The three of them boarded a ship and set sail across the vast ocean. Its sails snapped in the salty wind as waves crashed against the hull, carrying them deeper into the North Sea.
At the bow stood Miyamoto, his arms folded as he watched the waters ahead.
"Are we there yet?" he asked without turning around.
"Not yet, sir. We need to get a little closer," Peaches replied, checking the map in his hands.
Miyamoto clicked his tongue impatiently.
"Forget this. Come on. Show me the way."
"Wait, sir. We can't just----"
Before Peaches could finish, Miyamoto activated his Bloodline Technique.
"Range Domain."
Renshi spread across the ship, enveloping Miyamoto, Lucy, and Peaches. Their bodies slowly lifted into the air as the vessel continued sailing beneath them.
With a mere thought, Miyamoto propelled them forward. The three shot across the ocean at incredible speed, leaving the ship far behind.
Peaches's eyes widened as the wind struck his face.
"Sir, this is a terrible idea. If someone senses your Renshi, they'll know we're coming."
"Shut up, boy," Miyamoto replied casually. "I know what I'm doing."
He glanced at Peaches.
"My Range Domain conceals our presence. No one can sense our Renshi or see us while we're inside it. As far as they're concerned, we don't exist."
Peaches swallowed nervously.
This old man is insane. He's flying straight toward an Avengers hideout without the slightest concern.
Lucy, meanwhile, watched Miyamoto in silence.
She knew how powerful her master was, but his ability to conceal his Renshi so completely never ceased to impress her. Even powerful Shinras would struggle to detect his presence when he chose to hide it.
Several minutes later, a gigantic island emerged from the ocean mist.
Peaches stared at it in disbelief.
The island resembled an enormous turtle rising from the sea. Its broad shell-like surface was covered in sand and barren stone, and its sheer size made it look more like a small country than an ordinary island.
Peaches tightened his grip on the map.
"I think... we've found it."
Lucy's eyes widened with excitement.
"Finally. The Avengers' hideout."
"Don't celebrate yet," Miyamoto warned. "We haven't even confirmed that Amanda is here. For all we know, this could be a trap."
He looked toward the enormous island.
"Never forget who we're dealing with. The Avengers are predators, and we might be walking straight into their jaws."
His gaze shifted toward Peaches.
"Besides, I still don't know where you got your information from."
Peaches frowned.
"Sir, do you still not trust me? I've spent years investigating their movements across the continent. My father already knew one of their hideouts was somewhere in the North Sea, but he never managed to locate it."
His grip tightened around the map.
"After the Avengers captured him and the rest of my family, I continued the investigation myself. Everything I've discovered has led me here. This has to be the place."
Miyamoto studied him briefly before turning his attention back to the island.
"Hmph. Fine. I'll believe you for now. Let's take a closer look."
He lowered them toward the island, and the three landed on the sandy ground.
The landscape stretched endlessly in every direction. There were no trees, no grass, and no visible signs of life. Only sand, dust, and enormous stretches of bare stone covered the island.
Miyamoto glanced around, his expression growing darker.
"There's nothing here. Just an empty island."
He clicked his tongue.
"What a waste of my precious time."
"No, wait," Peaches protested, turning in every direction. "It has to be here. There must be something we're missing."
He looked down at the ground, then toward the island's enormous turtle-shaped outline.
"Maybe... that's why they call it Turtle Island."
Miyamoto raised an eyebrow.
"What are you talking about?"
"Maybe the island we're standing on isn't the actual hideout. What if the real place is hidden inside it? You know, like a turtle hiding inside its shell."
Miyamoto stared at him.
"You're not making any sense now, boy."
He turned away.
"But that still doesn't change the fact that we've wasted enough time. Lucy, let's go. We have other things to----"
He suddenly stopped.
His eyes narrowed.
For a brief instant, he sensed a powerful Renshi aura leaking from somewhere beneath the island.
It was there.
Then, just as quickly, it vanished.
Miyamoto remained motionless, carefully examining his surroundings with his senses. The aura had been suppressed almost immediately, but he had felt enough to know that something was concealed beneath their feet.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"So the boy was right after all."
Lucy and Peaches exchanged confused looks.
"What is it, Master?" Lucy asked.
Miyamoto approached Peaches and leaned toward his ear.
"Thank you for bringing us this close to Amanda."
Peaches blinked in surprise.
"W-what? What do you mean, sir? Did you find something?"
"They're here," Miyamoto replied, his expression turning serious. "Right beneath us."
He glanced at the ground.
"An entire army."
Peaches's face paled.
An army? Beneath this island?
Miyamoto turned toward both of them.
"Listen carefully. I'll find the entrance to their hideout. You two stay here and recover your Renshi. Don't waste any energy until we know what we're dealing with."
His gaze sharpened.
"Once we enter that place, things are going to get ugly."
