The ocean was dark.
Not merely dark because sunlight could not reach this depth.
It was the darkness of an ancient world.
A darkness that had existed before kingdoms.
Before empires.
Before humanity learned how to cross the sea.
A darkness that hid secrets older than history itself.
The King Leviathan continued drifting through the abyss.
Its enormous body moved slowly through the currents.
For the first time since Kel had mounted it, the ancient guardian seemed relatively calm.
Not happy.
Certainly not proud.
But calm.
Meanwhile.
Kel sat cross-legged atop its head.
His golden eyes scanned the surrounding darkness.
The ocean around him remained silent.
Too silent.
Inside his mind—
Seiren's voice echoed.
Unlike her usual playful tone.
This time she sounded serious.
"Kel."
"Hm?"
"Something is watching us."
Kel's expression didn't change.
Not even slightly.
Most people would panic.
Most people would immediately search for enemies.
Most people would prepare for battle.
Kel simply asked:
"Do I need to remove more seals?"
Silence.
The question caught even Seiren off guard.
Not because of what he asked.
But because it was the first thing he asked.
The Guardian laughed helplessly.
"That's your first concern?"
"Efficiency."
"Naturally."
The silver-haired young man waited.
Then Seiren finally answered.
"No."
A pause.
"One percent is enough."
Kel nodded.
The answer relieved him.
Not because he feared battle.
But because lifting seals was annoying.
He had spent an entire evening carefully sealing away ninety-nine percent of his strength.
Removing those seals after all that work felt wasteful.
Inside his mind—
Seiren continued.
"Besides."
A pause.
"If necessary, I can help."
The surrounding water subtly responded to her words.
Ancient authority.
Ancient power.
Ancient divinity.
Even though she remained inside their soul bond.
The ocean itself seemed to acknowledge her existence.
The King Leviathan shivered instinctively.
It couldn't hear Seiren.
But it could feel something.
Something ancient.
Something terrifying.
Something vastly beyond itself.
Meanwhile.
Kel remained calm.
"Stronger than my current state?"
"Much stronger."
Kel nodded.
Expected.
After all.
The current Kel wasn't truly Kel.
He was operating with only one percent of his actual abilities.
The thought alone sounded ridiculous.
Inside his mind—
Seiren spoke again.
"You really overdid the seals."
"I wanted peace."
"You locked away enough power to start wars."
"I wanted peace."
The Guardian sighed.
There was no arguing with him.
Eventually.
Kel asked another question.
"Hostility?"
Silence followed.
The answer mattered.
If something hostile existed nearby—
Then action would be required.
Several moments later.
Seiren answered.
"None."
Kel blinked.
No hostility?
Interesting.
"Then?"
The Guardian sounded uncertain.
A rare thing.
Very rare.
"It's observing."
A pause.
"Only observing."
The answer made Kel frown slightly.
Something powerful enough to remain hidden.
Something capable of avoiding detection from a Leviathan King.
Something even Seiren struggled to identify.
And it wasn't hostile.
That was somehow more concerning.
Inside his mind—
Seiren continued.
"The feeling is strange."
"Strange?"
"Very strange."
Another pause.
"Ancient."
The ocean currents shifted around them.
"Not evil."
Another pause.
"Not kind either."
The Guardian searched for words.
Then finally found one.
"Curious."
Kel remained silent.
Curious.
The same word many people used to describe him.
That was mildly concerning.
Inside his mind—
Seiren suddenly laughed.
"Imagine finding another version of yourself."
"I refuse."
"Wise choice."
For several moments.
Neither spoke.
The darkness around them remained unchanged.
Nothing appeared.
Nothing attacked.
Nothing moved.
Yet both knew.
Something was there.
Watching.
Waiting.
Observing.
Eventually.
Kel stood.
His decision had been made.
Whatever this observer was—
It wasn't currently his priority.
The Leviathan situation came first.
The academy came first.
And more importantly.
He was technically supposed to be a student.
Inside his mind—
Seiren laughed.
"Technically."
Kel ignored her.
Then he gently tapped the head of the King Leviathan.
The giant creature immediately became nervous.
Because every interaction with this human had somehow resulted in suffering.
Slowly.
The massive guardian turned its head.
"What now?"
Its voice carried caution.
Extreme caution.
Kel looked toward the enormous eye.
Then spoke calmly.
"Listen carefully."
The King Leviathan immediately focused.
This sounded important.
Very important.
Kel continued.
"You already ordered your Leviathans to stop attacking humans."
"Yes."
"Maintain that order."
"Understood."
A pause followed.
Then Kel added something else.
Something unexpected.
"If humans attack first."
The Leviathan blinked.
Kel continued.
"Defend yourselves."
The giant guardian froze.
For several moments.
It simply stared.
Then slowly asked:
"You permit that?"
Kel frowned.
"Permit?"
A pause.
"You don't need my permission."
The Leviathan remained silent.
Kel continued.
"If humans attack you first."
Another pause.
"You have the right to protect yourselves."
The ocean became quiet.
The King Leviathan stared at him.
Long.
Very long.
Because this wasn't what it expected.
Not at all.
Most humans would have demanded obedience.
Most humans would have demanded surrender.
Most humans would have demanded concessions.
Instead.
This strange human acknowledged their right to survive.
The giant guardian remained silent.
Then finally nodded.
"I understand."
Its voice sounded different.
Not fearful.
Not resentful.
Respectful.
A small amount.
But genuine.
Kel nodded once.
Then stepped forward.
The ocean currents shifted around him.
Water magic gathered.
The personal domain surrounding his body expanded.
Blue runes illuminated the darkness.
The abyss itself seemed to glow briefly.
The King Leviathan watched.
Several nearby sea creatures also watched.
Everyone knew.
The strange human was leaving.
Inside his mind—
Seiren spoke softly.
"You're returning?"
"Yes."
"Without investigating the watcher?"
Kel smiled slightly.
A rare smile.
"Observers eventually reveal themselves."
The Guardian chuckled.
Fair.
Very fair.
Then.
Without warning.
Kel launched himself upward.
Boom.
The surrounding water exploded.
Ocean currents shattered.
The silver-haired young man shot toward the surface like a meteor traveling in reverse.
The King Leviathan watched him disappear.
Several smaller Leviathans emerged from hiding.
One carefully approached.
"King?"
The giant guardian remained silent.
Another Leviathan asked:
"Was that human real?"
The King closed its eyes.
Then sighed.
A deep.
Ancient.
Exhausted sigh.
"Unfortunately."
The smaller Leviathans shivered.
Meanwhile.
Far deeper than even the Leviathans knew.
Far below the abyss.
Far below ancient ruins.
Far below forgotten civilizations.
Something opened its eyes.
Ancient eyes.
Watching.
Observing.
Waiting.
And for the first time in a very long time—
Those eyes followed the departing figure of a silver-haired human ascending toward the distant surface.
Curious.
Interested.
As if wondering.
Whether that insignificant little human...
Might eventually return.