Chapter 26: The Battle of Ed War

Upper Yard, the Island of Gods, ushered in a new day.

More than a month had passed since Asa conquered the God's Guards and killed Gan Fall to become the new god.

During this time, no one dared to oppose him. The memory of that fateful day—when thunder and lightning roared across the sky, and Asa descended from the heavens like a god—remained vivid in everyone's mind.

To the inhabitants of Sky Island, thunder was a divine force, an omnipotent power reserved only for true gods. Their reverence and fear for Asa far surpassed what they had felt for their former ruler. With unwavering devotion, the God's Guards carried out their daily patrols, while the majority of Angel Island's residents accepted their new god without resistance.

After ascending the throne, Asa quickly delegated authority to Constance and Malkin, assuming a hands-off approach to ruling.

Each day, he dedicated himself to developing his Thunder Fruit abilities, refining his already formidable body, and enhancing his Haki—all further amplified by the effects of his Electrode Enhancement Technique. The only time he engaged with his subordinates was when he required high-energy meals to fuel his training.

He never lost sight of his true purpose. Strength was everything. Killing Gan Fall and seizing the divine throne was proof of that.

As for potential betrayal? It didn't concern him. Lightning solves all problems.

A faint golden glow shimmered through the dense forests of Upper Yard, casting its brilliance over the grand golden temple, its splendor eternal and unchanging.

Inside the temple's main hall, Asa balanced himself on one finger against the golden floor, effortlessly performing push-ups while contemplating ways to further enhance his strength.

Two months ago, he had developed Electrode Enhancement, a technique capable of fortifying his muscles, bones, and skin. However, he had yet to find a safe way to apply it to his internal organs.

Although strengthening the body's external structure indirectly benefited the organs, the effect was far from optimal.

For a month, he had pondered this problem—how to maintain equal strength across muscles, bones, and internal organs.

He was particularly motivated now that the Ark Maxim's blueprints had been handed over to the God's Guards. Construction was set to begin as soon as a shipwright was found.

"The sea is full of martial artists who can shatter bodies with a single strike. If they find a way to bypass my external defenses and damage my organs, I'm finished," Asa muttered, pausing his workout to rub his chin in thought.

"Someone's coming."

"Lord Thunder God, do you have any orders?" Constance entered the palace, bowing respectfully.

"Are there any death row prisoners scheduled for execution in Cloud Flow?" Asa asked casually. "If so, bring them all to me."

Constance did not question the request. "Yes, my lord!" He immediately set out to fulfill the command.

Two hours later…

About twenty Sky Islanders, their wings bound, were escorted before Asa.

He led them into the temple's underground chamber, ready to begin a new phase of inhumane experimentation.

Scientific advancements in biological research could not be made without human test subjects—a fact Asa was well aware of. Secrecy was the only necessity.

After all, Dr. Vegapunk, the world's greatest scientist, had created artificial Devil Fruits and Pacifistas for the World Government. Did anyone truly believe he had never experimented on humans?

The Mariejois slave corpses alone could probably fill the Holy Land.

For the next eight to nine months, agonized screams echoed daily from the temple's basement, terrifying the God's Guards so much that they avoided the area unless absolutely necessary.

Rumors of hauntings spread throughout Upper Yard, but Asa was too busy to care.

Only Constance, who remained closest to him, had a vague idea of what was happening—though he dared not speak of it.

Year 1495 of the Sea Calendar: A Clash That Shook the World

Two years after Asa arrived on Sky Island, a seismic event occurred on the seas below.

The Golden Lion Pirates and the Roger Pirates unexpectedly clashed in the waters of Ed War.

Golden Lion Shiki had offered Roger the position of his second-in-command. When Roger refused, the inevitable happened.

Battle erupted.

Beyond the conflict, the Navy Headquarters loomed with its own agenda.

Admiral Sengoku, Marine Hero Garp, Chief of Staff Tsuru, along with Vice Admirals Sakazuki (Akainu), Borsalino (Kizaru), Kuzan (Aokiji), Momonga, Doberman, and even the giant Hagwar D. Sauro, led an overwhelming naval fleet, prepared to strike the moment Roger and Shiki exhausted themselves.

But fate had other plans.

A violent storm swept across the battlefield—thunder, lightning, and monstrous waves crashed upon the Golden Lion Fleet.

Shiki, whose forces once dominated the seas, watched in horror as dozens of his pirate ships were swallowed by the raging ocean.

Meanwhile, Roger's crew suffered barely any losses.

To make matters worse, Shiki himself was impaled in the head by a flying rudder, forcing him into an embarrassing retreat.

Thus, the once-promising Battle of Ed War ended in farce, its outcome dictated not by skill or strategy, but by the whims of the sea itself.

(Note: The timeline for the Battle of Ed War should be 1495 in the Sea Calendar. This aligns with information from The World of Strongmen, which states that Roger became the Pirate King two years after this battle. If you disagree, feel free to discuss in the comments.)

Asa had long anticipated this battle. Had he not been occupied with critical research, he would have witnessed the historic clash firsthand.

But something bothered him.

Many claimed Roger escaped by sheer luck—but Asa wasn't convinced.

What were the odds of such a massive tsunami occurring at that precise moment?

"Could it have been Whitebeard?" he mused.

At this time, Edward Newgate was at his peak. With his Tremor-Tremor Fruit, he had the power to trigger such a catastrophic event—perhaps effortlessly.

Of course, this was only Asa's speculation. And without seeing it firsthand, he would never know the truth.

Back in the temple's basement…

"Aaaaaaagh!!"

Another agonized scream echoed through the golden halls, causing patrolling God's Guards to shudder.

"Is Lord Thunder God judging criminals again? How terrifying!"

Fearing for their own safety, they quickened their patrols, eager to distance themselves from the eerie chamber below.

Within the basement…

Asa hovered over a golden operating table, eyes gleaming with excitement.

"The 100th experiment... and the internal organs withstood the enhancement?! Wait…"

He examined the subject's vitals.

"The heart muscles have grown stronger, the lungs have expanded their capacity, and the liver, spleen, and kidneys show no signs of failure!"

A slow grin spread across his face.

"Hahahaha! It worked!!"

After ten grueling months, his research had finally yielded success.

Had he experimented directly on himself, the process would have been much shorter—but Asa wasn't that reckless. Strengthening internal organs wasn't a minor enhancement—it was a matter of life and death. One wrong step could mean instant failure.

Even though Electrotherapy could revive the dead, it was useless if the heart itself was burned beyond repair.

Now, with a single confirmed success, he was nearly ready to proceed.

"One case isn't enough," he muttered. "To be absolutely certain, I'll test it two more times. If those succeed as well… then it means the process is safe."

Asa wiped the sweat from his forehead. His ten-month experiment had finally reached its final stage.

(End Of Chapter)

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