After the scorching heat of the volcano, we now stood on the shores of Melancholy Coast. Before us stretched the Deep Blue Ocean, and at its very bottom lay the Fourth and Final Seal: The Gate of Silence.
"The problem is," I said while staring at the waves, "I'm a land-based chef. I can cook fish, but I can't be a fish. How are we supposed to go down there without our lungs exploding?"
Elena gazed at the sea uneasily. "Holy Knights usually have blessings to walk on water, but breathing underwater? That's outside my employment contract."
Lila had already begun trying to build a submarine out of old barrels and rat glue, but I stopped her before she could create a floating coffin for all of us.
"Relax," Seraphina said calmly, her voice composed yet authoritative. She stepped forward, letting the waves wash over her feet. "I can help. But after this… I owe you all an explanation."
Seraphina raised her hand to the sky. She didn't chant a typical magic spell. Instead, she sang—a melody in a language that sounded like crashing waves and dolphin whistles.
A blue light enveloped us. Suddenly, small translucent gill-shaped marks appeared on our necks.
[System Alert: Buff "Blessing of the Sea Princess" Activated.]
[Duration: 24 Hours.]
[Effects: Underwater breathing, deep-sea pressure resistance, and hair that doesn't go flat when wet.]
"Sea Princess?" I turned to Seraphina. "Wait—didn't you say you were a runaway noble from Odelia?"
Seraphina smiled faintly. "Odelia was merely a hiding place. My true name is Seraphina Marina, heir to the throne of the sunken Kingdom of Atlantis. And the reason I joined this journey… is because the Fourth Seal is guarded by my older brother—who has gone mad."
"A very clean plot twist," I muttered. "Elena, did you know about this?"
Elena shook her head, clearly annoyed. "I only knew her mana was extremely pure. But a mermaid princess? That explains why she never eats sashimi in front of us."
We dove into the ocean's darkness. Thanks to Seraphina's blessing, we shot downward like torpedoes. My Black Pan looked utterly confused—trying to swim frog-style using its handle—forcing me to grip it tightly so it wouldn't drift away.
At the ocean floor stood Atlantis.
But unlike the glorious cities in movies, this one looked miserable. Buildings were covered in dark moss, crystal lamps glowed faintly, and many statues had lost their heads.
"Why does Atlantis look like a dead city…?" Lila asked through communication magic.
"The Demon King's corruption has been leaking from the Fourth Seal for ten years," Seraphina replied sadly. "My people turned into mindless sea monsters. My brother, Prince Triton, locked himself inside the Seal Hall to contain the leak—but in doing so, he slowly lost his sanity."
As we approached the palace gates, a massive shadow blocked our path.
An Abyssal Kraken—once a royal guardian—now corrupted by dark energy.
Its eyes glowed red, its tentacles bristling with venomous spikes.
"Elena! Seraphina! Protect Lila! Let me feed this pet!" I shouted.
I opened the Gacha menu. "System! Give me something that can put an octopus to sleep!"
[Ding!]
[Gacha "Soothing Seasoning" Available.]
[Congratulations! You obtained Item: "Nap-Time Nutmeg Powder (Grade S)."]
[Description: Its aroma can make even the fiercest dragon want to turn off its alarm and sleep for 100 years.]
"Pan! Water Diffusion Mode!"
I poured the nutmeg powder into the pan. It spun rapidly underwater, creating a small vortex that spread the spicy aroma throughout the gate area.
The Kraken froze mid-attack. Its tentacles went limp. It let out a massive yawn, releasing a giant air bubble, then slowly sank to the seabed and began snoring, its snores shaking the ocean floor.
"Nice work, Rian," Elena said while sheathing her sword. "I'm starting to believe you could solve the apocalypse with nothing but a spice rack."
"That's called efficiency, ma'am."
We entered the Grand Hall. There, seated before a massive sealed door, was a man clad in blue dragon-scale armor. He held a golden trident, his body wrapped in thick black aura.
Prince Triton.
