The Hundredth Time

Xu Kai's heart grew cold. 'How did I return to the time I died?'

"Xu Kai, focus!" The captain's voice snapped him out of his reverie. Tightening his grip around the wooden shaft, he glanced at the long triangular tip before averting his gaze to the violent waves.

A few meters from the ship he was standing on, another hunting ship appeared, followed by yet another one!

'These ships are made from three decades-old wood. Against a Skylark, it's nothing but a thin plank!' Xu Kai solemnly pondered. 

"It's coming!" 

He, along with others, turned to his right and saw a thick, tall dorsal fin dividing the water.

Rumble —!

The thunder brightened the sky for a short moment, and Xu Kai saw the ferocious sea beast beneath the water surface.

Unlike before, when he rushed to throw his spear like the others, he quietly retreated to the back without anyone noticing.

Several long spears soared through the air, plunging into the sea's depths, but the beast easily maneuvered through their barrage of spears.

Suddenly, with a large splash, a 22-foot-long navy blue shark with a white underbelly soared over their ship. Its defined set of pointy teeth struck terror into the crew.

Boom—!

Their yells and excitement fell into the depths of fear as they saw the Skylark Shark split the second ship into two using its powerful dorsal fin like a blade!

Lifting stones couldn't help the muscular men who fell into the water—right into the shark's domain!

The crew members on Xu Kai's ship and the other ship launched spears at the shark, but most of them failed to penetrate deep into its thick skin.

"Move! We need to start moving in a circular fashion." Xu Kai shouted, but his crew members were preoccupied with trying to assist those in the water.

Standing at the back of his crew members, Xu Kai watched the sea turn red with the blood of those whose ship had been destroyed.

After killing several people, the Skylark Shark vanished, causing them to look around. "Did you see where it went?" The ship captain staggered as both he and those on the ship watched the shark emerge from a massive wave and land on the other remaining ship, destroying it into two parts!

Seeing the sea beast devour his comrades, Xu Kai's eyes flashed red. Why was he reliving this moment filled with pain and regret?

Why was it necessary to reopen this wound?

Anger took over his fear and he yelled, "Kill that beast!" 

He confronted the Skylark Shark alongside his crew, but the outcome remained unchanged. They all died—his captain, his friends, and finally him.

For some reason, he was always the last.

Time seemed to rewind, and Xu Kai started all over again, only to meet his demise. The process repeated itself again.

****

Rumble —!

Lightning struck, illuminating the dorsal fin in the distance. While everyone prepared themselves, Xu Kai stood at the hull, his demeanour deep and mysterious.

"This will mark the hundredth time I try to kill this beast." He muttered to himself. 

While the beast got closer, he twirled the spear, which was taller than him, so deftly that even the captain was astonished. 

None of them could believe that this was the clumsy Xu Kai standing there like a veteran with a record of slaying ferocious sea beasts under his belt.

The storm and cold raindrops from the sky seemed to merge with him. "Prepare your spears; it will come from the left." His deep voice carried unwavering authority.

Just as he said, the Skylark Shark burst out of the water, soaring over their ship. He raised a spear high in that moment, slicing deep into the beast's underbelly!

Bam—!

The water turned crimson as the Skylark Shark slammed into it and vanished. "Finally, I struck it!" Xu Kai rushed to the bulwark. 

While they waited for evidence of its death, a furious beast on its last legs destroyed the last ship.

It sped and cut through the second ship, devouring those in its path and slaughtering the rest so diabolically that goosebumps covered everyone's skin.

Boom—!

Their ship was hit! The stormy sea ravaged the opening at the bottom, causing the ship to break into two parts!

"Ah! Help!" 

Xu Kai's heart bled when he saw people fall into the water only to face the dying, angry shark. As more people lost their grip and slid into the water, Xu Kai finally let go of the bulwark.

'I don't want to survive anymore. I just want to kill this beast!' 

His madness blinded his rational behaviour.

Leaping off the sinking ship, he raised his spear high. The sight of the shark lunging out of the sea with its sharp teeth, ready to rip him to shreds, was reflected in his red eyes.

Rumble —!

The clouds brightened.

"Die!!" Xu Kai channeled all his Spirit Qi into the spear's metal head. This time, he wasn't trying to survive; he wasn't trying to save his comrades, but he was going to do something different.

This time, he would kill this beast, even if it meant they all died.

Yelling at the top of his lungs, he thrust the spear into the skylark shark's mouth and fell into the sea.

In the depths, his eyes reflected the trail of blood leaving the dead sea beast before closing for the final time.

****

Ha~ Ha~

A scrawny boy sat up, sweat dripping down his face as he panted. His chest kept beating loudly until he crossed his legs and began meditation.

When his heartbeat returned to normal, Xu Kai opened his eyes and saw the bright blue sky and majestic pristine white clouds drifting loftily.

It was morning.

'What happened?' He pondered his experience but it still confused him greatly. Aside from his mental fortitude expanding by several folds, he gained no sudden strength, but that experience was so real that Xu Kai couldn't label it a dream.

Suddenly, his stomach growled. He thought, "Everyone must be at the shores preparing for the competition to gain a guaranteed slot, but I have to eat first." Turning, he gazed into the distance. 'I may have to visit Fatty Tian's shop.'