#706 - Chapter 506: Sudden Malice
Jin An stood at the bow of the ship, the sea before him gently undulating in the breeze, the distant island growing clearer, its atmosphere heavy and somber.
Just as he was about to adjust the course again, a strong aura suddenly struck, as if some invisible force had crossed the sea and was rapidly approaching.
That aura, filled with intense malice, felt as if it wanted to devour him.
Jin An's body stiffened abruptly, he frowned slightly, his eyes quickly scanning his surroundings, searching for the source of that aura.
"Blackbeard?
Imu?"
He murmured softly, his tone tinged with uncertainty, but even more so with deep vigilance.
The fluctuations of that aura couldn't help but remind him of the terror he felt when he fought Blackbeard, and it also felt like sensing Imu's aura, which didn't belong to this world.
His pupils suddenly constricted, his gaze sharpening.
"This aura… seems to be not just Blackbeard, but also carries Imu's presence…"
As the aura drew closer, a strong sense of unease rose within Jin An.
He felt as if that aura was secretly watching him, like some imperceptible shadow, ready to pounce on him at any moment.
He knew this wasn't a simple sensory illusion, but a kind of intuition deeply rooted in his soul; this malice wasn't directed at him personally, but came from a higher level.
"Could it be…"
Jin An took a deep breath, lowered his head slightly, and calmly analyzed the situation before him.
As these auras intertwined, he suddenly recalled those previous hints from Imu, that eerie feeling and Blackbeard's extreme dominance, seeming to merge together to some extent.
This aura wasn't just a simple threat; the message it conveyed was more direct and profound than any language.
"Damn it…"
He cursed softly, turned and waved to the crew, instructing them to be on high alert immediately, and ordered everyone to prepare for possible enemies.
The crew immediately began to busy themselves, some adjusting the cannons, some checking weapons, and others urgently reinforcing the ship's hull.
But even so, Jin An still felt an indescribable sense of oppression, as if darkness was quietly approaching from all directions.
His brow furrowed, his gaze cast towards the distant island, gradually focusing on the figures that were gradually appearing.
That aura had grown increasingly intense, as if some immense dark presence was hidden deep within a corner of the island, its power vast and twisted, silently approaching him.
"Damn it, impossible… right?
Could Blackbeard have already made some kind of connection with Imu?"
A hint of surprise flashed through Jin An's mind, but he quickly suppressed the fluctuations in his heart, a calm expression appearing on his face.
He understood that the aura before him represented more than just Blackbeard alone, but some kind of more complex and powerful force.
If these two forces really had some kind of connection, the situation would become exceptionally complicated.
Jin An stared intently ahead, realizing that things were far more troublesome than he had imagined.
In order to cope with possible changes, he quickly reorganized his tactics and strategies in his mind, already prepared to face battle at any moment.
As the ship gradually approached the shore of the island, he felt that strong aura become increasingly close, like an invisible chain, tightly wrapped around him, impossible to break free.
"No matter what, I must see Sengoku and the others."
Jin An secretly made up his mind, understanding that this meeting wasn't just about cooperation, but also about whether he could gain a foothold in this storm that was about to break out.
He closed his eyes slightly, took a deep breath, and tried to focus his energy to perceive more information.
The rocking of the ship and the sound of the wind were gradually blocked out, he focused on that aura, as if his whole being had merged with it, to perceive the subtle changes within it.
Suddenly, the sea before him trembled slightly, his heart leaped – that aura instantly disappeared, as if it had been sealed off by some force.
Jin An's brow furrowed, an ominous premonition welling up in his heart again.
"They… have already noticed me."
A glint of decisiveness flashed in his eyes, his mind already prepared to face the challenges ahead.
He knew that the situation before him was far from simple, just as he had once anticipated, this storm was probably more violent than anyone imagined.
"Come on."
He whispered, gripping the ship's wheel, welcoming the coming storm.
Jin An gazed at the vast sea, the unease and sense of urgency in his heart growing stronger.
That aura filled with intense malice had completely disappeared in that instant, but what it left him was a deep sense of crisis.
That feeling seemed to weigh heavily on his chest, forcing him to take several deep breaths, trying to suppress the unease within.
He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the sea breeze blowing and the surrounding movements, but that inexplicable sense of oppression still lingered in his mind, unable to dissipate.
His heartbeat seemed to become unusually clear, as if an invisible hand was slowly squeezing inside his chest cavity, making each breath seem more difficult.
"This aura… is it from Blackbeard, or Imu?"
He asked silently in his heart, although these two forces were no longer unfamiliar, at this moment he was more acutely aware than ever before:
If there really was some kind of connection between Blackbeard and Imu, then this combined force was far beyond what he could imagine.
He couldn't help but clench his fists, his knuckles making a subtle "crack" sound in his palms.
"I didn't gain the upper hand when facing Imu before, this time… it's probably even more troublesome."
His brow furrowed, his mind repeatedly recalling the powerful forces possessed by Imu and Blackbeard.
That sense of oppression came not only from their abilities, but even more so from their very existence.
Imu possessed the potential to control the world, while Blackbeard was a formidable overlord.
The combined power of the two was simply like a raging flood attacking him.
Jin An narrowed his eyes slightly, secretly warning himself that he must increase his strength.
At present, whether in physical strength or combat skills, he was just a warrior standing shoulder to shoulder with these powerhouses.
Although he considered himself no weakling, when faced with such powerful and unknown enemies, he knew that he was still far from enough.
"I can't delay any longer."
He murmured softly, as if making a promise to himself.
Jin An took a deep breath, feeling that familiar force within him gradually rising, he knew that this force was the strongest thing he possessed, and also the only trump card he could rely on.
However, Jin An knew that this force alone was far from enough to cope with the battles he might face next.
He understood that if he didn't redouble his efforts to cultivate, he would eventually be reduced to a pawn in the hands of others.
He wasn't afraid of battle, but he knew that the gap between his abilities and those of his enemies could not be ignored.
The ship rocked gently, as if reminding him that this heavy sense of crisis was no longer a remote threat, but was approaching him step by step.
He suddenly turned around, a flash of determination in his eyes.
"I must break through, I must become stronger."
He secretly made this vow in his heart.
He knew that true cultivation was not just about increasing strength, but even more about cultivating the perseverance and determination to fight to the death.
And in the days to come, he would no longer be the Jin An who relied on the strength of others, but a powerhouse who could stand independently at the top.
At this moment, Jin An seemed to feel an invisible force encouraging him, that persistence and determination buried deep within his heart, like some suppressed emotion suddenly finding an outlet for release.
With each breath, his consciousness gradually cleared, the blood and Qi in his body seemed to begin to flow, gradually surging into a surging torrent.
He realized that only by controlling every detail of these forces to the extreme would it be possible to have a chance to fight back when facing existences like Imu and Blackbeard.
He knew that this path was full of difficulties and dangers, but at this moment he did not hesitate, because he had no way back.
"I will become strong, even for myself, even for this world."
Jin An's eyes were firm, his hands gently clenched, that strong determination from the depths of his heart rose within him, turning into an indelible motivation.
"Let me see, just how strong can I become."
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