Soon—
a man slowly stepped toward me from the corner of the chamber.
His body looked thin from starvation while chains covered both his wrists.
"S-Sir…"
His voice trembled slightly.
"Y-You seem like a noble…"
"A-Are you strong?"
The moment those words left his mouth—
several others inside the chamber slowly began looking toward me as well.
Hope.
Fear.
Desperation.
Their eyes carried all of it.
Soon—
a few more people stepped forward quietly.
"…Please help us."
"…Please…"
"…I don't want to die here…"
I silently gazed at them for a moment.
Then—
my eyes noticed another figure sitting farther in the corner.
A girl.
Unlike the others—
she wasn't crying.
She simply watched me cautiously from the shadows.
Long black hair rested around her shoulders while sharp green eyes carefully observed every movement I made.
A noble perhaps.
Or maybe a warrior.
Either way—
I didn't pay much attention to her.
Instead—
I slowly walked toward the little girl missing her hands.
The room became silent watching me.
Then—
I quietly knelt before her.
Her small body trembled weakly while tears filled her eyes.
Slowly—
I gazed directly into them.
Then softly—
I spoke.
"…Did they do this to you?"
The young boy beside her immediately clenched his fists tightly.
Her older brother perhaps.
"Y-Yes…"
"W-We tried to escape…"
"And…"
His voice shook violently afterward.
"T-They cut her hands off…"
The boy lowered his head desperately.
"P-Please…"
"…help us."
Silence filled the chamber.
Then—
I slowly closed my eyes briefly.
"…I see."
Few hours had passed since then as the ship continued sailing across the vast ocean toward Astryx.
The waves violently crashed against the sides of the vessel while cold winds swept endlessly across the sea.
Meanwhile—
inside the dark chamber beneath the deck—
silence remained heavy.
Most of the slaves had fallen asleep from exhaustion.
Others quietly stared blankly at the floor.
And throughout all those hours—
I simply remained seated silently against the wall.
But my mind remained calm.
Watching.
Listening.
Waiting.
Eventually—
the atmosphere around the ship slowly changed.
The rough ocean winds weakened.
Voices above the deck became louder.
Then—
the massive ship finally began slowing down.
CRRRRRRRRR—
Chains and anchors echoed loudly throughout the harbor.
We had arrived.
The Astryx Empire.
Soon—
noise from outside filled the ship.
The harbor itself looked enormous.
Massive steel towers stretched throughout the coastline while gigantic warships remained docked near the ports.
Unlike Verilian's futuristic atmosphere—
Astryx felt far more militaristic.
Everywhere—
warriors carrying swords could be seen.
Large banners carrying the symbol of Astryx fluttered throughout the harbor winds.
A silver eagle.
The symbol of imperial authority.
Countless armored soldiers patrolled the docks while merchants and travelers moved throughout the massive port city.
Even the buildings themselves looked sharper.
Colder.
Everything about Astryx screamed strength.
Then suddenly—
heavy footsteps echoed above us.
"Tch…"
A familiar gruff voice growled.
"I fell asleep?"
The large scarred man from before slowly stood up near the deck while rubbing his head irritably.
At that moment—
Jack hurriedly ran toward him nervously.
"S-Sir!"
"The—"
"A member of the Silver Vanguard is standing outside!"
The boss immediately froze.
"A-Ah?"
"They're already here?"
SMACK!!!
He instantly smacked Jack across the head.
"You should've told me earlier dumbass!"
Without wasting another second—
the man hurried off the ship toward the harbor.
Soon—
he stopped before a silver-armored knight standing near the docks.
The knight's armor carried the emblem of a silver eagle while a dark red cape rested behind him.
His face remained hidden beneath a helmet.
Yet—
the pressure surrounding him alone felt far beyond everyone else nearby.
"A-Ah Sir Cedric…"
The knight spoke coldly.
"Is the package inside?"
"Y-Yes!"
"The two of them are secured and in chains!"
The knight slightly narrowed his eyes.
"…Two?"
"I only asked for one."
"O-Oh?"
The boss awkwardly scratched his head.
Cedric simply sighed afterward.
"Whatever."
"Just bring me the girl."
"I'll wait here."
"A-Ah yes!"
Soon—
the boss arrived outside the slave chamber once again.
"Tch…"
"Jack help me get these bastards out from here."
"A-Ah yes sir."
Jack nervously nodded while reaching toward the iron door.
Then—
CREAK—
The door slowly opened.
And in the next instant—
SHIIIIING!!!
A black flash crossed the hallway.
For a moment—
everything became silent.
The boss blinked once.
"…What?"
THUD.
His head fell onto the wooden floor before his body collapsed right after it.
Jack froze completely.
His pupils trembled violently as he stared at the corpse beside him.
Then slowly—
his gaze lifted toward the dark chamber.
And saw me standing there silently.
The chains around my wrists had already fallen apart.
A faint crackle of lightning danced around my body.
Slowly—
I removed the cloak from my shoulders before stepping out into the hallway with Nocturne Veil resting loosely in my hand.
The slaves behind me stared speechlessly.
Meanwhile—
the commotion instantly alerted the rest of the crew.
"WHAT HAPPENED?!"
"THE BOSS—!"
"INTRUDER!"
Heavy footsteps rapidly echoed throughout the ship.
Multiple armed warriors rushed toward the hallway.
The first swordsman swung directly toward my neck.
CRACKLE—
Lightning burst beneath my feet.
The next moment—
I vanished.
SHIIIIING!!!
The swordsman froze.
Then slowly collapsed.
Before the others could even react—
I appeared behind them.
SHIIIIING!!!
SHIIIIING!!!
Black steel flashed repeatedly throughout the corridor.
Bodies dropped one after another.
