In the Last Episode...
After escaping from Yagami Village, Ren and Ekai tricked Akaio into paying for bowls of noodles before running away. Akaio barely escaped the furious shopkeeper and rushed back to the ship. As the shopkeeper realized he had been tricked, the three companions had already sailed away, continuing their journey across the endless ocean toward the legendary Gate of Kasagito.
---
Present Time
The morning sun slowly rose above the endless ocean.
Gentle waves carried the ship peacefully across the sea while a cool breeze filled the sails. The ocean shimmered beneath the bright sunlight, and everything seemed calm once again.
Akaio stretched his arms and smiled.
"What a peaceful day."
"I hope today stays like this."
Before anyone could answer...
The entire ship suddenly shook.
BOOM!!
Water exploded high into the air.
A gigantic sea creature burst out from beneath the ocean, roaring loudly as it blocked the ship's path.
Its enormous body towered above them.
Its glowing eyes stared directly at the three travelers.
Ekai immediately stepped forward.
"Another one?!"
Ren calmly rested his hand on Hasikat.
"I'll handle it."
He looked toward Ekai.
"Summon your guardian."
Ekai nodded.
Without wasting another second, Ren jumped from the ship.
Splash!
Instead of sinking...
He landed on the surface of the ocean.
Then he began running across the water at incredible speed.
Akaio watched in amazement.
"No matter how many times I see it..."
"I still can't believe he can run on water."
Meanwhile, Ekai stretched out his arm.
"Guardian!"
A giant guardian appeared behind him.
Without hesitation, it dove deep beneath the sea.
Moments later...
The guardian grabbed the gigantic creature and threw it high into the sky.
The monster roared as its massive body rose above the clouds.
Ren smiled slightly.
"Perfect."
He leaped high into the air.
Hasikat left its sheath.
A single slash crossed the sky.
Slash!!
The sea creature stopped moving.
A thin red line appeared across its body.
A second later...
Its enormous body split perfectly into two pieces before crashing back into the ocean.
Huge waves spread across the sea.
Ren landed back on the ship as if nothing had happened.
"Let's keep moving."
---
Several hours later...
A massive island appeared on the horizon.
Dense forests covered its surface while enormous mountains rose toward the sky.
Ancient ruins could be seen hidden among the trees.
Akaio's eyes sparkled with excitement.
"We finally found another island!"
The ship reached the shore.
The three companions stepped onto the beach before beginning to explore.
After walking for quite some time...
They discovered a gigantic cave hidden behind thick vines.
Cold air flowed from its entrance.
Ren quietly looked inside.
"The key might be here."
Without hesitation...
The three entered the darkness.
The deeper they walked...
The darker the cave became.
Only the sound of dripping water echoed through the tunnels.
Suddenly...
Several monsters rushed toward them from the shadows.
Ekai calmly raised his hand.
"Guardian."
The guardian appeared instantly.
Within moments...
Every monster had been defeated.
Their bodies disappeared into darkness.
The journey continued.
Eventually...
The cave split into two different paths.
Ekai looked toward the others.
"We'll search separately."
"I'll go this way with my guardian."
Akaio nodded.
"I'll go with Ren."
The two groups separated.
---
Ekai carefully explored his tunnel.
Every few minutes another monster appeared.
Each time...
His guardian defeated them effortlessly.
Meanwhile...
Ren and Akaio walked through the second tunnel.
Dozens of monsters suddenly rushed toward them.
Ren didn't even stop walking.
His blade flashed once.
Every monster collapsed.
Silence returned immediately.
Akaio slowly looked around.
"...That's scary."
After walking deeper into the cave...
Ekai activated a magical communication spell.
A glowing symbol appeared before him.
"Hey, Akaio."
"Can you hear me?"
Akaio touched the magic circle.
"I'm connected."
Ren glanced at the glowing spell.
"You know magic?"
Akaio nodded.
"Yes."
"But using it consumes half my energy."
A few moments later...
Ekai's excited voice echoed through the spell.
"I found the key!"
"Come here quickly!"
Akaio smiled.
"He found it."
Ren immediately turned toward the solid stone wall.
Instead of walking around...
He raised Hasikat.
Slash!
Slash!
Slash!
Massive cuts appeared across the cave walls.
