The flames of the Sabaody auction house had long since died down, but the memory of that night still crackled like distant thunder in Enel's mind. With their mission complete and new allies aboard, it was time to return to Water 7.
Supplies were gathered swiftly in the local markets under Enel's direction. The citizens of Sabaody, ever wary of those with strength, gave them wide berths and eager service. Money spoke volumes—especially when accompanied by the presence of figures like Enel, Tatsumaki, and now Erza, whose quiet steps seemed to ripple with the weight of a seasoned swordswoman.
They purchased crates of preserved food and freshwater, medical supplies for Hinata's lingering injuries—bandages, salves, and herbal pain relief—and even custom black-and-red sheaths for Erza's newly acquired blade, Benihime. Craftsmen had worked overnight to construct them, whispering of the sword's aura long after it had left their sight.
Once stocked and prepped, the Bezan Black took to sea once more, sailing the blue for the week long journey back to Water 7.
This time, the ugly ship wasn't empty of conversation.
Though not exactly talkative, Erza and Hinata gave Enel a strange sense of balance. The former sat at the ship's stern each evening, cleaning Benihime and occasionally glancing toward the sea with her cold eyes. The latter, often curled up with scrolls and history books, would sneak glances at Enel's wings whenever he wasn't looking.
Eventually, she approached him.
"Captain," she asked one evening, her soft voice drifting on the wind, "are your wings... natural?"
He blinked, surprised by the sudden question. But he grinned. "They are," he said, flexing them slightly. "A citizen of Skypiea. There aren't any like me on this sea." And this new Enel hadn't spent enough time in Skypiea to build any camaraderie with the people. Most of his time had been on the blue sea, and he hadn't seen another like him.
Hinata's lavender eyes gleamed. "I understand that feeling," she said, brushing her fingers across her bandaged arm. "The Byakugan, that's what we call our eyes… people look at it like a weapon or tool. Not a part of me. It's disheartening when others look you dead in the eye with greed."
That simple moment of honesty bloomed into a slow but steady companionship between them. Enel found himself enjoying their talks more than he expected.
Erza, listening in, said nothing but then she added quietly, "Power doesn't need to be explained. It simply is. You either master it… or you drown in it."
It was the longest sentence she'd spoken since they'd left, spending most of her time training or taking care of her swords.
Tatsumaki pitched in, curious about Hinata. "What do your eyes do anyways?" She asked,.
"All bloodlines aligning with vision grant the ability to understand all written languages." Hinata responded patiently. "However, the Byakugan is extra special as it can help with combat as well."
Enel had a feeling that was the case, however he was curious on exactly how the Byakugan's powers would work in this world.
Erza and Tatsumaki were shocked, but Hinata, either not noticing or ignoring it, continued speaking. "I can see through things and at a near 360 degree angle. I can see through people as well, analyze the way their inner energies move and channel a kind of energy into their bodies that inhibits them." She finished.
"That's actually kind of impressive." Tatsumaki says. "You're not weak after all. How'd you get captured anyway?" She asks.
Enel gives her a little look, letting her know that question was inconsiderate, but Tatsumaki looks at him with an expression that clearly says "shove it". She thinks that Enel can't babysit her forever. She'll need to grow and learn to fight on her own. Hinata is almost 22 years old now. She isn't a child.
Hinata answers Tatsumaki's question with a nervous grin, almost ashamed. "I got hit by tear gas." She says.
"HAHAHAHAHA ! Tear gas?!" Tatsumaki found it hilarious, but gave her a hug. "You're adorable Hinata."
"Ignoring that…" Erza chimed in. "Please show me this 'energy' you spoke about."
Hinata, finally freeing herself from Tatsumaki's embrace, showed it through her finger tips.
"As I suspected." Erza says. "That energy is generally called Armament Haki."
"Haki?" Hinata questions.
Enel helps Erza out. "Haki is the counter to pretty much everything in this world." He says. "If your Haki can't counter it, you just aren't strong enough."
Erza nods in agreement. "Your clan probably figured out how to channel their haki into other people's bodies, and render their abilities null and void, until it disperses." She says. "Anyone can do this, but the difficulty is in knowing where to hit. Most people don't really care, and just make the Haki explode.,This ends up causing internal damage and it's called Emission, but your clan must have used their Haki as a gate to block and deactivate devil fruit energy pathways or inhibit movements."
"That's actually quite genius." Tatsumaki says. "Is it effective on logia devil fruit users?"
