The night before.

  A cluster of skerries lined the outer reaches of the Archipelago. On its uneven edges sat two figures. One was an ethereal figure with stunning purple eyes, her white hair flowing like a stream down her back. The other figure was a rather good looking man with a scar along his nape. His hair was slicked back, and his eyes were unassuming.

  They both sat in simple silence for a while, watching the water break against the edge of the rock formation.

  “It's about to begin.” Amur spoke first. In his right hand was a gleaming blade, which he brandished aimlessly.

  The Witch of White, Esmerelda, hugged her knees to her chest. There was a melancholic smile on her face as she asked, “Do you ever have second thoughts about what we're doing?”

  “Huh?” Amur glanced down at her. “Is that a trick question?”

  Esmerelda's eyes flickered with a wicked glint. “Perhaps.”

  Then, she rose to her feet and retrieved an item bound in sheepskin. She carefully unfurled the parchment, revealing a dark red gem that resembled congealed blood.

  Amur stared at the strange item with interest. He asked, “Where did you get something so despicable?”

  Esmerelda's smile bloomed. She caressed the smooth surface of the gem and explained, “From the House of Harlan. Father mentioned the Cathedral of Repose had entrusted something important to the merchant family, and he tasked me with finding out what it was. And when I did, hehe, I just had to take it off their hands.”

  “What exactly does it do?” Amur pressed.

  The stunningly beautiful lady leaned forward and casually dropped the object into the ebbing sea. As it sank, she answered, “It calls upon the abominable.”

  Staring straight into his eyes, she added, “It attracts every single terrible creature within a region's reach.”

  Amur could hardly believe his ears. His eyelids twitched as he asked, baffled, “W-what? Have you gone mad?! Why would you do that?”

  Esmerelda merely shrugged.

  “You see, I really, really want to kill a Paragon. Tomorrow's ritual will most likely prove insufficient. So, I'm adding this bit for a better chance at success.”

  “The essence of the ritual isn't to kill a Paragon, though?” Amur remained puzzled.

  The beautiful lady winked at him. “I'm aware. But wouldn't it be nice if I could kill one?”

  Amur didn't know whether to scoff or chuckle. Eventually, he threw his arms up in surrender and said, “You're a lunatic.”

  “That I am.” Esmerelda laughed.

  Amur sighed and looked into the distance. He sheathed his blade and said, “Anyway, let's return to the Northern Continent. We wouldn't want to get caught up in tomorrow's mess.”

  Esmerelda flashed him a strange look. “What do you mean? We're staying. Why would I want to miss out on all the fun?”

  Once again, Amur couldn't believe his ears.

  …

  Esau stood in front of a stall in the deeper reaches of the Lower Ring. In his hands were a number of Thorngrapes, which he fed to the blob on his shoulder. The Orbulus’ expression was that of utter delight as it devoured the succulent fruits in large gulps.

  The haggard trader behind the stall watched the magical creature with intrigue.

  “Mighty fine beast ya got there, aye,” He said with a crooked grin.

  Esau made good care not to lock eyes with the man. Instead, he nodded with a mumble.

  The trader wasn't deterred, however, as he added, “What say I take him off yer hands for a Silver Darlét?”

  Foolish fellow… Esau focused on his task as he patiently waited for Micheal to return. Maddy had urged them both to get whatever important items they needed before the Knuckleback set sail in two days.

  Standing by the brightly lit roadside, Esau stared at the island's slope, all the way to the ships docked in the distance. His eyes moved further up to the line where the sky met the sea.

  Strangely, he felt the desire to pay a visit to his home.

  “Imogen…” He muttered softly. He wondered how his sister was doing, how father and mother were handling the kingdom's affairs, and most importantly, what Heather was up to.

  I really want to see her. Still, this was my choice. This path is one I have to see to the very end… He exhaled and turned his head the other way. The stall owner was still ogling his Orbulus in a manner that reeked of impure intentions.

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  Esau’s expression contorted with disdain, and he was about to reprimand the fellow, when Micheal emerged from a corner.

  “Sorry I took so long,” The brown haired boy let out heavy pants. He glanced briefly at the stall owner, then said, “I couldn't find it anywhere. We might have to head to the Middle Ring.”

  He grumbled and added, “But it's probably going to be way more costly.”

