Surviving without God

“Inside!”

Echoing Gunther’s sharp command, the group sprinted with everything they had deeper into the underwater cave—toward the place where, according to their calculations, the Great Admiral was being held.

Step—step—

The cave was far longer than expected. The floor, covered in algae and moss, was treacherously slippery, and seawater seeped in places up to their ankles, sloshing dully with every step. The sound of water, the glow of the light stones diffused through the damp air... no one spoke, but their breathing grew heavier.

“Something’s off...” Parco muttered quietly.

They had studied Viktor’s sea chart together, so estimating their position was easy. This was the center of the archipelago, its underground section. Directly beneath the place where the Luthien Theocracy was conducting a large-scale ritual. In other words, thousands of fanatics were gathered right above their heads.

But what truly chilled the blood was the strange sound that had begun several minutes ago.

“Uuuuuuuuu—!”

As if thousands of voices had merged into a single groan. Prayer, hymn, or incantation—it was impossible to tell. The indistinct hum rolled along the cave’s walls and ceiling.

“What are those bastards from Luthien planning?”

“Beltracha’s divine power is still increasing...”

Rietta looked up anxiously at the ceiling, from which sand and gravel continuously trickled down.

An enclosed space. Trembling rock ready to collapse at any moment. A ritual of madmen directly above them.

And yet, no one slowed down.

They followed silently behind Gunther, who ran ahead. They didn’t need words. Whatever awaited them, as long as this man carved the path, they would reach the goal. Beside them was a regressor who hadn’t broken after countless deaths and kept running for humanity’s sake. Fear surged like a tide, only to dissipate like ripples in water.

“...It’s almost over—push through!”

While the group urged each other on, Gunther replayed the words of the Vanguard of the Dark Night.

[...A truly remarkable person, this Great Admiral.]

Illian Marest. Fragments of information about her surfaced in his memory. A character who had certainly existed in the original storyline. Gunther roughly understood what kind of person she was.

But now, that knowledge had lost its meaning.

Betrayed by subordinates. Betrayed by her lover.

“...Is her mind still intact?”

As someone who needed her help, that was what worried him most. The body was one thing—but if the spirit was broken, that changed everything.

“Here, maybe?”

A section of the cave wall had been carved out unnaturally. At the entrance stood a massive black door reinforced with thick iron bars. The lattice was embedded deep into the stone—neither breakable nor removable. Ceiling, walls, and floor formed a single rock mass.

Levain Bernecker froze in front of it and muttered:

“A barred door... solid mithril. That’s insane.”

“What?..”

“If I were locked in here, I’d never get out.”

“Who were they trying to contain?”

An isolation chamber prepared by the Vanguard of the Dark Night in the deepest part of his sanctuary.

Shhh—

A faint presence stirred from inside. Someone swallowed hard.

“We’re going in.”

The key hung right behind the door. Gunther moved forward cautiously, and Tarsha Everlight raised her hand.

“Light.”

Magic illuminated the depths. A silhouette hidden in darkness slowly emerged.

Shrrk—

A strange scraping sound echoed. As the light grew brighter, they finally saw the prisoner clearly.

It was a man.

Broad shoulders. Rough features weathered as if by salt spray. Short brown hair streaked with gray. His beard had grown wild and unkempt, like seaweed, and deep exhaustion shadowed his face. And yet, he still carried the dignity of someone who had once ruled the seas.

But there was one problem...

“......?”

The object in his hand.

...A spoon. And that spoon faintly glowed in the darkness—with aura.

The situation was painfully clear. The Great Admiral had been scraping at the cave wall with a spoon wrapped in energy. A rock wall several meters thick. A wall where one wrong move could flood everything and kill them all.

“He must have thought only about getting back to Nereus as fast as possible. He’s not the type who doesn’t understand what his absence would mean.”

The scene revealed his character instantly. Gunther sighed—but felt relieved.

“He’s still the same.”

Even bitter betrayal hadn’t stopped him.

“So the weakened image shown by the Vanguard of the Dark Night... was a lie.”

At that moment, the Great Admiral spoke:

“Who are you?”

His voice was strange. Someone imprisoned for so long should have welcomed any human face. But there was clear irritation in his tone.

Gunther paused for a fraction of a second, then answered:

“Great Admiral, we’re here to rescue you. We’re leaving.”

“......”

