The endless ocean stretched beyond the horizon.
Silent.
Still.
Ancient.
Iren stood upon the broken altar.
Then—
SHHHHH—
The water before him rose slowly.
Taking shape.
A woman emerged from the ocean itself.
Long blue hair.
Twin chained scythes.
Eyes as deep as the abyss.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Nerithis looked at him.
Then her gaze drifted toward the Fire Ring.
A faint smile appeared on her lips.
"...So."
"You survived the flames."
Iren nodded.
"Yes."
The chains of her scythes rattled softly.
CLINK...
CLINK...
"Ignivar acknowledged you."
Her voice carried neither surprise nor excitement.
Only certainty.
Then she looked directly into his eyes.
"And yet..."
"The path ahead is far crueler."
Iren tightened his grip on his sword.
"I didn't come here to turn back."
A small silence followed.
Then Nerithis asked—
"Tell me, Ring Bearer."
"What do you seek?"
"The Water Ring?"
"Power?"
"Strength?"
Iren shook his head.
"No."
Nerithis seemed mildly surprised.
Then Iren continued.
"I seek a future where no one has to suffer what I suffered."
The ocean became quiet.
Even quieter than before.
Nerithis lowered her gaze.
For a brief moment—
Something painful flashed across her eyes.
Then she spoke softly.
"A beautiful wish."
"...and a cruel one."
Iren frowned.
Nerithis continued.
"No matter how strong you become..."
"You cannot save everyone."
"No matter how far you walk..."
"There will always be someone you fail."
The ocean beneath her feet darkened.
"That is grief."
"It never leaves."
"It only waits."
Iren remained silent.
Then he raised his sword.
"Maybe."
"But I won't stop moving forward because of that."
The wind finally stirred.
Nerithis closed her eyes.
Then slowly opened them again.
This time they glowed faintly blue.
For the first time—
She smiled.
Not sadly.
Not happily.
But with hope.
The hope of someone waiting a very long time.
"...Good."
Water spiraled around her.
The chains of her scythes tightened.
The ocean began to tremble.
Then she pointed one scythe toward him.
«"Then show me..Ring Bearer. "
"Show me that your flame can survive the abyss."
The endless ocean stretched beyond the horizon.
Silent.
Cold.
Ancient.
The broken ruins of the Drowned Sanctuary stood half-submerged beneath the gray sky.
At the center of it all—
Iren stood facing Nerithis.
The guardian of the Water Ring.
Water drifted around her feet.
Twin chained scythes rested at her sides.
For a moment—
Neither moved.
Then suddenly—
SHRAAAK!!
A scythe sliced horizontally toward Iren's neck.
His eyes widened.
He immediately ducked beneath it.
The blade passed over his head.
But before he could recover—
WHOOSH!!
Another scythe erupted from beneath the water.
Straight toward his face.
"—!"
Iren pushed off the surface.
SPLASH!!
He flipped backward.
The blade barely missed him.
The moment his feet touched the water again—
He moved.
SHHHHHH—!!
His sword left its sheath.
Iren sprinted forward.
The blade scraped across the water surface behind him.
Spraying droplets everywhere.
Then—
He jumped.
Both hands gripping the sword.
The blade descended.
CLANG!!
Water exploded upward.
But Nerithis was no longer there.
She had stepped aside effortlessly.
Iren landed.
Didn't stop.
Didn't hesitate.
He attacked again.
And again.
And again.
Each strike faster than the last.
Yet Nerithis avoided every single one.
Her movements flowed naturally.
Like waves.
Like the ocean itself.
Untouchable.
Finally—
Iren swung horizontally.
This time Nerithis raised her scythe.
CLANG!!
Steel collided with crescent steel.
For a moment they remained locked.
Then Nerithis spoke.
"Is this all you have?"
Her voice was calm.
Almost disappointed.
The next instant—
She pushed.
Iren stumbled backward.
Before he could recover—
THUD!!
A kick crashed into his side.
His eyes widened.
The impact launched him across the water.
SKKKRRRRTT—!!
He slid several meters before rolling to a stop.
Iren slowly stood.
Breathing heavily.
"She's too powerful..."
"If I hesitate..."
"I'll die."
He looked at Nerithis.
Then slowly advanced.
One step.
Then another.
His sword vanished.
The weapon split apart.
Twin daggers appeared.
Iren lowered his stance.
Then whispered—
"Level One..."
Flames ignited around him.
FWOOOOM—!!
"...Ignition."
The flames dimmed.
But power surged through his body.
His daggers burned with crimson fire.
Nerithis immediately attacked.
Her chained scythe swept outward.
SHRAAAK!!
Iren jumped.
Dodging it.
Then struck from above.
CLANG!!
Blocked.
His second dagger followed.
CLANG!!
Blocked again.
But Iren wasn't finished.
He kicked forward.
THUD!!
Nerithis slid backward.
Both separated.
Only for an instant.
Because suddenly—
SHHHHHK!!
Her scythe shot forward.
Iren stepped aside.
The blade missed.
But—
The chain snapped tight.
The scythe reversed direction.
Coming from behind.
Too fast.
SHRAK!!
A deep slash opened across Iren's right arm.
Blood splashed across the water.
Before he could react—
The second chain wrapped around him.
