Slowly, the sun began to rise beyond the horizon. Its first rays touched David and his companions, who, though weary and exhausted, still managed to get up.
Yesterday's battle with the sea monster had been unbearably hard for them. And yet here they were — alive, though wounded.
David looked south, and the pupils beneath his bandage widened. He whispered softly:
"Look…"
He stretched out his hand and pointed. Emma turned, and when she saw the same thing, she couldn't hold back a smile. Her face lit up with joy.
"What is it?" Lucy asked, confused.
Emma turned to her and replied:
"We'll be home soon."
Hearing these words, Lucy's face brightened with delight. But David's expression remained serious. Emma noticed the doubt in his gaze and asked:
"What's wrong?"
"Look… We're standing on the hand of a statue. How do you think we'll reach the shore without a boat or supplies? We don't even have food…"
Emma frowned. The memories of yesterday's fight still weighed heavily on her. At that moment, text appeared before them:
"Human, I will give you a chance to cross the ocean. Only fifteen kilometers remain. But only if you become my successor."
These words came from Poseidon.
David tensed. The god of the seas — one of the ancient Greek gods — had the power to save them in an instant. But at what cost?..
"Is there a catch?" he asked aloud.
Immediately, new text appeared:
"No. If you become my successor, I can save you three times. After that, the laws of this world will prevent me from intervening. So choose."
David frowned, his thoughts swirling. Could he really accept such an offer?.. But his resolve took over.
"All right… I acc—"
A terrible pain pierced through him. Emma, frightened, rushed to his side.
"David! What's happening to you?!"
Then came the voice of Fate:
"Subject 003 cannot accept another god's offer, for he is already the successor of the God of Darkness."
As soon as the voice faded, David's body returned to normal. But another message from Poseidon followed:
"Successor of the God of Darkness?.. Strange. I've never heard of such a god. And besides, I sense no divine power coming from you."
Emma, reading the words alongside him, couldn't help but wonder: Could David truly be someone's successor?..
David lifted his head and said:
"So you won't help us?"
"Alas. I like you, but you are not my successor. And I cannot aid mere mortals."
Reading this, David clenched his fists. Frustration boiled inside him. But when he looked at the distant shore, where a thin pillar of rising land could already be seen, he said firmly:
"The day is still long. I think we can reach the shore on our own."
"Are you sure?" Emma asked cautiously.
"Yes. We'll take turns carrying Lucy on our backs."
"All right," she nodded.
"How far is it to the shore?" Lucy asked in a quiet voice.
David looked out and answered:
"About fifteen kilometers."
"That far…" the girl muttered.
Emma knelt beside her and said gently:
"Don't worry."
Lucy smiled, and Emma lifted her onto her back.
The three of them jumped into the water. They swam at a steady pace — neither too fast nor too slow. Every ten minutes, David and Emma switched, taking turns carrying Lucy on their backs.
An hour passed. They had covered about three kilometers. But their strength was slowly draining away, and ahead there was not a single place to rest.
A desperate choice — but no other path remained.
Meanwhile, Lucy lowered her head. A single thought circled in her mind: "I'm useless… All I do is rely on them…"
Another hour passed. They swam another three kilometers. The shore was closer now, but still too far away.
Suddenly, Emma felt danger approaching.
"Watch out!" she shouted.
From the depths, dark shapes burst toward them.
Demons.
At the very last moment, Emma and David managed to dodge. Their attackers resembled sharks, but with skin as hard as stone. Their fins gleamed like blades sharp enough to cut through steel.
There were three demons. Two went straight for Emma, sensing her greater strength. David and Lucy were left to face just one.