Two days later, Sky Island.
In a small house built near the sea, Shiki, after two days of recuperation, hadn't fully recovered but otherwise unharmed.
"Little Conis, thank you for taking care of me these past two days!"
Glancing at the figure standing outside the door, staring blankly at the White-White Sea, Shiki stepped out on his two swords while grinning.
"Things have been quite turbulent on this Sky Island lately! That thunder man from two days ago—is he the ruler here?"
Standing at the door was a young woman with white wings on her back, long golden hair, and a high-necked minidress.
"Shiki-san, have you recovered?"
Conis snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the 'eccentric old man' beside her, then continued.
"Are you talking about Enel? He isn't the ruler here—he's an invader from another Sky Island! But we can't say that openly anymore, because he's already driven out Gan Fall and taken over. In the two days you were unconscious, many people were killed by him. If you don't have urgent business it's best not to go outside! Enel has formed a group of enforcers called the White Berets. If they find you... you'll be in grave danger."
"'Fear is the true definition of a god'?" Shiki narrowed his eyes, the image of the figure standing atop the lightning ball two days ago flashing in his mind.
Clearly, that figure was Enel.
However, he didn't believe in gods—Enel was just another Devil Fruit user like himself.
Since they were both Devil Fruit users and enjoyed ruling over others, they could be considered like-minded.
If he could invite this Enel to become his right-hand man, with his Float-Float Fruit ability and the terrifying power Enel had displayed two days ago, breaking into Impel Down wouldn't be a difficult task.
Thinking this, Shiki hesitated no longer and said bluntly, "My dear Conis, can you tell me where this Enel is?"
Conis' eyelids twitched, "Shiki-san, you... you want to meet him?"
"Of course!"
Shiki took out a cigarette he carried with him, lit it, and laughed wickedly.
"I'm going to invite him to be my right-hand man, Jihahaha!"
*****
At the same time.
In the shrine of Skypiea.
Enel, with four drum rings fixed to his back, lazily reclined by the tatami.
Having completely taken control of the Holy Land of Sky Island, he showed no outward joy.
His eyes narrowed slightly as memories he'd rather forget flashed before him.
He wasn't originally from this Sky Island—he came from an island called Birka.
Like the natives here, the inhabitants there had wings on their backs.
However, from the moment he could remember, no wings had ever grown on his back, leading to discrimination from his peers since childhood.
Some even considered him a monster, taking out their frustrations on him whenever they were in a bad mood.
While other children ate three meals a day, he endured three beatings a day.
The reason was always the same—because he had no wings, he was an outcast, a monster.
Yet, he lived on humbly.
Until one day two years ago, when starving, he found a fruit in the sea of clouds.
Not caring if it was poisonous, even though it tasted like excrement, he swallowed it to avoid starving.
To his surprise, after eating the fruit, his body immediately underwent a transformation—he could turn into lightning and gained the power to control it.
With this newfound ability, he swiftly took revenge, using his lightning powers to utterly destroy his hometown, Birka.
Then, with his four priests, he set out on a journey to conquer Skypiea.
Now, this Sky islander knelt at his feet.
His next goal was to quickly build an Ark and sail to the Endless Earth.
In his hometown, Birka, everyone believed the Endless Earth was where gods lived.
As the god who controlled lightning, how could he squeeze onto this barren Sky Island with mere mortals?
The Endless Earth was his ultimate destination.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Enel's pupils contracted sharply, and he quickly looked up toward Angel Beach.
With his powerful 'Mantra', he soon locked onto Shiki and Conis, who were conversing near the shore.
"Make me your right-hand man!?"
"How presumptuous!"
Upon hearing Shiki's arrogant words through Mantra, killing intent flashed in Enel's eyes.
The next second, his body transformed into lightning and vanished instantly.
When he reappeared, he was high above Angel Beach, looking down at Shiki standing before the cottage.
Almost simultaneously, Shiki, sensing Enel's presence, looked up in shock.
"God Enel!"
Conis also noticed Enel's sudden appearance out of thin air at this moment.
A silent gasp escaped her heart as her body began trembling uncontrollably.
"The power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit?"
After a brief moment of shock, Shiki was the first to speak, bursting into loud laughter.
"What a formidable Devil Fruit! To think it would appear on this Sky Island ten thousand meters above the sea!"
Before his words even faded, Shiki decisively activated his Float-Float Fruit ability, leaping into the air and hovering opposite Enel.
"Let me introduce myself. I am Shiki, from the Grand Line—what you Sky Island natives call the 'Blue Sea'!"
"I'm not here to make an enemy of you!"
"Rather, I wish to invite you to become my right-hand man!"
"Ruling over a single Sky Island doesn't make you a true powerhouse. If you truly harbor ambitions of ruling the world, join me as my right-hand! Together, we'll venture to the Grand Line, trample the world beneath our feet, and make all of humanity tremble in fear! Jihahaha!"
Enel watched Shiki with lazy indifference, casually picking his ear as the older man spoke.
The disdain in his eyes only grew more pronounced as Shiki became increasingly animated.
Finally, after successfully extracting his earwax, Enel sighed in relief.
Flicking the earwax away, he slowly raised his head and glanced at Conis, who had been trembling in fear since his arrival.
"I despise disobedient commoners," he drawled, "especially women."
As he spoke, Enel lifted a single finger.
The moment he pointed downward, a flash of lightning erupted from his fingertip.
In the next moment, a bolt of lightning shot down from the sky, instantly engulfing Conis.
"AHHHH—!"
A scream tore from Conis's throat as the lightning struck, and she collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
"That was just a small warning."
Gazing at the electrocuted Conis without a shred of pity, Enel turned his attention back to Shiki and declared with arrogance.
"If there truly is a god, then I am him."
"A mere insect dares to ask a god to be his right-hand man?"
"Face divine judgment—"
Before he could finish, Enel suddenly raised both of his hands, violent arcs of lightning coalescing between his palms.