Chapter 163: A Rift in the Tide
The battlefield was silent now—eerily so. The shattered seafloor was littered with floating debris, bits of armor, mana-scorched stone, and the slowly fading corpses of the three Aquarians who had moments ago wielded enough power to level a nation. Eren and Rylan stood shoulder to shoulder, bruised, bloodied, and drained. Zarek lay unconscious nearby, barely clinging to life. The water around them shimmered with the residual energy of their desperate battle.
Just as Eren allowed himself a breath of relief, Kaitaro's voice suddenly echoed in his mind—his tone was sharp, frantic, without its usual calm.
Kaitaro (telepathically):"Eren, Rylan, Commander Elara, we have a situation. The Aquarian army… it's already on the move. They're heading for the Four Great Nations. They're close—too close."
The words hit Eren like a lightning strike to the chest. His body tensed. He turned to Rylan, wide-eyed.
Eren:"My family… They're in the South Nation."
Rylan's jaw clenched.Commander Elara's expression remained grim, unreadable, but the weight of the message was not lost on her.
Eren (almost whispering):"We have to go back. Now."
Elara:"We can't. Not yet."
Eren's fists shook, eyes burning with emotion.*"What do you mean we can't? My parents are there! If the Aquarian army reaches the South Nation—" he broke off, a tear slipping down his cheek.
Elara (calm but firm):"I understand, Eren. We all have people we care about. But abandoning this mission means we lose the war. This is bigger than us."
Eren:"You don't get it! I need to protect them! What if they die because we hesitated?!"
Elara:"And what if every nation falls because we didn't stop the source? You think your family is safe if the Aquarians conquer the oceans? This mission is our only hope of finding a permanent solution. A true end to this war."
Rylan stepped between them, attempting to cool the tension."Maybe… maybe we can split up? Let some of us go back and others finish the mission?"
Elara:"We're too deep in enemy territory. Splitting up now means suicide."
Eren fell to his knees, gripping his hair, shoulders shaking. He looked like a child again—not the elite High Elf warrior he had become.
Eren (voice cracking):"Please… Commander… please, let me go back. Just let me make sure they're safe. I can't… I can't lose them like I lost my brother…"
Elara's expression softened for a brief moment. She approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder, kneeling down to meet his eyes.
Elara:"Eren, listen to me. The South Nation is not defenseless. Your people are strong. King Thalanor is a warrior unlike any other, and the Knights of the Southern Flame are feared across all seas. Your parents… they'll hold on."
Eren:"You promise?"
Elara:"I promise I will give you the chance to see them again—but only if we end this war first."
Silence settled between them, heavy and bitter. Eren wiped his eyes, standing slowly. His legs trembled but not from fatigue. He had never felt so torn in his life.
Meanwhile…
Far away, hidden within the depths of a dark trench, a hidden Aquarian observatory watched the crumbling morale of the heroes unfold in real time through scrying pools.
Kuzan stood in silence, arms crossed, a twisted grin on his face. Yuno and Meril flanked him, watching the scene unfold.
Yuno:"They're falling apart… These 'heroes' are weaker than we thought."
Meril (smirking):"Their bonds are fragile. Just a little more pressure and they'll break."
Kuzan chuckled lowly, his eyes gleaming with malicious intent.
Kuzan:"Let them. This is the perfect moment to disappear. The mission is over—we've taken what we needed. The Overdrive protocol was a failure, but their reactions… their power… invaluable."
He turned away, gesturing to his apprentices.
Kuzan:"Come. We're heading to the Outer Ocean. It's time we joined the main assault. The Four Great Nations won't stand a chance now that their elite are here, wasting their strength in this pitiful mission."
Without a trace, the three vanished into a swirling vortex of dark mana—leaving behind nothing but the fading echoes of cruel laughter.
Back With the Heroes…
Elara stood up and activated a glowing rune embedded in her gauntlet. The air around her shimmered as her voice echoed into the minds of every surviving member of the expedition team—including those hidden in the shadows or monitoring from afar.
Elara (telepathically):"Everyone, listen to me. We don't have much time. The Aquarian army is moving fast, and our home nations are at risk. But we cannot falter. Our mission was never just about this battle—it was about finding a way to end this war permanently."
She paused, her voice unwavering.
Elara:"If we return now, we fight a war on the Aquarians' terms. If we finish this mission, we may uncover something that can change everything—something that even King Thalanor and the Southern Knights can't find on their own."
Kaitaro (telepathically):"We're with you, Commander. Say the word."
Aria (telepathically):"If we're going to stop this war, we do it together."
Elara looked to Rylan, who nodded in silent agreement. Finally, she met Eren's gaze again.
He gave a slow, reluctant nod.
Eren:"We finish what we started. But after this—I'm going home."
Elara smiled faintly.
Elara:"So will we all."
Unseen Shadows
Unknown to the group, the enemy they were seeking—the architect of Overdrive and the orchestrator of the Aquarian uprising—was already gone. The window to intercept him had closed.
And in the dark currents of the Outer Ocean, war drums began to beat.
A battalion of Aquarians surged forward like a living tide, their war chants echoing through the depths. At their front stood a tall, armored figure with eyes like frozen oceans.
The Aquarian General.
As the camera of fate pulled back, the heroes stood amid broken stone and swirling mana, unaware that the real war had just begun.