Surviving without God

—Hey, you! Stop right there!

Torchlight flickered wildly. The Blue Blade privateers approached Gunther’s group with long strides. There were about fifteen of them. Tarsha, watching them closely, whispered low into Gunther’s ear:

—That’s the second squad. Direct subordinates of Isolda, the former lover of the Great Admiral. Their skill is recognized throughout the entire Blue Blade.

At that moment, one of the privateers at the front suddenly stopped. He pinched his nose and twisted his face in exaggerated disgust.

—Filthy bastards, water everywhere and you still can’t wash yourselves?

...Even accounting for Zahara’s magic making them stink, the distance was too great for the smell to carry.

“They’re picking a fight.”

Despite their current cooperation due to complicated circumstances, the old hostility between them hadn’t gone anywhere. Yuria, instantly grasping the nature of the relationship between the Blue Blade and the Black Wind, stepped forward.

—Ha, these sons of bitches just can’t sit still, always itching for trouble. We’re drowning in work here, why the hell are you stopping us? Lost your minds? Can’t you see we’re busting our asses looking for your Great Admiral — the one you yourselves threw away?

The response came immediately.

—Orders from above, so we stop whoever we want, you stinking freaks. There’s info enemies might’ve slipped in... Ha, why am I even wasting my breath on brainless trash? Get lost.

For a moment, silence fell, broken only by the sound of waves.

—...Fucking bastards.

Yuria rolled her shoulder. Her jaw tightened, her eyes flashed feverishly as if she was ready to tear their throats out, but she forcibly suppressed her anger.

—We’ll meet in open waters, scum... I’ll personally punch a hole through your ship.

—Yeah, good luck~.

The privateers completely bought Yuria’s act. The lights of their torches shrank into tiny dots. Once they disappeared from view entirely, Yuria glanced at Gunther and smirked.

—Heh-heh, how was that, Gunther?

...How was it?

Perfect. Thanks to her, they had been able to thoroughly inspect this zone — the most suspicious area around Point No.2.

[Skill “Eyes of the Tyrant” is active (Lv. 2)]

[Skill “Serpent’s Nest” is active (Lv. 3)]

Vzzzh—

Gunther’s vision blurred, turning cold and detached. Waves, sand, rocks, coastal caves — the landscape peeled back layer by layer, forming a schematic diagram in his mind.

Each time a space or crevice large enough to hide a person was detected, Gunther released Shadow Serpents. These were constructs that inherited Alphonse of Red Street’s search abilities. They slid along the ground, seeped inside, and meticulously “licked” every crack in the rocks.

Ssssss—

While Gunther focused, his companions either drove off patrolling enemies or—

—Black Wind again this time?

—Yeah... not so easy to fool those guys.

—Leave these to me.

They continued short, quiet skirmishes. Levain stood out in particular. His work was impressive: from silent kills with a magically suppressed firearm to setting all kinds of traps. The bodies of Black Wind fighters were neatly piled in a secluded corner of the shore.

And finally—

—...Found it.

The moment Gunther’s low voice spread across the coast, all eyes turned to him. In the eyes of the Fourth and Fifth Platoon members, as well as Mikhela, there wasn’t a trace of doubt. They believed Gunther would succeed.

—Whoa, faster than I expected.

—So? Let’s go save the Great Admiral?

Zahara, on the other hand, looked as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Understandably so — the enemy had been combing this sector with massive forces for days. And he found a trace in less than a couple of hours?

“Just don’t start saying you love Gunther later.”

Cheonmae’s voice flickered through Zahara’s mind like a hallucination. But Gunther gave no explanation. He simply nodded.

—Follow me.

—...So where is it? Where is the Great Admiral hiding?

That question was on everyone’s mind. Where had the betrayed and abandoned Great Admiral gone? Where could she possibly be hiding along this coastline that wasn’t endless, considering the enemy hadn’t found her? The answer was—

—In the sea?

Gunther stepped confidently onto the seabed exposed by the receding tide. Zahara’s face stiffened.

“Has he lost his mind? Where is there to go here?”

Beyond the strip of white sand, only scattered sharp reefs were visible. Further ahead lay dangerous waters leading to the Black Paths. After a few more steps, Zahara asked skeptically:

—Are you saying the Great Admiral fell into despair and decided to drown herself?

Tarsha, walking behind, immediately objected:

—No matter how bitter the betrayal, she’s not the type to take her own life.

—Then what?

Gunther stopped and looked out at the sea.

—She knew there was a path here.

According to the story, the Great Admiral was the only person capable of awakening the Sea Dragon. The reason was simple: a special blood flowed in her veins — something she herself didn’t know. What appeared to others as a black, dangerous abyss was, for her, a road.

Clap—

Gunther pointed to a massive reef, reachable only by going a few steps deeper into the water.

At high tide, it was completely submerged. But even at low tide, the entrance remained hidden beneath the waves. The only way in was to dive between the rocks through turbulent currents — a natural cavern with an air pocket inside. Without knowing the true nature of the Great Admiral, and without the Shadow Serpents, it would have been impossible to even imagine such a refuge.

Ding!

[Vanguard of the Dark Night laughs loudly, confirming the guess]

[He adds that this is a secret passage leading to the underground of his temple]

...The Vanguard of the Dark Night, silent until now, spoke again. Was the Great Admiral already in his grasp? What was his objective?

Gunther’s brows drew together slightly. There was only one answer: they wouldn’t know until they went down.

Splash—

Gunther stepped into the sea without hesitation. Waves struck his thighs, then rose to his waist. The moment the icy water covered his face, sharp pain came first, then complete numbness. Even with his eyes open, there was only absolute darkness.

“...It’s fine.”

