Chapter 469: Bristling
Are we seeing things!?
Gan Fall, Wiper, and the other Shandian guerrilla fighters were so shocked when they saw Enel being brought down by Ian that their jaws nearly dropped.
They had just been mustering their courage, ready to climb the vines and fight Enel to the death!
And then? Who the hell could tell them what that miserable-looking guy was supposed to be!?
With Ian's appearance, the whole place fell into a dead silence, so much so that when Ian greeted everyone, no one could even respond. All of them were too stunned to speak.
After a long while, Zoro was the first to snap out of it. He pointed at Enel, whom Ian was holding, and asked, "This... what's the deal with this guy? He's not that Enel, is he?"
"Yeah, it's him!" Ian nodded. "This guy's too fast; I had to make sure he couldn't slip away!"
"No, I'm asking how you caught him!" Zoro held his head, looking a bit exasperated. "Do you even know who he is?"
"Of course I do!" Ian looked at everyone with a puzzled expression. "Isn't he the ruler of this Skypiea?"
At that, everyone was even more speechless. They finally confirmed that Ian had indeed captured God Enel and brought him back, but... but...
But after all the grand talk of joining forces and proposing alliances here, what was it all for!?
Zoro, who was itching for a fight, felt like he was going crazy. Who would have thought that while they were all geared up and ready to make a move, Ian had already finished the job and packed up?
"Are you here just to mess with us!?" Zoro couldn't help but draw his sword and point it at Ian, veins bulging on his forehead as he shouted, "You're definitely here to mess with us!"
Hearing Zoro's roar, the rest of the Straw Hat Pirates, except for Nami and Usopp, all nodded in unison with serious expressions.
Ian shrugged at Zoro and said, "What can I do? You guys were too late."
Reiju and Robin couldn't help but cover their mouths and giggle at this point, finding the scene quite amusing.
They were well aware of Ian's combat prowess, so they weren't at all surprised that he could catch Enel and beat him so badly. But Luffy and Zoro, despite having fought Ian before, still didn't fully understand his true strength, which created this sense of contrast.
Fortunately, seeing Luffy's crestfallen expression, Robin stepped in to say something fair: "Ian, they actually wanted to go help you fight!"
Indeed, that was the most frustrating part for Zoro. He had thought that if he could help Ian in battle, it would at least prove he had grown. As for who the enemy was, he hadn't really thought about it.
But who knew Ian wouldn't even leave him that chance?
Hearing Robin's explanation, Ian suddenly understood and realized how Zoro felt. He thought to himself that Robin really was the understanding big sister, good at reading people's feelings.
So Ian reached out, placed his hand on Zoro's green algae head, just like back in Shimotsuki Village, and rubbed it vigorously a few times, saying, "Good job, Zoro! You've got heart!"
"You want to fight me again!?" Zoro's face turned red from Ian's gesture, feeling embarrassed and humiliated that Ian was giving him a head pat in front of his companions. So he could only cover it up with another shout.
"Heh, sorry, old habit!" Ian smiled and let him go, patting him on the shoulder instead.
Nearby, Dorry looked curiously at Enel, who was pinned down by Ian's right hand. He couldn't help but poke Enel lightly with his finger. But Enel still had a faint static charge on him, leftover from his fight with Ian. The static traveled along Dorry's finger and spread through his entire body.
Enel had been under Ian's control, so the voltage of the static wasn't too high. When Dorry poked Enel, his whole body went numb, and all his fur stood on end!
Dorry was a bear Mink Tribe member, but after the static touched him, his fur bristled all over, making him look like a hedgehog!
"So... so fun!" Luffy was immediately drawn to the sight, his eyes lighting up as he stared at Chopper.
Then he grabbed Chopper and brought him over to Enel. Chopper was a bit timid and nervous around Enel, but his curiosity got the better of him. He reached out with his hoof-like scissors hand and touched Enel.
Instantly, Chopper's fur also bristled, puffing him up into a fluffy little hedgehog.
"Wahaha!" Luffy laughed so hard tears streamed down his face. Usopp was on the ground, pounding it with laughter. Even Chopper couldn't stop laughing. He'd touch Enel with his hoof, and his fur would stand up; pull it back, and it would lie flat; touch again, and it would bristle once more. So Chopper kept poking away, having a blast.
The three carefree idiots were having a great time, but Ian and the others were left with huge sweat drops on the backs of their heads...
As for Enel himself, he was absolutely furious! How could the lofty god be treated like a fun toy and teased like this? Snapping out of it, Enel roared, "How dare you!!"
He was about to unleash a powerful electric current to teach these fools a lesson.
But just as he finished his roar, before he could make a move, a force came from his shoulder, spinning him around.
Ian leaned in close to Enel's face, his expression dark and menacing, and asked, "What do you think you're doing to our adorable Chopper!?"
Hearing this, Enel broke out in a cold sweat. Ian was right in front of him, his face full of shadows, looking incredibly fierce. It instantly reminded Enel of the fear of being dominated by Ian earlier.
Before he could explain, Ian delivered a direct punch to his stomach.
The punch made Enel's eyes bulge out as he doubled over, clutching his stomach and dry heaving.
After punching him, Ian turned around with a smile and said to Chopper, "Go ahead, Chopper! Poke him as much as you want!"
Chopper hadn't even processed what happened when he was suddenly picked up from behind. Turning around, he saw it was Reiju. She smiled warmly, holding Chopper and rubbing him against her cheek, saying, "Little guy, your fur seems a lot smoother now!"
"You... even if you praise me, I won't be happy!" Chopper said that, but his body was wriggling with joy. Then, still in Reiju's arms, he reached out and poked Enel again...
Fur being smoother is definitely a good thing, right...?
While they were happily chatting, Gan Fall, Wiper, and the Shandian guerrilla fighters were truly dumbfounded.
After witnessing Ian beat Enel like a disobedient grandson, they had no more doubts. Enel had truly been taken down by this man, and not just subdued—he was completely and utterly under control.
Wasn't it obvious? After being punched, Enel didn't dare say a word. He just let that little raccoon (?) and the bear man poke him over and over. Even though he was clearly humiliated, he had to put on a smiling face, right?
Snapping out of it, Gan Fall finally walked over to Ian and said, "Thank you. Please allow me to express my sincerest gratitude. You saved the entire Angel Island!"
Hearing Gan Fall's words, Ian turned to him and said, "Don't mention it. After all, I'm on this Skypiea too. If Skypiea were destroyed, I'd be in trouble too, wouldn't I?"
Gan Fall didn't say anything more. He looked at Enel and said, "I never thought you'd see this day, Enel!"
Enel's stomach was still aching, but he sneered at Gan Fall, "So what? I didn't lose to you!"
Gan Fall wasn't angered by the remark. He just scolded Enel, "You are a god, the ruler of all Skypiea. But why would you want to destroy it? Don't you have even a shred of compassion for your people?"
Gan Fall was truly furious at this point. He had rushed to the forbidden land after hearing news from the escaped slaves, many of whom were from his former divine soldier unit. The entire Angel Island was still in chaos. Every time he thought about the possible consequences, Gan Fall shuddered.
But at the same time, he was grateful. Thank goodness, thank goodness there was an enemy of the gods who stopped that madman Enel...