Chapter 963

“Alright. I’ve never done anything like it before—but if that’s the best you’ve found, then it must be the best there is for me as well.”

To Yuder, those words sounded like a vow—that Kishiar would make sure the “best way” Yuder had found would truly become the best. And judging by the look in Kishiar’s eyes, that interpretation didn’t seem far off.

As it had been until now, there was no predicting what lay ahead of them. The remaining cards they could play were barely enough to avoid the worst.

And yet—

Now, the countless possibilities of failure no longer felt suffocating or heavy.

Why? It wasn’t just because Kishiar had said so.

Until now, the “best” for Yuder Aile had always been synonymous with doing it alone. He believed the best results came when he handled everything by himself.

Working alone meant he didn’t have to worry about someone else making mistakes outside his field of vision. He didn’t have to waste energy on irrelevant people or distractions. When decisions had to be made, he didn’t need to consult anyone—he could act quickly and cleanly. Even if something went wrong, there was only one head to bear responsibility, which made it easier to manage.

And so, it had always been heavy.

That weight came with the belief that if he failed, no one else could succeed. That had been the cost of doing his utmost.

But now, his shoulders felt astonishingly light. It was—honestly—the first time he’d felt so unburdened.

Such a light “best.”

Yuder stretched slightly, as if shaking off the heavy air that had always clung to him. As he opened his eyes, light reflected off the morning sun, touching his gaze. The unfamiliar brightness that entered his usually abyss-like eyes, and the faint curve of his lips, softened gently before anyone else could process what they were seeing.

Then, without hesitation, he turned and spoke.

“The way to the rift is long. Let’s go.”

***

Splash.

Three figures, tinged with the soft glow of blue light, dove into the depths. Yuder, Kishiar, and Mick descended—each wrapped in protective water magic pushed to its limits.

The members still on the surface were shocked to see Yuder using such power not just for himself, but for others as well. But in truth, it wasn’t only Yuder’s strength at play.

From the start, Yuder hadn’t hesitated to summon Kishiar to the seabed precisely because of Kishiar’s unique ability. During the Hailstorm Incident, Kishiar had once manipulated Kachien’s shadow shroud, expanding it dramatically by “pulling” on it.

So, if shadow-based protection could be stretched and applied externally, then water-based protection—similar in principle—should be no different.

When Yuder had proposed the idea, Kishiar had thought for a moment before calmly saying it was indeed possible. And now, the effectiveness of that response was being proven.

I barely feel like I’m spending power to support all three of us. Incredible...

Even Yuder, with all his strength, would’ve been unable to protect three people at this depth alone. Had Kishiar not been aiding him, they wouldn’t even have attempted such a dangerous dive.

As the light dimmed and the crushing pressure grew, Yuder—accustomed to it—remained unfazed. So did Kishiar, like the swordmaster he was.

Mick, however, was different. An untrained civilian, he grew paler with each meter of descent, the pain pushing against his limits even through the protective barrier.

And yet, he didn’t cry out. He clenched his teeth and bore it with quiet endurance—a sign that despite his easygoing façade, he had not lived a soft life. Just as in the West, this time too, Mick had dropped everything and come the moment Kishiar called. Even now, following without protest into the depths—it was hard to believe he wasn’t an Awakener.

There was no doubt: Mick Shuden’s loyalty to Kishiar was real.

Rrrrrrumble...

A faint, eerie tremor brushed their skin—proof they were nearing the seabed. In the distance, faint lights shimmered: the members wearing enchanted bracelets had spotted them and were approaching.

‘Commander!’

‘Gods... He brought someone else down with him!’

Amid the astonished murmurs, Steber emerged. As a deputy, he kept his composure even in such unexpected situations and greeted Kishiar with dignity.

‘Commander. I’m glad to see you safe.’

‘Likewise.’

‘And the man with you...?’

‘He’s just here to help. He’ll be leaving soon.’

There was no time to explain who Mick really was. The answer was vague but sufficient. The others nodded and exchanged brief glances with Mick in polite acknowledgment. Then, Yuder, having gauged the stillness since the last tremor, spoke.

‘Steber. What’s happened while I was gone?’

‘Since you left, we’ve had four minor tremors. But it’s been quiet since the last one.’

Only ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) four? The time Yuder had spent above wasn’t long, but that was unusually few.

That meant only one thing:

The intervals between the rift’s tremors were growing longer, not shorter. Significantly.

Yuder’s expression grew grim.

There’s always a deceptive calm before disaster strikes. You must never mistake it for peace. It’s just a brief step back before chaos explodes.

‘Has anything like this happened before?’

‘Not this quiet. It doesn’t feel right.’

Kishiar, hearing the answer, turned to Mick and gripped his shoulder.

‘Mick. Do you see anything?’

‘......’

‘Mick?’

He hadn’t said a word during the descent. Only now did he respond. Yuder noticed a transparent shimmer in both of Mick’s eyes—he was clearly using his power, and a lot of it.

Just how long had he been using it?

As Yuder thought that, Mick’s pale lips slowly parted.

‘...Move.’

‘What?’

‘MOVE!’

Before the startled Cavalry members could even react, Yuder instinctively unleashed his power, forcefully blasting everyone away in all directions.

At that same moment, an overwhelming pressure surged through the ocean—a pulse that shook everything.

BOOOOOOM—!

It felt like the very cup of the world had been overturned, violently spun, and slammed back again.

Everything shook violently. Stomachs churned. Members screamed wordlessly, eyes rolling back as they expelled bubbles. Yuder tried to shield them with water magic, but it was like trying to subdue a stampede of enraged bulls barehanded—and he was still protecting two others on top of that.

“Kh...!”

As Yuder clenched his teeth and swallowed the rising blood, an arm shot out from the dark and wrapped around his waist, pulling him into an embrace.

Kishiar had grabbed him—and unleashed a burst of invisible energy.

Whoooom—!

His power surged, like shaking water in a sealed container. The pressure that had battered them from all directions was blasted outward in one massive push.

With the chaotic impact repelled, everything calmed. The waters stilled. The environment—utterly unstable moments ago—began to settle at a speed that was almost shocking.

The center of that stability was Kishiar. And nestled in his arms, Yuder was the first to recover.

‘...Thank you.’

Gathering his wits, Yuder immediately reinforced the protective layer and spread his influence across the surrounding water.

“Suppress.”

At his command, the water, though barely manageable, responded. Yuder seized the moment to pull the scattered members and Mick back together.

We were this close to losing someone for real...

Only then did Kishiar release him. The others, dazed and shaken, struggled to regain their senses—but no one was seriously injured, thanks to their quick use of power.

Last of all, Mick caught his breath and, lips trembling, mouthed the words—

‘...It’s coming.’