The storm had passed.
The black clouds scattered, and strands of sunlight spilled down from the sky. At last, the sea returned to clarity.
Kairos D. Vale sat cross-legged atop the broken remains of the transport ship, taking stock of his spoils.
"Ding. Host has defeated 'Queen' Emporio Ivankov and obtained Xiran Card (DNF Version — 1 Use)."
"…Even game characters count?"
Kairos couldn't help muttering to himself.
So even Dungeon & Fighter characters were included. Great. My youth is really coming back, huh?
That said, jokes aside, it was still a little disappointing that he hadn't gained one of Miyamoto Musashi's skills this time.
Musashi's techniques were all extremely useful.
"Emporio! Emporio, are you alright?!"
Behind him, Inazuma's anxious voice rang out again and again, pulling Kairos out of his thoughts.
He was currently giving Ivankov CPR, pressing down hard on his chest to force the seawater out.
"Go a little easier. The ship's about to sink."
Kairos lifted a brow.
Half the transport ship had already been blown apart. If Inazuma kept pressing that hard, it would sink even faster.
"Cough—cough!"
The moment Kairos finished speaking, Ivankov suddenly coughed violently and spat out a huge mouthful of seawater.
Then, at last, he slowly came to.
"Thank goodness, Emporio, you're awake!"
Inazuma nearly burst into tears from relief.
The weight hanging over his heart finally dropped away.
"…I'm not dead?"
Ivankov's eyes were still unfocused, full of confusion.
He looked down at himself.
There was a long wound across his chest, but it wasn't deep. Not a fatal cut.
He first shot Inazuma a reassuring glance, then extended his nails into syringe-like points and injected himself with a dose of Tension Hormones.
Not for battle.
Just to keep himself awake.
He was exhausted. His clash with Kairos had scattered his body and mind to the limit.
Only then did he turn and look at Kairos sitting nearby.
The Zen-like aura around Kairos had already faded, but that final dazzling brilliance still remained burned into Ivankov's memory.
He understood now.
Kairos had held back at the very end.
That wrathful golden form of Tenma Dai-Jizai Tenjin had only raised its arms. The four divine swords had never fallen.
If Kairos had wanted to kill him—
there would have been no suspense at all.
He would have died.
"I really thought you were going to kill me, boy…"
Ivankov drew in a slow breath and forced a smile, though the lingering fear was obvious.
"It was only a spar."
Kairos glanced back at him and waved a hand with a light smile.
Ivankov wasn't someone Kairos had marked for death in his heart. Beating him and taking the card was enough. Besides, Kairos wasn't some blood-crazed butcher.
Then suddenly—
"Right."
Kairos stood up.
He began walking toward Ivankov and Inazuma.
His pace was slow.
Sandai Kitetsu floated at his side, circling him quietly.
That alone was enough to make both Ivankov and Inazuma tense up, their scalps prickling.
They could clearly feel battle intent rising from Kairos once more.
And this time—
it was aimed at Inazuma.
He… wasn't finished yet?
Every step Kairos took felt like it landed directly on Inazuma's heart. The mounting pressure nearly suffocated him, and he unconsciously stepped backward.
Thud.
His foot slipped, and he fell flat on the deck.
Kairos stopped in front of him and asked in a quiet but completely serious tone,
"Inazuma, I'd like to spar with you too. Is that alright?"
The question nearly scared the soul out of Inazuma.
He immediately shouted in panic,
"No, no, no! I can't beat you! I surrender!"
Ivankov had already gone halfway to the gates of death in that fight. There was no way Inazuma could be Kairos' opponent.
Sometimes surrendering cleanly wasn't about losing face.
It was about survival.
Hearing that, Kairos frowned slightly.
He didn't want to let a card slip away.
But at the same time, attacking someone who had already completely lost the will to fight would cross a line for him.
And just then—
"Ding. Host has defeated Inazuma and obtained Soderos Card (DNF Version — 1 Use)."
The system's pleasant notification rang out.
"That works too?"
Kairos raised a brow, genuinely surprised.
He hadn't even fought him.
Just forcing him to surrender counted?
Was it because Inazuma had just watched his battle with Ivankov and was already convinced he had no chance of winning?
Kairos' thoughts stirred.
It felt like he had just discovered another part of the system's rules.
At that moment—
Rumble…
The shattered transport ship shook violently.
At last, it had reached its limit and was about to sink completely beneath the sea.
"Need help?"
Feeling the trembling beneath his feet, Kairos looked at Ivankov and asked.
He knew both Ivankov and Inazuma were Devil Fruit users. Once the ship went under, contact with seawater would drain them completely. Not life-threatening, perhaps, but still troublesome.
And since the ship had been destroyed during a spar that Kairos initiated, he couldn't just pretend it had nothing to do with him.
"I'm fine. We've got a lifeboat."
Ivankov wasn't panicking.
The moment he said it, he dropped into the damaged cabin below.
A moment later, he tossed a lifeboat into the sea, then jumped down into it himself. Inazuma followed right after him.
Seeing that, Kairos nodded lightly.
Then he tapped off the deck and drifted gracefully back onto his own small boat.
With a final groan of splitting wood and rushing water, the transport ship sank beneath the sea.
Kairos gave it one last glance.
Invisible Qi spread outward, wrapped around the little boat, and carried it away.
From the lifeboat, Ivankov and Inazuma watched his retreating back. Then they looked at each other and saw the same lingering unease in one another's eyes.
In the end, Ivankov could only let out a long sigh.
"That boy…"
"…is terrifyingly strong."
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