Surviving without God

Thwop—

Gunther’s ship cut through the waves as it advanced forward. Of the three groups that had split up, their vessel was the last to sail.

Standing on the deck, Gunther fixed his gaze on the horizon. It had already been an hour since they entered the “Black Paths,” yet the sea itself had barely changed in appearance. Even so, the sailors were on edge: the ships that had entered the dangerous zone ahead of them had completely vanished from sight.

— This is strange. They went in right before us, but there’s no sign of them anywhere.

— They say ships sink in the “Black Paths” without leaving even foam behind...

— Damn it, my grandfather always warned me—never set foot in the “Black Paths.”

— Shut up and keep your eyes open! I’ve crossed this place twice and lived both times. We’re not dead men. Get a grip!

The voices of those overcome with fear mixed with the shouts of those trying to steady them, even as they were no less afraid themselves. In truth, the “Black Paths” had a notorious reputation even within the game.

“Even the most hardened players got wiped here.”

To complete the Nereus scenario in the game, a significant amount of grinding was required—from building and upgrading a ship’s hull to assembling a crew with navigation skills. But even if you painstakingly gathered a fleet through blood and sweat, a single mistake in the mechanics °• N 𝑜 v 𝑒 l i g h t •° of the “Black Paths” would reduce everything to nothing in an instant. When even experienced players began to “drop” alongside beginners, the veterans finally compiled and spread a guide—a kind of rulebook and manual.

“It’s filled with things even hereditary sailors wouldn’t know.”

The result of countless attempts, records, and meticulous experimentation—possible only because real lives weren’t on the line. That was precisely why Gunther entered the “Black Paths” with such confidence. As one of the authors of that strategy, he slowly reconstructed it in his memory.

It went something like this:

[Instructions for those entering the “Black Paths”]

※ This document is distributed to increase the survival chances of seafarers. Once inside the “Black Paths,” ordinary navigation charts, methods, and meteorological laws cease to function. The anomalies within the waters are unpredictable, and prior sailing experience does not guarantee survival.

Statistically, the return rate of those who have not fully studied this document is extremely low.

Read it. And commit it to memory.

Rule one.

The moment you enter the “Black Paths,” everything around you will at some point turn completely black. You will not see the sea, the sky, or the waves. The distinction between day and night will vanish. This marks the beginning of the anomaly. Lamps and illumination magic will have no effect, so remain calm and wait.

The moment Gunther recalled this—

Pshhh—

A strange sound signaled that darkness had begun to swallow everything around them. Just moments ago, it had been daytime. Sunlight filtered through the clouds onto the deck, and white foam lazily lapped against the hull.

Huh—

The light vanished instantly. Absolute darkness fell—so complete that one could not see their own hand in front of their face. The sailors’ breathing grew rapid and heavy.

— I... I can’t see anything...

— ...It’s started.

— If anyone’s about to piss themselves, say it now. I’ll kick you overboard myself.

Curses and prayers echoed one after another in the darkness. Yet despite that, the ship did not stop.

Before entering, Gunther had shared everything he knew about the “Black Paths” with the crew and their allies. Thanks to that, panic did not spiral out of control. The strongest human fear is fear of the unknown. If you know what to expect, that fear is cut in half.

“Next should be...”

Gunther continued recalling the manual.

Instead, raise your head and look at the sky. In the “Black Paths,” only one constellation will shine. It will tell you exactly which zone you have entered.

Look carefully. If you misidentify the zone, you will never leave the “Black Paths” alive.

★ Examples of constellations:

1. Skull shape — “Bay of the Dead.”

2. Crossed triangular fangs — “Teeth of the Sea God.”

3. Spiral lines within a circle — “Ring of Reverse Current.” ...(omitted)...

※ Detailed tactics for each zone are provided at the end of the document.

※ If you endure the anomaly conditions for a certain period, the sea will temporarily return to normal, allowing standard navigation until the next zone.

“Too early.”

The constellation had not yet appeared. Gunther waited, his gaze fixed on a single point.

Five more minutes. In that time, their destination zone would be decided.

“With this lineup... just not the ‘Bay of the Dead.’”

The names of the most dangerous zones flashed through his mind. He was already prepared for death. Survival was the best outcome, but even if he fell, he intended to gather as much information as possible.

Strangely, his heart felt light. After confirming that this world would disappear along with his death, he no longer worried as much about those left behind. Endure as long as possible, take everything you can, and move on to the next world.

“Come to think of it... why am I the axis of this world?”

That question had long plagued him. Was it the result of the actions of Ellen Beyra, who had contracted with a god of time? Or was it something unique to Gunther himself? No matter how he thought about it, it seemed unlikely to be connected to his real body—Lee Jonghyeon.

“Once I finish the Nereus scenario, I should visit my hometown.”

The elders there had lived in the same place for decades. Perhaps they would have clues about his mother—or about himself.

His thoughts, branching in the darkness, were cut off by a sound.

