A vast ocean stretched endlessly before Orion.

  “What a strange place we’ve found ourselves in,” he murmured.

  Tetra clutched his arm tightly, her gaze following his to the shimmering blue below.

  “Orion… what do you think that is?”

  Henrietta and Marie stood beside them, eyes fixed on the same ethereal glow deep in the sea.

  Libranil snorted, her tail swaying like a serpent as she drifted slowly forward.

  “This seems to be our stop,” Orion said quietly.

  “But… this place is deep underwater,” Tetra noted. “We don’t have Saffira’s Blessing this time.”

  Still, the strange city glowing in the distance beneath the surface called to him. Questions swirled through his mind, but there were no immediate answers.

  That city looked perfectly maintained. It had an ancien, indescribable aura emanating from it.

  “Libranil, stop,” he commanded.

  The dragon halted, glancing up at him with a quizzical look.

  Then Orion did something unexpected—he gently removed Tetra’s arm from his own and walked toward the edge of Libranil’s back.

  “Master?!” Marie gasped, stepping forward, but it was already too late.

  “Let him go,” Tetra said with a knowing smile, holding an arm out to stop her. “Once he has an idea, there’s no stopping him.”

  “I… know. But still. If anything happened to him, Olivia wouldn’t recover.”

  “None of us would,” Tetra replied softly. “But don’t worry. I’m here. I won’t let anything happen to him.”

  Lowering her arm, she turned and followed Orion.

  “Really… you’ve become outrageously bold,” Henrietta muttered with a sigh.

  “Blame my husband for that,” Tetra said with a wink.

  She joined Orion at the edge.

  “Aren’t you going to jump?” she asked.

  “I was waiting for you.”

  “That’s so sweet of you!”

  “I knew I wouldn’t be able to stop you from coming anyway. Let’s go.”

  Grasping her hand tightly, they jumped.

  A loud splash rang out as they pierced the water’s surface.

  …

  Orion opened his eyes beneath the waves, bubbles escaping his mouth as he looked around.

  Tetra floated beside him, her complexion unchanged—proof that the water wasn’t hostile.

  I should use magic to let us breathe, he thought, raising his free hand.

  But before he could cast a spell, Tetra blinked in surprise.

  “I can breathe? And… talk?!”

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  Her astonished expression said it all.

  Orion inhaled experimentally.

  “You’re right.”

  “You didn’t cast anything, did you?”

  “No. I was just about to, but this… changes everything.”

  Light slowly bled through the darkness around them, illuminating the depths as clearly as daylight.

  The world beneath the sea revealed itself—bizarre creatures, vivid underwater plants, and long-abandoned villages hidden beneath the waves.

  The two of them stared in awe.

  “Libranil. Dive.”

  Obeying the command, the dragon plunged headfirst into the water—dragging Henrietta and Marie along without warning.

  “Wait! What are you—” Henrietta barely managed before she vanished under the surface.

  After a minute of cold silence and disorientation, the two gasped, then breathed normally as they adjusted to the strange underwater world.

  “We… can breathe,” Marie said in disbelief.

  “Indeed. This world is bizarre,” Henrietta added.

  “I don’t think it’s the world itself,” Orion replied. “This feels like… rules made by something powerful. Probably a Devourer.”

  “Any ideas?” he asked, turning to Tetra.

  The Remnant women went quiet, racking their memories.

  “No, I don’t—wait.”

  Henrietta looked sharply at Tetra.

  “Tetra. What did Silka say about that day?”

  “Silka?”

  Tetra raised a finger to her lips, thinking. As memories returned, the color drained from her face—and Henrietta’s as well.

  “Orion… we might be in the lair of something horrifying,” Tetra said quietly, her voice calm but her grip trembling.

  “Tell me.”

  Their feet finally touched the seabed. Tiny critters scattered in all directions as they landed.

  “When the Devourer attacked Silka’s mother—Valkyrie Carmillya—it brought with it an upside-down city.”

  A subtle twitch flickered across Orion’s face as he imagined the scene.

  “Silka described it as a gigantic crab with countless arms, dragging the body of a spider behind it.”

  “Its face was so grotesque it drove people mad. Those who looked at it either turned on each other… or simply died of fear.”

  “Only Valkyrie Carmillya could look long enough to sever one of its arms. Silka watched it rip her in half and devour her right after.”

  She paused, her voice softening.

  “He described the madness it caused as… drowning in black tar. Like your lungs are filling with it—until even your identity disappears, and only a hollow shell remains.”

  Tetra’s hand squeezed Orion’s tighter.

  He closed his eyes, processing the weight of her words.

  “I’ve felt that before,” he said. “I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

  He returned her grip with reassurance, easing her fear.

  “I carry Silka’s source within me. Ignoring this chance for vengeance would be disgraceful.”

  “Thanks to him, I’ve found what really matters. His power helped me forge bonds I never could’ve made otherwise.”

  Clenching his free hand over his heart, he made his resolve clear.

  “I owe him.”

  Henrietta smiled.

  “You never change, do you?”

  “I try not to.”

  “Then you should know,” he said, growing serious, “we should expect heavy resistance.”

  “I read something once—written by Noah—about creatures that drive people mad with just a glance.”

  “Noah wrote about that?” Tetra asked.

  “Yes. Those kinds of creatures tend to inspire worship. Not something we’re used to on Triazils.”

  Marie nodded thoughtfully.

  “Worship is devotion—adoration of something divine. I heard merchants from distant lands speak of it.”

  “Exactly,” Orion said. “And anyone worshipping a Devourer… we must assume they’re hostile.”

  “We’re here to kill their higher being, after all. This is not exactly a friendly visit.”

  The others chuckled at his dry humor.

  Seeing their spirits lift, Orion continued.

  “Libranil.”

  The dragon’s large eyes met his.

  “When we enter the city, do as you like. Cause chaos as much as possible.”

  Libranil seemed pleased by the command, her posture shifting with excitement. A gaze of anticipation carried in her eyes showed how great this order was to her.

  “Marie and I will push into the heart of the city to find the Devourer. Tetra, Henrietta—you stay with Libranil. Protect her.”

  Marie frowned.

  “Are you sure you want me at your side?”

  “I trained you for a year. I know what you’re capable of.”

  She smiled, the doubt fading from her face. He trusted her, and she would answer it by giving her all. The fire in her heart burned even stronger when he recognized her.

  “What about after? When it’s done?”

  Tetra asked.

  “Stay put unless I signal. If I die, the ocean’s magic might vanish—and you’ll suffocate.”

  “I’d like to avoid that.”

  Tetra and Henrietta nodded in unison.

  “You’ve thought everything through,” Henrietta said.

  “I have to. I promised there’d be no casualties—and I intend to keep that promise.”

  He turned toward the glowing city.

  “Henrietta.”

  “Yes?”

  “Did Silka ever say the Devourer’s name?”

  “…He did.”

  Orion waited.

  “Malamiris.”

  PULSE

  A deep tremor surged through the sea the moment she spoke the name.

  “It knows we’re coming.”

  Orion released Tetra’s hand and stepped ahead of the group.

  “I hope you know what fear is,” he said coldly.

  “Because you’re about to learn.”

  The ocean stirred around them, as if Malamiris itself had heard is threat. Like a muffled scream rippling across the water, a low hum escaped the city.

  As one, the group mounted Libranil—ready to breach the city of Malamiris.