Thunder

The wind at the edge of the Cloud Sea grew increasingly biting, carrying damp vapor rising from the lower world.

White mist churned around their feet like the hide of some living beast, swelling and sinking from time to time as if ready to swallow anyone who drew near.

The three-man hunting party moved slowly along the cloud cliff.

Rock walked at the front, quick and steady on his feet.

Thin cloudlight filtered through the rolling mist onto his shoulders and back, revealing and concealing the lines of his muscles as they tightened with every step.

He held a short spear in his left hand and carried a Cloud Fish in his right, freshly knocked unconscious, its tail fin still twitching.

The wind below suddenly surged upward like a massive, invisible waterspout, whipping his black hair into a frenzy.

Yet he was used to it, his gaze remaining calm and steady.

"Three o'clock. Twenty steps away."

He merely lifted his chin slightly. His voice was not loud, yet it rang with startling clarity through the mist.

Rock's spread-out perception was like an invisible net, gently yet precisely catching everything around him—

The path of prey swimming through the clouds, the faint sound of Cloud Beasts trampling Cloud Grass, the subtle changes in his companions' breathing—all of it appeared vividly in his mind.

Now, he was developing this ability almost constantly.

"There's a Flying Cloud Eel about two meters long, swimming upward."

The moment he finished speaking, Kai, who was walking in the middle, immediately raised his hand.

The movement was crisp and efficient, as though countless repetitions had already been carved into his muscles.

A specially made cloud spear shot through the air with a whoosh.

"Whoosh—bang!"

A shrill, tearing screech came from within the clouds, followed by violent thrashing.

The cloud layer was churned apart in all directions, exposing a patch of faintly gleaming scales.

The Flying Cloud Eel stopped struggling completely, leaving only its tail to twitch twice.

"Nice!"

The other hunter could not help clapping and laughing. "Your aim is still the best, Kai!"

Kai showed no hint of pride. He merely gave Rock a faint glance—

That glance carried complicated feelings.

He could not help but smile bitterly to himself. Without Rock's guidance, he could never have pinpointed the target's location so quickly.

After gathering their prey, the three prepared to head back.

At some point, the sky had turned gloomy. The Cloud Sea felt as heavy as a stone pressing on their chests, and an unsettling pressure quietly spread through the air.

As they walked, Rock suddenly stopped.

The Cloud Grass beneath his feet rustled softly as he stepped on it.

Kai and the other hunter instantly became alert, tightening their grips on their weapons.

"Wait..."

Rock spoke in a low voice, his brows tightly furrowed and his expression grave.

Just now—

His Observation Haki had been violently struck by an intense, chaotic signal, like sharp metal scraping across his eardrums, making even his heart tighten.

Kai immediately asked in a deep voice, "What is it?"

Rock's voice was low. "Over there... it sounds like... thunder."

Yet the sky was only slightly overcast, nowhere near the point of gathering thunderclouds.

There were no dark clouds, no flashes of light, yet there was thunder.

Kai took a deep breath, his fingers tightening as his entire body instantly entered a guarded stance.

Only a second later, he made his decision.

"We're returning to the village immediately." He spoke decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

"Don't go anywhere near it."

He trusted Rock's judgment as much as he trusted his own instincts.

But he knew even more clearly that unknown thunder could only mean danger.

Rock's Adam's apple shifted slightly, and he opened his mouth.

He had wanted to say, I'll go take a look by myself.

But when he met Kai's eyes, he ultimately could not say it.

The air felt even colder than before.

The three turned toward the village, while that strange "thunder" lingered in Rock's mind, refusing to fade.

It seemed to be calling to him.

He could feel it.

Intense, clear, impossible to ignore.

After the hunt, the village once again regained its rare warmth and bustle.

White mist drifted gently between the wooden houses, covering the village like a veil of gauze.

The women sat around the bonfire, skillfully carving up fresh Cloud Beast meat. Firelight shone on their profiles, making every flash of a blade seem gentle.

The children ran and played over the soft Cloud Grass, their laughter rising and falling;

The men returning from the hunt drank their homemade ale as they repaired their weapons, carefully wiping away the cloud scales and bloodstains picked up during the hunt.

All of Birka Village was peaceful, forming a stark contrast to the oppressive feeling of that "Thunder Intent" from earlier.

Rock calmly set down the prey, but unlike usual, he did not join in with the work.

Using the night wind, smoke, and laughter as cover, he quietly avoided everyone's notice, circled around the bonfire, and headed for the village exit.

The moment he reached the village gate, he stopped.

Kai leaned against the wall beside the gate, arms folded across his chest. He looked casual, yet carried the certainty of someone saying, "I knew you would come."

Rock could not help smiling bitterly. "Father... why are you here?"

Kai slowly turned around, his gaze calm and sharp, as though he could see through every thought in Rock's heart. "What are you going to do?"

Those simple words weighed as heavily as a thousand pounds.

Rock fell silent for a moment.

It was not that he wanted to hide it. There simply was no need to.

Kai was the father who had raised him for ten years, and the person in this world who understood him best.

"I can feel it..." Rock raised his head, determination shining in his eyes.

"That thing is... very important to me!"

Very important.

Important enough to change the future.

Perhaps even change this world.

Kai's brow furrowed deeply.

He was an old hunter, with instincts terrifyingly sharp.

He knew danger surely lay ahead.

There was an unknown power there, a "Thunder Intent" that should not be approached, perhaps even something beyond their understanding.

But when he looked into Rock's eyes and saw that wildness—steadfast, stubborn, unwilling to be bound—

He seemed to see again the infant abandoned in the forest ten years ago.

That little fellow who had cried himself hoarse had now grown into the sharpest warrior in the village.

After a long silence, Kai ultimately did not try to stop him.

He merely walked past Rock and headed toward the bustling village.

His back looked broad and solid in the firelight, every step so steady it was as if he meant to shield Rock from all the wind and rain behind him.

"Come back early," Kai said without turning around.

No stopping him.

No questioning.

Only a father's most simple, unwavering trust.

And an old warrior's recognition of a young warrior.

Warmth filled Rock's chest, and he bowed deeply.

"I will."

The next instant, he suddenly lifted his head and leaped through the village gate as though ignited by the wind.

Treading over the soft Cloud Grass, Rock became a swift black shadow racing toward the depths of the forest.

That was—

The source of the thunder.

The boundary of the unknown.

The place where fate truly began to turn.

And Rock was fearless.