The lightning shot into the clouds, continuing to rise.
This feeling—standing high above the heavens and looking down upon the world—was something Astrix had never experienced before.
No wonder people often said that flying was a human dream.
It truly cleared the mind and lifted the spirit.
In just a few seconds, Astrix reached the White Sea, ten thousand meters above sea level.
Hovering above the sea of clouds, he took out the Eternal Pose pointing toward Shandora. After confirming the direction, he transformed into lightning once more and streaked forward.
Thinking of the golden pillar in Shandora, Astrix was filled with anticipation, wishing he could tear through space itself.
To be precise, Shandora had once been part of Jaya Island. Four hundred years ago, a massive Knock-Up Stream had split it into two sections.
The lower half became what is now Mock Town.
The upper half formed Sky Island regions such as God's Island, Upper Yard, and the Golden City—Shandora.
For generations, the Shandians had guarded the Poneglyph that recorded the Ancient Weapon, Poseidon.
The last time he came here with the Roger Pirates, he hadn't been able to take the golden pillar.
That regret had lingered in his dreams ever since.
But this time—no one would stop him.
Since Mihawk remained on the ship, Astrix came alone only to purchase Musou Isshin. As for claiming Sky Island, he would wait until Mihawk arrived.
After all, if he somehow lost to the locals while alone…that would be far too embarrassing.
Because of the system, Astrix had already taken the opportunity that originally belonged to Enel and eaten the Rumble-Rumble Fruit.
So acting as the "Thunder God" of Sky Island wasn't unreasonable.
Stealing one opportunity was stealing.
Stealing two… was still stealing.
When the golden pillar he had long dreamed of came into view again, every fiber of his being seemed to scream:
Still showing off now?!
Before him stood the very pillar Luffy had missed during the Skypiea arc—a cylindrical column ten meters wide and sixty meters tall.
It weighed roughly ninety thousand tons.
More than enough to purchase the Musou Isshin he had always wanted.
Taking several deep breaths, Astrix still felt his scalp tingle, his breathing quicken, and his heart pound.
That was a divine artifact—
Musou Isshin.
With trembling hands, he located it on the Trading Platform and reached out to touch the golden pillar.
"Do you wish to spend 88,888 tons of gold to purchase the divine artifact, Musou Isshin?"
Astrix didn't hesitate.
"Yes… purchase it."
"Ding. Purchase successful."
"Detected that Musou Isshin exceeds the tolerance of the current dimension. It will be restricted to a Supreme Grade Blade. As compensation, you are granted cultivation experience of the Thoughtless Swordsmanship."
A massive portion of the golden pillar vanished, leaving only a small base behind.
At the same time, a tachi crackling with purple lightning appeared in Astrix's hand.
[Musou Isshin: Supreme Grade Blade, bound, automatically adjusts to user height, 100% Haki amplification]
"Good heavens… 100% Haki amplification."
With a casual swing, Astrix unleashed a Flying Slash. A violet blade of energy pierced through the clouds.
A sense of exhilaration surged through him—like drinking ice-cold cola on a scorching summer day.
He threw his head back and laughed.
"Still showing off now?!"
"Let's see how you explain this to your wife."
"Jie jie jie…"
Halfway through laughing, Astrix suddenly remembered—that guy at least had Raiden Makoto.
"…You really deserve to die!"
That idiot in Teyvat was living the life Astrix dreamed of—a divine wife, beautiful and elegant.
And a cold, equally stunning sister-in-law.
But thinking about it again—if that guy didn't exist, how would he have obtained Musou Isshin?
Astrix gently caressed the blade. His youthful face softened, his eyes filled with affection, as if he wished to sleep with it in his arms.
Holding the blade in his left hand, he muttered inwardly:
Use Thoughtless Swordsmanship cultivation experience.
"Ding. Warning: the cultivation experience is extremely vast and may cause unconsciousness. Please choose an appropriate time."
Astrix snorted.
"As if."
"A mere technique wants to knock me out? Use it."
The moment the immense, obscure knowledge flooded into his mind, Astrix lost consciousness instantly.
His body convulsed violently.
Blood streamed from his eyes, nose, and mouth as his body desperately sent signals:
Sleep… just sleep…
His vision twisted, distorting into something surreal—
Amid endless thunder, a vague figure held Musou Isshin, visible only in profile.
"No thought. No attachment. No desire…"
"The Thoughtless Slash is the ultimate technique—the dreamless, unrivaled strike."
The voice echoed endlessly, as if from another world.
At the same time, an overwhelming pressure descended—like an abyss, like a mountain—forcing Astrix's back to bend.
A deity could not be gazed upon directly.
Crack.
The sound of bones fracturing echoed again and again.
Blood poured from his seven orifices as Astrix struggled to straighten his spine.
"I… am also called Beelzebub!"
Just as his consciousness began to collapse, a surge of red-black Haki erupted from his body—stronger than ever before.
His Conqueror's Haki tore through the clouds, spreading across the entire island and knocking every living being unconscious.
Then, it rapidly contracted, wrapping around his body and restoring his awareness.
"Huff… huff…"
Astrix lay drenched in sweat, panting heavily.
Even in that state, his grip on Musou Isshin never loosened.
As a certain saying went—
There will always be mortals who dare to face the lightning.
"Hah… hahahaha…"
"Even a god… won't make me kneel!"
Centered on him, the red-black Haki surged outward once more.
Conqueror's Haki was the embodiment of one's spirit.
It couldn't be trained—only strengthened as the user's will grew.
By facing that divine pressure head-on, Astrix's spirit had advanced yet again.
This time, instead of simply overwhelming his surroundings, the Haki wrapped around his body—and his blade.
Advanced Conqueror's Haki.
An absurd result emerged—
Astrix, who hadn't yet mastered Armament or Observation Haki, had already grasped advanced Conqueror's Haki.
It was completely unreasonable.
Like a swordsman who had maxed out attack but ignored defense and awareness entirely.
Gurgle…
His stomach growled.
The cool night breeze brushed against him as he quickly pulled out food and water from his system space and began eating.
Crunch. Crunch.
After consuming enough for twenty people, Astrix rubbed his stomach and let out a satisfied burp.
The Musou Isshin he had longed for was finally his.
Though it had been downgraded, he had gained the Thoughtless Slash in return.
His future path was now clear—
Great swordsman.
Three types of Haki.
Devil Fruit ability.
After recovering his strength, Astrix stored the remaining base of the golden pillar and continued scavenging gold across Shandora until his system space was full.
"That's the limit."
"Let's see if anyone on the Trading Platform is willing to trade items for gold."
What if there's another idiot?
He browsed through the listings.
Only one such fool existed.
There wouldn't be a second.
"Tch… if you've got the guts, list Mistsplitter Reforged or Haran Geppaku Futsu too."
"I've got more gold than I know what to do with."
During the Skypiea arc, Luffy's crew had taken gold from Shandora and exchanged it for 300 million Berries in Water 7.
By that estimate—the gold in his system space was worth several billion.
Astrix suddenly had an idea.
Exchange gold for Berries.
Buy Devil Fruits.
Sell them to the system.
A perfect loop.
After confirming there was nothing left behind, Astrix stepped forward—and leapt off Sky Island.
From ten thousand meters above, he plunged toward the sea.
Clouds tore apart around him, wind slashing across his face.
From deep within his chest, an uncontrollable exhilaration surged.
"Aaaaah—!!!"
His cry echoed through the night sky.
Free.
This—was freedom.
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