One piece: Without a system, I have to survive!

The moment Vex uttered those words, the air in the cavern grew heavier. The second trial had pushed us to our limits, but now, we stood on the precipice of something even greater.

Tatsuo wiped the blood from his mouth, his expression dark. "One more trial, huh?"

Vex chuckled. "Oh, don't look so grim. This one will be truly unforgettable."

With a snap of his fingers, the cavern began to shift. The walls trembled, and from deep below, the sound of grinding stone and rushing water echoed.

Then the floor collapsed.

The Descent into the Abyss

We barely had time to react before we were swallowed by the darkness. The ground beneath us vanished, and we plunged into a deep, abyssal void. Water rushed around us, dragging us downward.

My heart pounded. Was this part of the trial? Or were we falling to our deaths?

I forced myself to stay calm, activating my Observation Haki. I could sense something massive waiting below. Something ancient.

Then, suddenly—

Splash!

We hit water.

I gasped, kicking to the surface. The others surfaced one by one, all coughing and catching their breath. We had landed in an enormous underground ocean, the ceiling so far above that it was barely visible.

But the real danger lay ahead.

Because right in front of us, emerging from the depths, was a colossal figure.

A true king of the deep.

The King Awakens

The water trembled as the massive Sea King rose. Unlike the beast from before, this one was different. Its body was covered in scars from ancient battles, its scales gleaming a deep sapphire blue. Its eyes, filled with intelligence, glowed like twin suns beneath the water.

And then, it spoke.

"Who dares disturb my slumber?"

My breath caught in my throat. It can talk?!

Vex, now standing on a floating platform, grinned. "Surprise! You're not just fighting a beast this time. You're fighting a legend."

The King of the Deep narrowed its golden eyes. "If you seek passage, prove your worth."

Without warning, it lunged.

A Battle Beyond Limits

The water exploded around us as the beast attacked. It moved faster than anything its size should be capable of, its claws slicing through the waves with terrifying precision.

Tatsuo barely managed to dodge as a massive tail whipped through the water, sending a shockwave that nearly tore us apart.

Shira's eyes flashed. "We can't win this with brute force."

Selene tightened her grip on her blades. "Then we outthink it."

The King of the Deep roared, the sheer pressure of its voice making the ocean churn violently.

But then—

I felt something shift inside me.

A familiar surge of energy.

Haki.

But this time, it was stronger. More refined.

I clenched my fists. No. This wasn't just Haki.

This was something beyond.