The air was thick with tension as Kaizen and his enigmatic new ally, Asver, sailed toward the next destination. The sea stretched endlessly around them, an unforgiving expanse of rolling waves that shimmered under the morning sun. The small ship they had acquired from a hidden cove cut through the water smoothly, but despite the calm of their voyage, Kaizen's mind was anything but settled.
His conversation with Asver the night before had left him with more questions than answers. The man claimed to be part of a shadow organization that operated beyond the grasp of the World Government, a faction that had survived from the days of the Ancient Kingdom. More concerning was the revelation that Kaizen's very existence was a threat to those in power. He had known he was different, but hearing it spoken so plainly had made it feel more real.
Asver stood at the helm, his golden eyes scanning the horizon. He hadn't explained much about himself yet, only that he had been searching for Kaizen for a long time. The way he carried himself, the aura of silent confidence, told Kaizen that Asver was no ordinary wanderer. He was someone who had seen the truth of the world and walked away stronger.
"You're quiet," Asver remarked, not turning his gaze from the horizon.
Kaizen exhaled. "Just thinking. About everything."
"Understandable," Asver said. "You've been thrust into a war you didn't even know existed. I'd be worried if you weren't thinking."
Kaizen leaned against the railing. "You talk like I don't have a choice."
"You don't." Asver's response was immediate, firm. "Not unless you want to die or live the rest of your days hiding."
Kaizen clenched his jaw. He hated being forced into things. His whole life, ever since awakening in this world, had been about making his own choices. But this—this was different. This wasn't just about survival. If what Asver said was true, then there was something much bigger at play, something that connected him to the forgotten history of this world.
Before he could respond, Asver's eyes darkened. His posture tensed, and Kaizen immediately felt the shift in the air. It was subtle, but something had changed.
"We're not alone," Asver said.
Kaizen followed his gaze. At first, he saw nothing but the endless blue. Then, he noticed it—a shimmer in the distance, barely noticeable against the backdrop of the sea. It wasn't a ship, at least not one that was visible. The movement was unnatural, like a ripple in reality itself.
Asver's fingers twitched. "They've found us sooner than I expected."
"Who?"
"Specters of the past."
Kaizen barely had time to process the words before the air itself seemed to crackle. The shimmer on the horizon solidified, and suddenly, they weren't alone anymore.
Three figures appeared on the surface of the water, standing as if the sea was solid ground beneath their feet. They were cloaked in flowing garments that seemed to merge with the ocean itself, their faces obscured by featureless masks of silver. The middle figure took a step forward, their voice echoing unnaturally.
"Kaizen."
Kaizen's hand moved to the hilt of his sword. "Who's asking?"
"The ones who watch. The ones who erase."
Asver stepped beside him. "World Government's clandestine enforcers. They don't exist in any official records, but they're the reason those records are empty."
Kaizen's grip tightened. He could feel it now—an oppressive weight in the air, as if the ocean itself was bending to the presence of these figures. This was different from fighting pirates or mercenaries. These people were something else entirely.
The middle figure raised a hand, and the air around them distorted. A force unseen but immense pressed against Kaizen's chest, as if the very concept of his existence was being tested, evaluated. He gritted his teeth and pushed back against it, his own energy flaring in response. The masked figure tilted their head slightly, as if intrigued.
"You are an anomaly," the figure stated. "You should not exist."
Kaizen smirked, despite the pressure. "Yeah, I get that a lot."
A moment of silence. Then, the world exploded.
A shockwave of unseen energy blasted outward, sending waves crashing violently against their ship. Kaizen and Asver leapt into action, dodging as one of the figures moved with impossible speed, a blade of condensed force slashing through the air where Kaizen had stood moments before.
Kaizen barely had time to process the attack before another one came from the side. He twisted midair, drawing his sword and clashing against an invisible force. Sparks of energy crackled upon impact, the sheer force nearly ripping the weapon from his grasp.
"They're testing you," Asver called out, weaving through the air as he clashed with one of the masked figures. "Seeing if you're worth eliminating now or later."
Kaizen gritted his teeth. "I'd rather not be eliminated at all."
He planted his feet on the mast of the ship, using it as a launching point to propel himself toward the nearest enemy. His blade sang through the air, meeting resistance as the figure countered effortlessly. But Kaizen wasn't the same as before. He had been training, adapting. He could feel the power within him beginning to stir.
A low hum resonated in his chest, and for a brief moment, time seemed to slow. His opponent hesitated—a fraction of a second, but enough. Kaizen shifted his stance, his blade moving faster than even he expected. The masked figure barely managed to twist away, but Kaizen's attack still connected, a thin line appearing across their cloak.
Asver's voice cut through the chaos. "Enough games."
The air around them darkened. The sea itself responded to Asver's will, waves rising unnaturally as he unleashed a force unlike anything Kaizen had seen before. The masked figures hesitated, then as quickly as they had appeared, they vanished, their forms dissolving into mist.
Kaizen landed on the deck, breathing heavily. "What the hell was that?"
Asver exhaled. "A warning. And a reminder."
Kaizen wiped the sweat from his brow. "Reminder of what?"
Asver met his gaze, the storm in his golden eyes reflecting the chaos that had just unfolded. "That the world doesn't forget its threats. And now, you're on their list."
Kaizen's fists clenched. He had been trying to avoid this fight, to slip by unnoticed. But it was clear now—there was no hiding from history. And if the world saw him as a threat, then he'd make sure they had a damn good reason to fear him.
The storm was only beginning.