Smoke surged into the sky, carrying a stench of burning that obscured visibility amid the levelless waves. Every eye watching was filled with anticipation for the outcome.
The figure that should have been still shifted in the smoke. It let out a roar that cut through the burning air and scattered the frenzied waves.
A thick skeleton tightly wrapped its body while thin scales began to disperse over the water. Sharp, pointed feet sprouted one by one, like tiny ticks rushing toward each ship.
The announcer began to speak again.
"Another ability that makes it a dangerous shark is its explosive scales, which it can produce continuously. Unfortunately, it does not travel in schools as it should. Furthermore, its bone armor is incomparably strong and serves as material for the armor of the high-ranking members of the Dungeon organization, the Worshippers of Death."
Chaos spread across the ships. People ran frantically, trying to reload and attack the approaching scales.
Within minutes, explosions rang out.
The selection process fell into chaos under the smoke and fire that spread across multiple areas. Every ship faced unavoidable sinking.
Diego, battered and bruised, climbed to the highest deck of the ship. His eyes, barely able to endure the wind, struggled to take in everything.
"I must kill it…"
"I must kill it another way."
Its scales continued to disperse from its body, covering the entire surface of the water. There was no way to fight it, and no method—even its bone armor—was useful, as it was material for the armor of high-ranking Dungeon members.
This clearly demonstrated the strength of its bones, unlike its flesh and scales, which were weak enough to be bitten or cut with human swords.
The blond-haired man puffed out his chest and removed his armor, revealing dense muscles. He stretched his legs, breathing heavily, though he could only see through one eye at the moment, yet his face remained focused, lost in thought.
A firm hand of the man wearing glasses rested on his shoulder.
"Each ship still has many rowboats left. In the final battle, we will close in from multiple directions using objects reactive to fire."
Diego turned sharply, giving a wry smile.
"Sounds smarter than I thought. Thanks for revealing the method. If I survive, I'd like to be friends. Judging by your appearance, you must be well-educated, a child of a wealthy family, right?"
The young man pushed up his glasses and dusted off his neat attire—a white shirt under a simple brown vest with intersecting square patterns, paired with long trousers and shoes.
"I am an illegitimate child of a noble. I can't really say otherwise."
"The reason everyone on these ships obeys you and trusts you enough to establish networks with other ships must be because all these people are those you must protect… unbelievable."
"Correct. Some come from the same school, many from familiar families or neighboring households where people greet each other daily."
"Good… from now on, I will act as a privileged one… Father, are you still watching the selection?… Brother, why has everyone changed since mother died? Why does everyone seem constantly threatened? Damn it, what am I thinking!"
He noticed the transport of wooden lantern oil barrels. A smile appeared as he leapt with all his strength toward the group, slashing the crate with his sword.
The voices around him faded. Diego could not let his mind follow anything but his own actions.
He plunged his hands in before immersing himself completely.
He carried himself to the glowing lantern and struck it with his sword to ignite the flames. Sparks spread, and his screams echoed like the frenzied roar of a demon.
He tried to escape the pain consuming him, soaring above the air amid the attacking rowboats.
Diego fell unconscious, running across its body, which was healing while dormant. But when it awoke and widened its eyes, the wound tore open again, thrashing and releasing explosive scales many times over.
Two swords arched above the air, plunging down amid its blank white eyes. Its mouth opened wide to release another roar and emit a violent water jet to counter the unknown attack.
"It's because of your restriction against killing that you are so weak, you stupid fish!"
He leapt into its mouth through the thousands of spiral teeth, designed to expel water with mechanical speed.
But once Diego was inside, all mechanisms ceased to prevent it from killing the selector.
Flames ignited and spread inside its thin outer layer as he began rolling.
"Die! Die, die, die!!!"
"..Please… die…"
"D…ie…"
Outside, the rowboats began their plan, sending lantern barrels into its mouth. After thick smoke spread, forcing it to keep its mouth open, everyone began pushing the barrels in.
Retreat began as the executioners drew bows from a distance, removing their glasses with serious expressions.
"Thank you for your sacrifice…!!"
The composed man shouted loudly, performing his duty with a heavy heart. Suddenly, everyone's gaze focused on a single point on the giant shark.
The blond man in a clean white suit leapt down, wings of blood unfurling with jagged edges, constantly shifting and unstable in form.
Daniel clenched his fists, tension on his face, unafraid even of the Emperor's gaze.
"Let this selection end now!"
"This shark has been dead since Diego entered its mouth. See? Its body stopped moving because it cannot kill humans. Its respiratory, digestive, and all self-defense systems have ceased!"
The blood wings transformed into a long sword. Daniel sliced through the giant shark, releasing the blood sword into the air. He quickly lifted his brother, whose burning body was about to lose skin and breath.
"My brother… I know all the crazy things you did, all to gain my and father's attention."
"I'm sorry I didn't protect you."
"I'm sorry."
…
Victor picked up the report after several hours had passed.
Out of 571 people, 340 survived the selection, 223 failed and had to enter the wasteland, and eight died.
He stared at everything, resting his legs shamelessly on the table.
There were still many things to consider, and he had to quickly seize enough power to protect himself from this world.
He crushed the paper in his heavy hand.
"Daniel, you said it yourself, that we were on the same ship?"
The blond man turned, confused and somber.
"Yes… yes, that's right!"
"Let's take a walk before the closing ceremony."
His black suit flapped violently in the wind along the upper balcony. Behind him, a man walked with hands crossed behind his back, dressed in a neat white suit befitting a noble.
He stared down at the arena, his black hair slicked back, calm expression unshaken.
Victor adjusted his collar once more, as if to maintain perfect control, yet it was the opposite—it was a feeling born from greedy desire.
"Look at everything that has happened. Without power, society, and order, which human could survive alone even on this land?"
"What the hell, Victor!?"
His dark eyes glared, disappointed.
"Everything about miracles can be learned somewhere. The answer will be rewarded with future benefits once I rise to power in the Venn Republic."
"What exactly are you planning?"
"Don't you regret the loss of your own little brother…? Don't you see what these systems have taken away?"
Victor moved to loosen his tie.
"It seems the Frether family has many secrets. Perhaps because you've seen the wider world more than anyone, you feel so sickened. But if we cooperate, who would dare threaten you again? Just think about that."