"Seraphina…" Triton's voice was deep and hoarse. "You brought the Vessel here? Do you wish to hasten destruction?"
"No, Brother! We came to fix the seal—just like we did in the north and at the volcano!"
Triton laughed madly. "Too late! This seal cannot be repaired! It requires a pure soul to be sacrificed every ten years. And guess whose turn is next? Yours, little sister."
Triton lunged with his trident. Elena blocked it with her greatsword.
CLANG!
The impact sent shockwaves rippling through the water.
As I tried to help, a violent pain exploded in my head. The Ice Mark from Eira and the Fire Mark from Ignis began glowing together—tinged with dark purple.
[Corruption Meter: 1.80%]
[Warning: Dark energy from the Fourth Seal is calling to your true identity.]
[Voice in your head: "Take the trident… destroy the seal… the world owes you…"]
"Shut up!" I yelled, clutching my head.
"Rian! What's wrong?!" Elena cried.
"Don't come near me!" I shouted back. "The energy… it's too strong here!"
The pan in my hand began to change. Its once-smooth surface sprouted small spikes, and its eye glowed purple. It seemed desperate to break free and destroy everything in front of it.
Triton saw my state and sneered. "See? The Vessel is cracking! The Demon King will awaken here—in our home!"
He leapt toward me, trident aimed at my heart. Elena tried to intercept—but was blasted away by a surge of water energy.
In that critical moment, my hand moved on its own.
Not by my will—but by Astaroth's instinct.
I caught the tip of Triton's trident barehanded.
SREEEET!
Holy energy scorched my palm—but I felt no pain.
Instead… I felt hungry.
"How dare you…" my voice dropped, echoing unnaturally.
"…attack my personal chef."
"Rian…?" Elena whispered in horror.
I raised the Black Pan. This time, it didn't emit cooking aromas.
It released black flames, blazing even underwater.
"System," I commanded—whether it was me or Astaroth, I no longer knew.
"Erase this interference."
[Active Skill: "Void Devourer."]
The pan opened its mouth wide, sucking in the dark aura enveloping Prince Triton—not just his corruption, but the evil energy leaking from the Fourth Seal itself.
"AAAAARGH!" Triton screamed as the darkness was violently ripped from him.
Within seconds, Triton collapsed unconscious, restored to his normal human form. The black aura vanished from the hall, completely absorbed by my pan.
I gasped for breath and dropped to my knees. My eyes returned to normal, and the unbearable hunger slowly faded.
[Corruption Meter: 2.50%]
[Warning: You have just used 1% of the Demon Lord's true power. Personality synchronization will accelerate.]
"Rian!" Elena rushed over, hugging me from behind to keep me from collapsing. "Are you okay? You were terrifying just now."
"I… I'm fine," I said weakly. "But I think I just ate an apocalypse for breakfast."
Seraphina ran to her unconscious brother, checking his breathing before bursting into relieved tears.
"He's alive… the darkness is gone."
Lila pointed at the sealed door. "Big Bro Rian! Look! The seal turned white again!"
She was right. With the corruption completely absorbed, the seal had returned to purity. No soul sacrifice was needed.
"Three seals repaired, one absorbed," Seraphina murmured, staring at me with a mix of fear and scrutiny she tried to hide. "Rian… who are you really?"
I looked at my Black Pan, which let out a purple-smoke belch.
"I'm just a chef who logged into the wrong server, Your Highness. And I really want to go home and sleep."
But deep down, I knew the truth.
Every time I used this pan's power to save the world, I drew closer to the prophecy I feared most—
Becoming Elena's enemy in the future.
[System Log: Seal Arc Complete.]
[Next Mission: Travel to the Imperial Capital for the Hero's Coronation.]
[Note: Prepare yourself, Chef. Elena has begun to doubt your identity.]
I looked at Elena as she helped me to my feet. She smiled at me—but there was a flicker of wariness in her eyes.
The seeds of doubt had begun to grow, deep beneath the silent sea.