Crack—!!!
The massive whirlpool, which stretched hundreds of meters and reached the storm clouds above, began to freeze in an instant. Even Azure Spring Moon couldn't help but be taken aback.
"How...!"
He had anticipated this.
Everything.
In his plan, even the possibility of Baek Yu-Seol borrowing Blue Winter Moon's power to freeze the whirlpool was foreseen.
Azure Spring Moon knew.
He knew that Baek Yu-Seol's vessel was still incomplete. If he were to choose such an 'extreme measure,' Eisel's help would be indispensable.
Azure Spring Moon knew.
He knew Admiral Halicevale would inevitably come into contact with Flame, and through that interaction, Eisel would become involved.
Azure Spring Moon knew.
He knew that Eisel, upon hearing of the whirlpool incident in the Eastern Sea, would arrive at the scene first.
Azure Spring Moon knew.
He knew Baek Yu-Seol would arrive one step behind Eisel.
Thus, the moment Eisel reached the whirlpool, he set the stage.
He manipulated the weather, creating a mysterious and dramatic environment, and forced Eisel to make a 'choice."'
Azure Spring Moon… knew.
He knew Eisel's only option would be self-sacrifice.
'It was expected.'
Even Baek Yu-Seol's dramatic appearance, descending through the storm clouds the moment Eisel approached the whirlpool, was within Azure Spring Moon's predictions.
He had a complete understanding of Baek Yu-Seol's current capabilities.
He knew Baek Yu-Seol could hold his own against a Class 7 mage and that under specific conditions, his power would grow strong enough to allow consecutive teleportation.
Everything was accounted for.
That was why Azure Spring Moon had meticulously laid traps all around, ensuring Baek Yu-Seol wouldn't escape unscathed.
The storm clouds themselves were one of the countless traps Azure Spring Moon had meticulously prepared, and arguably the most powerful one.
How could anyone escape the relentless barrage of lightning strikes from all directions?
It was impossible.
Azure Spring Moon had observed Baek Yu-Seol's battles multiple times. He had already perfectly analyzed his abilities.
He had run simulations in his mind countless times… dozens, hundreds, even thousands of scenarios.
'The probability of Baek Yu-Seol surviving is 0%.'
He had strategically positioned the lightning in a perfect formation that would never allow Baek Yu-Seol to escape alive.
Crackle—!!!
Shatter!!
And yet, the massive whirlpool that had stood as an impenetrable fortress was now breaking apart, crumbling into frozen shards.
How could this be explained?
From his position at the heart of the whirlpool, Azure Spring Moon stared at Baek Yu-Seol in disbelief.
Baek Yu-Seol was now gently descending toward the ocean while tightly embracing Eisel. The scene seemed straight out of a romantic painting. But to Azure Spring Moon, it was a sight he could never forgive.
However, he didn't have the luxury to dwell on it.
Crash! Crash! Crash!
'Damn it! The sea...!'
Azure Spring Moon's eyes turned toward a massive wave, nearly 100 meters high, surging toward the whirlpool like a harbinger of disaster.
Atop the wave was Admiral Halicevale's most formidable ship, the Rising Dragon.
It was charging straight toward the now-shattered and frozen whirlpool with terrifying momentum.
Though the whirlpool had shattered and its frozen remnants were falling into the sea, the Fleet at the center of it remained unharmed.
The fleet was designed to withstand even the most powerful Class 7 magic. It would not be damaged by a mere cascade of frozen debris.
The real concern was the aftermath. The falling icebergs could churn the sea, creating waves so powerful that the entire area might capsize.
However, Admiral Halicevale held the currents of the sea itself firmly in his grasp.
Quite literally, he ensured that no waves could form, binding every part of the surrounding ocean as though with unyielding chains.
Sailors aboard other ships navigating the Eastern Sea were left dumbfounded and terrified.
"What... What is this?!"
"The sea... the sea is reflecting like a mirror!"
"How is this even possible...?"
Every ripple on the water had vanished.
The surface of the Eastern Sea had become so flat and smooth that it mirrored the sky, blurring the line between heaven and earth.
