Nightfall in Shinsenkyō changed everything.
During the day, the island was a beautiful but deadly garden. At night, it turned into the stomach of a giant beast. The shadows of the trees stretched out like ghostly claws, and eerie sounds women screaming, babies crying, and the screeching of metal echoed from the depths of the forest.
"Ugh, I'm so sticky," Yuzuriha complained, tugging at her dirt stained outfit. "Monster blood, sweat, sand... I feel gross. Ren-kun, can we please rest? My skin needs to breathe."
Behind them, Sagiri remained on high alert, her hand never leaving the hilt of her katana. "We can't let our guard down. The Soshin are more aggressive at night. We need to find high ground or a sealed cave."
Ren walked ahead, his posture as relaxed as if he were taking a stroll in a park, not in the heart of hell.
"Follow me," Ren said shortly.
"Do you know a good spot?" Yuzuriha asked, catching up to his side.
"My eyes see steam," Ren replied, pointing toward a narrow crack between two cliff faces covered in thick vines. "But it's not normal steam. It's vapor packed with pure energy."
Ren pushed the vines aside, revealing a hidden, spacious limestone cave. In the center lay a natural pool of water emitting a faint blue glow and warm mist.
Yuzuriha's eyes lit up. "A hot spring! Ah, Ren-kun, I knew sticking with you was the right choice!"
But Sagiri hesitated. "Wait! The water on this island could be toxic or acidic. We can't just jump in"
SPLASH.
Ren didn't even bother listening to her warning. He had already stripped off his tattered upper prisoner uniform, revealing a torso built with dense, symmetrical muscles the body of a warrior forged in perfection, without a single ounce of wasted flesh.
He stepped into the pool, still wearing his pants.
"Comfortable," Ren muttered, leaning his head against the stone edge. "This water is rich with life force. It's perfect for recovery."
Sagiri froze. It wasn't just the nudity that made her face flush; it was the sheer intimidation of his physique. As an executioner who studied anatomy, she could tell that every muscle fiber on his body was built for combat.
She quickly looked away. "Y-You... at least have some sense of shame!"
"Shame?" Ren opened one eye, glancing at her. "We're in the middle of a killer island, Executioner. Shame won't save your life. This water will restore your energy ten times faster than normal sleep. Get in, or stand guard outside and die of exhaustion by morning. Your choice."
Ren closed his eyes again, completely indifferent. His cold, pragmatic attitude made Sagiri bite her lip. She knew he was right.
Yuzuriha, on the other hand, saw an opportunity.
"Ren-kun is right, Sagiri-chan," Yuzuriha said as she began unbuckling her ninja belt. "Don't be so stiff."
Yuzuriha boldly shed her outer layers, leaving only her tight sarashi (body wrap), which only served to emphasize her curves. She stepped into the water, choosing a spot right next to Ren.
"Mmm~ so warm," Yuzuriha sighed, her voice a bit breathy. She glanced at Ren, who still had his eyes closed.
She leaned in closer, her finger tracing abstract patterns on the water's surface, slowly moving toward Ren's broad chest.
"Ren-kun," she whispered teasingly. "Aren't you afraid I'll kill you while you're this relaxed?"
Without opening his eyes, Ren's hand moved with lightning speed.
He caught Yuzuriha's finger under the water and yanked her closer until their chests were almost touching.
"Kya!" Yuzuriha gasped, caught off guard by his reflexes.
Ren opened his golden eyes. They were only inches apart. Yuzuriha could feel the heat radiating from Ren's body not from the water, but from the raw power surging inside him. It felt like standing next to a dormant volcano.
"You're welcome to try," Ren said in a low, dangerous voice. "But remember this, little fox. When you try to bite the King of the Forest, make sure your fangs are sharp enough. Because if you fail..."
Ren released her finger and gave her cheek a light, mocking pat, as if warning a naughty pet.
"...you will have to deal with the consequences."
Yuzuriha's heart raced. It wasn't just fear; it was the thrill of his absolute dominance. This man... he was completely immune to her charms. He held all the cards.
"Fine, fine, Your Majesty," Yuzuriha pouted, her face flushing this time for real. She moved to the other side of the pool, hugging her knees while stealing glances at him. "You're so mean."
Sagiri finally gave in. She removed her armor and outer kimono, keeping her white underclothes on, and joined them in the furthest corner of the pool. She watched the interaction with mixed feelings. This man, Ren, was arrogant and blunt. But near him, the crushing fear of death that had haunted her since landing on the island seemed to vanish. His wide shoulders felt like an unbreakable fortress.
Meanwhile, Ren ignored them both. He focused on the System.
[High Concentration of Natural Energy (Tao) Detected.] [Initiating Meditation: Divine Ape Breathing.]
Ren took a deep breath. The glowing mist swirled toward him, entering his pores like water being absorbed by a sponge. Small nicks and bruises on his body healed instantly. His muscles became even denser.
In his hand, the rusty iron bar he had been carrying also began to react. Ren channeled his excess Xian Qi into the metal.
Crack... crack...
The red rust flaked off like dead skin, falling into the water. Beneath the corrosion, a pitch black metal revealed itself, shimmering with a faint, rhythmic golden pulse.
[Synchronization Increased: 1.5% -> 1.8%]
[Weapon Bonded: Iron Bar (Low Tier) -> Black Iron Staff (Mid Tier)]
[Weapon Durability increased by 200%.]
[Weight Adjustment: Active.]
Ren exhaled a long trail of white vapor. He felt his power growing, reconnecting with the memories of his past self.
"Sleep," Ren commanded suddenly, breaking the silence of the cave. "I'll take the watch. But don't blame me if your training is hellish tomorrow morning."
"Training?" Sagiri asked, confused.
"Yeah," Ren smirked in the darkness, his eyes glowing gold. "You two are too weak to walk beside me. Starting tomorrow, we go hunting."