The deck of the small boat creaked under the immense pressure of Captain Harlen's broadsword. Kai's arms were trembling, the borrowed strength from his Soul Coins barely enough to keep him from being crushed.
"You're persistent, kid. I'll give you that," Harlen grunted, putting more weight into his blade. "But energy without technique is just a slow way to die."
Kai's vision began to swim. He could feel the 10 Soul Coins he burned rapidly fading. If he didn't end this now, he would be at Harlen's mercy.
[Warning: Adrenaline Overload ending in 30 seconds!]
[System Suggestion: Activate 'Soul Blade V.2' Evolution early?]
'Do it!' Kai screamed internally. 'Whatever the cost!'
[Ding! Deducting 15 Soul Coins... Evolution Success!]
[Skill Upgraded: Soul Blade V.2 — 'Whisper of the Departed'.]
Suddenly, the blue glow on Kai's dagger changed. It stopped flickering and became a sharp, thin line of violet light that hummed with a haunting sound—like a thousand whispers.
Kai didn't push back against the broadsword. Instead, he twisted his wrist, letting Harlen's heavy blade slide off his dagger. Using [Shadow Step], he appeared not behind Harlen, but directly under his guard.
"This is the price of my soul!" Kai roared.
He swung the violet blade in a crescent arc. It didn't cut Harlen's skin, but as the blade passed through the Captain's chest, Harlen froze. His eyes went wide, and his face turned ghostly pale. He felt a cold shiver seize his very spirit, as if a part of his courage had been sliced away.
[Skill Effect: Soul Chill — Target's physical movement is reduced by 50% for 1 minute.]
Harlen stumbled back, gasping for air. He looked at Kai, not with anger anymore, but with a trace of fear. "What... what did you do to me?"
"I told you," Kai panted, his body feeling the backlash of the power. "I don't just fight bodies. I trade in souls."
Before Harlen could recover, Silas stood up from the back of the boat. He didn't draw a weapon, but the aura he released was so cold that even the Marines on the patrol ship felt it. "That's enough, Captain. The boy has shown his worth. Unless you want to lose more than just your pride today, I suggest you let us pass."
Harlen looked at Silas, then at the glowing, dangerous boy. He lowered his sword. "Fine. But know this, boy... The Grand Line doesn't just take souls. It devours them. We will meet again."
The Marines retracted their grappling hooks, and the patrol ship slowly drifted away into the mist.
[Mission Complete: Survive the Captain.]
[Rewards: 30 Soul Coins | System Map Feature Unlocked.]
Kai collapsed to his knees, his violet blade fading away. He was exhausted, but he was richer in power than ever before. He opened his system map, and a glowing dot appeared in the distance.
"Where are we going, Silas?" Kai asked weakly.
Silas looked at the horizon. "To the place where the weak go to die, and the strong go to become monsters. Welcome to the entrance of the Grand Line."