Nine Minutes

by Diablo Snowblind

During the final fight with Crocodile, Luffy makes a mistake and ends up dead. His heart stops beating for over nine minutes, before he is finally resuscitated. Who knew what a difference those nine minutes would make?

19. Defying God

Chapter 19: Defying God

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Disclaimer: I am now depressed as the reality that I do not own One Piece is settling in.

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Previously:

It hit the fan.

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(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

It is hard to describe the effect a bolt of lightning has on a human body.

Firstly, there is the sound. The noise cannot be under exaggerated. Lightning heats the air to a few thousand degrees in a millisecond, causing an extreme pressure change that isn't too different from a bomb exploding. Deafness is instantaneous. The pressure wave is like a jackhammer straight to the brain. It doesn't feel like electricity; it feels more like a backhanded swipe from God himself.

After that, it's either instant paralysis or death. The nervous system is generally the most vulnerable part of the body. The nerve endings are fried in an instant. Numbness is guaranteed; a complete insensitivity to everything, as if your whole body has just been dipped into powerful anaesthesia. Intense seizures are also common as the nerve damage really takes effect.

So long as the lightning doesn't pass through the brain, then death isn't usually instantaneous. Far more commonly, death comes some time later, while the victim lies paralysed, unable to move or scream or feel anything, thrashing involuntarily while their body slowly fails to recover from the blast.

The intense heat and burning is generally the least of the victim's worries. Although lightning is scorching hot, most victims don't even feel the heat. The burns can be severe, but are not normally deadly.

Overall, the human body is a surprisingly good conductor for lightning. At that voltage level, the flesh breaks down almost immediately, and the electricity tears through the body as if it were pure water. This effect has been known to leave a vivid lightning-shaped marking on the skin called Lichtenberg figures, as distinct and as intricate as tattoos.

Muscle damage and organ failure are lasting effects of a lightning strike. The flesh is quite literally torn apart. Few victims even remember the pain, but instead the body just tends to cut out. It can be something of a surreal experience.

Monkey D. Luffy lay on his back on the ground. Around him, the grass had been transformed into cinders, leaving nothing but black earth while the ash floated around him. Luffy was awake, but he just couldn't move. The connection to his body was severed, and he couldn't even feel pain as he stared up towards the sky with unblinking eyes.

Every breath was brief and wheezy. He could hear his heartbeat, but it felt quiet and irregular. He couldn't even think properly - shell-shocked would be an appropriate description.

Moments passed that could have been seconds or years. It was hard to tell the difference. His eyes and ears were hypersensitive, but his brain couldn't process anything. Slowly, he could hear the sound of quiet, casually footsteps walking towards him. The light faded as a shadow loomed over his face.

"Well then." A voice announced calmly. "You look like shit."

Luffy tried to focus. His mind slowly reeled back to reality as he recognised the voice. He tried to speak, but all he could do was gasp weakly. The voice would have sent tremors down his spine if he could still feel anything.

Ace…

His brother was standing above him, looking down with an amused smile. Ace looked exactly like he remembered; tall, lean and muscular, with a freckled face and a smug smile. He was wearing his trademark orange hat with two blue smileys, one frowning and one smiling, with a string of red beads above the rim, and two long orange side straps hanging down his chest to support a medallion of a bull's skull with orange tassels. His upper body was naked except for red beads dangling around his neck, and he wore black boots, black knee-length shorts with an orange belt, and a large red 'A' on a silver buckle.

"Little brother," Ace greeted coolly, raising his eyebrow as he dropped to the ground next to Luffy. His vertical tattoo 'ASCE', was clearly visible on his upper left bicep. "You haven't changed a bit…"

Ace sighed as he scratched his forehead, casually looking around at the blackened earth. Luffy could do nothing but stare. "So…" Ace muttered after a pause. "How you've been? Doing alright?"

This is impossible, Luffy realised with a flash; Ace couldn't be here . I'm hallucinating…

Luffy couldn't even speak to reply. Ace chuckled under his breath. "You've really got yourself messed up this time, little brother," Ace said conversationally. "Seriously, it's quite impressive. After all this time, I thought you would have at least learnt something."

He snorted. "You're exactly the same as you've always been," Ace said with a sigh. "The same wimpy little cry baby running in recklessly…"

Finally, Luffy managed to rediscover his voice box. His tongue was heavy and clumsy, and his words were stiff. "… Shut… up…" Luffy gasped weakly.

"Why should I?" Ace retorted. "You're still just getting beat up and losing. I swear, have you ever thought about trying something new?"

Luffy growled quietly, a deep throaty noise. Ace just scoffed. "Weak, little brother," he continued irritably. "What? Is this really the best you can do? Are you so helpless that you need a Devil fruit power just beat the bad guys? That's pathetic."

The paralysed pirate looked like he was trying to move, but his body could only tremor violently. Ace slowly leant down and pointed a finger into the distance. The sails of the Going Merry were barely visible through the corner of Luffy's eye.

"Look over there," Ace said quietly, practically whispering into Luffy's ear, staring at the Going Merry. The sky was still flashing with lightning. "You know that he's going to go after you're friends next, right? Do you know that they're all going to die?"

Luffy's body was shivering now, but he still couldn't move. His eyes were blinking madly, staring at the ship desperately while slowly filling with tears. His body felt numb, as if it was slowly shutting down. It was like there was so much pain and damage he couldn't even feel it anymore.

"They're all going to die while you're just lying here watching," Ace continued coldly. "Maybe you're even going to hear their screams. And you will be helpless to stop it. They're going to die and it will all be your fault, because you're weak."

His breathing was wheezy and frantic. His body was sweating madly. "Shut up… !" Luffy snarled, feeling the tears roll down his cheeks. If anything, that just made Ace even more annoyed.

"Come on!" Ace bellowed loudly with anger, and Luffy could feel his breath on his face. "You know that when we last met in Alabasta I seriously thought that you were going to be alright. I thought you were going to survive. And all that talk about 'I will get stronger ' and protecting your friends, but no, turns out we were both just deluding ourselves."

Luffy didn't respond. In the distance, he watched as a flash of lightning struck the Going Merry. Slowly, Luffy's fingers started to twitch.

"You're going to die, Luffy," Ace said, his expression flickering somewhere between disgust and irritation. "Again. Is this really how you want it all to end? Lying on the dirt, on your back, helpless?!"

Slowly, Luffy could feel his heartbeat starting to race, each beat so powerful it shook his body to the core. His breathing became stronger, more furious, while the adrenaline raced through his body. Feebly, his hands clenched into fists.

Ace just shook his head dismissively. "I'm honestly not even surprised," Ace murmured, slowly standing up. "You always were just a little brat. As soon as things don't go your way, you fall down. Still, there's one thing that I've got to ask…"

Luffy was trembling madly, willing his body to respond but it just wouldn't work. Ace's condescending words cut straight through him, vibrating around his soul. The image of Ace sceptical face, raised eyebrow and looking down on Luffy mockingly, burned into his eyeballs.

"… Is this really the most you're capable of? "

Luffy screamed. It was a hoarse shrill cry that gradually became deeper and throatier. The tears were still pouring down his face, but his heart was racing and his body was trembling frantically. His skin felt numb, but Luffy gasped and panted, forcing his limbs to respond by sheer willpower. He could feel the power flowing through him, as he glared at Ace furiously.

"Shut up."

The words were so powerful that air surrounding him pulsed. In an instant, Luffy could suddenly feel his body again. The pain hit him like a steam train. Every nerve, every patch of skin, every bone screamed in utter agony, so intense Luffy could barely breathe. It was an incapacitating torture that nearly caused him to blackout.

Still, the pain felt good. The pain felt like he was coming back to life.

Staggering, Luffy pulled himself up off the ground. His motions were clumsy and heavy, like he was puppet being controlled by strings. His heartbeat was so loud it was deafening. He glimpsed a flash of light hit the Going Merry, followed by the mast collapsing from the bolt of lightning. The ground rumbled with thunder, and every muscle that Luffy had roared in fury.

The only sound he could hear was of his breathing, slow and steady. Luffy cast a dismissive glance towards Ace, before stumbling away without looking back. Every step he took was sluggish, but gradually gaining in momentum and determination.

Ace watched him go, with an amused smirk on his face.

---

The lightning struck the ship with a thunderous crash. Nami squealed and ran for cover, but suddenly there was a figure standing in the middle of the deck, arms folded, and surrounded by pirates. Somehow he didn't look even remotely concerned.

"Let's see…" Enel mused, looking around the crew disinterestedly. Beneath his feet, the wooden planks were still smouldering red from the heat. Enel slowly moved his finger around and started to count. "We've got one, two, three, four, five, six, and it looks like one unconscious in the hold… hmm… nope, still too many."

Nobody moved. Chopper was trembling in fear. Conis stared at Enel with wide eyes and a pale face, sweating with panic. "God… !" She murmured, shaking with dread.

"None of you are particularly interesting, anyways," Enel said dismissively, casually raising his hand. "You could run, but I doubt it'll make much difference."

Sanji attacked first. The chef blurred with speed as he spun at the god. His polished black shoe simply phased straight through Enel's head, the air crackling with power. Sanji grunted in pain, but still managed to bring his other leg up in a wide arc through Enel's stomach. Enel just looked bored, not even flinching.

Almost casually, Enel flicked his finger towards Sanji. The bolt of lightning was fast and brutal, enough to send the chef flying to the ground.

"Sanji!" Usopp shouted in shock, his voice croaking in fear. His feet pounded against the wood, and he slamming towards Enel in the blink of an eye, with all the momentum of a wrecking ball. Enel looked mildly bored as Usopp phased through the lightning, before Enel kicked him absentmindedly and sent the huge toad barrelling into the Going Merry.

