Chapter 138: Breaking the star rating, raising the banner!

A Mighty Roar!

As the sun rose over Sky Island, the residents began their daily routines. Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed from afar, shaking the very sky. Lightning filled the heavens, and a massive, shadowy figure blotted out the sun.

"What... what is that?" 

The residents of Sky Island froze in their tracks, eyes fixed on the distant sky. In that moment, a bolt of lightning lit up their faces, followed by a thunderous crash that sounded like a meteorite hitting the earth, accompanied by a faint, indistinct cry.

"Is this really Sky Island?"

Riding on a giant eagle, Cricket and his two brothers had just crossed the White Sea, barely having time to adjust to the thin air when the strange phenomenon in the sky caught their attention. Above their heads, it seemed as if two gods were battling, turning the sky into a tempest of lightning and thunder, with the earth trembling beneath them.

...

In the skies above the White Sea, a terrifying battle between gods was indeed unfolding.

With a deep, resonant cry, the colossal form of Eevee suddenly descended from the sky. It landed on the hard marble floor with a resounding thud, yet the ground remained unscathed. Across from Eevee stood Thundurus, now awakened to its divine beast form, panting heavily. Despite its exhaustion and the flickering of its diminishing energy, it continued to radiate a fierce blue electric light, ready to face off against the giant Eevee once more.

Behind Thundurus, Enel, also breathing heavily and battered from the confrontation, looked on in disbelief. His body was swollen, bruised as if he had been thoroughly thrashed.

"Why...?"

Confusion clouded Enel's face as he stared at Eevee. Despite transforming into pure lightning, why hadn't he been able to dodge Eevee's attack? Unaware that the power of Armament Haki could neutralize the abilities of his Devil Fruit, Enel was left with a gnawing question.

He had hoped to assist Thundurus in battle, but moments ago, if Eevee hadn't held back and retracted most of its power, a single Shadow Ball could have easily knocked him unconscious.

Enel, who had always relied heavily on his Devil Fruit powers, found himself hopelessly outmatched against an opponent like Eevee, who had mastered Armament Haki. 

Though he had anticipated Pokémon to be powerful, he never imagined they could be this overwhelming. Both Thundurus and Eevee now seemed like insurmountable obstacles, shaking Enel's confidence.

Despite possessing the power to destroy islands, Enel's true strength was far from reaching the level of the world's top fighters. His reliance on his devil fruit's abilities had become his greatest weakness, causing his combat prowess to plummet. While he could discharge electricity from a distance, once confronted by a master of Armament Haki up close, he could only endure a beating.

In essence, Enel was now akin to a magician: his magical attacks reached a level just below that of an Admiral, but his physical attack and defense were still on par with a pirate of a billion-berry bounty.

Moreover, Thundurus's performance in battle far exceeded Enel's expectations. He could hardly believe that there existed a creature in the world who understood thunder and lightning better than he did.

He had thought himself the sole god of thunder, the ultimate wielder of lightning, but Thundurus's power was several times greater than his own!

"Are you surprised?"

As Enel wrestled with the realization of Pokémon's power, Leo, seeing that Enel no longer intended to intervene in the battle between Thundurus and Eevee, approached with a knowing smile.

He pointed at Thundurus, still clashing with Eevee, and said with a chuckle, "After all, it's a legendary Pokémon. Even in this world, few can match its power."

"What!?" Enel gasped in disbelief. "There are others in our world as powerful as Thundurus!?"

Understanding that by "this world," Leo referred to their current world, Enel was even more shocked. It was one thing to be outclassed by Pokémon from another realm, but to think that there were beings in this world on par with Thundurus was something he found hard to accept.

Yet, the truth was undeniable.

At this moment, Enel was like a frog at the bottom of a well, gifted but narrow-minded. Leo, seeing this, realized it was time to broaden Enel's horizons, to show him the vastness and power of the world beyond.

"Of course," Leo nodded with a smile, continuing, "And there are many who surpass even Eevee..."

"What!?" Enel's eyes widened, incredulous.

Just then, Gigantamax Eevee delivered a crushing blow, sending Thundurus reeling. The sheer force was like a mountain crashing down, nearly knocking Thundurus out cold.

At their level, even a slight difference in power was immense, let alone the seven levels of strength that separated Thundurus from Eevee. The power of the Seven could not be underestimated.

Enel, who had once believed himself to be the ultimate god of thunder, now faced the harsh truth: he was not the god, but merely a pretender among giants.

As he witnessed the terrifying might that could overturn mountains and seas, Enel's heart was filled with a whirlwind of emotions, even leading him to question his own worth. Fortunately, Leo stepped in at that moment to reassure him.

"There's no need to feel inferior, Enel," Leo said, his voice calm and steady. "There is always a sky beyond the sky, and there are always people stronger than oneself."

Seeing through Enel's inner turmoil, Leo continued with an elegant smile, "You were once arrogant, but now that you've seen true power, I trust you understand how to proceed in the future."

"In my eyes, your future extends far beyond this world..."

"After our transaction, breaking through the limits of this world is only a matter of time for you. Your gaze must reach toward a more distant horizon!" 

"Remember, your goal is to become a [god]!"

"My future self... Can I really surpass this world?"

Leo's words struck a chord with Enel, and for a moment, his expression was one of doubt. But that doubt quickly turned into steely determination. The insecurity he had felt moments before melted away, replaced by a newfound clarity.

