Chapter 7: Sea Battle. Yuki vs. Naz

The moment the battle begins.

The voices of the crowd fade, and silence falls as if time itself had stopped.

But within that silence lies the weight of the past, and the determination both girls have carried with them.

At first glance, it may look like a simple fight.
But this is no ordinary clash.

Misunderstandings, hatred, conflict, and bonds…

At last, the moment has come for the two sisters—constantly at odds, yet tied by fate—to face each other head-on.

Water and wrath collide, releasing emotions as deep as the ocean.

The stage is set.

The time has come to sever the past.

Flashback.

The flower field stretched out like a living painting, swaying under a gentle breeze. The blossoms danced, unaware of the weight of what was about to unfold there.

“Who is she?” asked a young Yuki, frowning, her tone cold.

Aphrodite, standing at her side, smiled with a touch of melancholy.
“She is your sister. Her name is Naz.”

Yuki narrowed her eyes with suspicion.
“What do you mean? She and I don’t look alike at all.”

“I know. But, believe it or not… you are sisters.”

The girl called Naz took a nervous step forward, clutching her hands to her chest.
“Yu… Yuki…”

But Yuki turned her back without hesitation.
“Don’t you dare speak to me. You’re not part of my family.”

She walked away without looking back, leaving only the sound of flowers swaying in the wind.

“Does she hate me?” Naz asked, her voice breaking.

“No,” Aphrodite replied warmly. “She just needs time. Yuki… is a bit complicated.”

“I see…”

Days later.

Naz and Yuki stood face-to-face in the wide training courtyard. Aphrodite positioned herself between them, her expression unusually serious.

“Today, we begin training for the GODS trials.”

“What?” Yuki reacted, crossing her arms. “You said I’d take the trials when I turned seventeen.”

“That’s right,” Aphrodite said calmly.

“That’s five years from now. So… why now?”

“Because there’s no time to waste. I’m sure you can both overcome the trials, but the others attending… have already begun their training.”

Yuki tilted her head, defiant.
“And why are you so sure?”

Aphrodite stood firm.
“Two years ago, when the twelve Olympian gods gathered, we made that decision.”

“And why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

“You were too young to understand.”

Yuki’s expression shifted instantly. Her fists clenched tight.
“You always use that excuse. I’m sick of it. You hid the truth about my father, then you bring some stranger and call her my sister, and now this! How do you expect me to trust you?”

“When you’re older, you’ll understand—”

“Bullshit!” Yuki screamed, striking the ground with such force that the earth cracked, fissures spreading around her.

“Yuki, control yourself!” Aphrodite shouted, stepping toward her.

But it was too late. A colossal shadow rose behind the girl. The ethereal silhouette of a megalodon emerged, dangerous and wild, reflecting her unstable emotions.

“Stop giving me orders!” she roared.

In that instant, Naz appeared behind her in a flash. With a swift strike to the neck, she knocked Yuki unconscious before the energy could spiral out of control.

When did she get behind me? Yuki thought, shocked by her sister’s speed, just before collapsing.

Naz caught her gently in her arms.

“Thank you, Naz,” Aphrodite said, exhaling in relief.

“No need,” Naz replied softly.

Later, Yuki opened her eyes. She was lying under the shade of a tree, the field still blanketed with flowers. Naz sat beside her, quietly watching.

“Looks like you’re finally awake,” Naz said calmly.

“What are you doing here, wasting time?” Yuki snapped, sitting up with irritation.

“I was worried…”

“You shouldn’t be. You’re not strong enough to kill me.”

“You don’t know that. Just now… I didn’t use all my strength.”

“Or maybe… you’re simply too weak.”

Naz lowered her gaze, but didn’t give up.
“Why do you hate me? What did I ever do to make you hate me?”

“You didn’t do anything. The only crime you committed… was being connected to that woman.”

“Aphrodite?”

“Yes. I hate her and everything tied to her. And that includes you.”

Naz looked at her with a mix of pain and determination.
“Why?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

“I think it is,” Naz replied, her voice steadier now. “If that’s your reason for hating me, then I need to understand it.”

Yuki fell silent for a moment. Finally, she nodded.
“Fine. I’ll tell you…”

The air grew heavier. The memories, heavier still.

“Years ago, when I first met Aphrodite… I was an orphan. My parents had died in an accident—or at least, that’s what I was told. The day she came to the orphanage to adopt me… I felt happy for the first time in a long while.”

She paused. Her voice trembled.
“But as the years went on… she grew stricter, colder. Until the night came… when I discovered the truth: my father hadn’t died. He had only abandoned me.”

The sky in her memory turned gray, loaded with tension. In the center of a wide hall adorned with white marble columns and crimson curtains, Aphrodite stood with arms crossed. Opposite her, a man in his thirties, his face marked by time and regret, stared firmly at the goddess.

