Water Dragon: Soaring Across Heaven
The thunderous impact echoed across the heavens as Jerry's technique met the Golden Lion's sword barrage. The countless golden slashes were swallowed by Jerry's Water Dragon like a ravenous serpent devouring light itself.
Under Shiki's astonished gaze, Jerry appeared before him in the blink of an eye with extraordinary speed.
A powerful gust tore through the air as Jerry's kick landed with crushing force, hurling the Golden Lion in a wide arc across the sky.
"BOOM!" The tremendous crash shook the heavens.
The Golden Lion slammed heavily into his floating island in the distance. Dust clouds erupted and smoke swirled, completely obscuring his figure in the hazy debris.
At the edge of Upper Yard's massive vine, Deuce looked around nervously, thinking it would be wise to keep their distance from the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Ace had already accelerated into action, using his awakened Observation Haki to intercept Enel with faster reactions than ever before. He even employed his enhanced Conqueror's Haki to accurately pressure his enemy, restricting Enel's speed and movement.
Witnessing this display, fierce determination ignited in Cavendish's heart. He knew that Ace hadn't originally possessed Observation Haki, but after following Jerry's training methods and practicing diligently, he'd finally awakened this power.
Considering that he was also training along the same path, Cavendish would soon master both Armament and Observation Haki himself. Imagining how freely he'd be able to fight future enemies, the narcissistic prince couldn't help but fall into beautiful fantasies about his upcoming prowess.
At the same time, after seeing Ace completely suppress Enel and begin landing effective attacks, the others started discussing enthusiastically, occasionally cheering quietly as they got excited about Ace's dominant performance.
"Damn it! What is this overwhelming pressure?"
Enel was knocked away by another of Ace's punches, completely confused by the intense aura that kept surging from his opponent.
The self-proclaimed god helplessly discovered that although he'd successfully hit Ace with his Thunder God incarnation and Divine Judgment—and his opponent was obviously injured—Ace's power didn't seem affected at all.
Now Ace displayed even sharper reactions and faster speeds, coupled with that sudden, terrifying aura that inspired involuntary awe and always made Enel freeze at critical moments.
In those split seconds of hesitation, Ace would launch fierce attacks that put Enel in increasingly passive positions.
The invisible pressure targeting Enel was evidence that Ace's Conqueror's Haki had been significantly enhanced. He could now control this power with initial precision.
Although using it this way increased his stamina consumption, Ace was strategic about it—only releasing the Conqueror's Haki at critical moments when Enel tried to escape or launch attacks.
Even though Ace's Conqueror's Haki couldn't knock Enel unconscious, it was enough to help him accurately track his enemy's movements and catch the lightning user off guard.
"Ahh! You mortal! I'll destroy you!"
Seeing his opponent ignore his divine status and continue the relentless beating, Enel felt a surge of grief and unwillingness in his heart.
As a self-proclaimed god who thought highly of himself, Enel had never been treated like this before. In the past, he could hit others while remaining untouchable himself. Watching his enemies' helplessness and rage had once been one of his greatest pleasures. But now the situation had completely reversed, which Enel simply couldn't accept.
As Ace closed in on him again, Enel attempted the same trick—quietly activating a shell in his hand while his golden staff rushed toward Ace's fist like lightning.
"200 Million Volt Discharge!"
Ace snorted dismissively as his Conqueror's Haki suddenly surged outward. Then he darted away like a nimble monkey, circling to Enel's flank in a flash and fixing the false god with a cold stare.
Ace rose like a sudden gust of wind, and just as Enel's technique failed and he prepared to transform into lightning to escape again, a long-absent booming voice rang out:
"Auntie! Prepare to meet your end!"
Ace released a roar that shook heaven and earth. His Conqueror's Haki was no longer restrained, transforming into an overwhelming wave that crashed down on Enel.
Then he opened his left hand into a claw shape, revealing a blazing flame that had been quietly building power in his palm—burning with shocking intensity despite its controlled appearance.
In that instant, Enel was filled with terror. He tried desperately to dodge but found his body seemingly restrained by an invisible force, his muscles refusing to respond effectively.
"Flame Commandment: Purgatory!"
Ace's eyes blazed like torches as he appeared beside Enel like a vengeful spirit. The flame in his hand erupted like an angry inferno, striking with overwhelming force.
A massive column of brilliant orange and white fire completely surrounded Enel at its core, rushing straight into the sky and connecting heaven and earth with a deafening roar.
Ace threw his entire being into the pillar of flames. With absolute focus, his punches and kicks reached their absolute limits of speed and power.
Each strike was faster and heavier than the last. Under Enel's desperate and helpless gaze, Ace dragged fiery afterimages through the air as if throwing countless punches in a single instant.
His assault was like a violent hurricane—swift and fierce as the collapse of heaven and earth itself, utterly unstoppable.
With Ace's ultimate technique unleashed at full power, the energy contained within the attack exploded completely. The dazzling light illuminated the world that was beginning to darken after sunset.
Then a silent, charred figure was launched from the ruins at incredible speed, falling toward the sacred land far below.
Deuce and the others could only watch in awe as the brilliant beam of light Ace had released shot straight into the heavens. The power of that attack resembled a small nuclear explosion, shocking everyone present and making their hearts race with its intensity.
The full-force assault caused the ruins beneath their feet to crack and tremble violently.
The entire island cloud foundation attached to the massive vine seemed torn apart by invisible forces. With Ace's technique as the epicenter, it began gradually disintegrating, slowly shattering and falling downward.
"Everyone get back to the vine!" Deuce shouted.
The spectators reacted instantly, immediately turning around and rushing toward the massive vine behind them.
At the critical moment, Kotatsu demonstrated lightning speed, helping everyone reach the vine's safety before the collapsing platform could claim them.
"Phew! Didn't get killed by enemies, but almost got taken out by friendly fire," Deuce muttered.
Listening to the tremendous crashes from below and feeling the powerful tremors as the ruins slammed into the ground, Deuce clung to Kotatsu while gently stroking the cat's head.
He'd been closest to the battlefield but farthest from the vine when the island cloud foundation beneath his feet had been destroyed. As he'd fallen with the collapsing debris, only Kotatsu's quick flight had saved him.
"Where's Ace?!" Skull's panicked scream cut through the rumbling sounds.
The others were startled and pressed against the vine, desperately searching for their friend through the swirling dust clouds.
Once the upper ruins had completely crashed onto Upper Yard's surface, everyone hurriedly slid down the vine, anxiously searching for Ace among the chaotic pile of rubble.
Soon, Kotatsu took the lead, flying toward a particular rock pile with Deuce on his back.
Just as they were about to call out, they heard muffled sounds coming from the stone heap Kotatsu had targeted.
Then an arm struggled free, and Ace's voice emerged from within the rubble: "Cough! I'm here!"
Finally, with everyone's concentrated efforts and determined digging, Ace was excavated from the ruins and saw daylight again.
Despite being battered and covered in cuts, Ace looked up at the darkening twilight sky, raised his clenched and wounded right fist high, and grinned at his gathered friends:
"Hey, I won! Also... I'm starving!"