Location: Edge of the Gale Rift – 3 Days Later
Thunder cracked across the horizon as the Red Blade skiff drifted toward the edge of a massive whirlpool—not a whirlpool of water, but wind.
The Gale Rift was a tear in the sea, where the currents spiraled in reverse and storms screamed upward from the ocean floor. The clouds above churned like boiling ink, and below—black lightning surged in pulses like a heartbeat.
Benn Beckman stared ahead, chewing on the butt of his cigar.
"This place... it's where ships go to forget they were ever built."
Shanks, calm as always, leaned against the mast with his eyes closed. But even he couldn't mask the tension humming in his Haki.
Makino adjusted the controls of the reinforced skiff. "We've only got one shot at this. There's no turning around."
Ankit stood at the bow, blades strapped across his back. His soulflame flickered unevenly—still weakened by the last clash with the Other Stormwalker.
System Notification: Destination Confirmed – Stormmark Trial 6 – Final Fragment
Zone: Gale Rift
Depth: ???
Environmental Hazard: Constant Stormfield
Entry Conditions: Inner Soul Trial Required
Caution: You are being followed
Ankit glanced upward.
He didn't need the system to tell him.
The Stormwalker was coming.
Descent – Skyfall Into the Rift
The skiff nosed downward as Makino triggered the drop thrusters. A gravity pulse launched them into the storm.
Wind screamed like a living thing. The sky turned upside down.
Then—
Crash.
They pierced through the upper storm layer.
Lightning coiled like vines.
Rain fell upward.
And in the distance... enormous wrecked ships drifted midair, suspended on spires of wind.
Ankit's voice was low. "These are warships. Pre-Marijoa era."
Makino nodded, scanning the shifting pressure maps. "We're flying into a graveyard."
The Skeleton Armada
As they weaved between the derelicts, Benn scanned them with a soul detector.
"Every ship here... still has echoes."
Shanks added, "And they're watching."
Indeed, eyes—some human, some not—blinked within the hulls of the ruined ships. Ghostly sailors of ages past watched the newcomers like wolves stalking a stag.
Ankit could feel it too.
The weight of old wars.
A voice echoed from a broken galleon:
"Abandon hope... The Rift reaps all."
System Panel – Rift Entry Triggered
You have entered the Inner Rift Zone.
Stormmark Fragment 6 Detected: Located within the "Crown of the Maw"—an ancient ship turned fortress, locked in the Rift's eye.
Trial Type: Inner Reflection Combat
Soul Flame Vulnerable
Enemy: Manifested Self
All current system skills will be tested in distorted form
Ankit's brow furrowed.
"I'll be fighting... myself?"
Makino glanced at him. "A copy?"
"No," Ankit whispered. "A possibility. The version of me I could have become... if I lost everything."
Arrival – The Maw Opens
The Crown of the Maw came into view.
A colossal galleon with seven hulls stacked like a tower, held aloft by whirlwinds and tethered with soul chains to storm pillars. Lightning speared its sails, and its deck oozed black mist.
Makino's voice trembled. "That thing's not a ship. It's a soul cage."
Shanks stepped forward. "This is where we part. Ankit... this trial's yours alone."
"Wait—what?"
Benn gripped his shoulder. "This place mirrors only you. If we enter, the Rift will twist us too."
Makino added, "You've grown stronger—but now, you have to understand that strength."
Ankit took a breath.
Then leapt overboard—landing on the burning wood of the Maw.
Trial Begins – Mirror of the Blade
The mist formed a gate.
Ankit stepped through it.
He stood in a dark field. No stars. No system screen. No sound.
Then—
A figure walked out of the void.
Himself.
But older. Hardened. Blood on his coat. A thousand scars. And in his eyes—a void where fire should be.
This was Ankit: Broken Flame.
A version who had failed to protect Shanks.
Who had lost his crew.
Who had given in to rage—and become the blade instead of wielding it.
The Broken Flame raised twin swords—his aura crackling black with corrupted soul energy.
And charged.
Duel of Destiny – Self vs. Self
Clash!
Ankit met his counterpart mid-swing.
Their blades mirrored each other perfectly. Every strike was predicted. Every dodge countered.
System Blocked – Soul Reflection Active
All current skills unavailable
You must evolve within the trial
Ankit grimaced.
Then tried something unexpected—he let the flame recede.
Fought without power.
The Broken Flame smiled cruelly.
And pressed the assault.
Turning Point – The Real Ankit
Blow after blow rained down. Ankit's body bled. His soul shook.
But he remembered—
The real power wasn't just his swords.
It was his will. His refusal to surrender.
His bond with Shanks. With Makino. With Benn. With the crew.
And the memory of that first invitation.
Shanks, grinning, arm around him.
"You'll be my Vice-Captain, yeah?"
Ankit exhaled.
And rose.
"I'm not your mirror. I'm your end."
Final Strike – Soul Ignition Break
For the first time in the series—
Ankit unleashed a technique born not from the system, but from his own will.
Soul Ignition Break – Twin Flame Collapse
He crossed his swords in an 'X', burned away all fear, and struck through himself.
Boom!
The Broken Flame shattered into embers.
And the storm fell silent.
System Update – Final Fragment Recovered
Stormmark Fragment 6 Acquired – Crown of the Maw Cleared
Total Sync: 73.8%
New Skill: Ignition Break
Soul-surge technique that breaks any copy-type or illusion-type entity
Damage: 220% of base
Cooldown: 4 minutes
New Trait: Soul Sovereignty (Passive)
Immune to internal identity-based manipulation
All "mirror-type" threats reduced 50%
New Title: The Flame Unbroken
Return – Shanks Waits at the Edge
When Ankit emerged from the mist, bloodied but whole, Shanks stepped forward and nodded.
No words.
Just respect.
Makino embraced him.
Benn grinned. "You don't look so different."
Ankit smirked. "That's the point."
Far Away – The Stormwalker Reacts
Back on the surface, the Stormwalker turned from the sea.
For a moment, it paused.
Its blade hummed.
And in its mind—fractured as it was—it heard the scream of a flame that couldn't be broken.
The mimic... had fallen behind.