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The creaking of the Elysian's deck blended with the sound of waves splashing gently against its hull. It had been days since Ethan began training the girls, and though their progress was slower than they wanted, their spirits hadn't faltered.
Kaya sat cross-legged on the deck, sweat glistening on her brow as she tried to control her breathing. Her arms trembled from the conditioning drills Ethan had given her. "I—I swear… my body's about to fall apart," she muttered, forcing a weak smile.
"You're holding on better than yesterday," Robin said, adjusting her stance as she went through the motions of a defensive maneuver Ethan had tailored for her. She moved her hands fluidly, as if turning invisible pages of a book, practicing counter techniques.
Vivi, though exhausted, pressed on the hardest. She was drenched in sweat, her blue hair sticking to her cheeks. "If… if I can't keep up now, then what use will I be when it really matters?" she panted, striking again at the padded post Ethan had set for her.
Ethan leaned casually against the railing, arms folded, watching them. The faint moonlight reflected in his sharp eyes, though his expression softened as he saw their determination. They had no idea how much that effort meant to him.
"You three are too hard on yourselves," Ethan finally said, his deep voice cutting through the night breeze. "You're not supposed to master these techniques overnight. They were designed for warriors who've been training since childhood."
Vivi stumbled slightly, bracing herself on her knees. She looked up at him, her face flushed. "But… you trust us enough to fight beside you, right? Then we can't just… watch you do everything."
Robin gave a rare, faint smile. "She's right. We don't want to be dead weight."
Ethan stared at them for a long moment, his lips tugging into a small, rare smile. "Progress doesn't happen without struggle. What matters is that you're moving forward. And you are."
The girls exchanged looks, the fatigue in their faces giving way to small smiles of pride.
Kaya exhaled heavily, flopping down onto the deck. "Well… I guess progress feels like torture."
That drew a quiet chuckle from Ethan.
The training session wound down, and one by one, the girls retreated below deck, collapsing into their beds. Exhaustion made them fall asleep almost instantly, soft breathing filling the quiet halls of the Elysian.
Ethan remained above, staring at the dark horizon. His demeanor shifted—his relaxed smile vanished, replaced with the cold edge of awareness. He had sensed it for days now. The tail that refused to back off.
Cipher Pol.
"They didn't take the warning…" Ethan muttered under his breath, his golden eyes narrowing.
He didn't want the girls dragged into this shadow war. With a calm step, he left the Elysian, his figure blending into the night as if the darkness itself bent to hide him.
Far behind the Elysian, on a smaller black-hulled vessel, the Cipher Pol agents whispered among themselves. Papers were spread across a small table, maps of routes marked with red ink.
One of them—a man with sharp glasses—spoke in a hushed, urgent tone. "This is reckless. That man—Ethan—he's not normal. Even Lucci admitted it."
Another leaned back, scoffing, though his stiff body betrayed unease. "Orders are orders. We observe, we report. Nothing more."
The agent at the head of the group, his features hidden in the dim lantern light, stayed silent. His fingers tapped against the wood. "He knows we're here," he finally said. His voice was low, calm, but heavy. "I could feel it since that night."
The younger agent swallowed. "Then why… why hasn't he done anything?"
"Because," the leader replied, eyes narrowing, "he was warning us. The moment we cross a line…"
The man stopped, his gaze shifting as he felt something unnatural in the room. His instincts screamed at him.
"—too late."
The voice came from behind them. Cold, unhurried, dripping with certainty.
The agents turned sharply, hands already reaching for their weapons. But Ethan was already standing there, inside their cabin, golden eyes gleaming faintly in the dark. Not a single door or window had been disturbed.
The air thickened instantly. Even trained operatives felt the crushing pressure that radiated from him, like the sea itself had risen above them.
One agent's hand shook around the hilt of his blade. "…How did you—"
Ethan's gaze cut him off. He stepped closer, the floor creaking softly beneath his boots. "I told you once. Do not follow me." His tone wasn't loud, but each word carried weight, like stone dropping into a well.
The leader swallowed hard, trying to keep composure. "Our mission—"
"Your mission," Ethan interrupted, his eyes locking on the man like a predator sizing up prey, "is about to turn into your funeral if you don't listen."
No one dared to breathe.
Ethan let the silence stretch, making them choke on it. Then, he tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk touching his lips. "You're not stupid. You know I could erase this ship from the sea before you drew your next breath. The only reason you're alive is because I don't want to stain my hands with meaningless blood."
He turned his back to them, walking toward the shadows of the cabin. The Cipher Pol agents stared in disbelief—turning your back on enemies was a death wish, yet not one of them moved. Not one dared.
Just before disappearing into the night, Ethan spoke again, his voice low but sharp as a blade.
"This is your last chance. Keep tailing me, and next time… I won't be so merciful."
And with that, he was gone, as if he'd never been there.
The agents were left frozen in place, cold sweat dripping down their necks. No one spoke. The reality was clear—if they continued, they were walking to their graves.
Back on the Elysian, Ethan returned quietly, standing at the bow of the ship. He looked at the calm ocean stretching endlessly under the stars, his expression unreadable.
He thought of the girls below deck, sleeping peacefully after their exhausting training. A small, fleeting smile touched his lips. "You've got a long way to go," he whispered softly. "But you're on the right path."
The smile faded as his eyes sharpened once more. "And as for those dogs… if they think they can play shadow games with me, they're about to learn what true darkness is."
The night carried his words away, the ship sailing steadily toward Long Ring Island, where new trials awaited.
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