Charles Barnett, the A5 commander of the army, watched his troops fall back in broken lines. Then a sudden chill crawled up his spine, and the hair on the back of his neck stood straight.
"Everyone, prepare yourselves!" he shouted as mana exploded from his body, cracking the ground beneath his boots.
High above the battlefield, a golden figure descended, slow and controlled, six wings folding and unfolding as light poured from every feather.
"Lutia. Julian," Charles called, his voice sharp as a blade.
They responded without hesitation.
Lutia thrust her hand forward. Cold mana surged outward, biting and sharp, swirling like a winter gale as it wrapped around Julian's arms and shoulders. Julian planted his feet and poured his own power into the spell, compressing the cold until the air screamed in protest. Frost spread across the ground beneath them.
The magic took form, a massive serpent of ice and frozen mist, its body coiling and snapping as it launched into the sky.
The serpent tore upward, jaws wide, trailing shards of ice as it rushed the golden figure.
The figure moved.
Six wings flared open, each beat releasing a crushing wave of light. The light collided with the serpent and tore it apart instantly. Ice shattered into nothingness, the spell erased before it could even touch its target.
Charles stared, his breath catching. The last time they fought, the enemy had restrained himself. This power made that painfully clear.
The golden being dropped from the sky and struck the ground in front of Charles.
The impact sent a shockwave rolling across the battlefield. Soldiers screamed as the pressure crushed them where they stood. Bodies disintegrated, turning to ash and scattering across the ground. Nearly two hundred men vanished in seconds.
Charles clenched his teeth hard enough to hurt. "Lutia!" he shouted.
A glowing orb formed above her head, pulling mana from every nearby soldier. Streams of energy flowed into it, thick and unstable, before surging toward Charles. The power wrapped around him and expanded outward, claiming the space around him.
His domain snapped into existence.
The frost warrior emerged once more, towering and solid, ice grinding against ice as it lifted a massive spear. Cold flooded the area, freezing the air itself.
The golden angel didn't slow.
It charged straight at him, light cutting through the frost like a blade.
Charles drove the spear forward to meet the attack.
The spear shattered on impact, exploding into shards of ice that sprayed past Charles. The force ripped through his guard and sent pain screaming through his arms.
His eyes widened in shock, just long enough. The next slash carved across his chest, tearing through armor and flesh in a single clean motion.
…
Briva sat near the edge of the newly built camps, her legs stretched out in front of her, her back pressed against a stack of supply crates. The ground still smelled of fresh earth and trampled grass. Overusing her spells alongside Ashen had drained her completely. Her mana felt thin and sluggish, and even lifting her arms made her shoulders ache. For once, she allowed herself to rest.
Nearby, Marco moved through the camp with steady purpose. He helped soldiers secure tent lines, hauled crates into place, and shouted directions. Sweat darkened his shirt, but he showed no sign of slowing down.
Five hours. Briva kept counting the time in her head. Five hours since Arthur had left alone.
Worry tightened in her chest. Arthur carried an S-rank title now, but that didn't make him immune to exhaustion or injury. The enemy force had been enormous, and no amount of strength erased the risk of facing an entire army head-on.
Her thoughts spiraled until motion in the trees pulled her attention away.
A lone figure stepped out from the forest.
Arthur. He moved toward the camp at a slow, uneven pace. His armor hung crooked on his body, broken straps swinging loose with each step. Deep scratches and dents marred the metal, and several plates were missing entirely. Blood stained his clothes, some of it already dried, some still seeping from open wounds. Cuts lined his arms and shoulders, and a deep gash crossed his side, barely closed.
Briva jumped to her feet and ran, forgetting about her own exhaustion.
She reached him before he could take another step and slipped his arm over her shoulder. His weight pressed down harder than she expected. He smelled of iron, smoke, and burned blood. Without speaking, she guided him toward the camp.
People noticed immediately. Conversations died. Soldiers turned. A small crowd formed as they passed.
Nildrer forced his way through and stopped short when he saw Arthur's condition. "Call a healer," he ordered sharply.
Arthur raised a hand. "No need. I'm fine."
"You're bleeding," Briva said, her fingers tightening around his wrist.
"The enemy had too many tricks, artifacts, sealed weapons, borrowed power. I had to burn through everything I had left." Arthur replied.
Nildrer's eyes didn't leave Arthur. "What was the outcome?"
Arthur inhaled slowly, steadying himself. A few seconds passed before he answered.
"I killed their higher ranks," he said. "And about half their soldiers. The rest broke and ran. Most of them were under A-rank. Maybe one A-rank escaped, I couldn't confirm it." He straightened just enough to meet Nildrer's gaze. "Your men can rest. They won't attack again anytime soon."
Nildrer nodded once. "Thank you."
He turned away, already issuing orders as the soldiers began to disperse.
Briva led Arthur into her tent and sat him down carefully. She took his armor off and heated water and soaked a cloth, then began wiping the blood from his arms and chest. The towel came away dark red. She worked slowly, careful not to reopen the wounds as they knitted themselves back together.
"Why did you go alone?" she asked, keeping her voice low.