  “That's fine. We have enough Silvers.” Esau whipped around instantly, putting distance between himself and the creepy man.

  “Consider my offer, lad.” The stall owner yelled from behind.

  Micheal watched the interaction with a puzzled look. He caught up with Esau and asked, “What was that about?”

  Esau merely shrugged, tucking the Orbulus into his cloak. He continued along the cobbled street lined with stacked metal shops. The path to the Middle Ring was a treacherous climb, but thankfully, the stairs came with railings that could be used for support.

  Esau was growing tired. Micheal, on the other hand, seemed full of energy. He jumped back and forth, admiring the view of the sea from this high up the island.

  Finally, they reached the Middle Ring. The streets ahead were even more beautiful, with flowers blooming from cracks, and stone buildings giving off a classical feel. Esau wiped the sweat from his forehead and took a shaky step forward. At that moment, he stopped. Wearing a frown, he turned to look Micheal who was still behind and asked, “Do you hear that?”

  “Hear what?”

  No sooner had Micheal uttered the words, did a violent gust of wind rock their bodies. Both kids swayed, with Esau falling to a knee, and Micheal holding a railing for stability.

  A fine crack separated the street in an instant.

  Then came a phenomenon so utterly baffling that the kids couldn't help but open their mouths wide.

  The view before them was descending, rapidly. Not just the houses or the giant monoliths. Rather, the entire Middle Ring was plummeting with eerie silence.

  Esau watched the ground gain distance, a crack separating where he stood from this strange occurrence. He stood at the edge of a cleanly cut street, then gazed below, to see a blackness that spanned a width his mind couldn't fathom.

  Down below, at what would've been the core of the island, was absence.

  Pure, heartbreaking absence.

  “W-what?” Esau wasn't the type to feel fear easily. However, when he gazed into the eye of nothingness, his limbs froze.

  The place he knelt on cracked and chipped off, about to fall into this sea of blackness.

  “Esau!” Micheal yelled from behind, reaching out to the boy at once.

  Fortunately, his hand managed to grab Esau’s cloak, and he immediately pulled with all this strength. Both boys tumbled backwards and fell down a number of stairs.

  The edge of the city slowly began to crumble, sending cracks and tremors all through the Lower Ring, as well as screams of panic.

  …

  Above what was once the Upper Ring, Odin hovered in the air and gazed into the chilling emptiness. A gap so wide and profound like the deepest pits of the Abyss stared back at him, as though enticing him to take a closer look.

  From this height, it looked as though a creature of the void had taken a bite out of the island, leaving just the base and surrounding edges as temporary safe zones.

  Odin blinked once. Every single noise faded behind him as he sank into his thoughts.

  It happened so suddenly. Tens of thousands died without so much as a single gasp. Could this have been avoided had I not left that previous time? This seems to be an incredibly thought out plan, so it's unlikely.

  What's left of Valkara? Absolutely nothing. The Lower Ring is starting to collapse due to lack of proper support. Did I just fail this city? Thankfully, it's not the type of gap that forcibly consumes everything. Otherwise, only Saturn and I would've survived.

  Was this island picked because of the Six Of Swords? Or was it to be as far away from Heather as possible? Maybe it's both.

  He laughed at that point.

  “Alright, I'll admit it. I lost. Witch of White, huh… I'll commit your name to memory.”

  “Ah, mister!” At that moment, a shaky voice pulled him out of his thoughts.

  Odin glanced at the girl he was holding on to with his left hand. She was the druid from his initial visit to the Dark Tower. This was the only person he had managed to save as the tower sank into abysmal depths.

  The girl's expression was a mesh of horror and panic, as she begged with snot dripping down her nose, “Take me away from here! I don't want to die! I don't want to die!”

  “Hush.” Odin warned. He held her robe tighter and flew over to the port.

  It was a raging mess below. Horns wailed into the night as ships tried to depart from Valkara in haste. What seemed to be a mountain of people rushed over from the Lower Ring, flooding the port with pleading screams. Men fought each other for the right to board ships; women tossed their children aside in a bid to save their own skin; the Graced and Blessed used various uncanny means to sneak past the mob.

  Odin landed on the lower deck of the Knuckleback. He released his hold on Maria and watched her scurry off to a corner, yelling something about oblivion. He scowled, feeling sick at the unruly sight of human nature.