Chopper was there in an instant, swallowing a Rumble ball to transform into a hulking reindeer hybrid with bulging biceps. He never even got close as Enel sent him crashing into the ship with a localised bolt of lightning.

"Boring!" Enel yawned, slowly turning around to face Nami, Vivi and Conis.

He seemed to settle on Conis first. Nami jumped in front of her, wielding her new sword awkwardly. Her hands were shivering and she was sweating. The air was so thick with electricity it made every hair on her body stand on end. Somehow, Enel's mild disinterest was even more terrifying than Marcus' raw insanity.

"Oh, so you defeated Ohm then?" Enel noted. Honestly, he was a bit surprised Ohm fell so easily, but it didn't matter. His priests had all obviously been incompetent. He shrugged. "Doesn't matter. You're all insects to me. I will only allow the last four standing to join me, and that's not you."

"Shut up!" Nami snapped. Carefully, Vivi was taking position next to her, glaring at Enel. "What did you do to Luffy?!"

At the other side, Usopp and Sanji were slowly staggering upward. Enel simply scoffed. "Who?"

His disinterest nearly caused Nami to explode, but the fear was holding her back. "Our captain," she growled, risking a glance to the blackened earth dominated by the body of the giant python. The Going Merry was now too far away to see any details. "Dark hair. Lean. Wearing shorts. What did you do him?! "

"That guy," Enel said indifferently, raising his hand. "He's dead."

There was no time to be shocked or even outraged. The lightning arced from his fingers, but Nami was ready for it. She used Ohm's sword like a lightning rod, redirecting the attack, just as Vivi lashed out with three blades of sand so sharp that sheared through the wooden deck with ease. Sanji was already up and moving, screaming in rage as he slammed his foot into Enel.

The god just rolled his eyes. He only needed to glance at Sanji before another bolt of lightning struck him to the ground. Nami was next; she tried to block but it was too much, and the electricity sent her screaming to the ground in a shower of cinders. Vivi phased through the attack, but the lightning still caused the wood to explode and her to fall off her feet.

"Fools," Enel muttered, even as Nami, Vivi and Usopp pulled themselves to their feet in pain. Conis was still too paralysed to move. "I grow tired of humouring you like this. Haven't you realised my divine power yet? I am God. I am on a different level to you mortals. You cannot hurt me. There is nothing you can do to even touch me—"

There was a snap, and something light flickered against with his face, causing Enel to blink and touch his nose with shock. Usopp was standing up, still stuck in pose after flicking his rubber band through his toady fingers.

"Usopp Rubber Band?" He muttered, hopefully.

There was a stunned silence. Enel stared at Usopp incredulously, still rubbing his nose. It took a few seconds for the god to become angry. The air crackled furiously.

Sanji slowly turned to Usopp, while lightning a cigarette and bracing himself. "You just had to do it, didn't you?" The chef said with a sigh. Usopp seemed frozen in place. "You just had to make the homicidal, super powered psychopath angry…"

The sky cracked. Raw power shot downwards, a pure white light so powerful it burnt through the air like a torrent of fire. It crashed straight into the mast and just kept on going, tearing through wood with ease. That was when the screaming started, but it drowned out by the massive roll of thunder.

Vivi clutched Nami and Conis tightly, dragging them off the ship to avoid the falling debris. Sanji was caught in a shower of sparks, while Chopper ran inside with a squeal to treat his patients. The lightning punched a smooth hole almost straight through the Going Merry. The whole ship shuddered.

Usopp instinctively jumped backwards, sailing through the air in a massive bound. Enel was there in a flash of sparks before he even hit the ground. Enel's gaze was murderous. Usopp never had time to even scream as the lightning shot towards him.

"Leave him alone!" Vivi roared, slamming her hands as a wall of sand burst from the ground, covering Usopp. The electricity sparked through the sand, carving it into a solid jagged structure protruding from the earth.

Enel reacted instantly, pointing towards Vivi. Before she could even blink, five bolts of lightning shot holes through her head and body, only for sand to regenerate them in less than a second. Enel glared.

"Logia…" He muttered furiously. He was breathing deeply. He was rapidly becoming annoyed. "I grow tired of dealing with all these pretenders. I am the only true God, and all other Devil fruit users are merely mimicking my divine supremacy!"

Vivi didn't respond. Enel was glaring at her angrily. In the last twenty four hours he had encountered more Logia Devil fruit users than he had his whole life. He didn't like it. The very concept that there was anybody even remotely similar to him disturbed Enel to the core.

"All of you heretics that would dare threaten my right must be made to suffer!" Enel declared, pointing towards Vivi. "I shall show you the power of a true God!"

The lightning crackled furiously through the air, forming the shape of a giant falcon, talons outstretched. Vivi reacted by throwing up a wave of sand, yet the lightning just burst through it. She screamed from reflex as electricity burst through her, but it tingled more than it hurt. Her body was already reforming in a large swirl of sand, just as Vivi launched a half a dozen blades of spinning sand. Enel never even seemed to notice them as he threw both hands forward, unleashing a blinding flash of power.

Sand and lightning clashed furiously. Usopp leapt backwards in panic, but he was still hit by a stray bolt that knocked him to the ground. Nami screamed and dived to the ground, feeling the electricity overhead. Around her, the lightning sculpted jagged structures of scorched sand as it returned to earth, like claws jutting out of the ground.

It lasted barely five seconds, but Vivi was already gasping for breath as the exhaustion hit her. She could feel the sand churning under her skin, but no matter how much she released it didn't even seem to faze Enel. The god simply stared down at her, nothing but boredom in his features, as if she were nothing but a bug to squash.

This man is stronger than Crocodile, Vivi realised with a panicked gulp as Enel launched another storm of electricity. What chance did she have, then?

The lightning bolts slammed down from above, a rain of blinding flashes bursting from the sky, each one scorching through the earth. Vivi couldn't dodge and she couldn't block it. She felt the lightning tingle through her, only to transform into a roaring agony bursting through her body. It felt like every single grain of sand of her dematerialised body was being scorched. She screamed in pain, only the sand to resonate through the air like howling sandstorm.

Vivi lasted as long as she could, but then the charge crashed into her and she went skidding to the ground, every nerve screaming in pain as she tried to reform. Enel just walked towards her coldly, stepping across the devastated ground.

"Vivi!" Nami shouted in panic, rushing to the princess' side.

Her heart was pounding furiously. Vivi tried to stand up, but her legs were numb. Her eyes were wide and her face was pale as Enel approached. "Stay back!" Vivi screamed. Nami froze. "Get away from here right now!"

Nami hesitated for half a second, staring between her fallen friend and the seemingly invincible foe. Slowly, Enel turned to glance towards her. "Is this a friend of yours?" He asked simply, moving his arm around to point at Nami. "Then you can watch her die first!"

Vivi shrieked in fear. Nami turned and ran, but not fast enough. The lightning bolted out of Enel's fingertips, forming into a roaring tiger just as it slammed towards Nami. For a split second, Nami's heart stopped.

Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around her and pulled her to the ground. There was a flash of blinding light, followed by a shrill scream. Nami could hardly breathe as she felt the heat and the smell of burning flesh hit her.

There was a quiet pause. It took Nami a few seconds just to focus on the figure standing above her. She stared at Luffy in amazement, but his body was trembling weakly, his eyes unfocused. He was standing in front of her, shielding her from the blast while his back was smoking gently.

"Luffy… !" Nami gasped in part relief and part horror. Her captain looked terrible. He was shaking like a man who was half dead.

"Nami…" Luffy muttered; his voice strangely gentle as he pulled himself up with a wince of pain. "… Could you please go back to the Merry and make sure everyone is alright? I promise I'll be there soon; just one thing I've got to take care of first."

He staggered around to glare at Enel. Nami didn't respond, speechlessly staring at him. Luffy was still trembling slightly. "Please, Nami," Luffy murmured. He turned and forced a small smile. "Go."

It took a while for her brain to start working again, but fortunately Nami's legs took over. She was running towards the smoking wreck of the ship before she even processed what was happening. Enel looked at Luffy curiously, a slight frown on his face.

"Didn't I kill you?" Enel said finally, staring at Luffy critically. "I'm fairly sure I remembered killing you."

Luffy nodded. "I get that a lot," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible.

"Hmph…" Enel scoffed, pointing his finger. "Allow me to finish the job."

The bolt of lightning shot out of his hand faster than a bullet. Luffy was already moving. His heart was beating louder than ever, and his feet slammed against the ground. The lightning moved to chase him down, but he just managed to avoid it as the electricity discharged into ground behind him.

Luffy turned and charged towards Enel, bringing his fist back for a heavy blow. He was there in a second, but Enel just rolled his eyes as Luffy's fist phased straight through his head. Luffy screamed as Enel transformed into electricity that shot down his shoulder.

"You can't touch me," Enel said dismissively. His hand shot outwards, catching Luffy's neck as he slammed the pirate into the earth with cloud of dust.

Vivi shouted in concern, but Luffy was already up and moving. His leg blurred in a flurry of spinning kicks, followed by an uppercut and vicious shoulder barge. The attacks were furious and deadly fast, but Enel never even felt them. Luffy phased straight through his body in a haze of sparks, crashing into the dust.

Enel smirked as he levelled his hand at Luffy. The pirate screamed as another bolt of lightning knocked into him, but Luffy recovered instantly. He gritted his teeth, snarling wordless as he launched another round of vicious blows. Luffy's body was sweating and trembling, every tendon as taught as a wire as his muscles bulged.

"You're not a very smart man, are you?" Enel mocked as another fist blurred through his forehead. Watching the mortals fight hopelessly was the privilege of being a god. His hand glowed with sparks as he slammed it into Luffy's chest.

