One Piece: Raijin

Asa, bold and prepared, had anticipated the discomfort of walking on the soft island clouds of Sky Island, so he remained calm.

The only certainty was that the Sky Island he had reached was either Angel Island or Birka Island. The "Island of Gods," Upper Yard, was part of Gaya Island from the blue sea and was rich with the one thing Sky Islanders coveted most: land.

Currently, Upper Yard was occupied by Gan Fall, the God of Sky Island, and entry was strictly forbidden to outsiders.

Asa walked on for about fifteen minutes before the scenery changed. Ahead, nestled in the white clouds, stood a six-pointed star-shaped structure. Squinting, Asa tried to focus his blurry vision, and the memory of its significance surfaced in his mind.

This was the Gate of Heaven, the entry point to Sky Island.

"So, I'm not fully on Sky Island yet. I'm still at the White Sea, 7,000 meters above sea level. I'll need to take the circular cloud path to Angel Island," Asa muttered to himself as he gazed at the path leading higher.

He had assumed he'd landed on Angel Island but realized he was still one step away.

Shaking his head, Asa resumed walking across the clouds, his steps light and deliberate. Suddenly, he froze, his keen instincts alerting him to a presence watching him.

From within the six-pointed star-shaped Gate of Heaven, a small door opened beside the tunnel, and an old woman stepped out.

She was about half Asa's height, her face long and plum-like, and she wore pink clothing with small white wings on her back—a native of Sky Island.

In her hands, she carried a video camera, a peculiar device unique to Sky Island. She pointed it at Asa, recording his every move.

Though Asa's vision remained blurry, he had an idea of who this might be.

"I am Amazon, the watcher of the Gate of Heaven. Are you here for sightseeing on Sky Island? If so, you'll need to pay an entry fee of 1 billion extols," she said expressionlessly, her voice hoarse but firm.

Asa frowned, his hand instinctively brushing against the sapphire hanging from his neck.

While Asa lived on Gaya Island, he had kept in mind that Sky Island's currency was the extol, with 10,000 extols equating to 1 beli from the blue sea. The entry fee seemed exorbitant but manageable.

However, Asa had no intention of paying.

The sapphire he carried was a family heirloom from his lineage, which he had discovered after transmigrating. According to his family's lore, this gem was the key to unlocking a treasure vault on their island.

While Asa cared little for gold or silver, as power was the ultimate currency in the sea, he wasn't about to part with such a significant artifact.

Smiling disarmingly, Asa approached Amazon and casually asked, "Do you know where Birka Island is located? Is it part of Angel Island?"

Amazon seemed to ponder the question. "Birka? It sounds familiar. I believe it's southeast of Angel Island, though I can't be certain. You'll find out once you reach Angel Island."

"Thank you. Goodbye!" Asa replied brightly. Without hesitation, he turned and stepped into the clouds at the center of the Gate of Heaven. He knew that to reach Sky Island, he would need to rely on a creature called the Express Shrimp, renowned for its incredible speed.

"Those who don't pay the toll are entering illegally!" Amazon snapped. Annoyed by Asa's indifference, she raised a shock shell—a Sky Island specialty—and fired it at him.

Twenty years later, under Enel's oppressive rule, Amazon might have ignored such behavior. But now, she acted decisively.

The shock shell released a powerful burst of energy, equivalent to Asa's strongest current attack.

Asa, already walking away, couldn't see the assault coming clearly. Yet, he instinctively felt the danger and, without conscious thought, dodged the blast entirely.

"What just happened?" Asa thought as the wind from the impact ruffled his hair.

His reaction had been beyond his capabilities, as though his body had moved on its own. It felt as if he had an eye in the back of his head that "saw" the attack coming.

"Is this… Observation Haki?" Asa's eyes lit up with realization. He hadn't expected his Haki to awaken so suddenly and without rigorous training.

Innate Observation Haki was rare and far more powerful than that acquired through practice.

Asa recalled stories of individuals with extraordinary abilities. On Sky Island, a Shandian girl named Aisa can sense when people die or fall unconscious as well as the feelings of others, a form of innate Observation Haki.

Other notable figures included Princess Otohime of Fishman Island, who could perceive thoughts, and Charlotte Katakuri, whose mastery of Observation Haki allowed him to glimpse the future.

Even legends like Mihawk and Fujitora had displayed unparalleled mastery of their senses. Asa's newfound ability placed him in the company of such esteemed figures, and he couldn't help but feel exhilarated.

While Asa had initially thought of Enel as the pinnacle of Observation Haki users, he now realized that much of Enel's power came from the Thunder Fruit's radio wave enhancements rather than pure skill.

Smiling to himself, Asa took a deep breath. His path to power was unfolding in ways he hadn't anticipated, and his dream of conquering the skies was closer than ever.

PS: My power stones please.