Just as you should never trust a Noxian's health bar, you should not blindly trust your own eyes either.
Less than a second passed between the old man first making a sound and using the Impact Dial to unleash its strike. But that fraction of a second was enough for Ron to make a move.
He pushed off with the tips of his toes, stomping hard on the Offering Platform as power burst forth. He was already airborne, with nothing beneath his feet to support him, but because his acceleration was not fast, it was impossible to tell from the side.
When the impact hit him, his palm had actually already shielded the Rumble-Rumble Fruit. Then, using the displacement caused by the blast, he slapped the Rumble-Rumble Fruit away. With the violent airflow stirring the ribbons inside the temple and sending dust and stones flying, the old man failed to notice.
Ron then scooped the Rumble-Rumble Fruit into his arms, bracing himself on his forehead and knees as he curled up on the ground. Aside from being unable to move from the pain, he was also protecting the fragile Rumble-Rumble Fruit in his arms.
After all, before a Devil Fruit was eaten, it might remain unspoiled, but it was still merely an ordinary fruit. A slightly stronger impact could crush it and render it useless.
But that was all in the past...
"Ugh! This tastes like shit... I'll remember it for the rest of my life..."
Crackle... snap!
The sudden sense of danger behind him made the old man's expression change drastically, and he hurriedly turned around. Yet the expected attack did not come. He saw Ron rise unsteadily to his feet, his body swaying as though he had suffered grave injuries.
At the same time, streaks of sky-blue electricity coursed over his body, crackling sharply. An invisible pressure washed over them, and the tingling sensation on his face made the old man's expression turn grave. The ribbons throughout the entire temple began to move without wind, defying the laws of physics and ignoring gravity as they drifted toward Ron, like worshippers encountering their faith and yearning to behold its sacred visage.
Feeling the surging power of thunder within his body, something he had never possessed before, Ron found it immensely novel.
"So this is the power of a Devil Fruit? It really is... unique!"
Crackle!
With a thought, electricity flashed and crackled between his thumb and forefinger. Even though it was only an insignificant wisp of lightning, Ron smelled a foul odor.
It was the smell of ozone released when oxygen in the air was broken down by the electric current.
"I wonder what this power does to people..."
As he spoke, Ron raised his head. His eyes were cold and emotionless as they met the old man's.
"No... impossible!!!"
"Do you know what you've done?!"
The old man's expression was crazed now, with none of his earlier calm remaining.
As one of the guardians of the secret through countless generations, Ron's actions today had reduced the efforts of their ancestors to ashes and utterly denied the meaning of his existence!
The older something was, the more conservative it became, and the firmer its will.
But when that will collapsed, it brought about a complete mental breakdown!
"What have I done? What the hell do I care..."
Ignoring the old man's expression, Ron tilted his head, a trace of amusement... and bloodlust curling across his lips.
A wounded beast was the most dangerous!
When injured, Ron's desire to kill was at its strongest!
On Earth, morality, laws, and weapons he could not contend with still restrained him. But in this world...
"How about... you tell me?"
"Damn it!"
Seeing this, the old man raised his hand and aimed the Impact Dial in his palm at Ron. His face twisted as he roared, "Die, bastard!!!"
Buzz!
Invisible currents of force wound around the shell in the old man's hand, its terrifying fluctuations making hearts tremble. The impacts stored within an Impact Dial could be fired in multiple bursts, but firing too much at once produced recoil not much weaker than the legendary Repel Dial.
He had used only a small amount against Ron earlier. This time, however, he intended to unleash every last bit!
Crack, crack...
The intense buildup of force spread dense cracks across the shell, while the air buzzed ceaselessly. After this use, the shell would be ruined. But if it could kill Ron, the old man believed it would all be worth it. When the impact reached its limit, the old man shouted and thrust out his palm, pressing the switch.
"Impact Dial, MAX! Fire!!"
The air seemed to freeze for a second. Then, the next moment...
BOOM----!!!
A terrifying impact burst forth, forming a column of air several meters thick! Everything along its path vanished in an instant, leaving the area empty in the blink of an eye! The sturdy wall did not delay the blast for even a moment before a massive hole was punched through it!
Outside the shrine, the Sky Island soldiers who had yet to disperse were startled by the enormous noise. The impact, saturated with the aura of death, sent chills down their spines!
When they turned around, they saw the temple wall suddenly explode. The rolling dust blotted out the sky like a yellow dragon striking at the sun!
"That was... an Impact Dial?!"
"What is the priest doing? Why is he using something like that inside the temple?!"
The temple was sacred. Ordinarily, no one else was even permitted to enter, much less carry weapons or a devastating weapon like an Impact Dial! As someone from the Blue Sea, Ron could not possibly possess a controlled weapon strictly guarded by Birka. Therefore, the only person who could use an Impact Dial was the priest!
Enel stood dumbfounded. Then his body suddenly began to tremble as he thought of a terrifying possibility!
At that moment, a cry of alarm drew their attention.
"C-Captain, look over there!"
The middle-aged captain turned back, then instantly stared in shock before collapsing limply to the ground. "T-That was caused by an Impact Dial too?!"
Far away in the clouds, a cylindrical passage stretching hundreds of meters had pierced through the cloudbank, appearing clearly in the sky. Everything in its path had dissipated into smoke, ground into powder by the impact, leaving behind a hollow tunnel!
"Hiss..."
The group collectively sucked in a breath of cold air, staring at the distance in utter horror for a long time without speaking. Such overwhelming force was inconceivable even to them.
Only after a long while did someone hesitantly say, "Under an attack like that, that Blue Sea man... should be dead, right?"
Wait!
That was right!
The priest must have launched that attack to deal with the Blue Sea criminal. Such a terrifying impact was no weaker than the legendary Repel Dial. That Blue Sea man must have been smashed to pieces!
They immediately turned their eyes back toward the temple, wanting to know the outcome. Enel especially wore a cruel smile as he looked over impatiently.
But then...
Crackle... crackle...!
From behind the dust came the crisp sound of electric currents, faintly outlining a human figure.
"Ah!!!"
BANG!!
Amid an earth-shaking scream, wisps of smoke drifted through the air. Surging currents fell from the sky like torrential rain, each strike powerful enough to shatter stone and split the earth!
"Is this... thunder?"
"W-What... what happened?"
The soldiers' breathing grew heavy as they stared in boundless terror at the darkening sky.
The lightning descending from the sky did not cover a large area. It merely enveloped the shrine. A bolt struck beside Enel's feet, jolting him out of his daze. Clutching his ear, which was still bleeding profusely, he fled in panic, running straight past the soldiers.
But the soldiers, who would normally have shouted and attacked him for entering the shrine, had no attention to spare for him now.
They all stood dumbfounded, staring at the temple engulfed by lightning, unable to speak... The cloud-filled sky, the eerie lightning, the priest's screams—it was like the end of the world, filling them with dread.
"God... the gods must be angry!"
"Run! Thor is enraged!"
Coming to their senses, the soldiers were terrified. Birka had worshipped Thor for generations, and this scene was exactly like the wrath of Thor described by the priest!
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