'For a human to wield such power…'
Azure Spring Moon marveled and cold sweat ran down his back.
The negotiation had failed.
And as a member of the Twelve Divine Moons, he knew he would now have to exact a heavy price.
The price? The hostages.
Drowning them all in the depths of the sea… such was the fitting consequence for humanity's defiance.
But...
'...He's not budging at all.'
The legendary blessing of the Sea God, said to have been held by the fabled Pirate King of old. Admiral Halicevale was the sole living bearer of this blessing in the modern era.
Even without mastering magic, Halicevale could command the seas at will, conjuring waves or whirlpools to his liking.
With his mastery of class 9 magic on top of this extraordinary gift, his power rivaled that of Azure Spring Moon's authority over the seas.
Now that the threat of the whirlpool had been neutralized and Halicevale was unleashing his full might, even Azure Spring Moon found himself unable to manipulate the ocean.
Of course, if Azure Spring Moon were to mobilize all the other powers at his disposal, defeating Admiral Halicevale would not be an issue. However, in this situation where hostages were at stake, it was painfully clear who held the upper hand without needing any calculation.
'...This is my loss.'
Azure Spring Moon released his strength and closed his eyes. He then tilted his head upward to face the sky.
The powers he could manifest without a vessel were limited.
He hadn't been granted much authority by Fawn Prevernal Moon.
And now, he had squandered that precious authority recklessly, resulting in failure. It was likely that attempting something like this again in the future would be impossible.
"..."
Lowering his gaze, he looked at Baek Yu-Seol and Eisel.
The dark storm clouds were slowly dissipating, and sunlight poured down exclusively onto the two of them. Surrounding them, dozens of ships were converging, their crews eager to bring Baek Yu-Seol and Eisel aboard.
'… So, Baek Yu-Seol knew as well.'
The potential of a human as a vessel could only be fully assessed by the Twelve Divine Moons.
Eisel was an exceptionally promising vessel, possessing immense latent power that made her irresistible to the Twelve Divine Moons.
Lightning, water, and ice… she had the potential to master not one but three elements to their utmost limits.
Such a feat would make her the only human capable of commanding the skies and weather itself.
And controlling weather?
Even for the Twelve Divine Moons, such a task was impossible.
Azure Spring Moon's own abilities allowed him to summon storm clouds, but only within a strictly confined space.
— Return, Azure Spring Moon.
"Yes. As you wish."
Fawn Prevernal Moon's calm voice resonated in his ears. It was devoid of emotion.
Even now, there was no hint of anger in his tone.
Perhaps he had foreseen Azure Spring Moon's failure from the very beginning.
Leaving the collapsing maelstrom behind, Azure Spring Moon's body gradually faded into a faint blue light.
For one last moment, he cast his gaze toward Baek Yu-Seol.
'You've won again, haven't you?'
What could it be?
Among the twelve most extraordinary beings to have ever existed on Earth - the Twelve Divine Moons - even the cunning Azure Spring Moon, who prided himself on his flawless plans, had been thoroughly defeated.
Was it because Baek Yu-Seol's strategy was superior to his?
No. In fact, Baek Yu-Seol had fallen into Azure Spring Moon's trap. Yet, Baek Yu-Seol had managed to overcome the situation with something unimaginable to the Twelve Divine Moons: a miracle.
A variable beyond any calculation, a miracle that even froze lightning itself.
And the one capable of creating such miracles was none other than Baek Yu-Seol.
'I look forward to what's next.'
He admitted his defeat.
He acknowledged it cleanly and without hesitation.
Perhaps he would never be able to win against Baek Yu-Seol.
'That only makes me more curious.'
What would happen if Baek Yu-Seol were to confront Fawn Prevernal Moon head-on?
Anticipating the day that would come, Azure Spring Moon entrusted his body to the interdimensional space and vanished.
***
The great incident in the East Sea was now known to everyone around the globe.
If there was anyone who didn't know about it, they would have to be an alien.
[The Appearance of Mythical Twelve Divine Moons: Taking the Dragonwave Fleet Hostage!]
