Chapter 109: The Lord of the Sky [Second Update]

【Longing for my wife has become a habit】

At the Yunyin Village camp, all the Sandian people gathered, stunned by the news they had received from Aisha. Alongside their shock, another emotion quickly spread throughout the tribe.

“Fellow clansmen! Aisha has just learned through the Mind Web that the outsider from Qinghai has defeated a priest! Now is the time to restore the unrivaled glory of the Sandians! The sacred land of Apayado belongs to us, and we must reclaim it from Enel’s grasp!”

“Inheriting the will of the great warrior Kalgara, we will ignite the Sandora Flame! We Sandians shall fear no challenge. Those ready to confront Enel’s warriors at the sacred land, follow me without hesitation!”

The sacred land—Apayado—and the shrine.

On the divine palanquin, Enel leaned to one side, his eyes narrowing slightly before a faint smile curved his lips.

“How intriguing. The Sandians, hidden away all these years, can no longer bear it? Very well, let the final battle commence. Whoever survives the divine war will earn the right to journey with me to the Infinite Land!”

…

In the forest, a figure tore through the undergrowth at a blinding speed—like a silver lightning bolt, demolishing every obstacle with unstoppable force.

Upon the back of a lightning-fast shrimp, two Divine Guards escorted Cornice toward the living sacrifice altar. Cornice was sentenced to be offered alive—a divine decree none dared defy.

Bound tightly, facing the two robust guards, Cornice had no means of resistance. As an islander of the Sky Isle, she knew all too well what a living sacrifice entailed—far crueler than the punishment of the drifting clouds. The end was to be swallowed whole by the Serpent God.

Next to her lay a wooden box containing an artificial Devil Fruit. Now, she understood clearly: this so-called divine judgment was nothing but a conspiracy to seize her Devil Fruit for their own.

Such gods were not worth having!

“You false gods! You drove away the original deities and are utterly undeserving of the people's respect. I refuse to acknowledge such gods!” Cornice sneered in disdain.

“Heh heh, little girl, still defiant on the verge of death. Insulting the Divine Guards is a capital offense, yet soon you’ll be offered to the Serpent God, Lord of the Skies. Enjoy these fleeting moments.”

The shrimp’s speed was astonishing. Traversing the River of Clouds, it took only an hour to reach the altar from Angel Island.

The altar was constructed entirely of colossal stones, surrounded on all sides by water. In the lake lurked ferocious sky sharks, and the entire site exuded an ancient, profound aura.

The massive shrimp appeared insignificant before the altar. Perhaps this was the domain of the Serpent God, Lord of the Skies. The primeval forest was thick with an eerie atmosphere; hidden in the shadows, cold eyes seemed to watch, ready to devour.

The two Divine Guards brought Cornice atop the altar, bowed before the deity’s statue, then placed the Devil Fruit and Cornice as offerings in the altar’s center. Trembling, the two then hurried away—this cursed place reeked of the Lord of the Skies’ presence, unbearable for ordinary people.

The guards mounted the swift shrimp and began the return journey along the River of Clouds. After covering about a third of the way, they were horrified to see a massive, indescribable creature crushing its path through the forest along the riverbanks.

Towering primordial trees were snapped aside as though they were mere twigs. A deep chasm, like a great river, marked the creature’s path. Stretching thousands of meters across both banks, its slightest movement could unleash disaster.

“It… it has appeared! The Lord of the Skies has scented the sacrifice…” Their faces drained of color. Against such a prehistoric beast, words failed to capture their terror.

“But… shouldn’t it be at the altar? Why is it fixated on us?”

“Perhaps… it’s protecting us… heh heh heh…”

Before the sentence finished, a massive serpent head suddenly rose from the River of Clouds. With two screams, it swallowed the two guards and the shrimp whole. Then, its body writhed—thousands of meters long—ascending the river in the direction of the altar.

Birds and beasts scattered wildly around the altar. Even the sky sharks submerged, no longer surfacing. The atmosphere grew suffocating, as if the most dreadful presence was about to arrive at the River of Clouds’ end.

“Is it the Lord of the Skies?”

Cornice’s delicate face turned pale. Bound tight, she was utterly helpless—like fish on a chopping block, awaiting slaughter. There was nothing anyone could do.

Surrounded by the lake, filled with sky sharks, even if she rolled into the waters, death was inevitable.

“Is this the end? Born into an age ruled by false gods—what a cruel fate.” She gave herself a bitter laugh.

Suddenly, the Cloud Lake churned violently. A massive head, as large as the altar itself, emerged. Its icy eyes stared at the offerings, filled with bloodlust and ferocity. Long, crimson serpent tongues flickered outside its gaping maw, nearly terrifying Cornice into collapse.

This was the dreaded Serpent God, over four centuries old. None who had been offered alive had ever survived to see its true face.

The Lord of the Skies opened its jaws wide to swallow Cornice whole. At that instant, the thunder of hooves echoed through the sky. Just as the beast’s mouth was about to close over her, a figure shot past with lightning speed, snatching Cornice from the serpent’s jaws.

“Well done, Pierre! Just in time.”

A pink-skinned pegasus with black spots beat its wings midair. A slightly aged voice exhaled in relief as the armored rider, gripping a long spear like a knight, landed beside her.

Cradled in his arms, the ropes binding Cornice were quickly undone. Seeing the man’s face clearly, Cornice could no longer hold back her tears and clung to his cold armor, sobbing uncontrollably.

“God! You’re still alive. You’ve not abandoned us! Return to us—Sky Isle does not need false gods to rule. Everyone… everyone longs for the days when you were here.”

“Good child…”

Gan For gently stroked Cornice’s hair, a faint, bittersweet smile touching his lips. A god who loved his people, witnessing their fearful lives under Enel’s tyrannical rule, how could he be willing to stand by? Yet the gap in strength was too vast; reclaiming his divine throne seemed but a distant dream.

Having rescued Cornice, he remained vigilant—there was still a fearsome beast nearby.

“Hold tight, Pierre. Prepare to break through. This creature is no easy foe.”

ps: Please support with favorites, recommendations, and rewards!