The battlefield remained inside Fura's Pocket Dimension —
an endless, violent sea beneath a distorted sky.
Waves crashed unnaturally high, circling around Sai as if the ocean itself wanted to swallow him whole.
Fura clenched her fist.
The sea beneath Sai's feet erupted.
Dozens of razor-sharp roots burst upward, twisting and striking like serpents.
Sai flipped backward gracefully, landing lightly on the water's surface.
He smiled.
But inside—
*One wrong move… and I die.*
His glowing blue eyes sharpened.
*Still… acting cool is necessary.*
A root shot toward his face.
Sai caught it mid-air and snapped it apart with pure strength.
Fura tilted her head slightly.
Two massive sharks burst from the sea, jaws wide open.
Sai grabbed their fins as they lunged—
With a single twist—
He split them apart.
Water exploded outward like shattered glass.
"Is that all you've got?" Sai said calmly.
His ocean-blue eyes glowed brighter than before.
In a flash—
He dashed straight toward Fura.
She snapped her fingers.
The sea roared violently.
Gigantic sharks, serpentine water snakes, monstrous octopus tentacles erupted from below, attacking simultaneously.
Sai twisted mid-air, dodging between fangs and tentacles—
Then—
His heel slammed into Fura's head.
She blocked with crossed roots.
But the shockwave alone sent her skidding backward across the sea.
Sai didn't stop.
He continued his assault.
Punch after punch, faster, sharper.
Fura blocked with roots—
But his speed kept increasing.
Her guard faltered.
One strike.
Two.
Three.
She was pushed back again.
The sea beneath them trembled.
Fura roared and unleashed even sharper roots, shooting them with full force.
Sai walked through them.
Hands in his pockets.
Each root shattered before touching him.
He raised one eyebrow.
"Is that all you've got?"
Fura's expression twisted in anger—
But something was wrong.
Her dimension flickered.
Energy was draining.
The sea distorted—
And suddenly—
They returned to the abandoned town.
Fura staggered slightly.
"No way…"
Sai casually snapped his fingers.
"My turn."
He formed a hand sign.
"Pocket Dimension — Infinite Roar."
The air warped violently.
Darkness swallowed the world.
When it stabilized—
They stood in absolute blackness.
Beneath their feet—
A sea of blood.
Endless. Thick. Quiet.
Fura stiffened.
A shiver ran down her spine.
From the darkness—
Massive, distorted roars echoed.
Creatures unseen. Unimaginable.
The sound alone crushed the air.
Within two seconds—
Blood trickled from Fura's eyes and mouth.
Her body trembled uncontrollably.
Sai watched calmly.
Then—
He released the dimension.
They returned to the town instantly.
Fura dropped to one knee, healing herself rapidly.
Sai smiled slightly.
"You can't survive in my dimension for more than two seconds."
She stood up fully healed, fury burning in her eyes.
"You—!"
She formed another hand sign.
Sai mirrored her instantly.
Two dimensions expanded simultaneously—
And collided.
Reality cracked like glass.
Outside—
A small glowing blue orb floated in the sky, vibrating violently.
Inside—
Chaos.
Fura's Deadly Sea manifested again—
But something was wrong.
She could barely move.
Sai's dimensional pressure interfered with hers.
Her movements slowed unnaturally.
Sai raised two fingers—
Water bullets shot forward like machine gun fire.
Fura dodged with difficulty, then lunged—
Kick.
Elbow.
Sai absorbed the blow and responded instantly with an uppercut.
She shot upward—
Roots grabbed her legs, stabilizing her mid-air.
Fura gathered both hands together.
"Now… you will see my true power."
Sai smirked.
"What's next, 1000-year-old grandma?"
Her eyes twitched in fury.
She raised both arms.
The sea exploded into existence again—
Massive roots, sharks, serpents, tentacles—
All charged at once.
"Now dieeeeeee!"
Everything attacked Sai simultaneously.
The dimension trembled violently.
Sharper roots pierced toward him—
His figure disappeared within the chaos.
Then—
Silence.
A heartbeat.
BOOM.
Everything exploded.
Fura's dimension shattered completely.
They returned to the abandoned town.
Dust settled.
Smoke cleared.
Sai stood there—
Unshaken.
His kimono was torn, revealing his powerful build.
His ocean-blue eyes glowed intensely.
He chuckled lightly.
"You got anything left? If you do… use it."
Fura froze.
Her expression locked.
Her red eyes trembled.
Slowly—
She held her chest.
Her gaze lifted.
She looked at him.
At his glowing eyes.
At his battle-scarred body.
At his overwhelming presence.
A thousand-year-old Queen of Chaos—
Feared. Ruthless. Merciless.
And yet—
Her heartbeat felt strange.
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
Her face shadowed slightly as she clenched her chest tighter.
"…I am canceling this fight."
The wind moved softly through the ruined town.
For the first time since her awakening—
The Queen of Mermaids hesitated.