Three hours of travel brought NeverLight to Mainseal's coast, a land renowned for its impressive ships and bustling beaches. They stood before their transport now.

The ship was large and meticulously designed, built from Wood Fringe wood with crystals that enabled levitation by mimicking magnetic fields—the crystals generating both negative and positive charges that repelled the ground.

It had tall masts, multiple cream-colored sails, and intricate rigging. The ship's name, "NeverLight," was emblazoned on the stern in decorative gold lettering.

The flag featured a simple white design on black fabric: a symmetrical, abstract pattern resembling three crosses with sharp, extended points.

"I wanted to make it larger, but the wood was limited. It should still be enough to keep weaker Sinners off the ship."

Isaak said, and Jihriel accepted his words with a smile.

Building this ship was why Isaak had become part of NeverLight. Beyond that, Jihriel meant for him to maintain security at their estate during their absence.

Halo stood with his head tilted back, absorbing the view. The ship's levitation looked more scientific than magical, and Prince and Arlen were present as well.

Back in StoneHaven, Leto had deliberately let them live with this moment in mind; he'd eventually need them as Assassins.

Halo expected him to strut around like the king of pirates, showing off his recruited crew of Prince and Arlen. Instead, Leto remained oddly silent, which unsettled everyone.

After his conversation with Isaak, Jihriel closed in on Halo.

"Did you get Saint?"

He asked, and Halo gestured positively.

Halo wasn't sure if he could summon them from that far away, but surprisingly, he could. It took some time for Kysa and Saint to reach him, but the call worked.

However, Kysa had no intention of revealing her presence, and Saint still disliked Jihriel, so they remained hidden in the shadows.

"The first sea is the Ice Sea. They say every Sinner there is immortal. I'll tell you the story behind it once we're on board."

Halo glanced at Jihriel. Normally he'd expect some boast about conquering the whole ocean single-handedly, but for once, Jihriel's gaze showed no trace of that trademark arrogance.

"Don't overthink it. I can handle the Seven Seas… but definitely not now. There are far stronger people in Voiceless: Mystic Clown, Asher, Damon, Sleepy Hollow, and countless others who do nothing but lounge in their castles. I wanted to surpass all of them before leaving Voiceless, but I guess not all dreams come true."

Halo's brow furrowed. He'd never seen Jihriel question his own abilities before. What exactly made the seven seas so treacherous?

He ought to be terrified, yet somehow he wasn't. Delilah had to be saved. Iris was gone and he wouldn't let another good person die on his watch.

And underneath it all, he needed to reach the Ashen Ages anyway, to find Reverend Steppe and commune with his god, Death.

"What are we waiting for? Can't we get going?"

Brave demanded, his sharp teeth clenched like a predator ready to devour anyone who disobeyed.

"Okay, let's leave…"

Jihriel said and took the lead.

"Wait, who's actually steering the ship?"

Prince asked, worry evident in her tone. Beside her, Arlen yawned as though she might fall asleep any second.

Halo turned to them.

"Don't worry about it. The ship sails there by itself."

Prince met Halo's gaze as sweat formed on her brow. She had reason to panic: Iris's death was her fault, and Halo could hurl her into the water anytime he chose.

Halo liked the tension. At least that could be her punishment.

***

The water was brilliantly clear, blue stretching endlessly. Wind whispered across gentle swells. Their ship floated alone, ominously alone. Not another vessel for hundreds of miles.

Under different circumstances, this might have felt like a pleasant voyage. But the looming threat made that impossible.

"I expected you to be confident about this."

Halo asked, standing beside Jihriel at the ship's main deck while the rest of the crew wandered below. They maintained a smooth, steady speed, the ocean breeze ruffling Halo's dirty-white hair.

Jihriel smirked.

"I'm not afraid, if that's what you meant. But I find myself fearing what humans create far more than anything the gods ever have."

Halo furrowed his brow.

"Why's that?"

Jihriel shrugged.

"Gods never create what they might one day fear. They are cautious by nature. Humans, however… our curiosity often outpaces our understanding, and we end up creating things we barely comprehend."

He turned to Halo and flashed him a smile.

"The Seven Seas were created by seven OverKings who loathed the thought of anyone reaching another continent without suffering for it.

"I only know two, the Ancient Light who made the last sea and the Golden Son behind the second. Kinda funny, right? They don't even live there, but the seas still kill and send them Sin Fragments."

Halo felt a chill. So that was Ancient Light, the Nemesis assigned to Jihriel. Once Jihriel killed him, he'd possess strength sufficient to face the gods.

He gulped.

It made sense now why Jihriel seemed anxious about the seas. Ancient Light's presence unnerved him. Whether that was hatred manifesting as fear or actual terror, Halo couldn't tell.

Jihriel's expression darkened.

"Do you know how this world really works… or have you only seen the surface?"

Halo knew a fair amount from playing Damnation of the Gods, but he was always willing to learn more.

"This world is like a ladder or a tower. With every rung you climb, the Sinners grow stronger, and the world itself becomes less forgiving."

He gestured at the sun.

"The sun serves as the compass. In Voiceless, it's no bigger than a coin in the sky, but the higher you climb in this world, the closer it becomes, until you can stand only a few miles away from both the sun and the moon.

"But the closer you get, the less the sun shines. Just as there is a place in Voiceless that never knows night, there is a place in the Unknown that has never seen the sun."

He turned to Halo.

"Do you know why that is?"

Halo shrugged his shoulders.

"I've always thought it poetic. The world darkens the deeper you walk into it, as though terror itself is carved into its depths."

Halo smiled.

The game had operated the same way, but experiencing it firsthand was unsettling. Still, fear wasn't an option anymore. Delilah needed saving, and whatever awaited him in the seven seas and the Ashen Ages, he'd face it.

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