Enel knew where that thought was going and wasn't entertaining it. "It's getting late, let's all head to bed." With that, he flies off into his room.
It would be another week-long journey back to Water 7 since the Bezan Black wasn't very fast so going to bed early was completely unnecessary, but none of the girls called him out on it. It was amusing to watch their captain run off like that.
By the seventh day, Water 7 emerged from the morning mist like a dream carved from stone and canal. The city was alive as ever—shouting vendors, rising towers, clanking shipyards, and the perpetual sound of rushing water.
But something felt different.
Bigger.
The moment they pulled into the harbor, Enel saw it.
There—rising like a colossus above every other ship in the shipyard—was their vessel.
His vessel.
His ship, his home, though he had not named it yet.
It was still being fitted at the docks, but it dwarfed every other ship around it by such a wide margin, some were hidden in its shadow. Dozens of workers milled along its 4 decks, applying paint, installing ballast systems, and hoisting its massive sails—deep blue with golden linings, like the storm clouds that heralded lightning. A carved figurehead rested at the bow: a serene angel robed in stone, praying with arms clasped and wings spread in holy offering.
It was beautiful.
And terrifying.
The hull was constructed with specially reinforced Adam Wood, with dark timber ribs beneath that could take the shock of cannon fire and blunt it. From keel to highest mast, it towered 140 meters. It spanned 750 meters long and 165 meters wide—a fortress on the sea.
Enel descended the Bezan Black and approached the shipyard, where he spotted a familiar golden presence standing tall at the helm of the upper deck scaffolding.
"Escanor!" Enel called, smirking.
The golden-haired titan turned, a broad, proud smile on his face, chest bare and gleaming in the morning sun. The strength of the Taiyo-Taiyo no Mi coursed through him, radiating heat like a furnace. He didn't look tired—if anything, he looked stronger than ever.
"Captain!" he called out, his voice booming down from above. He dropped down with an effortless leap, landing beside them with a faint tremor.
Enel took a long look at the ship again, eyes wide with rare admiration. "This… This ship should have taken months to build single handedly. Even with top-of-the-line tech."
Escanor gave a proud nod. "Normally, yes. But with the help of the Galley-La Company, and the permission of Iceburg-sama himself to redirect the workforce for such a monumental vessel…" He gestured behind him. "Many of the shipwrights wanted to help. No—begged to."
"Begged?" Tatsumaki asked, skeptical, floating lazily above the ground beside Hinata and Erza.
"They can sense what this ship will become," Escanor said simply. "A vessel like this—this temple of war—will become legend. And they all wanted to say, one day, I helped build that pirate crew's ship."
"Have you named it?" Hinata asked, curious.
"Not yet," Escanor said, turning to Enel. "But it deserves a name worthy of its future. What have you decided, Captain?"
Enel smiled, closing his eyes for a brief moment. He thought back to his old world, of the Gods of Lightning that owned its myths, legends and stories. The very storm in his chest. The same power that surged in his blood. What could be a fitting name?
Stormbringer?
Zeus' Fang?
The Odinson?
Thunder Seraph?
Dead Current?
No. He's got one now.
"The Ark, Raijin." His voice was calm, certain.
"Raijin?" Erza repeated.
Enel nodded. "A god of thunder. The one who struck from the heavens and changed the world below. This ship will carry my will, and my crew. Through calm and chaos. It will cause more change than the God it's named after, simply because it carries us."
Escanor grinned, eyes alight. "A fitting name. And a worthy one."
Tatsumaki actually smirked. "A little on the nose, but not bad."
Hinata tilted her head. "It suits you."
Enel chuckled and turned back to Escanor. "You said the ship would be finished soon?"
"By tomorrow," Escanor said proudly. "Final furnishings, supply loading, and ballast calibration are underway. Tonight, the workers will work to sleep here in the port. By morning… she's yours."
Enel nodded, then added, "Also—recruit whoever among them can fight. A ship of this size and glory needs a crew capable of defending, moving and maintaining it. And I don't want to rely on psychic powers to move it."
Escanor looked thoughtful. "I've already been considering that. I have about a dozen under me who are somewhat skilled in combat and loyal. I'll ask them. No guarantees though."
"That's all I ask," Enel said.
The group stood in silence for a few moments, looking up at their ship.
The future.
Home.
"Go rest more," Escanor finally said. "We'll need it. Tomorrow, our journey truly begins."
Enel nodded again, but his mind was already racing.
A ship this size… with a crew this powerful… would echo across the seas.