The ocean journey lasted eight days.
Eight long, silent days.
There were no fish, no movement, no life. Even when they used the camera again, it showed nothing but empty darkness. That silence stayed with them, growing heavier each day.
Stefan stood near the edge most of the time, watching the horizon.
Nami managed the food carefully.
Rex stayed close to her, his flames calm and controlled.
On the eighth day—
Land appeared.
A dark line at first… then broken structures… then the mainland.
Nami: "We finally made it…"
Stefan: "Don't relax yet."
The cruiser slowed near the shore. The water became shallow, and Stefan stopped the engine.
He picked up a gun from the ship and secured a metal rod on his back.
Then he jumped down.
The ground felt heavy.
Different.
Nami followed, holding her rod. Rex landed beside her, his flames flickering softly.
They stood still for a moment.
The air felt wrong.
Too quiet.
Too still.
Nami: "…This place feels worse than the island."
Stefan: "It is."
They started moving forward slowly.
Every step careful.
Every movement controlled.
Then suddenly—
Nami stopped.
Her expression changed.
Stefan: "What happened?"
Nami: "My system…"
She looked at Rex.
Then at her hand.
Nami: "I got a new skill."
Stefan turned fully toward her.
Stefan: "What kind?"
Nami lifted her rod slightly.
She focused.
For a moment—nothing.
Then—
Flames appeared.
Not from Rex.
From her.
They wrapped around the rod smoothly, controlled and steady.
Nami's eyes widened slightly.
Nami: "I can use his power…"
Stefan watched carefully.
The flames were stable.
Strong.
Controlled.
Stefan: "Try again."
Nami focused once more.
The flames grew brighter.
More natural.
Nami: "It feels… connected."
Stefan nodded slowly.
Then raised his own rod.
A faint heat formed around it.
Weaker.
But real.
Stefan: "…I can use a part of it too."
Nami looked at him.
Nami: "Because of your system?"
Stefan: "Yeah."
He checked his gun next.
Loaded.
Ready.
Then looked ahead.
The mainland stretched far.
Ruined buildings.
Broken roads.
Unknown danger.
No movement.
No sound.
And that made it worse.
Stefan: "Stay close."
Nami nodded.
Rex let out a low growl.
They moved forward together.
Into the unknown.