As Nujah approached the castle, a sudden yellow light burst from the sea and dragged him underground.
He couldn't resist.
The burn on his back flared violently, engulfing his entire body.
Under the ocean, Nujah spent four or five days submerged, barely conscious.
When he finally awoke, he was drowning — or something close to it.
His instincts kicked in. He swam upward as fast as his damaged body would allow.
From somewhere nearby, the crow's voice echoed through the water:
> "About time, huh? I had a bet on when you'd pop back up!"
Nujah's body was breaking down.
Despite having once withstood the strongest weapons in existence, his form had been forcefully reverted to human.
All his power had been drained — everything except his immortality and mind.
He was barely holding on.
He would've sunk again…
But then — a boat.
A small vessel approached.
Just before Nujah lost consciousness again, he saw familiar boots stomping on the deck.
The crow, ever smug, fluttered down beside him.
> "Look who I brought! Your favorite captain from Vercu!"
Sure enough, the captain barked orders, and his crew hauled Nujah from the water.
They offered him a flask of water.
> "You look like hell, boss," the captain joked with a grin.
"Glad to see some things never change."
Nujah said to the commander,
"Call all the loyal dead soldiers for me.
And also, you need to return to Vercu Island and steal the chains from the room.
He hides them under the mirror cabinet.
They are our only hope to stop them."
Hearing this, the captain immediately prepares and tells the vice-captain,
"Nujah has returned.
Call all the monsters.
Anyone who wants to help with the war should go to Arthur Castle.
We will go back to Vercu."
The captain said to Nujah,
"I have to leave you on land.
If we pass even 1 cm close to them with you,
they'll drown us in the ocean instantly."
"There's a village on the opposite side.
I'll leave you there with a few men.
Once we're done, I'll come there with everyone."
The conversation takes a bit longer.
Everyone agrees and heads in different directions.
They reached the village.
After passing a few villagers, they entered the barn.
The guards took their positions at the entrances downstairs.
Nujah went up to the upper floor with the bird.
— "So now we're staying in the upper floor of a barn? Great. Smells like destiny... and cow poop."
— "At least the cows are gone."
— "Yeah, and so is my dignity."
Silence followed. No reply.
— "Next time, I want a room with a view. Maybe a tower. Maybe even a fancy chandelier."
— "Want some curtains too?"
— "Ah, he speaks. Not curtains—just hoping to see morning without getting caught."
— "Then shut up and do something useful."
— "You're speaking pretty boldly for someone lying in hay."
The wind slipped through a cracked window above.
Downstairs, silence and watchfulness ruled.
Upstairs, sarcasm filled the air.