Chapter 43: Meaning
"July 1st... Is there anything special about this date?" Xio asked, puzzled. She didn't think it referred to the present, only that it had happened sometime in history.
Enber shook his head and didn't explain. He didn't know how to explain either. Instead, he turned around and said to Mr. Gaston, who was still guarding the rear passage,
"I know the source of the internal strife here. Follow me!"
"You know it again? Do you have to be so fast? I have no idea! Compared to you, I feel like an idiot..." Mr. Gaston lamented silently, his expression twisting. He then nodded numbly. By now, he was used to the other party's "sudden realization" style.
Finally, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and pretended to be calm. "Where do we need to go?"
"To the lowest cabin. The person we're looking for is there," Enber replied firmly. With the earlier clues, he had already confirmed this scene as the original Maritime Battle instigated by Tris.
Watching Enber and Gaston head toward the stairwell, Xio hesitated. Then she turned back to the grieving lady.
"Hide yourself first. We'll restore order to the ship soon." With that, she jogged to catch up to Enber and Gaston.
The lady looked gratefully at Xio's back before suddenly asking, "My name is Chelly! Miss, may I know your name?"
Xio didn't turn around. She simply replied, "Xio."
"Xio..." Chelly repeated softly, memorizing it. Then she picked up the dagger on the ground and slipped into a nearby cabin. No matter how ruthless she had been toward the murderers, she knew she wasn't strong enough to face them head-on.
She could only protect herself now and not waste the life her lover had given her.
Gaston, walking beside Xio, smiled faintly. "There's no point. When this scene ends, she'll no longer exist."
Xio shook her head stubbornly. "She lives because of my words. Even if it's just for a few minutes or hours, it means something to me."
"Up to you! Sigh!.. What a little girl..." Gaston shook his head, still smiling. He meant no harm, but he felt such naivety was dangerous in the Beyonder world.
Xio pursed her lips, glanced at Enber's back, and after a moment's struggle asked, "Enber, what do you think?"
Enber thought for a while before replying seriously, "Everyone has their own persistence. If you think it's right, then do it. Don't worry about what others think." This persistence, he knew, was the brilliance of human nature.
When Xio heard this, the corners of her lips curled slightly. She was happy to be understood.
Most of the brutes on the ship were besieging the lower cabins, so the deeper the three descended, the more enemies they encountered.
Fortunately, Gaston had anticipated this. He'd brought plenty of explosives for area damage, and with Enber and Xio's master-level combat skills — and their enemies being only ordinary people — the three managed to fight their way safely to the lowest level.
This cabin was meant for storing food and water. Thanks to these supplies, the people inside had managed to hold out until now.
Seeing Enber and the others storm in, the few men guarding the door were both surprised and relieved. They were glad for help, but also shocked at how strong these three were. If they'd come with ill intent, they would have been unstoppable.
"Halt! You... who are you?" asked a blond young man in a black suit, raising his short sword warily.
Enber ignored the question. Instead, he asked, "Who's in charge here?"
The men exchanged looks but didn't answer.
Xio frowned, then released the might of an Arbiter. She repeated in a deep voice, "Who's in charge here?"
This time, they pointed immediately, fearfully, at a middle-aged man dressed as a captain and a boy with a round, amiable face.
"We listen to Captain and Tris!"
"Tris?" Enber's eyes shifted to the shy boy in the corner.
"It's me, sir. What's the matter?" Tris asked nervously. His voice was timid, but his eyes darted around. It was clear he was already thinking of retreat.
"You're the one who instigated the crew and passengers, making them kill each other, aren't you? Mr. Instigator Tris of the Theosophy Order?" Enber's voice was cold. Without giving anyone time to react, he drew his revolver and fired six consecutive shots.
As the scene neared its end, Enber feared he wouldn't get another chance. He had already activated the pure white eye before firing, and with the help of the Knowledge Keeper's weapon master ability, his six bullets sealed off every possible escape.
It was meaningless in reality, of course — the Tris here wasn't the real one. But Enber's persistence demanded it. After watching the crew's tragedy unfold, he couldn't walk away without striking the culprit down.
Yet before becoming an Instigator, Tris had been an Assassin — a Sequence skilled in dodging and hiding. Even before the shots came, he had already prepared to retreat, fusing into the shadows.
At that moment, Xio's revolver roared. Her bullet pierced the shadow behind Tris.
Back when Enber had named Tris, Xio already guessed what he would do — because it was what she wanted as well. To avenge the innocent victims of this ship, even in a false scene!
She had fought an Instigator before and knew their powers. With her timing, Tris's last chance of survival was erased. His head burst under her shot, his body collapsing to the ground.
The scenery shattered. Everything dissolved. Only three figures remained, wrapped in the fog of the dream realm as they entered the rewards.
—
In the real world, deep in the Clover's deck, Chelly cried in despair. Two murderers had torn most of her clothes, cornering her.
But suddenly, they froze mid-motion, dazed.
Chelly seized the moment, snatching the fallen dagger. With trembling hands, she slashed both their throats.
The corpses collapsed in pools of blood. Drenched and shaking, Chelly staggered toward her lover, nailed to the wall. She wept as she caressed his cold face.
"My dear... I thought I couldn't live without you... But just now, courage filled my heart. Strength too... Perhaps it's your blessing, from the gods' kingdom..."
Wiping her tears, she whispered firmly, "I will live on. No matter what, I will live on! I'll carry your share with me."
—
Deep in the lower decks, Tris awoke with a jolt. His eyes darted nervously as he wiped the cold sweat from his brow.
"I feel like I had a nightmare... but I can't remember what. Just... I think I was killed... Could this be a warning?"
Alarmed, he decided to end this, This mutiny has already served its purpose. I should end it before something unexpected happens... even if the casualties aren't what I hoped.
Noticing his unease, the captain beside him asked, "Mr. Tris, is something wrong?" Tris, who was questioned, forced a sheepish smile.
What Enber and Xio had done wasn't meaningless!
(End of Chapter)