With an explosive step forward, Aaron bolted from the blazing room, nearly knocking the door off its hinges with the force.
His legs slammed against the cold pavement as he ran through the barely illuminated hallways that had begun to fill with suffocating smoke.
Each breath felt like acid that burned his throat and lungs with every gulp of oxygen that he took.
N-Need to save them before…
A sudden flurry of coughing stopped his thoughts, leaving him lost in the darkness with tiny droplets of blood etched onto his palm.
It's not just the smoke but also the backlash…
Summoning Penelope to his hand with one tap of the ring, the bright blade popped into existence, illuminating the space instantly.
Twists and turns forged the path ahead with misdirection after misdirection, sending him spiraling farther away from his target.
Every moment wasted was another second he could use to free the imprisoned; however, the maze-like structure buried below the ground plunged him into the pits of madness with its never-ending design.
This guy was insane! How the hell is someone supposed to remember the path!
Reaching another dead-end, Aaron stopped to catch his breath; however, a strange tingle in the deepest depths of his mind sent shocks throughout his entire body.
"Break through the wall. Drown them all."
It was quieter than before, yet that higher-dimensional creature dug roots into his very soul, tugging at his strings, making him a puppet to its decisions.
While he was awake, it was easy to control; however, the boy knew that if he was asleep, something terrible could occur.
It's something beyond understanding… A monster in all senses of the word, and now it rests within me like half of all crazy things in the universe…
One deep sigh later, a thought occurred to him, one that was prompted by the annoying hum of the Apex-terror who whispered crimes into his ears.
It said break through the wall… Does that mean…
Raising Penelope high above his head, aligning himself perfectly parallel to the cobblestone wall supported by the heavy rock above.
SHIING!
An earthshaking crash resounded through the foundation of the entire labyrinth, sending debris hurling in every direction while nearly collapsing the ceiling completely.
Ahead of him, only the dust and smoke could be seen, making the boy curse inwardly at his foolishness for listening to the chaotic entity.
That was until the muffled cries of children made their way to Aaron's ears, causing him to tense up.
Dammit. I hate to admit it, but you're a damn good senser, Apex.
His sudden decision to not only praise the evil creature but to give it a name led to a strange pause within his mind as the whispers stopped for just a fraction of a second before resuming.
"Drown. All."
Tuning out the ramblings, the boy rushed through the sizeable hole he had made in the wall, reaching the massive chamber stacked high into the rafters.
At the sight of the turquoise blade in his hand, the prisoners recoiled backwards, protecting their vitals instinctively.
Children rocked back and forth, crying, while the men and women stacked higher up coughed horribly as they inhaled the poisonous smoke from the fires deeper within the basement.
Some of the trapped had already passed out, and their fellow cagemates attempted to help them in any way they could.
Aaron's eyes flickered around, looking for one specific cage that had his target locked inside.
Bingo.
In the furthest cell from the entrance, there was a small box that had housed a grouping of young children, including Ezra's sister.
However, unlike before, there was no sign of Abigail Flock anywhere inside the chamber.
The corpses had also disappeared, with the only remaining trace being something that sent shivers down the blond boy's spine.
Nothing.
The cage was empty without any trace of the children anywhere to be found.
It was a sight that left Aaron on the verge of mental collapse.
One of the worst-case scenarios planned between Ezra and the blond boy, and the only outcome that the boy knew deep inside, would leave him the most distraught.
S-She's gone.
The words that echoed inside his head were only tossed aside by the incessant whispers of the higher being that dwelled within.
Its voice echoed like laughter, mocking him for his failure, urging him to simply let the pain go away and embrace defeat.
And deep inside, Aaron knew, it was right.
What was the point anymore?
He would live with the eternal shame of failing to save that one young girl whom he had promised to protect.
While the others would certainly come along with him, even with their lives able to continue, one slipped through the cracks due to his own failures.
I-If I were stronger… If I had just killed that man… If I… If I…
Relentless roars dug at his soul, begging him to let go and allow the creature lying in wait to overwhelm him and be reborn again.
