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Chapter : 35
One Hour Earlier
A patrol ship of the 3rd Fleet of the Cyern Keister Naval Territory was carrying out its usual coastal surveillance mission.
Kaisa stood on the deck, staring out at the horizon.
The sea breeze scattered his silver hair, and the scent of dawn lingered in the air.
Of all days—
it had to be the Third Knight Order’s turn for patrol duty.
Lately… it feels like someone’s been watching Milena.
And yet, at a time like this—
he couldn’t be by her side.
Kaisa frowned, frustration tightening his expression.
“Commander, the sea feels strange today.”
His adjutant approached with an uneasy look.
Kaisa couldn’t understand the words, but from the direction the man pointed—
he understood enough.
A sinister pressure was rising from beneath the sea, weighing heavily on his entire body.
Kaisa signaled for caution with his hand.
His grip tightened around the hilt of his sword.
Pretending to be an ordinary knight of Cyern had its limits.
In the face of such overwhelming pressure—
instinct took over.
Rumble—
Something massive was moving beneath the ocean floor.
The waves began to rise higher.
The knights were thrown into confusion.
In what should have been the peaceful First Sea Region—
monsters had returned.
“Monsters! Prepare for battle!”
A shout rang out from the watchtower.
At the same time, alarms blared.
Even the coastline must have noticed.
The cries of the monsters tore through the air.
A massive column of water erupted—
and from within it, a horrifying shape emerged.
A Bardanos.
A monstrous creature resembling a gigantic whale—
larger than their ship.
Its body was covered in dark blue skin, and its crimson eyes burned with killing intent.
“GRAAAAAAH!”
Its roar shook the sea itself.
Some of the newer soldiers collapsed from the sheer force of it.
Kaisa moved immediately.
Even without words, he could lead through action.
Drawing his sword, he stepped to the front.
The naval soldiers quickly formed ranks behind him.
But—
it was already too late.
The Bardanos’ massive tail swung toward the ship.
BOOM!
The vessel tilted violently from the impact.
Several sailors were thrown into the sea.
“Aaah!”
“Help me!”
Screams erupted everywhere.
Kaisa gritted his teeth.
Escaping this situation alone wouldn’t be difficult.
But—
He broke formation.
Without hesitation, he charged toward the Bardanos as it tried to climb onto the ship.
Though he hadn’t fully released his aura—
his blade was already infused with it.
Cracks formed in the monster’s hardened skin.
A normal sword couldn’t even scratch those scales.
But Kaisa was different.
“Commander! Where are you going?!”
His adjutant shouted desperately.
Kaisa couldn’t understand the words—
but he knew exactly how dire the situation was.
He moved swiftly along a path the Bardanos wouldn’t notice.
There was no time to respond.
One.
Two.
Three.
Kaisa leapt into the air, flipping effortlessly.
Some knights stared in stunned silence at his graceful ascent.
As he landed lightly atop the Bardanos—
their morale surged.
Then—
the Bardanos’ tail struck the ship again.
This time, the mast snapped.
The massive structure collapsed, crushing several sailors beneath it.
“Aaah!”
“Help… help me…”
At that moment—
the Bardanos opened its mouth wide.
A blue light began gathering deep within its jaws.
A breath attack.
Kaisa’s eyes widened.
If that attack hit—
the ship would be obliterated.
Everyone would die.
There was no more room for hesitation.
Milena.
Her clear face came to mind—
the way she explained Cyern’s political situation to him.
Please… be safe.
Kaisa slowly inhaled.
Then raised his sword.
For a moment—
the world seemed to stop.
Golden aura burst forth from his body like an explosion.
An overwhelming force shook everything around him.
“Th-this is…!”
“A Swordmaster…!”
Everyone stared in disbelief.
Bathed in golden light—
he looked like a hero from legend.
Without a word—
Kaisa swung his sword.
A massive golden blade of energy tore through the sea.
BOOOOOM!
It collided head-on with the Bardanos’ breath.
A tremendous explosion erupted.
But Kaisa’s attack did not stop.
It pierced through the breath—
and struck the Bardanos directly.
“GRAAAAAH!”
For the first time—
the monster screamed in pain.
Its hardened scales split open, black blood pouring out.
But it wasn’t over.
Enraged, the Bardanos thrashed violently.
Massive waves surged in all directions.
“Uwaah!”
“Hold on!”
Sailors clung desperately to the rails.
Some were swept into the sea.
Kaisa gritted his teeth.
Golden light flared across his entire body.
He kicked off the deck—
launching himself into the air.
An impossible height.
The aura condensed to its absolute limit.
Even the space around his blade seemed to distort.
Kaisa brought his sword down.
For an instant—
it felt like the sky itself split apart.
A colossal golden strike descended like lightning.
KRAAAAAASH!
The Bardanos’ massive body split clean in two.
Black blood poured out like a waterfall.
“GRAAAAAAAAH!”
With a final, dying scream—
the creature sank into the sea.
It took a long time for its enormous body to fully disappear beneath the waves.
Silence fell.
All eyes trembled as they turned toward Kaisa.
The golden aura had already faded—
but its afterimage still lingered.
“A… Swordmaster…”
Someone whispered.
“He really is… a Swordmaster…”
“Our commander…”
The sailors looked at him with awe.
Kaisa exhaled and lowered his sword.
His body trembled slightly from the strain.
It had been a long time since he had used his aura.
Battles fought with aura couldn’t be prolonged.
He gestured for the injured to be treated.
The sailors snapped back to their senses and hurried to act.
But it wasn’t over yet.
The Bardanos that had crossed the coastline—
they had to be stopped.
The ship turned toward the harbor.
Kaisa watched everything with cold eyes.
I will cut them all down—
and return home.
To the place where Milena was waiting.
He would never—
allow that disaster to reach her.
Northern Luikaron — Poseidon Base 7
A knight in a black uniform presented his identification to the guards.
Even with his face hidden beneath a helmet—
his presence alone was overwhelming.
“Adelhardt, Third Knight Order.”
The guard checked the identification and immediately saluted.
It bore the crest of the Luikaron Imperial Family.
Although he served as a regular knight, only those of imperial blood could freely access the Poseidon base.
“You may pass.”
Adelhardt walked through the gate without hesitation.
Behind him, Roela pulled her hood lower over her head and followed closely.
The guards did not stop them.
No one dared question someone carrying imperial credentials.
As the two entered Poseidon—
cold air pierced deep into their lungs.
