstatic, Satori let the impact spin him around like a grotesque, dancing balloon. Shoot's disembodied hands batted him back and forth, turning the fight into a comedy.
But the illusion of invincibility didn't last.
While Satori was dizzy from spinning, Shoot's silent figure ghosted in close.
Shoot's real right hand, radiating an unsettling aura, gently pressed against the spot on Satori's face where the floating hand had struck.
"Seal."
Shoot whispered the word.
Satori froze.
Half of his face didn't just feel numb—it felt gone. It was as if that part of his body had been erased from existence!
Then, Shoot's hand touched his chest.
The same sensation! His chest vanished from his senses!
A terror colder than ice water flooded Satori. His triumphant grin froze into a mask of pure horror. He tried to scream, but the muscles in his jaw wouldn't respond.
As the three floating hands continued to land "painless" blows, Shoot's real hand followed like the reaper's scythe, "switching off" part after part of Satori's body.
Finally, when Shoot touched the last remaining part of the paralyzed Priest, Satori's round form vanished entirely, as if erased by an eraser. He was imprisoned within the alternate dimension of [Hotel Rafflesia].
Kyle watched, smiling. "Shoot's ability is convenient. Traps the opponent without killing them."
"He marks them with the floating hands, then seals the damage with his real hand... The biggest risk is getting close enough to seal them. Against a faster opponent, it could be dangerous."
Shoot didn't respond to the critique. He simply dispelled his ability, acting as if he'd done nothing more than swat a fly. "Let's go."
God's Shrine. The Throne.
Enel slowly stood up from his golden throne. His face was unreadable, but the air pressure in the room dropped.
He looked across the empty hall at the next Priest—Shura.
"Your turn." His voice was cold.
Shura leaped up, radiating arrogance. He thumped his chest. "Rest assured, Kami-sama! Those two failures were an embarrassment to the title of Priest! I will bring you the heads of those Blue Sea intruders immediately!"
He mounted a giant, three-headed bird—Fuza—and gripped his heat-lance. With a sharp cry, the bird launched itself from the shrine like an arrow, speeding toward Kyle's group.
Enel watched him go. He didn't care about failure. In his twisted philosophy, the weak deserved to be culled. He only needed the strongest for his "Divine Army."
On the jungle path, Kyle and the others heard a vicious screech from the sky.
Shura descended like a flame, blocking their path with his lance leveled at them.
"Blue Sea maggots! You have some skill to reach this far, but your journey ends here! Remember the name of the one who takes your lives: Shura the Sky Rider!"
He was aggressive from the start, confident in his victory.
Kyle didn't even bother talking.
The moment Shura prepared to charge, Kyle blurred into a streak of electricity!
Zzzzt—!
The smell of ozone filled the air.
In the next second, Kyle teleported to Shura's side. His hand, wreathed in blinding silver arcs, rested lightly on Shura's helmet.
"GAAAAAHHHH!"
A scream of agony erupted from both rider and bird!
Blinding thunder exploded, swallowing them whole. High-voltage current surged through their bodies, causing violent, uncontrollable convulsions.
Shura's lance clattered to the ground. He turned his head with difficulty, his eyes bloodshot and bulging, staring at Kyle in absolute terror.
"De... Devil... Fruit..."
Before he could finish, he and his bird foamed at the mouth, eyes rolling back, and crashed to the ground, unconscious.
Kyle didn't even glance at the twitching heap. He signaled to Knuckle and Shoot. "Clear. Let's move."
God's Shrine.
Watching Shura get one-shotted through his Mantra, Enel paused. For the first time, he didn't immediately call the next name.
He tapped the armrest of his throne, then looked at the last, and strongest, of the four Priests—Ohm.
Ohm didn't need to be told. He stood up, his massive frame imposing. His sunglasses hid his eyes, but his killing intent was palpable. His giant dog, Holy, growled beside him.
"Even Shura... Useless trash," Ohm growled. "Kami-sama, leave it to me. I will wash away the stain on our honor with their blood."
"Kyle, can we hurry it up?" Knuckle kicked a pebble, impatient. "These 'Priests' are disappointing. It's a waste of time. Let's just find the boss!"
"Relax, Knuckle," Kyle laughed. "You have to warm up properly. Besides, the next one is the strongest. The Priest of the Ordeal of Iron—0% survival rate. He might actually make you... try."
When they entered the final zone, Ohm was waiting.
He rested his sword, Eisen Whip—made of Iron Cloud—on his shoulder. He pointed the tip at the three of them, arrogant and commanding.
"You have some skill to reach here. But I won't waste time. All three of you, come at once! I will redeem you all!"
The response he got made a vein pop on his forehead.
Kyle, Knuckle, and Shoot ignored his speech completely. They huddled in a circle right in front of him.
"Rock, Paper, Scissors!"
"Haha! I win!" Kyle cheered, raising his fist.
"Tch. Unlucky," Shoot muttered, lowering his hand.
"Fine, fine, I fold," Knuckle sighed.
Ohm's killing intent felt like a joke. He turned red, then purple, his grip on his sword trembling with rage.
"You... DARE MOCK ME?!"
He roared, abandoning his stance, ready to slash these disrespectful brats into pieces.
But the moment his focus wavered in anger—
CRACKLE!
Lightning flashed!
Kyle merged with the bolt, moving faster than ever before, appearing instantly in front of Ohm!
Ohm didn't even have time to swing. Kyle's fist, wrapped in berserk lightning, slammed into his unprotected stomach like a cannonball!
BOOM!!
The impact launched Ohm off his feet. He flew backward, smashing into a massive cloud-rock with a dull thud, sliding down to join his fallen comrades.
Before he blacked out, one thought echoed in his mind: Th... That's the same power... as Kami-sama...
Kyle shook out his hand casually. "Done. Let's go."
On his throne, Enel felt Ohm's instant defeat.
Instead of anger, he laughed. It was a deep, expectant sound.
"Hoh hoh hoh... HAHAHAHA! Interesting! Too interesting! You are worthy... to become my new Priests!"