Kaizen's mind churned with the weight of the stranger's words. The ones who erased an entire century from history. The ones who fear what you might uncover. The World Government was after him, and this man—whoever he was—claimed to be his only real chance at survival. The salt-laden wind howled around them as the small boat rocked gently atop the restless sea.
He stared into the golden-eyed man's unwavering gaze, searching for deception but finding none. Kaizen had encountered liars before, men and women who spun words like webs to entrap the unwary. But this man? He was different. He carried himself with the quiet confidence of someone who knew the game far too well.
"Fine," Kaizen muttered, shifting his stance. "Let's talk."
The man smirked and extended his hand. "Call me Zephyr."
Kaizen clasped it, feeling the strength in the grip. This man wasn't just some wanderer. He was dangerous, and whatever game he was playing, Kaizen was now a part of it.
Zephyr stepped lightly onto the boat, the surface barely dipping under his weight. "We can't stay here long. We're being watched."
Kaizen's sharp eyes scanned the dark horizon. "By who?"
Zephyr didn't answer immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze to the water, where the moonlight shimmered on the waves. "They call themselves the Eclipse Order," he said at last. "They work in the shadows, erasing people and histories that don't fit into the world's narrative. They were watching your village long before you left."
Kaizen tensed. "What do they want with me?"
Zephyr's expression darkened. "Same thing the World Government wants—control. But unlike the government, they don't need you dead. Not yet."
Kaizen's mind reeled. He had spent his life avoiding trouble, keeping a low profile, yet trouble always seemed to find him. And now, it wasn't just pirates or rogue bounty hunters. It was an entire organization that lurked in the darkness, shaping history to their will.
"So, what's your angle in all this?" Kaizen asked. "Why help me?"
Zephyr chuckled. "Let's just say I have unfinished business with the ones pulling the strings. And I know potential when I see it."
Kaizen crossed his arms. "You think I'm some kind of weapon?"
"No," Zephyr replied smoothly. "I think you're a storm waiting to happen."
The words sent a chill down Kaizen's spine, but he pushed the feeling aside. "If they've been watching me, then they know I've left the village. What's stopping them from attacking now?"
Zephyr's eyes gleamed. "Because they don't know where you're going. But we do."
Before Kaizen could respond, a distant rumbling broke through the silence. The ocean trembled. His instincts flared. Something was coming.
Zephyr's head snapped toward the disturbance. "Looks like they're done watching."
A massive shadow loomed beneath the water, stretching impossibly wide. The air grew heavy. Then, with a deafening roar, the sea erupted.
A monstrous figure burst from the depths—a sea beast unlike any Kaizen had ever seen. Its serpent-like body coiled high, its scales shimmering in the moonlight. Twin eyes, glowing an eerie silver, locked onto them with predatory intent.
Kaizen barely had time to react before the creature lunged.
Instinct took over. He leaped, barely dodging the beast's snapping jaws. The boat tilted wildly, nearly capsizing as water crashed over its sides. Zephyr stood firm, unfazed.
"Impressive," he mused, eyes never leaving the creature. "But let's see how you handle this."
With a flick of his wrist, Zephyr vanished.
Kaizen's eyes widened. No, not vanished—moved. Faster than humanly possible. One moment, he was standing on the boat; the next, he was midair, a streak of darkness against the night sky. He landed on the creature's head with practiced ease, then slammed his fist down with bone-shattering force.
The sea beast howled, its massive body convulsing. The waves surged violently, threatening to swallow the boat whole.
Kaizen's grip tightened on the edge of the vessel. This was no ordinary battle. This was a message.
Whoever was pulling the strings had finally decided to make their move.
Zephyr landed gracefully on the boat's edge. The creature lay still, its massive form sinking beneath the waves. He turned to Kaizen, the ghost of a smile on his lips. "Still think you can run from this?"
Kaizen exhaled sharply. He had spent so long trying to escape his past, to live quietly in a world that refused to let him be. But this? This was different. This was a declaration of war.
For the first time in his life, Kaizen wasn't just surviving.
He was fighting back.
"Alright," he said, meeting Zephyr's gaze. "Tell me everything."
Zephyr grinned. "Then let's begin."
As the storm gathered on the horizon, Kaizen knew one thing for certain.
There was no turning back now.