The elite top deck of THE BUTCH looked like a royal garden under the early morning sun. It was a private oasis on the superyacht with teak flooring polished to a shine.Oversized loungers padded with weatherproof cushions littered the area, and a small infinity pool flowed off the edge. Potted palms swayed gently in the sea breeze, while a discreet bar cart offered fresh fruits, chilled water, and morning beverages.Tyler reclined on one gilded lounger in his swim trunks. His upper body was bare to catch the rays for a tan.Beside him, Derek Sentinel was bent forward, carrying a holographic device that projected an oceanic map in the air."If Lazarus Briar hits us at the convergence…" Tyler said, pointing to a glowing point on the holo-map. "We'll need the ships with the Gilded Men to form a vanguard perimeter with their warded hulls. If things go south, I will have to bring out Indra's Vajra. I don't know how effective it will be in a marine environment, but I guess we will find out.

Tyler scanned the girls' eager faces again, his mind racing for an out. The weight of their expectations pressed on him. He'd never been one for such frivolity, but it looked like they were having fun."I can't do it. Look, I'm truly flattered by all this effort," he began with discomfort. "You've all put yourselves out there, and you're each stunning. But honestly, as a man with limited experience with women and relationships, I'm not fit to decide who wins Miss Oceans. It wouldn't be fair. I'd be biased or just plain wrong."The grumbling started immediately, a chorus of disappointed voices overlapping in a wave of protest.Britta uncrossed her arms and stepped forward with a frown. "That's a total cop-out, Tyler! We did this for you! Pick already!"Kat pouted dramatically. "Come on, you can't bail now! We've been planning this all night!"Isabella's elegant pose faltered with a huff. "Foul play! We deserve a winner!"Maya looked down and spoke in a soft but hurt voice. "I... I trie

Tyler stood trembling in fury on the blood-slicked deck of the ship. Amelia faced him with a devilish smile, enjoying watching him suffer. Her dark energy threads coiled like serpents around Mamushi's limp body, hoisting the girl high."Give her back!" Tyler roared. "Now! That's my daughter! Don't you dare hurt her!"Amelia's lips curled into a more manic laugh. She chuckled as her eyes gleamed with a twisted blend of obsession and madness. With a flick of her fingers, the dark threads tightened slightly around Mamushi's unconscious body, eliciting a faint groan from the girl."Oh, Tyler, my soulmate... You've betrayed me yet again… You rejected me, refusing to be my lover. And yet you've already fucked a third-world goddess… and fathered a child with her? How cruel! How monstrous are you!"Amelia trembled and wrapped her arms around herself. "But don't worry… I'll fix that right away. I'll kill this little abomination right here. Half human, half goddess, my ass. After it is dead, I'

Bubbles escaped her lips in frantic bursts. Saltwater filled her lungs as she thrashed weakly with the bit of energy left.Amelia's body sank deeper into the oceanic abyss. She saw the light from above fading to a distant memory. "This is it," she thought with resignation. "Drowning alone, unloved. Isn't it a fitting end for a monster like me? It's okay. I accept death."Her vision blurred as darkness crept from the edges. The girl's body turned numb, and she felt nothing. All of a sudden, something moved above her.Having no energy left, Amelia was blind and increasingly deaf. A hazy figure loomed over her in the murk.Something pressed against her lips. It was warm and strong, forcing air into her starving lungs. She gasped instinctively, as the oxygen came as a shock of life in the ocean's deathly chill.A man? Giving her air mouth-to-mouth? The figure's hands gripped her shoulders, steadying her as more breaths followed. "Who is it...?" she wondered. But exhaustion claimed her, an

Amelia took the first step into the water. Her foot broke the surface with a soft ripple. The warmth enveloped her immediately, seeping into her muscles like liquid sunlight, dissolving the accumulated fatigue from days of survival on the island. It was the exact opposite of the pain she experienced when drinking demon blood."It's... incredible," she murmured, wading deeper until the water lapped at her thighs, then her waist. Her skin tingled with rejuvenation.Tyler watched the beauty, her curves silhouetted against the rising steam. It was one of the most erotic spectacles of his life. The water droplets traced glistening paths down her full breasts and along the graceful curve of her hips."Come in," she urged him with a smile. "What are you waiting for?"Tyler stepped in after her and gauged the water body's spiritual pressure. "This is better than the aquifer that I have back home. In fact, it has an exponentially larger reserve.""Forget that!" Amelia said, pouting. "Let's enj