Chapter 32: Enel in Dire Straits

Birka, an island located ten thousand meters in the sky, was embraced by the White Sea, a place almost inaccessible to outsiders. While Birka, like Angel Island, had long been renowned on the White Sea, its defining characteristics were mystery and xenophobia. This island was even more enigmatic than Angel Island, sparking even greater curiosity. Birka rarely saw outsiders, especially Blue Sea dwellers – they were a true rarity. The inhabitants of Birka shunned anyone without wings, believing themselves to be God's chosen people, their pristine white wings the ultimate symbol of their divinity. Of course, Birka's most miserable, and most famous, resident was none other than Enel. To say Enel's life in Birka was one of "dire straits" was an understatement.

"The nine-hundred-and-ninety-ninth time... You damn bastards, remember this. I remember everything you've done to me. One day, I will destroy this place and make you wail in hell!"

A teenager with an "auntie" hairstyle and earlobes that stretched down to his chest was curled up on the ground, seething with resentment. The injuries on his body were visible to the naked eye, a patchwork of blue and purple bruises. He looked utterly wretched. The boy struggled to his feet. Although his head was bowed, the way his hands were clenched into tight fists revealed his current, terrible mood. He gripped so tightly that his fingernails dug into his flesh, drawing blood that slowly dripped down his fists and soaked into the ground, unbeknownst to him. Note: The ('auntie' hairstyle) a common hairstyle for older women in Chinese, characterized by short, permed hair that is often tightly curled.

This teenager was Birka's tragic protagonist, Enel. Because he was born without wings, he was ostracized by the residents of Birka. For the Birkan people, who prided themselves on being God's chosen, wings were a divine gift. What was Enel, born without wings, if not a monster? Everyone held prejudice against Enel, and even his parents were caught in the crossfire, deemed as ominous beings.

Enel's childhood was thus spent under this cloud of misfortune. In the past, he had the protection of his parents. Even when he was mocked and discriminated against by others, it didn't seem to matter, because he still had a warm home. His parents' tenderness made Enel feel incredibly fortunate. But those who are unfortunate are often accompanied by even greater misfortune, and even the hard-won happiness is eventually destroyed. Enel's only haven was ultimately not spared; he lost his home.

Perhaps they had had enough of the people's ridicule and discrimination, or perhaps it was a release. Enel's parents departed this world with a certain detachment. There was no resentment, no struggle, only worry for Enel's future. Because they were constantly subjected to ridicule and discrimination, Enel's parents had no jobs, and it was difficult for them to obtain food. To keep Enel from starving, the two could only scrape by in Birka's deep forests, picking wild fruits to fill Enel's stomach. However, wild fruits weren't always plentiful. Enel ate his fill, but his parents often went hungry. This was perhaps the cause and effect of his parents' early demise.

Enel watched his parents, entangled by starvation until death. He didn't cry, nor did he even feel sadness. After personally burying his parents, the demon within Enel's heart amplified. The love that had previously survived was extinguished. His heart was now filled with hatred. In this hopeless Birka, Enel harbored only deep resentment and hatred for the people of Birka. He hated everything. He wanted revenge, revenge on those who looked down on him. They were the ones who had killed his parents, caused him to be discriminated against since childhood, and made him go hungry so often. The guilty party was never him – Enel. The guilty ones were these seemingly self-righteous, high-and-mighty Birkans.

Destruction, devastation...

Enel's mind was filled with violent thoughts. Even when he was beaten, mocked, and discriminated against, he never gave up. He did not despair of life. He didn't want to die. He couldn't die yet. He hadn't yet seen the fate of those damn people. No matter what, Enel persevered with this unwavering determination. Even if he had to die, he would drag them down with him, drag them down to hell together. This was the current Enel, caught in dire straits.

The Birkan people's discrimination, ridicule, arrogance, and self-righteousness all influenced Enel. Enduring all of this, and harboring hatred for them, after obtaining the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Enel would develop into the self-righteous, aloof, yet seemingly lazy but in reality cruelly inhumane, God – Enel – from the original series.

After gaining immense power, in order to take revenge on the people of Birka, Enel did not hesitate to use the power of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit to destroy Birka, his hometown. Perhaps Enel himself wouldn't acknowledge Birka as his hometown. After all, this place was filled with his misfortune. It was better off destroyed. This way, no one would know his unbearable past, no one would know how humble and wretched his miserable childhood was, no one would know where he came from. His past would remain unknown, and people would only know that he was a god, like a divine being, controlling the power of lightning. Yes, he had gained power, and he had also gained a new life, becoming a high and mighty god, worshipped and feared by the world, the one and only true god.

Of course, Enel, having destroyed Birka, was no longer satisfied. He wanted the world to admire his divine form. He wanted to inflict the suffering he had endured on others. Although Birka was gone, there were other sky islands, other sky islanders with wings. He wanted those who had once lorded it over him to personally experience what fear was. Thus, Enel came to Angel Island, defeated the so-called god, and implemented a reign of terror. The people of the sky islands suffered greatly from then on.

People like Enel, living in dire straits, were definitely not uncommon in this world. But many were completely crushed. Their lives were worse than death; they were nothing more than soulless husks, devoid of hope and any defiance against the world. However, those who were unyielding and unwilling to give up were also numerous. As long as they were given a chance to gain power, they would definitely take revenge, revenge on the world, and let those who were once self-righteous also enjoy the suffering they had endured. Their eyes were filled with the flames of revenge and the longing for freedom. They would never give up hope of living. They were waiting for an opportunity, an opportunity to turn their lives around, an opportunity to shock the world.

Doflamingo was one of them. That's why he deeply understood everything Enel had endured. All the misfortunes in the world are caused by the incompetence of those involved.

Having calmed his emotions, Enel released his hands. Pain was commonplace for him. What good would it do to be unwilling now? Without power, he couldn't stir up any waves. He picked up the headscarf that had been tossed aside, covering his "auntie" hairstyle. At first, Enel was only mocked for not having wings, but later his unique hairstyle also became a target of ridicule. Even though he himself was dissatisfied with this hairstyle and covered it with a headscarf, they would forcefully tear off the headscarf and mock him again. Every time he picked up his headscarf, it was another instance of his dignity being trampled upon. Enel deeply resented this feeling of powerlessness, this feeling of not being in control of his own destiny. However, the reality was that he had no power and dared not resist.

Amidst the repeated beatings and insults, Enel had also thought of escaping this place. He wanted to go to his sacred land in his heart – the Fairy Vearth, because there, he would surely not be discriminated against. That was his best destination.

Clutching the seeds of dreams and hope, Enel stumbled back to his dilapidated shack, licking his wounds alone.

Night fell, and another sleepless night began. Enel just stared blankly at the sky, thinking, longing... when would he be able to go to the Fairy Vearth?

However, what Enel didn't know was that his destiny was about to change!

At this crossroads of fate, every choice would influence the future!

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