The Great Black Sea
黒海
Arthaex
Chapter 2: The Golden Omen
Before the Black Sea could swallow Kurohane completely, a golden blade appeared out of nowhere.
It flashed.
Pain tore through him.
The world went silent.
His vision faded to nothing. No sound. No light. No sea.
Only emptiness.
When consciousness returned, warmth replaced the cold.
Kurohane slowly opened his eyes.
He stood in an endless golden realm, waves frozen in midair like statues of light. Before him stood an old man clad in a golden suit, his presence heavy, ancient, and overwhelming.
"Who are you?" Kurohane demanded, fear shaking his voice. "Why did you bring me here? And where am I?"
The old man turned, his eyes glowing softly.
"I am the Protector of the Sea," he said. "You stand within the Realm of the Great Sea, a place where all tides, all pasts, and all futures can be seen."
Kurohane swallowed.
"You were chosen."
From the golden light, a scythe formed, its blade burning as molten gold dripped heat into the air.
"This weapon possesses the power to turn anything it strikes into gold and searing heat," the protector continued. "With it, you are meant to kill Umi No Omi."
Kurohane clenched his fists. "Then why has he not been stopped already?"
The old man's expression darkened.
"Because he is not human," he said. "He is a demon. He does not age. He does not weaken. For one hundred and fifty years, we have tried to destroy him and failed."
The realm trembled.
"He will remain the same. Merciless. Eternal. Powerful," the protector warned. "This power is your chance, but do not underestimate him."
The old man stepped back.
"Do not disappoint the sea."
"Wait!" Kurohane shouted. "I..."
Light swallowed him.
Kurohane crashed onto the shores of Kuroshima, gasping for air as black waves raged around him.
The realm was gone.
The old man was gone.
But the heat in his hands remained.
And somewhere beneath the Black Sea, Umi No Omi smiled.
"You survived?" Umi No Omi chuckled, his voice low and amused. "Well, I already have what I wanted, so there is no reason to kill you."
Kurohane's grip tightened around the scythe.
"KINRYU!" he shouted as he charged forward.
The scythe blazed.
A massive golden dragon burst forth, roaring as it tore through the air and plunged straight into Umi No Omi's chest. The dragon sank into his heart, its heat burning from the inside, draining his strength.
"AAAH… YOU… CANNOT… KILL… ME!" Umi No Omi screamed, his voice twisting in agony.
Then it happened.
An explosion of golden light erupted, so bright it blinded the eye, so loud it felt as if the air itself shattered. The sea froze. The storm stopped.
When the light faded, Umi No Omi's body lay motionless.
He was dead.
"YES! WE DID IT!" Ryukai shouted, unable to contain his joy.
Silence followed.
Then a voice echoed from above, deep and ancient.
"I WILL… COME BACK…"
The sky split open.
A familiar golden sword descended from the heavens, piercing through space itself. Golden chains of light wrapped around Umi No Omi's body, lifting him into the air.
Before anyone could react, he was pulled upward, vanishing into the Realm of the Great Sea.
The ocean trembled.
The Black Sea was not finished. There was more people who wanted power, fame and The Staff of the Sea