Chapter 121

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Lightning bolts charged with a destructive aura continuously fell around him. Zyhark was tense all over, pushing his Observation Haki and physical speed to the limit as he navigated through this terrifying thunderstorm.

Aqua's bad luck was beyond imagination. Just as they left the relatively safe area, the thunderclouds in the sky became agitated, with lightning strikes far exceeding normal conditions, almost drowning Zyhark completely!

Even Enel and his group, who had arrived at the oasis first, were frightened by the overwhelming lightning storm.

If the lightning had been this intense earlier, they would have had almost no chance of getting through and would have been reduced to ashes in an instant!

The participants who had returned to safety with Gross felt fortunate about their decision, grateful they had avoided the terrifying trial.

"So this is the true state of the Trial of the Gods? It's exactly as the legends describe—something no ordinary human can withstand…"

Like everyone else, Gross was deeply troubled, believing the agitation of the thunderclouds was the will of the god of Birka.

In a way, it truly was a supernatural phenomenon caused by a "god."

Just ridiculous!

"Can Mr. Zyhark really get through this?" Gross kept a close eye on Zyhark's rapid movements through the lightning.

As a native of Birka, he hoped one of his people would gain the god's power. But now, everyone was scared back by the sudden lightning, leaving only Enel's group.

Between these malicious individuals and the honest merchant—no, the upright blue sea person, Zyhark—Gross preferred Zyhark to inherit the god's power!

In the midst of the storm, Zyhark had only one thought:

Damn that idiot goddess, if I die because of her, she owes me a Pirate King. No, a King of the World!

Sensing the intense killing intent from above, Aqua, lying in Zyhark's arms, was terrified. She grabbed her goddess staff and frantically bestowed all sorts of blessings upon him.

With a further burst of speed, Zyhark narrowly escaped the lightning zone just before being struck, landing safely on the green grass plain.

Facing the blooming flowers and warm winds, with the storm behind him, the difference between life and death was just a single step!

"To survive such lightning, you blue sea person, have impressed me," Enel's voice came from ahead as Zyhark set Aqua down, barely catching his breath.

Behind Enel, four priests stood either on thick tree trunks, against massive vines, or with their hands on their weapons, forming a semi-circle, clearly ready for a fight.

Upon reaching the oasis, they didn't rush forward but stayed on the outskirts, lying in wait to eliminate other participants.

Here, without the protection of the guards, there would be no hindrance to whatever they did.

Rather than competing with others, it was far safer to eliminate all participants!

And that was their main goal for moving first!

"Not bad, at least better than you guys," Zyhark said emotionlessly, gripping the hilts of his swords.

Without the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Enel posed little threat to him. Even with the four priests, they could be dispatched with a few Cliffside Blades.

"Yes, Zyhark! If we take them down, we'll pass this trial, right?" Aqua's eyes lit up, her clenched fist bursting with divine flames.

The idiot goddess was finally being smart.

With both sides ready to fight, the atmosphere turned deadly silent.

Enel stared at Zyhark, gripping his swords, and Aqua, wielding flames. After recalling their swift movements through the lightning, he hesitated, then waved his hand, signaling the priests to stand down.

"Forget it. Without participants, the Trial of the Gods would be dull."

The strength these two blue sea people showed exceeded his expectations. To be safe, he chose peace.

Unlike other Sky Islanders with Mantra, Enel could vaguely sense a mysterious voice, which he believed to be the god's guidance, convincing him he was destined to be a god!

Entering the oasis, the mysterious voice became clearer, guiding him to the god's power.

So there was no need to risk a deadly fight with these two unknown blue sea people.

"Huh? Are you cowards running away? If you're scared, you can surrender, you know!" Aqua taunted as Enel and his group turned to leave.

Enel paused but restrained his anger, moving swiftly with his wind shell, disappearing into the dense forest.

"Zyhark, they really ran!" Aqua urged, "Let's catch up and finish them off to win the trial!"

"Aqua, no need to rush." Zyhark calmly observed Enel's tracks. "As I planned, if the god's power is indeed the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, letting Enel lead us is the most efficient way."

The oasis was vast, almost like a small island, with every giant tree bearing bizarre fruits.

Without a record of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit in the Devil Fruit encyclopedia from Smoker, finding it among these fruits would take ages!

"We just need to follow them and act at the right time. Do you have any magic to hide our presence?" Zyhark asked.

"Hmph, my goddess presence is like a beacon in the night, a symbol of my status and glory. Why would I hide it just to follow some idiots? That would be compromising with some stinky god!"