"We have less than three months," Arthur said. "I needed to force the prince's hand. If he reacts the way I expect, he'll divide his forces."
He paused, his expression hardening.
"We need to be ready," he added. "That man is dangerous, and smart."
…
"What is this mission?" Selina asked, her tone calm but charged with expectation.
"I need you to take us deep into the sea," Leo said. "Far beyond the waters where we fought the Kraken."
Selina studied him in silence, her sharp eyes searching his face for hesitation or doubt. After a few long seconds, she turned on her heel and began walking toward the docks.
"Then let's get to the ship."
They moved through the harbor, wooden planks creaking underfoot, the air thick with salt and damp rope. Waves slapped against the hulls moored nearby. As they walked, Selina glanced at Elna from the corner of her eye, her gaze lingering with open curiosity.
"And who is this beautiful lady traveling with you?" Selina asked.
"This is Elna," Leo said. "My wife."
Elna offered a warm smile and a small bow of her head. "Nice to meet you."
Selina slowed, surprise flashing across her face before she masked it. She looked Elna up and down once, then nodded. "Nice to meet you," she said, her voice softer than before.
She turned forward again and kept walking.
"Why go deeper than the Kraken's territory?" Selina asked. "Those waters are empty."
"There's something, or someone, I need to meet," Leo replied.
"Who?"
"Leviathan," Leo said, his voice steady. "The Serpent of the Sea."
Selina stopped completely and turned to face him. Her expression sharpened, disbelief and interest mixing in her eyes.
"You want to meet one of the most dangerous creatures in the world?" she said.
Leo met her stare. "Is that a problem?"
A slow, dangerous smile spread across Selina's face. "No. If you're determined to die, I won't stop you." She tilted her head. "But how do you even know where to find it?"
"I learned its location in the Shadowland," Leo said.
Selina watched him for a moment longer, then turned and resumed walking toward the ship.
"You're going telling me everything about that place," she said.
Leo and Elna followed after her. "We'll have plenty of time at sea for that."
"Do you have any news from the Avalon pirates?" Leo asked after several minutes of silence.
Selina didn't answer right away. She kept her eyes forward as they walked, the harbor lights reflecting faintly off the water. "From what I've heard, they've been sticking close to the nearby islands," she said. "It looks like Laid Yon is focusing on training. He wants his men stronger before they risk any serious exploration."
"That's a wise choice," Leo replied quietly.
They continued the rest of the way without speaking. The steady rhythm of their boots against the wooden planks filled the silence. Ahead of them, the massive hull of the Red Rose loomed over the dock. Its dark frame bore scars from past battles, and its sails rested furled and heavy, waiting.
Selina led them aboard.
As soon as Leo stepped onto the deck, recognition spread through the crew. Conversations stopped. Faces lit up. One by one, familiar voices called his name. Crew members gathered around him, clapping him on the shoulder, asking quick questions, laughing as if he had never left. It took time to greet them all, and even longer to introduce Elna, who accepted the attention with polite smiles and calm nods.
Once the excitement settled, a young woman stepped forward with an eager grin.
Miriam Aylin, the girl who had always been with Yevlan.
"Hey," she said brightly, unable to hide her pride. "Did you hear? I reached A-rank."
Leo's eyebrows lifted slightly. "Really?" He smiled. "Then you and Elna should have a mock battle."
Miriam blinked. "Elna?" She tilted her head. "Why not you?"
Her gaze shifted to Elna, studying her more carefully. "What rank are you?"
"I'm A2," Elna replied calmly.
Miriam froze for a second. "Wait, your wife is stronger than you?"
Leo just smiled, saying nothing.
"That's enough. Listen, everyone," Selina shouted from behind them.
Her voice cut through the deck like a blade. Conversations died instantly, and every head turned toward her.
"Victor and Elna want us to take them past the Dark Seas."
The deck fell into uneasy silence. Then whispers spread through the crew, low and tense, men leaning toward one another as the meaning sank in.
"Past the Dark Seas?" someone muttered.
"Why?" another crew member asked, louder than the rest.
Selina didn't hesitate. "He wants to find Leviathan."
The reaction was immediate.
Shouts erupted across the deck. Several sailors swore under their breath. Others stared at Leo as if he had just confessed to madness.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed?" Miriam blurted out. "Do you have a death wish?"
"Of course not," Leo replied evenly.
"But you'll die," she shot back, frustration creeping into her voice. "And you'll drag all of us with you. Even the captain isn't a match for that thing."
"We're not going to fight her," Leo said again, firm and calm.
Miriam froze. "Wait, her?" She blinked in disbelief. "Did you just say her?"
Before Leo could respond, Selina stepped forward.
"We've wasted enough time rotting in safe waters," she said, her voice sharp and decisive. "And I'm bored." Her gaze swept across the crew, daring anyone to object. "Our next destination is beyond the Dark Seas."
No one spoke.
"Now move," she ordered.
The hesitation broke.
Crew members rushed into action, boots pounding against the deck as they scattered to their stations. Ropes were pulled free, sails unfurled, and commands echoed across the ship. Within minutes, the Red Rose slipped away from the harbor, its massive hull cutting through the water as it turned toward open seas.