CLINK!!
His body froze.
Nerithis pulled.
Iren was dragged toward her.
Then—
BOOM!!
A brutal uppercut crashed into his stomach.
His mouth opened.
Air vanished from his lungs.
The world spun.
He was launched upward.
But Nerithis wasn't finished.
She yanked the chain again.
Then swung.
CRAAAASH!!
Iren slammed into the ocean surface.
Water exploded upward.
The impact forced him beneath the sea.
Then deeper.
And deeper.
And deeper.
Darkness swallowed everything.
Chains wrapped around his body.
Dragging him down.
The ocean became endless.
Bottomless.
Silent.
Then Nerithis' voice echoed around him.
"Why are you struggling?"
The darkness shifted.
Memories appeared.
His village.
Burning.
Screams.
Smoke.
"Grief does not end."
His house collapsed before his eyes.
"The people you lost will never return."
His father fighting desperately.
His mother screaming from the flames.
"Every step forward only reminds you what was left behind."
The memories surrounded him.
Consuming him.
Then came another voice.
Cold.
Merciless.
"You were powerless then."
The chains tightened.
"And no amount of strength can change the past."
His chest burned.
"You couldn't save them."
Water filled his mouth.
His lungs screamed.
"You fight because you think becoming stronger will heal the wound."
His vision blurred.
"But strength cannot revive the dead."
The pressure became unbearable.
Then—
"Stop fighting."
The chains tightened further.
"Rest."
His body felt heavy.
"No one will blame you."
His resistance weakened.
"You have carried this burden long enough."
For a moment—
He believed her.
"Maybe..."
"She's right..."
The chains dragged him deeper.
"I couldn't save them..."
"Then how am I supposed to save anyone else?"
His eyes slowly closed.
"I'm still that helpless boy..."
"I'm not worthy of this..."
His lungs were ready to burst.
"So is this..."
"The end?"
Then—
A hand appeared.
Reaching toward him.
Aetherion.
His master's voice echoed through the abyss.
«"Do you wish to save others... so that no one suffers as you did?"»
A warm smile.
The final farewell.
Then—
Iren clenched his fists.
"No..."
His eyes opened.
"Not yet."
Flames erupted inside the darkness.
"He entrusted this to me."
"I have to fight back."
Then he whispered—
"Level Two..."
The Fire Ring blazed.
"...Inferno."
FWOOOOOOOM—!!!
Crimson flames erupted around him.
Water began boiling.
Steam flooded the ocean.
The chains burned away.
Bubbles surged upward.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOM!!!
The ocean exploded.
Iren burst from the water.
A pillar of steam rose toward the sky.
He landed upon a floating altar.
Facing away from Nerithis.
Breathing heavily.
The flames were gone.
In their place—
A crimson aura surrounded him.
Steam rose from his body.
Nerithis watched silently.
Then spoke.
"So..."
A pause.
"Even now..."
Her eyes narrowed.
"You still think you can save someone?"
Iren slowly turned.
His gaze unwavering.
"Yes."
The red aura pulsed.
"Because there was a time when I couldn't save anyone."
His grip tightened around the daggers.
"And I refuse to become that person again."
For the first time—
Nerithis' expression hardened.
The ocean trembled.
Then she roared.
"Then drown with your grief!"
Her chained scythe shot forward.
SHRAAAK!!
But Iren moved.
CLANG!!
The attack was deflected.
The scythe crashed into the water in front of her.
Then—
Iren sprinted forward.
A crimson streak across the ocean.
Nerithis attacked again.
The chain shot toward him.
This time—
Iren blocked it.
Grabbed the chain.
And hurled the weapon back.
Nerithis immediately countered.
Her second scythe collided with the first.
CLANG!!
Both weapons fell aside.
But that moment—
Was all Iren needed.
He lunged.
The flaming dagger flashed.
Nerithis moved.
Almost in time.
Almost.
SHHHHK!!
A cut formed across her cheek.
Water trickled from the wound.
Iren landed behind her.
Then turned.
Nerithis slowly touched the cut.
Looked at the water on her fingers.
Silence.
Then—
"Enough..."
The ocean shook.
The ruins trembled.
"...Ring Bearer."
Her voice echoed across the sanctuary.
"You have chosen to carry your sorrow."
She raised both hands.
"Abyssal Lament"
The ocean exploded.
BOOOOOOM!!
Massive waves surged upward.
Ancient pillars shattered.
Temple ruins collapsed.
The entire sanctuary trembled violently.
Iren struggled to maintain balance.
Then he leapt onto a nearby pillar.
Watching.
Waiting.
Water gathered around Nerithis.
Darker.
Heavier.
Endless.
It wrapped around her body.
Then transformed.
Dark-blue armor emerged.
Ancient.
Abyssal.
Cold.
Her scythes lengthened.
Their chains expanded.
The sea itself seemed to kneel before her.
The waves slowly calmed.
Silence returned.
And standing there—
Was no longer the Nerithis from before.
Deep blue light glowed from her eyes.
Merciless.
Ancient.
Overwhelming.
Then she spoke.
"Now let us see..."
" how long your can survives the abyss of greif."
The ocean itself seemed to shudder.
And Iren understood—
The real battle was only beginning.
END OF PART I