No response. He simply stared at them.

Of course—anyone would be suspicious. Strangers appearing in the depths of an underwater cave, claiming rescue.

There was no time to convince him.

Rumble—

The ceiling’s trembling grew worse. This could end in a “watery finale.”

“Should I just drag him out by force?”

At that moment, the muffled voice of the Vanguard of the Dark Night echoed:

[Take off your mask, Gunther.]

A strange suggestion.

Gunther didn’t hesitate. He removed the “Keeper of the Moonless Night” mask, revealing his face.

The platoon members whispered:

“He’s going for charm?”

“That only worked on Seraz, didn’t it?”

Ignoring them, Gunther looked at the Great Admiral.

“......?”

To everyone’s surprise, the man staggered to his feet.

“...It worked?”

Gunther didn’t react. The Great Admiral’s gaze was locked onto his face. It was a complex, strange look—longing, passion, disbelief, confusion... regret?

Gunther noticed the man’s lips tremble.

“...Ellen.”

Ellen? Ellen Beyra?

Thud—

The Great Admiral tried to step forward but winced and collapsed again. Only now did Gunther properly assess his condition. His ankle was twisted unnaturally. His body was covered in cuts and bruises. Untreated for so long, he was clearly at his limit.

“...His subordinates did this?”

Gunther silently offered his shoulder. The Great Admiral didn’t resist. He simply kept staring at Gunther’s profile.

“...Damn it.”

That was all he said.

“Let’s go. We need to get the Great Admiral to the Crimson Pearl.”

As they rushed back—

[This is my second gift, Gunther. It will clarify many questions.]

“...No third gift? You said you’d grant any wish if I passed the trial.”

[Who knows... What do you think?]

“...What do I think?”

Gunther frowned.

“He’s about to disappear.”

[Ha... you really don’t trust me.]

And understandably—the Vanguard’s presence was fading rapidly. If he disappeared, Gunther would likely lose abilities like absolute evasion and shadow leap.

That meant one thing.

Finish everything on this island before he’s gone.

“...Doesn’t let me relax until the very end.”

They retraced their path.

Soon—

Splash!

They emerged safely from the underwater cave.

“Haah!”

After the sprint and swim, they collapsed onto the white sand, gasping. The stale cave air was replaced by a ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) cool, salty sea breeze.

“But... where are the guards?”

As Gunther looked around—

Static—

“Gunther, can you hear me? Gunther!” Dimona’s voice rang out.

Gunther’s face lit up—then immediately darkened.

Her voice wasn’t just tense. It carried desperation.

“Dimona, I’m here. What happened?”

The group fell silent.

“We’ve arrived at the Fading Crown. We joined forces with privateer Viktor, but...”

Pause.

“We found an anomaly.”

“...An anomaly?”

“I’ll share drone footage.”

The screen appeared.

“What... is that?”

At the temple’s center—

“...A sphere?”

No.

Flesh.

Hundreds, thousands of limbs. Faces fused together. A writhing mass of human bodies devouring each other.

“...What the hell...”

Before it stood an old priest—and a familiar figure.

Verion Heinz.

“The absorption isn’t complete yet. The victims are still alive. It looks like the paladins and priests transformed first—”

“Wait.”

The old priest looked directly at the drone.

[...Behold Beltracha.]

A beam of black light—

Crack!

The feed cut.

Static—

“We’re moving in to support—”

BOOM!

This time, the explosion came through the transmitter itself. Screams. Waves crashing.

“Dimona?!”

“...Combat has begun. Enemies: Black Wind Armark and Isolda.”

Gunther felt the Great Admiral beside him tremble.

“We can handle them. Gunther, do what you must. We’ll join you—”

BOOM—BOOM—

The transmission cut.

Silence.

Then—

“Uuuuuuu—”

That dreadful sound rolled in from the sea.

Gunther exhaled.

“Listen carefully. I’ll explain the plan.”

.

.

.

Ding!

[Act 2, Chapter 2 — “Distorted Sea” progress has changed]

[You have successfully rescued Great Admiral Illian Marest before corruption]

[The Luthien Theocracy has altered the ritual after realizing failure]

[Divine power has been redirected into a self-destruction ritual]

[Objectives]

-Survive.

-Ensure the evacuation of the Great Admiral.

[Optional Objective]

-The rescue of ritual victims is left to your discretion.]