The future above the clouds

The two spent several days in the Kingdom of God during their leave.

In those few short days, Zephyr, a veteran who had weathered countless storms and witnessed the changing of eras, found his understanding of the world upended almost daily.

The Kingdom of God was more than just "safe."

Beneath the streets paved with white clouds lay an energy distribution network built primarily from Cloud Dials, with Thunder Dials at its core, extending through the entire city like blood vessels.

After nightfall, luminous patterns lit up along the streets and the outlines of buildings without anyone tending them. Their light was gentle yet steady, without the flicker of flames or the pungent smell of oil lamps.

In the training district, composite equipment made from cloud steel automatically adjusted its resistance to match the user's build and strength;

In the medical district, semi-enclosed recovery pods released life-giving cloud mist at a constant rate, accelerating the healing of wounds;

There were even training chambers that simulated extreme conditions such as high pressure, oxygen deprivation, and fierce winds—all to ensure warriors could keep fighting under the worst possible conditions.

"This isn't just a Sky Island civilization anymore."

Zephyr stood at the edge of an elevated platform, looking down at the smoothly functioning city, his voice low.

"This is... a structure on the scale of a military state."

Rock stood beside him, looking relaxed, as though all of this were perfectly natural.

"After all, hiding in the sky is only the starting point."

"If we really want to survive, we have to stay a few steps ahead of the people down below."

What truly stayed with Zephyr was the Kingdom of God's training ground.

It was an exceptionally vast plain of white clouds, its cloud layers specially reinforced to withstand powerful impacts.

Hundreds