The docks were a scene of madness. Ships were frantically raising their sails, trying to leave Loguetown before the Navy completely locked down the port. Kai stumbled over a wooden crate, his lungs burning like fire. The temporary boost from the King's Will had faded, leaving him even weaker than before.
[System Warning: Temporary boost expired.]
[Vitality: 5% | Warning: Total Collapse Imminent.]
"Just... a little... further," Kai gasped. He could see a small, inconspicuous fishing boat at the end of the pier. It was his only chance.
Behind him, the shouting of the Marines grew louder. They were clearing the streets, and it was only a matter of time before they spotted him again. With the last of his strength, Kai lunged onto the deck of the boat and hid behind a stack of smelly fish nets.
[Ding!]
[Mission Complete: Escape Loguetown.]
[Reward: Soul Recovery Potion (Junior Grade) has been sent to your Inventory.]
Without waiting a second, Kai opened his system interface. A small glass vial filled with a shimmering blue liquid appeared in his hand. He pulled the cork with his teeth and swallowed the potion in one gulp.
The effect was instant. A cool, refreshing sensation spread from his stomach to his fingertips. The sharp pain in his joints softened, and the crushing weight on his chest lifted.
[Current Status: Stabilized.]
[Life Span Recovered: 5 Years.]
[Current Age (Internal): 53 Years Old.]
Kai leaned back against the wooden hull, exhaling a long breath. He had traded 40 years and recovered only 5. He still felt older, more tired, but at least he wasn't dying anymore.
"Hey! Who's there?" a deep voice growled.
Kai froze. A man in a dark cloak stepped out from the shadows of the boat. It was the same man Kai had seen earlier—the one with the sharp, observant eyes. He wasn't a Marine, but he didn't look like a common pirate either.
"A boy who steals the souls of kings shouldn't be hiding under fish nets," the man said, a faint, mysterious smile appearing on his face.
Kai's heart hammered against his ribs. Did this man see what happened on the platform? Who was he?
[System Scan Initiated...]
[Warning: Power level of the individual is immeasurable!]
"Who are you?" Kai asked, his hand tightening around the empty potion vial.
The man looked out toward the horizon, where the storm was beginning to brew. "Names are not important in this new era. But if you want to survive with that power, you'll need more than just luck."
The boat began to move, drifting away from the chaos of Loguetown. Kai looked back at the fading silhouette of the execution platform. He had survived the beginning. Now, the real trade was about to start.