Luffy grunted but didn't stop. He barely felt the pain anymore. There was no banter, no thought other than every fist and every kick. Enel never bothered dodging, but just occasionally threw out an attack that sent Luffy skidding to the ground. He was smirking like a child pulling the wings off a fly slowly just to see how long it would thrash.

Luffy didn't care. He just kept on punching and kicking madly, even as the sparks tore his body apart.

And every attack just kept on getting faster and stronger.

Vivi watched with wordless awe. The pirate was a blur of sparks as he charged with relentless fury, an unyielding cloud of fists, feet, elbows, knees, head and teeth as he thrashed at Enel. Slowly, Enel's smirk turned into a frown.

"This is getting boring now…" The god murmured, as the air crackled. A giant fist of lightning burst out of his body, crashing towards Luffy. The pirate just braced himself and charged, bringing his foot around in a flashing kick that scraped against Enel's cheek. The light was blinding.

"Luffy!" Vivi screamed frantically, tears rolling down her cheeks as she watched the pirate zap into the ground.

He landed face first into the dirt, soot covering his whole body. Luffy closed his eyes for a second as he took a deep breath, and pulled himself up to his feet. His hands weren't trembling anymore.

"Yep…" Luffy muttered finally, staring at Enel. His gaze had a cold determination to it. There was no fire or anger; just a relentless icy fury that blocked out the screaming agony of his body. "Your attacks are definitely getting weaker."

Enel frowned. Vivi stared at Luffy with open-mouthed speechlessness. "Why won't you just die already?" Enel demanded finally. There was just a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "Wasting so much time on you is insulting. You are nothing more than a dumb monkey challenging a divine being. Haven't you realised that you are incapable of hurting me?"

Luffy paused, staggering forward slowly. "Is that so?" He murmured, still gasping for breath wheezily. He managed a small smirk. "Then why are you bleeding?"

It took the god a few seconds to recognise the faint dribble of red liquid dropping from his face. Enel caught a drop of blood on his fingertips, staring at it with wide eyed shock. Nobody moved.

"But… but…" Enel stammered, as his cheek continued to bleed. There was blood on the corner of Luffy's sandal. "… But… that's imposs—"

Enel didn't even see the attack coming. Luffy's legs just exploded in a roar of power as the pirate slammed forward, his fist blurring with speed. His heart felt like a sledgehammer, while he roared in determination. Luffy's knuckles collided straight into Enel's stomach.

And deep inside the pirate, he felt a lock shatter as the power exploded through him like fire roaring through his bloodstream.

The blow landed with a crunch of flesh and bone. Enel's eyes nearly burst out of his head as the air was crushed out of his lungs, while his whole body flew backwards. Vivi never even had time to blink, but she felt the whoosh of air knock her to the ground and then suddenly Enel was crashing through the stone ruins.

Luffy was on him in a second. Enel barely managed to pull himself up before Luffy's fist zoomed into view. Knuckles slammed against his nose with a sickening crack.

The air pulsed with lightning that struck Luffy to the ground. Enel staggered to his knees, nearly hyperventilating in shock as he clutched his stomach and felt the blood stream from his broken nose. Luffy winced with pain as he staggered upwards, but his muscles were roaring with relentless energy.

"How… how are you doing this?!" Enel screamed, the fear soaking through his voice.

"Not a clue," Luffy replied simply, dropping into a fighting stance, fists raised. "But I'm willing to bet I can keep on doing it."

Enel's eyes were wide with panic. Around him, the air crackled in a furious haze of sparks. "HOW DARE YOU!?" Enel screamed, pushing both hands forward with a tremendous roar of lightning. "I am GOD!"

There was no pause or hesitation. Luffy just charged straight through the lightning, not even caring as the electricity burned through him. That power pulsed from within him. With every spark of pain and every grunt of determination, it just became stronger.

"Not for much longer you're not," Luffy muttered, swinging his arm around for a satisfying collision against Enel's skull.

"Come on!" Vivi shouted, shaking Usopp's body until the huge toad started to stir. Bulbous toad eyes jumped open.

"… Ugh?" Usopp groaned, dazedly pulling himself awake and staring at Vivi. "What happened?"

"We've got go right now," Vivi insisted, trying to drag Usopp up. She might as well have tried to bench press a horse.

Usopp looked confused, before they both paused. They heard the sound of thunder, roaring over the land, coming from the distance. Usopp and Vivi turned to see a scene of storm brought down to earth, destruction incarnate. An electric storm so blinding in intensity they couldn't even directly look at it, even from an entire mile away. Usopp gaped, his toad mouth hanging all the way open, falling down more than three entire feet.

Fire and light exploded at the base of the Giant Jack, that cloud-piercing beanstalk, and then a thousand lightning bolts burst everywhere. It was beyond thunder – it was an endless voltaic roar, bursting out over the land and sky, while wild blue bolts of lightning shot furious and wild in random directions, discharging against everything around them, destroying everything. The storm was so powerful it gouged a hole through the forest, disintegrating everything for hundreds of yards.

The very sight of it all made Usopp's knees weak. It was like looking at the wrath of an angry God.

Then Usopp glimpsed Luffy, a dark shadow flickering and weaving through the storm. He moved so fast that they could only see him in brief snapshots, one still frame after another as he dodged, and dodged, and dodged.

Usopp and Vivi stared with amazement at a battle so fast, intense, so furious that they couldn't even follow it – couldn't even understand it.

"Let's get out of here," Usopp whispered with a weak croak, pulling himself to his feet and hopping away.

Vivi nodded. She turned to stare at the Going Merry, still smoking as it drifted sluggishly down the Milky Road without a mast, before glancing back at the storm of lightning. She bit her bottom lip, before clenching her fists and running towards the fight.

"Just die!" Enel roared as the lightning swirled around him with crackling fury. Luffy dodged the first strike, but the rest took him to the ground. Luffy roared in pain, but just kept pounding forward. He couldn't feel his limbs anymore, but his body didn't stop.

Enel's Mantra was working like never before, predicting every attack and every dodge. He dodged a salvo of lightning fast kicks, replying with a thunder bolt that chased after Luffy even as he rolled to avoid it. He barely managed to spin away just as the lightning discharged into the earth, but it was followed by a stream of furious blasts.

"You will burn before my might!" Enel proclaimed, thrusting both hands forward. Above them, a cluster of electricity crackled in the air, before shooting down in a steady stream of blue light. "Judgement of God!"

Luffy sprinted away quickly, even as he felt the heat burn his back and the lightning torch straight through the earth. There was no time to pause. He was already spinning his fist around in an unstoppable blow, while Enel had to dematerialise into lightning and zap away to avoid the attack.

As soon as he reformed, Luffy was on him in a second. Enel caught a glancing blow on the shoulder, just as a wave of thunder struck him to the ground.

"Die, infidel!" Enel roared, unleashing a crackling bolt. Luffy was already moving, spinning to avoid the blast as he closed the distance between them once again. Enel panicked for half a second before vanishing into a stream of thunder, yet Luffy's fist never stopped. Enel felt the blow collide against his back, knocking him into the ground.

He can hit me even when I'm dematerialised? Enel thought with panic. What sort of power is he using?!

Luffy's barrage of fists burst towards him. Enel reacted on instinct, using Mantra to weave through the blows. His movements were lightning fast as he dodged every attack. Enel could feel his heart pounding, his lungs wheezing for breath, and the blood filling his mouth even as Luffy's knuckles scraped against his skin.

This is impossible, Enel told himself repeatedly, the dread rising in his body. I can move at the speed of lightning. I can predict every attack.

So how come I'm barely keeping up?

A glancing blow knocked Enel to the ground, followed by a kick straight to his chest. Enel took the blow like a champ, before sending a pulse of electricity straight through Luffy's leg. The pirate roared in pain, but didn't stop as he spun his other leg straight into Enel's skull.

Enel was faster and more powerful. He had every advantage and Luffy's body was falling to pieces.

Still, Luffy was relentless. Somehow, his every attack just became stronger and faster than the last.

Enel barely had a chance to breathe before a hooking fist slammed towards him. There was blood pouring from his forehead. God shouldn't bleed.

"DIE!" Enel screamed, as lightning pulsed into the air around him, heating it until it exploded in a huge thunderclap. The shockwave cracked the earth and sent Luffy physically flying into the air. Enel was on the offensive immediately, materialising a giant hand of lightning that snatched Luffy out of the air.

The pirate didn't even have time to gasp for breath as Enel threw him downwards like a ragdoll, crashing through the cloud and straight into the ruins beneath. Luffy slammed into an old stone building, crashing through rock painfully before coming to a halt in a shower of dust.

Luffy's head spun madly. He gasped as he glanced around through unfocused eyes, before he focused on a figure chilling casually against a stone tablet.

"Come on, Luffy," Ace said condescendingly. "You can do better than that."

Luffy didn't respond. His breathing was shallow and his body was numb, but he still managed to claw his way out and charge upwards towards the layer of cloud. Somehow, he knew exactly where Enel was standing, and the god had to jump to avoid Luffy slamming his way from beneath the cloud.

Enel unleashed a hail of lightning bolts. Luffy didn't even think about it. His body moved on its own as he swerved in between the bolts of intense light. Enel's mouth dropped open, and Luffy charged towards him with a powerful fist. Enel dodged, but the blow still ended up crashing against his forehead.

The god crashed to the ground, staring at Luffy in shock and horror. Each punch felt like a sledgehammer. Enel should have dodged that one. He knew exactly where Luffy was aiming at, but then the pirate just - moved. His instincts were beyond natural; it was a precognition, a battle prescience that Enel knew too well.

Is… is this brat using Mantra too?!

In a battle between two Mantra users, both of them could predict the other's attacks, and then predict how the other would avoid that attack. The one that would win would simply be the one with the most concentrated Mantra. Enel's hands were shaking as he glared at Luffy. This… this… can't be… Enel thought, breathing heavily. This brat's Mantra can't be more powerful than mine!

