The Boundless Sea was restless, yet too quiet. The silence weighed on the ship like an omen, broken only by the groan of timbers and the occasional slap of waves against the hull. Crewmen whispered as they patched ropes and checked lanterns, their voices clipped, tense.
Andy's boots creaked across the dim corridor below deck. Nia walked beside him, her staff dimly glowing in her hand. The bond rings pulsed faintly, a heartbeat of warmth between them.
[System Notice]
Bond Progression: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 81%
Stability Window: 8h
"Feels wrong," Andy muttered. His hand brushed the hilt of Tide-Singer, its cold pulse alive even here.
"It's too still," Nia agreed. Her eyes narrowed as they passed a closed cabin door. A faint glow seeped through the cracks, not silver, not firelight—something golden, soft yet commanding.
Andy paused. He leaned closer. For an instant, he glimpsed a strand of hair glimmering like sunlight through the narrow opening. But the door shut with a heavy thud as though struck from inside.
The Soulbound ring on his finger pulsed in alarm.
[System Notice]
Anomaly Detected – Light Resonance (Dormant).
Andy stepped back slowly. Nia placed a hand on his shoulder. "We'll face it when it chooses to reveal itself."
Before he could answer, the entire ship shuddered. A groan rippled through the hull, deep and hungry. Sailors screamed above deck. Andy and Nia raced up the stairs.
The night sky stretched vast and starless. The sea bulged unnaturally, circles widening around the ship. The crew staggered to the rails, pale faces lit by lantern glow.
The water erupted.
A colossal shape rose from the deep, larger than the mast itself, corruption dripping from its hide like tar. Its lantern-like eyes burned pale green, fixed on the ship.
"Positions!" the captain roared. "Mages—front! Blades—hold the line!"
Andy crossed his blades. Ember Edge flared red-hot, Tide-Singer glowed icy blue. Steam spiraled around him as he inhaled.
"Activate: Dragon Warrior Form—Tier I.5 Enhanced!"
[System Notice]
Dragon Warrior Form – I.5 Enhanced: Activated
Dragon Core Integration: 67% → Stable
Strength +20% | Speed +23% | Endurance +18%
Power surged through his limbs. His cape snapped with the force. Nia raised her staff high, glyphs spiraling outward.
"Lightfire Blessing!"
[Support Skill Activated]
Barrier Strength +30% | Mana Regen Boost: +15%
A dome of radiant fire and light shielded the crew, anchoring them as the beast lunged. Andy dashed forward, his swords crossing in a sweeping X.
"Twin Surge!"
[Skill Activated]
Elemental Flow – Twin Surge
Water Arc + Fire Arc → Steam Lance Formed.
The Steam Lance burst outward, crashing into the beast's jaw. It reeled back, howling, spray raining across the deck. Sailors cheered but their voices broke as the monster slammed its massive tail into the side of the ship, splintering the rail.
Andy pivoted, Ember Edge blazing. "Dragon Fang Strike!"
[Skill Activated]
Dragon Fang Strike
Impact Force +32% (Fire Attribute).
The crimson arc seared through corrupted flesh, boiling it into vapor. The beast thrashed in fury, slamming its bulk against the vessel.
The ship tilted violently. Crewmen clung to ropes. A lantern smashed, casting sparks across the deck.
Then, from below deck, a door burst open. Golden light flooded the stairwell.
Aurelia emerged.
She walked with calm poise, her hood still drawn, but the radiance of her presence forced sailors to step back. She moved across the deck as if chaos itself bowed away from her. When she reached the mast, she finally drew her hood back.
Golden hair cascaded like firelight, her eyes molten amber. In her hands gleamed twin daggers, curved like crescents, glowing faint with holy light.
The crew gasped. Andy froze mid-strike. Nia stiffened, her staff trembling faintly in her grip.
The System pulsed.
[System Notice]
Entity Identified: Aurelia
Class: Golden Veil Hunter (Light-Aligned Variant)
Status: Non-Hostile
The beast roared, lunging again. Andy braced, but Aurelia leapt first. Her movements blurred, leaving golden afterimages in the dark. Her daggers pierced corruption like sunlight breaking clouds.
Andy followed, crossing his blades. "Steam Burst!"
Nia layered glyphs into the air. "Resonant Amplification!"
Light, fire, water, and wind of Aurelia's strikes collided into a single storm that tore into the beast's chest.
[System Notice]
Temporary Resonance Detected: Andy × Nia × Aurelia
Bond Link: Unstable
Output Efficiency: +25%
The beast shrieked, body fracturing into collapsing tides. One final roar shook the mast before it dissolved into a whirlpool of steam and foam, vanishing into the abyss.
Silence fell. Crew slumped in shock. The captain's jaw clenched as she stared at the golden-haired woman standing at the center of the deck.
Andy lowered his blades, eyes fixed on Aurelia. Nia's lips pressed tight, protective.
Aurelia slid her daggers away. "My name is Aurelia. Golden Veil Hunter." Her voice was calm, ringing clear across the deck. She tilted her head, a faint smile forming. "If you want to survive this sea… you'll need me."
[System Notice]
Party Expansion Option: Pending
Bond Progression: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – 82%
Andy didn't answer. The rings pulsed faintly. Nia's hand found his arm, her eyes never leaving Aurelia's.
The Boundless Sea whispered again, and the night grew heavier.
---