NOVEL NEXT Chapter 137
Truthfully, given Enel's current level of fruit development, though he couldn't cause much trouble for Michael, a simple clash of power wouldn't have resolved things so easily.
Not to mention, Michael's goal wasn't to kill Enel but to take him away.
But here, the importance of personal knowledge became evident.
Enel, who had spent years messing around in White-White Sea, clearly had no idea about so-called Armament Haki or Observation Haki.
Even if he had awakened Observation Haki, he only referred to it by the local term 'Mantra'.
And in White-White Sea, the concept of Armament Haki didn't even exist.
So, there was no way he could have defended against Michael's move.
Before passing out, Enel was probably still sneering in his heart, thinking Michael's ordinary attack couldn't possibly harm his "divine body."
A simple gap in knowledge directly led to Michael's one-punch KO of Enel.
Hoisting Enel over his shoulder, Michael casually repaired the damaged part of the Island Cloud before silently flying away from Birka with Enel in tow.
He had no intention of disturbing this isolated place.
Though they were ignorant, for people without power, ignorance and isolation might just be a blessing.
"The white-winged god has saved us!"
"He took the demon away and restored our land!"
"He is the god of salvation and the earth!"
The people of Birka knelt and worshiped Michael until his figure vanished from their sight.
*****
"Honestly, this feeling… is pretty awkward," Michael chuckled awkwardly, tossing Enel onto the deck of the Seraphim Ship.
"Kneeling and calling me a god… If it were someone thick-skinned like Smoker, they might've just gone along with it."
"Dammit! Don't think I won't fight back just because you're the boss!" Smoker, being mocked by his respected superior and big brother, was somewhat heartbroken.
"Even if you beat me up, you'd still have to beg on your knees for me not to die!"
"Using the toughest tone to say the most cowardly words…" Hancock couldn't take it anymore.
"You really are something, Secondhand Smoke."
"...A twelve-year-old brat shouldn't be giving people such lung-piercing nicknames!"
Though the Seraphim Ship had plenty of noisy kids, there were also a few reliable adults aboard.
Issho was using his fruit ability to keep the ship afloat, while Hawkeye, Crocodile and Stella stepped forward.
"The legendary Rumble-Rumble Fruit? Judging by the destruction and speed just now, it lives up to its reputation," Crocodile remarked, sighing as she looked at Enel.
"Some people just have all the luck."
Though the Sand-Sand Fruit was also a Logia-type, compared to the Rumble-Rumble Fruit…
Well, some people were just born lucky.
"In that case, maybe we should… before he grows too powerful—"
Hawkeye spoke calmly, but his black blade "Yoru" was already raised, clearly ready to strike without another word.
Michael quickly stopped this cold-blooded killer.
Good grief!
He couldn't let this guy just chop up the subordinate he'd worked so hard to recruit!
"Stop, stop, stop, Hawkeye, you bastard! Don't just label him as an enemy right away!"
"This time on Skypiea, he's one of the two most important targets."
Hearing this, Hawkeye frowned but sheathed his black blade, Yoru.
This kid really meant what he said!.
If Michael told Hawkeye to stab him in the gut right now, the guy probably wouldn't hesitate.
What a stubborn fool.
"The Rumble-Rumble Fruit user… Leaving him stranded on Skypiea would indeed be a waste," Stella nodded.
"What's the other target?"
"Of course, it's Skypiea's specialty," Michael said, glancing at the endless expanse of the White-White Sea.
"Aside from all sorts of strange substances made of clouds, there's also the so-called 'Sky Dials'—the core technology of Skypiean civilization."
As he spoke, he pointed at the nearby Island Cloud.
"Stella, as the Cloud-Cloud Fruit user, don't forget to analyze these 'cloud' products. It'll greatly benefit your Devil Fruit development."
Stella nodded in understanding.
She had already started noticing it.
Beyond traditional clouds, if she could integrate the properties of "Island Clouds" into her abilities…
In other words, Stella could directly create artificial floating islands entirely under her control!
The strategic implications would be extraordinary!
Michael wasn't exaggerating when he said that even if Stella had zero combat ability, just her skill in creating artificial floating islands would make her a top-priority protected asset in the Marines.
Flight alone was a rare ability.
Mass flight had only been achieved by the Golden Lion's Flying Pirates.
And if Stella succeeded, she could drop an entire army from the sky!
Michael couldn't even imagine the possibilities—using this method to airdrop forces directly onto the Red Line!
The scene would be picture-perfect!
But for now, it was just a fantasy.
Everything depended on Stella's progress in developing her Devil Fruit after obtaining these "cloud" products.
"Hey, hey, hey—wake up." Michael patted Enel's cheek.
When there was no response, he coated his palm with another layer of Holy Light, then—
SMACK!
"Gah—!" Enel jolted upright!
Instinctively, he looked around and realized he was surrounded by a bunch of grinning weirdos.
Including the guy who'd knocked him out with some strange technique earlier!
And just as the dazed confusion hadn't fully faded, Crocodile and Hawkeye both raised their hands, instantly wrapping them in Armament Haki.
Trying to escape by turning into lightning?
Not happening.
"Enel, we're not here to hurt you. We don't want to."
"...If anyone else said that, I might believe them," Enel deadpanned, his expression lifeless.
"But you just beat me up and then say this? You think I'm an idiot?"
"Ahem, don't say that. I genuinely want to take you to the Blue Sea for an adventure," Michael shrugged.
"But before that, we need you to guide us..."
"Guide you? To where?" Enel looked down at the hand on his shoulder, swirling with purple-black Armament Haki, and sighed.
"Just so you know, I'm only familiar with the location of the so-called 'Land of Gods' and a bunch of wild sky islands."
"Exactly, we're heading to that so-called 'Land of Gods.' There's something we need there."
At just twenty years old, Enel possessed a quality even an eighty-year-old might lack...
A fear of death.
"Let me go, and I'll guide you."
"Relax, I'm not in the mood to run right now."
"Because compared to escaping, I'm more curious about what kind of chaos you'll stir up in the sky islands."
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