Enel screamed. The thunder was so powerful it shook the earth. A solid sphere of blue lightning burst out of him, cutting through everything in its path. Luffy gasped, but there was no way to avoid it. Instead, he just gritted his teeth and charged through. He could feel the air crackling and exploding around him. He could feel the heat scorching his body. He was just moving too fast to care.

The god's eyes bulged as he saw Luffy approach. He reacted quickly, slamming a thunder-infused fist towards Luffy, just as Luffy's knuckles burst towards his chin. They each landed their blows at the same time, and the momentum sent both men flying backwards.

Luffy crashed into the forest, shooting through a pile of brambles. He landed on his hands and feet, groaning as he pulled himself up. Ace was suddenly standing next to him, leaning against a tree with a small smile on his face.

"A bit better," Ace conceded with a smirk, arms folded. "But not enough."

Luffy didn't respond. His hands were shaking furiously as he staggered upwards. His heart was drumming like never before. His whole body wanted to collapse. The only thing that kept him going was that power inside of him. It was like pure, concentrated determination. The type of power that kept him fighting until there was nothing left.

So this is Haki, Luffy thought slowly. It was so intense he could barely control it, but just kept on swirling through his body. He could feel it coating his skin like armour, and he could feel it in his mind, pushing him to go faster and stronger.

Haki. Pure willpower. The power to achieve the impossible. The power to break through boundaries.

Luffy was staggering out of the forest. Somehow, he knew exactly where Enel was. He could feel the man on his skin, and he could feel his presence in the air. It was an unstable, fleeting knowledge that he couldn't explain. Luffy didn't knew how to use this power, he barely even knew what it was, but it seemed like following his instincts was working.

Enel was bleeding and bruised as he stumbled onto the ruins, taking the high ground while Luffy approached across the plain. The air was crackling intensely, so powerful that stray bolts of lightning burst around him.

"You bastard!" Enel screamed loudly. His voice was raw and primal. There was no boredom, no mild disinterest anymore. There was only the rage of a bleeding, wounded man. "I am GOD! How dare you challenge GOD! I will destroy you!"

The bolts of lightning streamed towards him. Luffy's eyes widened in shock as his legs exploded in speed. He had to get up close. He might be able to fight Enel in close combat, but at this range, Enel had every advantage.

Solid streams of electricity burst towards him. Luffy dodged and weaved through it all, even faster than before, but each bolt arced to chase him down. Then Enel exploded, screaming in redoubled effort, pouring everything he had into his desperate attack. The clouds exploded in sparks. The entire atmosphere trembled. Luffy managed to close half the distance before the lightning collided with his body.

The force took him off his feet, but there was already another barrage of bolts streaming towards him. There was no avoiding it. Luffy could only gasp as the power scorched his skin and sent him slamming into the ground.

A second later, the air cracked as a thunderous blast charged towards him. Luffy could barely even move while the intense heat and force crashed into him like a train.

Enel was panting heavily, but he still sneered as Luffy collapsed into the ground. The pirate was trying to stagger upwards, yet Enel's gaze was murderous. "Mine is the divine power!" Enel snarled, firing bolt after bolt of arcing power. "I will burn you to a crisp! I am death! I am God!"

Luffy was gasping for air as he rolled for cover behind a ruined wall, but the lightning still crashed around him, each impact jarring his body. Clouds of dust flew everywhere. Luffy's body was pale as he fought to remain conscious despite his head burning and his body screaming. He couldn't feel the damage anymore, but he knew it was stacking up. It was so hard even to move.

Enel just didn't stop screaming. His eyes were wide and psychotic as he unleashed blast after blast after blat of blue lightning. The ancient Shandorian building jutting out of the cloud was quickly being transformed into scorched rubble.

"My power is unconquerable! My word is law! My will is greatness!" Enel roared, still not pausing with his attack. "All who defy me must die! ALL WHO CHALLENGE ME MUST BURN!"

No counterattack came. Slowly, he started to walk towards the pinned-down pirate, still blasting lightning in an endless river. The ruins were disappearing in large chunks, and Luffy was running out of places to hide. The lightning blasted through stone with ease, sending glowing red chunks of rubble into the air. Each blast came with a thunderclap so intense it rocked Luffy down to the bones. It was so hard to breathe with all the smoke and ash in the air.

Enel just smirked as he felt Luffy's presence weaken through Mantra. "I will kill you!" Enel proclaimed. "I will turn you to ash! And then I will bring down heavenly judgement onto all who follow you! I will destroy them all!"

Luffy tried to run for cover, but then a burning chunk of debris launched towards him and crashed into the back of his hot. The force knocked him to the ground. He felt his vision blur and the blood ooze from his head, just as Enel caught him with a vicious lightning bolt. Luffy crashed to the ground in a smouldering pile, gasping weakly for breath.

The god approached him a victorious grin, levelling his hand at Luffy. The pirate was struggling to even breathe. He tried to pull himself up, but his legs were weak. That earlier power was bleeding away quickly.

Still, he managed to glare at Enel darkly. "Say it again," Luffy demanded in a wheezy voice, clenching his knuckles.

Enel scoffed. "What?"

"Say. It. Again. " Luffy's voice was gravelly and rough. "I want you to say that last sentence again. I want to hear you say it."

A small, arrogant smile spread across Enel's lips. The air crackled furiously. "I will destroy them all," Enel repeated smugly. "I'm going to kill them. I'm going to burn for the pathetic infidels that they—"

He never saw the attack coming. There was no warning, no hesitation. One second, Luffy was lying on the ground, and then the next, his knuckles were burying themselves into Enel's face.

It wasn't a punch. A 'punch' implies flesh and bone. A 'punch' suggests a finite change in momentum, and a bounded acceleration. A 'punch' infers some sort of recoil. Punches were relatively mundane compared to what hit Enel.

Instead, Luffy's fists gleamed pitch black as they crashed straight into Enel's chin. Both fists at the same time. There were wrecking balls that caused less devastation.

The shockwave burst the sound barrier. Luffy's knuckles were coated with an indestructible black coating, the crystallization of his willpower itself. He couldn't even feel any pain or damage from the punches, as they crashed in to Enel's face with unstoppable momentum. There was a crack of bone, and in an instant the air was raining with fragments of Enel's teeth as the god was sent shooting backwards.

Luffy nearly collapsed, but he staggered upwards, panting. He could feel the Haki now, swirling inside his spirit, more intense and powerful than ever. He had the feeling it had always been there, but now he could sense if, touch it, grasp it, almost control it. Luffy was breathing weakly as he staggered forward, but his determination pumped into his muscles like rocket fuel.

"Thank you," Luffy growled, glaring at Enel. His right fist was pitch black. The black sheen slowly spread upwards his wrist as he focused more Haki. It was willpower so concentrated it took a physical shape. "I really needed to hear you say that."

Enel's was shaking with shock as he pulled himself up. "You bastar—!" Enel tried to scream, but his jaw wasn't moving properly and all that came out was an incomprehensible garble, almost a mumble. His jaw was in agony - it felt broken. Blood was swelling up in his mouth. He coughed into his hand, he had to spit out the shards of his teeth before he choked on them.

Enel spent a long time staring in horror at the bloody gloop that came from his mouth. He ran his fingers gingerly into his mouth only to realise that most of his front teeth were missing. The bone of his jaw felt cracked, pieces shifting and grinding against one another. His hands were trembling in a fear that he had never known before.

God cannot be injured. God is immortal, God is indestructible, and God is divine. This cannot happen to God…

Enel was sweating madly. He glared at Luffy with mad, unhinged eyes as the pirate slowly staggered towards him. The god screamed in primal rage as he lashed out with an arc of blindingly intense lightning.

Luffy reacted instantly. He didn't dodge, but he just raised his right hand and caught the stream of electricity in the palm of his hand. The air roared and crackled madly as the lightning fought against the black coating covering Luffy's palm.

Then, a few seconds later, the lightning halted. Luffy's hand looked completely unharmed. Luffy just blinked in surprise as he flexed his fingers curiously, watching how the black coating flexed over, or maybe in his body—it was like an unbreakable second skin, his spirit itself turned into armour.

"Oh," Luffy said simply, fiddling his fingers as the black coating slowly disappeared, like ink dripping away.

Enel's eyes were wide and disbelieving as he watched his attack be blocked so easily. His body was shaking. Luffy just grinned, before leaping up into the air and bringing his leg downwards. His foot became pitch-black just before it made contact. Enel barely avoided in time, but the foot smashed into the ground with immense force and just kept on going.

The cloud layer trembled and collapsed inwards as the earthquake shook the whole island.

---

"Luffy!" Vivi shouted, rushing through the forest. Her body was scorched and sore, but she refused to be useless. She was a Logia too; Luffy would need her help.

The towering beanstalk loomed overhead. She burst out of the treeline, just to watch a blinding light explode in the ruins below. It looked like an ancient city, cradled in a depression in the ground while chunks of Island Cloud littered everywhere and the beanstalk burst out of the ground in the centre. Vivi's gasped as she saw the frenzied battle erupting below, cutting through the ancient ruins.

Enel was obvious. He was a blinding figure of intense blue as he flickered around the ruins with lightning speed, unleashing storms of electric bolts. Huge rocks and stone ruins were devastated as he fought furiously, staying at range, retreating endlessly, always blasting more lightning, screaming madly.

And then there was Luffy. He moved so fast that Vivi could barely keep track. He was relentless, chasing after Enel with superhuman ferocity. His legs and arms blurred a stream of vicious attacks. He smashed through the lightning, go straight for his opponent. Vivi could practically see the terror in Enel's eyes each time he got close, but not even Enel's speed could keep him away from Luffy. Luffy was a darting blur of black, cutting through the waves of blue lightning as furious thunder filled the world, even as the pair danced around the ruins.

