The night was long, but for those who went to bed right after boarding the ship, it wasn't a problem.

  Throughout the night, the cruise ship remained incredibly steady, making it easy to forget they were even at sea. The calm waters ensured a comfortable journey, allowing the crew to work without any additional concerns.

  The passengers, too, enjoyed a peaceful rest, with nothing to disturb their sleep until dawn.

  By the time morning arrived, the sky had already begun to brighten.

  Perhaps due to being out at sea, the entire ocean was covered in thick fog.

  Fortunately, the cruise ship had reached the designated coordinates at precisely 3:24 a.m. and had already dropped anchor. However, instead of docking directly at the isnd, the ship remained 1,500 meters offshore.

  It wasn't a matter of choice, the waters around the isnd cked any shallow areas suitable for docking. Instead, they plunged straight into the deep sea.

  Looking down from the deck, there was no sign of clear blue water, only a vast, pitch-bck abyss stretching endlessly below, evoking an eerie sense of despair.

  With such depths, docking was impossible.

  However, a certain distance away from the trench surrounding the isnd, there were some shallower waters where a cruise ship could safely anchor.

  Everyone's rooms had rge windows with a view of the sea.

  Early in the morning, Amamiya Ren was already awake.

  He walked over to the window, pulled back the curtains, and gazed at the world outside—completely shrouded in dense fog.

  The morning mist at sea was truly thick.

  The heavy moisture in the air expined the dense fog. It was even thicker than the fog in major cities, though with one key difference—urban fog was often filled with dust and pollutants, making it difficult to breathe. But out here, the sea fog was pure, composed only of water vapor.

  Opening the window, Ren stepped out onto the balcony.

  As expected, the air was damp but refreshingly clean. The ck of dust compared to city air was noticeable.

  He narrowed his eyes, allowing his spiritual vision to activate.

  Through his enhanced sight, he easily pierced through the dense fog, revealing the isnd hidden behind it.

  The nd was untouched by human development.

  There were clear signs of life on the isnd—plenty of birds, snakes, and insects—but no rge animals.

  That, however, was expected.

  In the distance, a still-active volcano stood tall.

  It was one of the reasons why rge animals were absent from the isnd.

  With eruptions occurring once or twice a year, survival for rger creatures was incredibly difficult.

  Given the scale of the volcano, each eruption likely affected the entire isnd.

  Could rge animals even endure such an environment?

  The odds were slim.

  Observing the isnd's surroundings, Ren finally understood why the deep trench existed next to it.

  Structurally, the isnd appeared to be the result of tectonic pte collisions, forcing nd upward to form a volcanic isnd.

  In other words, what they saw above the surface was just the peak of an active volcano.

  Realizing this, Ren was momentarily speechless.

  It was rather astonishing that an isnd formed through volcanic activity would only experience two eruptions per year.

  Rather than being excessive, the frequency seemed surprisingly low.

  If this isnd was truly just the exposed peak of a massive volcano, then two eruptions a year seemed unusually restrained.

  Out of curiosity, Ren took out a Maple Leaf Gold Coin and flipped it.

  The coin nded heads-up.

  "…Seriously?"

  He covered his face, feeling exasperated.

  In a way, their knack for picking locations was impressive, they had managed to choose an unexpectedly unique pce yet again.

  No wonder this isnd couldn't be sold.

  It was practically a ticking time bomb.

  Anyone with knowledge of geology would steer clear of it.

  Only scientists studying volcanic activity might find value in such a location.

  Was anyone else interested in this isnd?

  Of course—despite its dangers, it had its uses.

  After all, for them, this isnd served as a unique operational base.

  Shaking his head, Ren turned back into his room and closed the gss door.

  He left his cabin and headed toward the main hall of the cruise ship.

  The other girls who had joined the trip were already there.

  "Good morning, Amamiya-san."

  "Good morning, Shinomiya-san."

  Ren gnced around, noting the excitement on their faces.

  "Looks like everyone had a good night's rest."

  Seeing their enthusiasm, he made a sudden suggestion.

  "If everyone's in good shape, how about a morning battle before breakfast?"

  "!?"

  No one had expected such an abrupt proposal.

  "This will be a demonstration match and also serve as morning exercise. It won't require high intensity, but it'll give everyone a better grasp of each other's abilities."

  "It'll be especially beneficial for Sonoko, Fujiwara, and Aizawa, who don't have any supernatural powers."

  "Oh, and Fujiwara—bring a video recorder."

  "You can film the battle however you like."

  "What do you think?"

  Although the idea was sudden, the group quickly became interested.

  "Let's do it!"

  Chika's eyes sparkled with excitement.

  "That's right! This is a fantastic suggestion."

  Sakuya's gaze also lit up—she was eager to witness a battle between supernatural powers firsthand.

  "Ohhh!!!"

  Sonoko's eyes widened in amazement. This would be her first time witnessing such a fight, and she was thrilled.

  For those without powers, this was a rare and exciting opportunity.

  For those who did have powers, it was an even greater motivation.

  Kaguya and Nagi exchanged gnces, sensing a competitive spark between them.

  Neither had seen the full extent of the other's strength before, and both were curious.

  "It's a great idea," Kaguya agreed.

  She wanted to test her own abilities against Nagi's.

  "What do you think?"

  "I'm in."

  Nagi didn't hesitate. For an otaku, she was surprisingly competitive.

  "But… isn't there a gap in our power levels?"

  Despite her enthusiasm, she was realistic. She knew she wasn't a match for Kaguya.

  "That's true."

  Ren didn't deny it.

  "Devil Fruit users have a higher starting point in combat."

  "Visions have great potential, but their initial power is naturally different from Devil Fruits."

  "Plus, Shinomiya-san possesses one of the most powerful Logia Devil Fruits—giving her innate elemental abilities."

  "Even without much combat experience, she already has a major advantage."

  "So, we'll need to establish some additional rules."

  (To be continued.)

  ***

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