PHOENIX NEST – MAIN CHAMBERS
The magic circle of the Phenex lineage formed beneath Riser's feet and dissolved immediately after, leaving only the intact floor behind. The chamber was vast, walls of black basalt integrated with veins of golden crystal, and the steam rising from the bath occupied half the space with constant humid heat.
Hancock was already inside the massive bath. The water covered her body up to her chest, her loose hair resting over her wet shoulders, the dress set aside still marked by dried stains from the war.
She turned her face toward him.
"Dear, I was cleaning myself for when you arrived."
Riser walked to the side of the bath and stopped within reach of the edge. His hand touched the surface of the water for a moment, creating ripples that spread until they reached her body.
"You can relax, I just want to lie down. What did you do with the slaves from Mary Geoise?"
Hancock kept her hands submerged and tilted her chin slightly, moving closer to the edge.
"I brought them here, but I can send them to another island later."
She rested her arms on the edge of the bath, bringing her body closer to where he stood. The steam rose between them.
"No need. Do whatever you want with them, that's in your hands."
Riser ran his fingers through her hair, brushing some damp strands away from her face. His other hand slid to her wet shoulder, the water running through his fingers before falling back into the bath.
Hancock exhaled slowly and held his wrist for a second before letting go.
"Then they stay."
Riser stepped away from the edge and began removing his own clothes without haste. The fabric fell to the ground beside her dress.
He stepped into the water.
The displacement made the level rise, spreading heat against both of their skin.
Hancock moved closer immediately. Her legs wrapped around his waist beneath the water, and her hands rose to his neck, pulling him closer.
The steam partially covered their bodies.
She pressed her lips to his shoulder first, then slid to his neck, her breath warming his wet skin.
Riser held her waist and lifted her a few centimeters in the water, the contact becoming firmer. The surface stirred around them, waves hitting the edges of the bath.
Hancock rested her forehead against his for a moment. The water rose at the edge with the contact and returned in short waves, hitting the marble of the bath.
"I'm no longer a slave."
Riser kept his hands on her waist and pulled her closer, reducing the space until the contact became firm. The water overflowed in a thin stream over the side and fell to the floor.
"No."
Hancock pulled him back, her lips meeting his, and her hands closed on his shoulder. The water moved in a steady rhythm as their bodies adjusted.
Riser slid his hand along her back and pressed his palm against the line of her spine, maintaining support. The steam continued to rise in thin layers and gather on the ceiling.
"But I can make an exception for you, Riser-sama."
Riser held her chin with two fingers and tilted her face upward, keeping his gaze locked onto hers. His other hand remained on her waist, sustaining the position.
'Exception.'
Hancock tilted her head and brought her mouth close to his ear, without breaking body contact. The water struck the edge once more and returned.
"Then tell me, master, what do I do for you."
Riser kept his hand on her chin for one more second and slowly released, letting his fingers slide down to her neck. His palm moved to her wet shoulder and held there, without haste.
"Who did you learn that from?"
Hancock kept her legs firmly around his waist and raised her chin, exposing her throat for a moment. The water rose to her chest and flowed down her arms to her fingers.
"No one."
Riser leaned closer, pressed his lips to the line of her neck and pulled back without haste, maintaining control of the pace. His hand tightened on her waist just enough to adjust her position.
"So you just came up with that now." He slid his hand along her side to her submerged thigh and stopped. "That's too bold for someone who says they didn't learn from anyone."
Hancock tightened her fingers on his shoulder and pulled him back, reducing the space until their skin touched again. The water overflowed in a second thin stream on the opposite edge.
"I learned to obey when I needed to survive." She pressed her lips to his chin and moved up to his mouth. "Now I choose when, how and for whom."
Riser placed his hand at the back of her neck and guided the kiss for a long second before breaking it with a short touch to her chin. His other hand returned to her waist, holding her body in place.
"Then choose right." He tilted his head and brought his mouth close to her ear. "And prove it."
Hancock exhaled through her nose, rested her chin on his shoulder and slid her hands across his chest down to his abdomen, her fingers tracing paths over his wet skin. The water stirred around them, hitting the side of the bath in small waves.
She lifted her face and maintained eye contact with him. Her body adjusted once more against his, eliminating any remaining space.
"I will prove it, master."
Riser held her waist with both hands and lifted her a few centimeters in the water, repositioning her body against his. The surface broke into wide waves and the steam covered part of their shoulders.
He brought his mouth to her ear.
"Then show me, my slave."
Hancock slid her hands across his chest and pushed him against the inner edge of the bath, the water rising in a new wave that spilled over the marble. Her body moved slowly against his, guiding the rhythm without breaking eye contact.
Her fingers marked his skin as she tilted her face and moved down his shoulders, leaving trails of water and steam. The surface of the bath stirred again as the contact became firmer.
Riser held the back of her neck and brought her back up, maintaining control over the distance between them. The water hit the edge again in irregular waves.
She rested her hands on the side of the bath and kept her body aligned with his.
The steam continued to rise.
___
MARINE SHIP – OPEN SEA
The ship cut through the waves at a constant speed, moving away from the coast while columns of smoke were still visible in the distance. The deck was filled with injured revolutionaries, some sitting against masts, others lying on improvised boards.
Sabo held his bandaged arm, the cloth already stained.
"I can't believe they let us escape, Dragon."
Dragon leaned against the railing, his chest wrapped in tight bandages and his coat torn at the shoulder. The sea wind stirred the remaining fabric as he kept a firm posture.
"When I told them about the fall of the World Government and about Riser, they gave in."
Sabo looked around.
Men with deep cuts received improvised treatment. Some remained unconscious. The deck was marked with dried blood mixed with the saltwater splashing from the waves.
"Now, with the government gone, what are we going to do?"
Dragon kept his hands on the wooden railing.
"The first step is to survive."
An improvised medic ran past with cloths and bandages. A revolutionary fell to his knees near the mast and was caught by another before hitting the ground.
Dragon straightened his body with visible effort.
"Then we'll see how the Navy reacts."
Sabo walked a few steps and stopped beside Dragon. His bandaged arm limited his movement, but he kept a firm posture.
"And if they come after us?"
Dragon kept his hands on the railing.
"They won't come now."
Sabo looked toward the horizon where smoke still rose in uneven columns.
"And why?"
"Because they're also trying to understand what happened."
One of the commanders approached, his coat torn at the side.
"We have twenty-three severely wounded. Two in critical condition. The rest can stay on their feet."
Dragon nodded once.
"Full priority to the critical ones. Redistribute water and reinforce the sails. We're not reducing speed."
The commander left immediately.
Sabo took a deep breath and clenched his good fist against the railing.
"The World Government has fallen."
Dragon kept his gaze fixed on the sea.
"It has."
The waves continued breaking against the hull, scattering spray across the deck already stained with dried blood.
"And Riser?" Sabo turned his face toward him. "He just destroyed the top of the world. What does he do now?"
Dragon remained silent for a few seconds, the wind pulling his torn coat backward.
"He didn't do this for us."
Sabo remained still.
"Then why did he do it?"
Dragon did not answer immediately. His hand tightened on the wooden railing until his knuckles turned pale.
"That doesn't matter."
The ship continued cutting through the open sea.
Behind them, the smoke faded on the horizon.
Ahead, there was no government flag left to face.
The war that had defined the world for centuries had ended.
Now another one begins.
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