"Luffy…" Vivi gasped in awe. The scale of the battle took her breath away.

She hesitated slightly, before rushing downwards into the ruins of the city. Stray lightning bolts exploded everywhere, but Vivi transformed into a cloud of sand before materialising into the centre of the city, watching the two men shoot by her.

"Vivi!" Luffy shouted in shock, just as Enel barely avoided a spinning kick. "What are you doing here!?"

Enel launched a furious blast of blue light at Luffy's back, only for it to be absorbed by a sudden wall of sand. The god glared at Vivi with unrestrained rage. The princess just smirked. "I'm here to help!" Vivi replied, looking at Luffy. "Let's take this guy out together!"

Luffy hesitated for half a second, before grinning and resuming his assault. Both fists were as black as ink as crashed towards Enel. The god flickered away on top of building, only for his footing to be destroyed by a sudden wave of sand. The sand phased straight through him, but it was enough of a distraction for Luffy to land a heavy blow on his chest.

Enel groaned, but recovered quickly. He was screaming maniacally as he launched a bolt of lightning towards Vivi, only for her to dematerialise around it instinctively. Vivi was laughing. The sound was enough to drive the god even more insane.

He roared, generating a thunderclap that knocked Luffy away before leaping into the air. He transformed into lightning as he shot upwards, unleashing a furious barrage of swirling lightning blasts. Luffy never had time to dodge, but Vivi quickly generated a shell of sand above him to absorb the attacks, while she phased through the attacks in a swirl of sand.

"Vivi!" Luffy shouted. "Get me close to him!"

She nodded. There was time to ask why, but all she knew was that she trusted her captain completely. Her powers were so much easier to control when Luffy was by her side. For the first time, she actually realised that she was enjoying using the Sand Sand fruit. "Right!"

The ground rippled as Vivi dragged a large bundle of sand out of the earth, transforming it into a giant hand of sand that wrapped around Luffy. He never even had time to gasp as suddenly his whole body accelerated upwards to meet Enel in mid-air.

Enel tried to avoid him. Luffy was faster. His hand clutched a hold of Enel's foot and swung the god towards the ground. The next second, both men were falling towards the earth while Luffy's arms wrapped around the Enel's chest tightly.

"Got you!" Luffy roared triumphantly. Enel tried to thrash, but Luffy's grip was like iron, while preventing him from dematerialising.

Enel growled, before the air sparked and he started to pump out thousands of volts from his whole body. Luffy screamed as he felt the electricity cut through him.

Ok, so holding on to him isn't a good idea, Luffy conceded weakly, but somehow he managed to keep a hold. The electricity was cutting through his body, but his grip was tight. Luffy had one arm around Enel's neck and the other around his chest, squeezing the life out of him as they both crashed to the ground.

Then Vivi attacked with three blades of razor sharp sand cutting through the air. With Luffy's Haki restraining him, Enel couldn't dematerialise around the attack. The swirling blades of sand cut towards him, biting into his chest.

Enel crashed to the ground in a splatter of blood, feeling the pain from the deep gouges in his chest. Vivi caught Luffy in a bed of soft sand as he landed, and the pirate staggered upwards. His eyes were unfocused and his head was spinning, but he still found the strength to keep on going. Luffy's whole body was blistered, burnt and covered in soot, but somehow he just didn't stop.

Enel was screaming as he clutched at his chest, watching the blood ooze from the wound. His eyes were bloodshot and insane as he looked between Vivi and Luffy in terror. Both the pirates were slowly converging on him from different directions.

"Give it up," Luffy ordered, his voice cold. "You've lost."

Somehow, Luffy knew that Enel would never stop fighting, he could see nothing but insanity and rage in the eyes of the 'god.' There was nothing in him but brittle arrogance covering a terrified core. The man would fight desperately until the bitter end, clinging onto the only truth he was incapable of accepting; that 'God' could lose.

Enel's breathing was wheezy and shallow as he stared between them. Enel had never felt pain like this before. It was a while before he managed to speak.

"Do you care for her?!" Enel's voice was hoarse and croaky as he fought in agony to force the barely distinguishable words out through a broken jaw. He was staring at Luffy with a mixture of desperation and bloodlust and fear. "Is she a 'friend' of yours?"

Luffy didn't respond, casting a worried glance towards Vivi. He didn't like the way Enel was focusing on her. The god's eyes were bloodthirsty as he screamed with fury. "Judgement of God! "

The air split and a solid stream of blue electricity burst downwards. Luffy flinched, but then he realised that Enel wasn't aiming at him.

"Vivi!" He screamed, watching the princess be devoured by the crackling light

"I'm fine!" Vivi replied loudly, dissipating into a cloud of sand. "He can't hurt me like this—"

Luffy realised a second too late what Enel was doing. The electricity formed a large, circular stream of power around Vivi. Enel wasn't aiming for her at all; he was aiming at the ground she was standing on.

She never even had time to scream as the lightning cut a smooth hole straight through the earth. After that, physics took over and Vivi was suddenly dropping through the island.

Below, there was the Sea Cloud, and below that, there was nothing but a ten-thousand meter drop to the Blue Sea.

Enel's eyes were triumphant. His mouth twisted into an insane grin, revealing a mouth of jagged, broken teeth. "If you care for her… !" He screeched. "Then go catch her!"

There was no hesitation. There was no decision to be made. Luffy didn't think of the fight or his opponent. He didn't even think of how neither of them could swim. All Luffy knew was that his friend needed him and that was enough. He dived through the hole without a second thought, splashing straight into the cold, fluffy ocean of cloud.

In the ruins, everything became deathly quiet. Enel stared at the hole with shock, and then, because he was a coward at heart, he used his powers to collapse one of the buildings. A mountain of stone and rubble blocked the hole to ensure that no one could climb back up that way.

Enel paused, still kneeling on the ground as he bled into the dirt. The demolished and ancient city seemed to be mocking him. His breathing was wheezy. All smugness or confidence had vanished. It was hard to be arrogant when you were missing your teeth and you had someone's knuckles imprinted on your face.

"I am God," Enel muttered quietly. The silence of the Shandorian ruins was making him uneasy. "I am God. I am God. I am God…"

He kept on repeating the words, but they were hardly recognisable through his broken jaw. He was panting as he struggled to pull himself up. His face was bruised and beaten beyond recognition. Enel growled, his face contorting in fury.

"I AM GOD!" He roared, shouting at the silence. "I won because I am God. This game is over! I have won! I won because I am God! "

The silence didn't disappear. There were tears rolling down his bloody cheeks and his hands were trembling madly. Enel was nearly suffering a panic attack. He knew how close he had come to defeat.

The concept of his own mortality was the most terrifying thing Enel had ever encountered.

The wrecked ruins were looming around him. Stone carvings and ancient symbols glared at him everywhere he looked. The silence was agonising. The tears just didn't stop.

"I am God…" Enel muttered under his breath, softly. It took a long time for him to stand up and stagger away, heading towards the beanstalk. It is time to leave this wretched place, he decided finally, Ark Maxim is ready and Fairy Vearth awaits.

Fifteen minutes later, he was on the top of Giant Jack, staring down at Upper Yard from the deck of his flying ship. He was still sore, but he had cauterised the wound across his chest using his own lightning. With a flash of electricity, Arc Maxim slowly started to power up, lifting off the ground via hundreds of Jet Dials. It should have been a moment to celebrate. Instead, Enel just felt hollow.

"The game is over. I have won," Enel muttered coldly, glaring at the floating island he had come to despise. "Only God has dominion in the sky, all others are abominations against the natural order. I will send this cursed place back down to where it belongs! "

With churn of gears and mechanism, the cloud generator activated and started to spill out black clouds over the sky of Upper Yard. Enel took his place on his golden throne, watching the shadows block out the sun.

"I will destroy them," Enel vowed emotionlessly. "I will kill them all."

Slowly, the giant ship started to creep into the air as the thunder rumbled across the island. Enel would finally restore balance and send the mortals back to where they belonged.

Still, he couldn't even look at his own reflection in the golden throne as Arc Maxim roared into life.

---

Luffy's lungs screamed for breath as he plummeted through the soft Sea Cloud. There was no visibility, but Luffy didn't care. His heart was pounding madly as he felt the presence of Vivi in front of him, falling through the clouds.

Sea Cloud was less dense than water. A person sank through it faster. Vivi already was a good distance away, and Devil fruit users sank faster than most. Luffy tried frantically to swim downwards, but it barely made any difference as they both plummeted quickly.

His vision started to blur from lack of oxygen, yet Luffy refused to give in. Vivi would be immobilised in the water, but she would be drowning as well. He had to reach her. There was no room for anything less.

Otherwise they were facing a ten thousand metre drop to the surface.

I have to reach her. The seconds felt like hours as Luffy grasped blindly into the soft water.

I have to reach her. His body screamed, desperate for air. His head spun.

I have to reach her… Luffy could barely think of anything else as he dropped through the clouds. His head was too foggy; he couldn't feel her presence anymore.

He had no idea how long it lasted. It felt like hours of agony, but then suddenly the Sea Cloud disappeared. Air hit his lungs again, but there wasn't time to rejoice. Luffy's eyes widened in horror as he saw a field of white stretch out beneath him. He wasn't sinking in Sea Clouds anymore; he was dropping through the air.

He had broken through the White White Sea, and was now rapidly accelerating towards the White Sea. The air whooshed by him with furious speeds. His heart pounded incredibly. He was dropping faster than ever before.

And suddenly he saw Vivi. Luffy glimpsed her limp body dropping through the air. She was unconscious, her dress flapping madly around her. There was no time to think. Luffy just put his arms together and let himself drop towards her.

