In the thousand years since his escape from Charybdis, Ashoka's life had been a relentless journey of growth, driven by a singular vow: to build his power and take revenge on the one who imprisoned him.
For the first five years after his escape, Ashoka wandered the lands, his thoughts consumed by the need to become stronger.
During this period, he encountered various spirits and magical beings.
His perseverance paid off when he was blessed by both Water and Earth Spirits.
This dual blessing enhanced his innate abilities, granting him control over both elements and significantly boosting his magical potential.
Twenty years after his escape, Ashoka's efforts bore fruit.
He managed to gather a group of loyal followers and allies who shared his vision.
With their support, he established the new Mauryan Empire, a realm built on principles of strength, wisdom, and strategic might.
Under his rule, the empire flourished, becoming a beacon of power and hope in a world fraught with chaos.
Despite his successes, Ashoka soon realized that his power had reached a plateau.
The challenges of the world required strength far beyond what he currently possessed.
Determined to overcome this, he embarked on a journey of self-discovery and continuous improvement.
He studied ancient texts, sought out legendary mentors, and delved into the deepest secrets of magic and combat.
Ashoka understood that to outlast Charybdis, he would need to extend his lifespan significantly.
His quest for immortality led him to ancient rituals and forbidden magic. Through these, he discovered ways to slow his aging process, granting him the time he needed to amass even greater power.
Twenty-five years after his escape, Ashoka's relentless pursuit of strength culminated in the development of formidable abilities:
● The Human Spirit : This skill allowed Ashoka to ignore mental barriers and push his body beyond its limits by sheer willpower, unlocking 100% of human potential and granting minor adaptation to phenomena.
● Spirit Fusion : This skill enabled Ashoka to indefinitely merge with spirits, as long as they consented. There was no limit to the number of spirits, except for the capacity of his own body.
● Conqueror's Ambition : A unique application of his aura and haki, this skill allowed Ashoka to project his will and killing intent into all his attacks, making each strike lethal to spiritual beings. It also enabled thought domination on weaker specimens.
● Kinslayer : Evolved from a title he received in his previous life when he killed 99 of his brothers to ascend to the throne of the Mauryan Empire, this skill channeled the darkest aspects of human nature.
Killing any blood relative allowed Ashoka to multiply his existence value based on the closeness of kin.
It also enabled him to take the lifespan of humans he killed, subjugated, or those who consented to giving their life force.
● Lord of Conquest: Skanda
● Mastery of War : Anything in Ashoka's hand became a weapon.
● Mind's Will : Provided mental protection.
● Loyalty : Allowed Ashoka to use the combined might of all who served him.
● Inheritance of a King : Upon death, the soul of the king's subordinate merged with Ashoka, fueling his life and granting their skills to the ultimate skill, Lord of Conquest.
● Strategy of War : Manipulated probability to favor the chosen plan, ensuring the best possible outcome.
○○○: Thousands more inherited and intrinsic subskills.
Despite his immense power, Ashoka felt a chill I his ļspine whenever he looked towards Lanka. After steadily expanding and usurping all the Western nations, he received many marriage proposals, but all the proposed brides mysteriously died off.
Six hundred years after his escape, ruling under a different name, Ashoka was finally betrothed to the princes of a significant, trade kingdom near the shores, which Lanka shared with the main continent.
But something truly chilling happened. In all its existence, the Kingdom of Lanka declared war on the very same kingdom Ashoka was betrothed to.
Without waiting for his army, Ashoka rushed to the besieged kingdom. Upon arrival, he found the city in ruins, as if someone had finely chopped it apart with giant knives.
Floating above the devastated city was a man with blonde hair, six eyes, and brilliant wings.
Ashoka instantly recognized him: Krodha the Imperial, the Commander-in-Chief of all of Lanka's forces and the eldest son of Charybdis.
Fury ignited within Ashoka, and he launched an attack on Krodha, masking his identity.
However, his efforts proved futile. His physical might was like the flailing of a child against Krodha's overwhelming magical power.
Each strike Ashoka delivered was effortlessly countered, and his best efforts were met with dismissive ease.
Krodha, with a calm yet deadly demeanor, dominated the fight. His magical prowess was unmatched, rendering Ashoka's attacks meaningless.
The clash culminated in a single, devastating blow.
Krodha punched Ashoka in the gut with such force that he was sent flying through the sky, hurtling away from the battlefield.
As Ashoka hurtled through the air, the pain was excruciating, but the humiliation and the stark reminder of his inferiority to Krodha burned even deeper.
The chilling realization settled in: despite all his accumulated power, he was still not strong enough to challenge the might of Lanka and its champions.
In contrast krodha clutched his fist satisfied with the way he handled the fight despite having to use his Judgement skill.
Krodha's concept of Victory had been activated throughout the exchange, ensuring Ashoka's defeat was inevitable.
Ashoka's struggle was a futile one as the battle's outsome was decided the moment he allowed Krodha to choose his battlefield.
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