Tina's words still hung in the salt air, sharp and heavy. But Jin only tilted his head, lips quirking with that damned confident smile.
"Relax. I don't take risks I can't beat. This time you'll see with your own eyes how strong your man really is."
He said it lightly, deliberately teasing, but Makino and Kuina both stiffened, worry painting their faces. Their fear clung to the air more than the sea mist did.
Jin sighed inwardly. They didn't believe in his calm, not really. So he softened his tone.
"Listen. I've broken past the bottlenecks of my training. My body's power… at full release, I can stand on the level of a Marine admiral. For a short time, but long enough. These whirlpools aren't my death. They're my test."
Tina squinted at him, skeptical as ever. "Admiral level? You expect us to take that on faith?"
Jin rolled his eyes. "Why would I waste breath lying to you? When I say I'll carve a path, I mean it." He glanced at Magino, then at Kuina, forcing his smile to soften. "Trust me."
Makino chewed her lip, tension still twisting her chest. She finally whispered, "Then… promise you'll come back. Don't overdo it. Please."
He reached out, brushing his knuckles gently against her cheek. "Always."
Then he straightened, voice clipped. "I'm going to scout ahead. Find the weakest seam in the field. You three—ready the ship for a glide."
The world narrowed to salt spray and booming currents.
Jin launched skyward, Moon Step pounding the night air. Each explosive stride rattled his bones, but his inner force flowed in endless cycles, washing the strain from his muscles as fast as it came. That was his advantage over anyone else in these seas—his mercenary king's discipline married to this body's unnatural reserves.
He soared above the maelstroms.
The scale stunned even him. Hundreds of spirals churned, some devouring each other, some colliding until spray spiked into the sky like geysers. The sea was shredded into knives of current, jagged rivers of raw power twisting and breaking.
Magnificent, he thought grimly. And merciless.
For half an hour he traced lines, watching which spirals fed which, seeking the gap. His legs pumped without falter, but sweat slicked his skin under the moon.
At last he found it—seven nautical miles of slightly weaker vortices, narrow as a blade's edge compared to the rest. Still long, still suicidal for a ship. But the only chance.
When he dropped back onto the Eternal Life, the women swarmed close. Tina pressed a flask of water into his hand before he even spoke.
"The shortest stretch is here." He pointed to the chart. "Seven miles. If we aim for this corridor, we can reach the edge. Then I'll dive and hold the currents back for the last stretch."
"Two miles?" Tina asked sharply.
He nodded. "Two. I can restrain them long enough."
They stared. He sat cross-legged on the deck and closed his eyes, steadying his breath. "I want full strength when I dive. Don't disturb me."
The three of them fell silent, but they didn't leave. When he opened his eyes half an hour later, all three were still there, watching.
He barked a soft laugh. "You three glaring holes into me doesn't exactly make me relaxed. Don't you have better things to do?"
Makino smiled sheepishly. "We're… just resting. Together."
Kuina and Tina both nodded stiffly, not fooling anyone.
Jin shook his head helplessly. "Women."
Then he stood, rolling his shoulders, stripping off his shirt. Moonlight caught on the ridges of muscle, on the pale skin he could never seem to tan. Silver training bands gleamed on his wrists and ankles. One by one he unclasped them and set them down with heavy thuds.
The deck creaked under the weight.
"Feels good to breathe without them," he muttered, flexing. "A little light, even."
Curious, Tina bent to lift one. Her arms trembled. She almost dropped it.
"You told me these were five hundred pounds each," she hissed.
Jin smirked. "Did I? Must've been teasing."
"Teasing?!" She strained and barely got the cuff chest-high before letting it crash back down. Her eyes widened. "This is nearly two tons! And your ankles—larger still—together that's over seven!"
Kuina crossed her arms, unimpressed. "Old weights. He's been wearing those for a year."
Tina stared between them, scandalized. "You call seven tons old?!"
"Girls." Magino's voice cut in, exasperated. "Not the time."
"Right." Tina huffed, spinning on her heel.
Kuina only smirked.
Jin chuckled and pulled his blade from the scabbard, resting it on his shoulder. "Enough squabbling. Time to move."
Tina slipped into command without hesitation.
"Kuma—helm steady. Kuina—rig the wing-sails. We'll need every inch of lift."
"Yes," they answered.
"And me?" Makino asked, glancing around.
Jin's eyes softened. "You? You're the most important. When this is done, I want a feast. My favorite. Think you can handle that?"
Her lips curved despite the fear. "Of course."
"Good." He winked, then strode to the bow, every inch of him alive with violent calm.
Behind him, the Eternal Life groaned as turbines whirred to full charge, sails flaring like wings against the wind.
Seven miles of hell waited.
Jin Akasa spread his stance, eyes narrowing at the churning black ahead. His blood sang with the promise of danger.
"Let's show the sea," he whispered, "that it can't claim us yet."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T/N :
Access 25 chapters in Advance on my P@treon: [email protected]/GodFic