Dense forest canopy above, scattered shafts of light stubbornly pierced through the sea of leaves, painting ripples on the mossy ground.
"Boa... Boa Hancock... damn, I fucking love you... heh heh..."
Murmured words of lusty dream-ramble drifted from a small hollow dug under a fallen tree.
A massive grey-black bear – Kuma – stirred at the entrance, grumbling at the morning glare, rolled over and blocked the light again.
But for Jin, sleeping deeper inside, the sudden shaft of sunlight still hit his eyes, tearing him out of that sweet, heated dream.
Groggy, Jin sat up, then immediately felt the dull throb of pain in his lower ribs. The pain sobered him instantly. Closing his eyes, he guided his internal force with the ancient breathing method, letting it flow from the energy center in his abdomen to soothe and probe every inch of his body.
Moments later, he opened his eyes, lips curling in a satisfied grin.
"Made it. Broke through."
Now, just a thought was enough to circulate the internal force – no more needing iron focus. The price? Damaged meridians and bruised organs from forcibly breaking past the barrier. Jin exhaled, voice low and calm:
"You only truly pass the trial when you're willing to bleed for it. Worth it."
He slowly rose, muscles protesting. His internal force had drained his blood vitality; his organs still ached faintly. Jin clicked his tongue:
"Guess I can't head back yet. Need to replenish my blood and settle the inner bruises first."
His eyes fell on Kuma, sprawled half-asleep by the entrance, massive back blocking intruding sunlight. A rare softness stirred under Jin's usual cold mercenary calm.
"Funny, huh? The first being in this world that gives me a real sense of trust... is a damn bear."
Jin's lips quirked in self-mockery. A killer reborn in a new world, never trusting anyone... except this stubborn beast who'd chosen to guard him.
"Oi, Kuma! Your boss is fucking starving. Go hunt me a big iron-backed boar. We're eating roasted whole pig today."
Kuma startled awake, then saw it was Jin, rumbled a resigned growl, and lumbered off.
Jin chuckled, watching the bear's huge back vanish between trees.
"Kuma's probably grumbling about my attitude. Fuck it, we're partners."
Later, as the smell of roasting boar filled the air, Jin analyzed his situation:
"Now that I've stepped into the dark force stage, I can fully channel internal force. With the ancient breathing method, I can draw energy from food to repair meridians, harden organs, and forge blood and flesh."
A week, and he'd be fully recovered. His meridians would still take time, but his bones and muscles – those would soon surpass the peak of his past life.
His gaze landed on his battered navy saber, blade nicked and edges crumbling:
"From now on, no more basic standing meditation. I can use that time to train sword technique."
A roar shattered the calm:
"Five Dragon Fist – Tremor!!"
BOOM!
A single punch, backed by violent internal force, smashed a five-meter-tall boulder into flying rubble. Broken stones shredded young saplings nearby like shrapnel.
Jin stood still, eyes closed, feeling the aftershocks ripple in his veins. Three days had passed since his breakthrough; blood restored, organs almost whole, only meridians remained tender.
"Even without full meridian recovery, my power now is several times what it was. Fuck, I actually miss home."
He chuckled bitterly. Even a killer like him missed the quiet little courtyard by the sea.
Suddenly, the underbrush rustled. Jin's sharpened senses – now extending a good fifty meters – flared to life. He spun around just as Kuma stumbled from the brush, blood soaking his shaggy fur, part of his flank torn open.
Behind Kuma thundered a massive dinosaur – a ridgeback raptor twice Kuma's size.
"Motherfucker, Kuma! I told you to pick a boar your own size, not drag a fucking monster back here!"
Kuma collapsed behind Jin, groaning in pain and frustration. Jin's purple eyes darkened, heart twisting at the sight. In that moment, something old and terrible stirred.
"You dare hurt my friend?"
His muscles coiled, blood roaring in his ears. A phantom of a black, endless battlefield flickered behind his eyes: The Bloodthirsty Abyss – the monstrous killing instinct that haunted him from his past life.
Without another word, Jin lunged, foot planting on a stone, body whiplashing up six meters. Twisting mid-air, he brought his left leg crashing down on the raptor's skull.
THUD!
Bone crumpled. Before the beast could fall, Jin spun and dropped again, heel slamming down:
"Fucking die!"
BOOM!
The dinosaur's skull burst like rotten fruit. Its corpse crashed lifelessly to the ground.
Jin stood atop it, chest heaving, cold sweat dampening his collar.
"The Bloodthirsty Abyss... it really followed me to this world. A curse born from too much killing."
In his past life, countless mercenaries fell to that abyss: minds cracking, living only for slaughter. Some turned into gibbering maniacs, others into cold-hearted devils with no goal but bloodshed.
"But maybe... in this world, I can tame it. Maybe even fuse it with Haki."
Jin slid down from the corpse, his gaze resting on battered, loyal Kuma.
"One thing's the same, old friend – blood will always answer blood."
This story is inspired from various fanfics i have read from around the world so if you find any similarities please dont mind . Thank you
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T/N :
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