Enel exhaled deeply, his eyes shining with resolve once more. If anyone else had said this, he wouldn't have believed them. But coming from Leo, he had absolute faith.

Am I really this powerful? 

The thought ignited something within Enel, restoring his confidence and returning him to his former self, the God of Sky Island.

Seeing the change in Enel's demeanor, Leo nodded in approval. "I wouldn't lie to you."

Indeed, with Enel's talent, he had the potential to break free from this world. Although not as extraordinary as Luffy or Ace, who were blessed with exceptional lineage and destiny, Enel's island-destroying abilities and broad Observation Haki ranked him among the top talents in the world of pirates.

Now, he just needed an opportunity to grow, and Leo was holding the key to that very opportunity.

Leo's eyes gleamed as he continued, "The power that Eevee just used on you is called Armament Haki. It's an ability that anyone in this world can develop."

He paused, then added, "Not only does it enhance attack and defense, but its most crucial function…" Leo's voice grew more intense, "...is that it can nullify Devil Fruit abilities."

"Nullify Devil Fruit abilities?" Enel was taken aback.

Although Enel lived isolated from the broader world, he was well aware that his power stemmed from the Devil Fruit he consumed when he was a child. After becoming the God of Skypiea, he also learned that this was a Devil Fruit, a rare and mystical item from the Blue Sea.

Enel knew that Devil Fruits granted various extraordinary abilities, but this was the first time he had heard of a power that could directly counteract them. Watching as Eevee stomped on Thundurus, Enel's keen Observation Haki sensed a distinct energy surrounding Eevee.

"Could that be… Armament Haki?" Enel murmured to himself, astonished. He had never known about this power before, but Leo's explanation made him realize that the dark, armor-like energy enveloping Eevee was indeed Armament Haki.

Leo couldn't help but inwardly marvel, 'This Enel really has remarkable potential. He'd make a fantastic 'worker'!'

Pushing the thought aside, Leo picked up where Enel left off, saying, "Yes, this is Armament Haki. In the Blue Sea, nearly every strong fighter possesses this power."

As Eevee delivered a powerful blow to Thundurus, enveloped in Haki, Leo activated his "cheat mode," turning his gaze upward as though he could see through the atmosphere to the stars beyond. He sighed as he spoke to Enel, "I must admit, even among the countless worlds I've encountered, the Armament Haki of this world stands out as an exceptional power."

"Not long ago, I compiled a training manual and extensive notes on this ability, intending to submit them to the headquarters of the Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce so that this incredible power could spread across multiple worlds."

Leo paused, his voice carrying a note of disappointment. "Unfortunately, the headquarters decided that without a truly powerful wielder of this ability, they couldn't authorize its sale to other worlds…"

He sighed, appearing somewhat crestfallen as if his earnest work had gone unrecognized by his superiors.

Seeing Leo's unusual display of emotion piqued Enel's curiosity, and he asked, "What kind of powerful individual would it take to fulfill your wish?"

Leo smirked and responded in a matter-of-fact tone, "To meet the headquarters' standards, someone would need to wield Armament Haki at a level capable of shattering stars."

"Oh, what a pity!" Leo sighed again, his demeanor calm but clearly resigned.

To Enel, who could barely comprehend the power to destroy an island, the idea of shattering stars was unfathomable. Yet, seeing Leo's calm and composed expression made him feel as though such power was within reach.

'Is this what it means to be a god?' Enel thought, suddenly inspired by the confidence and composure of the dimensional merchant before him.

But Leo's next words snapped Enel back to reality. "Since the headquarters hasn't approved it, the training method for Armament Haki can only be sold within the pirate world. With the current level of power here, who knows how long it will take to develop a star-shattering fighter…"

The unknown future weighed on Enel, and for a moment, he was silent. But in his heart, he was thinking furiously: 'Sir Leo seems troubled. Maybe… I could help…'

Moved by a rare feeling of gratitude, Enel had a thought that shocked even himself: 'If I could become a star-shattering powerhouse, could I help Sir Leo?'

With determination, Enel focused and asked, "Sir Leo, how many points would it take to purchase the Armament Haki training method you mentioned?"

Leo looked surprised and replied, "All the training experiences and methods for Armament Haki would cost 5,000 points…"

"I'll take it!" Enel shouted, not letting Leo finish.

"My physical strength is still too weak! To call myself a god with this power is nothing but a delusion!"

"Sir Leo, please, I beg you—allow me to trade for the training experience in Armament Haki!"

Bang! Enel clasped his hands together, bowing deeply, his sincerity evident.

"Oh?" Leo raised an eyebrow, but then his expression softened. 

He spoke calmly, yet with undeniable authority, "Armament Haki suits you well."

"And…"

A gentle, invisible force lifted Enel back to his feet. Leo smiled and said, "In any trade, both parties are equal. There's no need to be so formal, Enel."

As Leo's words echoed in Enel's mind, a torrent of knowledge flooded his consciousness. In an instant, he understood the intricacies of Armament Haki—hardening, imbuing, projecting, and even the destructive internal techniques.

In mere seconds, Enel, who had previously known nothing of this power, had become a formidable user of Armament Haki, one of the rare few in the world!

"This… is my power?" Enel looked at his arms in awe, clenching his fists.

Suddenly, a dark force enveloped his fist, crackling with bursts of white lightning. 

In that moment, Enel felt his combat strength had at least doubled!

(End of this chapter)