As I glanced at their expressions, I couldn't help but sigh.
It seemed none of them were convinced.
William's gaze remained firm. Lucinda was silent, but the look in her eyes told me she had no intention of retreating either. The others weren't much different.
In the end, it didn't matter much to me.
I raised the communication crystal Christopher had given me before the mission, intending to report everything immediately.
Yet before I could activate it—
A deafening sound echoed across the ocean.
It wasn't a roar.
It wasn't thunder.
It was something far older.
A sound that seemed to rise from the deepest part of the sea itself.
My eyes widened.
Everyone aboard the vessel instinctively turned toward the horizon.
The ocean churned violently.
Waves rose one after another as though something colossal was forcing its way upward from the abyss.
Then—
it appeared.
For a brief moment, nobody spoke.
Nobody breathed.
What emerged before us was not the image of a Leviathan spoken of in legends.
It was something far more grotesque.
Its enormous skeletal frame pierced through the waters, towering above the sea like a monument to death itself.
Rotten flesh hung from its bones in countless places, swaying with the movement of the waves. Entire sections of its body had long since decayed away, exposing blackened ribs and ancient bones weathered by centuries beneath the ocean.
Most horrifying of all—
it had no eyes.
Only two empty sockets stared into the world.
Yet despite that, an indescribable feeling washed over me.
It was looking directly at us.
Astarax's voice suddenly echoed within my mind.
[Hm. So that's what it was.]
I narrowed my eyes.
[You know what this thing is?]
Of course.
For once, the Dragon's tone lacked its usual arrogance.
[That Leviathan is already dead.]
Dead?
[Long dead.]
Astarax paused briefly before continuing.
[The student's hypothesis was incorrect. The Leviathan isn't controlling the Voidborn.]
[Nor is it the source of the ancient pressure I sensed beneath the sea.]
My expression darkened.
Then what is?
For a moment, silence followed.
Then Astarax spoke.
[Someone has found something beneath the ocean.]
[An ancient relic.]
[A relic capable of commanding the dead.]
The Dragon's voice became unusually solemn.
[If I had to guess...]
[A relic left behind by Hades himself.]
My grip tightened around the crystal.
A relic of a god.
Not a Saint.
Not a Monarch.
A god.
Without hesitation, I activated the communication crystal and sent everything I had learned directly to Christopher.
The existence of the undead Leviathan.
The relic.
The possibility of divine involvement.
Only after the transmission was complete did I raise my head once more.
And then I noticed it.
Atop the Leviathan's skull sat a massive crystal.
A deep azure crystal.
It pulsed rhythmically.
Like a beating heart.
Like something alive.
The surrounding ocean trembled with every pulse.
Then—
the Leviathan slowly raised its colossal head toward the heavens.
The sea around it erupted into chaos.
Towering waves crashed against our vessel as sailors desperately struggled to maintain their footing.
And then it roared.
The sound shook the sky.
The clouds themselves seemed to tremble.
A brilliant blue light erupted from the crystal.
My eyes widened.
A massive barrier spread outward from the Leviathan.
Faster than the eye could follow.
It swept across the ocean, across the sky, across everything within sight.
In the span of a few breaths—
the world disappeared.
And a colossal blue barrier engulfed us all.
...
My eyes widened.
"What is this barrier?"
Without hesitation, I activated the communication crystal once more.
Nothing.
The crystal remained completely silent.
No response.
No connection.
It was as if the barrier had severed us from the outside world entirely.
Before anyone could process what was happening—
the ocean trembled once more.
A second figure emerged from the depths.
Unlike the Leviathan, he rose calmly.
As though the ocean itself was carrying him upward.
The sea parted beneath his feet while waves spiraled around his body.
Soon he stood high above the waters.
His appearance was striking.
Long azure hair flowed behind him like liquid sapphire, contrasting against the pristine white cloak draped over his shoulders. Beneath it rested silver knightly armor engraved with ancient runes that faintly glowed beneath the barrier's blue light.
His face was unnaturally beautiful.
The sort of beauty that didn't seem entirely human.
Sharp features.
Pale skin.
Emotionless eyes.
Yet those eyes were strange.
His pupils resembled vertical slits.
Like those of a predator.
Like those of a dragon.
