Surviving without God

While Gunther and his companions carved their way toward the Northern Sea, sinking every pirate vessel they encountered, at their destination—the Black Routes—Luthien’s schemes were unfolding exactly as expected.

— I-is it here?

— Yes, Captain.

— ...So the sanctuary of that deity rests on this island.

Verion Heinz, head of the Society of Holy Flame, finished speaking as his grotesquely twisted neck tilted to the side.

— I-if he hadn’t invited us himself, we would never have found it.

A subordinate standing beside him hurried to agree:

— Well, it’s a heretical god after all. The sanctuary is probably tiny... and looks miserable.

But Verion, who usually welcomed such flattery, merely snorted.

— Don’t spout nonsense.

Only in edited chronicles was this deity recorded as a minor existence at the margins of history. But Luthien’s high-ranking officials had access to far deeper archives. In the true history, the master of this temple... the Vanguard of the Dark Night had built a divine hierarchy so overwhelming the world had not seen its like since the fall of the Evil Gods of the Forgotten Era.

“The one who began in the Northern Sea and brought down the entire continent through betrayal. The hero who ended his saga by repaying betrayal with betrayal.”

This deity was essential to completing their grand design. In some ways, Verion’s mission was even more important than that of the main force searching for the relic to subjugate the Sea Dragon.

“We’re lucky.”

Strangely enough, they had not been the ones to track down the Vanguard of the Dark Night. He had reached out first. Five years ago. Gradually. Carefully.

But that in itself wasn’t unusual. Many deities believed in Luthien’s eventual victory and wished to side with the strong. When the world began to tilt, those who could sense it always rushed to line up first.

After all, even gods were bound by their own sagas. The Vanguard of the Dark Night had simply chosen, once again, the path of “betraying” this world.

— I-it’s about to begin. Move.

Verion stepped toward the island. Located on the edge of the Black Routes, the landmass resembled a massive square box floating above the water. Its cliffs were sharp and even, like fortress walls, while the waves below gnawed relentlessly at their base.

The entire rock was riddled with dozens of cave openings, like a honeycomb. Depending on the tides, some submerged while others were exposed.

Deep within them... the Vanguard of the Dark Night was waiting.

— What about the offerings?

— Everything has been prepared strictly according to the requirements.

— G-good.

Verion and the members of the Society of Holy Flame quickened their pace. But just as they were about to enter one of the caves, Verion suddenly turned to his subordinate:

— ...The Beast of the Moonless. Any news?

The man immediately lowered his head.

— My apologies. No updates. He was last seen near the coast after clashing with the Black Lightning fleet. Reports say he is heading in this direction.

Communication within the Black Routes was nearly impossible. Magical devices became useless scrap, and carrier pigeons constantly lost their way. They had to rely on couriers—and for an ordinary person to survive these waters was almost a miracle. They had no idea how close Gunther truly was.

Verion scratched irritably at the scar on his neck—where his second head had once been severed.

“He’s probably plotting something again.”

Within Luthien, Gunther had already been classified as a high-risk anomaly. Naturally so—plans with a 99% success rate kept collapsing one after another. And at the center of each failure, his name always surfaced. Verion was certain.

“This isn’t coincidence. He has something. An abnormal, deeply ominous authority.”

That was why they had prepared this time.

At the entrance to the Black Routes, scraping together every resource of the Cult of Trust, they had laid a “trap.”

“At the very least, it’ll delay him,” the corners of Verion’s lips twitched faintly. “And if we’re lucky... it’ll destroy him.”

He wasn’t fully certain of success—but he desired that outcome with all his heart. If the plan at the Black Routes succeeded, all the cult’s previous losses would seem insignificant.

A clear vision of the future formed in his mind.

With the power of the Vanguard of the Dark Night, they would corrupt the Great Admiral and seize control of the Sea Dragon. The entire Northern Sea would fall under their command, and Nereus would become a cradle of betrayal. The power of the Cult of Trust would skyrocket, rendering past losses meaningless.

And then...

The day when the Seven Gods would descend into the mortal world would finally become reality.

— Fuuuh...

Verion exhaled slowly as he stared into the cave.

— Complete darkness.

Their torches and light artifacts emitted light, yet it could not advance. As if striking an invisible wall, it stopped barely ten centimeters from its source.

They had arrived.

At the Vanguard of the Dark Night.

— Ancient deity who has known betrayal and become a betrayer! — Verion’s voice echoed through the cavern. — We have come as promised. The Apostles of Light bring offerings and a contract. We ask you to join our gods and accomplish a great deed together!

The members of the Society of Holy Flame stared into the darkness, tense. Silence stretched on. Just as anticipation began to fade into unease—

Rustle...

The darkness shifted.

[Greetings, Apostles of Light.]

Black shadows crawled along the cave walls, writhing and devouring each other until they formed a single silhouette.

[I see you.]

Verion frowned. The darkness crept closer.

[I see what you desire.]

[And I know what troubles you most...]

[Yes. I can solve your problem.]