Gunther didn’t panic and took a deep breath. The others would follow soon.

Splash!

His body, already being pulled by the current, was fixed in place by Rietta’s telekinesis. A quiet incantation followed.

[...Light!]

Tarsha used illumination magic, and the underwater darkness was instantly dispelled.

A fissure beneath the reef revealed itself. The surrounding seawater churned violently, yet this specific point remained calm. Due to the concave structure of the rock, the current brushed past the entrance instead of flooding it — a strange trick of terrain.

“....”

Gunther gestured for the others to follow. Inside the narrow passage, there was a surface where they could walk. After a few steps, they were able to breathe freely. Soft murmurs of astonishment spread.

—Seriously... how is this even possible?

—...Looks like it leads toward the coastal cliffs.

—By the gods... the Great Admiral was right under their noses this whole time.

—Feels like some kind of badger’s burrow...

Zahara muttered last:

—The god of betrayal... and Beltrakha...

Her fingers traced a strange pattern carved into the tunnel wall.

—Whatever awaits us ahead... it’ll be beyond imagination. This place might be worse than hell.

But what choice did they have? They had to move forward.

Somewhere beyond this tunnel was the Great Admiral. Pull her out, board the Crimson Pearl, and head for the Sea Dragon’s lair — and Act 2, Chapter 2 would be cleared. That would prevent the catastrophe threatening Nereus.

—Let’s move.

—Yeah, wait. Light!

Tarsha’s illumination magic shot forward, clearing the view. However—

Fwooo—

The darkness swallowed it. Like the maw of a living beast opening before them. The light vanished in less than a second.

Absolute blackness.

Seeing that ominous sight, the companions who were about to advance froze.

—...What is that?

And something moved inside.

A shadow where no light existed. It sounded absurd, yet no other description came to mind. Something was definitely breathing in there.

A vague silhouette. Even before it fully formed, the air inside the cave grew unbearably heavy. A deity of Higher rank. Though it had not descended in full, even breathing became difficult.

After several suffocating seconds, a hoarse voice echoed through the cave.

[You have come, my loyal contractor Gunther. As promised, you have brought your companions to the field of trial].

...Promised? A field of trial?

At once, puzzled looks from the companions turned toward Gunther, then back ahead.

[Here, some will preserve their faith, and some will choose betrayal].

The hazy figure slowly tilted its head. An unseen gaze swept across each of them.

[Their choice will become my offering].

Hearing this, Gunther let out a short laugh. The Vanguard of the Dark Night’s intentions were painfully obvious.

“Why?”

Why try to drive a wedge between him and his companions? Gunther stared into the darkness.

Naturally, none of them looked at him with suspicion. Their bonds weren’t so fragile as to waver from such cheap words.

[Ha, ha, ha]

The Vanguard of the Dark Night laughed loudly, genuinely amused. The cave walls trembled, dust falling from above.

[I will reward you for visiting my temple. Listen carefully].

And he began, slowly, almost chanting, to pour out the information Gunther had been seeking.

[The ritual prepared by Luthien is meant to defile the Sea Dragon. The divine artifact treasure sought by the Blue Blade and the Black Wind is nothing more than an illusion].

[The only one who can awaken the Sea Dragon is the Great Admiral].

Soft gasps escaped the companions. They were clearly shaken by the sudden flood of “free information,” yet no one interrupted.

[That is why they entrusted her downfall to me. Though... in truth, I made sure they would find me].

The mist shifted slowly.

[Stories of betrayal are all so alike].

Gunther was beginning to understand what the Vanguard wanted.

[As you suspected, the Great Admiral is already in my hands].

Rumble—!

The darkness rippled like water struck by a stone. Pale rings spread across the blackness, and at the center, a vision slowly surfaced.

[She is now under my protection and influence].

A man’s figure appeared within the darkness. Pale face. Deep sunken eyes. Layers of exhaustion and pain clung to him, as if he hadn’t slept for dozens of nights. His lips moved.

He was whispering something, but no sound reached them. Only despair lingered in the air, taking shape.

[Yet I did not hand her over to Luthien. Despite the mountains of offerings they promised, I hid the Great Admiral].

The darkness swayed lazily.

[Why?]

The Vanguard of the Dark Night chuckled again.

[At this very moment — for you].

Only then did Gunther, who had remained silent, speak.

—It seems you want to /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ test me and my companions.

The silhouette tilted slightly.

[Gunther Sirhe, you are a very unusual person. I felt it since the days of Audrey House].

At those words, Rietta and Yuria flinched at the same time. Questions must have arisen — what connection could exist between Gunther and Audrey House? That, too, was part of the Vanguard’s calculation.

[Though... are you even human? A being who holds the authority of ◈ and can cross the boundaries of time].

Now the others’ gazes naturally settled on Gunther.

[So accept my trial. And I will grant you whatever you desire].

Gunther replied shortly:

—And if I refuse? I can just turn around and leave.

A moment of silence. Then the voice softened.

[Then I will drive the Great Admiral mad].

It sounded like a prophecy.

[A mad Sea Dragon and a mad Great Admiral will erase the sea of Nereus from existence. And Beltrakha will be the first of the seven brothers to set foot upon this land].

A trace of a smile lingered in the whisper. As if that outcome would amuse him just as much.

In that instant, everything became perfectly clear again.

The essence of this being. It spoke of trials, choices, deals — yet in the end, it was nothing more than an evil god reveling in destruction.

Gunther let out a quiet breath and said—

.

.

.

—Fine, you bastard. Deal.

In any case, if everything went completely to hell, he still held a trump card.

Gunther glanced at one of his trembling companions and accepted the trial of the Vanguard of the Dark Night.