A massive sea beast burst from the water and charged at Ato.
He steadied himself.
The creature, desperate to eat him, lunged again.
Ato: "So that's what you want? Then take this — Force Palm!"
The blow wasn't enough to defeat it, but it staggered backward. Furious, the beast attacked again, launching itself into the air.
Ato dodged, flipped, and landed on top of its head.
Ato (grinning): "Now it's time for my Black Bullet."
His hands moved faster than the eye could see. Each strike tore through the creature's thick scales, ripping into the skin beneath. The sea beast roared in agony.
Ato: "Mada-Mada… I'm not done yet! Gatling Bullet!"
A barrage of punches rained down until the beast finally collapsed into the sea. The ocean went silent.
Ato jumped back onto his boat.
Ato: "Done already? You can't expect much from a sea beast."
That's when he noticed an island in the distance, completely covered in thick forest.
Ato: "Well… I have nowhere else to go. Guess I'm heading there."
He paddled quickly toward it.
After landing, he looked around.
Ato: "This doesn't even feel like an island… it's just forest."
Suddenly—
ROOOAAARRRR!!
A tiger-like monster leaped toward him.
Ato (sighing): "A tiger… or something like that…"
The beast charged.
Ato (smiling): "Attacking me, huh? Then take this— Black Bullet!"
One punch. Down.
But before he could relax, another monster attacked from behind.
Ato: "HUH?! Another one?!"
Before he could even move—
SLASH!
The creature split in two. The body fell in front of him.
Ato: "NANI?!"
???: "Oi. Don't let your guard down."
Ato looked up. In the distance stood a man holding two swords.
Ato: "Did… did you cut that thing in half?"
???: "Yeah."
Ato: "WHAT?!"
???: "Why are you so shocked, idiot?"
After a moment, Ato calmed himself.
???: "So… what are you doing on this island?"
Ato: "Like I'm telling a nobody."
???: "Tch. Fine. The name's Kojo Ren. Yours?"
Ato: "Ato."
Kojo: "And your surname?"
Ato: "I don't know. I was only told my name is Ato."
Kojo: "Tch… weird. So, why are you here?"
Ato: "First, sit."
They sat on nearby rocks, and Ato explained everything.
Ato — "Now tell me—what are you doing on this island?"
Kojo — "Me? I was just wandering in my boat when I saw this island. I came here looking for food, but all I found were those wild monster-like animals."
Ato — "Oh… that's what happened—"
Kojo — "But when I went deeper into the forest, I found a village. They were shocked to see me. When I asked why, they said they haven't seen anyone in four months."
Ato — "Four months? Why?" (he asked curiously)
Kojo — "They told me something worse. There's a man behind all of this monster creation."
Ato — "Who is he?"
Kojo — "They don't know either. About five months ago, a normal-looking man arrived by boat, wearing a mask. That was normal around here—pirates, merchants, even EDEN Government soldiers come and go…"
"But this man dug a hole and planted a seed. That tree grew enormous—bigger than anyone imagined. It started sucking the souls out of people's bodies. Ninety percent of the villagers died. Only ten percent survived."
Ato clenched his fists.
Kojo continued, "As if that wasn't enough, he demanded a tax: 100,000 E-coins per month. Anyone who doesn't pay gets killed in front of their family."
"So when the villagers found out I was a swordsman, they begged me to kill him. They offered me three loaves of bread… that's all they have left."
Ato sat in silence, thinking.
Ato — "Where is the village?"
Kojo — "What are you planning to—"
Ato — "Just tell me."
Kojo — "On the other end of the island."
Ato-"SO he should be on the centre of the forest."
Kojo-"You do have a brain."
Ato-"So, Pojo-."
Kojo-"It's Kojo, idiot."
Ato-"Oh sorry Kojo will you please help me defeat that monster."
Kojo-"I should be the one saying Please and we will defeat that bastard."
Ato-"So let's go-
Kojo: "So that's how you ended up here…"