Two dark horns emerged from his head, curving slightly backward.
In his hand rested a pitch-black artifact.
It resembled a shattered commander's staff forged from obsidian.
Countless skeletal hands protruded from its surface, eternally reaching outward as though begging for salvation. Faint blue souls drifted around it, whispering silently before vanishing back into the darkness.
Merely looking at it made my skin crawl.
The man's gaze slowly swept across the ship.
Then his eyes settled on us.
"Hm?"
William stepped forward immediately.
Wind mana gathered around his blade.
"Identify yourself."
The blue-haired man looked amused.
"You must be William Astryx."
His gaze shifted.
"And Princess Anastisia as well."
Then his eyes landed upon Lucinda.
A faint smile appeared.
"Hm. Interesting."
"And a Valen?"
Before anyone else could speak—
Isolde puffed her cheeks.
"We're here too, you know!"
Joseph sighed.
The man chuckled softly.
William's eyes sharpened.
"You still haven't answered my question."
His blade pointed toward the artifact.
"What is that thing?"
The blue-haired man glanced at the object in his hand.
"Oh, this?"
His tone sounded almost casual.
"Artifact 010."
"The Perished Army."
The artifact emitted a low hum.
For a brief moment, everyone thought they heard countless voices whispering from within it.
"It allows me to command the army of the dead."
"The same army that once swore eternal loyalty to the God Hades himself."
His gaze lowered toward the artifact.
"Unfortunately, only a fragment of its true authority remains."
"Though for today's purpose..."
A smile appeared.
"It is more than sufficient."
The atmosphere aboard the vessel became noticeably heavier.
Then William spoke once more.
"And who exactly are you?"
The man's eyes gleamed faintly.
"My name is Vex."
The ocean behind him surged violently.
Waves rose toward the heavens.
Mana gathered throughout the entire barrier.
Then he continued.
"Retainer of the Primordial Sea."
Silence followed.
A Retainer from Oblivion.
Was here?
Then Vex smiled.
"Though most people prefer another name."
His slitted pupils narrowed.
"Dragon of the Endless Tides."
William's eyes widened.
"You're a dragon?"
Inside my mind—
Astarax burst into laughter.
The Dragon of Chaos sounded genuinely offended.
[This lizard thinks he's a dragon?]
[Mortal. Summon me this instant.]
[Let me show him what a true dragon looks like.]
A vein appeared on my forehead.
Shut up.
[What?]
I can't summon you.
If I do, my entire identity will be exposed.
Astarax clicked her tongue.
[Tch.]
[Coward.]
You're literally a walking apocalypse.
[Exactly.]
Vex's gaze swept across the vessel once more.
Then—
it stopped.
His eyes landed on me.
For the first time since his appearance, the emotionless expression on his face cracked.
His eyes widened.
The change was small.
Yet everyone noticed it.
William frowned.
Lucinda's brows furrowed.
Even Anastasia looked confused.
Meanwhile—
an awkward smile appeared on my face.
...Shit.
He knows who I am.
The realization had barely surfaced before the world blurred.
Space twisted.
My stomach lurched.
And suddenly—
I was no longer standing on the ship.
A hand wrapped around my neck.
The force behind it was overwhelming.
My body was lifted into the air effortlessly.
Vex's slitted pupils stared directly into mine.
For the first time—
there was genuine disbelief in his eyes.
"Y-you..."
His voice was quieter than before.
Almost uncertain.
"H-how are you here?"
The atmosphere froze.
Nobody aboard the vessel dared move.
Because everyone could feel it.
The overwhelming difference in power.
A SS-Ranker.
A Retainer.
Someone standing near the very peak of humanity.
Vex's gaze remained fixed upon me.
Then—
his free hand slowly moved toward the amulet to remove my disguise.
My pupils contracted.
Shit.
He can't.
Yet before anything else could happen—
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
A deafening explosion echoed across the barrier.
The entire ocean trembled.
Cracks appeared throughout the azure dome.
Then another impact followed.
And another.
The barrier shattered.
Countless fragments of blue light scattered throughout the sky.
Fresh air rushed inward.
For the first time since the Leviathan had sealed the area—
the outside world returned.
I released a breath.
Haah...
They're finally here.