His heart was beating so fast it felt like ages, but then Luffy managed to wrap his fingers around her ankle and pull her towards him. Their bodies wafted cumbersomely in the freefall, but then Luffy managed to wrap his arms around her waist and pull her towards him closely. Their bodies pressed together as they fell.

"VIVI!" Luffy screamed desperately, trying to shake her conscious. His voice was barely audible over the sound of the wind flying by them.

Her eyelids flickered groggily. Vivi only just managed to open her eyes just as the surface of the White Sea barrelled into view.

The fall lasted 237 seconds. They both dropped three thousand meters in less than four minutes. It felt like longer.

Luffy reacted on impulse, twisting their bodies around so that he was on the bottom. So that he could absorb the collision for her.

His heart was fluttering madly. For a brief moment, the memory of all his friends flickered across his mind.

Then, they were swallowed by another layer of Sea Cloud. There was no impact, there wasn't even a splash. Sea Cloud was soft enough that there was barely any change in velocity as they kept on falling straight downwards.

The darkness swallowed them. Vivi only just managed to get a deep breath before her body became immobilised again. Luffy's grip around her waist was solid. Their chests were pressed together, their arms intertwined tightly. Luffy thrashed and kicked and tried to swim, but they were sinking too quickly. There was too much momentum and not enough thrust in the soft Sea Cloud. Vivi's body dragged him downwards, wrapping around his arms.

The only way he was going to swim was if he let go of her. If he dropped Vivi, then he might have a change to swim away. That wasn't even an option.

The White Sea was thicker than the White White Sea, but they were falling faster. Luffy's lungs screamed for air, while his lashed out, desperate for a fish to cling on. He needed something to stop the fall, but there was nothing. He just wasn't that lucky.

With a blast of air, they broke through the White Sea, and started to accelerate again. They both gasped for air just as they dropped. He felt Vivi squirm again, but they held each other tightly. The air whooshed by them furiously, like a roar in their ears.

Beneath them, a blue haze burst into view. The ground was rapidly zooming upwards. Seven thousand meters, Luffy recalled hazily, and I did three thousand in 237 seconds. His heart was beating so quickly he felt lightheaded. That means about nine and a bit minutes before they hit the ground.

I have nine minutes left to live, Luffy realised with shock. His grip on Vivi never slackened.

"Luffy… !" Vivi screamed in terror, yelling at the top of her voice into his ear.

"It's alright!" Luffy bellowed to be heard over the sound of the air. "It's alright!"

They were so close that he could feel her heartbeat. The air resistance tried to drag them away, but they both held on tightly. Vivi shook her head, her eyes wild and panicked. Her blue hair was flying everywhere.

"Luffy!" She shouted, tightening her grip on him until he could hardly breathe. "I need to tell you—"

He looked into her eyes. Vivi looked so scared that it sent shivers down his spine. Luffy felt his hands tighten into fists.

"Tell me later," he muttered with furious determination, tightening his grip around her body.

If he was alone he might have just fallen to his death. But there was no way in hell that he was going to allow his friend to die with him. He could feel the determination pounding inside of him.

I've got nine minutes to learn how to fly, Luffy thought with gritted teeth.

His legs kicked downwards with blurring speed. Vivi stared at him with shock, but he didn't care. Luffy just kept on kicking at the air, trying to find some leverage. He was roaring with fury as slammed his foot downwards.

I will not die here! Luffy proclaimed to himself, feeling the power thrive inside of him. Not like this! Not here… !

Vivi was screaming as she held on to him. Suddenly, Luffy had all the motivation he needed. He wasn't going to let a little thing like gravity get in the way.

His right foot broke the sound barrier as he kicked downwards. His heel slammed with the air particles at such speed that the molecules couldn't diffuse around his foot in time. It felt he like kicked concrete. The deceleration was instant.

Vivi shrieked as the lurch pulled her upwards, but Luffy's grip was tight. He roared in fury as he kicked downwards again, followed by a resounding crack. He was kicking the air so quickly the force drove him upwards.

They were still falling, but it felt like they were slowing down. His legs were already aching but there was no time to pause. Again! Luffy ordered his body brutally. Get the rhythm right!

His feet slashed downwards in rhythm, one after another. It felt like tightrope walking without the rope, but he just kept on going with breakneck speed. Vivi's mouth dropped open as she felt them slowly come to halt. For a second, they were hovering in place, thousands of meters above the ground.

Vivi stared at Luffy incredulously. She could feel his heart; and it was pounding like a workhouse. "How… how are you doing this?" She asked in a hushed breath. Without the wind roaring in her eyes, everything seemed so quiet.

Luffy didn't respond. Please don't ask me that question, Luffy thought pleadingly, but he didn't dare open his mouth. It was taking everything he had just to keep going.

But this pace stopped. Slowly and cumbersomely, the pair started to rise upwards. Luffy's movements became more fluid and natural, but the pace never stopped. Vivi could only gasp as they shot back up into the sky.

With a frown of determination, Luffy looked upwards to stare at the dark cloud hovering overhead. It was a long way away, but he was moving fast. His legs pulled as he slammed against the air, bouncing upwards until he was sprinting vertically.

Vivi was in his arms, holding onto his neck. She stared at the curve in the horizon with amazement, before bursting out laughing. The sound was like music to Luffy's ears. Luffy released the breath that he hadn't realised he was holding on, gasping loudly while the laughter broke through his lips. The sight of the world stretching out before him nearly took his breath away.

They were both laughing like mad as they shot upwards, heading straight to the dark clouds with breakneck speed.

---

A hushed silence spread over Upper Yard as the thunder clouds blocked out the sun. The Arc Maxim hovered in the sky around Giant Jack, at the centre of the island.

Nami's eyes were wide and fearful as she stared at the clouds. "Those aren't natural…" She muttered in quiet terror.

Usopp was next to her, staring at the flying ship hovering hundreds of metres above the ground. Even from this distance, he could see how big the Arc Maxim was. "A flying ship…" Usopp exclaimed in awe. "You mean they have flying ships here?!"

Next to them, Conis was kneeling on the ground, trembling madly. "This is God's work…" She stammered weakly. "He's sentenced us all to death…"

Sanji stood by the group, staying quiet as he watched the Arc Maxim churn out clouds. The sound of thunder rolled across the sky. The clouds were still taking shape, but Nami could see the flashes of lightning in the darkness. "Thunderclouds that big…" Nami gulped. "This isn't good; we've got to take cover."

"We can't leave the ship!" Usopp snapped, casting a painful glance towards the Going Merry. They had lost the mast, and there was big hole straight through the centre. It was lucky the whole ship hadn't collapsed, but Usopp wondered with quiet dread how much more of a beating Merry could take. His patchwork repairs were running thin.

Chopper, in Heavy point form, jumped down from the ship with an unconscious Zoro over his shoulder and Carue cradled in his arms. "We need to get somewhere I can treat my patients!" Chopper said firmly. "The Going Merry isn't a safe place for a medical procedure anymore."

Still, Usopp hesitated. He stared up at the flying ship, wondering how far he could jump. So long as that ship was up there, no one was safe.

There was a rumble from the sky. They all jumped as they saw a huge lightning blade crash downwards, obliterating a huge tree in a shower of sparks.

"He's killing trees?" Sanji asked finally, with confusion.

Nami shook her head. Around them, the sky was erupting in flashes of light exploding to the ground. "No…" She muttered in quiet terror. "He's killing everything…"

The thunder was deafening. Huge bolts of lightning shot across the island, tearing down huge gashes in the landscapes. There were fires blazing across the forest. Nobody said a word.

"Luffy will beat him, right?" Usopp muttered finally, his voice hopeful. "Luffy always beats the bad guys, right?"

There was a flash of light exploding above them. Usopp screamed as a vicious bolt of lightning struck the Going Merry, splintering the prow of the ship. He rushed to the ship's aid, but then a second lightning bolt slammed right into the centre of the group. Everybody jumped.

"He's aiming for us!" Nami shouted. "We've got to take cover!"

"But the Merry—" Usopp protested weakly.

"Get away from her!" Nami ordered. "Get to the trees!"

Chopper was already running, carrying the wounded in his arms. Usopp hesitated before hopping after him. The sky flashed with light. Sanji quickly lifted Conis off the ground and started sprinting, just as another bolt of lightning struck behind him. Nami couldn't get away in time, and the thunderclap sent flying backwards, dazed and disorientated as the group rushed on without her.

The thunderstorm only seemed to be getting stronger. Nami gulped, rushing for cover.

"Luffy…" She murmured under her breath. "Where are you…?"

---

At the other side of the Giant Jack, Robin hurried quickly through the burning forest. The whole forest was in a state of panic. A bolt of lightning exploded against a stone ruin, and Robin felt her heart clench at the sight of so much history being destroyed in a flash of electricity. Still, she had priorities.

Robin carried Aisa in her arms. The young girl was weeping madly into Robin's shoulder while clutching her head in pain. "The screaming!" Aisa wailed. "All those voices… they're screaming… !"

The pain in her voice sent shivers down Robin's spine, but the sky was spewing lightning and there was nothing else to do than run. "Aisa!" Robin shouted firmly. "Do you know where Luffy is?"

The girl shook her head weakly. The tears weren't stopping. "Luffy is gone."

---

Wiper staggered upwards weakly as he felt the earth tremor around him. His body was so beaten and broken he could barely move. Instead, the berserker just crawled across the scorched earth, watching the forest erupt in fire.

His homeland was being destroyed in front of him.

And there was absolutely nothing he could do to stop it.

The very though was enough for the tears to pour down his cheeks. Slowly, Wiper turned upwards to stare at the flying arc hovering around island, spilling down lightning.