The narrow hallway became filled with panic.
One warrior desperately tried running.
Another attempted activating mana.
None of it mattered.
Because they were too slow.
Far too slow.
The slaves inside the chamber watched everything unfold with widened eyes.
Especially the black-haired girl with sharp green eyes.
Even she looked stunned now.
Because the boy standing before them—
the one wearing chains just moments ago—
was casually slaughtering trained warriors like they were nothing.
Soon—
silence returned to the ship once more.
Only the crackling of lightning remained.
Then slowly—
I turned back toward the slaves.
My golden eyes calmly landed on them.
"Get off the ship."
The room remained frozen for several seconds.
Then suddenly—
"A-Ah yes!"
The slaves immediately rushed toward the exit in panic.
The silver knight standing near the harbor slowly clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Tch…"
"That commoner is taking too long."
"Maybe I should just kill him afterward."
Cold winds swept through the docks while several soldiers stood silently behind him.
Then—
a calm voice suddenly echoed from behind.
"You don't need to worry about him anymore."
The knight's eyes slightly widened.
Slowly—
he turned around.
And saw a figure walking toward him beneath the harbor lights.
Black and white hair flowed softly against the ocean winds.
Golden eyes calmly reflected the moonlight.
Even beneath the simple dark clothing—
the person carried an almost unnatural presence.
Beautiful.
Ethereal.
Yet somehow—
dangerous.
The silver knight narrowed his eyes immediately.
"…Who is that?"
For a brief second—
he genuinely wondered if the person before him was even human.
Then coldly—
he spoke.
"Are you one of the crew members?"
"No."
The answer came instantly.
The knight's grip around his sword tightened afterward.
Because every instinct inside him screamed the same thing.
Danger.
The person before him was dangerous.
Slowly—
he pulled his sword from its sheath.
SHIIIIING—
The soldiers behind him immediately tensed as well.
"Identify yourself."
"Now."
For a moment—
silence filled the harbor.
The ocean waves quietly crashed against the docks behind us.
Then—
a faint smile appeared on my face.
Before the knight could even process what was happening—
CRACKLE!!!
Lightning exploded beneath my feet.
The next moment—
I appeared directly in front of him.
BOOOOOOM!!!
My fist slammed straight into his chest.
"COUGH—!"
The silver knight was blasted backward across the harbor before crashing heavily against several cargo crates.
Wood shattered everywhere.
The surrounding soldiers froze completely.
Because none of them had even seen me move.
The knight slowly forced himself back onto his feet while clutching his chest tightly.
"…Fuck…"
His breathing had become uneven from a single hit alone.
Yet—
instead of fear—
his eyes sharpened further.
BOOOOOOM!!!
Fire mana suddenly exploded around his body.
The sword in his hand ignited with blazing flames as intense heat distorted the air nearby.
Then instantly—
he rushed toward me.
Fast.
Far faster than the warriors aboard the ship earlier.
SHIIIIING!!!
His blade descended toward my neck with incredible precision.
CLANG!!!
I calmly raised Nocturne Veil and blocked the strike.
Flames and frost exploded together between us.
Then—
the knight twisted his body unnaturally before launching another slash toward my side.
SHING! SHING! SHING!
His attacks flowed continuously without hesitation.
Precise.
Efficient.
Every movement connected naturally into the next.
Honestly—
I could have ended the fight immediately if I wanted to.
The difference in strength between us was obvious.
But—
I was curious.
Curious about Astryx swordsmanship.
And now—
after clashing directly against it—
I finally understood something.
The rumors weren't exaggerated.
Their swordsmanship truly surpassed Verilian's.
Not in raw power.
Not in mana.
But purely in technique.
Every strike carried years of refinement behind it.
No wasted movement.
No hesitation.
Just skill.
A faint smile slowly appeared on my face as our blades collided again.
CLANG!!!
"…Interesting."
Soon—
I noticed more soldiers gathering behind the silver knight.
Armored warriors rapidly surrounded the harbor while drawing their swords cautiously.
Some carried spears.
Others began activating mana arts.
Honestly—
this was starting to get annoying.
"…Sigh."
The silver knight suddenly lunged toward me once again.
CLANG!!!
Our swords collided violently.
At the same moment—
the soldiers behind him rushed forward together.
Then—
my golden eyes slowly began glowing.
BOOOOOOM!!!
Light mana erupted around my body instantly.
The atmosphere throughout the harbor shifted violently.
Before the soldiers could even react—
SHIIIIIIIIING!!!
A streak of golden light flashed across the battlefield.
"AAGHHHHH—!"
Several soldiers screamed simultaneously as their weapons and arms were severed instantly before crashing onto the harbor floor.
The silver knight's eyes widened violently.
Because he still couldn't follow my movements.
Fear slowly began appearing among the remaining soldiers.
They hesitated briefly.
But then—
"ATTACK HIM!"
The rest charged toward me desperately.
"…Fine."
CRACKLE—
Lightning and light exploded around my body together.
The harbor became filled with afterimages.
SHIIIIING!!!
One soldier collapsed.
SHIIIIING!!!
Then another.
SHIIIIING!!! SHIIIIING!!! SHIIIIING!!!
Black steel flashed endlessly throughout the battlefield.
The soldiers couldn't even defend properly.
Every strike was clean.
Precise.
Absolute.
Within moments—
the entire harbor fell silent once more.
The remaining soldiers collapsed across the docks while trembling in fear or pain.
Meanwhile—
I slowly stood there beneath the moonlight holding Nocturne Veil loosely at my side.
Cold ocean winds brushed through my black and white hair quietly.
Then—
my golden eyes landed back onto the silver knight.
"…Now."
"Do you still wish to continue?"