The sun rose, its golden rays intertwining with blue electric sparks. In the distance, the coastline of Angel Island was faintly visible.
Yasa's figure flashed as he descended onto Angel Beach—the same beach he had visited a year ago.
"It's been over a year since my last visit. Back then, I was so cautious, afraid of offending the God's Guard and failing to escape. I never imagined I'd gain the strength to sweep them aside in just a year. How unpredictable life can be!"
Looking at the beach that hadn't changed much since his last visit, Yasa felt a sense of indifference, as if observing the changing seasons.
"Hmm? Why are there so many patrol soldiers? Could it be that my earlier killings made them feel threatened, so they strengthened their defenses?"
In the distance, soldiers marched in orderly formations—five in small groups, ten in larger units, all carrying long spears as they patrolled back and forth, as if searching for something.
"Could it really be connected to me?" Yasa stroked his chin, thinking in surprise. "Well, whatever. I'll just crush them directly."
Those who are extremely confident in their own strength don't bother with schemes or tricks, nor do they care if others use them.
It's like when they heard Roger had been captured by the Marines. Golden Lion went berserk and single-handedly stormed the Marine Headquarters in Marineford without bringing a single subordinate—it was all because he was extremely confident in his own strength.
You call him foolish? Yasa refused to believe it. After all, he was one of the three great kings of the sea, the most powerful man—could he possibly lack any strategy? Even if he lost his senses, he wouldn't dare to storm Marine Headquarters alone. He must be supremely confident in his abilities.
Strength breeds confidence.
Yasa was no longer the weakling he'd been a year ago, when he'd fled for his life from Black Bear Bravel—a mere follower of Kaido.
With his Rumble-Rumble Fruit powers, he could advance to attack or retreat to defend. Worst-case scenario? He could fly into the sky and pelt enemies with lightning. Who could challenge him then?
Moving with shadow-like fluidity, Yasa covered vast distances with each step as he approached the soldiers.
The patrol soldiers spotted him at that moment. Without hesitation, they rushed over with their spears at the ready. Twenty men immediately surrounded him in a tight circle.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" the patrol captain demanded, stepping out from his men to confront Yasa.
"Captain, something's off," said a sharp-eyed young soldier. "He doesn't have wings, so he must be a Blue Sea Islander. But the path to Angel Island has been sealed for over a year—how did he get in?"
"Hm? Really?" The captain's eyes lit up. He scrutinized Yasa carefully before barking, "Blue Sea Islander, answer my questions: Who are you? How did you reach Angel Island? Are you connected to the murder from a year ago? Speak now..."
Twenty soldiers unsheathed their weapons with a metallic clink. One wrong word from Yasa, and they'd seize him immediately.
"I've no patience for your babbling, you lowborn fools!" Yasa waved dismissively, his tone impatient. "You're the so-called God's Guard? Send that self-proclaimed deity Gan Fall out to face judgment."
The audacity of this Sky Island native claiming divinity was beyond comprehension. Even Yasa, who'd consumed the Rumble-Rumble Fruit and developed a prideful nature—thunder being the very embodiment of divine power, judging and punishing all living beings—couldn't tolerate such blasphemy.
The Devil Fruit's power to alter personality was undeniable. Sakazuki, with his Magu-Magu Fruit, carried a brooding demeanor. Aokiji, possessing the Ice-Ice Fruit, preferred hibernation and lived a lazy existence. Luffy, with his Gum-Gum Fruit, remained perpetually carefree.
These were the clearest examples!
"What?" The patrol captain flew into a rage upon hearing Yasa's insulting words directed at the Sky Island God. "To show such disrespect to our great God? This is outrageous! Guards! Seize him immediately and deliver him to the God for punishment!"
At the captain's command, over twenty soldiers roared in response. Their spears formed a bristling array, poised to pierce Yasa's body.
"You think mongrels like you can challenge me?" Yasa sneered, his body dissolving into crackling electricity. "You're all dead!"
*Zzzt! Zzzt! Zzzt!*
"Die, all of you! 50 million volts—FULL DISCHARGE!"
Blinding blue lightning engulfed the encroaching soldiers. In less than two seconds, the electrical storm subsided, leaving twenty Sky Islanders reduced to charred remains—victims of electrocution.
Yasa surveyed the corpses with a cold smile, feeling a perverse satisfaction.
But within moments, his expression darkened.
"Wait. I let my emotions get the better of me. Though they insulted me, my usual restraint would have spared a guide. I shouldn't have killed them all."
Yasa's face darkened as he frowned, pondering why he'd reacted so violently.
"Is this the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's influence? They say Devil Fruits house demons that grant power while robbing people of their swimming ability and instilling eternal fear of the sea! Could it actually affect one's personality?"
"Do stronger Devil Fruit abilities cause more severe personality changes?" Yasa's expression turned cold. "Hmph, what nonsense! Since when could emotions control me, making me a slave to power?"
"I master power, not the other way around!"
His resolve was ironclad—once he recognized the issue, he'd immediately take countermeasures.
Moreover, emotions were inherently human. Yasa had long since mastered their control.
During his five years stranded on Jaya Island, he'd constantly suppressed the urge to kill Uncle Sam.
He saw nothing wrong with pride. As long as one remained true to their core, traits like arrogance, conceit, defiance, bloodlust, and cruelty could all be tolerated.
"Huh? One's still alive?" Yasa's Observation Haki flared as he spotted the Captain of the patrol team lying on the ground. The man's breathing was labored, his heart racing, yet his eyes stared blankly at Yasa. "So you're just paralyzed by fear? Consider yourself lucky!"
"Mon... monster! You're a monster!"
The surviving Captain had never witnessed a human controlling lightning before. That he hadn't wet himself from terror was already a feat.
He gazed at Yasa in abject terror, fearing the same lightning judgment that had claimed his comrades.
"You can still talk? Guess you're not as damaged as I thought!" Yasa crouched down and slapped the man's face. "Since you're alive, lead the way to God's Island Upper-Yard. If I'm in a good mood, I might spare your life!"
The Captain trembled violently, too weak to stand. The shadow of this lightning-wielding man already loomed over his heart.
"I said lead the way, or I'll sink the entire Angel Island with lightning!" Yasa's patience was wearing thin. He yearned to unleash his Thunder God upon the world and roam the seas freely.
"Alright, alright! I'll lead you! Just don't destroy Angel Island!" The Captain scrambled to his feet, stumbling forward with a face etched in terror and awe.
At this moment, he had already abandoned the Sky Island God Gan Fall in the Java Kingdom. A multitude of thoughts flashed through his mind—could only this master of thunder and lightning truly be called a god?
"Mm!" Yasa nodded, quite satisfied with this cooperative Sky Islander. He kept his steps firmly behind the man.
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TL Note: The little rant below from the original author is interesting, so I decided to leave it in.
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Yesterday I didn't check the comments section. My brother came over and told me about it, so when I finally looked today, I felt utterly disheartened.
That Raging Death God L guy, you've rambled on about how my common sense is lacking, how I'm making things up, and how if I don't follow your advice, the novel won't be popular after being published? Who's writing this book—me or you? Want me to hand over the pen?
That's really going too far. You're truly impressive—how did you guess it would be unpopular?
You called me self-centered? Isn't that the opposite of what you meant?
For people like you who make unreasonable trouble and think too highly of yourselves, I'll give you a permanent ban and deletion package. That's how explosive my temper is.
I'm fucking collecting everyone's opinions and ideas to see if anyone agrees with me, not to let you teach me how to write a book.
I'm using my free time from work and leisure to write this book. Who can bear comments like yours?
I've said too much, and my temper's not good. Sorry, brothers.