The Legend of the Fishermen of Sicily

"Why isn't Leo going down yet?"

"I don't know, he's been resting for too long, something must have happened."

"That dive must have been a desperate gamble, and it was a lucky success, but there was no follow-up."

"I think it could also be a strategy. We're currently leading Bianchi by two fish, so we can proceed cautiously. Isn't that a tactic?"

.......

Amid the commotion, Leo suddenly climbed onto the fishing boat.

Enzo was startled, thinking he was really going to give up.

"Where does it hurt? Or is it a cramp?" Enzo asked anxiously, checking Leo's body.

Leo removed the breathing tube and gloves, then began to untie the tools from his waist.

Then, in full view of everyone, he took off his wetsuit.

"What are you going to do?" Enzo asked, his eyes wide.

Leo sat at the bow of the boat, glanced at the time on his watch, and said to Enzo:

"If something happens to me later, please remember to rescue me, thank you."

"What do you mean?" Enzo's eyes widened even more, like a sea lion that had been greatly frightened.

Leo calmly said:

"I'm going to start working my ass off."

Leo has always been burdened by a "shackle"—safety first.

This was his promise to Sorberto.

During this period, he always kept this promise, putting "safety" first every time he went into the water, and never putting himself in danger.

But at this point there was no other way.

He didn't want to give up the "spectacular performance," nor did he want to give up the "opportunity to become famous in Sicily."

Leo took his last deep breath and jumped into the sea, shirtless.

"Swastika——"

Final form unlocked.

......

Everyone originally thought that Leo had rested long enough.

Unexpectedly, this dive took even longer.

The atmosphere in the "small world" area, made up of fishing boats, is so tense it's suffocating.

Everyone held their breath, watching the sea, waiting for the figure to appear.

When people are nervous, time seems to slow down.

I get more nervous when I feel like time is moving slowly.

Rukia wasn't wearing a watch, so she didn't know exactly how long Leo had been down there; it just felt like an entire century had passed...

Her forehead was covered in a fine layer of sweat, and her fists clenched involuntarily.

My thoughts gradually shifted from hoping Leo could catch more fish and win the match to:

"Why have you been underwater for so long? Did you encounter any danger? Please don't let anything happen to you..."

Sudden--

A splashing sound came from the water.

Leo, shirtless, burst out of the water, with another fish on his harpoon!

The crowd erupted instantly, as if water had been poured into a pot of oil.

Rukia, unable to cheer, kept a close eye on Leo from afar, observing every detail to determine his condition.

Suddenly, she narrowed her eyes, then pointed at Leo and shouted:

"He also has a fish in his other hand, another fish!"

The girl's screams reached everyone's ears clearly!

On a ship, Rosalia gripped her faded dress tightly, and her usually calm face finally showed some expression.

What kind of monster is Leo...?

He actually still has room for maneuver?

.......

Some are happy, some are worried.

Mrs. Rosa also clutched her skirt, but she was nervous.

In a corner where no one is paying attention.

Bianchi has just completed two dives, each with two fish—he has already surpassed his limits.

But today, the fearless fighter, who believes "the stronger the enemy, the stronger I become," has encountered a monster.

Bianchi didn't know the specifics of Leo's situation, but it seemed that the harder he tried, the fewer people paid attention.

At this moment, apart from his mother and younger brother Angie, there was no third "audience".

Even Aurelio's attention was fixed on the grand performance fifty meters away...

"I can win, I can be even stronger." Despite the sharp pain in his chest, Bianchi still encouraged himself.

Mrs. Rosa kept shaking her head at him.

Bianchi understood what his mother was saying; she was telling him—Bianchi, stop pushing yourself so hard, it's dangerous.

"I'm sorry, Mom... I made you worry."

Bianchi stubbornly entered the water.

"But I need my father's gaze upon me!"

......

Without the miscellaneous equipment, Leo became more agile and faster underwater.

Having broken the seal of 'security,' he can now boldly become a true 'Son of the Sea.'

He fished faster and faster, breathed less and less, and stayed underwater longer and longer...

People have forgotten that this is a competition; they just want to know what new surprises this seemingly limitless creature will bring next time it emerges from the water.

But why is he working so hard?

And why do you keep surpassing yourself?

On the other side, Bianchi hadn't gone down for two or three minutes... He had already exhausted all his strength and was panting heavily.

......

"Why isn't he stopping?" Bianchi asked himself silently, listening to the cheers around him.

Like me, does he also have some obsession? Or does he also want to prove something to someone?

When you're exhausted, every breath feels like an ordeal, but even if you force yourself to endure the discomfort in your lungs and get through each "ordeal," you still feel like you can't breathe.

My body is like a broken battery, unable to absorb any energy.

Bianchi turned his head, wanting to look at his mother.

But to her surprise, she discovered that her father, whom she hadn't looked at in a long time, was silently watching her.

Bianchi read worry, regret, and pity in his father's eyes... but not the pride he most wanted to see.

"My father said that men in Sicily must be braver than men elsewhere. In other places, bravery is a quality, but in Sicily... bravery is destiny."

Bianchi gripped the shark tooth pendant around his neck and struggled to sit up.

......

Leo leaned against the boat, panting heavily, while inwardly cursing the stupid system for pretending to be dead.

Look how excited everyone around is! If this isn't a "spectacular performance," then what is?

Are you only satisfied when you drive me to my death?

He looked up and saw Enzo's worried face.

"I'm fine," Leo reassured the big guy.

He didn't have much time left, and he didn't plan to push himself any further.

Pushing your limits time and time again is meaningless.

Enzo's voice came from above:

"I'm not worried about you, I'm worried about Bianchi. He went down again. That kid is too reckless; something might happen to him."

"He went down again?" Leo rolled over and looked to the other side.

He looked up and asked Enzo:

"Why is he playing so hard? Time is almost up, he can't turn the tide."

Enzo said with great concern:

"You don't understand Bianchi's upbringing. He's the fifth son in the family, not the first, nor the last. The only way for Sandro to notice him is through his strength... and the only qualities that would make Sandro notice him are his fighting spirit and his fishing skills. So even if he loses, he has to lose 'beautifully' and not give up."

Leo muttered to himself:

"Is that so...?"

He propped himself up and said to Enzo:

"Could you teach me a few hand gestures used by the locals to communicate underwater?"