BOOM!
Rumble...
Large chunks of rock, plates of earth, and the splintered remains of gigantic trees plummeted from the sky, crashing down and shaking the ground as if the world were ending.
Fortunately, the hurricane-force gusts of wind had blown most of the island debris outside the battlefield, with only a small portion falling within the combat zone. However, these were still massive objects dropping from hundreds or even a thousand meters up, and they were landing in a densely populated area. The terrifying force instantly crushed many soldiers to death, and the violent shockwaves killed countless more.
Shing!
A sharp flash of sword light sliced through a massive boulder as it descended from the sky, splitting it in two before it smashed into the ground.
"Damn it, I can't believe they're fighting so fiercely with that big shot!" Elroy held his longsword, his eyes fixed on the sky in a grave expression.
"You can't even begin to imagine Captain Aeridar's power!" On the other side, the monstrous-looking Vito scoffed at him.
"Tch, who do you think that man is? He's the one who nearly killed the Pirate King, the legendary Sky Pirate Golden Lion Shiki!" Elroy retorted with a look of disdain. "While I'll admit Aeridar is a monster, there are always bigger monsters out there in the world!"
"Then we'll just have to wait and see!" Vito didn't say anything more. Although he had heard that their captain's strength had recently increased, he had no confidence in the outcome. A person's name casts a shadow, after all.
"You'd better worry about yourself first! Dancing Stone!"
Suddenly, Pica's high-pitched voice rang out, and a huge, pointed stone pillar erupted from the ground right beneath Elroy's feet.
Shing!
But just before the pillar shot up, Elroy had already leaped back, swinging his sword forward. With a flash of light, the stone pillar, thick enough for three people to hug, was cleanly shattered into a pile of rubble. This was due to Elroy's incredible sword speed; what appeared to be a single flash of light was actually twenty-six slashes in that instant. The Speed-Speed Fruit's ability not only enhances movement but also attack speed.
With Pica's attack, the three were once again locked in combat. Elroy's Devil Fruit ability was more than enough for self-preservation, but it was impossible for him to defeat both Pica and Vito at the same time. As a result, their battle was a fierce stalemate from the very beginning, with neither side able to gain the upper hand.
"El Thor!"
On another part of the battlefield, blinding lightning flashed. A massive pillar of electricity descended from the heavens, instantly blasting a crater more than three meters wide into the ground. Even after the electricity dissipated, stray sparks continued to jump within the hole.
Swoosh!
BANG!
"Ugh..."
A figure flashed past, and Enel crumpled, spitting out a mouthful of crimson blood as he was sent flying. He rolled dozens of meters across the ground before transforming into a bolt of lightning and zipping back into the air.
BOOM!
Right behind him, Katrina stomped her foot, shattering the ground within a ten-meter radius and kicking up a huge cloud of dust and a terrifying gust of wind.
"60 Million Volts... Thunder Dragon!" Enel ignored the blood on his lips, tapping the two drums on his back in succession. A dazzling bolt of lightning burst forth, forming a massive, roaring dragon that plunged towards the woman below.
RUMBLE!
The horrifying lightning struck Katrina head-on.
"AHHHH!"
In the midst of the lightning, Katrina shrieked, her face twisted into a look of hysterical agony.
"You damned fool!" Enel gasped, wiping the blood from his mouth with a dark expression. "There is no good end for those who defy a 'God!'"
"You can't kill me! None of you can kill me! Armament Haki... Crimson Wrapping!"
Suddenly, Katrina shrieked from within the lightning, a black and crimson aura engulfing her body. With a swing of her arms, she forcefully shattered the lightning that had been surrounding her!
"What?!" Enel's eyes went wide, his face filled with shock. "How is that possible?"
BOOM!
Katrina, her entire body scorched black, stomped the ground and shot into the sky. "Die, you scumbag who deserves a thousand cuts!"
The earth trembled, leaving only a patch of cracked ground behind.
"Damn it! Thunderforge!" Enel's expression turned ruthless as he unleashed a powerful current of high-voltage electricity, melting the golden staff he held in his hand. The immense heat effortlessly liquefied the gold, which he then shaped into a three-pronged staff.
"Die!"
Enel swung his still-glowing hot golden staff, thrusting it towards Katrina.
"You're the one who's going to die!"
The rapidly ascending Katrina quickly closed the distance. Her left hand, hardened with Busoshoku Haki, seized the golden staff.
Sssssss...
The sound of meat sizzling on a griddle filled the air. The intense heat from the golden staff made the left hand she was using to grab it smoke and even give off the smell of burning flesh.
But with her face still twisted in a look of crazy defiance, Katrina slammed her right fist directly into Enel's chest.
BANG!
With a dull thud, a terrifying force slammed into Enel's body. The searing pain reminded him of the time Aeridar had struck him; his mind went completely blank for a moment, and his chest caved in. A mouthful of blood shot out.
"I am a... 'God!'" Forcing himself to regain his senses, Enel snarled through a mouth full of blood.
"100 Million Volts... Discharge!"
Zzzzzzzzzz! Zzzzzzzz!
In an instant, a horrifying current traveled from the golden staff and into Katrina's body. The lightning erupted in a dazzling flash, and arcs of electricity danced in the surrounding air.
"AHHHHHHH!"
Katrina shrieked in agony as the terrifying current surged through her skin, blood, nerves, and bones. Every inch of her body was filled with lightning, and her face was contorted into a mask of pure suffering.
"Katrina!" Ward watched the massive ball of lightning in the air in shock, but the brilliant light made him squint, forcing him to shield his eyes with his hand.
The intense lightning continued for several seconds before slowly dissipating.
THUD!
At the same moment, Enel and Katrina both fell from the sky, crashing to the ground.
Enel lay sprawled on his back, a deep, bloody fist-print on his chest. His breastbone was likely cracked, and his internal organs may have been damaged. As for Katrina, she was completely charred black, no longer looking human, but rather like a block of charcoal that gave off a slight scent of cooked meat and burning.
"Katrina, huh... Very well, this God... will remember that name!" Enel muttered, blood still trickling from the corner of his mouth.
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