A whole new life

"Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom!"

Sent flying by that slash, Enel smashed through countless trees before crashing down in the distance and falling still.

Divine Departure!

Twenty years ago, the Pirate King, Gol D. Roger, had used this technique during an encounter with the Whitebeard Pirates to send the legendary samurai of Wano Country, Kozuki Oden, flying.

He had also used it several times during his nearly year-long battle with River.

Over the course of their battle, River had secretly learned the technique, even strengthening and developing it into a sword move better suited to himself.

It was still Divine Departure, but he had improved it and made it his own.

Slowly sheathing his long sword, River raised his head and looked toward the dust rising from the forest ahead.

The night was silent. With the lightning gone, darkness had settled over the area, leaving only moonlight to dimly illuminate their surroundings.

"Hah, hah, hah, hah!"

Enel lay on the ground, staring up at the night sky, his expression tangled with dejection and despair.

Just as that man had said, the slash had left a deep impression on him, one he might never forget for the rest of his life.

To think a man this powerful exists in the world!

Murmuring inwardly, Enel felt the stillness around him, his mind seeming to empty.

Dust drifted down around him. Every bone in his body felt broken, and he lay there unable to move an inch.

Who exactly is that guy?

What kind of man is he?

He could not stop himself from wondering and speculating about the man.

Enel's emptied mind was now filled with images of River, with every move and gesture he had made.

Unlike Straw Hat, this man had beaten him head-on with overwhelming strength. The difference between them was plain to see, like a vast chasm.

The moon hung at an angle in the night sky, looking distinctly larger here than it did down on the Blue Sea.

Silvery light spilled over Enel as he panted softly.

A wider world.

Are guys like me a dime a dozen there?

They came from the Blue Sea? There must be plenty of powerful people down there, right?

His thoughts raced wildly, his gaze conflicted.

After witnessing River's strength, an intense yearning had suddenly taken root in his heart. He wanted to grow stronger, to see a wider world.

Just how many people like River existed in this world?

Could he become stronger too? As strong as that man?

He wants to recruit me?

Enel's eyes flickered.

Then, a moment later, a face entered his view, looking down at him upside down. River had walked over.

"Now, do you think I'm qualified to invite you to join us?"

"Enel."

The gentle voice, accompanied by a smile, left Enel silent.

Only after a long while did he lift his head and look at the man before him.

"You came from the Blue Sea. Is there really a wider world down there?"

River chuckled. "Of course. The vastness and grandeur of the sea are beyond anything you can imagine."

"Islands like the one you live on are everywhere in the world below."

Shock appeared in Enel's eyes at those words, and he asked another question.

"Are there more powerful people on the Blue Sea, too?"

River nodded again. "More than you can count. Even I wouldn't dare claim to be the strongest!"

"The sea is boundless. It has room for countless powerful people to coexist."

After a pause, River smiled again.

"This sky you live in may seem endless, but for a human being, it's no different from a dried-up well, limiting your view of the world."

"Your horizons only stretch so far."

Then he bent down and held out a hand to Enel.

"With your strength, you're only a little short. Just that tiny bit."

"That's all you need to reach the next level."

"And I'm the one who can help you do it!"

Enel's eyes trembled. He was thinking, weighing his decision. Even with the aid of Observation Haki, he could not glimpse the other man's thoughts.

That alone showed how mysterious and powerful River was. His abilities exceeded anything Enel could imagine.

"Is that so?"

"Then take me to see this boundless world of yours!"

Enel spoke in a low voice, slowly extending his right hand to grasp River's.

"But if I find out you've lied to me..."

"I won't let you get away with it!"

River burst out laughing. "I never lie."

Then their large hands clasped tightly with a smack.

At that very instant, Enel suddenly shuddered. His eyes widened as he discovered, to his astonishment, that all his injuries had healed in a single moment.

"What?!"

A moment later, he sprang to his feet and stared at the man before him in shock.

"What? You didn't think you were the only one with a Devil Fruit power, did you?"

River smiled.

"I healed your injuries."

"It's a very simple thing for me."

Enel was still shaken. To him, this bizarre ability truly seemed no different from the power of a god.

Such severe injuries had healed with a single touch.

Unbelievable. Simply unbelievable!

Just then, Crocodile walked over carrying Foxy and Hamburg. Seeing the two men's clasped hands, he exhaled a mouthful of smoke. "Looks like you've reached an agreement."

"Then wake these two up!"

With that, Crocodile tossed Foxy and Hamburg onto the ground in front of River with a thud.

"I almost forgot about them."

River smiled and walked toward the pair.

Meanwhile, Crocodile studied Enel and took a deep drag on his cigar.

Without a doubt, the man before him would become one of the strongest members of their group, and would even make enormous waves throughout the world.

"What about you? You can turn your body into sand and attack people with it."

Enel was studying Crocodile as well, and asked coldly.

"I ate the Logia Sand-Sand Fruit."

Crocodile answered flatly.

Elsewhere, an enormous figure appeared and approached the group, his burly frame resembling a small mountain.

"Enel, I knew you'd join!"

Nien spoke in a deep voice.

"Hmph!"

Enel snorted coldly.

His gaze sharpened as he noticed that Nien did not have a single wound on him. Without a doubt, that meant he was no slouch either.

"Welcome aboard, Enel."

"Believe me, you're about to begin a whole new life, one so meaningful that you'll still look back on it in your old age."

After waking Foxy and Hamburg, River turned around with a smile.

"Is that so?"

Enel's eyes flickered thoughtfully. A hint of anticipation had actually stirred in his heart.

So what kind of life would it be?

Perhaps it would be quite interesting!