Tshh—

A faint signal rang in his ear.

[Gunther? Can you hear me?]

It was Cheonmae, commanding the first ship. The lead vessel was a captured pirate ship that had undergone complete magi-engineered modification. On board were Rietta, Yuria, Cheonmae, Blanc, and Ryan. Their objective—the lair of the sea dragon, where they would take position and set an ambush.

— I hear you clearly. What’s your status? Has the constellation appeared?

Tshh—

The Operate Link emitted a strained crackle.

Normally, mana was so unstable in the “Black Paths” that communication was impossible. But for Dimona, the strongest Arcane Runner on the continent, the impossible did not exist. She had barely managed to establish a single communication channel for each ship—at the cost of completely exhausting herself.

Thanks to her, Gunther could receive real-time information about the other flagships even at a distance and issue commands. In the “Black Paths,” this was a factor that drastically increased survival chances. Just like now.

[...The constellation just appeared. Looks like crossed triangular fangs... must be the “Teeth of the Sea God.”]

Gunther answered immediately:

— Correct. That’s the “Teeth of the Sea God.” The waves will turn violent and take on acidic properties. There will be many sharp reefs near the surface. But don’t slow down—if you drop speed, the acid concentration will spike. Maintain your pace. And one more thing... fanged sea creatures will climb onto the deck.

He had already explained the rules for this zone, but repeated them anyway. Fortunately, while unpleasant, it was not the most dangerous zone. Difficulty—low.

[Acid? Reefs? Fanged monsters? What a mess... Anyway, we’ll handle it ourselves. Good luck.]

Through the interference, his comrades added a few words before the connection cut.

Tshh—

But immediately, a call came from the second ship.

[No-Moon, our constellation has appeared as well.]

The second vessel was commanded by Moon Wolf. In that group were Parco, the Barkel twins, and the royal guard. They used an official government ship.

Their mission, given the presence of Moon Wolf—the most powerful combat unit—was the most critical: patrol the waters, eliminate forces of the “Black Wind” and traitors from the “Blue Blade,” and gather intelligence on the Grand Admiral’s whereabouts and enemy strength.

“An unusual combination, but the most fitting.”

The power of the Cult of Trust grew through “betrayal.” Dangerous, but with clear limits. Royal guards and sailors bound by iron loyalty to the king were not easily influenced. And most importantly—

“They have the Holy Sword.”

A power that suppressed all status effects. He had assigned the greatest strength to the most reliable group. No matter what traps Luthien had prepared, they would be able to smash through them head-on.

Tshh—

Moon Wolf’s calm voice came through.

[The constellation looks like a shattered jug... That means “Fog of Oblivion.”]

Gunther let out a quiet breath. Medium difficulty. ...And since it was a type of mental interference, there should be no issues.

— It’s an unpleasant zone, but with Parco, you’ll be fine.

[Yes. As soon as we reach a safe zone, we’ll begin the mission. Good luck to you as well.]

Click—

The connection ended. Now only their ship remained. Gunther lifted his head toward the black sky. At the center of the darkness, something slowly began to take shape.

— ...

It seemed their luck had run out with the second group. A constellation resembling a skull clearly emerged in the sky, glowing with a crimson light. Gunther muttered darkly:

— Bay of the Dead...

Difficulty—high. The crimson light began to push back the darkness. Faces on the deck became visible, frozen as they stared upward.

The third ship. Tarsha’s pirate vessel—the “Moonless Moon.” On board were Tarsha and her crew, Zahara, Mikhela Iska, Levain, and Dimona. Their mission—contact with the Vanguard of the Dark Night.

Without hesitation, Gunther began issuing orders:

— Everyone to your positions! Anyone who thinks they can’t endure—put on earplugs and blindfolds immediately. Secure yourselves to the hull so you can’t free yourselves!

Chaos erupted on the deck. Everyone had already heard from Gunther what the “Bay of the Dead” was. At first, many had doubted.

— I know a thing or two about the “Black Paths,” but I’ve never heard of a zone like that.

— Hm, same here.

— Come on, don’t scare people like that.

Of course they hadn’t heard of it—no one had ever returned to tell the tale.

But now, with a ghostly skull shining overhead and the air turning sticky and cold, no one argued. Chains clanked, ropes creaked under tension. Sailors bound each other by the arms and waist, fastening carabiners twice over. Tarsha, slamming her fist against the railing one last time, shouted:

— Full speed ahead! Do not stop under any circumstances!

At that moment—

Boom—!

The ship lurched violently, as if it had struck something invisible. Crimson starlight flooded the deck.

And—

Ding—!

A system message finally appeared.

[Entering special zone: Bay of the Dead]

[Survive in this zone for two hours to open a path to the open sea]

Gunther clenched his teeth. Now it begins.

.

.

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Rule one.

In the “Bay of the Dead,” you will hear the voices of the dead. Do not answer them.