The docks of the rescue vessel creaked beneath their feet as the crew made preparations to depart. The salty wind of the open sea brushed against Adlet's face—fresh, cold, and full of possibility. They were finally leaving.
Behind them, the Forbidden Island stood silent and imposing. A graveyard of struggles… and a cradle of their growth.
As they boarded, Adlet cast one last look toward the interior of the island. His chest tightened.
So much had changed here.
He turned to Lucien, the question burning inside him since the moment they first washed up on the shore.
"Lucien… that creature that destroyed the entire fleet when we arrived. What was that thing?"
Lucien's gaze shifted to the waters—calm now, but holding unspeakable terror beneath the surface.
"The Kraken," he said, his voice dropping even further. "A legendary Apex. Rank 6. For decades, there hasn't been a single confirmed sighting. Many assumed it was only a myth — or that it had finally died." He paused, eyes darkening. "But it seems they were wrong."
Adlet froze, breath catching.
"Rank 6…?!"
"Yes," Lucien continued, eyes narrowing. "It is likely the strongest Apex ever recorded. Not only in this region—but in the entire kingdom."
A chill crawled down Adlet's spine.
The King of the Rokh Mountain had already felt like an insurmountable force—an entity beyond comprehension. The gap between a rank 4 and rank 5 was a chasm. But a rank 6…
That was something else entirely.
"I've heard stories about the Kraken," Polo added, swallowing hard. "Tales told to children whenever they misbehave… I always assumed it was just that—a story."
Linoa, who had been silent until then, stared blankly out to sea. For her, the topic stirred buried wounds.
"Why… did it have to happen to us?" she whispered.
Her voice trembled with the weight of all those who had perished.
Lucien placed a steady hand on her shoulder.
"Sometimes," he said softly, "terrible things happen with no reason at all. What we can do—as Protectors—is grow strong enough to ensure we can stop such tragedies in the future."
Those words struck Adlet like a blade sharpened by truth.
One day…
he would be strong enough.
Strong enough to protect everyone.
Even from a rank 6.
He clenched his fists, resolve burning like a brand.
Their voyage lasted nearly a full month.
No Apex attacks.
No storms.
No chaos.
Almost as if the world itself had agreed they'd earned a moment of rest.
Yet rest didn't mean stagnation.
Whenever possible, Adlet and Polo trained. With Linoa recovering steadily under Lucien's watch, they had the time to push their limits. But Adlet was restricted—only the shadowy strength of his Beetle Aura was safe to use openly.
Fortunately… that fit perfectly with his next goal.
A manifestation of the power of his Dark Beetle. A new capacity built from Aura.
A horn.
A weapon of crushing might and unstoppable momentum… and a natural extension of the beetle's will.
Longer-range force.
Improved leverage.
A reinforced guard against incoming blows.
A versatile tool for both offense and defense.
If he could master it.
This wasn't just training.
It was a necessity.
A weapon that would define his future—both in battle, and in the public eye. Especially with the next promotion tournament approaching…
Adlet's thoughts drifted.
"Hey, Polo," he said one afternoon as they both rested at the bow of the ship. "What about you? You've already achieved one of your dreams—setting foot on the Forbidden Island. What's next?"
Polo smiled, idly tapping his fingers against his forearm — a habit he fell into whenever he was thinking.
"That was only step one. My real goal is to build the largest trading company in the kingdom. To reach that… I need to hit Gold rank first."
Adlet nodded. "And you have a plan for that?"
"Of course!" Polo declared, raising a fist proudly. "Ideas aren't what I lack—it's the strength and opportunities to use them that worry me."
He flicked a curious glance toward Adlet. "What about you?"
Adlet didn't hesitate.
"I'll keep training. Becoming a Protector strong enough to follow my dreams—that's all I've ever wanted. And the next promotion tournament is the perfect milestone."
"Oh?" Polo grinned knowingly. "So you'll be participating too. Figures. You're not the type to waste time."
Adlet raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean, 'too'?"
Polo chuckled. "I need a higher rank anyway. And even though fighting other Protectors isn't really my passion… being a Master Protector is necessary for the business I want."
Adlet smirked, determination glimmering.
"Don't worry. If we encourage each other, no one will stand a chance."
"That's true!" Polo exclaimed, eager fire lighting his eyes. "By the way—do you know how long until the next tournament?"
A beat of silence.
"…I may have lost track of time," Adlet confessed.
Polo snorted. "About four months."
Adlet released a breath. "Four months… That's more than enough."
A moment later—
"Say," Polo added, "since our ship will drop off cargo in the capital, want to come with me?"
Adlet blinked. "By ship? Aren't ships only for the sea?"
Polo stared at him.
Then burst out laughing.
"Well, yes, obviously! But we'll be using the Silk River to reach the capital—it's far more efficient than traveling by road!"
Adlet scratched the back of his head, cheeks tinged red.
"The… Silk River? What's that?"
Polo nearly doubled over laughing.
"You really don't know anything about the world, do you?" Polo teased, still amused.
"It's a natural waterway," he explained, wiping away tears of laughter that clung to the corners of his eyes. "It runs all the way from the Neraid Sea to the capital — a real commercial artery of the kingdom."
Adlet's embarrassment slowly faded into wonder. He had seen rivers before, of course — narrow streams winding through forests near his village, spanning only a few kilometers at most. But a river large enough for ships to travel on? A river that could carry you across half the kingdom?
To him, that was just astonishing.
"I… can't wait to see it."
Polo grinned. "You'll love it."
They both stared ahead—toward a horizon full of promise.
New challenges.
Stronger enemies.
Unknown lands.
And somewhere across that vast horizon—
the next step in becoming Protectors worthy of their title.
Adlet and Polo were ready.
This was only the beginning.