“Hahah, I think they are trying to tell you, your techniques suck ass. They aren’t afraid of you slapping the water like a fat baby throwing a tantrum. Haha, you guys are embarrassing me. Is that really all you got?” I marched up and down the deck, slapping my thigh as I mocked my crew.

Hou Yu’s team were looking like they wouldn’t last long as they slammed their swords down onto the silver scales of this very large, ship-size fish. They only left behind white scuff marks.

The other teams weren’t even achieving any better and I already saw several more incoming fish comrades.

“Come on, ladies. Are you telling me that you can’t even cut these weaklings? The weakest common fish? Look, their teeths aren’t even that sharp? They are mindless sea beasts and you already met your match. How do you expect me to look in the mirror with you lousy ladies as my crew?”

I continued mocking as I jumped onto the water and pulled my sword free. I walked up to the fish that Cui Rong’s team was struggling with. I raised up my blade with one hand and slash down. A red condense moon shaped light shot from the blade and took off the creature's head.

“Come on, you are telling me that we have been practicing this move, Cleave, all this time and you ladies can’t even use it on this lowest life form. What a sad sack of shit my team is.”

I snuck up on the next one and sliced it from tail fin to its snout. Cheng Da didn’t look at all dismayed by his lack of skill. These bastards had a harder shell than should be possible. If I didn’t use a concept to enhance my attack, then I would have been no better than them.

We might even have fled from these bastards.

“You guys are really hurting my feelings. Look around you. They are shooting out of the water like a missile but when you fall in. You are restrained, there is a great pressure bearing down on you. The water is acting like gravity. Not only does it outnumber you but it overwhelms you. When you split the ocean, it covers its wounds. When the fish spit the water bullets at you. The ocean recovers from that loss. So why haven’t you guys tried using these methods against the fish?”

I kicked my feet and a splash of water turned into a tsunami that knocked a fish just about to jump out. It knocked it back in, sent it flipping its head over heels.

“A waterfall is mighty not only because of its height but because of the overwhelming force raining down upon your head. But rain comes down in galleons as well, but why doesn’t it oppress you like a waterfall will? Why doesn’t it strip the skin from your bones? Why doesn’t it turn sharp face rocks into round face fatties?”

I took three steps back and slashed at fish that tried to sneak attack me. Slicing it in half as it came out the water. I ignored the water and blood that rain down on me as I walked through its split body and rescued my men one by one.

“There are many things in nature that don't make sense. That have unexplainable mysteries behind them. We, the apex race, give these mysterious, even more unfathomable abilities. We turn something simple into something more complex than back again to show off our wisdom, but what wisdom are you displaying for me?”

I had walked a far enough distances from my ship and put my sheath tip into the war. Slowly spinning it around, getting fast and faster every second. The ocean had a change and it started small. Just the face of the water was being disturb and churning.

Slowly, the face turned into a spiraling mouth that began to reach down and I walked down with the eye of the whirlpool. Giggling as the fish that came to attack got sucked into the whirlpool. With my saber in my right hand, I launched waves of moon shaped qi that slaughtered the low lives.

However, my goal was to take a look at the bottom to see if there was anything interesting about this area. I just started focusing on the ground that opened up before me when I felt a crisis incoming.

My smiling face faded into an ‘oh shit’ face. A large shadow speeding towards me. The closer it got the larger its shadow.

I might not be capable of harming it with the simple technique and considering that water could put out fire. I didn’t want to waste energy on fire techniques I had that were..

I’m so dumb. Hot enough flame and water will evaporate, regardless of its amount.

I sheath my sword and slid it into my belt before taking a deep breath. Just as the snout of the sea beast broke the whirlpool surface, I punched forward and the image of a black dragon’s six talon hand slammed forward.

The talon didn’t even touch the creature but the water along that side just disappeared for miles. It’s like looking at a ravine and seeing how wide and deep it was. My eyes could only blinked as I thought about how fucking awesome Dragon Punch was.

Beep! Beep!