“What are you doing here?” Aphrodite asked bluntly.

“I’ve come for my daughter,” he answered, locking eyes with her.

“Your daughter? You and I agreed—I would raise her.”

“She’s my daughter. I need to see her.”

Aphrodite frowned, as if his words were a personal insult.
“Your daughter? Have you forgotten she’s a demigoddess? She’s a monster, one you could never control.”

The man clenched his fists.
“Stop treating her like an object. She’s a person! Maybe she’s a demigoddess, but she’s still a child… and my daughter.”

“Silence, pitiful human,” Aphrodite spat, her voice dripping with contempt. “You’re not worthy enough to believe you can contradict me.”

“Please… Aphrodite…” he whispered, his pride crumbling. He fell to his knees before her, eyes brimming with tears. “Let me see her… just once… please!”

An uneasy silence filled the hall. Finally, Aphrodite smiled.
“Very well… I’ll let you see your daughter.”

The man lifted his gaze, relief washing over him.
“Tha—”

But the word never finished.

A spear of energy pierced directly through his chest. His expression froze, then dissolved into pain and disbelief.

“…but from the other world,” Aphrodite finished, her smile as cold as ice.

The man fell to his knees, coughing blood. His body trembled violently.
“Why…?”

“Do you really think I care about you or your feelings?” Aphrodite sneered, her laughter cruel and sharp. “You were nothing but a tool to achieve my goal, you fool.”

“Yu… Yuki…”

His lips barely managed to form the name before he collapsed completely.

From a small gap between two walls, a little girl watched in silence. Her eyes wide open, her body frozen, her soul… shattered.

“I’m sorry for judging you before I even knew you,” Naz said, standing beside Yuki in a secluded corner of the garden.

“It doesn’t matter,” Yuki replied without even looking at her. “Knowing me makes no difference.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“What is it you want?”

Naz looked her straight in the eyes.
“Do you really want to be here?”

Yuki frowned.
“What do you mean by that?”

“I can see it in your eyes. You don’t want to be here. If that’s the case… then leave.”

The response caught Yuki off guard for an instant.
“You don’t understand… no one can escape Aphrodite’s grasp.”

“That’s true,” Naz admitted. “But if we work together… we can.”

“What are you planning?”

A buzzing sound broke out in Aphrodite’s office. A radio emitted static.

“Lady Aphrodite, Yuki and Naz are trying t—” The transmission was cut short by screams and chaos in the background.

Aphrodite slowly rose from her seat, a twisted smile spreading across her lips.
“So today the monster within you awakens, Yuki. But… you won’t escape.”

Her silhouette vanished in an instant.

Deep in the forest, branches cracked under the weight of energy in the air. The leaves trembled. The two young girls dashed between the dense trees, their breathing heavy.

“If we cross those mountains, we can get out!” Yuki shouted.

“Yuki, go,” Naz suddenly said, stopping in her tracks.

“What? What are you talking about? I won’t leave without you! I won’t abandon you to her!”

“Damn it, just go already!”

“Hell no!” Yuki snapped back, her eyes blazing with fury.

At that moment, a terrifying aura engulfed the forest. The temperature dropped. Silence was replaced by a dark, pounding heartbeat.

“She’s here…” Naz whispered to herself.

“We’d better get out of here,” Yuki said, trembling.

“It’s impossible…”

“What?”

“There’s something I need you to know before you go.”

“This isn’t the time—we have to get out of here!”

“Our father… his name was Lei Tsuka. And he always… always loved you.”

Yuki froze, her eyes wide.
“Our father…? You mean…?”

“Yes. We really are sisters…”

At that instant, a dark portal opened beneath Yuki’s feet.

“What?!” she cried, losing her balance.

“Don’t forget to take better care of yourself, ugly. If you’re not careful… you’ll never find a partner,” Naz said with a faint smile.

The portal swallowed Yuki in an instant. The light vanished.

Aphrodite appeared just as silence returned to the forest. Her expression was twisted with rage.

“What the hell do you think you’ve done, Naz? You’ve just taken away my most useful apprentice…”

Naz stepped forward, her eyes resolute.
“I’m willing to pay whatever price it takes.”

Aphrodite narrowed her eyes… and smiled.
“Oh… I see.”

Back in the present.

The silence was absolute. Only the wind between the coliseum’s columns accompanied the pounding hearts of the audience. In the center of the arena, two figures stared each other down. The past bound them. The present pitted them against one another.

“I always thought I’d never see you again after that day,” Yuki said firmly, never lowering her guard.

“So did I… I thought you’d completely walk away from this life,” Naz replied with a melancholic smile. “And yet, here you are.”

“I have my own reasons for entering GODS. Don’t take it personally.”

“The same goes for me.”

High above, Zeus raised his arm.
“Begin!”

Instantly, a colossal shadow formed behind Naz. The image of a massive dragon, its liquid scales glistening like sapphires. Its presence shook the ground.

