On the boundless ocean, waves churned violently. Massive sea beasts leaped into the air, preying on each other. Some were hundreds of feet tall; others reached thousands.

This sea was known as the Sea Grave, the most dangerous zone in the Blue Sea. Powerful sea beasts emerged endlessly. Even mighty creatures from their tribes might be mere prey here.

At its heart, a place rarely reached by outsiders, lay a small island. No sea beast dared harm it. They only swam hundreds of miles away, like a protective wall.

The island was lush and green. Rare mythical beasts appeared constantly, all with incredibly powerful bloodlines. Dragon roars and phoenix cries echoed. Descendants of auspicious and holy beasts roamed freely.

On the eastern cliff facing the sea, a man stood. He wore dark red attire, with fiery red hair and eyes. He looked about twenty, young enough to be called a youth.

He gazed at the sea, then lifted his eyes to the azure sky. A trace of age-old weariness flashed in his gaze, piercing through everything to the deepest heavens.

Slowly, he closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh, the very image of a transcendent master.

"Munchkin," he said calmly, without a ripple of emotion. "It's been ages since I last used my moves. Notify the sea beasts around; I want to practice."

Silence——

"Hey!" he complained, all that expert aura vanished. He looked like a complete goofball. "I was being serious! You couldn't even make a peep? Making me look like a fool! This is so embarrassing!"

"What does your practice have to do with me?"

A majestic voice echoed from all directions, as if its owner was everywhere.

Instantly, silence fell. All fierce beasts on the island and in the sea cowered down, bodies trembling slightly. This wasn't complex pressure—it was absolute submission of the inferior to the superior.

Yet the man remained calm and composed, utterly unaffected. Sensing the quiet, he began to tease.

"You're too lazy to move a finger, yet you waste energy keeping up that cool facade?"

The entire island suddenly shook. He lost balance, tumbling toward the cliff edge. Panicked, he waved his arms frantically to steady himself, then sighed in relief.

"Hey! You didn't have to actually move! I was just joking!"

"Cut the chatter. You're bored. The sky's vast; throw your moves up there!" The voice sounded again. The beasts stopped trembling but didn't rise—they knew who spoke.

"I want to try that move from last time," the man said casually, like chatting about daily life. "Just giving you a heads-up. Done."

The island shook violently again. He dropped to the ground instantly, avoiding a fall. Wiping sweat, he stood up helplessly.

"Aren't you afraid of being stewed by my wife? Still shaking."

"Hmph. She'd need a pot big enough first." The voice came softer now, meant only for him. Munchkin had reason to lower it, because——

"Oh? If this Sea Grave isn't big enough, how about the Blue Sea?"

A melodious female voice descended from the sky. Munchkin nearly shook the island again but forced himself steady. "No, no! Forget I said anything!" Any majesty in his voice vanished completely.

A woman descended. She had long chestnut-brown hair, strands at her temples reaching her chest. She looked about twenty, wearing simple casual clothes that radiated beauty.

"What are you two doing?" she said angrily. "My cooking soup almost spilled!" Munchkin trembled inwardly, not daring to shake again.

"No, no!" the man hurriedly added, pointing at the sky. "It's just been so long; I wanted to move around."

She suddenly calmed and let out a soft sigh. "Time really flies."

All sea beasts dispersed. A long stretch ahead of the man was clear.

"Yes," he said firmly, extending his right hand. Tiny sparks of flame appeared on his palm. They looked fragile, as if a breeze could extinguish them. Yet as they grew into flames, the entire world seemed to gravitate toward them. No majesty, no aura—but everyone felt the world rested in his hand.

The flames transformed. A longsword made of fire materialized in his grasp.

Gently raising it, he gazed at the endless sea and slowly spoke.

"Alright. Let's begin."