I. Flashback Trauma Is Real
The ocean shimmered beneath a blood-orange sky.
Seagulls cried overhead, harbor lights flickering like nervous fireflies. None of it mattered when a deep, ancient growl rattled the hull of their boat—Rayan's face went dead blank.
"…No."He whispered it so softly it was almost tender.
Then, louder: "NO. We are NOT doing this again. This is my villain arc. I'm switching sides."
Yeon froze mid–hair flip. "Why do I feel seaweed and childhood trauma at once?"
Tonio re-cast his detection spell. "Something massive… bigger than last week's Sand Titan… bigger than Yeon's delusional.
"Cezar squinted at the horizon. "Doesn't… that sound like the Leviathan?"
Even the wind paused.
Even the waves held their breath—until:
BLUUUAAAAAARRRGHHHH!
A geyser of seawater exploded skyward, and the monstrous serpent-horror they'd battled (and nearly died to) erupted into view.
Rayan spun on his heel. "Cool, cool. I'm out. Signing off. My new series: 'Potato Farmer in a Peaceful Village.'"
Yeon grabbed his sleeve. "You promised you'd protect me if it came back!"
"I didn't say that!"
"You swore on your sword!"
"Like I said, I didn't do that too!"
II. Team Strategy: Panic and Cry
The Leviathan reared, scales gleaming, eyes burning with ancient wrath—and… confusion? It scanned the four quivering adventurers, then opened a gaping maw.
Leviathan (voice like crashing waves):"YOU MONSTERS! YOU SLEW MY BROTHER!"
Rayan's knees nearly buckled. "Brother? We… we didn't kill your brother! That was an illu—"
Leviathan: "An illusion? My brother was SS Rank in the Human Realm! He protected the coast—until you butchered him!"
Yeon yanked Rayan behind a crate. "He has a brother?"
Cezar's tail tucked tight. "We fought a noodle-snake with daddy issues?"
Tonio whispered, "We are so, so dead."
III. The Great Explanation (While Shaking)
Rayan swallowed hard, voice quivering: "Sir Leviathan—um, your brother… we thought he was a mana‐echo. A phantom. We saw him fade into mana particles—"
Leviathan roared, "He died! I smelled battle nearly a moon ago!"
Yeon chimed in, "We didn't do anything we swear! We swear we didn't—"Leviathan's eyes glowed.
The harbor trembled. Nearby guards took a step back—and then ran screaming.
Cezar stuttered, "He—he was semi-alive? Like my Wi-Fi connection?"
Rayan stopped and responded "What? is your brain flying around bro? Sir Leviathan just stated that, HIS LITTLE BROTHER DIED!!! and yes we are cooked..."
Cezar were too stunned to realize his words.
Tonio, voice small: "Maybe we can send a rescue mission to the guild? We can search for him? We can heal him? We have a healer in the group—"
Leviathan's roar rattled the docks. "ENOUGH! You'll face justice… or be added to the feast!"
IV. Mass Panic & Comic Retreat
At that, the four turned on their heels and sprinted:
Rayan: Tripped over his own blade. "Note to self: do not sprint in boots!"
Yeon: Screamed, "I want my 'Dark Lord' credit—just not this dark!"
Cezar: Flash-Stepped into a barrel, emerging covered in pickles.
Tonio: Cast a half-hearted thorn barrier—instantly refried into kindling by the Leviathan's glare.
Around them, guards and guild members alike fled in every direction, tossing aside pikes, banners, even an unlucky goose.
V. Cliffhanger: Running Isn't Bad… Right?
The Leviathan advanced, each scale-glint like a thunderclap.
Rayan glanced back, voice squeaky: "Please don't eat us! We can help find your brother corpse!"
But his words dissolved in the roar of the enraged god-snake.
Behind them, the harbor burned with crackling rune-fire.
The Blood-Orange Moon hung low, bearing witness to their shameful retreat.
End Of Chapter 24