My astonishment fled when I pulled out my treasure seeking artifact and noticed that it read that a large number of metal and wind essences were upfront. I glanced at the towering water walls that were shaking and decided to run to the surface so as not to be crushed when they come down.

I made it back up just in time to see my men working hard on descaling the fishes.

“When you guys are finished, we will dive under. I think I found a ore deposit but the fight disturb the sea. So I want to wait a bit and see what might come up to annoy us. In the meantime, keep practicing.”

I headed up to the boat and climbed aboard. I glanced back as mighty battles sounded but it was only the two oceans colliding.

**

I wrapped a towel around my waist as I stepped out of the shower. It’s time to cut my hair off. I grabbed a pair of scissors and leaned over a full body mirror. I grabbed the braid and cut it off at the fifth link, which let my hair fall around to my shoulder. Then I grabbed some and realized, I had no idea what kind of style I should aim for.

As a black guy, my hair was professionally cut into even fading and my waves were perfectly deep. You could drown in them. However, I didn’t really pay attention to other people's hairstyles but females.

I had no idea what Asians preferred or thought looked good. Asians here, all long hair. Some of them with short hair look kind of dishevel and like they just got out of bed. It’s nothing I would prefer.

Thinking about it, the only reason I wanted to cut my hair at all is because the braid whips my back when moving at fast speed. Plus I didn’t want someone to reach out and grabbed the braid and then beat my ass. While the instructors might not have done it, didn’t mean someone else might not in a group fight.

However, this is okay too. I can just trim it up a bit and then it will be fine?

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Cops? Wait, I’m not in america anymore.

Stepping back I looked at the door and imagined it popped up. The Princess? No guards? I’m not hostile but she isn’t really capable of stopping me from instant-killing her. Is she insane?

I decided to open the door. What’s the worst that can happen?”

The Crown Princess looked at my chest longer than necessary. She didn’t blush or anything, she just looked and then ventured down before returning back up. A look of silent praise in her eyes.

“I have an offer for you…” She gestured into the room with a hand.

I stepped back and she brushed past me, skimming her hands over my four pack like she owned me or something. However, the moment my eyes landed on her small backside, I couldn’t help thinking of Zexi’s and Rong’s ass and realized. She didn’t have what it took to get into my likings.

I closed the door and she looked around. Unlike her room which probably filled with expensive items. Mine was more a crafting room. Yeah I had a bed and it was facing the back window, but the surroundings were kind of bare. The external closet held my uniforms and a few handmade clothing from silk and cotton. The surrounding was empty besides the fur rug on the floor. To the left, the shower and tub rested, enclosed space for the toilet. Then you had the farside of the bed, which was where the crafting room really existed and that area was kind of messy.

Steering wheel, map table, the half finished formation control for submerge mode and the battle system that would prime the shield and cannons. To the right of that was a smelting furnace, some casts laid about, and then the alchemy set up rows of shelves that had books or pill jars resting on them.

Herbs in potted boxes lined up a good area with an orb floating above them providing sunlight.

You could say it was clean until you looked at this area. Well not by the mirror where my hair rested on the floor.

The Crown Princess took all of this in. Her heart shaped head stopped at the hair on the floor before she looked at my head with a curious smile.

“You wanted to offer me a deal?” I said while moving to the mirror.

I picked up the scissors and made sure the ends were matching. She watched for a moment, seemed to be enjoying me trying to maneuver my hair into different looks or styles that said manly to me.

Sadly, I just ended up wrapping a golden ribbon around the ends and calling it a day. As I turned around, I found her sitting on the side of the bed. I raised an eyebrow and walked over to the closet. Pulling out a clean pair of britches.

“And? The deal?”

The Crown Princess tilted her head then spoke in a not so annoying voice.

“Most people don’t know but for the Royal family, to pass on the throne. The candidates which are those with the title of Crown heir will have to undergo a series of trials overlooked by my Royal Father and his Predecessor, my Royal Grandfather. These trials are every bit as dangerous as undergoing lightning tribulation for us, Crown Heirs. Which is why we need good talented subordinates. I want you to be one of these men for me.”

