Slowly, the sickening sound of the leeches grew distant—their rapid, short leaps fading into the background, swallowed by the relentless crashing of waves against the edge of the boat.
Kalm closed his eyes.
He couldn't see anything anyway, so he focused on his hearing.
His heart thudded with quiet relief—they had passed a great danger.
Now, all that remained was to sail either beneath… or perhaps above the river.
He honestly had no idea how things worked in this place.
But once they crossed it, he'd need to claim the two weapons—or whatever they were.
Being cursed by a world, there was no way the things the Lost One had left behind were literal weapons… or even symbolic ones.
Perhaps they were something else entirely—something meant to protect him.
*"What could they be…?"*
He wondered as the gears in his mind began to turn… but he shut them down quickly, refusing to speculate.
Whatever they were, whatever their purpose, there was only one thing he *truly* wished:
That nothing dangerous would leap out at him again to try and eat him alive.
He'd had enough of that already.
From the vile First Weed…
To the playing bat…
To all the other monsters he and Kalystra had encountered across the depths of the cave—
All of them bloodthirsty, all of them insane…
And all of them had tried to devour him.
Unfortunately, one still remained—the ruler of this place.
The loathsome beast of Rank Six.
What would it look like?
How powerful was it?
What would its presence *feel* like?
*"Gods, I hope I never find out…"*
Who in their right mind would *want* to catch a glimpse of a Rank Six monster—one powerful enough to obliterate an entire kingdom?
Just the thought sent a chill down his spine.
Kalm refocused on the sounds surrounding the boat and the dome of shadow that served as their protective shield.
Several minutes passed… until only the sound of the river's current remained.
Then—*snap*—Kalystra clicked her fingers, and in the very next second, a powerful light descended onto Kalm's face.
He slowly opened his eyelids, a touch of fear trembling in his breath…
And the moment his eyes fell on the source of the light—
His expression froze in shock.
His fingers trembled at the sheer horror of what he saw.
The light was pouring down from the cave's ceiling—its shape jagged like the fangs of some colossal dragon.
It was a deep, blood-crimson red, as though a scarlet sun made of gore had been embedded into the stone above.
The glow spread unevenly, staining the vast space in dim, eerie illumination.
The white mist rising from the river had vanished.
The waves had grown calm, the current slow and steady.
And as far as the eye could see—
There was not a single monster.
Not a single sense of danger in the air.
Even the crimson light from above carried no tangible malice…
And yet—
Involuntarily, Kalm placed a hand on his sword's hilt.
He didn't know why… or what good it would even do him.
But somewhere deep in the corner of his chest, a dreadful sensation was rising.
A gut-wrenching warning:
He had to run.
Now.
As fast as possible.
Something—*something*—was here.
Something he was never meant to face.
His body shivered.
A cold wave ran down his spine like a ghost's whisper.
And in the midst of that fear… Kalystra's voice reached his ears—gentle, serene.
"Calm yourself, little Kalm…
I told you before…
As long as I'm here, there's nothing to worry about..."
Kalm turned his gaze toward her, a tremor of dread rippling through his chest.
"What is that thing, Kalystra…? That crimson light?"
She raised her eyes toward the ceiling.
Her expression remained calm, her gaze deep and unfathomable.
"Do you remember when I mentioned the conditions?
That… thing above decides whether the terms are accepted.
Whether you'll pass… or whether it will kill you.
What lies beyond isn't meant for everyone."
Kalm drew in a deep breath and struggled to stand.
His body was drowning in pain, bloodless and faint—barely able to summon the strength to remain upright.
"Is that crimson light… a creature of some sort?"
Kalystra gave him a brief sideways glance.
"Correct.
It is the one who will guide you to the final stage—
To complete your trial."
Kalm swallowed.
"Wait—what about the cave lord? And the other Rank Four beasts?"
A part of him desperately hoped things might be simple.
Face the light, fulfill the condition, take the two weapons, and be done with it.
But nothing was ever that easy.
To Kalm, *simplicity* was the most deceptive lie in existence—
It always led to calamity.
After a short silence, Kalystra finally answered.
"I've already taken care of them…
Long ago."
Kalm raised a brow in surprise.
"Wait… since when?"
She didn't answer immediately.
"When the city fell… and everyone died,
I sent my shadow to deal with them."
With a hint of unease, Kalm glanced down at the shadow—
Who tilted its chin up in arrogant pride.
*Seriously? Mocking me earlier and now flaunting his superiority…*
As the thought crossed his mind, Kalystra's voice returned.
"Those leeches were necessary.
They forced your body into a breaking point…
To awaken the curse,
To unlock your traits,
To open the sea of your soul."
Kalm sighed and leaned on his sword for support.
"So you've been planning everything from the beginning…
Not just since we met in the black castle—
Everything was under your control from the start."
Kalystra gave him a gentle smile.
With a soft hand, she stroked his hair with maternal tenderness.
"To be calm…
Means your work is always silent.
Plans hidden until the end.
What's the point of a plan if everyone can see it coming?
Your calm embodiment will act the same way."
Kalm smiled, eyes drifting toward her.
Once again, the gentle woman by his side proved her greatness.
"Should I assume everything else was just a part of your plan too?"
"Yes.
Everything, from beginning to end.
From the moment you fused with the warrior's body,
To their talk about the weapons,
To entering the cave,
To every battle you fought…
Even the doubts and questions that grew inside your mind—
All of it… part of my little plan."
Kalm couldn't help but smile, replaying it all in his mind from beginning to end.
Kalystra softly ruffled his hair again.
"Kalm, there are only two people who were ever able to perceive the meaning within my words.**
**One of them—his words meant everything to me. They shattered every logic I held. My mind, heart, and soul couldn't challenge the truth behind what he said to me.
**The other—my logic simply didn't apply to her. Her indifference, her arrogance, her mindset, even her power—everything about her transcended reason.**
**so, I surrendered before them both."
She lowered her gaze.
"So… don't feel anything about it."
He gave her a faint smile, eyes meeting hers, and said with a teasing tone:
"Being guided by a beautiful lady doesn't sound like such a bad fate…"
Slowly, the boat began to drift with the current, gliding beneath the crimson light.
With every inch it moved forward, the feeling in Kalm's chest deepened—
Like he was approaching something he was never meant to discover.
"Well then, my little friend Kalm…
I believe this is goodbye."
Kalm turned to look at her again—
And without even realizing it, sorrow spilled across his face.
He couldn't explain it, but the idea that this wise and noble woman had to die here…
It ached.
Her fingers stroked his hair gently one last time, a sweet smile on her lips.
"Kalm…
I lied to you earlier.
I didn't fail to become a ruler because I lacked time, or strength, or the proper conditions.
Emotion is the foundation for reaching the Sixth Phase…
But after that—
To ascend even higher, to become more than human—
You must cast away your emotions.
Your humanity."
She exhaled slowly, her eyes glowing with a faint black light.
"I don't want to lose those feelings, Kalm.
Love… joy… sorrow… mercy… rage… honor…
They are what make us human.
We were shaped by them, raised with them.
That's why… neither I, nor any of the Eight, ever chose to become rulers."
She looked down at him—her eyes glowing with farewell.
"Thank you, Kalm.
For feeling sorrow for me.
Even though we didn't know each other for long…
I truly appreciate it.
So thank you.
But I'd much rather see your smile instead.
Will you grant me that one last request?"
Kalm lowered his eyes to the river.
They trembled like a small boat on a stormy lake.
*"Who in Heaven or on Earth could kill someone like her… with a smile on their face?"*
But…
For everything she'd done for him—
Kalm mustered a smile.