Five minutes.
It took only five minutes.
The four Priests under Enel's command had all collapsed in pools of their own blood. This was only because they were scattered across the area; Lucci had to travel from one location to the next to eliminate them one by one. Otherwise, it likely wouldn't have even taken a minute.
While it was true that they possessed Observation Haki, they had nothing else to offer beyond some special dials from Sky Island.
However, this only made Enel more excited. As long as he could recruit these two, what did the four Priests matter? He wouldn't shed a single tear over their deaths. Only followers of this caliber were worthy of serving a god.
'''
"Master, is that the vine you were talking about?"
Stepping out of the forest, the four of them were greeted by a colossal vine that stretched so high the top was invisible.
"That's the one. The Golden Bell is at the very peak."
"Then let's hurry up and go!" Vivi exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement.
Ever since she was a little girl, she had heard the stories of The Great Liar Roland from Cobra. He had used those tales to teach her the importance of honesty and the dangers of lying. Then, one day, she discovered that Roland wasn't a liar and that the Golden City actually existed.
Sean had already described just how massive the Golden Bell was, and now that she had reached the Golden City and was standing so close to it, Vivi was dying of curiosity.
"No rush. Let's deal with that guy first," Sean remarked.
"That guy?"
"Yahahaha!!"
Vivi tilted her head in confusion. But in the next instant, Enel's manic laughter rang out. A bolt of lightning tore through the sky, striking the ground in front of them and manifesting into a human form.
"Brave warriors who have passed the four trials, congratulations on reaching this place. Now, I, your God, shall personally prepare the final trial for you."
"Once you pass this final test, you shall become Divine Generals, far surpassing the Priests. You will follow me in conquering the Fairy Vearth!"
"Mortals shall fear you, praise you, and kneel before you!"
"Though you are not gods, you shall enjoy honors reserved only for the divine!"
Enel spread his arms wide, his voice brimming with self-infatuation.
Aside from Sean, the others were somewhat bewildered. 'So, this is the guy Sean mentioned... the incredibly chuunibyou god?'
"Interesting. And what exactly is the content of this final trial?" Sean asked, a slight smirk playing on his lips.
A final trial—well, this was something that hadn't appeared in the original story. Now things were getting interesting.
"Simple. Kill these two women to prove your submission to me!" Enel pointed toward Robin and Vivi, speaking as if the request were perfectly natural.
If this were a movie from Sean's previous life, what would they call it? Right, a "token of loyalty."
However, just as Sean was about to respond, a pair of hands suddenly clung tightly to his right arm.
"Master... you wouldn't actually lay a hand on someone as cute as me, right? I'm your only disciple!!" Vivi pleaded, her expression pitiful as she shook Sean's arm.
Enel watched the scene with interest. 'Exactly. The deeper the relationship, the more valuable the trial!'
Sean gave a wry smile and patted Vivi on the head. "You brat, is all this acting really necessary?"
"Oh come on! That guy told you to attack me, so if I don't put on a good show, I'd be wasting his request. Look how smug he is right now!"
It had to be said that at this age, and without having endured the traumatic two years from the original series, Vivi's personality was entirely different. "Mischievous" was the best way to describe her.
"The problem is, you're acting, but she isn't. It lacks a certain symmetry," Sean said, glancing at Robin, who remained motionless.
But in the next heartbeat, Robin's arms wrapped around Sean's left arm, and she began to shake it as well.
"I am your adjutant, the person closest to you. Do you really have the heart to strike me?"
'Good grief, that tone of voice... are you still Robin?'
Still, Sean couldn't deny that being hugged like this felt pretty good. He could feel his left arm sinking into her. As for his right arm, Vivi was still too young; he'd have to wait a few years for that to feel the same.
Watching Robin and Sean's slightly blissful expression, Vivi pouted. Her face practically screamed: 'I'm not happy about this!'
Of course, there was someone even less happy than Vivi: Enel. Having listened to the trio's banter, he realized he had been played.
"You dare make a fool of a god? Are you seeking death?"
Sean stopped playing around with the two women. He withdrew his arms and stepped forward.
"Enel, just because you ate a Logia-type Rumble-Rumble Fruit, you actually believe you're a god?"
"Logia users are rare, but there are certainly more than ten of them in the Blue Sea. The Marine alone has several; some of them could crush you with ease."
"And even without a Devil Fruit, there are plenty of people in the Blue Sea who could defeat you."
"Stop spending your whole life staring at the sky from the bottom of a well, alright?"
"You... are just an ordinary human!"
'Devil Fruit? Is he talking about the 'Fruit of the Gods' I ate? That thing is called a Devil Fruit? And there are many people like me in the Blue Sea?'
Just as Sean said, Enel was a big fish in a very small pond. His knowledge of the world was severely lacking; he was the definition of a frog in a well. He had no idea what the true powerhouses of the world looked like, nor where his own strength actually ranked.
"Yahahaha! I almost believed your lies for a second!"
"I am a god! God Enel!"
"No person, nor any thing, can harm me. That is the ultimate proof!"
Recalling this, Enel's brief moment of doubt vanished. His confidence returned in full force. Indeed, if someone who couldn't be harmed wasn't a god, then what was he?
Therefore, there was no doubt! He was a god!
"In that case, would the Great God allow me to try and see if it's truly impossible to hurt you?"
"Mortal, striking a god is an unforgivable sin. However, to ensure your complete and utter submission, I shall make an exception today. Come! Witness the power of a god!"
Enel spread his arms wide, descending once again into his delusional fantasies.
Sean took two steps forward, a slight smirk playing on his lips. Then... he raised his right arm.
He wound up his right fist and unleashed a devastating strike straight into Enel's abdomen.
'Boom!'
In that instant, Enel's body curled inward to the absolute limit, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets. He was launched like a cannonball, smashing violently into the vines before crashing into the earth beside them. The impact kicked up a massive cloud of dust and sand, swirling around him like a localized sandstorm.
"Tsk tsk. They say only a god can wound another god. By that logic... could I actually be a god?" Sean joked, glancing at his right fist.
"Master, is that delusional god dead?"
"Not quite. I held back my power. While Enel himself isn't much, that Rumble-Rumble Fruit is quite impressive. After all, isn't it claimed to be the strongest offensive power among the Logias?"
"I don't follow!"
"No matter, you'll understand eventually. I'll go wrap things up. Lucci, notify Blueno to bring Kaku over. I just remembered something that needs his attention."
"Yes, Rear Admiral!"
'''
Amidst the swirling dust, Enel finally managed to recover enough to struggle to his feet, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Impossible... I am a god! Why was I wounded by a mere mortal?"
"Could it be... that he is also a god?"
"Yes, it must be! Only a god can wound another god!"
"Despicable! He is clearly a god masquerading as a mortal to ambush me! How cowardly!"
Having reached this conclusion, Enel gritted his teeth in rage.
Just then, another figure stepped through the settling dust.
"A god?"
"No, gods do not exist in this world. If one ever did, it would certainly be the future version of me."
"Enel, your vision is far too narrow. You have no inkling of how vast this world truly is, nor what a truly powerful being looks like."
"In the eyes of the truly strong, you are as insignificant as a child. Unfortunately..."
"You've spent so long staring at the sky from the bottom of a well that you cannot even realize it."
"A Logia Devil Fruit?"
"It is certainly a fine tool, but as for being invincible..."
"You're still a long way off!"