So those lightning bolts… weren't summoned by my god?!
Gedatsu, Ohm, and Shura barely had time for that single thought before the bolts crashed down on them.
Lightning forged through the Path was on a completely different level—something the three of them had no way to resist.
Even with the absurd toughness people in this world could have…
the three priests were instantly scorched into charcoal.
The thunderous boom also startled Ohm's pet dog awake.
The moment it saw its master—now nothing but a blackened husk—the dog nearly pissed itself.
It stared wide-eyed at Conis and Arton, terrified they'd turn it into charcoal next.
"Stop staring and get out of here," Arton said, waving a hand at it. "And don't follow bad guys anymore."
The dog visibly relaxed—then immediately spun around and bolted for the distance without a second thought.
Too scary… scarier than Enel.
That was the dog's only coherent thought as it fled.
…
Meanwhile, Enel himself was staring with eyes blown wide.
As someone hypersensitive to lightning, there was no way he wouldn't notice what Conis had just done.
He'd assumed her ability was simply to summon that strange electric guitar—he never imagined she could use it to call down lightning.
And judging by the feel of it… that lightning was no joke.
"Impossible. Absolutely impossible…!" Enel muttered, shaking his head hard. "In this world, I'm the only one who can control lightning! How can that woman control it?!"
Shock and rage filled his chest.
He was about to go confront Conis directly—demand answers—when his gaze snapped to the guitar in her hands.
Wait. Not necessarily.
Maybe she isn't controlling the lightning.
Maybe the thing controlling it… is the object she's holding. His heartbeat kicked up. If I can use that… wouldn't I become even stronger?!
But the excitement only lasted a few seconds before his expression twisted.
"That thing… looks like an instrument," he muttered. "If it summons lightning, then you probably have to play a specific kind of music…"
Enel rubbed his temples, increasingly annoyed.
A weapon this powerful—and he couldn't even use it.
After a few moments of stewing, he arrived at the only conclusion that made sense in his head.
Then I'll have to learn from her.
"…Fine," Enel said coldly. "I'll make that woman my subordinate first. Then she can teach me."
He huffed.
"Being allowed to instruct a god like me… will be her honor."
If Arton could've heard Enel's thoughts right now, he would've been clutching his stomach laughing.
Because Enel's plan was just that ridiculous.
Having figured it out, Enel didn't rush over.
A god had to keep up appearances. Rather than him going to find Conis, it was obviously better if Conis came to him.
So Enel leaned back into his seat again, calm as ever, and waited.
As for Arton? At this moment, Enel's attention wasn't even on him anymore.
Chapter 584: Wyper and Gan Fall Show Up—And Both Look Annoyed
No matter what, Enel could never have imagined that compared to Conis—who could now manipulate lightning—
Arton was the real headache.
By the time Enel realized it, there wouldn't be any take-backs to buy.
Conis turned around, practically glowing. "Captain Arton—I did it."
"Yeah. I saw," Arton said with a satisfied nod. "You did great, Conis."
He was genuinely pleased—not just that she could wield her new power, but that after her first real fight and first real kills… she didn't show any weird hesitation or breakdown.
Maybe Conis had been a natural-born fighter all along. She'd just never had the environment—or the chance—to bring that talent out.
"Captain Arton… do we keep moving?" Conis took a steadying breath and stepped closer, her voice calm but excited. "After beating the four priests, I think… I can face Enel."
"At least, I'm not nearly as nervous as I was."
"Mm-hm. Definitely." Arton smiled. "How about you carry me the rest of the way?"
As he said it, his gaze drifted over Conis's back—lingering, in particular, on those tiny little wings.
Honestly, they were kind of adorable. Paired with her sweet face, it just worked.
"Sure," Conis said immediately, already turning to present her back.
Then she froze—remembering certain illustrations she'd seen.
In some of those scenes… the moment she turned around like this, Arton would just choose to become one with her on the spot.
He's not seriously thinking about doing that right now… right? Conis thought, her cheeks tinting pink.
But then Arton chuckled and gave her shoulder a light pat.
"Relax. I'm kidding," he said. "With that many people around, I'm not about to make you give me a piggyback."
He glanced toward a patch of trees in the distance.
With his Observation Haki, he could clearly see Nami, Robin, and the others who'd arrived.
But it looked like they were deliberately staying hidden—letting Conis handle Enel's side of things on her own.
Arton smiled, then shifted his attention to a different clump of brush.
Conis blinked as Arton suddenly started counting down under his breath.
"Captain Arton… what is it?" she asked.
"Nothing big," Arton said casually. "Just… two more groups showed up."
As if to prove him right—
Wyper, the Shandian Berserker, burst out of the trees with a band of Shandian warriors at his back.
At the same time, Gan Fall swooped down from the sky.
Both sides saw Arton, Conis, and the four priests lying dead on the ground and both instantly stopped in their tracks, shock written all over their faces.
They clearly wanted to rush in and demand answers.
But Wyper remembered the earlier clash with Arton's crew—and he saw Gan Fall standing right there, someone the Shandians hated.
So Wyper didn't step forward.
And Gan Fall, with the Shandians suddenly present, also fell into a tense silence.
...
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