Chapter 48: Gods, Demons, and Monsters—All Can Be Cut Down with a Single Slash!

"That’s it? How boring."

Jozu stood firmly in place, staring straight at the lightning bolt descending toward him.

In an instant, the skin on his head and shoulders transformed into diamond.

BOOM!

The lightning struck his diamond-like body.

Crackling currents surged across him, filling the air with explosive pops like a string of firecrackers.

Jozu chuckled twice and was just about to declare himself unharmed—

Then his expression twisted.

"Ow! Hot! Hot, hot, hot!"

The lightning’s intense heat felt like walking barefoot through a pit of burning coals.

Even though his skin had become diamond-hard, the scorching temperature was still unbearable.

"Quake!"

Jozu suddenly shook his arm.

A subtle vibration spread throughout his body.

The force was precise and powerful, instantly expelling every trace of electricity clinging to his surface.

The lingering currents dissipated into the air, no longer posing any threat.

" Ron, you really set me up. You never told me lightning was this hot."

Jozu shot Ron a resentful look while rubbing his arm.

Although the pain had faded considerably, the burning sensation still lingered.

"That’s what you get for running out there on your own."

Whitey Bay immediately stepped forward in a protective manner and pointed at Jozu as she scolded him.

Jozu helplessly shook his head.

Arguing was pointless.

Besides, he wasn’t about to bicker with a woman.

So he raised his head again and redirected all his frustration toward the still-unseen Enel.

"Enel! Get out here already! Jozu has things to do. I don’t have time to waste playing games with you!"

The atmosphere grew even more tense.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for what would happen next.

Jozu stood there with unwavering confidence, ready to teach Enel a lesson with a single punch.

After his words fell, silence enveloped the area.

The islanders were already terrified beyond belief.

They could only stand Stood frozen , staring at these outsiders from the Blue Sea as if they had gone completely insane.

Ron was somewhat surprised as well.

Given Enel’s personality, he should have appeared by now.

Why hadn’t he shown himself yet?

Just as everyone waited expectantly—

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

A series of explosive sounds echoed through the sky like celestial drums.

Four figures suddenly descended from above.

They moved with impressive agility and imposing momentum.

Behind them followed more than a hundred Skypiean guards, forming a massive force.

"Outsiders!"

"Stop where you are and leave immediately!"

"Otherwise, God will punish your insolence!"

The guards stood atop strange flying vehicles.

These weren’t ordinary machines.

They were powered by Skypiea’s unique shell technology and various Dials.

Each Dial contained mysterious natural powers, allowing the vehicles to soar freely through the skies.

Ace’s eyes lit up immediately.

His attention was completely captured by the sight.

" Ron, look!"

"Are those the sky vehicles you told me about? The ones made with Cloud Dials, Wind Dials, and Impact Dials?"

Ron blinked in surprise.

He hadn’t realized Ace was this interested in Skypiea’s technology.

"That’s right."

"That’s awesome!"

"I want one too!"

Ace’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

Then he looked at Ron.

" Ron, who are these guys? Are they enemies?"

"Can I hit them?"

"...Yes. They’re Enel’s Four Priests. The people behind them are the priests’ subordinates responsible for maintaining order on the island—"

Before Ron could finish speaking—

A streak of fire shot forward.

Ace had already moved.

"As long as I can hit them, that’s all I needed to know!"

Crimson phoenix wings erupted from Ace’s back.

His fist became engulfed in blazing flames.

The surrounding temperature skyrocketed instantly.

"Fire Fist!"

The priests had never witnessed anything like this.

Every one of them was stunned.

These outsiders possessed powers similar to God Enel’s!

That was supposed to be divine power!

BOOM!

The priests had barely made their entrance before Ace blasted them out of the sky.

They crashed straight to the ground.

Meanwhile, Ace excitedly grabbed one of the specialized Wavers they had been riding and immediately began examining it.

Marco shook his head helplessly.

It was a complete mismatch in strength.

There was no need to take it seriously.

Letting everyone relax and have some fun wasn’t a bad thing.

Just then—

BANG!

The door of one of the islanders’ homes was suddenly thrown open.

A figure broke free from those trying to stop her and stumbled toward the group.

By sheer coincidence, she tripped and fell directly in front of Ron.

"Hm?"

Ron looked down.

It was a blonde, blue-eyed young woman.

The small white wings on her back fluttered nervously.

She looked rather adorable.

"Mister... Mister, please!"

"Please save Skypiea!"

"Please, save—"

BOOM!

Before she could finish speaking, a brilliant flash appeared in the sky.

A bolt of lightning descended with deafening force, tearing through the heavens as if it intended to split the world apart.

"This lightning is aimed at me?"

Ron slowly raised his head.

His gaze remained calm and unwavering.

He lifted two fingers and formed them into a sword gesture.

At his fingertips, a razor-sharp sword aura instantly condensed.

The air itself seemed to tremble around it.

Facing the incoming lightning, Ron showed no hesitation.

No fear.

He simply swung his fingers.

A slash cut through the sky.

Everyone watched with bated breath.

Then—

Clang.

A crisp sound echoed.

The seemingly unstoppable bolt of lightning was split cleanly down the middle.

The two halves flowed harmlessly around Ron before dissipating into nothingness.

Afterward, Ron remained standing exactly where he was.

Calm.

Unmoved.

As if the entire incident had been nothing more than a trivial interruption.

This wasn’t luck.

Ron had discovered it long ago.

The sword aura generated by the Heaven-Splitting Sword Draw Technique could cut through anything.

Lightning.

Logia powers.

Mythical Zoans.

It didn’t matter.

If he wished it—

Gods, demons, and monsters alike could all be cut down with a single slash.

Silence filled the area.

Especially among the Whitebeard Pirates.

Everyone stared at Ron as if they had just seen a ghost.

"Holy hell..."

"Did I just see that?"

"Ron split lightning in half with a single slash!"

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