It was clear that Enel hadn't lived a good life in Bika. Maybe that was the reason he would one day destroy his hometown.
But right now, Mio's attention wasn't on Enel—it was on the surroundings.
This area was part of the forest, but it was remote, tucked far from the usual paths. Mio and the others hadn't searched this place before. Maybe, just maybe, the Thunder Fruit was here.
With his Observation Haki fully extended, Mio carefully scanned the area—under trees, around roots, among branches, and every possible corner of this secluded part of the forest.
Then—suddenly—
Robin tapped him on the shoulder and pointed. "Captain, look over there."
Mio turned to follow her gaze.
It was a tall cloud tree, its top covered in thick, fluffy, cloud-like leaves. This particular tree was right next to the one Enel sat on. But earlier, Mio hadn't noticed anything because the lush foliage had concealed what lay within.
Thanks to Robin's keen eyes, he saw it now.
Nestled deep in the white leaves was a strange fruit—blue, covered in spiral patterns, and shaped like a lightning bolt.
Mio's eyes lit up. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.
"Finally found it."
The Thunder Fruit.
Below, Enel had also noticed it. The boy tilted his head and murmured, "That fruit is really strange... I've never seen one like it before. But it's too high—I can't reach it."
It seemed Enel had discovered the fruit some time ago, but he couldn't climb high enough to get it. That's likely why it had stayed untouched until now.
As Enel stared at the fruit, a sudden gust of wind brushed past him—followed by a blur.
In a flash, a figure appeared beside the fruit.
Mio.
Without hesitation, he plucked the fruit and held it in his hand, his gaze steady.
Then he tossed it to Robin. "Take this for me."
Robin caught the fruit and secured it in her satchel.
Mio then turned his attention to Enel. The boy flinched under his gaze, shrinking back slightly.
This was not the same arrogant "god" who would one day rule with lightning. This Enel was still a beaten-down teen—fragile, angry, and afraid.
"What do you want?" Enel asked, summoning what little courage he had.
"I don't want anything," Mio said calmly. "I just want to give you something."
Enel blinked in surprise. "Give me something?"
Without answering, Mio reached into his pocket and pulled out a gold coin. He spun it expertly on his fingertips, then flicked it through the air.
Clink.
Enel caught it on reflex.
"Are you... really giving this to me?" he asked, stunned. It was a real gold coin—worth a lot on Sky Island. For someone like Enel, who sometimes had to steal to survive, it was a small fortune.
"Yeah," Mio said with a nod. "Consider it compensation. For the Thunder Fruit."
That coin wasn't just money—it was a seed.
Mio had no intention of recruiting Enel now, but he saw the boy's potential. Enel might've been arrogant in the original story, but there was no denying his talent.
Especially in Observation Haki.
Even without formal training, Enel had awakened it on his own and combined it with the Thunder Fruit to terrifying effect. That wasn't something just anyone could do.
Giving him the coin was a way of investing in his future.
If Enel rose from this setback and grew stronger, Mio might recruit him one day. If he didn't... well, Mio hadn't lost much.
Simple as that.
Just as Enel studied the coin in confusion, Mio vanished from view—appearing beside him in an instant.
"Wha—!?" Enel nearly slipped off the branch in shock.
He turned his head, bewildered. "How did you—?"
Mio ignored the question. He looked into Enel's eyes and smiled faintly.
"Do you want to kill them?"
Enel didn't even hesitate. "Yes."
His voice trembled with anger, and his eyes blazed with hatred.
Mio nodded. "You can't kill them with a weak body like that."
Then, with a casual leap, Mio landed back on the ground. He waved to Robin.
"Come on. We're done here."
With his hands behind his head, he strolled away. As he walked, he spoke without turning back.
"If you want to kill someone, you need strength. Wallowing in self-pity won't get you there. Let's go. See you later."
Halfway down the trail, he turned slightly and added with a grin, "By the way—my name is Kurokawa Mio. I'm from the Blue Sea."
With that, Mio and Robin disappeared into the distance.
Robin looked at him and teased, "Captain, you were basically instigating murder back there."
Mio shrugged with a smirk. "If he actually kills everyone on this island one day, then yeah, you're right. If not, well... then what I said was just motivational fluff."
"Motivational fluff?" Robin tilted her head. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Mio just laughed, rubbing her head playfully. He didn't answer.
Back at the cloud tree—
Enel stood there, staring at the coin in his hand.
After a long pause, his expression shifted.
"Strength doesn't come to you," he muttered. "You have to earn it."
He leapt down from the tree, landing firmly on the ground. His eyes were sharp now. Focused.
He wasn't sure why that man had said those things—but he was right.
From now on, he would train. He would get stronger. Strong enough to fight back against the ones who beat him. Strong enough to kill if he had to.
Strong enough to become a god.
And if Mio had seen that spark in Enel's eyes just then, he might've looked intrigued.
After all, Enel no longer had the Thunder Fruit. But because of Mio's words, he now had something else: drive.
When the future arrives and the story unfolds—what will become of Enel?
Without the Thunder Fruit, will he be weaker... or stronger?
Will he still destroy Bika?
Will he find his way to the Grand Line? Will he still take over Skypiea and become "God" of Upper Yard?
And when Luffy and the Straw Hats arrive—will they still defeat Enel?
Or will they be the ones defeated?
That was what Mio truly wanted to know.