Seeing the blue System screen fade away, Lucian stood on the deck, more confused than ever.
The silence of the Gap Between Seconds was gone, replaced by the rhythmic crashing of the waves against the hull. But the memory of that white void lingered.
The Cenotaph of Pride, Lucian thought, rubbing his temples. And that whisper...
He analyzed the chant he had heard in the fog. He dissected the Nepshi words carefully.
"The Whisperer in the Tides."
"The Primordial Monarch of the Velvet Deep for Desire."
He frowned. Desire?
If that space was the domain of the Sin of Pride, shouldn't the title reflect that? Shouldn't it be "The Monarch of Arrogance" or "The King of the Morningstar"?
Lucifer is the Patron of Pride, Lucian reasoned, leaning against the cold railing. But that title... 'The Velvet Deep for Desire.' That sounds like something else entirely. Does this mean the entity I met isn't Lucifer? Is there something bigger than the Seven Sins connecting us?
He felt a chill that had nothing to do with the sea breeze.
Two conclusions, he thought. Either the 'Velvet Monarch' is the landlord of all the Sins... or I have stumbled into a domain I wasn't supposed to see.
"Hey, Luci. Don't think so hard."
A heavy hand clapped him on the shoulder, nearly sending him tumbling over the railing.
Lucian jumped, his heart hammering against his ribs. He spun around to see Arthur standing there, yawning so wide his jaw popped.
"You're going to fall into the sea at this rate," Arthur mumbled, scratching his stomach. "And fishing you out would be a terrible waste of calories."
Lucian stared at him, then looked around. The fog was gone. The eerie silence was gone. It was truly night now—the moon was high, and the crew was bustling about the deck as if nothing had happened.
"Sir Arthur..." Lucian exhaled, composing himself. "Any advice?"
"Yes," Arthur pointed a lazy finger toward the mess hall. "Eat. Thinking burns energy. You need to refuel."
"Is there anything good on the menu?"
"Exquisite meat," Arthur said, his eyes drooping. "Highly refined. Don't ask what animal it is; knowing ruins the flavor. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with a hammock."
Before Lucian could ask about the vanishing crew or the fog, Arthur had already turned around, shuffling back to his room like a zombie.
How much does that man love to sleep? Lucian wondered, shaking his head.
He realized he was starving. The trip to the Cenotaph had drained him physically. He looked around for Seraphim, but the silver-haired man was nowhere to be seen.
Sigh. Those two are exactly alike. Useless in a crisis.
Lucian went to the mess hall. Arthur wasn't lying—the meat was incredible. It was tender, savory, and rich with energy. He ate in silence, pushing the cosmic horror of the glass throne to the back of his mind.
But the peace didn't last.
BOOM.
The entire ship lurched violently to the starboard side. Plates smashed against the floor. Wine glasses shattered.
"LEVIATHAN!" a sailor screamed from the upper deck. "WE HAVE A LEVIATHAN ON THE—"
The warning was cut short, replaced by a wet, gurgling scream of agony.
Lucian dropped his fork. So much for a quiet dinner.
He grabbed his cane and rushed up the stairs.
When he burst onto the deck, chaos had already taken hold. The ship was tilting dangerously. Sailors were firing rifles into the dark water, their bullets sparking uselessly against heavy scales.
Rising from the black ocean was a nightmare.
It was a Serpent Leviathan, but it was wrong. It had four heads, each one the size of a carriage, twisting and snapping at the crew. Its scales weren't just dark; they were glowing with a sickening, deep red aura.
Red Ether? Lucian analyzed quickly. That's not natural for this region.
"It's from the Crimson Sea."
The voice came from behind him—calm, melodic, and completely unbothered by the massacre happening ten feet away.
Lucian turned. Seraphim Valerius was leaning against the cabin wall, holding a glass of wine that hadn't spilled a drop despite the ship's rocking. He looked like he was watching an opera, not a monster attack.
"What do you mean, Crimson Sea?" Lucian shouted over the roar of the monster.
"It means, my dear boy," Seraphim took a sip, "that it wandered far from home. Creatures from the Crimson Sea are corrupted by War Ether. They are... unpleasant."
"You're trying to be funny while people are dying?" Lucian snapped.
"Just kidding," Seraphim smirked, though his amber eyes remained sharp. "You become quite scary when you're quiet, you know. But look, it's killing more people."
Seraphim pointed a gloved hand toward the bow. One of the serpent heads had snatched a sailor, tearing him in half.
"At this rate, everyone will die," Lucian said, his grip tightening on his cane. "We need to help them."
"We?" Seraphim raised an eyebrow. "No, no. You go. Try out your Tier 2 power."
Lucian froze. "How do you know I advanced?"
He hadn't told anyone. He had barely processed it himself.
Seraphim smiled—a dazzling, knowing smile that made him look like a fox in human skin. "I have eyes, Lucian. The air around you... it's heavier now."
"I don't have offensive powers yet," Lucian argued. "I only have a defense and a gravity field."
"Then get creative," Seraphim shrugged. "Don't worry. If you are about to be eaten, I will step in. Probably."
Probably?
Lucian gritted his teeth. He looked at the four-headed monster rampaging on the deck.
The fear rose in his chest—a natural human reaction. But then, it hit a wall.
[Passive Trait: Constraint Active.]
[The Sin of Pride does not allow you to flee in disgrace.]
His spine straightened automatically. The fear evaporated, replaced by cold, arrogant anger. How dare this beast attack his ship? How dare it interrupt his meal?
"Fine," Lucian spat.
He adjusted his suit jacket and walked calmly toward the center of the chaos.
The red aura of the Leviathan pulsed, the heat radiating off it smelling of rotten blood and iron. One of the heads noticed him—a small, well-dressed human walking with a cane amidst the panic.
The beast hissed, lunging forward with jaws wide enough to swallow him whole.
Lucian didn't flinch. He didn't dodge.
He looked the monster in the eye and planted his cane on the deck.
Event Horizon.
"You ugly thing," Lucian whispered, his blue eyes glowing in the dark. "I am going to ruin you."