Vex didn't even glance at the collapsing barrier.
His eyes never left me.
But everyone else had already turned toward the horizon.
Several figures approached rapidly.
Powerful figures.
The pressure they emitted caused the surrounding mana to become unstable.
Christopher Nova led them.
The Vice Headmaster stepped forward with sword in hand, his expression colder than anyone had ever seen before.
Behind him stood numerous professors from Astryx Academy.
Each one radiated immense mana.
Each one was a powerhouse in their own right.
Christopher's gaze immediately locked onto Vex.
A Retainer.
A genuine Retainer.
Standing within Astryx territory.
His eyes narrowed.
"A Retainer of Oblivion inside our kingdom?"
The ocean around him began trembling.
"How bold."
The atmosphere instantly became hostile.
Yet before anyone could make a move—
another presence arrived.
A streak of golden light descended from the sky.
The figure landed atop the ocean itself.
The waves beneath his feet remained perfectly still.
William's eyes widened.
"Lancelot?"
The newcomer wore brilliant silver armor etched with golden runes. A long sword rested at his waist while a royal crest decorated the cape flowing behind him.
His face was stern.
Unyielding.
The very image of a knight.
His gaze briefly fell upon Vex.
Then—
he turned toward William.
Without hesitation, he lowered himself onto one knee.
"The Queen ordered me to accompany the professors and investigate the disturbance within the Ocean of Noctara."
His voice was calm.
Steady.
Absolute.
Then his gaze lifted.
Meeting William's eyes directly.
"Your Highness."
"There is no need for concern."
The knight slowly rose.
His hand settled upon the hilt of his sword.
"And there is no need for you to remain here any longer."
His gaze shifted toward Vex.
The surrounding mana instantly grew heavier.
Sharper.
More dangerous.
"Leave this to me."
For the first time since arriving—
Vex smiled.
A small smile.
A dangerous one.
Meanwhile, the knight's expression remained unchanged.
"I will deal with this pest."
Lancelot.
The Golden Knight of Astryx.
One of the kingdom's strongest protectors.
A SS-Ranker.
...
Vex paid no attention to the figures that had just shattered the barrier.
His gaze never once left me.
Instead, he casually raised the dark artifact in his hand.
The Perished Army pulsed.
A sickly blue light spread across its surface.
The ocean answered.
The sea began trembling violently as countless shapes emerged from beneath the waves.
Voidborns.
Dozens.
Then hundreds.
Shark-like creatures burst from the depths, their malformed bodies covered in rotting flesh and jagged bone. Some leaped from the water while others circled beneath the surface like predators waiting for prey.
At the center of it all—
The Leviathan roared.
The sound shook the skies.
The ocean itself seemed to recoil beneath its cry.
Christopher's expression hardened immediately.
"Evillise."
The professor adjusted her glasses before letting out an irritated sigh.
"Of course it had to be a Leviathan and a dead one at that."
The two vanished.
A deafening explosion echoed across the ocean.
Christopher appeared directly above the colossal creature, his sword descending with overwhelming force.
BOOOOOOOM!
The impact split apart the surrounding waves as the Leviathan roared in fury.
Meanwhile, dozens of crimson magic circles appeared around Professor Evillise.
The sea itself began to boil.
Pillars of flame erupted from the ocean, surrounding the undead Leviathan from every direction.
Yet before the creature could retaliate—
the temperature dropped.
Instantly.
The raging sea froze.
Massive glaciers erupted from beneath the Leviathan's body, attempting to bind its movements while chains of ice spread across its rotten flesh.
Fire and frost alternated endlessly.
One moment the ocean was engulfed in infernal flames.
The next, it was frozen solid.
The battlefield itself became unstable under the assault of two opposing elements.
The remaining professors quickly joined the battle.
Some intercepted the endless horde of Voidborns surging from the sea.
Others protected the damaged vessel.
Explosions of mana illuminated the ocean as spells and blades collided against the undead creatures.
For a brief moment, the entire Ocean of Noctara resembled a war zone.
Yet amidst all the chaos—
Vex never looked away from me.
A faint smirk appeared on his face.
"So..."
His voice was quiet.
"It seems you truly don't know who I am."
My eyes narrowed.
"Am I supposed to?"
The smirk widened.
Then he leaned closer.
Close enough that only I could hear him.
"I remember that day quite clearly."
His voice carried an unsettling amusement.
"The day our dear First Retainer humiliated me before the Sovereign himself."
My expression remained unchanged.
Yet my heart skipped a beat.
Shit
Vex chuckled.
"But I suppose you have no clue what I'm talking about."
His golden slit-like pupils studied me carefully.
"Your not the First Retainer, isn't that right Subject 082?"
The smile on his face became almost euphoric.
"It seems you still haven't recovered your memories."
My blood ran cold.
Vex suddenly laughed.
A genuine laugh.
The kind born from excitement.
"Oh, how fortunate."
His eyes trembled slightly.
"What if I killed you right here?"
The pressure around him exploded.