Lucy immediately sat down cross-legged.
"Just do as he says, Peaches. For once, don't argue with him."
Peaches sighed and sat beside her.
"Fine, fine."
Both closed their eyes and began recovering their Renshi while Miyamoto moved away.
He activated Switch Mode, and his figure disappeared.
Within seconds, he was searching across the barren island, examining the ground for anything that might reveal the entrance.
Thirty seconds later, he stopped.
His hand hovered over a particular patch of sand.
A faint smile crossed his face.
"Found it."
He examined the ground more closely.
"That was almost too easy."
His expression hardened.
"Which means they've probably known we were here from the beginning."
He turned toward the distance.
"Lucy. Peaches. Get over here. There's no time to waste."
The two immediately opened their eyes and rushed toward him.
But before they could reach him...
The sky changed.
Dark clouds gathered overhead, swallowing the sunlight within seconds. The wind howled across the island, and the ground began trembling beneath their feet.
Peaches looked up.
"What the hell is happening now?"
KRA-KOOOOOM!
Black lightning tore through the clouds and crashed into the island.
The first bolt struck just a few feet away, blasting sand and stone into the air. Another followed, then several more, each powerful enough to leave deep craters in the ground.
"MOVE!"
Miyamoto's warning came just in time.
All three activated Switch Mode, vanishing from their positions as the lightning struck.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The attacks continued without pause.
Lucy reappeared behind a large rock, only for a bolt to smash it apart a second later. She teleported again, narrowly avoiding the falling debris.
Peaches landed hard on the sand and rolled away as another bolt struck the exact spot where he had been standing.
"Damn it. They know we're here!"
"Stop complaining and keep moving!" Miyamoto barked.
He dodged another bolt, his expression remaining calm despite the relentless assault.
Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the lightning stopped.
The wind died down.
The dark clouds slowly parted, revealing the clear sky above.
For a brief moment, the island fell silent.
Then a gigantic Renshi circle appeared before them, its glowing patterns spreading across the ground.
A deep voice boomed from within it.
"WHO DARES TRESPASS INTO THE DOMAIN OF OUR LADY?"
The circle erupted with light.
A towering, bald man emerged, carrying an enormous sword across his shoulder. His muscular body was covered in scars, and his fierce gaze swept across the three intruders.
Miyamoto stepped forward.
"Both of you, stay back. I'll handle this."
Lucy frowned as she studied the giant.
"Master, be careful. That man doesn't look weak."
"Shut it, Lucy," Miyamoto replied without looking at her. "Don't underestimate your master. I've fought far worse than this insect."
The bald man narrowed his eyes.
"Insect?"
His grip tightened around his sword.
"You have no idea who you're talking to, old man."
Miyamoto stopped a few feet away and looked up at him.
"And you have no idea who you've just picked a fight with."
The giant's face twisted with rage.
"You'll regret that."
He charged.
The ground shattered beneath his feet as he raised his enormous sword above his head and brought it crashing down with both hands.
The blade descended toward Miyamoto with enough force to split the ground apart.
BOOOOM!
A cloud of dust exploded around them.
Peaches's eyes widened.
But when the dust began to clear, Miyamoto was still standing in the exact same spot.
He had raised one hand.
The giant's sword had stopped inches above his head, held in place by an invisible force.
Miyamoto hadn't even moved his feet.
The bald man stared at his weapon in disbelief.
"What...?"
He pushed harder, his muscles bulging as he poured Renshi into the blade.
The ground beneath Miyamoto's feet cracked, but the sword refused to move another inch.
Miyamoto glanced up at him.
"Is that supposed to hurt?"
Peaches stared in amazement.
"Incredible... His sword hasn't even touched him."
A relieved smile spread across his face.
With someone this powerful on our side, we might actually have a chance against the Avengers.
Lucy glanced at him.
"Don't get too excited, Peaches. If Master hears you praising him, he'll probably become even more unbearable."
Miyamoto made a slight movement with his fingers.
The massive blade jerked upward, forcing its wielder to stumble backward.
Before the man could regain his balance, Miyamoto closed his fist.
An invisible force seized the giant's entire body and lifted him off the ground.
"Range Domain."
Miyamoto activated his Bloodline Technique.
The giant's sword slipped from his grasp and crashed into the sand.
"What the hell?"
The bald man struggled violently, kicking and twisting as he desperately tried to break free. His Renshi surged around his body, but the force holding him showed no sign of weakening.
Miyamoto looked at him with utter disappointment.
"If this is the kind of strength guarding the Avengers' hideout, then I've seriously overestimated them."
The giant's eyes widened as he struggled to breathe.
Who is this man?
I have spent years crushing enemies beneath my sword, yet this stranger stopped my attack with one hand and lifted me into the air without even touching me.
How can someone possess this much power?