One Piece: Rising to Power as a Warlord of the Sea

As time ticked away, Natsu and his crew finally breached the ship's hull, entering the cabin where piles of gold, silver, and priceless treasures filled their view. Relaxed and cheerful, the Smile Pirates casually picked their favorite items from the hoard. However, Natsu ordered Gin to inform Karina that he had no interest in the island's special resources or food reserves meant for the Celestial Tribute. This way, Karina would have one less worry.

But when it came to the Celestial Tribute itself, Natsu knew it was his to take. He had no intention of returning it. After all, this treasure represented the entire wealth of the destitute Kadili Kingdom, amounting to billions of Berries—a monumental haul for Natsu's treasure vault. With a wave of his hand, the fortune vanished, stored within his system, where the counter climbed steadily before settling at a staggering 5.8 billion Berries—a sum rivaling that of Whitebeard, the world's strongest man and one of the Four Emperors.

"Oh my, such a terrifying pirate, daring to rob the Celestial Tribute!" A mocking voice rang from above just as Natsu was preparing to leave. A golden light coalesced into a figure—Admiral Kizaru, the Navy's Light-Light Fruit user, hovering over the warship and speaking with an exaggerated tone.

Natsu didn't respond immediately, instead glancing at Enel, who was itching to challenge the admiral. Eager to test his strength, Enel nodded eagerly. Perhaps it was the change in environment, but Enel now craved battles to enhance his powers.

With a chilling laugh, Enel sneered, "Yahaha! Finally, a worthy opponent! Let this god witness the peak of the Blue Sea's power!" Lightning surged around him as he prepared to unleash his strength against Kizaru.

In an instant, lightning clashed with golden light, sparking an explosion that sent shockwaves rippling across the ocean, carving a crater into the water itself. Nearby, the already battered naval ships rocked violently, barely holding together under the impact. Marines who survived looked up in shock, astonished that their strongest asset, an admiral, was struggling against pirates.

"Yata Mirror! Light-Speed Kick!" Kizaru formed his hands into a circle, creating a reflective mirror of light. He vanished into it, reappearing unpredictably and launching devastating, Haki-infused kicks that forced Enel onto the defensive.

Under the onslaught, Enel struggled to counterattack, his speed and Haki falling short of Kizaru's. Gritting his teeth, Enel unleashed a vast field of lightning. "Sixty Million Volts: Thunder Field!" he called, sending crackling bolts into the air, expanding his electrical domain over several kilometers.

Kizaru's demeanor shifted, his face tightening as he acknowledged Enel's raw power. Combat between Logia users often ended in a draw unless there was a significant gap in strength.

"Yasakani no Magatama!" Kizaru crossed his fingers, his fingertips glowing before firing a barrage of light projectiles across the battlefield. Some targeted Natsu directly, but before they could strike, Gin leapt skyward, wings spread, intercepting each light bullet with his blazing crimson flames, reducing them to harmless sparks.

Enel, meanwhile, evaded the projectiles through elemental transformation, but Kizaru capitalized on the moment, closing in to attack him at close range. Kizaru, having observed Enel's weakness in hand-to-hand combat, pressed his advantage with swift, Haki-infused kicks, landing a powerful blow that sent Enel hurtling back.

Breathing heavily, Enel recognized the stark difference between him and an admiral. Despite his arrogance, he admitted to himself that merely relying on his Devil Fruit powers wouldn't be enough. But his fighting spirit remained strong, and he glanced back at Natsu, seeking encouragement.

"Divine Judgment!" Enel bellowed, gathering all his energy. His Observation Haki extended outward, covering dozens of kilometers, while dark storm clouds converged above. Bolts of golden lightning cascaded down, each aimed at Kizaru, who darted out of the way, only to be relentlessly pursued by the lightning that seemed determined to strike him.

"Ugh… what a troublesome god!" Kizaru muttered, as he was forced to conjure a massive shield of light, his last resort, scattering into light particles that rained down on the ocean.

Their duel raged on, flashes of light and bolts of lightning darting in the sky. To the untrained eye, their movements were almost impossible to follow, both fighters pushing themselves to the limit.

Enel gasped for breath, clearly fatigued, while Natsu observed with a slight frown. It was evident that Enel needed to build his stamina to last in prolonged battles. With this realization, Natsu resolved to strengthen his entire crew's endurance.

Thirty Million Volts: Thunderbird!" Enel called, summoning a massive, crackling bird of lightning that forced Kizaru back. With a wry smile, Kizaru realized he was far from an easy victory.

Summoning a blade of light, Kizaru took on a new intensity that caught Natsu's attention. The admiral was done holding back. The real battle had just begun.