Lan Hao Tian curled up on the floor, his body trembling uncontrollably. Screams echoed endlessly in his mind, mixed with the cold, relentless sound of shelling that refused to fade.
It felt as if he had been cast into the deepest layer of hell. Everything good in this new life—everything he had cherished—had been ripped away in an instant.
His bloodshot eyes burned with rage and terror, veins pulsing with fury. A fire of hatred had taken root deep within his soul, and it was growing stronger by the second.
Through clenched teeth, he growled each word with venom:
"If I survive this… one day, I'll destroy every last one of you bastards."
The bombardment finally ceased. Navy soldiers began pouring down from the warships, methodically sweeping the island to ensure no one had survived.
Hundreds of them moved in squads, rifles ready, scouring every corner of the island. Whenever they suspected movement, they opened fire without hesitation—cold, merciless.
Hearing the approaching footsteps, Lan Hao Tian's body tensed again. He didn't want to die. Not now. Not yet.
He still had too much to do. He had to avenge his parents, fight for the innocent who had died without justice, and—above all—tear down this world ruled by cruelty and corruption.
So he prayed. In silence, he begged for a miracle. For a sliver of hope. For survival.
But prayers alone could not stop fate.
A voice rang out nearby:
"Everyone, stay alert! There might be a tunnel beneath us. We don't know if they're armed, so proceed with caution."
The words struck Lan Hao Tian like a bucket of ice water, snuffing out his final flicker of hope.
So this was it. Two lifetimes… and nothing to show for it. He had failed again. Regret upon regret clawed at his heart.
One of the soldiers, wary and alert, approached the opening above him. He kicked away the debris covering it.
Light poured in.
It lit up Lan Hao Tian's face, revealing the raw despair etched into every line.
Seeing that the survivor was just a child, one soldier hesitated.
"Do we really need to kill him? He's just a kid…"
A harsher voice barked in reply. A rifle butt smacked the hesitant soldier on the head.
"Idiot. Think about it. Someone hid him here, didn't they? And whoever that was, we've already taken care of them. You want to let a child live—one who'll grow up with nothing but hatred for the Empire? This is how pirates are born. He's a seed of vengeance. A future demon. And the sea doesn't need another one of those."
"I get it, I get it! Can you not hit so hard?"
The soldier rubbed the sore spot on his head but still raised his rifle toward Lan Hao Tian.
"Goodbye, unlucky brat."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A barrage of bullets tore through the air—cold, merciless, and aimed straight at a defenseless child.
Lan Hao Tian shut his eyes tightly. He had accepted his fate.
But seconds passed… And he didn't feel pain. No burning, no impact. Still alive?
He slowly cracked open one eye, then both flew wide in disbelief.
Water!
It had appeared from nowhere, swirling around him in a perfect sphere, forming a shimmering barrier.
"Am… am I dreaming?" he murmured.
The navy soldiers immediately took a step back, alert and uneasy.
"Water Master! Everyone, on guard—now!"
They quickly abandoned their scattered positions and formed a tight, defensive formation, trained and ready for battle on all sides.
And then, from above, a man dropped out of the sky.
He was tall and lean, with deep blue hair tied back at the neck with a black-and-silver cord. His presence was wild and untamed—free like the ocean and just as dangerous.
His features were sharp and handsome: a strong jawline, high-bridged nose, and lips curled into a lopsided, arrogant smirk. A spark of rebellion danced in his eyes.
He glanced at the navy soldiers like they were nothing more than insects and said calmly:
"The boy is mine. Get lost!"
The soldiers stiffened, both wary and enraged. Veins bulged on their foreheads as they snarled in unison:
"Bastard, who do you think you are?!"
"You dare mock the Navy? Trash like you has no right to give us orders!"
They raised their rifles as one and opened fire—dozens of bullets tearing toward the man.
But none of them landed.
A pale blue shield had materialized before him, silently blocking every shot. He didn't move an inch. Not even a blink.
The soldiers froze, horror dawning in their eyes.
"N-No way… That level of power… A world-class master? Here? In a place like this?"
An invisible pressure slammed down like a tidal wave. The earth groaned. Bones snapped. Screams were choked mid-breath.
In an instant, the elite squad of navy soldiers was reduced to a heap of broken bodies, groaning in agony on the ground.
Lan Hao Tian could only stare in shock. But within that shock... came a flicker of hope.
That power... If I had power like that, I could change the world.
I have to get stronger. No matter what it takes.
He climbed out of the pit and walked up to the man. Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees, eyes burning with determination.
"Please, teach me."
The man glanced at him and chuckled.
"Haha… And why, exactly, do you want to learn?"
"Because I want to change this unjust world. I want to spark a revolution—to build a world where everyone can live the life they deserve. A world with human rights."
The man raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.
That… wasn't the answer he'd expected. Revenge for murdered parents? Justice for the slaughtered village? Sure. But this?
This boy's dream was far grander.
And yet, something about it… struck a chord.
He grinned widely.
"Hahaha! Good. Very good, kid."
"The name's Luo Tian Hai. And you?"
"Lan Hao Tian."
"Lan Hao Tian, huh? Well then... from now on, you're coming with me. I'll train you. And when the time comes—when you're ready—you'll go see the world with your own eyes. Chase your dream with your own strength."
Lan Hao Tian bowed low, pressing his forehead to the ground in deep gratitude. He would never forget this kindness.
Luo Tian Hai raised an eyebrow, sighed, then grabbed the boy by the collar and lifted him clean off the ground.
"No, no, no. That attitude won't do. First, we've got to work on your optimism."
"Optimism?" Lan Hao Tian tilted his head, utterly confused.
Luo Tian Hai just smirked.
"I'll take you somewhere. Live there for a while—time will do the rest."
Without another word, he hoisted the boy over his shoulder and sprinted off, vanishing into the horizon—leaving behind the smoldering ruins of the island and a new future waiting to unfold.