The final whisper did not echo through the cave—it sounded directly beside Verion’s ear.

[If you pay the price.]

***

Gunther stared into empty space, replaying a recent memory.

[In his sanctuary, something extremely interesting is happening. He invites you.]

After that message, the ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) Vanguard of the Dark Night had said nothing more. But that single line was enough.

“I already knew... damn bastards.”

It was obvious that the “interesting matter” at the sanctuary was Luthien’s doing. The temple lay within the Black Routes, and those waters were currently under their influence.

Why?

The answer was simple.

“They want the Vanguard’s saga...”

Gunther had once known only fragments about the Vanguard of the Dark Night. In legends, he was called the “Hero of Betrayal.” But through visions and records obtained after forming a connection, the truth had become clear.

In his era, legions of shadows from an Evil God had relentlessly invaded the Northern Sea. The nation stood on the brink of collapse. People needed a hero.

He had been a condemned man—framed. A war hero awaiting execution for a crime he had not committed. His wife and young daughter were taken hostage.

“Perform enough feats, and we’ll reduce your sentence.”

“Hold the front, and we’ll guarantee your family’s safety.”

They threw him into the heart of hell.

And still, he fought.

With hope of one day being free.

With love for the country he still cherished.

With the determination to reclaim his honor.

With desperate love for his family.

On the frozen battlefields of the Northern Sea, where blood and ice mingled, he slaughtered countless shadow legions. Time and again, he stood at death’s edge—yet always returned.

But his wife and daughter had died long ago.

Killed by his own comrade—who secretly desired his wife and despised him. A vile, wretched betrayal.

The ruling elite knew the truth would drive him mad. So they pushed him deeper into the frontlines. Into places no one returned from.

But he returned.

And learned the truth.

That day, the hero broke.

Or rather, he cast off the mask of a hero and willingly surrendered himself to the shadow legions.

Accepting their power, he began trampling the continent, sweeping everything aside from the Northern Sea onward. Betrayed, he understood betrayal better than anyone. Cities fell. Kingdoms collapsed. Allies stabbed each other in the back. Wherever he passed, only “suspicion” remained.

And just before conquering the entire continent...

He ended his own life.

After destroying everything, he betrayed even the madness that had consumed him. Thus, the Vanguard of the Dark Night ascended to godhood—a being who understood betrayal, wielded it, and completed the world through it.

“Luthien is aiming for that exact saga...”

The situation with the Great Admiral followed the same pattern.

A man who devoted his life to his country and people. A hero betrayed by his own subordinates due to Luthien’s schemes. Add a little more manipulation... crush everything he holds dear, trample his honor, isolate him completely—

—and he would become a mirror of the Vanguard of the Dark Night.

A betrayed hero enacting vengeance.

That was the picture Luthien wanted.

The Admiral’s wrath would consume Nereus. The people who once trusted their protector would fall into despair. And that storm of betrayal would feed directly into the god of Trust—Beltrahi.

“...I don’t even want to imagine how powerful their cult would become.”

But there was one variable Luthien had not accounted for.

[The Vanguard of the Dark Night winks at you.]

He was already connected to Gunther. And for some reason, the deity seemed to favor him—enough to offer hints that allowed him to stay one step ahead.

“The Admiral’s fall... complicates things.”

The option of heading straight to the Sea Dragon’s lair and waiting was no longer viable. He couldn’t abandon the Admiral. Gunther’s fist clenched slowly, firmly.

— We’re almost there.

The captain’s low voice cut through the sound of waves. The group’s gazes turned forward.

“So that’s the entrance to the Black Routes...”

At first glance, it was just an ordinary sea. Sharp waves, dense fog, a cold, overcast sky. A landscape common to the North.

...But the air felt different.

It prickled against the skin, like standing before an unsheathed blade.

Great danger lay ahead.

The threat of the Black Routes themselves—and Luthien’s layered traps on top of it. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Gunther silently turned back. Three ships followed in view. Parco’s rented vessel. Tarsha’s “Moonless Moon.” And a warship rebuilt from the sturdiest captured hull—their flotilla had become a nightmare for coastal pirates in just a week.

“Though the elites of Black Wind and their leader, Armark, have vanished...”

Most likely already inside the Black Routes, working with Luthien. Just like the Blue Blade. Those who betrayed the Admiral would surely be gathered there.

Gunther had already thought everything through on the way here.

He knew exactly how he would act.

How to tear apart Luthien’s tightly woven net over Nereus while minimizing losses.

— From this point on, — his voice came out low, — we split into three groups. I’ll now name those who will go with me.

With each name he called, the air grew colder.

Faces stiffened. Eyes darted. Someone swallowed hard.

— ...What?

— You’re serious?

The composition of the groups was so strange it defied comprehension.

.

.

.

Ding!

[Calculation of rewards for clearing Act 2, Chapter 1 complete!]

[Expected deaths: 38. Actual deaths: 4.]

[Clear rank: SS]

[Rewards granted for clearing Act 2, Chapter 1:]

— Karma: 500

— High-Grade Offering Chest (New!)