The giant ship continued cutting through the ocean like a moving fortress.
Wind filled its massive sails while waves crashed against its enormous hull.
Most of the sailors were busy with their duties.
But one man suddenly stopped.
He stood near the railing, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly.
A rugged fisherman in his early forties, with sun-darkened skin and powerful shoulders. His body carried the quiet strength of a trained martial artist.
He tilted his head slightly.
Fisherman: "Did you hear that…?"
Another sailor beside him frowned.
Sailor: "Hear what?"
The fisherman listened again.
The ocean roared with wind and waves.
But between those sounds…
He heard something faint.
A weak cry.
A baby's cry.
His eyes widened.
Fisherman: "There's a child in the water!"
Without hesitation, he climbed onto the railing.
A loud voice shouted behind him.
Crewman: "Hey! What are you doing?!"
The fisherman looked down at the endless ocean below.
Far behind the ship—
A tiny boat floated helplessly among the waves.
Inside it… something moved weakly.
A child.
Crewman: "Don't jump!"
Another sailor rushed forward.
Sailor: "If you don't catch the ship in time, it'll sail away!"
Crewman: "Leave that kid! It has nothing to do with us!"
The fisherman ignored them.
He took a deep breath.
Then jumped.
SPLASH!
His body cut through the water like a diving spear.
Cold seawater surrounded him.
But his arms moved with powerful precision.
Years of martial arts training had hardened his body far beyond ordinary men.
His muscles moved like coiled springs.
Wave after wave split before him as he swam toward the drifting boat.
Meanwhile, the ship continued sailing forward.
The distance between them slowly increased.
But the fisherman didn't stop.
Not even for a moment.
Within minutes, he reached the small wooden boat.
Inside it lay a tiny newborn child wrapped in white cloth.
The baby's face was pale and weak.
Barely breathing.
The fisherman's eyes softened.
Fisherman: "You stubborn little thing… you held on this long?"
He carefully tied the cloth around the baby and secured him against his back.
Then he turned around.
The giant ship had already moved far ahead.
He inhaled deeply.
(If I slow down… we're both finished.)
Then he began swimming again.
His arms cut through the ocean like blades.
Each stroke pushed his body forward with explosive strength.
This was no ordinary swimmer.
He was the top martial arts trainer on the ship.
His body possessed strength and endurance far beyond normal humans.
Yet even for him—
Catching the giant vessel was no easy task.
The ship moved steadily with the wind.
The waves grew rougher as time passed.
Minutes turned into half an hour.
Half an hour became an hour.
Still he swam.
Relentlessly.
Like a man chasing life itself.
The sailors on the deck eventually noticed something behind them.
A small figure cutting through the waves.
Sailor: "Captain! Someone is swimming behind us!"
The captain stepped toward the railing and looked down.
His eyes widened slightly.
Captain: "…That idiot actually did it."
Far below, the fisherman continued swimming toward the ship.
The tiny child still tied securely on his back.
After nearly an hour—
He finally reached the side of the massive vessel.
Exhaustion burned through his muscles.
But he grabbed the hanging rope ladder.
And climbed.
The moment his feet touched the deck, several sailors rushed toward him.
Water poured from his clothes.
His chest rose and fell heavily.
The captain walked closer.
His gaze shifted from the exhausted fisherman…
To the tiny baby tied to his back.
Captain: "So… that was the reason you jumped."
The fisherman slowly untied the child and held him carefully in his arms.
The baby was still unconscious.
But alive.
The fisherman looked at the child quietly.
Then spoke with calm certainty.