She sounded kind of righteous and made it seem like she was picking heroic men who would be written down in the annals of histories. But don’t such men become nothing more than fodder? Scapegoats tossed to the field when their uses are no more relevant to the cause?

“Mm, what kind of benefits will I get?”

I tossed off the towel and slipped into the britches. I walked over to the furnace and cranked it on. I had a feeling they would bring up a bucket of scales soon. I wanted to try and refined one of them into a weapon and armor set.

The Crown Princess scooted back on the bed and crossed her legs, leaning back and resting on her hands. Getting too comfortable in someone else's bed.

“We have rooms dedicated to learning the obtuse meaning of nature. Comprehending vast laws or ethereals laws that are commonly out of touch with mortals. Wider access to any resources you need, albeit you earned the necessary merits to get it.”

I rolled my eyes. Did she think I don’t know I could get this all the same if I join one of these sects? With my ability as Alchemist if I go take the standardized test, I would be ranked as Grade Four Alchemist and which sect wouldn’t invest resources into me. With my identity as indirect disciple of the Fire God Palace and my status as Six claw black dragon, wouldn’t they worship me?

The Crown Princess sat up completely and looked serious now.

“I am from one of the top three best sects in our world, the Sun and Moon Sect.”

She said this like I am supposed to know who this sect was. I am, after all, a commoner from a backwater place. Ignoring that my parents might have come from a higher world to escape their enemies. Or their ship or whatever was shot down, they still choose to hide in a small village at the edge of nowhere.

I had no idea who the best sects were as of now. So just calling out a sect is the same as someone from a different state going we have this chicken joint and then leaving off the rest of the sentences. It’s like.. Ummm.. okay.. Good for you.

“It’s similar to your Fire God Palace but it’s a level lower in inheritance and power. There is a branch Sect here that is called the Burning Moon Sect and I’m a part of it. Thus if you help me, I can put in a word for you and get you accepted. Even though you won’t be allowed to learn any of the sect inheritances skills. They still won’t treat you shabby. Plus we have scriptures just for women that make them as beautiful or better than myself.”

I tilted my head and asked an important question that she has neglected to answer.

“What about your brother? I’m sure he can offer me something better than what you haven’t really offered me.”

The Crown Princess bounced up.

“What can he offer you? His sect isn’t even half as good as mine. My teacher is also a Martial Monarch and my sect has a world channel to Holy land. Whereas, all he has is what he attains through the military and if it wasn’t for a particular General doing a favor for my Royal father, my brother's merits wouldn’t even allow for him to lead the Tian Dynasty army here.”

I shrugged and walked to the door opening as I heard the laughter of Hou Yu and Cheng Da. A strong smell of blood caused my mouth to salivate and a line of drool to crest my lips.

“You say that but the problem is. I don’t gain much from our cooperation. I understand you can reassign me under you and your advisors might have already mentioned this. Yeah, I’ll work for you until my contract ends but to be honest. I don’t really care all that much about you or the royal throne. My goals right now just align with one word, power. Once I have reached my limits then I will probably end up somewhere doing something wonderful or boring. Future is hard to see when you are standing in the present with present concerns weighing you down.”

I turned to Hou Yu and took the buckets full of silver scales stained with specks of dark red. I carried them to the furnace and emptied them into a thicker bucket. Grabbing the next one I set it on a shelf.

Hou Yu and Cheng Da looked between the Princess and me with weird looks.

“What? She is trying to recruit me for her goals. It’s not like everybody wants to fuck this handsome devil, jeez.”

Cheng Da snorted, while Hou Yu stroke his hairless chin.

“We believe you.”

“One hundred percent have faith in you.”

“We just wanted to say don’t forget about us…”

“When you become big and famous…”

“And all the little Princess tugging on your belt..”

I glanced at the Crown Princess who was smiling smugly. I shook my head and snatched the bucket of blood out of Cheng Da hands.