Within only a few minutes...
They reached Ekai.
At the center of the chamber...
A shining key rested upon an ancient stone pedestal.
Before anyone could move...
An old man slowly stepped out of the darkness.
"So..."
"You finally arrived."
Ekai immediately rushed forward.
The old man casually swung one arm.
Boom!!
Ekai crashed violently into the cave wall.
Dust filled the room.
Ren stepped forward.
Hasikat flashed repeatedly.
Slash!
Slash!
Slash!
The old man remained completely still.
He smiled.
"I don't even feel your attacks."
Suddenly...
He punched Ren with terrifying force.
BOOM!!
Ren's body flew across the chamber before crashing into the wall.
The impact shook the entire cave.
Ren slowly closed his eyes.
Everything became silent.
Then...
Something changed.
A dark laugh echoed through the cave.
"Hehehe..."
Ren slowly stood up.
His head remained lowered.
An evil smile appeared across his face.
He gently cut the palm of his own hand.
Blood slowly flowed onto Hasikat.
The cursed katana absorbed every drop.
Dark purple...
Black...
And crimson-red energy surrounded the blade.
The weapon transformed before everyone's eyes.
Ren's eyes turned bright crimson.
His silver haori fluttered as an overwhelming aura exploded throughout the cave.
Behind him...
A gigantic shadow appeared.
The atmosphere became unbearably heavy.
Ren looked toward the ceiling.
Then...
He laughed.
"Hahahahaha!"
Without warning...
He disappeared.
Only a streak of purple flames crossed the chamber.
The old man blinked.
"...I don't feel any damage."
He laughed.
Then...
His body split perfectly into two pieces.
The chamber fell silent.
Ren calmly walked toward the key.
Before he could reach it...
Another man stepped out from the darkness.
"You want the key?"
"Fight me."
Ren smiled.
"You think you're fighting Ren?"
"I'm not even Ren."
The mysterious man instantly teleported behind him.
His attack struck nothing.
Ren had already vanished.
A voice echoed behind him.
"You can't even touch me."
Boom!
Ren's kick sent the man crashing into the wall.
The man quickly summoned his guardian.
The gigantic guardian roared as it charged toward Ren.
Ren disappeared once again.
He moved so quickly that neither the man nor the guardian could follow his movements.
A black-and-red flame crossed the battlefield.
The guardian froze.
Then...
It shattered into countless pieces.
The man screamed.
"My guardian!"
Without his guardian...
His power disappeared completely.
He collapsed onto the ground.
"Please..."
"Let me live."
Ren slowly walked toward him.
"You see..."
"This fighting style..."
"I know how to use it."
"The real Ren doesn't."
"That's why..."
"He can't kill you."
"But I can."
The terrified man nodded desperately.
"I understand..."
Ren smiled.
"Good."
One final slash echoed through the cave.
Silence followed.
The chamber became stained with blood.
Ren slowly turned around.
His glowing red eyes met Ekai and Akaio.
Akaio's entire body trembled.
He quietly whispered,
"Ekai..."
"I don't want to die this early."
"I'm not even married yet..."
A moment later...
The dark aura disappeared.
Ren blinked.
His eyes returned to normal.
The silver haori changed back.
Hasikat returned to its usual appearance.
Ren looked around in confusion.
"...What happened?"
Akaio quickly forced a smile.
"Nothing."
"Everything's fine."
He secretly whispered to Ekai,
"Don't tell him."
Ekai quietly nodded.
"I won't."
The three companions took the shining key before leaving the cave behind.
---
As night slowly covered the ocean once again...
Their ship sailed peacefully across the endless sea.
A cool breeze drifted across the deck.
Ekai and Akaio prepared dinner together.
Soon...
Fresh rice and grilled fish filled the air with a delicious smell.
"Let's eat!"
Akaio happily smiled.
The three quietly enjoyed their meal beneath the dark blue sky.
Countless stars reflected across the calm ocean.
Akaio looked upward.
"...It's beautiful."
"The sky."
"The shining ocean."
"And this warm rice..."
He smiled peacefully.
"This journey..."
"Is amazing."
Far away...
Unknown to the three companions...
A pair of glowing crimson eyes silently watched their ship from the darkness of the sea.
To Be Continued...