DING!
[System detected host is in a dangerous situation!]
[Emergency Safety Procedure 1/1 activated! This chance will never be available again.]
[All buffs activated!]
[Strength +10]
[Focus +10]
[Physical Endurance +10]
[Vision +2]
[Breath Time +5]
[Time Limit: 5 minutes]
"I only have five minutes to change my fate."
Once the buffs took effect, Johan felt as if he had been given a completely new body.
His vision sharpened.
His focus became razor-clear.
His body felt ten times tougher, so much so that even the crushing hydrostatic pressure of the deep sea no longer affected him.
And most importantly of all—his strength surged.
CRACK!
Effortlessly, Johan shattered the steel chains binding his arms and legs.
He scanned his surroundings and spotted his mother and younger brother sinking even deeper.
Raising both arms over his head, Johan dove downward, swimming like a dolphin toward the ocean floor.
Not only did he keep up with the anchor's descent, he overtook it, moving at twice its speed.
Beyond the system's buffs, Johan had once been the top graduate of his marine unit.
The generals had called him the one in a thousand years.
His swimming skills were exceptional.
As he drew closer to his mother and brother, relief washed over him. Airen had kept her promise. A layer of compressed air shielded his mother's body from the pressure, even supplying enough oxygen for her to sleep peacefully.
CRACK!
CRACK!
After breaking the chains restraining them, Johan quickly carried both bodies upward.
Looking above, he could still see the shadow of the ship's hull.
There's no other choice. I have to get back on board.
They were in the middle of the ocean. The nearest land was at least a hundred miles away. Even Johan couldn't swim that far while carrying two people.
Besides… the first person I want to see is that bastard, Jacob.
Once he reached the surface, Johan swam silently toward the stern, the lowest part of the ship and where the ladder was located.
Luckily, no one was guarding it.
He lifted his mother and brother onto the deck and hid them in a blind corner.
His mother was breathing steadily. That was what mattered most.
When his gaze shifted to his brother's body, already pale and cold, the heat in his blood surged again.
"I'll avenge you, Andrew. I promise."
Johan stood up and looked at them one last time, a calm smile on his face.
"Wait here. I won't be long."
The warmth vanished from his expression. His gaze turned cold.
Walking calmly through the ship's corridor, Johan encountered several of Jacob's men, their faces frozen in shock.
"You… how are you here?!"
"You should be shark food at the bottom of the sea! And where's the bullet wound in your chest?!"
"My bullet wound?"
Johan muttered as he touched his chest.
There was blood, but no wound. Somehow, it had vanished. His skin was smooth, flawless. Even the scars from past wars were gone.
"Master Jacob shot you straight through a vital point!" one of them shouted, his face turning pale. "You couldn't have survived!"
Johan smiled faintly.
"Does that really matter now? I came back from death just to see all of you. Why not give me a warmer welcome?"
They all drew their pistols at once, aiming straight at his head.
"Oh. Even better," Johan hummed.
Their fingers rested on the triggers, but their hands trembled so badly that hitting their mark was impossible, no matter how close he was.
"You should surrender! Don't die stupidly a second time!" one of them yelled.
Johan's smile deepened, calm and unreadable. That was what terrified them most.
"When fear takes over, you've already lost," Johan said quietly.
"You look like children waving toy guns. It's almost funny."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Besides, I'm not unarmed. I brought one with me."
With a casual flick of his hand, a flash of light appeared. Out of nowhere, a wine bottle materialized in his grip.
"WHUT—"
"Are you kidding us?!"
The fear vanished from their faces, replaced by laughter.
"HAHAHA! Are you trying to bribe us with cheap wine?!"
"Oh come on, man. We're paid big money by Greg Gonzales. We can buy any wine in the world."
"Or what, you want a last drink before you die? Kneel first. We might consider it."
Johan smiled.
Just as he expected.
They wouldn't believe it.
"Why are you smiling, huh?! Had enough fun messing with us?!" one of them snapped.
Johan sighed.
"You've forgotten who's standing here."
"Of course we haven't," another replied.
"You're Johan Fox. A legendary veteran, called the 'God of War' by your followers. Your country once honored you, even protected you from revenge. But five years since you fell into a coma, they've forgotten you. This is the end of your life and your name."
"That's right. So kneel before we kill you. We might even let you taste wine one last time."
Johan chuckled.
"You still don't get it. I was never afraid of my name being forgotten."
"Then what?"
"You forgot that the man standing before you has killed over six thousand people, survived a thousand battles—and I'll do it again. Adding five more stupid people won't make a difference."
Their bodies trembled again.
That number was insane. Too much for a single human hands.
No wonder standing near Johan felt like facing a demon.
This man…
was a monster.
"Pure evil! Enough with the wine. Kill him now!"
As their fingers tightened on the triggers, Johan closed his eyes.
[Skill {Micro-Trajectory Prediction} activated!]
When he opened them again, time seemed to slow.
Golden trajectory lines extended from every gun barrel aimed at him.
Even before they fire, it predicts the bullet paths. Useful.
All lines converged on his head and neck. Five fatal shots, enough to kill him instantly.
They can still aim under pressure. These aren't amateurs. Where did Jacob find them?
A warning panel appeared.
[Evade trajectory lines in:
5…
4…
3…]
Johan smiled wider.
"Time to test how strong this stupid wine bottle really is."
BANG!
They fired simultaneously. Five 9x19mm Parabellum bullets flew out, more than enough to shatter a skull like a watermelon.
Yet Johan didn't move.
He simply raised the ridiculous wine bottle in front of his face.
A desperate, almost laughable gesture.
THUMP!
WHIZZ!
Sparks flew as the bullets slammed into the bottle, smoke bursting from burning gunpowder.
Then silence.
Only the sound of waves remained.
Everyone stood frozen.
"Huh. Airen wasn't lying," Johan muttered, examining the bottle in awe.
"This stupid thing actually works."
The five men stared at him, eyes bulging.
They refused to believe it.
Refused to accept what they had just seen.
"How…"
"How can you move that fast…"
"…and that stupid bottle can stop bullets?"