"So, you can do it."

"No."

"Two bottles of premium wine."

"Happy to serve!"

...

With their presence concealed, Zyhark and Aqua quickly followed Enel's trail.

To be safe, Zyhark kept his Observation Haki active, preparing to strike Enel with a Cliffside Blade the moment he reached for the fruit.

Stalking Enel like a stalker, about half an hour later, after dealing with a few beasts from the forest, Enel's team slowed down and stopped under a giant tree.

Feeling the mysterious voice in his Mantra grow stronger, Enel, unable to contain his excitement, decided to eat a fruit to calm down.

He looked up at a blue fruit resembling an apple hanging from a branch. With a flick of his custom cloud staff, he knocked it down, catching it as it fell back into his hand.

"A fruit I've never seen before. Wonder how it tastes?"

Enel was about to take a bite when a blinding red light erupted from the white island cloud beneath him, and a magma pillar burst out!

"What?!"

Enel and the priests were startled by the sudden attack. Although their Mantra sensed the danger, the magma pillar appeared too quickly. Just as they started to evade, the energy reached its peak.

Boom!

A massive explosion echoed through the quiet forest, and the scorching energy swept over the startled Enel and his priests.

In the smoky center of the explosion, the blue apple Enel had held flew out, making a beautiful arc in the air before landing precisely in Zyhark's hand.

After several practices, he had mastered the power and angle of the Cliffside Blade, avoiding a mishap that would vaporize the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

"Finally got it, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit."

Holding the blue apple, Zyhark couldn't help but sigh.

"Wait, Zyhark, didn't you say we'd wait until they almost passed the trial before attacking? Why expose ourselves for this fruit?"

Aqua blinked her blue eyes, puzzled.

"This is the symbol of passing the trial."

Seeing Aqua still confused, Zyhark decided to take a bite of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.

Initially, he planned to give the fruit to King or Meowth to boost their team's combat power in the simplest way.

But influenced by Aqua or linked to the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, the storm outside the oasis became more violent, leaving no room to dodge.

To leave the lightning-surrounded oasis, eating the Rumble-Rumble Fruit to become "god" was the only way.

Maybe the Trial of the Gods was more than just a Birka legend?

For now, Zyhark couldn't find a clear answer.

All could be explored after eating the fruit!

With that, Zyhark took a decisive bite of the blue apple.

Sweet juice burst in his mouth, spreading through his nerves, greatly stimulating his taste buds.

The soft flesh was as delightful as cotton candy. Chewing more, deeper flavors emerged, lingering even after swallowing.

Zyhark hadn't tasted such a superb fruit in a long time. As he was about to savor another bite, he suddenly paused.

Wait, wait!

Does a Devil Fruit taste this good?

Standing still for a few seconds without feeling any sign of fruit power, Zyhark realized something. He dropped the blue apple, which landed with a thud.

Aqua was right. This was just an ordinary, unimpressive fruit!

Realizing this, Zyhark's face twitched with embarrassment as he looked at the crater from the Cliffside Blade.

Ahem, Enel, my bad. Can you please come out and continue the trial as if nothing happened?

Aqua, puzzled by Zyhark's actions, picked up the apple and started eating it, praising its taste while asking, "What are we supposed to do now, Zyhark?"

What's next?

Zyhark had no immediate answer.

He could only hope Enel was still alive to lead the way.

With a sigh, he approached the crater to check on Enel's group.

But as he reached the edge, he was shocked by what he saw.

In the collapsed island cloud, there was a spacious underground chamber!

Through the dim light, he saw neatly paved bricks and strange, thick-lined murals.

The murals depicted winged Sky Islanders, peculiar little robots, and an airship with oars along its sides…

The unique murals and carvings gave Zyhark a sense of déjà vu.

Wasn't this the ancient ruin Enel found on the moon in the original story?

How did it end up here?!

Recalling Enel's lightning activating the Sky Island robots in the original story, a shocking thought struck Zyhark.

Without overthinking, he leaped into the crater, landing on the underground floor.

Looking around, he saw the unconscious priests lying scattered, their clothes torn.

But Enel was nowhere to be seen!

"Hahaha! So you're the one calling me, containing the power of the gods, who knew you'd be such a strange-looking fruit!"

An arrogant voice came from not far away.

Zyhark looked up and saw the injured Enel on a moss-covered altar through a narrow passage.

In front of him was a spiky, golden fruit resembling a durian.

That was the real Rumble-Rumble Fruit!

(End of Chapter)