Chapter 159

Chapter 159. Breakthrough

It ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍was when he had fallen into the Deep Sea that he encountered that abyssal being.

When ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍he had fled and fled until there was nowhere left to run, the young Zer Hyde threw himself into the ocean.

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍sensation of being dragged forever into the cold sea. Yet, in reality, it must have only been a brief moment.

-There ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍is not only one path to reach a certain ending.

-What ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍do you mean?

That ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍fleeting instant began to stretch out, extending into an immeasurable span of time.

In that interval, Zer Hyde met him.

Blazing eyes, countless in scale, a form beyond comprehension.

Its bearing was infinitely exalted and its rank divine, so it would not be strange at all to call it the god of the bottom of the Deep Sea.

-Do you not wish to know the truth of that day? What exactly happened at that place, on the day the Empire collapsed?

When the imperial royals had gathered and were enjoying a banquet, something ‘unknown’ occurred.

As a result, Zer Hyde lost his family, his honor, and his glory, becoming a fugitive, even hiding his own name under Hyde.

-None remember what happened that day. All the humans involved are dead.

Zer Hyde tracked down everyone connected to what had happened at the imperial banquet.

However, they too knew little of the truth and were merely outsiders to the incident.

There were hints, but all who could clearly speak of the truth were dead.

-However, there is exactly one who did not die.

-Who is it?

-The Hero, Sone Helvich. And at that point, she had not yet even been called a Hero.

-She was not there at that time. And she should have died fighting the Demon King.

-Both are wrong. She was there at that time, and she did not die fighting the Demon King. To be precise, just before her death, she was rescued to ‘somewhere’.

-Where is that?

Zer Hyde wanted to know what in the world had happened that day.

There was a way to unravel that unsolved mystery…….

-Now, child of tragedy born upon the land, swear your loyalty to me. I shall show you the path to that place.

-I will.

Zer Hyde said so. He absolutely wanted to know why he had ended up like this.

-Betray the one most precious to you. Stab a knife into his back.

-Devour one hundred souls and offer them to me. I shall grant you the power for it.

-Awaken the Mythic being chosen by the gods. You do not have to form a contract. It does not matter if you awaken it through extraordinary means.

-And lastly, I will tell you of another path that leads you there. Be careful, for there may be competitors.

At that moment, Zer Hyde made a contract with a demon.

-At the very, very end, I shall send you to the Humanity Disc.

* * *

“Evade!!”

With a sudden, violent turn, the ship tilted to one side. The surging water shoved the vessel away, sending it rapidly sliding aside.

Just the act of it bursting out caused a massive impact, punching a hole through the ship’s hull.

The creature that emerged was walking on two legs. It resembled a seahorse, but with arms and legs.

However, the real problem was its size. Standing upon the sea, it was large enough to look far down upon a sailing ship.

“What… that size makes no sense for a monster….”

In its right hand, it held a long spear fitting its scale, as if it had ripped out a ship’s mast and was using it as a weapon.

In its left hand was a shield, and its entire body was clad in armor made of scales. The creature, Meigium, rolled its mesh-like eyes around, scanning its surroundings. Then, it slowly began to move and walk forward.

Watching this, Lucian snapped out of his daze and gave an order.

“Prepare for battle!”

“What?! Captain, you’re saying we’re going to fight that?!”

A colossal monster that looked like it wouldn’t go down even if struck head-on by cannon fire was walking before them—there was no way to stay calm.

It was so enormous that even the lookout at the highest point had to crane their neck endlessly just to see it.

“No, look at that monster’s movements. We’re not its target.”

Indeed, the gigantic creature had merely burst out of the fog and was completely ignoring the Bloody Siren, which was frantically bailing out water at its side.

“Our target is that.”

Below it, emerging together with the fog, was the Blind.

“B-but Captain, what about that monster? If it attacks—”

“The one who can deal with it is coming.”

“…Huh? Ah!?”

At first, Corwin didn’t understand, but soon he looked up at the sky. From afar, a massive, streamlined creature was flying toward them at incredible speed.

Yul ended the shared vision and looked at the enormous being in the distance.

‘A Mythic rank Seaborn.’

A colossal emerald gleamed on its forehead. He quickly spotted the seahorse-like monster that resembled a heavily armored lancer.

-You… how are you even moving?

There was no answer, but he felt it instinctively. A two-stage difference in rank. He could feel the disparity in power.

The creature stared blankly at Yul, then raised its spear and thrust it toward him.

Yul twisted the trajectory of the spear with “Distortion,” and as the massive weapon passed by, he felt a chill at the sheer force behind it.

‘It doesn’t seem like it was awakened by any normal method.’

The thing had no intellect. But it possessed combat instinct and a certain sense of purpose.

‘Shall I lure it?’

With the UV Thermal Gun, he began scorching its entire body.

* * *

A beam shot up into the sky, and light exploded across the torso of the massive, heavily armored seahorse soldier.

The sailors, who had been blankly watching the duel of gigantic beings, soon noticed the Blind appearing right before their eyes.

“It’s those bastards from before!”

“They’re coming!”

The fish-men pirates emerged with vicious looks, and the Blind slid swiftly across the sea surface as it charged toward them.

Lucian had been waiting for this very day, modifying the Strellock all along.

“It won’t be like the last time, Zer Hyde.”

Muttering so, Lucian deployed the magic engineering core.

The engine, powered by the massive magic stone taken from the sea serpent monster, released magic power and invigorated the entire Strellock.

“Activate!”

The Strellock moved faster than the Blind, which was driven by magic.

The crew might have been flustered by the sudden acceleration, but they were already accustomed to this speed through training.

“Prepare to fire!”

The ports on the port side opened, and magic engineering cannons far more powerful than ordinary artillery were deployed.

