The low rumble echoing from the sunken city and the muffled steps of Libranil were the only sounds reaching the group's ears.

  They breathed slowly, bracing for the chaos that was sure to come.

  With Orion’s simple plan in mind, the party had already anticipated several possible outcomes the moment they stepped across the border into the seemingly deserted city.

  It could very well be inhabited. If, by any chance, only the Devourer resided there, then the entire situation would shift.

  With no followers to deal with, the team could focus all their strength on Malamiris.

  But if other species of monsters lived within the city walls, then Henrietta and Tetra—tasked with handling them—felt their throats dry up at the thought.

  The underwater current brushed against their faces like a breeze, unnerving in its softness. Breathing underwater remained an unnatural, mind-bending experience.

  As the radiant blue city came into view, Libranil began taking even larger strides.

  Perhaps it was anticipation—an eagerness to unleash destruction. Or maybe it was the thrill of discovering an unfamiliar world that pushed the void dragon forward.

  Either way, Orion noticed the subtle acceleration with a faint smile.

  The closer they drew, the more imposing the city became. Details emerged in the glimmering architecture—unfamiliar yet strangely pristine.

  “As expected.”

  Orion frowned, his eyes glowing with a bright yellow hue.

  Even after ascending to the peak of power, he still relied on abilities he had honed long ago.

  “What do you see?” Henrietta asked, her gaze sharp, ready for the worst.

  “There’s nothing moving on the roads. The city is dead silent.”

  Still, a hum echoed strongly from the center, where a massive structure loomed.

  “Nothing at all?”

  “Correct. What contradicts this is the pristine condition of the buildings. I find it hard to believe a city submerged for so long could remain this intact if truly uninhabited.”

  He paused, finger tapping against his chin.

  “Could it be a power of the Devourer? Was all of this perhaps shaped by its will?”

  But Tetra shook her head slightly while narrowing her eyes at the silent streets.

  “Doesn’t it seem too... perfect to be the work of a single being? There's no sign of wear, not even algae.”

  "If it had been abandonned, there would be sign of decay. Yet, there is none."

  “This may sound strange, but while powerful, I don’t believe the Devourers can control so many elemental aspects at once.”

  As she spoke, memories resurfaced—of the day everything changed.

  The Devourer that attacked her mother differed from the one that attacked Henrietta’s. Each had mastery over a unique element or matter.

  “That’s what you believe?” Orion asked, his tone skeptical.

  “I’m not saying it’s impossible. It just doesn’t add up.”

  “If your hunch is right, the only logical explanation is that some entities are hiding inside those buildings.”

  “I believe that too,” Henrietta nodded in agreement.

  Marie remained quiet behind Orion. She had no idea how to interact with the others. She wasn’t his companion or his friend, which made her reluctant to interject.

  But that didn’t matter. Unless addressed directly, she was content to remain at his side as his aide.

  With a neutral expression, she watched his back in silence, listening carefully.

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  Just then, Libranil stepped into the city’s blue glow, passing through a shimmering barrier of light.

  “...”

  Everyone fell silent as she stopped. Immediately, the humming transformed into a high-pitched ringing that disoriented them—though not enough to fully disturb their focus.

  Libranil stood still, eyes fixed on the path ahead. A paved road stretched forward without a single irregularity.

  Then, she moved forward. With each step she took, the stone cracked under her immense weight.

  Her scales tore into the surrounding buildings, reducing them to piles of rubble.

  Bubbles floated to the surface as she moved deeper into the submerged metropolis.

  Destruction built up—but still, no lifeform stirred.

  While the others remained on edge, Orion’s gaze drifted to the side.

  Off the dragon’s path, a large statue stood, shimmering with a pale silver glow.

  What does this represent?

  His eyes sharpened, glowing bright yellow once more.

  Details emerged. The statue depicted the city’s ruler—some unfamiliar creature, unlike anything he had ever seen.

  He couldn't help but focus on its face.

  “!”

  A blinding flash of light engulfed him. A sickening sensation surged through his body—as if tar had seeped into every vein, suffocating him from within.

  Visions of a close future flashed violently before his eyes.

  He saw a black-haired woman dressed in warrior’s garb—just for a second—before she sliced Marie in half with her bare hand.

  It didn’t end there.

  Libranil’s head lay severed among broken ruins. Henrietta and Tetra were no more than husks, locked in a frenzy of mutual destruction.

  The vision made Orion sick to his core.

  So that’s how you're going to play it.