First the golden bell, and then my homeland…?

"DAMN YOU ENEL! " Wiper roared furiously, tears flowing freely. He clutched at his chest as he staggered to his feet weakly.

---

Smoker groaned feebly, but he couldn't move. A blast of lightning had pinned a tree down onto him, and he couldn't even use his Devil powers so long as he had that Seastone bullet in his leg.

Instead, he just lay there. The heavy log crushed his stomach, leaving him stranded on his back as he stared up at the sky. The clouds were still churning black, like a monster growing into the sky. Smoker didn't even have the energy left to struggle.

Around him, the trees were burning. Smoker couldn't even find the strength to fight. The memory of Tashigi flickered across his mind.

He had lost everything.

---

The Shandorians took shelter beneath the giant, still body of the Master of the Sky, hiding from the lightning. Laki and the old chief tended to the wounded at the rear, while Braham took the front of group. They had been heading towards the beanstalk when the lightning struck and Arc Maxim took to the sky, leaving the raiders to crawl beneath the body of the enormous python while the lightning shot everywhere.

They all stared at the scorched ground, burning forest and black sky with horror. Laki was crying. Even Braham, normally so stoic, looked completely lost. The old chief seemed to have aged a decade in that moment alone.

A few minutes later, the pirates rushed out of the forest and took shelter next to Shandorians. Usopp was at the front, followed closely by Chopper and Sanji. Neither group had any will to fight left.

Robin and Aisa joined them shortly later, after following the voices Aisa heard until they found company. Nobody said a word as they approached. The lightning was ravaging their surroundings.

Slowly, the sky started to churn. A huge, spherical, black cloud, sparking with power, descended from the sky with ominous dread. It hovered behind the flying ship, before slowly approaching the ground. Aisa whimpered in pain.

"He's going to do it…" The old chief realised with quiet gloom. "Enel is actually going to destroy the whole island…"

---

Enel sat cross-legged on his golden throne. The Arc Maxim was still churning out clouds, and Enel was still providing power, but there was no enjoyment there. The black clouds of Deathpiea did little to appease his foul mood.

He dreamt of this moment for so long. He had wanted to make it a great affair, full of cheering and laughter as he wiped Skypiea off the map. Back in his homeland of Birka, he had sung and danced for weeks after he had destroyed the damn place.

Still, there was no pleasure this time. His last fight, his great 'Survival Game' hadn't gone the way he wanted. It was enough to put a foul mood over what should have been a joyous affair.

Enel had no will to drag it out. He couldn't be bothered to play with the mortals; he just wanted them all gone. As soon as the Arc Maxim reached the required capacity, Enel triggered the ultimate attack - the Advent of Thunder.

He shuddered and closed his eyes while the gigantic ball of lightning dropped from the sky, crashing towards the island slowly. The whole sphere crackled with unstable power, like a bomb waiting to explode.

"Just die…" Enel muttered softly. "God demands it…"

---

Gan Fall awoke tiredly, with Pierre in horse form, nudging his shirt urgently. He was lying by the edge of the Milky Road, while the trees around him blazed with fire.

The old soldier felt like a fossil as he pulled himself up, feeling his old bones creak. Slowly, Gan Fall walked to pick up his lance, frowning darkly at the sky spitting lightning across the island. His armour rattled with every movement. Pierre stood by his side, panicking with every bolt of lightning.

Gan Fall sighed. "Enel was right…" He muttered softly to his faithful companion. "I have failed in everything that I have attempted. I failed to broker peace between the Shandorians, I failed to repel Enel, and I even failed to assemble the Resistance. This whole plan has been a failure…"

Pierre whinnied reassuringly. Gan Fall managed a weak smile, staring at the flying ship destroying Skypiea. "I suppose if I'm so good at failing…" Gan Fall murmured. "I might as well fail one last time…"

He stared for a long time. Out of the trees, there was a frantic running before Nami burst into view. Gan Fall stared at the navigator in shock.

At once, Nami raised her sword. "Do you work for the Enel?" She demanded. Pierre neighed in outrage at the very suggestion. Gan Fall just raised his hand peacefully.

"Most certainly not," the old man replied. "You have nothing to fear from me."

Nami looked at him suspiciously, but lowered her weapon. "Is there a good place to hide around here?" She asked finally. "We need to take cover."

Gan Fall closed his eyes for a few seconds. "I doubt it'll make much difference," he said cryptically, walking away slowly. "It'll all be over soon."

Nami looked puzzled. Gan Fall was already leaving, but he paused to look at her. "Tell me," he asked gently. "Are you a pirate?"

She nodded. A soft smile played over his lips. "Good," he nodded approvingly. "I love to see pirates still adventuring through the world. Twenty years ago, I met a pirate who visited here. He became a good friend of mine."

He glanced towards the flying ship, his eyes fading over with better memories. "Once… this pirate told me a story," Gan Fall muttered. "A story about Devil fruits…"

Nami looked confused. Gan Fall just continued quietly. "The story goes that when the world was first formed, all of the Gods gave a gift, but put a price on it as well," he explained softly. "The Sea God gave an ocean to explore and the freedom to sail, but made it difficult so men would appreciate the adventure. The Wind God gave a gentle breeze, but provided storms to make sure that man were cautious. The Sky God gave the sun to light the way, but then supplied the night so we could all see clearer in the dark."

"But the Devil looked at everything they gave, and he decided he wanted to give something of his own to the world. So the Devil put a little bit of his power into fruits, and he spread them around the planet. However, the Devil never put a price on his invention. He just offered the power freely to whoever wanted to eat it."

There was a huge blast of lightning into the forest nearby. Gan Fall didn't appear to notice. "And so men would eat the fruits and they would become strong. And those who became strong became arrogant and superior. Those that didn't eat the fruits became resentful and oppressed. The world erupted into war as more and more people fought for the 'precious' Devil fruits, but no matter what tyrant took the power, sooner or later that power would reincarnate and the whole cycle of violence would start anew. Good men ate the fruits to try and restore balance, but all that caused was more carnage."

He turned to stare at her solemnly. "And that is why they are called Devil fruits, young miss," Gan Fall said finally. "Because, no matter who eats them, the Devil is the only one who really benefits from it."

The old man slowly started to walk away, his armour rattling with every step. Nami looked at him cautiously. "Wait… where are you going?"

He smiled humourlessly, staring at the huge orb of lightning slowly descending onto the island. "I'm going to do what I should have done years ago…" Gan Fall said quietly. "I'm going to finish this."

He stepped forward, turning to Pierre. "Now then…" He murmured under his breath. "Where is my bag?"

---

The trip was the most exhilarating, terrifying and painful thing that Luffy had ever managed. Every step felt like a goliath's leap. His legs were screaming in agony by the time he broke through the White White Sea. But he did it. He made the whole journey.

Luffy was wheezing heavily as he dropped onto the ground of Upper Yard, at the western edge of the island. He collapsed from exhaustion, his legs so worn they felt like were about to fall off. Vivi grabbed a hold of him before he hit the ground.

"Are you alright?" She asked with concern, staring at the wounds covering his body. It was hard to see the actual injuries over the layer of blisters and scorched flesh.

He gulped and nodded weakly. Around him, Upper Yard was exploding into fire and lightning. "Vivi, go find the others," Luffy muttered weakly. "Make sure they're alright."

She stared at him incredulously. He had just ran a few kilometres straight upwards in mid-air, but he was still trying to go further. He was going to kill himself if he pushed any harder. "You've done enough. You can barely walk," Vivi warned. "You can't go any further."

Luffy forced a feeble smile. His eyes were focused solely on the flying ship hovering in the air next to the giant beanstalk. "I can still go just a little bit more…" He gasped. His legs winced with pain, but the he kept on limping forward.

Vivi tried to protest, but he was already leaping upwards. His foot slammed against the air suddenly he was sprinting in mid-air in a blur, jumping upwards as he kept on gaining speed. His vision was blurring, but he didn't care. His friends needed him. Now more than ever.

The Arc Maxim squatted in the distance like an oversized insect. Around him, the dark clouds spewed lightning, but Luffy was dodging each bolt before it even formed. He weaved and spun through the air, each kick driving him faster until he was blur shooting across the sky.

Enel was the first to notice him. His Mantra was flaring like an alarm bell as he felt the pirate coming closer. "No… !" Enel screamed, clutching the side of the ship with trembling hands as he glared at Luffy. "You can't be here! You can't be here!"

He roared, shrieking at Luffy as if he was worst nightmare. Perhaps he was. Enel slammed his hands forward releasing huge strikes of lightning that burst through the air. Luffy couldn't even see them coming, but he still managed to dodge the attacks as he kept on charging.

Around him the lightning crackled and twisted to chase him. His breathing was slow and steady, but he could feel every last drop of adrenaline pushing through his body. The air was so hot it burnt, while the sound of thunder shook him to the core.

With the power of the Arc Maxim behind him, Enel's attacks were magnified incredibly. The god was clutching at the side of his ship, furiously channelling thunder and lightning through his body for a relentless assault.

"You have no right to be in the sky!" Enel shrieked maniacally. "No right at all! FALL, you mortal! "

You first, Luffy thought quietly, sprinting through the air as fast as a bullet while dozens of bolt of lightning chased him down. He growled as he concentrated all the willpower he had left into his right hand, glaring at Enel as his fist turned as black as ink.

He didn't have much energy left. He could feel his concentration fading as his vision blurred. He doubted he could maintain the Haki for more than a few seconds.

A few seconds would have to be enough.

Luffy was screaming madly as he charged forward. A bolt of lightning struck him, but there was nothing to stop his momentum. He shot through the air, and collided straight into the wooden hull of the Arc Maxim.