It was tempting, an offer that would allow the pain that would come from telling Ezra that he had killed his sister.
The agony that would stem from the shame he would live with for the rest of his life.
M-Maybe I should drown the world…
Alluring sentiments fueled the emotions in his subconscious, amplifying his feelings to an extreme degree.
However, even within the darkness of his own mind, light sprang forth in a patch that overcame the void.
The faces of all the people he had met and helped throughout his short seafaring journey.
Alice, Eleanor, Cam, Mr. Crab, Penelope, and even the Old Man.
Each of their smiles, whether it be a grin of happiness as he saved them from impending doom or the insane laughter of a madman, allowed him to steady himself and push away the creature who spurred his thoughts.
This isn't it. There's no proof she's even… dead…
That single thought strengthened his mind as he traced the curves of his face with his fingers, breathing in slowly and steadily.
If I can't save her, then I'll at least save all of them.
Turning around slowly, Penelope's sheen burst to life as the spirit within pulsated with mana worth nearly a half-year's worth of time.
His right hand squeezed the leather grip tightly, feeling his own energy bonding with the weapon, exuding brilliant flashes of turquoise that floated breathlessly through the air.
"Let's do this."
…
At the same time, far across the waves in the Sea of Wishes, a middle-aged man whose appearance was more accurately that of an elder sat behind a large desk, slowly flipping through documents.
"Proposition to expand mayoral power… Hunters' Guild separation agreement… And…"
His eyes paused for a moment while gazing at the last paper in the pile, studying the words carefully, making sure he wasn't going blind with age.
"On the eighth of September, the annual Guild evaluation will occur throughout all seven seas simultaneously…"
Reading the words aloud again while scratching his eyes and adjusting his glasses, he reached the very end of the page.
"The Corvassa exam will be proctored by Marshal Cam—"
The man's words were cut off as the sudden sound of hurried knocking slammed into his wooden door urgently.
Groaning to himself, he placed the intriguing document in a separate pile while speaking in a tone fit for his position.
"You may enter."
His words echoed off the walls as the sound of the lock clicking open and footsteps entering the chamber graced the man's ears.
"Lord Twynam, I apologize for the sudden interruption, and I beg for forgiveness."
Turning his head downward, the white-haired man at the door bowed to the chairman of the Oceanic Association who sat before him.
While his words were stricken with regret and shame, the expression that covered his face was not of such feelings, but instead disgust and annoyance at the presence of the Twynam bloodline.
Throughout the world, that family name was possibly the most controversial topic in any conversation, regardless of the context.
For the ancestor of the very man who sat before him committed the gravest sin known in history.
Augustus Twynam, a madman who rivaled the strength of a Sea King, yet whose criminal record stretched miles, drenched in blood and despair, was the worst man to ever live.
His actions sixty years ago would go on to blacken the reputation of the great Twynam family, leaving them outcasts from society and the government.
And it was for this reason that half, if not more, of William Twynam's personal staff despised him to the core that rested in their chests.
"So, what brings you here, Marven?"
The gruff voice of the old man blasted through the room, making Marven freeze as he remembered that even the one he despised could easily kill him with any amount of force.
"M-My lord… We have received a telegram from Lord Thorn about the growing disarray in the Sea of Curses recently…"
He paused, awaiting a response that William quickly gave.
"Out with it, boy. There's more to this story, isn't there?"
Each word dripped with the stern confidence of someone at the pinnacle of the world and who stood above all else.
"W-Well, sir, he told the operator about the appearance of something…"
Again, his eyes glazed over with the aura of fear exuding in droves from his form, making even the firm Twynam tense up in concern.
"What did he tell you, Admiral Marven?"
Curiosity tugged at every word as he kept his eyes forward, staring at the man with a puzzled look forming across his aged face.
"H-He said to tell the world…"
Swallowing hard and clearing his throat, the final sentence that he uttered would shake the very planet to its core.
"Orion Proximus Cosmoti is dead."