Chapter 37 — Beastly Fade

Shizuko and Sora each held one of JJ’s hands, practicing their kicks in the gentle waves.
​「You know I could’ve taught you how to swim in the pool at home,」 JJ commented, his hair and eyes Brown.​「Well, we’re here now,」 Shizuko replied simply.​「Yeah, Papa, it is what it is,」 Sora agreed.​JJ chuckled. 「Yeah, that’s factual.」 His ears suddenly perked up.​【Hmm... Even though we’re in the shallow end, the fact there ain’t no fish is not good.】 He scanned the empty sky above. 【Not even a bird overhead. This ain't good for real.】
​On the shore, Fenrir suddenly stood up, staring intently toward JJ's location, a low growl rumbling in his chest. Both he and Garm began to bark furiously.
​Hana looked confused, touching the side of her temple. 【What's wrong with the both of them?】 「Garm, Fenrir, what is it?」 The dogs pointed their snouts toward JJ. 「Is there something wrong by JJ's side?」 The dogs nodded violently. 「Alright, warn him as loud as you can!」
​Garm inhaled a massive breath, then let out a sonic bark that vibrated across the sand and water.
​JJ heard the warning, his eyes widening. 【Fuck! I gotta move!】
​He quickly tore his hoodie off, revealing the toned muscle beneath.
​「Papa?」 Shizuko asked, confused.​「Can't explain right now.」 He scooped up both girls, stuffed them inside the thick, folded hoodie, and launched them with surprising force toward the shore. 「Catch!」
​Garm and Fenrir leaped high into the air, using their bodies to cushion the fall of the children.
​Shizuko landed safely. 「What’s going on?!」​「There’s something in the water!」 Hana shouted back.
​JJ was focused, scanning the water around him. 【Alright, what's coming for me?】​He saw a huge fin cut through the waves. 【A great white. No, it’s bigger.】
​The genetically modified massive shark exploded from the water, its jaws clamping down hard on JJ’s arm. People screamed and ran, swimming frantically toward the shore.
​JJ remained strangely calm, even as the shark began dragging him under. 【So it’s genetically modified. That means there's more out there.】
​As if confirming his thought, more sharks materialized and, together, dragged him further out to sea.
​Sora was scared and worried. 「Will Papa be okay?」​Shizuko watched the commotion with an unnerving calm. 「Yeah, don't worry. It's not his first time fighting something that came from a lab.」​「What do you mean, Shizu?」​Shizuko chuckled. 「Just wait until Papa comes back, then you’ll understand.」
​◽​Three Hours Later◽
​Blanco, his eyes now glowing, his persona fully in control, laughed arrogantly, floating effortlessly on a colossal shark fin. His hair had turned pure white. 「From a six-meter great white to a twenty-four-meter megalodon...」 He scoffed, his voice loud across the water. 「Even with the armor of the Dunkleosteus, they were still weak.」​Iris spoke into the earpiece he wore. ⟦Dad, are you okay?⟧​「Child, did you forget who I am? Even with ten thousand of these genetically modified freaks, no one’s a match for Blanco!」​Iris: ⟦< Giggles > Yeah, you’re right, Dad—something’s coming!⟧​Blanco chuckled, a grin splitting his face. 「Finally, the challenge I've been waiting for!」
​An absolutely monstrous megalodon, eighty meters in length, vaulted out of the ocean and dove straight at Blanco.
​Blanco’s grin widened from ear to ear. 【Where the fuck did they hide something like that?】 He let out a loud laugh. 「Iris, tell Hana and the others I might be late for dinner tonight!」​Iris: ⟦Huh?!⟧
​The colossal shark crashed into Blanco.
​Hana stood on the shore holding JJ’s phone. 「Iris, is he okay?」​Iris: ⟦Yeah, actually, Dad’s having the time of his life right now.⟧​Hana giggled. 「Did he leave any message?」​Iris: ⟦He said he might be late for dinner.⟧​Hana laughed softly with the others. 「Too bad! Guess we’re eating take-out tonight.」​Miyeon sighed dramatically. 「Yeah, I’m not comfortable with Solomon eating cold food.」
◽​Two Hours Later◽
​News crews and a massive crowd had gathered on the beach after the reports of the shark attack broke. Then, they saw a massive fin approaching and began to panic again.
​Shizuko looked closely. 「Isn't that fin backwards?」​Miyeon squinted. 「Now that you mention it, you’re right!」
​The megalodon’s tail emerged, and people were shocked beyond belief when they realized it was Blanco—who was dragging the colossal carcass behind him. He hauled the body onto the beach and stood triumphantly on top of it.
​Blanco inhaled deeply, preparing for his final flourish.​The crowd watched, awestruck, whispering and gossiping about the incredible display.​Blanco let out a roar so deep it shook windows and people’s very bones.
​Shizuko laughed happily. 「See that, Sora? I told you not to worry about Papa!」​Sora was ecstatic. 「Yeah, you were right!」
​Blanco lifted his arms, shouting into the stunned silence. 「TEN THOUSAND AND ONE GENETICALLY MODIFIED SHARKS AIN'T GOT SHIT ON BLANCO!!!」
​Everyone on the beach heard him and were left stunned in awe.
​Hana giggled, rubbing her stomach. 「Baby girl, seems like your dad is a show off...」 She walked over to him.
​Blanco hopped off the shark carcass and went to her.
​「So, NWO, I take it?」 Hana asked.​「Yeah, and, oh wait.」 He seamlessly switched back, his hair and eyes returning to Brown.​JJ laughed. 「I know who’s responsible for this disaster behind me.」​「Alright, so where in the house are we keeping its skeleton?」​「Oh.」 He pulled her into a tight embrace. 「I didn't think you'd collect these types of trophies.」​Hana giggled, then looked up at him cunningly. 「Well, dominance needs to be asserted if those backstabbing punks think they’re worth shit.」​JJ placed his hands on her waist. 「Hmm... If only you weren't pregnant right now, you would’ve loved what we were going to do.」​Hana chuckled softly. 「Calm down, tiger. Besides...」 She nodded toward the sound of journalists running their way. 「We need to go home first, before the busy bees start buzzing around us.」​「Yeah, you do that. I'll be busy getting our trophy out of its skin.」​Hana giggled. 「Alright, see you in a few days.」​「Yeah, you too.」 They kissed briefly, and Hana left with the others.​【Alright, let's do this.】​【Psyc: You lucky we don't need sleep, right?】​【JJ: You right. Solomon, how long will this take?】​【Solomon: Three days if we stay here from start to finish.】​【JJ: bet.】