  Pure, undiluted anger welled up inside him—a fury he hadn’t felt since the day Miasma had caught him off guard.

  Deep. Unfiltered. Absolute.

  His jaw locked, eyes flashing white. The image of Marie's body, torn in half, played again behind his eyelids. His hands trembled—not from fear, but from rage barely leashed.

  Threaten them again, he whispered, and I’ll turn this entire city into ash.

  His eyes flared white—so blindingly white they began to purge the curse wrapping around him.

  The black tar burned away. Orion awakened, breathless but conscious.

  “...”

  Tetra, sensing something wrong, glanced toward him, concerned.

  “I’m fine,” he said, wiping sweat from his brow.

  “Your expression says otherwise. Are you sure?”

  "Tetra."

  He faced her and hugged her strongly, wrapping his arms around her back.

  "Heh?!"

  Surprised, she still returned the hug with passion.

  Orion let her go, turned around and grabbed Marie by the waist, pulling her close.

  The sudden gesture made the maid flinch.

  Is he angry? Why?

  Questioning his action, Marie noticed his free hand clenched, shaking slightly.

  “I’m casting a spell to protect you from mental afflictions. Libranil, destroy everything. Force them from their lairs.”

  Orion said nothing. His eyes shimmered with restrained rage, breath shallow. He clenched Marie tighter—not out of affection, but to stop his body from shaking.

  Then, coldly: “Kill them all. Don’t let a single one escape.”

  “Kill them all. Leave none alive.”

  He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t need to. The weight of the words crushed even the constant humming.

  “You heard me?”

  Libranil roared—an echo of power and obedience.

  “Alright. Marie, let’s go.”

  "Yes, Master!"

  Orion crouched, then launched himself into the air as Marie focused on the task at hand.

  Henrietta and Tetra watched, stunned by his sudden shift in demeanor.

  “What happened to you?” Tetra whispered, her voice low with worry. “Why so suddenly?”

  Henrietta placed a gentle hand on her best friend’s shoulder.

  “That look on his face… it’s the same as when we lost you. Something brought those memories back.”

  As they watched him disappear across the rooftops, crashing through the central cathedral—larger than any castle—they could only guess what he had seen.

  “He only gets like this when someone he cherishes is in danger,” Henrietta added.

  “You’re right,” Tetra sighed. “I just wish he had confided in me.”

  “There may be no time for that now. Wait and see. And if he says nothing later—then confront him.”

  Tetra nodded, slapping both cheeks to focus herself.

  Time to work.

  Libranil waited until they were prepared—then unleashed chaos.

  A strange chomping echoed through the water, though nothing was in her jaws.

  Confused, the two women remained vigilant.

  Slowly, the sound shifted into a low, gusty roar. Libranil opened her mouth wide—and released a massive beam of void energy across the city, vaporizing nearly a third of it in an instant.

  “Wow…”

  The destruction stunned them into silence. So intense was the void energy that flames ignited and burned, even in water, refusing to die out for several heartbeats.

  Satisfied, Libranil smiled.

  But her joy wasn’t from destruction—it was because the enemy Orion sought had finally begun to emerge.

  Thousands of dark figures poured from every corner of the city, blotting out the light from above.

  “W-What are those?!” Henrietta exclaimed.

  The water became still, and distant voices, unintelligible, echoed from the creatures.

  Tetra’s disgust twisted her features.

  “The next time I see Senia, I’ll praise her beauty like never before…”

  Grotesque, siren-like creatures swam upward. Their monstrous gazes locked on the dragon decimating their home.

  “This is beyond ugly.”

  Without hesitation, Tetra drew the scepter she had inherited from her mother and took aim.

  The creatures were ghastly—lower bodies reminiscent of sirens, but with skeletal wings like fish bones, stretched wide with torn, ragged flesh.

  Their upper bodies were hunched and rotted, their eyes dull and lifeless. Jagged spikes lined their backs. Long, bony arms writhed in unnatural motions, pointing toward the dragon.

  “Enri,” Tetra said, spinning her scepter to her side.

  “I know.”

  “Let’s clean this up.”

  Henrietta closed her eyes and summoned a sword she had never used before.

  “I never thought I’d become a fighter like her,” she muttered bitterly, then gripped the weapon tight.

  Lightning sparked around her hand, dancing across the blade.

  “Good thing I can control magic however I want!”

  With a powerful swing, the sword released a tree of lightning that surged through the water—straight toward the monstrous swarm.