The Ruin had fully surfaced with new structures
Its emergence sent a blast of pressure rippling across the Eastern Sea—a wind shock that rocked the waves and tipped the approaching ships violently. Thunder rumbled above as black clouds unfurled over the sky, casting the entire sea in a haunted shade of storm gray.
Rain pounded on the decks.
Lightning danced.
And the battle raged on.
All across the convoy, adventurers were still locked in vicious combat—fending off waves of Phantoms that clawed and screeched like cursed spirits of the deep. But just as the last Phantom vanished into mist, new horrors emerged.
Monsters rose from the black waters—scaled beasts with jagged jaws and glowing eyes. They climbed the sides of ships with unnatural strength.
Captain Yukev stood firm on the bow, his long, thin-bladed sword glinting green as his Eye of Veritas shimmered with energy. His body moved like flowing wind—precise, swift, and unstoppable.
Every slash was a kill.
Every movement: intentional and honed.
"That Eye of Veritas Captain's a beast," one adventurer gasped mid-swing.
"Yeah… like, actually terrifying."
Below deck, inside a magic barrier ring, Aiyan finally allowed herself a moment to breathe. She crouched, pulling out the spare bullets Elara had given her.
"Thanks, Elara," she muttered under her breath. "Two left… fifteen more in the pouch."
She opened her revolver and loaded six rounds, fingers steady despite the chaos around her.
Her team gathered nearby:
Vincent, sword steady. Melina, runes glowing faintly on her hands. Yuvkev, flexing and ready for more. Yuna, calm and sharp-eyed. And then… Elvan.
"I punched it!" Elvan declared, posing dramatically. "I'm strong!"
"Not now, Elvan—" everyone said at once.
Elvan pouted, flipping open his notebook. "Fine, but I'm writing this down."
Above them, war cries echoed from every ship. Adventurers fought with everything they had—magic and metal clashing against nightmare creatures. Then—
A scream.
Everyone turned.
Two ships nearby were under siege—sea lizard monsters had crawled aboard, tearing into the adventurers in a cruel frenzy. Bodies were tossed into the sea. Fire erupted from the masts—likely from a misfired explosion spell. Flames spread fast.
Elvan rushed to the rail. "Virelle…!" His eyes darted across the deck of the burning ship.
She was there. Alive.
He sighed in relief.
Then he screamed, "WE HAVE TO HELP THEM!"
Captain Yukev's voice roared like thunder:
"SURVIVING ADVENTURERS! EYE OF VERITAS— RESCUE WHO YOU CAN AND FIGHT BACK! DON'T LET THEM SINK IN VAIN!"
But the damage was done.
The flames claimed two ships.
Only three remained.
Anger. Grief. Fury.
The surviving adventurers roared and charged, slashing, casting, screaming their defiance.
"FOR THE FALLEN!" someone shouted.
Aiyan raised her revolver. "Team! Let's go!"
Elvan hesitated for a second, then shouted, "For DESTRUCTION—!!" and ran, tossing glitter in every direction.
The glitter hit a monster square in the face.
"SKREEEE!" it screamed as its eyes burned.
Vincent blinked. "Nice assist, Elvan!"
"Of course!" Elvan grinned. "Witness my power—MUHAHAHAHA!"
"…Is he gonna be okay?" Aiyan whispered.
"Maybe," Vincent replied, slashing down another beast.
The ships were secured—for now. The tide of monsters was driven back, though not without cost.
Weapons dropped. Bodies collapsed.
The sea thrashed and thunder rolled.
Over 40 adventurers were dead,
37 injured,
5 Eye of Veritas lost,
4 scribes consumed in the fire.
But the worst had not yet come.
Captain Yukev stood at the helm, drenched in rain, voice firm:
"Stand up, adventurers. It's not over. The Ruin is here. And we march."
The Ancient Historic City had risen.
Massive towers of black stone, wrapped in ghostly mist, loomed above the waves like the skeleton of a forgotten empire. Faint green runes flickered along its walls.
The Ruin whispered madness.
Aiyan stared, heart racing.
He was here…
Her second mission clicked in her chest:
Record the Witch Hat Man. Or capture him.
The ships docked where they could.
The mist thickened, and the rest would be done on foot.
Boots hit ancient stone.
Gear clanked.
Scribes scribbled furiously, Virelle leading them, Elvan nearly tearing his own page from writing too fast.
As Aiyan stepped onto the ruin stone, a strange feeling settled over her.
Warm.
Familiar.
"Why do I… feel comforted?"she whispered.
Vincent tensed. "Stay alert. It's too quiet."
Everyone nodded—Yuna, Melina, Yuvkev. They tightened their gear. Checked their weapons.
Aiyan was still pale from the earlier bell-induced headache.
Her teammates noticed.
"We got your back,"Vincent said softly.
"Don't be afraid to lean on us,"Yuna added.
"You helped us more than you know,"Melina smiled.
"If you say you're fine, then I believe you, Miss," Yuvkev said solemnly.
Aiyan's heart warmed.
"…Thanks, everyone."
"Elvan!" she called.
Elvan lit up like the sun. "YES MA'AM!"
"I am one of the strongest!"
Virelle walked by and flicked his forehead. "Don't die."
"OW—!"
Captain Yukev approached.
"Some of you will remain to guard the ships and the injured. We don't know if monsters will strike again. Those fit for deeper exploration, move out."
Aiyan's mind flashed—
The Mysterious Witch Hat Man.
He healed them instantly.
Something about his power chilled her still.
But she brushed it off, focusing forward.
As teams split up, Elvan suddenly paused. "Uh… I-I think I'm gonna be sick."
Everyone turned.
Aiyan blinked. "Elvan?!"
"I'LL CATCH UP!" he shouted, running back toward the ship, cloak flapping behind him.
"…We'll leave marks," Vincent muttered, carving small runes into the wall as they marched into the mist.
Back at the ships…
Silence.
Then— a blade.
A guarding adventurer's head dropped to the ground.
Another was stabbed in the throat.
Then the back.
Then the eye.
No scream.
Only blood.
Figures in white cloaks, dripping red, emerged from the shadows like death incarnate. One tall figure, masked and silent, led them.
They vanished into the dark—following the adventurers.
The ship's door creaked.
"Whew! That was a relief!" Elvan exclaimed, stepping back into the rain.
He waved cheerfully to a shadowy figure in the dark. "Keep up the good work, dear adventurer!"
He ran off to catch up with his team—unaware everyone at the ship was already dead.
At the edge of the ruin…
A hand burst from the sea, gripping stone. Then a drenched cloaked figure climbed from the abyss, breathing hard.
"…Haa. I didn't expect to lose my hat."
The moonlight shone on him—
Black hair, soaked and shining.
Luminous dark blue eyes.
A beautiful, calm expression.
The Mysterious Witch Hat Man -
had returned.
Chapter 15 has Ended