The ocean beneath us cracked.
"Of course, our Sovereign would dislike that."
His grin widened.
"But I think that's a price I'm willing to pay."
For the first time—
I felt genuine killing intent.
Not anger.
Not hostility.
Pure murderous desire.
His gaze lingered on my face.
"So these are your eyes..."
A strange look appeared within them.
"I always imagined they would be crimson."
He tilted his head slightly.
"To think they would be gold."
His fingers slowly reached forward.
Toward my eyes.
My body froze.
Shit.
No—
Was he actually—
"ASTAR—"
A golden flash erupted across the battlefield.
BOOOOOOM!
The ocean split apart.
Vex's expression changed.
A figure appeared between us.
Radiant armor.
Golden hair.
A sword shining like sunlight itself.
For a brief moment, the battlefield seemed illuminated by his presence alone.
Vex's hand—
Fell into the sea.
Cleanly severed.
Blood scattered through the air.
The newcomer slowly raised his sword.
His voice was calm.
Yet carried absolute certainty.
"Retainer."
Lancelot's eyes locked onto Vex.
"I'll be dealing with you."
For the first time since appearing—
Vex looked genuinely annoyed.
The severed arm regenerated almost instantly.
New flesh grew.
Bone reformed.
Skin closed.
His expression darkened.
"You useless roach."
The pressure around him surged violently.
"Move."
Lancelot remained unmoving.
His sword never lowered.
His gaze never wavered.
The two stared at one another.
Then—
The ocean exploded.
BOOOOOOOOM!
Gold and blue collided.
The shockwave alone shattered nearby waves into mist.
The sky trembled.
The sea split apart.
And the battle between two SS-Rank existences began.
...
I quickly retreated from the battlefield.
The pressure released by the clash between Vex and Lancelot was overwhelming.
Every collision between their weapons sent shockwaves tearing through the ocean. The sea split apart beneath them while violent waves rose into the sky, making it difficult even to remain standing.
Before I could move much farther, a hand suddenly grabbed my shoulder.
William.
Without saying a word, he dragged me away from the center of the battlefield.
Only after we reached a safer distance did he finally release me.
I glanced at him.
"Thanks."
William simply nodded.
His attention was already focused elsewhere.
I followed his gaze.
The Ocean of Noctara had become a warzone.
Explosions of mana illuminated the horizon.
Christopher and Professor Evillise were engaged in a direct battle against the undead Leviathan while the remaining professors fought desperately to contain the endless tide of Voidborns pouring from the sea.
The ocean itself seemed to be screaming.
Soon enough, the others arrived.
Lucinda.
Joseph.
Anastasia.
Isolde.
Their conditions weren't good.
Isolde looked especially pale, her face lacking color after the battle from earlier. Joseph's breathing was heavy while traces of exhaustion remained visible on his expression.
Even Anastasia appeared unusually quiet.
William carefully observed all of them.
Then—
he grabbed his sword.
"I'm not leaving."
The declaration caused everyone to freeze.
William's eyes remained fixed on the battlefield.
"I'm heading back in."
Anastasia's eyes widened.
"You seriously want to fight too?"
"Yes."
His grip tightened around the hilt.
"At the very least we can help protect—"
"Apologies, Prince."
A calm voice interrupted him.
Everyone turned.
My eyes widened.
Shit.
Could today possibly get any worse?
Standing behind us was a familiar figure clad in silver armor.
Cassian.
The lord of Valorheim Port.
The knight's sharp gaze swept across the group before settling on William and Anastasia.
Unlike before, there wasn't even the slightest room for negotiation in his expression.
"Your Highness."
He bowed respectfully.
"Princess Anastasia."
"The Queen has ordered both of you to be escorted back to the Royal Palace immediately."
William's expression darkened.
Cassian continued calmly.
"I have been instructed to allow no arguments regarding this matter."
For several moments, silence lingered.
The sounds of battle echoed in the distance.
Finally—
William sighed.
The frustration in his eyes was impossible to miss.
"At least allow my companions to leave with you."
Cassian nodded.
"That can be arranged."
The preparations were made quickly.
Joseph left first.
Then Anastasia.
An exhausted Isolde followed shortly after.
One by one, they boarded the vessel that had arrived alongside Cassian.
Before leaving, William glanced toward Lucinda.
"You're not coming?"
Lucinda shook her head.
"No."
Her gaze drifted toward the battlefield.
"I'm staying here for a while."
William stared at her for a few seconds before eventually nodding.
"I see."
His voice softened slightly.
"Make sure you don't get yourself injured."
A faint smile appeared on Lucinda's face.
"I'll try."
Soon afterward, William boarded the ship as well.
Cassian was the last to leave.
Before departing, the silver-armored knight briefly glanced in my direction.
His eyes lingered for only a moment.
Then he turned away.
The ship disappeared into the distance.
The sounds of battle continued.
The ocean continued to rage.
And before I realized it—
only two of us remained standing on the shore.
Me.
And my elder sister.