Chapter 258: Otone's Resolve
{Navy Headquarters – Supreme Admiral's Office}
Supreme Admiral Seraphel Dawn sat quietly, pen tapping against paper.
"There's another pirate rising…" he murmured.
"He's been taking multiple territories. Forming alliances. If left unchecked—he could reach conqueror-level."
The pen stopped.
Meanwhile—
Otone's crew trained relentlessly, day after day. No rest. No excuses. Every mission ahead demanded more than before.
But Otone trained harder than anyone.
Morning — Mantra training.
Afternoon — Navy drills.
Evening — Virex's brutal exercises.
Night — The iron wall.
THUD!
THUD!
THUD!
His fists slammed into cold metal again and again.
Skin split.
Blood spilled.
Red drops stained the floor beneath him.
Yet he didn't stop.
His knuckles were crushed. His hands trembled. Every strike sent fire screaming through his bones. His breath came ragged, teeth clenched, eyes burning with pain and resolve.
THUD!
Blood ran freely now.
But Otone roared—
"I WILL PROTECT EVERYONE!!!"
His voice echoed through the empty corridor.
In his mind, Virex's words returned—sharp, merciless.
"Give up already."
"You're not fit to be a navy officer."
"You don't have what it takes."
Otone's fists shook.
Then he raised them again.
THUD!
Even as they bled.
Even as they burned.
Even as his body begged him to stop.
He kept going.