Chapter 342: Heart of the Ocean

Chapter 342: Chapter 342: Heart of the Ocean


Chapter 342: Heart of the Ocean


Ryuunosuke soon returned to the port of Jaya Island.


Due to the shallow harbor, Kun remained out at sea. Ryuunosuke disembarked alone and boarded the Ship of the Gods once more.


"Captain... you...?" Natasha blinked in surprise, watching him approach from the opposite direction.


"I’ve recruited a new crew member," Ryuunosuke said casually as he stepped aboard. "I’ll introduce him later."


He glanced around and noticed the ship was nearly loaded.


"How much longer until we’re fully stocked?" he asked.


"Just a few more hours," Natasha replied, then tilted her head with curiosity. "This new crew member... are we talking about someone special?"


Najenda, standing nearby, folded her arms and looked thoughtful. "For you to personally recruit them... they must be something else. Where are they, by the way?"


Everyone was wondering the same thing—Ryuunosuke had returned alone.


"He’s not human," Ryuunosuke answered simply. "I’m going to get some rest. Let me know when we’re ready to depart."


With that, he turned and headed to his cabin, fatigue tugging at his limbs. Ever since naming Kun, an odd weariness had settled over him—one that seemed to seep into his very soul.


The moment he lay down, sleep claimed him.


---


"Joyboy... Joyboy..."


A soft, echoing voice whispered through the void.


"...Hn?"


Ryuunosuke stirred. That voice—was that Shirahoshi?


But when he opened his eyes, he found himself standing in a vast, empty white world. No ocean, no ship, no crew.


Only silence... and a glow of blue light up ahead.


"A dream?" he murmured, confused. He hadn’t dreamed in a long time. Ever since his voyage began, his nights had been silent, heavy with exhaustion.


But this... this was different.


Drawn to the blue light, he walked forward. As he approached, a woman emerged from the glow—beautiful, graceful, with the same aura as Shirahoshi... but older. Wiser.


"Not Shirahoshi..." Ryuunosuke muttered. "But you feel the same. Are you... the previous Poseidon?"


The woman smiled gently. "Hello, Joyboy. I am Poseidon—first of the Poseidon. You may call me Sester."


The name jolted Ryuunosuke’s memory. Kun had mentioned it. This was the one who had bound him beneath the sea.


"Why did you summon me?" he asked cautiously.


Sester’s expression turned serious.


"Beneath the Red Line... there are those in need of rescue. Their freedom is tied to you and the new Poseidon. I can no longer act... but you can."


She extended her hand, and a radiant blue gem appeared—its glow pulsing like a living heart.


"This is the Heart of the Ocean. You’ll need it when the time comes."


Ryuunosuke’s eyes widened. The energy radiating from the gem was unmistakable.


"This... this is an Infinity Stone!"


Though different from the Infinite White Stone he’d encountered before, it possessed the same ancient, pure energy. He could feel it down to his bones.


"You already understand its significance," Sester said calmly. "Then I need not explain its power."


She took a step back, her figure beginning to blur into mist.


"Remember, Joyboy—beneath the Line lies a truth buried too long..."


Before she could finish, the mist closed in, swallowing everything.


---


"Captain... Captain..."


"Brother Ryuunosuke..."


Multiple voices drifted into his ears, pulling him from the fog of sleep.


"...Ugh..." Ryuunosuke groaned and slowly opened his eyes.


Akame and Kuina were leaning over him, concern etched on their faces.


"I... fell asleep?" he muttered, rubbing his temples. A wave of dizziness washed over him.


This fatigue wasn’t just physical—it felt like his soul had been wrung dry.


Not even after the war with the World Government had he felt this drained.


"Brother Ryuunosuke, are you alright?" Akame asked softly. Then her face brightened with mischief. "You look pale... don’t tell me... are you pregnant?"


"Wha—?" Kuina blinked in confusion, then burst into laughter like a wind chime in spring.


Ryuunosuke, on the other hand, wore the face of a man deeply betrayed by his own crew’s sense of humor.


"What’s going on in that head of yours...?" he muttered with a sigh.


"I’m fine. Just a little groggy," he said, trying to shake off the lingering haze.


He lifted his hand to run through his hair—only to pause.


A gem was resting in his palm.


The Heart of the Ocean.


And the glowing mark of "Kun" that had been etched on the back of his hand—it had vanished.


Had Sester’s energy been embedded in that mark? Was it the link that pulled him into that dream?


Memories of the vision came rushing back.


At that moment, Kuina spoke up. "Sister Najenda said we’re ready to leave. She sent us to wake you. You were sleeping like a log."


Ryuunosuke nodded. "Alright. Let’s head out."


He slipped the Heart of the Ocean into his system space and followed the two out of the cabin.


The Shup of the Gods had already set sail.


On deck, the wind was brisk and the crew gathered as Ryuunosuke called out.


"Everyone, gather around! I’ve got a surprise for you!"


"A surprise?" murmured Natasha.


The crew assembled, eyes curious. Even Zoro wandered over, arms crossed, expression unreadable.


BOOM!


The surface of the sea exploded as Kun rose from the depths, his massive form casting a shadow over the ship.


The crew stared in awe as the Undersea Overlord emerged.


"This," Ryuunosuke said with a grin, "is our new crew member—Kun!"


"Wooooahhh..." Akame’s jaw dropped.


Then, in the next breath, she pulled out a dinner knife with sparkles in her eyes. "Brother Ryuunosuke, are we eating him?!"


Ryuunosuke’s face went stiff. "Uh... no."


"That’s Kun. He’s joining us on our journey."


Kun, who had been happily surfacing to meet the crew, suddenly stiffened at the sound of "eating" and gave Ryuunosuke a betrayed look with his massive eyes.


The poor guy had been summoned for friendship, not fine dining.


"Crew... member..." Akame lowered her knife with a pout. "Aw, what a waste."


The others laughed, and even Kuina chuckled behind her hand.


Despite the bizarre introduction, the crew welcomed Kun with open arms... and empty stomachs (with some disappointment).


IDK if you like the story (Tensura) that i found, i only chose this because of the high ratings and i notice that there’s no one translating this.


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