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

The ocean was still, the echoes of our battle fading into the depths. The King of the Deep had acknowledged me—not as prey, but as an equal. The weight of that realization settled in my chest.

I had truly stepped into a new realm of power.

Vex grinned from his floating platform. "Well, that was something. You just forced a Sea King to bow—most people would have been eaten before even trying."

Tatsuo sheathed his sword, exhaling sharply. "He's not just some rookie anymore."

Selene studied me, her gaze unreadable. "That power you used… it was different."

I looked down at my hands, feeling the lingering pulse of black lightning. The Conqueror's Haki I had unleashed was beyond anything I'd ever experienced.

But I had no time to dwell on it.

Because our journey was far from over.

The Trial's Reward

The Sea King's golden eyes remained locked onto me. Then, it spoke.

"You have proven your worth. Take this."

From the depths, a small, ornate chest floated upward. It glowed with an eerie light, as if holding something of great importance.

I reached out and grabbed it. The moment my fingers touched the surface, a surge of energy pulsed through me.

Shira narrowed her eyes. "What's inside?"

Vex smirked. "Open it and find out."

Carefully, I lifted the lid. Inside lay a single black scale, shimmering like a starry night.

The Sea King's voice rumbled. "That is a fragment of my power. A token of the sea's blessing."

A blessing?

Before I could ask, the cavern trembled. The waters around us began to shift, forming a whirlpool beneath our feet.

"The trial is complete," the Sea King intoned. "Now, go forth."

And with that, the water swallowed us whole.

Arrival at the Next Stage

When I opened my eyes again, I was lying on a warm surface. Sand.

We had been transported to a new island.

The sky above was dark, yet filled with glowing constellations that twisted and shifted unnaturally. The air smelled of salt and something… metallic.

Selene groaned, sitting up. "Where… are we?"

Vex stretched his arms. "Welcome to the Isle of Forgotten Kings—the next step in your journey."

Shira dusted herself off. "What kind of place is this?"

Vex's grin widened. "A graveyard of legends. A place where warriors who once ruled the seas met their end."

A cold chill ran down my spine.

This place felt different. Dangerous.

And I had the feeling…

That we weren't alone.