After everyone climbed aboard, the captain—a woman in her early twenties with pink hair, a plump face, and an athletically well-built figure—welcomed them warmly.
Diana: Welcome! Welcome to my humble cruise. I am Captain Diana and…
She suddenly blushed and continued, a little embarrassed,
Diana: Uh—hehe… actually, this is the first time heroes have ever boarded my ship, so I'm not really sure how to react.
Kael: No, no, no. We're the ones who should apologize—and thank you instead. If your ship hadn't been around, we'd probably be stranded in the ocean for who knows how long.
Diana: Well, you're free to stay here until we reach land. Bathing and rest are also available, so please enjoy your stay.
After that, Kael and the others handed the brothers over in cuffs and went to wash up, still covered in salt from the ocean.
While Michael was taking a bath, something small suddenly slipped out from the shower drain. When he inspected it, it looked like a fish scale. Its color wasn't the usual gray—it was pink. That alone was strange, especially for something appearing in a shower.
He felt that something was off, but brushed it aside, assuming it might just be his imagination.
After everyone finished bathing, they gathered for breakfast. The captain came by to check on them, and they praised her for how good the food was. As she was leaving, Michael noticed something that made his chest tighten—a pink scale, caught on the sleeve of her clothing.
Now he was certain. Something was definitely wrong.
Kael: Michael, since you'll be with us for a while, why don't you share your story with us?
The others nodded, urging him on.
Charlie noticed a small piece of food stuck to Diego's cheek while he was talking. Without saying a word, she reached over and wiped it away with her thumb, casual and familiar. Diego froze for a second, then looked away, muttering something under his breath as his ears turned red. Charlie only smiled faintly and went back to eating, as if it were nothing—yet the brief gesture lingered longer than it should have.
The pink scale refused to leave Michael's mind. He finally told Kael and the others that he would share his story another time, then stood up and quietly followed the captain. When Kael asked where he was going-
Michael: I'm gonna… take a stroll.
He kept his distance as he trailed her through the ship, careful not to draw attention. When she turned a corner, Michael followed—but when he peeked around, she was gone, as if she had vanished into thin air.
???: Whatcha doing here?
A voice suddenly asked from behind him.
Michael flinched and turned around. It was the captain.
Michael: N–Nothing. Just… taking a stroll.
Diana: A stroll, huh? (Tilting her head) You're not spying on someone, are you?
Michael: Me? Spying? Not my style.
She studied him for a moment, then smiled.
Diana: Well, if you need anything, you know where to find me.
With that, she walked away.
Michael: Phew… that could've been bad.
Michael muttered under his breath. He turned to head back—but froze.
The two brothers were gone.
The handcuffs lay near the railing, one side bent and half-broken. Michael's heart sank. He rushed to the edge of the ship just as he heard bubbles rising from below.
Michael: No, it can't be-
He didn't hesitate.
Michael wrapped his strings around the railing and dove straight into the ocean. The cold water hit him instantly, and his fear was confirmed. The two brothers were sinking, still restrained, their movements weak. Worse—something large was cutting through the water toward them.
A shark.
Leaving them wasn't an option.
Michael unraveled his arm, extending his strings and pulling himself forward with force. He reached them just in time, grabbing both brothers and turning upward—but suddenly, his string snapped.
Something had cut it.
Michael surfaced for air, gasping, his eyes scanning wildly, but he couldn't see who—or what—had done it. Below him, the shark was still circling.
He unraveled his other arm, wrapping two brothers securely, holding them. With raw strength and burning speed, Michael kicked upward, hauling them both toward the surface as the water churned beneath them.
His unraveled arm wasn't finished raveling to defend against the shark.
Just as they thought it was over, Charlie leapt off the side of the cruise ship. She came down like a meteor, punching straight through the shark's skull. The impact cracked it instantly, killing it on the spot.
Once again, they were saved. Others rushed over and threw down a rope, pulling them back up. Charlie and Michael each grabbed one of the brothers and climbed aboard.
