At that moment, all the people of Philseque Island knelt in terror, their faces filled with unprecedented despair as maniacal, savage laughter echoed through the air.

The Celestial Dragons... those self-proclaimed "gods" above all...

were actually going to hunt them like animals!?

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds...

Finally, the slaves brought here from all corners of the world began to react.

Trembling with fear, they stumbled out of their unlocked cages and broke into sobs as they ran for their lives!

The clatter of chains dragging across the ground rang out nonstop.

They bolted in all directions—some toward the snow-capped mountains, others into the jungle, some just running blindly like headless flies.

Overwhelming fear and a desperate will to live pushed them to use every last ounce of strength... to escape!

Even though they knew the Celestial Dragons' words couldn't be trusted…

Even though they knew surviving a massacre like this was nearly impossible...

They had no choice!

Time ticked by.

Half an hour passed.

Bang!

With a gunshot fired into the sky by the Celestial Dragon judge, the bloodthirsty crowd of Celestial Dragons could no longer hold back.

Laughing madly, they grabbed their weapons and charged forward!

"Hahaha!!"

"Kill!"

"First place is mine!!"

"I want that black-haired girl!"

"..."

Insanity, chaos, frenzy—all erupted with the crack of gunfire.

The bloody curtain of this deadly game had fully risen!

Soon, most of the Celestial Dragons had left the platform, heading off on their hunt.

At that moment, Barbo Saint strolled calmly over to the Marine Vice Admiral and smiled.

"So, Vice Admiral Daren, what are you waiting for?"

"You've been checking your pocket watch ever since you landed."

Daren looked at him calmly.

"Was the lesson earlier still not enough, Barbo-sama?"

"Tch!"

Barbo suddenly let out a laugh.

"You really think Saturn-sama was standing up for you just now? Don't flatter yourself."

His expression twisted with malice as he leaned in close and chuckled darkly.

"I hear you're called the 'King of the North Blue'... and that in the North Blue, there's a saying—'you get the job done if you're paid,' right?"

"I'm honestly curious. In ten minutes, when the hunt truly starts... what kind of face will you be making then?"

The towering man, nearly two meters tall, lifted a hand and mockingly patted Daren on the cheek.

"You take the money, but you can't deliver. You can't even protect the civilians under your command... Tsk, tsk, how amusing. Hahahahaha!!"

He burst into wild laughter, as if washing away the disgrace he'd suffered earlier.

"Just stand there and watch, oh mighty Vice Admiral Daren."

Barbo stepped back and gave a noble's elegant bow, smiling with a hint of scorn.

"...With your Marines and your laughable sense of justice."

With that, he spun his Western sword in a flourish and turned to walk toward the distant jungle.

The Celestial Dragons nearby looked on with amusement, clearly enjoying the spectacle of mocking a powerful man.

After a few steps, Barbo paused. As if remembering something, he turned and smirked.

"Oh, right. Do you know why Saturn-sama insisted on having you come ashore earlier?"

"It's because he wanted you to watch all of this unfold with your own eyes!"

"One civilian after another dying in front of you—and you, unable to do a thing. Worse, you'll be escorting us, the 'murderers'... That helpless despair will devour you alive!"

"That old bastard... just wants to see how far you'll go before you break!!"

Snap!

Daren's pocket watch suddenly snapped shut.

"Are you done?"

He raised his head, his expression calmer than ever, and spoke softly.

Snowflakes, light as feathers, drifted down from the sky.

Looking into the Vice Admiral's emotionless eyes, the smile on Barbo's face suddenly froze.

The Marine's figure vanished on the spot like a ghost.

In that instant, a chilling sense of dread swept over Barbo like a massive shadow looming from above.

Could it be...

His eyes widened. Instinct honed by years of training made him swing his sword reflexively!

Clang!

A hand sliced across the air, effortlessly severing the Western sword mid-swing—and continued, cleaving into the flesh of the red-haired Celestial Dragon without slowing.

Barbo's pupils contracted.

Shff!

A severed arm, still gripping the sword, flew upward through the flurry of snow, blood trailing through the sky like a crimson arc.

The sudden turn of events made the surrounding Celestial Dragons pale in shock. Their gazes, once amused, twisted into disbelief—then fear.

"You... You dare hurt me!?"

Barbo roared in agony, staggering backward. Blood spurted from the gaping wound where his arm had been, dotting the snow like blooming red plum blossoms.

He couldn't believe it.

This Marine... was insane!

All he did was provoke him a little, and the man had completely lost control!?

But as he locked eyes again with the Marine's indifferent stare, the fury burning in Barbo's chest was snuffed out in an instant—replaced by something far worse.

Terror.

True killing intent!

This lunatic actually intends to kill me!

"No, don't come any closer..."

"My uncle won't let you get away with this."

Watching the blood-streaked Vice Admiral approach, Barbo felt true fear for the first time in his life.

But the Vice Admiral didn't stop.

His figure vanished once more, right before Barbo's wide, trembling eyes.

Whoosh!

The snow was whipped into the air by a sudden gust of wind.

"No!! Saturn-sama, save me!!"

Barbo's fear exploded. His courage shattered, and he scrambled to flee, screaming madly as his mind gave in to panic.

Crackle!

A magic circle suddenly flared to life in the snow nearby, swirling with black flames and crackling lightning.

At its center lay a strange pentagram. Around it were the black numbers "5," emanating a sinister, mysterious aura that surged into the air.

The moment he saw it, Barbo's eyes lit up with hope.

"Hahaha—"

His laughter stopped dead.

Shff!

Scalding blood burst from his chest.

An indescribable pain—sharp, numb, consuming—overwhelmed all his senses.

He froze, slowly lowering his head.

A gaping, bloody hole stared back at him from the center of his chest.

And when he looked up again...

His eyes met those of the Vice Admiral once more.

That same cold, indifferent gaze.

As if he'd done something no more significant than brushing off dust.

In his hand, Daren held a still-beating, blood-drenched heart.

His heart.

The heart of a god.

"Heh... heh... you..."

Blood poured from Barbo's mouth and nose as his voice broke into meaningless mutters.

His pupils darkened. In his blurring vision, he saw the Vice Admiral turn away—calm, unhurried.

He killed me… without even glancing at me.

He never once acknowledged me.

A wave of absurdity washed away the last of Barbo Saint's thoughts.

Darkness swallowed him.

The red-haired Celestial Dragon's body collapsed onto the snow.

Black flames danced. Crimson lightning crackled.

Daren slowly turned, facing the aged figure now emerging from the center of the magic circle.

On his sharp-featured, handsome face, a faint smile appeared—for the first time since stepping foot on the island.

"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Saturn-sama."

He clenched his hand.

Snap!

The warm, beating heart burst in his grip, spraying blood across the Vice Admiral's face—adding a savage, demonic edge to his calm demeanor.

The Vice Admiral stared into Saturn-sama's dark expression.

"Me... I really can't stand the way you Celestial Dragons look."

"...It makes it hard not to just..."

He grinned.

"Wipe every last one of you out."