“She’s not my type and of course I won’t forget about you. But won’t you old bastards die before I can make use of you? Or do you plan on having your children serve my army at the time?”

They sent a glance at each other before turning up their noses. The gripped each other forearm then skipped towards and through the door, while singing a rustic sailor song that was better off not being repeated.

I took a single glance at the Princess and noticed she was now beet red. I guess there were things that could embarrass her.

“I’ll join you on the condition that I can spar with that old man. He should be your teacher, right?”

The Crown Princess raised an eyebrow before smiling.

“No, he’s my Protector. I’m standing in the position of Saintess for my sect. Each and every Saintess needs a Protector to ensure our enemies don't kill us off before we can grow. And I can definitely set that up.”

I shrugged and turned to the bucket with the silver scales. I could see red steam rising from it. I gripped the edge and pushed it down into the fire, while allowing my own internal flames to help refine out the impurities inside of the scales.

They slowly melted down and turned to silvery liquid with white lines curving through the mess. I wiped sweat from my brow and kicked open a cast I made for a sword. I slowly lifted the hot bucket out and over the cast then lowered the liquid evenly through the indented sword shape. I closed the case, sealed it off and lowered it into a trough of cold water maintained by a formation.

I looked up to find that the Crown Princess had made her home on my bed. Her head resting in the crook of her elbow as she leaned against the backboard of my bed. She watched me with those beady black eyes like a crook in the night.

“Don’t you have something to do like meditate? You are in the Nascent soul mid stage so why aren’t you trying to learn a seed. I can see you are practicing some kind of sword technique. Your aura is sharp and has an almost elusive feeling. Why aren’t you practicing the sword?”

The Crown Princess' eyes dilated but a smile spread on her lips.

“Am I bothering you?”

What kind of question is this? Of course, you are bothering me! You are in my bed with your feet up and ass near my pillows. And you are unnecessarily eye-fucking me. Not to mention, what if someone better built comes in and they are horny. You are going to instantly drown their lust and in the end, I end up sleeping alone.

“No. I am just wondering why you are still in my room instead of going to set up a sparring match?” I shifted the topic.

She smiled and said nothing else. Just watching me with that creepy smile and those creepy eyes. Now I understand why those guys acted like jerks in those teenage movies. It was because weird nerds felt like hot guys owed them something and these hot guys had to fulfill their fantasies.

Well fuck, I have standards too!

Mumbling under my breath I kicked open the next case and was about to pour the liquid scales into the torso armor when I noticed a blinking red light flashing at the corner of my eyes. I walked over and noticed several dark shades speeding towards us.

I hit the button on the side of the unfinished command console.

“All Squads gear up. Incoming intruders, about six unidentifiable creatures.”

I grabbed my saber and rushed out of the room. The Crown Princess right behind me. I jumped onto the bow of the ship, looking at aquaman riding fucking shark.

“Hou Yu, Cheng Da on my six. The rest guard the ship. Activate formation. Kill when I attack or if they attack the ship.”

I jumped down and took several steps towards the seamen, who jerked to stop upon seeing me cross the gap between us with such speed.

“Who is your leader?”

What the fuck? Didn’t I rush at them alone? Do I look too young or something? I mean, I am the size of a high school football player that works out. At worse, I could be considered a child by some old as fuck old wrinkle up bags that hide in dark caves in the name of seclusion. But jeez, no way in hell can they confuse me with a lackey right?

I glanced back to see the old man stroking his beard while standing behind the Crown Princess.

“Umm. I guess I am.”

I waved to make sure they could see me. I know some asians have eyes so slanted that they can’t even see in front of them.

“You killed our men. Give us an explanation!”

I blinked at them. I know in America, if a gang runs up on me and goes, you beat one of my guys. I'm like, dude, what are you talking about. He swung first, I accidentally pushed him down. He got the black eye because he landed on someone's boot. Not me at all.

At most, I know I am going to get an asswhooping if I don’t fight back. At worse, they might try to stab me or pull out a gun but as long as I dragged it out. The cops might arrive so being a little cowardly is normal.

