Chapter 12: Sinking Deeper

Inside the Belly

Katsu was still fighting tooth and nail.

The battle had turned into a bloody, brutal struggle.

His fists burned red-hot as he punched a four-eyed reptilian monster, sending it crashing into a pile of bones.

A wolf-like beast with razor-sharp tendrils lunged at him—

Katsu ducked, rolled to the side, and countered with—

"Flame Spear!"

A burning lance shot through the beast's skull, leaving it a charred, motionless corpse.

But even as one fell, more came.

Too many.

Too strong.

His breathing grew ragged.

His flames flickered.

His legs ached.

Damn it… how long have I been fighting?

Then—a deep, guttural sound echoed.

Something wasn't right.

The ground beneath him shook.

A rushing sound filled his ears.

Water.

From above, a massive flood crashed down.

Water poured into the belly like a broken dam, swallowing corpses, creatures, and everything in its path.

"What the—?!"

Katsu barely had time to react before the flood slammed into him, sending him tumbling through the water.

His body crashed into floating bones and dead creatures.

Through the chaotic currents, he saw something horrifying.

A kaiju.

A titanic sea beast, larger than anything he had ever seen, had torn through the creature that swallowed him.

Its glowing red eyes shined through the darkness as it ripped chunks of flesh apart with its monstrous fangs.

It wasn't just killing it.

It was devouring it.

The sheer shockwave of its movements sent tremors through the water.

Katsu reached out, trying to grab onto anything—

But the ocean's pressure had other plans.

A sudden pull.

An overwhelming force.

The water's vacuum effect sucked him out of the collapsing belly—

Out into the open abyss.

The Ocean Depths

Katsu spun uncontrollably, sinking fast.

The second he realized where he was, his chest tightened.

The bottom of the ocean.

Everywhere he looked—

Nothing.

Just darkness.

No creatures.

No landmarks.

No Simon.

No hope.

And then, he felt it.

A crushing force wrapped around his body.

Water pressure.

It was strong—brutal, like gravity itself had intensified a hundredfold.

His bones creaked.

His lungs screamed.

His vision blurred.

"Tch—!"

He clenched his fists, his flames surging inside him.

If the pressure was trying to squeeze him, he would fight back with heat.

Katsu forced his internal temperature higher, using fire to counter the cold and generate energy.

But it wasn't enough.

His vision darkened.

His body trembled.

His limbs felt like lead.

Was this it? Was he about to—

Then, he saw it.

A light.

Dim. Flickering. Moving.

A bulb fish.

Despite the insane pressure, it was swimming just fine.

How?

His mind raced.

Then it hit him.

It was pushing back.

The fish wasn't just resisting the pressure—it was matching it from the inside.

A counterforce.

Katsu grinned.

"Heh… that's it."

He focused.

His flames expanded—

Not just outward, but inward, through his entire body.

The heat rose, rose, and rose—

Until the pressure equalized.

He was on par with the ocean's force.

For now.

His body ached like hell.

His flames were running low.

He didn't have much time.

But before he lost consciousness—

He was gonna find that golden chest.

Meanwhile, At Spring Vile Street

Simon walked through the quiet streets.

He arrived at an abandoned alleyway, where a lone figure stood waiting.

A young man, probably his age.

Brown hair. Green shirt. Black pants. Sneakers.

And a pair of shades.

The man smirked. "Long time no see, Simon."

Simon sighed. "Chronly."

Chronly chuckled, crossing his arms. "Aww, no excitement? No 'Hey, buddy!'? No handshake?"

Simon narrowed his eyes. "What do you want?"

Chronly's grin widened. "Nothing much. Just came to say hi."

Suddenly—movement.

Simon's eyes flickered.

Black-clad figures emerged from the shadows.

Assassins.

Simon clicked his tongue.

The first one lunged—Simon grabbed his arm, twisted it, and sent him crashing into a wall.

Another swung a blade—Simon ducked, countered with a sharp elbow, and kicked him aside.

More came. He dodged. He struck. He weaved through them like a storm.

It was almost too easy.

Until—

SHNK!

A sharp pain pierced his left shoulder.

His eyes widened.

A knife.

Blood dripped down his sleeve.

Then—more knives.

Two. Three. Five.

All hitting their mark.

Simon staggered back.

His vision blurred.

Poison.

His breath grew heavy.

Chronly watched, adjusting his shades with a cheeky smile.

"Tsk, tsk, Simon. You let your guard down."

Simon's jaw clenched.

His body was dizzy, numb—

But his mind was sharper than ever.

Through hazy vision, he glared at Chronly, his irritation boiling over.

This bastard.

And this wasn't over.

To Be Continued…