  “It's chaos.” Odirov walked up to him with a grim expression.

  Odin looked around. He could see sailors of the Knuckleback going back and forth on the piers, trying to maintain a semblance of order. Captain Bjorn stood with them, as did Iago.

  At that moment, Odin’s eyes suddenly narrowed. He turned to Odirov and asked with a hiss, “Where's Esau?!”

  Maddy hurried over with a troubled look.

  “He an’ Micheal went’a get supplies in the city. They haven’t returned since—”

  Odin didn't wait around for the rest. His figure burst into sparks of lightning as he shot straight for the Lower Ring.

  “Ye think they’re safe, then?” Maddy shared her worries with the second mate. For the first time in a while, this boisterous lady was genuinely filled with dread. She could already imagine their gruesome fate if the King's only son died under their care.

  Odirov shook his head lightly. “I can't be sure. Hopefully, they're both alive.” His demeanor soon shifted into a more urgent one. “For now, we have to find a way to get these people away from the island.”

  “There be thousands an’ thousands o’ folks, and less’n fifty ships.”

  “We can get ships from the other islands in the Archipelago.”

  “An’ how long d’ ye think it’d take fer ’em to make the trip here? This whole island’d be gone by then!” Maddy cried out.

  “Well, we have to do something!” Odirov was at his wits’ end too. It was the first time either of them was witnessing a calamity on this scale, which was mostly due to the current peaceful state of the realm.

  Odirov pinched his forehead and looked around the deck. The Knuckleback seemed to groan with urgency, expressing her displeasure at their idle standing.

  “We're trying our best here,” Second-mate Odirov clicked his tongue and approached a number of carefully arranged barrels. Hidden behind them was a girl; the druid First-mate Odin had dropped off.

  Odirov stood before her. Before he could speak, however, the girl stretched out her arms and yelled in the Church's dialect, “Nay! Nay! I am a Priestess of Salem. I demand that I be esteemed above all others! I shall not depart this vessel!”

  “What?” Odirov was taken aback. “I do not harbor any intentions of kicking you off my ship, but seeing how self-regarding you are, that seems like the better choice.”

  Maria bawled instantly. “Forgive me! Forgive me! I overheard your conversation, and was afraid of getting left behind. I don't want to die, please!”

  Who the hell is this brat? Did she initially use the Church's tongue in the hopes of garnering favor? Odirov did not have a favorable impression of the girl before him.

  At that moment, a loud thunderclap tore through the air, immediately succeeded by Odin’s return. The Knuckleback swayed violently under the sheer force of his descent.

  On his shoulders were Esau and Micheal.

  “Are they alive?” Odirov shifted his focus and asked with anticipation.

  Odin nodded as he carefully placed the boys on the floor. “They're out cold, but their injuries aren't severe. I found them at the base of the stairs leading to the Middle Ring. The kid's Orbulus must've cushioned their fall.”

  “Thank the gods!” Maddy exhaled with relief. Her knees had gone weak, almost causing her to stagger.

  Odirov stood next to the first mate and asked, his voice laced with concern, “Where do we go from here?”

  “Where do we go…” Stormbringer Odin repeated softly. He turned and faced the vast expanse of the sea, his gaze flickering with unseen intent. After a few heartbeats, he shut his eyes and sucked in a long breath.

  Then, he exhaled.

  And when he did, the sea moved to his command.

  It began as a slow, rhythmic sway. Until, very carefully, the ebbing blue surface began to separate.

  Odin’s coat fluttered with grace as his feet slowly left the deck. He ascended to a height where he was perfectly visible to the thousands struggling to flee the island.

  His voice traveled far and wide. “I am Odin; Paragon of Storms. I am Odin; King of the Five Seas. I am Odin; your wayfinder and infallible guardian.”

  Heads raised to witness his might. Hearts trembled before his declaration.

  “A calamity has befallen us, woven to break our spirits and consume our hearts. But the enemy has made an unforgiving mistake. They left me alive.”

  The sea continued to part.

  “So I say unto you, my unshakable sailors, march with me, as we carve our way to exodus!”

  The sea was torn clean in half, forcing a path to another distant island of the Archipelago. In that miraculous moment, two gargantuan seawater walls loomed over the bewildered people of Valkara.

  The Stormbringer had split the sea.