Chapter 79: Awakening!

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"Why?"

Raki stared blankly at Ace's gentle smile, a blush spreading across her wild and pretty face.

"What? Didn't you say you wanted to come to the Blue Sea with us?"

Ace continued, "My Observation Haki—the same ability to sense things that Aisha has—tells me you're a talented chef. And as it happens, I'm short of one on the ship. What do you say? Join us and come to the Blue Sea."

Ace looked at her with a playful smile.

"I, I just…"

Raki's face turned even redder, trying to explain that what she had said earlier was born out of frustration and anger. But as she gazed at Ace's gentle expression, she found herself unable to form the words.

Her eyes drifted to her fellow Shandians. Wyper's face was twisted in silent rage, still grappling with the humiliation of watching Enel, the invincible "god," be brought down with a single punch from the man he hated. He was struggling with the collapse of his pride. Braham, Kamakiri, and Genbo also remained silent, none of them expressing any desire to stop her. Disappointment flickered in Raki's eyes.

Looking back at Ace's warm smile, Raki bit her lip. In her darkest moment, Ace had been a beacon of hope, saving her from despair. Perhaps, going to the Blue Sea wasn't such a bad idea after all.

Raki lifted her head.

"Raki…"

Aisha's small hand held hers tightly, and her face was filled with sadness.

"Are you really going to leave for the Blue Sea?"

Raki hesitated. "I…"

She opened her mouth, but the words wouldn't come.

"Don't feel pressured, Raki."

Raki's eyes widened as she looked up at Ace's kind smile, warm like the sun.

"You're welcome on my ship at any time until we leave Sky Island," Ace reassured her. "If you want to see the land, the islands of the Blue Sea, and pursue your own life, you're free to come with us. Follow your heart and decide what's best for you."

Ace's gentle smile never wavered.

Nami, Kaya, Vivi, Nojiko, and Tashigi all smiled brightly, understanding Ace's nature. He always supported their dreams and the paths they choose to follow, treating them with the same kindness he was now showing to Raki. The other girls were eager to welcome her aboard, especially after witnessing Raki's courage in standing up to Wyper for Ace.

Conis, too, watched Ace with admiration in her eyes. He was both fierce and kind, an ally anyone would be lucky to have. Her thoughts lingered on Ace's strong yet gentle demeanor, her feelings stirring. Even Robin, with her calm composure, felt her heart ripple as she watched Ace.

"Ace…" Raki murmured softly, gazing at him with warmth in her eyes.

"I'll make my decision before you leave Sky Island," Raki finally said, touching Aisha's head gently to calm her.

"Alright, I'll wait for you," Ace replied with a smile. His eyes briefly flickered with a strange red glow as he turned his attention to the horizon.

"Now, it's time to finish this hunt."

Ace's voice was calm as he raised his gaze to the distance.

"That… that's…"

Gan Fall's eyes widened in disbelief at the sight before him.

A massive ship was rising into the sky, its propellers spinning. A large part of the ship was made of gold, gleaming brightly in the sunlight.

"Enel!" Gan Fall exclaimed, his expression tightening as he recognized the figure aboard the ship.

"Gold! So much gold!" Nami gasped, her eyes gleaming as she stared at the dazzling ship.

"Could it be… the legendary Golden City of Shandora, mentioned in Norland's journal, really was brought here with the island of Gaya?" Robin asked, taking out Noland's diary, her eyes trembling with excitement. The sight of the ship filled her with wonder.

There was no gold naturally found on Sky Island. It could only have been carried here along with Gaya when it was launched into the sky. The only place with such vast amounts of gold was the Golden City of Shandora, described in Noland's journal. A once-grand civilization, long lost to history, had truly existed!

As Robin marveled at the discovery, Ace gently placed a hand on her shoulder.

"When this is all over, I'll help you find Shandora," Ace promised, smiling warmly.

Robin's eyes softened as she looked at Ace, waves of emotion swelling in her heart. This warmth, this feeling of trust and safety, was something she hadn't experienced since the tragedy of Ohara. Pursing her lips, she smiled and nodded.

