The beach shook with every blow.
Kuma's paw caught Tina's leg mid-swing, his sheer bulk swallowing her strike. With a grunt, he heaved upward, tossing her into the air like a rag doll.
"Shit!" Tina cursed, body twisting helplessly.
The shadow of Kuma's paw loomed above, descending with lethal force.
"Kuma Seal!" he bellowed, both palms slamming together before one massive strike whipped forward.
Her instincts screamed. Tina crossed her arms, dark bars of iron sprouting from her body, forming a blackened cage in front of her.
"Kuro Ori – Guard!"
The impact rattled the coast. His palm smashed into the iron barricade with a crash that echoed across the wreckage. Tina's body was flung like a cannonball, slamming into the cliffside twenty meters away. Rock fractured under her weight, dust billowing.
"Gh…!" She spat blood, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Her forearms trembled violently, every muscle screaming from the shock. He damn near broke my guard in one hit.
But she stood. A Marine didn't cower. "Not bad," she muttered, lips curling. Her gaze slid past Kuma, landing on Jin still perched on his stone, wearing that infuriating calm smile. Rage burned hotter in her chest.
"Again!" she roared.
Kuma roared back, delighted, surging forward with stomping strides that shook the sand.
They collided.
Kuma's swings tore the air, each paw carrying the weight of a falling tree. Tina ducked, rolled, retaliated with precise kicks and sharp jabs, her iron bars lashing out like spears. Her movements were quick, clever—she refused to meet brute strength head-on.
One fought with raw dominance. The other with cunning agility.
To Jin's eye, it was beautiful chaos. He tilted his head, arms crossed, quietly analyzing. Kuma's improvising. Crude, but it's his path taking shape. Tina's "Shave" footwork isn't polished, her "Moon Step" barely a child's leap. Good, though. There's a foundation here. They're both green, but hungry.
The clash continued, sand flying, their roars and shouts echoing.
Then—
Crack!
Tina landed a clean hit, her fist driving into Kuma's jaw. His head snapped aside, the beast staggering back a few paces.
Her pupils narrowed. Now!
"Tsubasa Ori!"
Iron branches shot from her arms, wrapping around Kuma's torso in a growing lattice of bars. In seconds, his massive frame was cocooned, pinned tight. She grit her teeth, sweat dripping as she poured everything into restraining him.
Kuma thrashed, metal groaning with every strain. His muscles bulged, veins rising.
"Damn… he's breaking it!" Tina hissed, eyes widening. Her ability was her pride — but the bars bent and splintered under the pressure.
The bear's roar split the air. His eyes flared red, foam flecking his lips.
"Not good…"
Snap!
The cage shattered. Iron shards exploded outward.
Kuma emerged, bloodshot gaze wild, breath heavy, aura flaring like a beast unchained. The sand beneath him cracked from sheer force as he clapped his paws together and brought them down toward Tina, fury unrestrained.
Her legs gave out. Exhaustion crushed her body. She collapsed to her knees, staring up at the descending blow. For the first time in years, real fear flooded her veins. Death loomed, inches away.
She closed her eyes. Father…
And then—
Clap.
A single hand caught Kuma's strike.
The air shook from the impact, wind rippling outward, kicking up sand and grit. But the blow never reached her.
When Tina opened her eyes, the world narrowed to a single figure standing between her and annihilation. Black hair whipping in the wind, back straight, one arm effortlessly holding back Kuma's monstrous attack.
Jin.
His tone was casual, almost lazy. "That's enough."
Kuma snarled, still in his frenzy, straining to push further. His power trembled against Jin's single palm.
"Tch. Annoying." Jin's gaze sharpened. His body flickered. In an instant, he was level with Kuma's face.
"Sit."
His leg snapped out.
Wham!
The kick cracked across Kuma's skull, sending the beast flying like a cannonball. His massive frame tumbled end over end before splashing into the sea with a thunderous crash. Water geysered skyward, then swallowed him whole.
The beach fell silent save for the waves.
Jin exhaled through his nose, dusting his hand as if brushing off dirt. He crouched before Tina, his violet eyes soft, the smile warm enough to melt the tension. "Scared?"
His voice carried a gentleness that didn't belong on a battlefield. A mercenary's voice shouldn't sound like that. But it did.
Tina's chest tightened. For a moment she forgot the blood on her lips, the ache in her arms. She forgot the fear. She only saw him.
"N-No. Just… a spar. Injuries are expected." She turned away, cheeks burning, scrambling to her feet.
Jin chuckled low. "Brave face, huh? You're trembling."
He slipped a small jade-green pill into her palm. The faint herbal scent carried a calming sweetness. "Take it. My own blend. Healers would call it reckless, but it'll steady your body. You overextended with your ability—push it further without rest, and you'll pay for it later."
Tina hesitated. Then, against every instinct, she obeyed. The pill dissolved quickly, warmth spreading through her veins. Her breathing steadied.
"…Thank you," she said quietly, unable to meet his gaze.
Jin only smiled, rising, the sea wind tugging at his cloak. "Good. You've got talent, Tina. But talent alone won't keep you alive. Remember that."
Behind them, waves rolled. Somewhere beneath, Kuma's massive shadow stirred, recovering. The duel was over, but its echoes lingered.
This story is inspired from various fanfics i have read from around the world so if you find any similarities please dont mind . Thank you
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T/N :
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