Tank Evans stood at the edge of Pen Gu Island's shoreline, basking in the morning sun and the adoration of his fans. Another perfect day in his perfect life – exactly what he deserved as the nine-time world champion and undisputed king of professional surfing. He casually flexed for yet another photo, his designer wetsuit highlighting every carefully sculpted muscle. The familiar click of cameras brought a smirk to his face; there would be new magazine covers by week's end. The upcoming Big Z Memorial was his favorite time of year. Not just because it was his biggest triumph – sending the legendary Big Z running with his tail between his legs a decade ago – but because it brought fresh wannabes to his island, all of them thinking they could dethrone him. As if anyone could. That's when he spotted her. Some newcomer, waxing her board with the focused determination of someone who actually thought they stood a chance. Tank had heard whispers about this one – apparently, she'd been running her mouth about taking him down in the competition. As if. The very thought made him laugh out loud, drawing appreciative chuckles from his entourage. "Hey, fresh meat!" he called out, breaking away from his admirers. Tank made sure to put extra swagger in his walk as he approached her. Let her see what a real champion looked like up close. His perfectly styled hair remained immaculate in the ocean breeze – he'd spent good money on products that could withstand even the toughest waves.