The sky was still a muted gray as the first hints of sunlight crept through the window. His dream weighed heavily on his mind—the vivid image of Heaven's Wall, the war-torn battlefield, and that future version of himself still haunted him. He ran a hand through his hair, pushing it back as he stared out the window, lost in thought.
He knew he couldn't keep this to himself. If anyone could help make sense of it, it was Boombox.
Quietly, Yuma slipped out of bed, careful not to wake anyone else. Walking into the connected bedroom where Moon and Boombox slept.
"What's up… Yuma?" Yuma tilts his head out the door to Boombox.
"Okay… gimme a minute"
After a minute, Boombox met Yuma in the Hotel lobby. The faint sound of seagulls echoed in the distance, and the salty breeze rolled off the ocean, carrying a sense of calm.
"What's up Yuma? You look like you've seen a ghost." Yuma sat down on the couch beside him, silent for a moment as he gathered his thoughts. He stared out at the sea, watching the gentle waves roll against the shore.
"I had this dream," Yuma finally said, his voice low.
"But it wasn't just any dream. It felt… real. Like it was showing me something I'm meant to see." Boombox leaned back, crossing his arms as he listened, the usual lightheartedness in his expression fading.
"What kind of dream?" Yuma clenched his fists, remembering the sight of the battlefield, the version of himself with the broken horns and scars, the war that tore everything apart.
"I was standing on Heaven's Wall. Everything below me was in chaos—armies, ships burning, explosions everywhere. I saw us—our alliance—locked in battle with the World Government, Demon Lords, and other factions I didn't even recognize." Boombox frowned, his gaze sharpening.
"Sounds like a war zone. But that's not surprising, given where we're heading." Yuma nodded.
"That's not all. I saw… me. A future version of myself. I looked… different. Scarred. Missing an arm. And there was this sense that the war was only the beginning of something worse." Boombox didn't say anything for a moment, just letting Yuma's words hang in the air. He scratched the back of his head, thinking it over.
"Dreams can be weird, man... But if it felt that real… it could be a vision."
"That's what I've been thinking about… does this dream mean I manage to defeat the World Government in this war?," Yuma muttered, rubbing his temples.
"What if this is where all of this leads? A war that destroys everything? What if I destroy the World Government sooner than expected? I'm excited" Yuma smiles with an ominous aura pouring from his eyes. Boombox's gaze softened as he studied Yuma.
"You've always been a force of nature, Yuma. But even the strongest forces need direction. Maybe this dream isn't just showing you what's going to happen—it's giving you a chance to stop it." Yuma blinked, his chest tightening.
"Stop it? Why would I wanna stop it!? This is our opportunity!" Boombox exhaled, leaning forward.
"Look, we're heading into dangerous territory. The World Government, the Demon Lords, everyone's playing their own game. But you… you have the power to shape how this all plays out. If that dream is a warning, then it's also a chance to make different choices." Yuma was silent, processing Boombox's words. It hadn't occurred to him that the dream could be more than just a grim prediction—that maybe, just maybe, it was offering him a chance to alter the course of events. Yuma violently shook his head.
"If I wanna take down the World Government and free the world from their oppression, then I have to accept the fact that a large-scale war is on the horizon" Boombox sighs as Yuma walks away.
"So… No… I won't change that future, because what that dream showed me… is exactly what I wanted to see" Yuma smiles maniacally, slightly spooking Boombox. It was too late, Yuma had gotten the confirmation he wanted, he was headed down a dark path, and Boombox could no longer stop him.
-----
The morning sun cast long shadows as the shipbuilders began work on Yuma's new ship. The sound of hammers hitting wood and saws cutting through thick planks filled the air, the shipyard alive with energy. Cani had designed the ship with speed and power in mind, and the shipwrights were eager to begin the project after receiving a hefty sum for their work.
As the ship's skeleton started to take form, the workers shouted commands to one another, their movements synchronized. The towering masts were laid out, and the hull was being carefully shaped. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until an uneasy silence suddenly fell over the shipyard.
A shadow fell across the dock, the workers looking up with wide eyes as a tall figure approached, his presence radiating an aura of malice. The man walked with a slow, deliberate pace, dressed in dark, flowing robes that seemed to shift like liquid smoke. His pale skin and sharp, predatory Blue eyes gave him an otherworldly appearance, and the serpentine smile on his lips sent shivers through the workers. His hair, long and bright blue, hung like threads of darkness past his waist.
"Demon Lord Ikati." The Workers stop in their places and kneel, not wanting to be shattered.
"Morning, gentlemen." His voice was soft, but it carried a dangerous undertone, like the calm before a storm. The shipbuilders stopped their work, staring at him in fear and confusion. One of the shipwrights, an older man with a grizzled beard, cautiously stepped forward, his brow furrowed.
"Can we… help you?" the shipwright asked, his voice steady despite the palpable tension. Ikati glanced around the shipyard, his scars on full display, taking in the sight of the unfinished vessel. His eyes lingered on the ship, and his smile widened as he took a few steps closer.
"This ship…" Ikati began, his voice dripping with curiosity,
"Who is it being built for?" The shipwright hesitated for a moment before answering,
"It's for a man named Yuma and his crew." At the mention of Yuma's name, Ikati's eyes narrowed, and the air around him seemed to grow heavier. He let out a soft chuckle, running a hand along the unfinished wood.
"Yuma, you say… Alien King: Yuma" Ikati's voice trailed off, his gaze shifting toward the sea for a moment before returning to the ship.
"So, this is the ship that's meant to carry him across the Infinite Sea?" The shipwrights exchanged nervous glances, unsure of how to respond. The older shipwright stepped forward again, clearing his throat.
"That's right. We were paid highly for this job, and we intend to finish it." Ikati's smile vanished, replaced by a cold, calculating expression.
"Paid highly, you say? And what do you think will happen to this ship once Yuma sets sail in it?" The shipwright stiffened.
"That's none of our concern…. We build ships, and we get paid. What happens after—" Ikati cut him off, his voice suddenly sharp and commanding. The reality of one of the strongest men in the entire sea glaring at him.
"What happens after that…? A war will follow… Death and destruction will trail behind this vessel… Do you want that blood on your hands?" The shipwrights froze. Ikati's words hung in the air like a threat, the weight of his gaze pressing down on them.
Before anyone could respond, Ikati took a step back and raised his hand, an fiery energy swirling around his fingers. His expression darkened, and in an instant, a massive wave of fire exploded from his palm, crashing into the ship like a tidal wave.
Wood splintered and snapped, the ship's frame cracking apart with a deafening roar. The wood of the fresh skeleton rippled like water. The shipwrights yelled in panic, diving out of the way as the vessel they had spent the last few days constructing was torn apart in seconds. The once-promising ship now lay in ruins, a heap of shattered planks and broken dreams.
Ikati lowered his hand, his eyes glinting with satisfaction. The shipwrights stared in disbelief, their hard work destroyed before their eyes. The older shipwright's hands trembled with rage as he stood up, glaring at Ikati.
"You… you'll pay for that!" the shipwright shouted, his face red with fury. Ikati chuckled softly, turning to leave.
"I doubt that. But if Alien King Yuma wants a ship, he'll have to get it another way... Consider this my warning."