The sea was calm.
For once, Levincia's waters weren't burning, breaking, or bleeding warlight.
A massive cruise ship cut through the horizon—white steel, royal insignias, and training banners fluttering in the wind.
Inside, the new generation of Swords stood uneasy.
Mark Angelo.
Indra.
Jessabelle.
And at the center of it all—
Jhonathan.
He leaned against the deck rail, arms crossed.
"…As Swords," he said calmly, "you must protect Levincia with your heart and soul."
A pause.
Then he turned.
"So come at me."
The air shifted immediately.
Mark Angelo stepped forward first.
Fire erupted from his palms—violent, controlled, massive.
Jessabelle followed instantly, blades drawn, rushing in without hesitation.
Indra stayed back—watching.
Calculating.
Waiting.
Mark unleashed a storm of flame and lightning together.
The sky above the cruise flickered red.
Jessabelle struck from the side—
fast, sharp, precise.
Jhonathan didn't even fully move.
Two fingers snapped forward.
CLINK.
Her blades flew out of her hands instantly.
Spinning across the deck before embedding into the mast.
Jessabelle froze.
"…What—"
Indra acted.
Roots exploded from the wooden deck, locking Jhonathan's leg in place.
At the same time—
Mark unleashed lightning at full force.
A direct hit.
The explosion was immediate.
Jhonathan's head was blown clean off.
Silence.
Mark stopped breathing.
Jessabelle stepped back.
Indra widened her eyes.
Then—
a soft sound.
Jhonathan's body twitched.
His head regenerated instantly.
Like time simply decided it had been incorrect.
He rolled his shoulder slightly.
"…That's better."
All three of them went silent.
Jhonathan finally turned toward them.
"That's how you do it."
A small pause.
"Teamwork."
He smiled faintly.
Indra exhaled slowly.
Then lowered her head.
"…Thank you, stepfather Jhon."
The wind passed over the cruise deck.
The sea below remained calm—
but the future ahead of them was anything but.