Buru… buru… The Den Den Mushi rang twice, then its face shifted into the likeness of a young man with long earlobes and a calm, almost lazy air.
"Satori, have you captured those Blue Sea people already?"
Enel's tone was casual, confident—he assumed the call meant victory.
"L-Lord Enel… we… we were defeated. It was those Blue Sea people who forced us to contact you."
"…What?" For a moment, Enel froze, then his voice thundered in rage. "You worthless trash!"
In his palace at Apayado, the self-proclaimed god's face twisted in fury. That his Four Priests had been defeated by outsiders—unthinkable!
Before the Den Den Mushi could respond, a new voice cut in. Buggy had taken the receiver.
"You're Enel, 'god' of Sky Island, right? Your pathetic lackeys are in my hands. Get to Lovely Avenue and face me. If you drag your feet, I'll kill them all and come find you myself."
And with that, Buggy slammed the call shut.
The words weren't meant to bargain—they were calculated to enrage Enel. Buggy doubted a man as arrogant as him would ever care for the lives of his subordinates. But with his pride challenged and his divinity mocked, Enel would have no choice but to come.
"Damn them… Blue Sea monkeys dare threaten a god?!"
In his palace, Enel smashed the Den Den Mushi to pieces. His attendants flinched in terror as his body dissolved into pure lightning, vanishing in a blinding flash.
Moments later, thunder rumbled across Sky Island. Buggy's eyes flickered up. He's here.
The others heard it too. All gazes turned skyward.
A blue-white glow ripped across the clouds and came to a halt above them. In that radiance, a youthful figure descended—long earlobes swinging, golden staff in hand, drums of thunder strapped to his back.
Buggy smirked. There was no mistake. This was Enel.
"You're Enel, huh? So it was you who sent these four useless lackeys after me."
Buggy's voice was sharp, mocking. He knew Enel's pride. To dominate this encounter, he had to be even more arrogant, more overwhelming, than the so-called god.
"Foolish Blue Sea monkey," Enel's voice crackled with wrath. "Do you even know who you're speaking to? I am god."
"Hahaha! You? A god? Don't make me laugh. You're just a Logia user who ate the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. In my eyes, you're nothing more than a slightly stronger insect."
The insult cut deep, but Buggy didn't stop—his goal was to provoke him to the limit. And it was working.
"You dare blaspheme?! Then suffer divine judgment!"
"Bring it on," Buggy taunted. "Your power is nothing to me. But I admit, your Devil Fruit is impressive. I'll give you this chance: if you lose, I won't kill you. Instead, you'll join me."
"HAHAHA! Such arrogance!"
Electricity surged wildly around Enel's body, the air sizzling and snapping. The thunder god was seconds away from striking.
Buggy only grinned. Good. Exactly as planned.
"Follow me," he said.
He turned his back, walking toward the shore. He didn't want their battle to tear apart Lovely Avenue or the Sky People's homes. This island would soon be his territory—he wasn't about to wreck it.
Enel, prideful as he was, followed without hesitation. He, too, would not desecrate his "kingdom" in battle.
Before long, the two stood on the wide, open beach.
"1,000,000 volts—Discharge!"
Enel struck first. His body blazed with thunder as a massive orb of lightning shot from his palm, roaring toward Buggy.
With a single swing of his blade, En'yō (Flame Sun), Buggy unleashed a crescent of flaming sword aura. It cleaved the lightning sphere neatly in half, scattering it harmlessly into sparks.
Enel's eyes widened. He had never seen such a power—energy that could slice lightning itself. Is he also a Devil Fruit user…?
"30,000,000 volts—Thunderbird!"
Beating his golden staff against the drums on his back, Enel summoned a gigantic bird of pure electricity, which screeched and dove at Buggy.
Buggy's eyes glinted with approval. He's developed his Rumble-Rumble Fruit this far at such a young age? Impressive. Against anyone else, he'd rival a Marine captain already.
But strength meant nothing here. Buggy swung his blade again.
"Thousand-Sun Slash!"
Dozens of flaming arcs split the sky, colliding with the Thunderbird. Lightning and fire clashed violently—until the fiery blades shredded the electric beast apart. Several continued through, streaking toward Enel.
"Impossible—!" Enel gasped. He reflexively turned into lightning, the sword aura passing harmlessly through his intangible form.
Then he laughed, arrogance surging back.
"HAHAHA! You see? I am a god! No mortal can harm me."
Buggy's smirk deepened. He sheathed En'yō, his body now coated head-to-toe in jet-black Armament Haki.
With a sharp step—Soru—he vanished.