That voice and those words made Enel furrow his brows.
The tone carried an unmistakable sense of arrogance, as if he wasn’t even worth acknowledging.
At the same time, the voice itself seemed to possess some kind of magic.
The moment Nami and Usopp heard it, an inexplicable sense of relief washed over them.
The despair on their faces vanished instantly, replaced by the joy of surviving a catastrophe.
Excited, they quickly turned around to look behind them.
But what they saw was not the familiar figure of Vir.
Instead, it was a strange silhouette dressed in a black suit.
The sight left them completely dumbfounded.
“Who are you?!”
Nami and Usopp screamed in shock on the spot.
That voice had clearly belonged to Vir.
So why was there a bizarrely dressed stranger standing before them instead?
Or could it be that this guy was mimicking Vir’s voice?
But that was impossible! It sounded way too identical—how many Virs would someone need to eat to get it this accurate?
And as for Vir wearing something like this?
They had never even considered the possibility.
Sure, the outfit was pretty cool, but Vir wasn’t the type to have a masked superhero fetish, was he?
Suddenly, Usopp thought of something.
If this guy wasn’t Vir…
Didn’t that mean they were still doomed?
Nami had the exact same thought.
“It’s over, Nami! We’re dead for sure!”
“Aaaah! I still have so much money I haven’t spent! I don’t wanna die yet!”
The two of them clung to each other and bawled on the spot.
They had just found hope, only to be thrown back into despair again.
“Huh? Nami, Usopp, why are you crying?”
At that moment, Chopper’s voice rang out.
Hearing it, the two immediately turned toward him.
Several figures were standing nearby.
A glimmer of hope reignited in their eyes.
They quickly ran toward Chopper and Robin, shouting as they ran, “Chopper! Robin! Where’s Vir?! Hurry and bring him out!”
Seeing Chopper here meant Vir had to be close by.
Those two were practically inseparable—even when sleeping, they stuck together.
If Chopper was here, then Vir couldn’t be far.
But their question left Chopper completely confused.
Looking for my big bro?
My big bro has been standing here the whole time! What other big bro are you looking for?
Since when did I have so many big bros?
“My big bro is right here.”
Chopper said in confusion.
Robin, meanwhile, covered her mouth with a light chuckle.
With Vir present, she and Chopper had little to worry about. Their mood was quite relaxed.
Hearing Chopper’s words, Nami and Usopp turned to look at the odd-looking guy standing there, staring at Enel.
That’s Vir?
“Uh… Your big bro… is into this kind of thing lately?”
Usopp hesitated as he asked.
“Is this some new play of his?”
Nami also asked with a strange expression.
Enel, however, wasn’t as slow-witted as Nami and Usopp.
He had already recognized Vir from the start.
Though he was angered by Vir’s earlier words, he didn’t immediately make a move.
He wanted to recruit Vir first.
As he gazed at the oddly dressed Vir before him, he finally spoke up.
“Kid, I know you have some strength. You’re indeed stronger than the weaklings lying on the ground.”
“But you are nothing before me. I am a god, high above all!”
“I am the embodiment of lightning itself, the true Thunder God!”
“No mere mortal can ever touch me! But I will give you a chance to live!”
“Become my servant! Be my attend—”
Enel spoke with an air of superiority, as if bestowing charity, but before he could finish his sentence, Vir cut him off.
“You really talk a lot, huh?”
Since Vir was wearing a mask, his expression of speechlessness wasn’t visible.
He was also carefully assessing the situation.
If he attacked directly, he’d be at a speed disadvantage.
Lightning-speed wasn’t just for show.
At the very least, if this guy decided to run, Vir had no way of catching him.
It would be best to provoke Enel into attacking first. With his Observation Haki, he could easily exploit an opening.
So Vir wasn’t in a rush to attack.
Instead, he decided to tick Enel off first.
Just one sentence, and Enel was already visibly irritated.
A trace of anger flickered across his face.
Yet, he still didn’t make a move.
This alone showed how much he truly wanted to recruit Vir.
Otherwise, with his temperament, he would’ve zapped Vir into oblivion by now.
“Fine, fine, fine. It seems you don’t understand the gap between us. Very well, I’ll make you see reality!”
“Come! Attack me!”
Enel said confidently, folding his hands behind his back.
No doubt about it—just from those words alone, his sense of superiority was maxed out.
And as soon as he said it, everyone else tensed up.
Because this guy… actually seemed really strong.
His presence alone was overwhelming.
Raki and the others, who knew Enel’s power firsthand, recalled the terror he instilled in them.
Was Vir really his match?
It wasn’t just her—everyone who was still conscious had the same thought.
The sheer pressure Enel exuded was immense.
With a mere flick of his hand, he had taken down two of their strongest fighters.
Yet he remained utterly composed against Vir.
No one knew just how powerful Enel truly was.
No one felt confident about Vir’s chances.
But at this moment, Vir stood tall, showing not the slightest trace of fear.
Though, beneath his mask…
He was grinning from ear to ear.
Brother, are you for real?!
I can attack however I want?!
Are you seriously being this generous?!
Vir absolutely loved Enel’s personality.
Arrogant, overconfident, full of himself.
Perfect!
Absolutely perfect!
Since you’re being so polite, I won’t hold back either!
I promise, you won’t be disappointed!
“Really? I can attack however I want?”
Vir struggled to suppress his trembling excitement and forced himself to sound normal.
“Of course!”
“Alright! Since you put it that way, I won’t hold back! If you can withstand three of my attacks, I’ll even become your servant!”
It took everything Vir had to finish that sentence without bursting out laughing.
Hearing this, Enel immediately grinned.
What a deal!
Three attacks?
Even if he let Vir throw three hundred attacks, so what?
In his mind, his new servant was already secured!
This guy was actually pretty obedient!
Chopper and the others couldn’t help but tense up.
Big bro’s playing for such high stakes?
He bet everything on this?
If he lost, wouldn’t it be game over?
“Hurry up and start!”
Enel urged impatiently.
Both sides had the exact same thought in their minds:
What a great deal!
But who it was truly a great deal for…
Only time would tell!
—–
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