Chapter 28: Thor!

Asa casually wiped out the Shandians, who had troubled the Sky Islanders for hundreds of years, as effortlessly as swatting a few ants. Showing little interest, he turned around and returned to the temple.

There was no master on the entire Sky Island worthy of his attention. A single bolt of lightning could annihilate almost everyone. With nothing else to do, he focused on practicing and developing his fruit's abilities.

Time passed slowly and unnoticed, and another two months went by.

Inside the temple, upon the grand golden throne, Asa lounged lazily. Fine currents of electricity flowed through his body, causing his muscles to tremble rhythmically.

"The design drawings for Ark Maxim haven't been changed yet? What are those shipbuilders doing?"

His tone was indifferent, carrying the weight of a god's authority. His casual words were like rolling thunder. The temple guards didn't even dare to breathe loudly, breaking out in cold sweats.

A long-standing presence in power naturally exudes an aura of dominance and control. For Asa, the god recognized by all of Sky Island, it was only natural.

"Lord Thor, your Ark Maxim has been redesigned, and the shipbuilders are diligently working on its construction. They asked me to present you with these blueprints. Please take a look!"

As Asa's loyal follower, Constance immediately handed over the Ark Maxim's drawings, bowing his head humbly.

"If it's ready, why didn't you bring it sooner?" Asa shot him a glance. Constance trembled in fear, immediately falling to his knees, unable to answer.

"Lord Asa, please don't blame him. The blueprints were just delivered," an elderly man beside Constance spoke in a calm tone.

This man was a descendant of the shipwright who built the Powerful King over 400 years ago. His shipbuilding skills were among the best on Sky Island. He frequently crafted various shell-based weapons and tools for the God's Guard. He was a rare talent.

"Very well." Asa nodded, not particularly concerned.

He spread out the blueprints and carefully examined the design of his future Ark Maxim.

The ship's appearance resembled the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier from Marvel movies, though much smaller and more streamlined for enhanced speed.

Every part of the vessel was made of gold, radiating opulence capable of blinding onlookers. The ship had three decks, complete with a kitchen, bathroom, training room, bathhouse, and a total of ten cabins.

A spacious open-air deck, large enough to accommodate hundreds for banquets, was paved with flawless white Thunder Beast furs, a specialty of Sky Island. To add vibrance and prevent an eerie emptiness, a garden and a small ornamental fish pond were placed at the rear.

The bow held a golden pavilion, from which two massive electric crystal spheres, each a meter in diameter, emerged.

"What a magnificent creation!" Asa flipped through the blueprints, noting the slight modifications that had perfected the ship's design.

He was quite pleased, his mood improving significantly. "How do Ark Maxim's specifications compare to other ships?"

"Reporting to Lord Thor!" The old man straightened with pride. "You designed the Ark Maxim's streamlined frame, which allows it to sail swiftly both at sea and in the sky. It is several times faster than any other vessel."

"We installed an exhaust shell at the rear. When activated, it can accelerate to speeds more than ten times faster than a Waver. However, in this mode, energy consumption rises exponentially. Of course, since you command thunder and lightning, this energy cost is insignificant."

"The bow houses an ultra-rare impact shell-powered cannon, also fueled by electricity! Its shockwave can obliterate ships several kilometers away in an instant!"

"Furthermore, in a stationary state, Ark Maxim can remain suspended in the air with minimal energy consumption."

"It took us nearly a year to perfect every aspect of Ark Maxim, ensuring it remains in pristine condition for Lord Thor to journey to the Infinite Land!" The old man's chin quivered as he spoke, his beard shaking amusingly with excitement.

Asa curled his lips in disdain at the mention of the Infinite Land. The Sky Islanders romanticized it so much, as if it was the ultimate goal of existence.

But Asa had no interest in the moon. He built this ship to conquer the seas, not to reach some desolate celestial rock. Unlike Enel, he had no desire to engage in a futile struggle against a bunch of robots.

The old man continued, "However, there is one thing I don't quite understand. Gold is a soft material and is prone to corrosion and discoloration from seawater. Wouldn't it be better to incorporate other materials—perhaps wood?"

"You need not concern yourself with that!" Asa waved dismissively, cutting him off.

Wood? How lowly. And so what if gold discolors? With Thunder Metallurgy, he could restore its brilliance instantly. Besides, with an abundance of gold in the seas, he could easily repair any damage as long as the ship's internal structure remained intact.

Resting his head on his left hand, he tapped his right fingers against the golden throne. "Enough talk. How long will it take to complete Ark Maxim? I want it ready as soon as possible!"

The old man hesitated before responding with an awkward smile, "Lord Thor, my fellow shipbuilders and I have estimated the timeline. Given the vast amount of gold required, every piece must be melted and reforged. The workload is immense… It will take at least five years."

"Five years? That long?" Asa frowned, feeling irritated.

It was now the year 1495 of the Sea Calendar. Five years later, in 1500, Roger would have already ruled as the Pirate King for three years. By then, the Golden Lion would have lost his legs, and the Red Earl would be imprisoned. Asa had no intention of waiting that long.

"Is there a way to shorten the timeline?" Asa asked in a deep voice.

"Lord Thor, five years is the fastest possible timeframe. There are too few craftsmen on Sky Island. However..." The old man's eyes gleamed. "I heard that you command lightning and can use electric heat to melt and mold metal. If you assist in the process, we could potentially cut the time down by three years!"

"Five years... I'm already losing my patience, and you want me to wait five more? Are you kidding me?" Asa's expression darkened, blue lightning crackling around him ominously.

"I'll assist in the forging for a year. After that, whether the ship is finished or not, I'm heading for the sea!"

One year later, in 1496 of the Sea Calendar, Roger would complete his voyage around the world and return to the Grand Line.

Asa had to meet Roger. Otherwise, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

(End Of Chapter)

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