The calm surface of the sea shattered. A pulse of overwhelming power surged from the deep as the air itself seemed to tremble. And then — an enormous creature erupted from beneath the waves.
A sea king.
Before Muugen's eyes towered a beast nearly 100 meters long, its scale-armored body gleaming under the fading light. Blood-red eyes, breath that sent waves crashing ashore — this wasn't just a predator. It was a force of nature. A living embodiment of raw, primordial terror.
Its intent was clear. Drawn by the scent of Muugen's roasted fish, it had surfaced to feed.
Muugen's eyes narrowed.
"Now I understand… this island isn't just a resting place. It's a hunting ground for monsters like this."
Still, he didn't panic. The only weapon he had — his energy shot — would have to be enough. He focused his breath, summoned power into his palm, and formed his first bolt. One second. One movement.
The glowing shot tore through the air, aimed straight at the creature's body — but it barely made a dent, deflecting harmlessly off its thick hide.
[System: Attack Effectiveness — 0%]
Muugen gritted his teeth. He didn't stop. With quick movements and narrow dodges, he launched a second shot, then a third. The second scraped the beast's neck. Not deep — but enough to get a reaction.
A thunderous roar shattered the sky as the sea king thrashed, eyes locked on Muugen.
He kicked off the ground and flew upward, narrowly dodging a massive tail strike that splintered nearby rocks. In the air, he charged another bolt, this time pooling more energy than before.
"This… this might be my only chance to survive."
The shot exploded from his hand, whistling through the sky like a lightning spear — and slammed into the beast's eye.
It howled. The sound split the clouds, and the sea turned crimson.
[System: Attack Effectiveness — 37%. Partial Paralysis Detected.]
Muugen didn't hesitate. He summoned another shot, faster now, tighter. The creature reeled back and lunged in desperation. Its jaw gaped open, wide enough to swallow a boat. The wind bent around it, and debris spiraled.
"This is it…"
Muugen released his final shot.
It burned like starlight — a perfect line of energy piercing through the beast's mouth and out the back of its skull. The sea king convulsed, stumbled backward, then crashed into the waves with a violent splash. Blood bloomed into the sea as its body sank.
Muugen descended slowly, landing on shaky legs. His breath was ragged, muscles trembling — but his eyes were calm.
"Anyone else would've died here. But I'm not just anyone."
He returned to the fire, staring into the flames. His body ached, his energy depleted, but his resolve had never been stronger.
[System: Skill Usage Threshold Surpassed. Experience Gained: +4%]
[Current Progress: 5%]
His eyes narrowed.
"So… the more I use a skill, the more I improve it."
That realization was gold.
If basic shots could earn experience, then refining and expanding the ability would accelerate his growth.
Escape never crossed his mind. No — this island would become his training ground.
And train he did.
Each day, Muugen experimented with his energy shots — shaping them, bending them, speeding them up. Some days, he missed every target. Some nights, he passed out from energy loss. But with every failure came progress.
One day, he split a shot midair, hitting two separate targets. Another day, he spiraled through the air, firing in a full 360-degree arc.
His flight became swifter. His aim, surgical. His power, precise.
By sunset, his body was drenched in sweat, clothes torn, eyes focused like blades. His power wasn't just growing — it was sharpening.