Chapter 27: Destroy Shandia at Will

"Zzzzzzzzzzzzt..."

Electric arcs crackled across Asa's body, illuminating his steel-like muscles, which pulsed with raw power. His physique had reached an inhuman level—his muscles, sculpted to perfection, radiated an aura of indestructibility.

Sweat dripped from his forehead, but he had no time to wipe it away. His entire focus was on controlling the lightning surging through his body.

Beneath the surface, an almost imperceptible tremor rippled through his steel frame. His veins and arteries bulged as if swarms of creatures were running rampant beneath his skin.

Initially, he had planned to use the same electrode enhancements he had tested on Sky Island's death row prisoners. However, the current turned out to be insignificant to him—utterly useless.

So, he pushed further.

He increased the voltage to a terrifying degree.

"Zzzzzzt!"

Lightning coiled around his body like a serpent, and his muscles expanded violently under the strain.

For half an hour, the chamber was filled with the deafening crackle of electricity.

Then—silence.

Blackened impurities seeped from his pores, the byproduct of a perfect internal organ enhancement.

"Phew!"

Exhaling deeply, Asa stepped into a barrel of water to cleanse himself.

"Good thing I spent ten months experimenting on others first. Otherwise, I would have had doubts."

The sheer risk of this procedure still left him shaken. But that fear was outweighed by satisfaction—his foresight had saved him from what could have been a fatal disaster.

Now, with his internal organs fully reinforced, his power had ascended to a new level.

Clenching his fist, Asa could feel the surge of strength coursing through his body. A delusion crossed his mind—he felt as if he could obliterate an entire Sky Island with a single punch.

"One day, maybe my body will be so strong that I can exhale a sword… and kill with just my breath!" He chuckled at the thought.

To celebrate, Asa popped open a barrel of wine and drank while soaking in the tub.

Back in his past life, he had enjoyed drinking, but after his rebirth, he had abstained—until now. But with his ever-growing energy demands, it was only a matter of time before he turned into a full-fledged alcoholic.

Alcohol was the purest form of energy.

He couldn't just lug food around while traveling the seas. That would be ridiculous.

Stepping out of the bath, Asa wiped himself dry. A grin lingered on his lips.

From now on, every inch of his body could be strengthened at will. He was growing stronger every day.

"The strongest creature on land, sea, and sky… that title is within reach."

The mere thought invigorated him.

Throwing on his clothes, Asa stepped out of the temple for the first time in nearly a year.

"Sir, you're heading out?" Constance, already waiting in the hall, immediately stepped forward to greet him.

"How is the modification progress on the Ark 'Thor'?" Asa asked as he leisurely walked outside, hands clasped behind his back.

"Lord Thunder God, we located the descendants of the man who designed the Waver hundreds of years ago. His shipbuilding skills are among the best in Sky Island. The Ark will be completed soon!" Constance reported.

"Good. No rush." Asa nodded.

He had taken one look at the original Ark Maxim and nearly wept at its hideous design.

So, he had sketched an entirely new blueprint, modeling it after an aircraft carrier from his previous life.

Naturally, altering the Ark's design required adjustments to internal components, causing delays. But it was worth it.

A god deserved a fitting vessel.

A Shadow in the Clouds

Asa strolled along the clouded paths, his gaze drifting toward the mist-shrouded landscape ahead.

He expected to see the Golden Bell and the Ancient Text, but… nothing.

"What is this place? Where is the Golden Bell?" he frowned.

Constance looked confused. "Sir, I have never ventured here before, so I am uncertain. As for a Golden Bell… I have never heard of such a thing existing on Sky Island."

"They don't know?" Asa's frown deepened.

Could it be that the Sky Islanders never discovered the Golden Bell's location?

His mind raced. He vaguely recalled that there was a hidden village—Cloud Hidden Village—where the exiled Shandians lived. Could it be concealed within this clouded region?

Weren't the Shandians expelled from Upper Yard over 400 years ago?

His Observation Haki surged, stretching through the mist.

Within the Clouded Lands

Deep within the fog, Asa's suspicions were confirmed.

A small village lay concealed within the mist, and within it—dozens of Shandians.

At this very moment, they were sharpening their weapons, preparing for yet another assault on the temple.

Despite looking similar to Sky Islanders, the Shandians had their own customs—from their dark skin to their winged backs and their distinctive cloud-gliding shoes.

At the center of the warriors stood a young man with mohawk-styled hair and intricate face tattoos.

He wielded a massive cannon and a shield, his piercing gaze brimming with an unyielding fire.

"In the name of the great warrior Kalgara," he declared, "I, Wyper, swear to lead our people in reclaiming Upper Yard! We will erase the shame of our ancestors' exile!"

The warriors roared in unison, their voices thundering through the village.

"Take back Upper Yard!"

"Reclaim our homeland!"

Nearby, a similarly mohawked warrior adjusted his round red goggles before speaking.

"Wyper, something big happened in Upper Yard recently. This might be our best chance!"

"Kamakiri, don't be reckless! This could be a trap set by Gan Fall!"

"No matter what, we must reclaim Upper Yard and ring the Golden Bell. Our ancestors made a sacred pact 400 years ago—we must fulfill it!"

"Kill the Sky Islanders! Ring the Golden Bell!"

With that, the Shandians glided swiftly across the clouds, making their way toward Upper Yard.

Asa's Cold Smile

"Reclaim Upper Yard?"

Asa sneered.

"How ridiculous. This land belongs to me now. Do they really think I will allow anyone to take it?"

A solution immediately formed in his mind.

The Ark Thor's modifications required more gold…

Melting down the Golden Bell and its surrounding treasures would be perfect.

Innocence didn't matter. Strength ruled all.

The Shandians' ancestors had been too weak to defend Upper Yard. Now that it belonged to him, why would he return it to their descendants?

To prevent future trouble, he would bury them all beneath the clouds.

"God's Judgment—Thunder!"

Asa raised his hand. A thunderball formed in his palm and shot into the sky.

Within moments, the once-clear heavens darkened.

Electric snakes slithered through the clouds.

This was Thunderbolt, a technique far superior to Enel's Ten Thousand Thunder—a city-wide massacre that fell upon anyone within Asa's domain.

The Shandians froze mid-stride.

"What's happening?!"

"The sky—it's turning black!"

"Lightning?! No… this can't be!!"

"BOOOOOM!!"

Lightning pillars rained down, obliterating the advancing warriors before they could even scream.

Beyond the clouds, Asa turned to Constance.

"Order the God's Guards to gather all gold hidden in the mist."

"Understood!" Constance bowed. He didn't know how Lord Thor was so sure there was gold beneath the clouds…

But if God said it was there, then it must be.

(End Of Chapter)

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