"Looking down at the entire Sky Island from here really gives one a feeling of being above all else."
Shirogai Yamikuro stood atop the temple, his hands behind his back, swaying casually.
Across from him, Enel, worshipped as "God" by the people of Sky Island, sat on a stone stool with his golden staff in hand. His cold gaze never left Shirogai, though his clenched jaw betrayed his rising irritation.
"So, God," Shirogai said with a faint smile as he turned around, "how do you plan to eliminate those rebels who dare to defy you?"
Enel stayed silent, refusing to give him the satisfaction of an answer.
"..."
"Hey, I'm talking to you. Speak." Shirogai pressed.
Enel finally growled, "For them, God's Judgement is enough."
"God's Judgement, huh?" Shirogai chuckled softly, then added with mock sympathy, "I forgot to mention, that attack is useless now. The recovery time is too long, and undead will block it for them."
Enel glared, his annoyance deepening. It was bad enough this stranger forced him into playing the villain against his own people, but he even summoned obstacles to limit his powers.
"Hmph… fine," Enel muttered through clenched teeth, "then I'll kill them one by one."
He spoke it as a test, hoping to find an opening to escape this monster's gaze. If he could slip away, he would flee immediately. Surely this man couldn't keep up with the speed of lightning.
Shirogai frowned. "Too troublesome. Can't you just use a lightning clone to deal with them?"
How does he know I can do that?! Enel stiffened but forced himself to calmly reply, "Lightning clones can't move too far from me. They'll vanish if they do."
"Too weak," Shirogai said with open contempt. "What kind of God can't control his own lightning at long range?"
Enel's lips twitched. He turned his head away, silently seething. I can't beat him now. I'll endure, for now. When I grow stronger, I'll crush him.
"Then use your original method," Shirogai said casually, tossing a small black cube onto the ground.
Boom!
The golden Ark Maxim materialized before them, gleaming magnificently.
"My Maxim!" Enel's eyes widened with joy and disbelief. For six years he had labored to build this ship, only to lose it. Now it stood before him once again.
Shirogai glanced at the ark, smiling. "Your plan was to use Maxim's power to create a thundercloud so massive it would destroy all of Sky Island, wasn't it?"
Enel froze, shock flooding his face. How does he know everything?!
"Maxim is yours. Continue your plan," Shirogai said with a sly grin.
Hah. Fool. The moment I reclaim Maxim, I won't waste time destroying Sky Island. I'll set sail for the endless land and claim the world as my own!
Enel sneered inwardly, his ambitions burning brighter. When I become even stronger, I'll return to lead a new God's Country against the Blue Sea!
"A fine plan," a voice suddenly whispered inside his mind.
"What?!" Enel's head snapped toward Shirogai, but the man only stood there smiling silently.
"Am I hallucinating…?"
"Enel, you seem unconvinced," the voice spoke again inside his head.
"You—!" Enel pointed at him in shock. "You can read my thoughts?"
"Yes. Surprised? I thought even a God would know this little trick." Shirogai's lips curved upward, though his voice continued to echo inside Enel's mind.
"Don't even think of running. I've already planted an elemental bomb inside you. If you leave Sky Island, it will detonate instantly."
Enel's knuckles whitened on his staff, his expression dark. "What do I gain from cooperating with you?"
Shirogai chuckled. "Negotiating with me? Isn't wiping out Sky Island what you wanted all along?"
Enel looked at him with lifeless eyes, his long earlobes drooping. Who's the real villain here? Him or me?
"Don't look so defeated," Shirogai said lightly. "If you want a reward, I'll give you one. Defeat my companions, and I'll let you live. You can take Maxim and sail to the endless land you dream of."
Enel's body straightened. His eyes gleamed with sparks as he asked, "Defeat your pirate companions, and you'll let me go? Is that the deal?"
"Of course." Shirogai nodded with a confident smile.
"Good," Enel said coldly. "I'll hold you to that."
Crackling bolts of silver-white lightning surged over his body as he transformed into pure electricity and shot off into the forest.
"The nearest companion should be that strange swordsman with three swords," Enel muttered as he used his Observation Haki, scanning the island with his electrical waves.
"Oh, I almost forgot," Shirogai's voice echoed inside his mind once again. "The Sky Island people near them count too. You'll need to deal with them as well."
"I don't need you to remind me!" Enel snarled. His gaze swept across the island below, filled with Shandia and Sky People. His teeth ground together as fury consumed him. "Ungrateful fools. Years of peace, and still they rebel against their God. I'll show them the punishment for defiance!"
…
Elsewhere.
"This place looks familiar…" Zoro muttered, slowing down as he realized he'd circled back. He spotted a large unconscious dog and a bald man riddled with sword wounds lying nearby. Around them, fallen Shandia warriors lay scattered across the ground.
"Tch. Did I run in circles again?" He scratched his head, clearly lost. "Where's someone I can ask for directions?"
Before he could move further—
Crackle… crackle… crackle!
Bolts of lightning split the sky, searing the air as a figure descended.
Zoro's grip tightened on his swords. His expression hardened. "An enemy?"
From the lightning emerged a tall, shirtless man with a metallic drum-like ring on his back. His cold eyes locked onto Zoro, filled with arrogance.
"Blue Sea man," Enel declared, "I, God, have come to kill you."
Zoro's brows rose, then he grinned, baring his teeth. "God, huh? Heh… looks like I hit the jackpot."
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