Chapter 15

"The East Blue? What's so important out there?" Zephyr asked, suspicious.

Kuzan shrugged. "Nothing much. Just feeling restless, thought I'd find some trouble to get into..."

Zephyr's jaw dropped. "Who are you and what have you done with Kuzan? The guy who sleeps through life suddenly wants to be proactive? Has the world gone mad?"

...

Deep in the forest, Loya and his team pushed through dense undergrowth, sweat pouring down their faces. The heat was oppressive, turning their uniforms into soggy second skins.

A few recruits peeled off from the group, determined to go it alone. "Better to fail on our own than coast on your coattails, Loya," one said with a nervous grin. Loya could only nod, admiring their guts if not their common sense.

As they reached a small valley, Loya suddenly halted. A tiny creek bubbled over rocks nearby, the sound of water oddly loud in the humid air.

The recruits behind him tensed, guns at the ready. "What is it, Loya? Danger?"

Loya surveyed the area intently. "Here..."

"What? What do you see?"

"The perfect spot to take a leak!" Loya announced with a grin.

The recruits nearly fell over in disbelief. "Are you kidding me? We thought we were about to die!"

But Loya was already dashing towards a large rock, nature calling too loudly to ignore. "Ah, sweet relief!" he sighed, as the others reluctantly lined up behind him.

Suddenly, a recruit whispered, "Guys... is it just me, or is this rock moving?"

"Don't be ridicul- oh shit, it is moving!"

Loya turned, ready to laugh, but his eyes widened as the "rock" began to shift and rise.

In a mad scramble, everyone jumped back, fumbling with zippers and gun safeties, facing whatever beast they'd just used as an impromptu restroom.

"Well," Loya said, trying to keep his voice steady, "I guess we found our first challenge. Hope it's not too pissed off."

The terrible pun was met with groans from his teammates, even as they braced for whatever was about to emerge from the earth.

A thunderous bellow shook the air as the "rock" fully turned, revealing a massive, enraged wild bull. Its eyes blazed with fury at having its rest disturbed.

"It's a Shigu bull!" one recruit shouted, voice quavering. "Fifty points, but it's one of the most dangerous animals here. Those horns can gore through anything!"

Loya locked eyes with the furious beast, frost starting to swirl around his clenched fist. "Everyone back up," he ordered calmly. "I'll handle this."

The bull snorted, pawing the ground. Without warning, it charged, horns lowered and aimed straight at Loya. The ground shook under its thundering hooves as it barreled forward like a runaway train.

"Loya, get out of there!" The other recruits fired their weapons uselessly, bullets barely grazing the bull's thick hide.

"Dodge it, you fool!" someone yelled. "It can't turn quickly!"

But Loya held his ground, even as the bull bore down on him, its lethal horns poised to impale. The recruits watched in horror, certain they were about to witness a tragedy.

Then, almost lazily, Loya raised his left hand.

"He's done for," a recruit whispered, looking away.

"Ice Make Reloaded Lancers!" Loya's voice rang out, sharp and clear.

A sickening sound of tearing flesh filled the air, followed by an agonized bellow. The recruits spun back around, gasping at the scene before them.

The once-mighty bull lay thrashing on the ground, blood pouring from multiple wounds, staining the grass and nearby stream red.

Loya stood unscathed, his ice lances melting away. He turned to his stunned teammates, a grim smile on his face. "Well," he said, "that's fifty points in the bag. Anyone know how to butcher a bull?"

The recruits gaped at him in shocked silence, struggling to process what they'd just witnessed. In that moment, they realized Loya wasn't just skilled – he was on an entirely different level.

Loya stood over the fallen bull, an icy spike protruding grotesquely from its body. He dusted off his hands, shattering the frost armor he'd formed. "Hey, brainiac," he called to the scholarly recruit, "this thing edible?"

The scholar gulped. "N-no, Loya. The Shigu bull's outer layer is rocky, and its insides are poisonous."

Loya's face fell. "What? All that work for nothing?" His stomach growled loudly, reminding him of his hunger.

Meanwhile, on the warship, the generals watched in stunned silence. One turned to Kuzan. "The kid's got freezing powers? And he's this strong already?"

Kuzan adjusted his blindfold, feigning ignorance. "Hm? Did I miss something?"

Zephyr, however, nodded approvingly. "Good. Raw power needs a strong body to back it up."

Back on the island, Loya was getting desperate. "There's gotta be something to eat on this rock!" Suddenly, he had an idea. He leaped high into the air, scanning the landscape.

Landing, he grabbed the scholar again. "Hey, smarty-pants. I saw a huge gorilla thing. Red belly, silver-white hair. That edible?"

The scholar's eyes widened. "A silver-backed great ape? Yes, but... wait, Loya!"

But Loya was already gone, shooting through the trees.

The scholar's face paled. "Oh no. Even lieutenant generals avoid those things!" He turned to the others, panic in his voice. "We've got to stop him! Those apes are as dangerous as sea kings!"

The recruits exchanged nervous glances. Their "easy" tag-along with Loya was turning into something far more dangerous than they'd bargained for. As they debated whether to follow or flee, one thing was clear: Loya was in a league of his own, for better or worse.

------

In the warship's surveillance room, tension crackled through the air. Lieutenant generals leapt to their feet, eyes glued to the screen showing Loya approaching the massive silver-backed great ape.

"That monster's still alive?" one lieutenant general gasped. "It nearly killed me during my assessment a decade ago!"

Mole turned to Zephyr, panic in his voice. "Sir, we have to stop this! Loya's no match for that beast!"

Zephyr remained silent, his eyes flicking to Kuzan. The ice admiral seemed to be napping, but Zephyr caught the ghost of a smirk tugging at his lips.

"Kuzan," Zephyr said evenly, "this isn't a training exercise. It's life or death. Can the boy handle this?"

Kuzan sighed, dropping the pretense of sleep. "Who knows~" he drawled, infuriatingly casual.

Meanwhile, oblivious to the uproar he was causing, Loya raced towards the gorilla. Hunger drove him forward, his mind focused solely on his next meal. The massive ape, peacefully munching fruit on a hillside, had no idea of the approaching danger.

As Loya closed in, the ape's head snapped up, sensing a threat. Its eyes locked onto the young recruit, and a low growl rumbled from its chest.

Back on the ship, the officers held their breath. Some reached for weapons, ready to intervene. Others muttered prayers or curses under their breath.

Zephyr's eyes narrowed, studying Loya's approach. Despite the concern etched on his face, there was a glimmer of... was it pride?

"Sir," Mole pleaded, "we have to do something!"

Zephyr raised a hand, silencing him. "Wait," he said, his voice taut with tension. "Let's see what the boy can do."

As Loya and the silver-backed great ape squared off, the air itself seemed to hold its breath. This was no longer just a test or a hunt for food. It was a moment that could define Loya's future - if he survived it.

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