Two Hundred Million Volts! Thunder God

"Pfft!"

Blood sprayed as the force of the punch shook Enel's entire body. With a series of cracks, several of his ribs snapped.

"Cough, cough, cough, cough!"

He coughed incessantly, staggering backward and leaving blood all over the ground.

Then he collapsed limply with a thud.

That punch had killed him!

The immense force shook his abdomen and spread into his chest, stopping his heart for a moment. Suffocation and pain swept through his entire body.

A few breaths later, Enel lay on the ground, seemingly no longer breathing.

"What a frail body!"

River sighed softly, surprise showing in his eyes.

Although he had put considerable strength into that punch, he had never expected to take Enel down in a single blow.

It showed just how poor this man's physique and Taijutsu truly were. Once his Devil Fruit power was countered, it was no wonder he had lost against a Taijutsu specialist like Luffy.

"He's not dead already, is he?"

Crocodile walked over and asked gravely.

A wielder of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit was a rare powerhouse and valuable ally, even with his ability alone.

In the first half of the Grand Line, against people who did not know Haki, he would hardly be at a disadvantage, even against other Devil Fruit users.

"No."

River's reply was calm.

Sure enough, the very next second, electricity flickered across Enel's body. Fine currents began shocking his heart.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

After three beats, Enel's eyes snapped open. He sat straight up and gasped for breath.

"That was close!"

"I almost died!"

Shock and anger filled Enel's eyes.

He slowly raised his head and stared at the man before him, filled with wariness and even fear.

The power of that punch had surpassed even the Reject Dial used earlier by Wiper of Shandia.

It was almost inconceivable that the strength of a human body could surpass a Reject Dial. Did that not mean every casual punch from this man carried the impact of a Reject Dial?

Just how formidable did someone's physique have to be to achieve that?

"Enel!"

Just then, the man spoke.

"Well? Still alive?"

To Enel, those words were nothing short of humiliating. He jerked his head up.

"A pathetic attack like that couldn't even scratch me!"

"Now I'll show you the terror of a god!"

Enel spoke through gritted teeth.

He lunged forward, trailing an arc of electricity as he appeared before River in a flash. Wreathed in lightning, the Golden Staff came whistling down.

"Die!"

River smiled, a red gleam flashing through his eyes.

The lightning brushed past his shoulder and struck the ground, leaving a scorched patch.

There was no denying that lightning pushed Enel's movement and attack speeds far beyond those of an ordinary person. His movements were practically teleportation, his attacks instantaneous.

Anyone who had not awakened Observation Haki would have almost no time to react.

"Thirty million volts, Thunder Beast!"

Seeing his attack dodged so effortlessly, Enel grew even angrier. He struck the Thunder Drum on his back with the Golden Staff.

"Roar!"

A snarling, roaring wolf burst from the Thunder Drum and lunged at River, snapping its jaws.

Yet even at point-blank range, with no more than two or three meters between them, the attack still missed.

Enel's expression turned icy as he swung and attacked relentlessly.

River shifted and darted around, effortlessly evading the entire barrage.

"How is that possible?!"

Enel was stunned.

At such close range, with lightning's tremendous speed, dodging should have been all but impossible. Yet this man avoided everything with the greatest ease, as though he could foresee exactly where each attack would land.

"Nothing is impossible, Enel!"

"The Mantra you've mastered is only the most basic form of Observation Haki!"

River spoke calmly.

His figure flashed, and he was already in front of Enel. He raised his right leg and lashed it out.

"Tempest Kick!"

Enel crossed his arms in front of himself, and the kick struck them with a bang. An immense slashing force erupted, sending him flying with a muffled grunt.

He actually hit me!

Airborne, Enel stared wide-eyed, unable to comprehend it.

What was going on?

Turning into lightning had actually failed against that man.

After crashing through dozens of trees, Enel coughed up blood repeatedly. His face was deathly pale, his expression utterly grim.

He had never imagined that he would suffer such severe injuries in so little time against River, a man who looked entirely unremarkable.

"Cough, cough, cough, cough!"

After coughing up several mouthfuls of blood, Enel shakily climbed to his feet and watched the man walking toward him.

"Your Taijutsu really is pathetic, Enel."

"Join us. I can make you stronger and show you a broader sky!"

"You'll see a world far vaster than the Endless Vearth you dream of!"

The clear voice reached Enel's ears, making his entire body stiffen as he stared at River.

"How do you know?!"

Only he knew of his dream to travel to Endless Vearth. How could this man from the Blue Sea know about it?

"I understand you. I know everything about you, Enel!"

"And I know very well that you'd be better off with us, pursuing the New World!"

River spoke with a smile and came to a stop in front of Enel.

"Is that so?"

Enel murmured.

But the very next second, he abruptly swept his right hand downward.

"El Thor!"

A massive pillar of lightning thundered down from the sky, heading straight for the top of River's head.

Just before the lightning touched him, River's figure flickered. As though teleporting, he appeared farther ahead, even closer to Enel.

Enel's expression darkened, and he waved his hand again.

Another El Thor descended, but it was just as useless. Like before, River's figure flickered, easily avoiding it.

"Damn it!"

Enel ground out through clenched teeth.

Watching River draw ever closer, he suddenly struck all four Thunder Drums on his back.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Deep drumbeats rang out as vast amounts of lightning surged forth and wrapped around him.

In the blink of an eye, Enel transformed into a mass of concentrated blue lightning. His body swelled, growing even larger.

Blue arcs shot out, crackling around his enormous body.

"Two hundred million volts, Thunder God!!"

Having exhausted every other method to no avail, Enel unleashed his ultimate move, releasing all the lightning energy stored within the Thunder Drums.

His body transformed into an enormous Thunder God, packed with highly concentrated lightning energy.

A casual wave of his hand could unleash a terrifying lightning attack, while his entire body constantly radiated electricity.

"How could a lowly mortal ever defeat a god?"

"You've gone too far!!"

Transformed into the Thunder God, Enel seemed to regain his confidence. His deep voice shook the air.

Then he swung the Golden Staff in his hand, transforming it into a golden trident. Gathering powerful lightning around it, he aimed it at River.

"Die!!!"

The next second, he broke into a run and charged at River.