"Rampage—Primal Bear Ascension!"
Kuma's roar ripped across the deck, thunderous and raw. Behind his swelling form, a spectral shadow manifested—the towering outline of an ancient bear, its translucent maw bellowing to the heavens. This was no illusion. It was willpower, given shape through half a year of training, fueled by the rare herbs Jin had forced down his throat and the brutal lessons that followed.
Kuma's frame shuddered as the phantom merged back into him, sinking into muscle and bone. His bulk expanded further, veins glowing like molten iron. He crouched, then launched himself forward, fist cocked tight, his entire being compressed into a single strike.
The Sea King's maw bore down, blotting out the moon.
"Die!" Kuma bellowed, his fist slamming into the beast's snout.
At the same moment, Kuina surged beside him. Her blade traced an arc, crimson light flaring into a blood moon slash.
The combined assault struck true.
CLANG!
The clash rang out, deafening. Kuina's crescent carved sparks off the creature's armored jaw, leaving only a shallow scar. Kuma's punch dented a scale, blood seeping through a crack.
But that was all.
The leviathan merely flinched.
Its eyes narrowed, reptilian pupils contracting in fury.
"Not enough…" Kuina hissed through clenched teeth. Her body shook with strain, yet she forced herself to step forward again, blade rising for another strike.
The beast lunged.
"Black Cell—Prison Net!"
Tina's voice cracked as she unleashed everything. Her arms spread wide, inner force flaring with the unnatural darkness of her Devil Fruit. From her palms shot a lattice of shadow, weaving into a massive cage of black energy that enveloped the incoming maw.
For a heartbeat, it held.
Then—
SNAP!
The net shattered like glass under the Sea King's strength. Tina coughed blood, collapsing onto the deck. The backlash wracked her body, leaving her gasping.
"Damn it…" she spat weakly, eyes blurring.
Kuma roared as the monster's breath washed over him, heat and stench of brine and blood nearly suffocating. He slammed his paws together, but the next swipe caught him midair.
CRACK!
His body slammed onto the deck, scales of blood spreading across his skin. Bones groaned. His chest heaved, vision swimming.
Still, he struggled to rise.
Kuina slashed again and again, her blade ringing like a gong against the beast's hide. Sparks flew. Cuts formed—shallow scratches across an endless wall of armor. She screamed with frustration, hacking wildly.
"It won't break!" she cried, sweat and tears mixing.
The Sea King's pupils dilated with hunger. Its head reared back, jaws opening wide enough to swallow the ship whole.
Terror swept the deck like fire. Even Tina, clutching her bleeding chest, felt despair choke her.
"This is why the Navy fears them…" she whispered. "Only an Admiral could…"
Then, salvation.
"Five-Dragon Fist—Golden Dragon Shatters the Mountain!"
A roar—not from the beast, but from the sea itself. A golden dragon of pure force tore upward, smashing into the Sea King's head from the side. The impact sent the colossal skull reeling, teeth snapping shut inches from the mast. The leviathan's body crashed sideways into the waves, a tidal wall exploding outward.
The deck rattled. The crew gasped for breath.
And on the bow, framed by the moonlight—stood Jin.
He exhaled calmly, lowering his fist.
"Am I late?" His voice was soft, almost playful.
"Boss!" Kuma gasped, relief lighting his battered face.
"You're back!" Kuina's voice cracked.
"Kill it!" Tina shouted, eyes blazing.
Their desperation melted into faith. As long as he was here, the world felt survivable.
Jin's gaze fixed on the frothing waves. The Sea King surged back up, eyes locked on him alone now. In its gaze flickered more than hunger—there was recognition. It understood. This was no mere prey. This was a rival.
Jin rolled his shoulders, lifting his crimson-patterned blade. His violet eyes deepened, an abyss pulling all things inward.
"I'll be quick," he murmured, leaping skyward.
He hovered above the crashing surf, coat whipping around him, hair streaming like black fire. The Sea King rose higher, its jaw opening wide, roar shaking the heavens.
"Clever eyes," Jin said softly, tilting his head. "But you should've stayed in the deep."
The beast's tail lashed, summoning a tidal wave to engulf him.
He smiled faintly.
"Dominating Blade—Heaven's Severing Strike!"
His arm swelled with power, veins bursting with purple fire. He swung.
The blade cut not water, not air—but everything. A red arc split the tsunami in half, cleaving it down the center. The wave collapsed uselessly on either side, leaving a straight path of calm sea beneath him.
The Sea King roared in disbelief. It lunged, teeth snapping.
Jin didn't retreat.
"Too slow."
He stepped into the strike, blade plunging straight into its open maw.
The Sea King bit down, its jaw locking around the weapon. For an instant, it seemed like man and beast were deadlocked.
Then Jin's lips curled.
"Leave the teeth behind."
He unleashed his will. The crimson blade shattered into hundreds of shards of force—razor-thin fragments of killing intent that detonated inside the beast's mouth.
The leviathan convulsed, its roar cut into a strangled gurgle. Its fangs cracked like glass, spraying white fragments into the air. Blood geysered as its tongue shredded.
On the deck, the others watched in stunned silence.
Makino stumbled out from the cabin, pale with fear. She saw him—alone in the sky, tearing apart a god of the sea—and her heart nearly burst.
He looked untouchable. And yet, she knew how much he gave with each strike.
"Jin…" she whispered, clutching her chest.
Above, Jin twisted free of the jaws, blood spraying across his face. He raised the blade again. His aura blazed red-violet, a storm of dominance so crushing it forced even the Sea King to falter.
"This ends now."
He spun, drawing every drop of inner force into the swing.
"Dominating Blade—World-Shattering Flash!"
The strike ignited the night.
A scarlet line burned across the beast's skull. Silence.
Then—
SPLASH!
The leviathan's head split apart, collapsing into the sea. Its titanic body shuddered, then fell sideways, waves blotting out the stars as it sank into the abyss.
Silence. Only the wind howled.
Jin landed lightly on the deck, sheathing his sword. His chest rose and fell, but his eyes burned steady.
"It's done."
Kuma dropped to his knees, laughing weakly. "Boss… you really…"
Kuina stared, blade trembling in her hand. "Not even Admirals…" she muttered.
Tina wiped blood from her lips, unable to hide the awe in her gaze.
Makino walked forward, slow at first, then running. She crashed into him, arms wrapping tight around his chest.
"You idiot!" she cried into him. "You… you always…"
He stroked her hair, voice gentle. "It's alright now. I told you—I don't fall so easily."
Her tears soaked his shirt, but relief made her knees weak. For a fleeting moment, she didn't care about the others watching. She tipped her head up and kissed him, fierce and desperate.
He accepted, pulling her closer, letting the fire of survival melt into warmth. For all the blood and chaos, this moment belonged only to them.
When they finally parted, she whispered against his lips: "Don't ever scare me like that again."
He smirked faintly. "No promises."
The Eternal rocked gently as the seas calmed. The corpse of the Sea King sank below, leaving only blood and silence.
Above them, the stars returned, shining cold and eternal.
Ahead, the dark horizon promised new trials. But tonight—they had survived.
And survival was enough.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T/N :
Support me and Access 25 chapters in Advance on my P@treon: [email protected]/GodFic