The ocean was still bleeding.
A crimson tide stretched far across the horizon, dying the sky with the corpse of a god. Waves hissed and steamed where Jin's final slash had carved through flesh and bone. The Sea King King—the tyrant of the deep—was dying.
The air itself trembled with the last vestiges of Jin's Conqueror's Haki. The sea had turned silent, as though the world itself feared to disturb his wrath.
Behind him, the blood sea he'd manifested—his Blood Spirit Domain—hung like a collapsing sun, boiling the night sky red before it slowly folded back into his sword. His body swayed slightly in the air, every muscle rigid, every breath shallow.
Yet his eyes burned bright.
"Feel it," he murmured, his voice low and edged with iron. "The horror of drowning in my sea of blood."
The Sea King King's eyes—massive, intelligent, and full of defiance—widened. It understood. It wasn't a mindless beast. It could feel death circling it like a predator.
And for the first time in its reign beneath the waves… it was afraid.
The monster twisted, trying to dive into the abyssal depths, its colossal tail whipping the sea into storms.
Jin's lips curled into a cold smile. "You played, you roared, and now you run? How do I explain that to my women and my brothers?"
He inhaled once, and his entire aura surged again, spiraling into the blade.
"Dominating Blade—Final Art: Blood Dragon Rend!"
The air shattered.
A thunderclap cracked across the ocean as Jin blurred forward, his entire being consumed by speed. His body vanished, replaced by a streak of crimson light shaped like a dragon—a roaring, bleeding serpent tearing through the sky.
The sonic boom split the horizon.
SHHHH!
In an instant, Jin pierced through the back of the fleeing Sea King King's skull. The impact cracked the heavens. Water exploded in pillars a hundred meters high.
He appeared on the other side, calm, blade dripping.
Behind him, the beast's body froze mid-motion.
Then—
BOOM.
A ten-meter hole burst through its head, blood gushing like a waterfall. The Sea King King's massive pupils dimmed, disbelief carved into them as its colossal form sagged and fell, crashing into the sea.
Waves as tall as towers rippled outward, tossing the Eternal like a leaf. The crash rolled for miles. Then silence returned—broken only by the sigh of the wind.
The ruler of the deep… was dead.
On the deck of the Eternal, the tension shattered.
Makino's hands flew to her mouth, eyes glistening. Her voice trembled. "He… he did it."
Tears spilled before she even realized it. All that fear, that gnawing dread, finally broke. She laughed through her sobs.
Kuina gripped her blade tighter, the steel quivering in her hand. "I knew it," she whispered, her voice raw. "He never loses."
Tina's reaction was messier—her mouth open, disbelief and excitement warring across her face. "That man…" she murmured, shaking her head. "He's insane. But gods, he's strong."
Kuma, silent and massive behind them, simply stared at the fallen leviathan, eyes reflecting awe. His bear-like face cracked into a grin. "Boss did it again… guess I gotta train more. But damn, I'm dumb," he muttered under his breath, scratching his head.
Their laughter and relief mixed with the rhythm of the waves, a strange harmony after so much chaos.
Jin landed on the carcass, boots sinking slightly into the cooling scales. The stench of blood filled the air, thick and metallic.
He took a slow breath, feeling the dull ache spreading through his arms. His inner force was completely drained, every muscle screaming in protest.
"...Yeah," he murmured to himself. "That hurt like hell."
He let out a dry chuckle, half-exhausted, half-relieved. "A Sea King King really isn't easy prey. Even an Admiral would take their time to put one of you down. And you—damn—your hide could stop cannon fire."
He rotated his shoulder with a wince. The pain was sharp but manageable. "Still alive. No internal rupture. Just burned out."
Jin smiled faintly. That was acceptable.
He looked down at the body beneath him—miles of armored scales and ridges. The corpse pulsed faintly with leftover heat.
He clicked his tongue. "That's one hell of a prize."
The Eternal creaked as it drifted closer.
"Oi! Kuma!" Jin shouted. "Bring me the jade container we prepared!"
The massive bear-man looked up, blinked, and then nodded. "Right!"
He bounded over the rail, landing beside Jin with a boom, the huge jade jar strapped to his back.
Jin whistled, impressed. "Good. You remembered."
Kuma scratched his neck, grinning sheepishly. "You're not gonna make me dig the heart out, are you?"
"Exactly that," Jin said cheerfully. "Your hands are bigger. You'll finish faster."
Kuma sighed, but his grin never faded. "Figures."
While Kuma set to work, Jin crouched beside the Sea King's chest, tracing a finger along its armor. The scale felt like polished stone—impenetrable.
"Perfect for a coat," he muttered. "Or a cloak."
He drew his blade, slicing through muscle and hide with surgical precision. Each stroke peeled another layer free.
Within minutes, a massive section of scale—dozens of meters long—hung from the Eternal's mast, dripping seawater and blood.
It was grotesque and beautiful all at once.
Jin exhaled slowly, finally stepping back. The exhaustion caught up to him in waves. His hands trembled.
When he looked up, the women were watching from the deck.
He smiled and raised a brow. "Well? Your man's strong, right?" He flexed jokingly, flashing a grin that didn't quite hide his fatigue.
Makino's lip trembled before she laughed—half out of relief, half affection. "Idiot," she said softly, wiping her eyes. "You scared me half to death."
Kuina just stared at him, expression unreadable but eyes burning with admiration. "Sensei… that was beyond belief."
Tina crossed her arms, grinning wide. "So that's what full inner force release looks like, huh? You nearly split the sea in half."
Her tone carried something else—respect, and a bit of envy. She'd doubted his inner force cultivation once, back when she thought it was just some obscure martial trick. Not anymore.
Now, she understood.
When Jin finally stepped aboard, Makino met him halfway.
Her hands were trembling when they touched his chest, feeling the heat still radiating from his skin.
"You're burning," she whispered.
"Still breathing," he replied with a half-smile. "That counts for something."
She stared at him for a heartbeat longer—then, unable to hold it in anymore, she threw her arms around him. Her embrace was desperate, clinging, as though letting go might break the illusion that he'd returned.
He froze at first. Then he sighed softly, one arm wrapping around her shoulders. His other hand rose, brushing a strand of hair from her cheek.
For a moment, there was nothing but their breathing.
The scent of salt and blood filled the air. The sea roared quietly beneath them.
When she finally looked up, her face was flushed, eyes wet.
"Don't ever do that again," she said fiercely.
He smiled faintly, leaning his forehead against hers. "You know I can't promise that."
Her breath hitched. The space between them dissolved—her lips found his, trembling, soft, but hungry. The kiss wasn't about passion; it was survival. The relief of still having him here, warm and alive.
He deepened it slightly, savoring the moment before pulling back, whispering, "You'll make me soft."
She smiled faintly through her tears. "You already are."
A minute later, Jin turned back toward the others, all signs of tenderness hidden behind his usual smirk.
"Alright," he said, rolling his shoulders. "We've got one hell of a carcass to strip. Don't let it go to waste."
Kuina nodded immediately. Tina sighed but smiled. Kuma was still elbow-deep in the beast, humming something that might have been a victory tune.
Makino stood beside Jin, quieter now but calmer, eyes following the horizon.
The sea was crimson for miles, the body of the fallen king sinking slowly into the abyss.
Jin watched it go, expression unreadable.
Another monster down. Another scar earned.
But deep within, he could feel it—something calling from beneath the waves, a darker, heavier presence waiting in the distance.
He sheathed his blade and exhaled. "The next one won't fall so easily."
The wind carried his words out to sea.
The Eternal drifted onward, its sails catching the blood-red dawn.
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T/N :
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