The wood crumpled like paper around his fist. Luffy just kept on going. Gears and complex mechanisms all crumbled as he forced his way through. The ship lurched, and he could hear Enel screeching madly. Dials burst and exploded, crashing through the hull and out the other side just as the flying ship started to drop to the ground.

"NO!" Enel screamed, watching as the ground seemed to accelerate upwards. "You…. You… can't…."

He glared at Luffy, concentrating as the sparks crackled around him. His whole body blazed with blue lightning. "AMARU!" Enel screamed, just as his form started to shift.

In an instant, Enel was transformed into a gigantic being of pure electricity, as large as a giant with skin that crackled with power. His body was immense and fat, while his hair burst out of his hat and shot crackled awards. He threw his hand at Luffy, just for intensely powerful bolt to stream out of his palm. Luffy dodged, but the thunderclap nearly caused him to lose his footing. He hadn't thought it was physically possible, but Enel's power just went up another notch.

"I will kill you!" Enel shrieked, his voice thunderous and inhuman. His broken teeth were jagged in his mouth. "I will burn you!"

Luffy had to run backwards just to avoid the salvo of lightning blasts, each one a stream of such pure energy that it looked like crackling fire. He was panting heavily as he twisted in the air, but the Arc Maxim was slowly starting to stabilise itself. Enel roared victoriously.

"You will die!" Enel proclaimed. "And so will they!"

He motioned towards the humongous Advent of Thunder, still dropping towards the ground ominously. The static and heat from the cloud of was enough to scorch the land as approached. Luffy felt his heart quicken. He couldn't let that attack hit the island.

There were seconds left.

Luffy did the only thing he could. With only the slightest hesitation, he turned around and sprinted straight into the Advent of Thunder.

Hitting the black cloud felt like running into an electric fence. The lightning crackled through his body. The heat felt like it was burning him to a crisp. It was dark, and the pressure crushed him, but Luffy's legs moved on autopilot. He just kept on running.

Hovering over the Advent of Thunder, Enel thrust his arms triumphantly. "That's right! Burn! Burn beneath God's might like all the other infidels! Burn and die—!"

His eyes widened in shock as he saw a figure jump out of the ball lightning from the other side. His mouth dropped in terror as he realised what was happening. Luffy was shooting straight towards him.

And he was bringing the Advent of Thunder with him. Straight towards the Arc Maxim.

Luffy screamed and roared as the lightning crackled around him, but he didn't stop jumping through the air. Electricity would always follow the path of least resistance. Not even Enel could stop the laws of physics. Even if that path of least resistance was through a human body, the electricity would follow in that direction initially and keep on flowing until the whole static potential had been discharged.

Luffy was using his own body as a lightning rod to redirect the Advent of Thunder.

There was no time to think, no time to react. Luffy was suddenly slamming into the flying ship, just as the whole Advent of Thunder discharged in an incredible bolt of lightning that not even Enel could prevent. It was enough power to destroy an island. The Arc Maxim was built to be lightning resistant, but there was nothing that could survive that.

Enel could only watch in horror as he stood, unharmed on the deck, while his precious flying ship disintegrated in mid-air. He could practically hear Luffy's laughter as they both started to fall.

The lightning didn't even stop at the ship. There was too much charge and too much power. The whole lightning burst outwards and, with a thunderous boom so loud it rocked the sky, it struck the giant beanstalk on the other side. The whole island tremored madly as the humongous beanstalk started to topple towards the earth.

Luffy collided with the mangled golden ruins of a giant bell. Between the force and the charge difference, the golden bell was thrown straight off the Arc Maxim, disappearing into the distance as it fell away from the island.

The tattered ruins of the Arc Maxim scattered all over Upper Yard, but the bulk of the wreck slammed as a fireball into the ground towards the centre of the island. The explosion was so intense that the shadows of the wreckage could be seen on the Blue Sea.

---

Casually leaning on the branches of the giant beanstalk, even as it toppled slowly towards the ground, a figure watched the explosion with an amused smirk. The man slowly adjusted his hat while the fireball burst outwards into the sky.

"Now then, Luffy…" Ace muttered with a wide grin. "… that's more like it!"

He was chuckling with satisfaction even as the cloud of ash and dust splattered around Upper Yard. Gently brushing his clothes down, 'Ace' gave one last glance to the world around him, before vanishing from sight with a gentle pop.

---

The Ark Maxim, Enel's pride and joy, the holy vessel that would carry him to Fairy Vearth, was scattered in pieces across the island. Around him, the trees were burning madly, while the debris of the ship still clattered to the ground. He glimpsed his golden throne, a mangled mess so deformed it was hardly recognisable.

"No…" Enel muttered in shock, staggering around the debris. The tears poured freely down his cheeks. The grief felt suffocating. It had taken six years to build that ship. It had taken six long years, an army of slaves, and a mountain of gold. Without the Jet Dials formerly produced by his homeland of Birka, there could never be another ship like it.

Enel was trapped in the sky now. He could never reach Fairy Vearth.

He was trapped among mortals.

"No!" Enel roared at the sky, feeling his body tremor in grief and fear. "NO!"

He almost collapsed. His life's work, his ambition, his dream, was currently smouldering in pieces around him.

With a pained gasp, Luffy managed to push a chunk of gold off him and crawl away for the scorching heat. His legs weren't working anymore, he had to drag himself with his hands. He honestly didn't know how he was still conscious, but some force inside of him refused to let him black out.

He was still crawling as he felt a heavy foot crash into his back. The force was enough to crack the ground. Enel was standing on him, glaring down with absolute, berserk, insane fury.

"You… !" Enel snarled, pressing down hard with his leg. Luffy couldn't even breathe, but ended up just gasped weakly for breath. Enel's heart was pounding furiously. He wasn't going to burn Luffy anymore. This time, Enel wanted to kill him with his own two hands.

Enel reached for a chunk of golden debris, channelling electricity into his hands as he remoulded the metal. In an instant, he was holding a large golden trident, with a viciously sharp edge that he pressed against Luffy's back.

"How dare you…" Enel muttered insanely, slowly applying more pressure. The blade slowly broke through Luffy's skin, drawing a light trickle of blood. "How dare you…. How dare you… How dare you…"

The sight of Luffy's blood was an almost euphoric rush. Enel was going to take his time skewering him. Luffy was so exhausted, injured and weak that he could barely even scream. Enel grinned as he braced himself to push down further…

"That is enough." The firm voice cut through the clearing, causing Enel to look upwards with shock. "This ends here."

Slowly, Gan Fall appeared from the forest, his armour rattling as he clutched his lance tightly. Enel had been so distracted that he never even sensed the old man's approach. Gan Fall's gaze was pure steel as he glared at the god.

"This ends here," Gan Fall repeated, levelling his lance at Enel warningly. "You will not hurt anybody else."

Enel's face twisted in a sneer. "You pathetic old man. I have no time to waste on you."

From the trees, there was a worried whinny. Gan Fall didn't take his eyes off Enel. "Stay back, Pierre. This is a battle I must face alone."

The bolt of lightning shot from Enel's fingertips. The air exploded in intense light that struck Gan Fall's lance and flowed through him. The thunderclap resounded and everything hazed with heat.

Yet Gan Fall didn't move. He didn't even flinch or blink as the lightning flowed through him.

Enel's mouth dropped open in surprise. "What the—?"

On the floor, Luffy slowly pulled his head up to stare. Gan Fall glanced towards him. "Monkey D. Luffy. I wish I had more time to get to know you, but, alas, I do not." the old man said in firm voice. "I will take the fight from here, but there is one thing you must do for me. A few metres behind me there is a large backpack leaning against a tree. You must go to that bag."

He stared at the pirate with solemn, serious eyes. "Do you understand? You must look in that bag. It is vitally important. You will understand when you look inside."

Luffy didn't respond, but his eyes were confused. Enel looked between the old man and pirate in puzzlement, before raising his trident to point at Gan Fall. "I have no idea what you're doing here. I don't care!" Enel snarled. "Die! Just… die!"

The flash of power was intense. Gan Fall caught the lightning on his lance, but the power streamed straight through him. His metal lance glowed red hot and then snapped, while electricity scorched through his body. Still, Gan Fall didn't move.

After five seconds, Enel finally relented with the stream of lightning, gasping for breath. His eyes widened in amazement as he stared at the old man.

"You were right, Enel…" Gan Fall muttered quietly. "I have failed in so many of my accomplishments. Still, let's see if I can break my losing streak on one last attempt…"

Gan Fall's whole body was glowing red, so hot that air hazed. Gradually as he cooled, Enel realised that his skin was rippling, and now shiny like metal. His whole body, even his beard, took on a metallic gleam. He wasn't wearing armour anymore; he was made of armour.

"I can promise you this," Gan Fall continued solemnly. "Everything that I am, everything I'd hoped to accomplish. I will stake my life on this battle. I will stake it all. You would do well to heed my words now…"

Nobody spoke as slowly the metal started to ripple down his arm, regenerating his broken lance as it extended back to its full length. Gan Fall's skin was flowing like liquid silver, and when he took a step, he didn't rattle. The ground rattled. Heavily.

Enel's eyes were filled with pure horror. "That's a Logia…" He gasped.

"This is the power of the Metal Metal fruit!" Gan Fall announced to the stunned silence. "And this is the power that will kill you!"

---

Author Notes:

I really enjoyed this one, I spent a long time trying to write it properly. The next ones are going to be good too. Skypiea Arc is finally winding down.

Truth be told, I'm not happy with the way this arc has progressed. Originally, I planned on getting the Skypiea Arc over and done by in seven chapters, max. That hasn't happened, but I kept on expanding it and I think I've messed up the intended story pace. Still, its all a learning experience, and its all going to come together quickly now.

Next time: Ex-God vs God! Metal vs Lightning! 'Sacrifice'