I should have been in the middle of eradicating the Titans. That was my mission—to make sure they never set foot on Earth again. Their assault on the planet left me with no choice but to wipe them out, and I was ready to finish that task. Yet here I am—somewhere else.
I had been transported, or so I thought, to the Titans' homeworld after sending that final warning to the last of their kind. But something had gone wrong. Instead of the massive, desolate, rocky planet I expected, I found myself lying on the ground, the taste of cold stone under my back.
When I opened my eyes, the first thing that hit me was the barren landscape. Stretching before me was an expansive field, long grass and dirt beneath my feet. To the north, a vast mountain range loomed, jagged and sharp, like something born from the world's heartache. The air felt thick, oppressive, and unfamiliar—heavy with a kind of electric tension.
Baltigo—that's what the people around here called it. As I rose to my feet, I saw it for the first time. A cliffside fortress carved out of rock, perched atop a vast plateau. It looked almost like a castle, but its shape was worn and natural, as if it had been shaped by millennia of erosion. The walls were rough, with jagged edges, and the atmosphere was charged with a strange energy, the kind I couldn't place.
As I stood, my body went on high alert, muscles coiling instinctively. I sensed movement, the faintest rustle in the air—there were people approaching.
"Beru," I muttered quietly, "what do you think?"
The shadow under me rippled, and Beru's voice echoed in my mind. "Do you wish for me to eat them, my Lord?"
I didn't need to reply. Igris appeared in the corner of my vision, his presence cold and unnerving, like the edge of a blade. "Shall I cut them down?"
"Bellion?" I asked next, though I knew what his response would be.
"What should we do with them, my Lord?"
Without uttering a word, I pushed them all back into my shadow. Their presence was a constant reminder of my strength, but I didn't need them right now. This was something I would handle alone.
Three figures stepped into view. They were humans, at least in form, but something felt different. The first was a man with blond hair, standing tall with an air of confidence. Beside him, a woman—petite, with a hardened gaze and dark brown hair, stood next to him. And then, the most unusual of them all: a humanoid creature, with the face of a fish, standing upright in a human body. The oddity of it struck me instantly.
They were armed—guns in their hands—but the way they held themselves suggested they weren't the typical soldiers I was accustomed to.
I felt my body tighten, ready for a fight. No matter the scenario, my instincts were honed, and I couldn't afford to lower my guard.
Then, a voice broke through the tension.
A man in a magician's hat stepped forward, a calm demeanor in his eyes. He spoke with authority but in a measured tone. "I'm Sabo," he introduced himself, offering a hand that I ignored. "This is Koala and Hack," he gestured to the woman and the fish-like humanoid, respectively.
Before I could respond, the group of armed individuals behind them stepped forward, hands twitching on their weapons. A moment of stillness passed, and I felt the pressure rise in the air.
Then I heard it, almost as if on cue.
Sabo, sensing the shift, stepped closer. His gaze was focused, intense. "So, what brings you here? How did you get here?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity.
I narrowed my eyes at him. My instincts screamed that these people weren't ordinary. But I couldn't risk revealing anything about the rift, or the truth about the Titans. That could wait.
"I don't know," I replied calmly. "I just woke up here."
Sabo looked at me, narrowing his eyes before asking, "And your name?"
"Jin. The name's Jin," I answered, keeping it simple. No need to complicate things. They didn't need to know more than that.
Sabo gave me a half-smile, as though he found my response lacking but didn't press further. "Alright, Jin. Come with us."
They led me into the stone fortress, which was far more than it appeared from the outside. Inside, there was organized chaos. People rushed past me, some with papers in their hands, others communicating over radios. Outside the building, I could see several people training in the field, their bodies moving with discipline, sparring like soldiers.
Sabo led me deeper, past the bustling rooms, until we reached an office. From the balcony, I saw him. The man who seemed to radiate power—a figure standing tall with an air of authority.
I recognized the tattoo on his face. It was a stark, red mark, spreading across his left cheek. The aura around him felt strong—intangible, but real. I could feel it, like a storm waiting to break.
"This is Dragon," Sabo said, his voice low, but with a hint of reverence. "The leader of the Revolutionary Army."
I squinted at the introduction. This man... he was powerful, there was no doubt about that. My body instinctively tensed in response.
Dragon turned to face me, his expression stoic. Sabo then added, "This is Jin. He's the reason we felt such an overwhelming surge of Conqueror's Haki earlier."
I froze. "Conqueror's Haki?" I repeated under my breath, the term unfamiliar. What the hell was that?
They exchanged confused glances, and then Dragon spoke with an understanding expression, his voice calm but measured. "It's the ability to assert your will on others. To make your presence felt. What would you do when you want to make your presence known?"
I blinked. I already had an answer.
"Easy," I muttered. "I just imbue the surroundings with my shadow energy."
Without waiting, I did as Dragon instructed, releasing shadow energy into the air, letting it swirl and spread, coating everything in a shroud of power. The effect was instantaneous.
The entire building began to shake as the energy pressed outwards. I could see people outside falling unconscious, foam pooling from their mouths as they collapsed to the ground.
Dragon gave me a nod. "That's enough."
I lowered my energy, watching as the room returned to normal. I could feel the tension in the air, but Dragon's calm gaze reassured me—at least for the moment.
I had no idea where I was, or how I'd gotten here, but one thing was clear; I had a long road ahead of me before I can return to Earth.
But for now, I would play along.
Jin—that was the name I would carry here. And I would make sure the world knew that it was the name of someone who could shatter the very skies if he wished.