“Fire! Melt the Blind down! All prepared cannons, fire continuously! It doesn’t matter if the magic stones melt!!”

KWA-KWA-KWA-KWA-KWANG!

The batteries roared with fire. For this day, Lucian had modified the cannons. They could fire at such a rapid pace that the magic stones would melt.

Reloading was automatic, so the crew only had to aim and fire.

The Blind was struck by the cannons fired by skilled gunners.

That ship had resistance to artillery. Like sinking into a swamp, iron shells struck its pliant body and were absorbed.

However, the shells being fired now did not contain ordinary shot.

The moment the shells embedded in the Blind detected external magic power, they triggered a secondary explosion.

KWAAAAAAAANG!

Having chosen to melt it down with sheer firepower, Lucian felt things progressing smoothly, until he sensed an anomaly in the sea.

‘Is this what Yul mentioned before?’

The Mouths of the Waves. He had said holes would form in the waves, shaping into human mouths that chant incantations.

“Countermeasures are already in place. Activate the vibration generator.”

He operated the remote control device connected to the Runeframe, sending a signal to the ship.

Attached beneath the hull was a long, wide rod. From there, a special vibration spread outward, generating tremors that collapsed the shape of the wave-mouths.

The holes forming into mouth-like shapes within the waves began to distort, their forms breaking apart until they returned to normal.

However, one at the center among the wave-mouths summoned a long tentacle and seized the Strellock.

It would soon disappear due to the vibrations, but it caused a drop in speed. The Blind was closing in by the second.

It seemed melee combat was inevitable. The Blind was already in tatters, barely holding together, yet the ship appeared to move on its own, even without a crew.

From within the fog, the Blind finally caught up to the Strellock.

Its condition was terrible. By now, the fish-men sailors who should have charged in full force were nothing more than shredded lumps of dried flesh scattered across the deck, and the surviving fish-men were less than a quarter of their original number.

“Lucian Beltaine!”

Zer Hyde appeared atop of the Blind.

Lucian checked his Runeframe armor. It was sufficient. He deactivated his invisibility as it was no longer needed.

“Black Priest Zer Hyde! I shall take those 10,000 Ducats."

Gripping his shining sword, Lucian leapt onto the tattered Blind and faced Zer Hyde.

From over Zer Hyde’s dark coat, an additional arm made of green tentacles burst out.

“Have you abandoned being human?”

“Not yet.”

The tentacle collided with Lucian’s blade. Dozens of exchanges were traded in an instant. It was a brutal, close-quarters battle.

Lucian’s armor was damaged, and Zer Hyde’s entire body was covered in sword wounds. After repeated exchanges, the advantage fell to Lucian.

“Zer Hyde, what is your goal? What are you even fighting for?”

“I will see what has not been seen. For that, I merely abandoned the path of humanity.”

Lucian drove his sword into Zer Hyde’s heart. At that very moment, he carbonized his body at maximum output.

“Kuh—! It’s not over yet.”

Zer Hyde tore out his own carbonized heart and leapt into the sea.

“I will return….”

Lucian stared expressionlessly at Zer Hyde as he disappeared into the waves, leaving behind those ominous words.

As long as the Strellock continued to be modified by Lucian’s hand, there was no way for Zer Hyde to defeat him.

'I couldn't completely end his life.'

Normally, he should have died in that state, yet for some reason, Lucian felt that Zer Hyde was still alive.

In the distance, the repaired Bloody Siren approached, loaded heated shells, and fired upon the Blind, burying it.

The black ship lost its form under sustained bombardment and sank into the sea, just like Zer Hyde.

Regardless of Zer Hyde’s fate, it was a perfect victory. The fish-men pirates had been completely annihilated.

Lucian closed his eyes and used shared vision. Within it was Yul’s perspective, fighting a being of overwhelming disparity.

Yul continued to unleash attacks, but realized they were useless.

The gigantic Mythic rank creature took every hit head-on, enduring them with sheer toughness as it continued advancing eastward.

It swam with its thick, coiled tail and slipped back into the sea.

It moved somewhere slowly. Not fast, yet like a massive tank that could not be stopped.

In the end, Yul gave up on dealing with the monster and descended.

"It's no use. Lucian, I can’t take that thing down.”

“That monster… where is it going?”

“It’s heading east. If it keeps that direction, it’s toward the Continental Ocean.”

“…!”

Then, just a bit further ahead, there would be land.

“Toward the Kingdom of Britain?”

“No, below the Kingdom of Aragon. Toward the Mediterranean, most likely, unless it changes course.”

“How in the world did Zer Hyde awaken a monster like that?”

“I don’t know either.”

It didn’t seem like all the temple-clearing quests had been completed. Maybe one or two were done properly, and the rest were cleared through some kind of ‘loophole.’

‘That thing didn’t have an established Comunion in the first place. And Zer Hyde doesn’t seem like a Sinker either.’

Through shared vision with Lucian, Yul had already realized that Zer Hyde was hiding something else.

“Want me to find Zer Hyde’s body?”

“Yes.”

“Wait here.”

However, even after searching for quite a while, Yul failed to find Zer Hyde’s body.

“The Blind is gone too.”

“In that short time?”

“Something I don’t know about is protecting him, it seems.”

Yul realized that the entity behind it was, with high probability, a powerful being of the Deep Sea.

‘Feels different from that creature called Girakul that helped the Orca Tribe.’

It seemed that yet another powerhouse of the Deep Sea was interfering.

“Anyway, putting that aside. Lucian, is this the end of the Golden Route now?”

“Yes. The sea chart is almost complete. The last point is here. The Hero Island, as the pirates call it. It's near there. They say it's a place where the currents change abruptly.”

At last, the end of the voyage was coming into sight.