“What the hell is that power…?” Yuki muttered, stepping back.

“This is the result of years of training.”

Yuki narrowed her eyes.
“I see… So you trained her to defeat me, Aphrodite. But she’s not the only one who’s grown stronger.”

A navy-blue wave erupted from Yuki’s feet, engulfing the entire arena. The stands trembled. The temperature dropped. The very sky seemed to darken.

From above, Aphrodite stood breathless.
“This is… magnificent…”

“Your daughter grew far stronger away from you,” Shun said, eyes fixed on the battle.

“What do you mean by that?”

“When you told me of her potential years ago, I was impressed. But something was holding her back… And now, free of that chain, she’s finally awakened.”

Aphrodite clenched her teeth.
“Are you suggesting she’s stronger without me?”

“I’m not suggesting,” Shun replied without blinking. “I know.”

“Behind that pretty-boy face… you’re still just a man without feelings, Shun.”

“Yes. That’s right.”

In the battlefield, Naz’s eyes gleamed.
“This is the same feeling as back then… She’s incredible.”

Yuki raised her arms.
“Water Technique: Water Clones.”

Several copies of herself emerged from invisible puddles, surrounding Naz in perfect formation.

“What are you doing, just standing there?” Naz thought as she slashed through each clone with precise sword strikes. “Do you really consider me that weak…? If so, I’ll show you how strong I’ve become.”

One after another, the copies vanished into bursts of water. Naz planted her feet firmly, panting.
“What are you planning?” she demanded aloud.

“What do you mean?”

“That attack… it wasn’t even a fraction of your power.”

“I won’t need all of it against you.”

“Stop underestimating me!”

Naz raised her weapon.
“Water Technique: Roar of the Sea Dragons!”

Two massive dragons of water burst forth from her back, launching forward like colossal serpents, roaring in an ancient tongue.

Yuki smirked.
“That’s exactly what I was waiting for.”

Her aura flared.
“I’d love to drag this battle out and enjoy it with you. But I don’t have time to waste, Naz.”

“I feel the same, Yuki,” Naz thought. “Don’t hold back… Come at me with everything.”

“Water Technique: Dark Megalodon!”

A gigantic marine beast of shadow and foam surged from beneath Yuki, clashing head-on with Naz’s dragons. The impact was brutal. A storm of water and wind consumed the sky. The stands rumbled.

Naz’s armor began to crack.
“If I don’t do something… this attack will crush me…”

With a fierce scream, she diverted the megalodon just in time, splitting it in half. But relief lasted only a second.

“Where’s Yuki?” she thought, searching desperately.

Then, chains of water erupted from the ground, binding her completely.

“When did she…?”

“From the very beginning,” Yuki said, stepping toward her. “The rest of those attacks were just a distraction.”

“You mean… you didn’t use your full power?”

“Didn’t I already tell you?”

A whirlpool formed around Yuki. Her true power.

“I… owe you everything, Naz. I am who I am because of you. Not giving my all would be an insult to everything you sacrificed. So… I’ll show it to you.”

She raised her right hand to the sky.
“Water Technique: Frozen Finger of Death!”

From the clouds descended a white tornado, spinning with fury, shaped like a colossal finger sculpted from pure frost. The ground froze solid. Even light itself seemed to waver.

Naz gazed at it with awe and pride.
“Thank you, Yuki…”

“The battle is over!” Zeus thundered from above.

The technique vanished in a breath, carrying the warlike aura with it.

“The winner is… Yuki Tsuka!”

The stands erupted in screams, cheers, and applause.

Naz remained standing, though exhausted.
“Why did you stop?”

“You think I could kill my own sister?” Yuki crossed her arms. “Besides… did you forget?”

“Forget what?”

“I can’t kill someone weaker than me.”

Naz laughed and smiled warmly.
“Seems your ego is still intact… just like your ugliness.”

“What did you say…?” Yuki growled, smacking her on the head.

“Ow! There’s so much I want to tell you… and things I want to know, too.”

“We’ll have time for that. Right now, there’s a fight I don’t want to miss.”

“You mean that musclehead? Honestly… he’s kinda cute.”

“Looks like leaving you alone damaged your eyesight.”

“Are you jealous?”

“Idiot! Let’s just get to the stands.”

“So you’re not denying it…” Naz smiled, following her.

Meanwhile, in a dark chamber, Eden stood by a window.
“Looks like it’s over…” he whispered, closing his eyes.

A voice broke the silence.
“Participant number 12, it’s time to come out,” announced a guard.

“Yes… I’m coming.”

Moments later, Eden found Shu waiting at the foot of the coliseum stairs.

“Shu,” Eden said quietly, “I wish you luck.”

Shu locked eyes with him, golden light burning in his gaze.
“I intend to crush you completely, Eden Yomi.”