"Yes!" she replied, her smile radiant.

The other girls couldn't help but notice, all turning to look at her.

"Nami, do you like that gold?" Ace asked, still holding Robin's hand.

"Like? I love it!" Nami's eyes sparkled, practically turning into Berries at the sight.

"Good," Ace laughed, "then in addition to the Thunder Fruit, the gold is also yours, my navigator."

Ace moved forward confidently.

"What a commanding presence…" Gan Fall muttered in awe, watching Ace as if he had already claimed Enel's ship and all the gold it carried. The man who had once brought despair to all of Skypiea now seemed insignificant in the face of Ace's strength.

Raki's eyes lingered on Ace's back. A man so powerful, yet so gentle with the women who followed him, supporting their dreams and desires. In stark contrast, Wyper and the others had risked everything, even their comrades' lives, just to relight the Sandora Lamp.

Raki had always carried the duty of a Shandian warrior, and she too wanted to relight the Lamp. But there had to be a line. How could anyone be so indifferent to the lives of their comrades?

"Ace, you're incredible!" Nami cried out happily, waving her hands with excitement. But then, she noticed the sly looks from the other girls.

"Did you just take the chance to confess your feelings, Nami?" Nojiko teased with a grin.

Nami's face flushed red, but before she could protest, she shot a look at Nojiko and the others.

"Hmph! You're one to talk! All of you snuck into Ace's room back in Alabasta!"

"W-What?!"

Nojiko, Kaya, Vivi, and Tashigi's faces turned a deep shade of crimson.

"I-I was just…"

Tashigi stammered, flustered.

"Oh? So, what happened then?" Nami smirked, her expression devilish.

Tashigi's face turned an even brighter red, completely tongue-tied.

Robin chuckled softly, covering her mouth as she watched the playful bickering. The warmth and camaraderie in the group brought a smile to her face. It was a feeling she hadn't experienced in so long—one of belonging.

"Ahem, alright, the battle's about to start," Nojiko interrupted, trying to divert attention and save Tashigi from further embarrassment.

The women quickly refocused on the scene ahead.

"Bah!"

The sound of thunder crackling filled the air as Enel, now standing atop his ship, exuded a terrifying aura of lightning. The Ark Maxim's massive propellers roared, billowing black clouds into the sky.

"Damn you, blue sea scum! Witness the true power of the Thunder Fruit!" Enel bellowed, his bloodshot eyes locked on Ace.

"It's all your fault!" Enel seethed. "You forced me to activate the Ark Maxim before it was fully completed!"

Though the Ark's general structure was ready, the most critical aspect—ensuring long-term flight—had yet to be solved. In its current state, the Ark Maxim could only remain airborne for short periods and create thunderclouds using the Thunder Fruit, but it wasn't yet capable of flying to the endless land Enel dreamed of.

By using the Ark prematurely, Enel had set back its completion. But now, as he prepared to summon thunder and lightning to obliterate everything on Angel Island, further progress on the Ark would have to wait. To Enel, however, it would all be worth it if he could just eliminate this man from the Blue Sea!

Enel continued pushing his Thunder Fruit abilities to the limit, stimulating his heart and kidneys to keep his body moving despite his injuries. His bloodshot eyes burned with the desire for victory. He would bury this Blue Sea man along with Angel Island, and if he needed to, he could always find another Sky Island to finish his Ark. As long as he won this battle, he could still be the invincible god he believed himself to be!

"BOOM! CRACKLE!"

Enel spread his arms, and the full power of the Thunder Fruit surged forth. The thunderclouds expanded rapidly, blanketing the entire sky over Angel Island within minutes. Between the clouds, streaks of lightning slithered like serpents, crackling with immense energy.

"Damn you, blue sea scum! You think you can just look down on me?!"