But, what the fuck is going through this guy head? There is about sixty-three soldiers on board. Not counting blacksmiths, cooks, brothel women, and Crown Princess’ men. So why would I bother talking first when I can just…

I disappeared and appeared on the side, where they lined up just nicely. I punched forward and a six claw hand appeared, rocketing forward. I had a smug smile on my hand as the first guy in line burst like a balloon. His mount disappearing with him. So did the second guy but the moment it made it to the third? He fucking lift his hand and giant fin appeared and slapped my fucking dragon claw.

Like what the fuck?

Okay, unexpected.

I pulled out my saber and slash down on him. He blocked with his trident and spun it around his body like a snake, it came striking at me from an odd angle, but wasn’t hard to block. We danced around and I noticed his left over men surge forward to attack mine.

Even though I wasn’t worried, I wanted to end this fast. We were on the water and he was doing something with it. I noticed there was a kind of blue ring that rippled out from his feet touching the surface of the water.

“Cleave!”

My saber was like lightning, three fast slashes that sent him skipping across the ocean like a flat stone.

I rushed towards him but geyser lurched up in between us. Followed by several more, making me play a game of hopscotch. I punched downward and the water cratered below me. Explosions sounded as waves rose and fell, the ship was like a loose fishing boat on a rapid river. Looking as if it would submerge or flip over at any second.

I rushed towards the imbecile who got back up. He stabbed his trident forward and water serpents rose up around him. They spun in the air before heading towards me like missiles.

Clicking my teeth with annoyances, I created my own fire serpents. I made them clash and they were like wide animals. Slithering and biting each other while trying to gain dominances.

Rain rolled out the sky and it felt like boiling lava on my skin. I almost wanted to cry out pause but the fucker looked uber mad. We engaged in close range and he made it really hard to get the jump on him. Like really hard.

If I use any skill, he has a counter skill ready. Our concepts were about at the same level and I think I am in the weaker realm.

I wondered if this guy is some kind of sea demon. His strength is phenomenal, able to counter mine just barely. THough I saw his arm shaking after a while.

Fuck this.

I slipped into the void and appeared behind one of his minions. Grasping his head while activating a soul rending skill from the heavenly sins. Fire chains rolled out of my wrist and stabbed into his body while flames penetrated into his mouth, eyes and ears.

His screams sounded horrendous enough that the other three stopped fighting and grouped up. I turned to the leader whose anger was apparent, but his men held him back.

“You will pay for this!”

I nodded my head as I searched the mind of the Sea demon in my hand. Smile was growing bigger the more I understood his memories. Ah, my gains will be so big.

“What? Want to keep fighting?”

I tossed the empty corpse back and spun my sword in figure eight. Flames burst forth, no longer red with orange highlights but pure white like a ribbon camouflage in the snow. They grabbed it and checked to see if he was alive but one of them shook his head.

The leader's anger was apparent. The water was raging around him and his water serpents were putting up more vicious fights but mine turned white like an angelic feather and they burst apart. Turning to steam before they even touched the ground, no longer a part of this conflict.

I didn’t waste time. If they were going to stay around, then they could die too. The fire serpents attacked first and I was step behind but the fuckers pulled their leader into the water and disappeared quicker than I would have liked.

I clicked my tongue and turned back to my crew.

“We got nineteen days. Let’s mine this spirit mine and then retreat.” I barked out commands.

Making the first time followed me after donning the diving suits with miniature versions of oxygen tanks and masks. With pickaxes in hands we hit the bottom and quickly started chopping away.

The inscriptions on the axe made it easier to cut away rocks by the stone load. When we got deep enough, we could walk upright. I set up an artifact that drains the cave of water and forms a watertight seal over the door.

“Don’t play around. They will be bringing someone to the void realm and the only one who can put up a fight is the old man, but there is no need to engage him. When we can quickly retrieve the mine contents and retreat.”

I didn’t want any horse playing so I said shit upfront. Since I was with Qin Shun, Zexi, and the new squad leader, Fang Wu. I had to make rules.