[Why Have They Shown Themselves to the World?]
[Experts Debate the Existence of the Twelve Divine Moons...]
[The Whirlpool in the Eastern Sea: Followers of the Divine Moon Church Claim it is Heavenly PUnishment…]
[Protests Erupt at Newspapers Depicting the Twelve Divine Moons as Evil...]
Not only had the Twelve Divine Moons officially revealed themselves to the world for the first time, but they had also taken the Dragonwave Fleet, which was known as the global guardians of the sea, hostage and demanded Eisel.
The power of the Twelve Divine Moons displayed during the incident was nothing short of divine, causing social unrest as fervent followers of the Divine Moon Church began to act out in excitement.
[Eisel Morph, Daughter of the Traitor Isaac: Choosing Sacrifice…]
[A Photograph Captures Her Solemn Back as She Prepared to Sacrifice Herself…]
[Public Sentiment Calls for an End to Slandering Her, Arguing That a Child Should Not Bear the Stain of a Parent's Betrayal...]
Naturally, Eisel's story dominated every newspaper headline.
In an event witnessed by countless eyes from hundreds of ships, her fearless flight toward the maelstrom left a lasting impression.
Photographs of her soaring through the skies - wings of ice spread wide as she basked in a single ray of sunlight cutting through the dark clouds and vortex - were taken from every possible angle and circulated endlessly.
In a world cloaked in stormy skies and swirling waters, the image of a stunning figure illuminated by light was nothing short of iconic and rare.
And then…
"You've really made quite the scene," Eisel remarked with a small smirk, her voice teasing as she sat propped up in a hospital bed, flipping through a newspaper.
Baek Yu-Seol sat at her bedside and gripped her hand tightly with an awkward expression.
"...That hurts."
"You need warmth."
Indeed, after being forcibly imbued with the powerful blessing of the Blue Winter Moon, Eisel was now destined to live with perpetual cold.
The chills she would feel were no mere inconvenience; they were constant and severe. Her hands and feet would always feel as if frozen, and the sensation would accompany her for the rest of her life.
To mitigate this, Baek Yu-Seol had accepted a temporary transfer of the Scarlet Summer Moon's Blessing, originally meant to be entrusted to the Divine Moons' safekeeping.
It was supposed to eventually go to Hong Bi-Yeon, but without someone capable of controlling it properly at present, Eisel's survival depended on Baek Yu-Seol taking the risk himself.
If only Hong Bi-Yeon had already fully awakened to her control over the Scarlet Summer Moon Blessing, she could periodically...
'.. .No, that would be a bit much.'
Their synergy might make it a decent treatment method, but Hong Bi-Yeon and Eisel would probably rather bite their tongues and die than resort to such measures.
Somehow sensing Baek Yu-Seol's thoughts about a kiss, Eisel glanced at their clasped hands and spoke up.
"Oh, by the way. Aren't you going to do that for me? You went so far as to kiss Princess Hong Bi-Yeon."
"T-That was... Do you want it?"
"Wow, you're really hopeless. Forget it. What's the point if the girl has to ask first?"
"... That's how it works?"
Eisel turned her head and flipped the newspaper with one hand, dismissing the conversation.
On the front page, and the next.
Every page was plastered with images of the frozen maelstrom collapsing in glorious fashion.
And at the center of it all.
The scene of her shattered wings dissolving into glittering particles of light as she and Baek Yu-Seol embraced...
It was prominently displayed in every major newspaper.
Eisel couldn't help but find it amusing. She thought of Hong Bi-Yeon, who had been both relieved to see her survive and visibly annoyed.
"Hehe."
"... Why are you laughing so creepily?"
"No reason. It's just... something made me a little happy."
"'A little happy'? Isn't surviving a really big deal?"
"Well, yeah, that's definitely a really big deal. But there's something else... just a little, you know. It's nice."
"Really?"
Baek Yu-Seol felt his intuition prickling at him, sensing that whatever she found 'a little nice' was unlikely to be good news for him.
'... It might even be really bad news.'
He had no idea what it was, but the sinking feeling in his gut told him he was in for trouble.