Now that his thunderclouds were fully formed, Enel felt a momentary relief. Ace's earlier display of power—where he had completely controlled Enel's movements and bypassed his mantra—had left a deep scar on the self-proclaimed god's psyche. Throughout the entire process of creating the thunderclouds, Enel had kept his mantra heightened, ready to elementalize at a moment's notice, fearing Ace might appear in front of him at any second.

But Ace had simply watched. He hadn't intervened, letting Enel complete his thunderclouds without resistance. This mixture of relief and shame infuriated Enel.

Ace was treating him the same way Enel had treated the Shandians: as if he were a non-threat. The insult was unbearable. Did this Blue Sea man think he was as weak as those Shandian rebels? Enel gritted his teeth, the metallic taste of blood in his mouth. No one had ever humiliated him like this.

"Fine," Enel spat through his rage. "Once my thunderclouds are ready, I'll bury Angel Island, Upper Yard, and you, bastards, all at once!"

Raising his hands, Enel channeled the power of the Thunder Fruit once more.

"BOOM!!!"

The sky erupted as lightning snakes began descending from the clouds, striking the ground and forest below in a torrent of destruction.

"How do you like that, Blue Sea scum? This is the true power of the Thunder Fruit combined with the Ark Maxim! I'll bury you and all the people of Angel Island together!" Enel howled with laughter, relishing the chaos.

"Damn it…" Wiper clenched his fists, watching the lightning rain down. Enel didn't even regard him as a threat, treating him like a mere insect. It was hard to believe this same Enel had been floored by Ace's punch earlier. But looking up at the god-like figure on the Ark, Wiper could still see the blood and dislocated bones—evidence of the battle's toll on Enel.

"Is... is this really Enel's power?" Gan Fall, the former god of Sky Island, muttered in disbelief. His body trembled as he watched the scene unfold. Enel hadn't even used a fraction of this strength when he'd taken over Angel Island. Only now, faced with the raw fury of the Thunder Fruit, did Gan Fall truly understand how dangerous this power was.

But the reaction from Nami and the other girls was different. Unlike Gan Fall, they weren't trembling or fearful. In fact, they seemed almost fascinated by the display.

"This is incredible! So, this is the power of the Thunder Fruit!" Nami remarked, her eyes wide with interest rather than fear.

Vivi smiled at her. "Once you've eaten the Thunder Fruit, Nami, you'll be the second strongest in our crew."

Nami beamed. "I'll protect you all, don't worry!"

Gan Fall, watching the girls' calm demeanor in the face of Enel's attack, couldn't help but feel confused. Their confidence wasn't misplaced—it was because of the man standing before them. Ace gave them that strength, the belief that no matter how fearsome Enel's power appeared, it was nothing in the face of their captain.

Raki and Conis, gazing at Ace as he calmly strolled through the lightning, had similar thoughts. His strength was matched only by his gentleness and reliability. He truly embodied the spirit of the KING.

"BOOM!"

Ace casually raised a hand, dispersing a bolt of lightning that had been aimed at him. He looked up at the endless thunderclouds and smirked.

"Do you know why I didn't stop you from creating those clouds, Enel?"

Ace's body ignited, transforming into a blazing inferno as he shot into the sky, positioning himself directly above Enel.

Hearing those words, Enel felt a chill of panic. What did this Blue Sea man mean? Had he allowed him to finish his thunderclouds on purpose?

"Your Ark Maxim simulates a fraction of the power of a Logia Devil Fruit awakening, so you've served some use, Enel."

Ace's entire body began to burn with even more intense flames, the heat distorting the air. In the face of such searing power, the once-terrifying lightning began to recede.

"Awakening? Devil Fruits can awaken?"

Enel's heart raced as he struggled to understand. He had never heard of such a thing. But the dread in his gut only grew stronger.

Ace smiled. "Since you've worked so hard to build the Ark Maxim, I'll reward you by showing you the true power of an awakened Devil Fruit."

The sky around Ace blazed as his flames surged higher. "Mera Mera no Mi... Awakened!"

A wave of terrifying heat and energy erupted from Ace, pushing back the thunderclouds themselves.