The moment Michael's feet hit the deck, the first thing he did was check the rope that had been cut. There—caught between the fibers—was the pink scale again. This time, there was no doubt left in his mind. Whoever was behind the earlier incidents… and the scale… was still here.
The captain came running toward them, her face full of worry.
Diana: What happened? Are you all—
Michael: Stay right there, don't come any closer.
Diana stopped, clearly confused
Diana: What's the matter? I only came to help.
She still slowly approach them.
Michael: (hardened voice)I know who you really are. You're a Knight of the Dark Light, aren't you?
Diana froze.
Diana: A Knight… of Dark Light? I don't know what you're talking about.
The others quickly spoke up, saying they knew the captain well and that she couldn't possibly be one of them. But Michael shook his head.
Michael: Nope. I've found a way to tell the difference between a normal person and a Dark Knight.
Kael: Really? How?
Michael: (calmly)It's simple. Whenever a Dark Knight is near a hero, their legs start shuddering.
There was a brief silence.
Then the two brothers—and the captain—looked down at her legs.
Diego: You're not lying… are you?
Michael: No. I was definitely joking. But it seems like we've caught the idiot.
Realizing she had walked straight into Michael's trap, Diana's expression shifted—surprise flickering across her face as the truth finally surfaced.
Now that Diana had been exposed, she could no longer hide her true self. She slowly removed her captain's cap as darkness began to seep from her eyes.
Diana: You're smart, Strand Cord. Just my type. I'd like to officially challenge you to a fight. Come to my sea, and we will dance.
As she spoke, gills and fins emerged from her body, pink scales spreading across her skin like armor, reshaping her into something far from human. She walked toward the side of the ship, paused, and glanced back.
Diana: I'll be waiting.
Then she jumped.
Michael stood up immediately. He knew—sooner or later—this was inevitable. His friends understood it too, and none of them tried to stop him.
Leona: Promise you'll tell us your story if you come back!
Michael: If I come back, sure.
With that, he dove into the ocean.
Beneath the surface, Diana was already waiting. When she saw Michael descend, she smiled.
Diana: Welcome to my domain, Michael. Since you're human, let me help you.
She formed a bubble of air around his head, roughly the size of an astronaut's helmet. It floated into place, giving him precious extra minutes to survive underwater.
Diana: You know, I don't really want to fight you. But it's the boss's order.
Michael clenched his jaw.
Michael: Then why did you try to kill your fellow Knights?
Diana: (indifferently)Oh, them? It's one of our rules—purge the weak and useless.
Michael's fury surged. Purge the weak? What kind of fucked-up philosophy is that?
He lunged toward her, but something was wrong. His body felt heavy—sluggish. When he looked down, his breath caught.
Barnacles.
Dozens of them were forming across his body, multiplying rapidly, anchoring him in place.
Diana: Looks like it's time to introduce myself. My codename is MarianaTrench. I am the fastest thing alive in the sea. And those barnacles?
She smiled, tilting her head.
Diana: I made them—especially for you ♡.
She spoke flirtatiously, but Michael didn't miss what was happening. The barnacles weren't just restraining him—they were draining his energy, locking his body in place. Realizing this, he ripped his shirt off and tore away several of them. As his muscular frame was exposed, Diana stared for a moment, clearly distracted.
Diana: (drooling)Six packs…
She quickly snapped out of it and entered her second phase. Diana dove beneath Michael and began circling him at extreme speed, faster and faster, until the water itself twisted into a violent whirlpool. Michael was dragged into its rotation, his body spinning uncontrollably, nausea crashing over him.
From the cruise ship, Kael and the others saw the whirlpool forming. Charlie clenched her fists.
Charlie: This is bad. If he stays in there for another minute, we'll lose him.
She jumped without hesitation.
Diego: NO! Don't jump in—it's dangerous!
Too late.
Just as Charlie was about to touch the ocean, Diego yelled for Kael to pull her back immediately by erasing the space between her and the cruise. Kael reacted at once. As Charlie's hand grazed the water, sharp stings shot through her fingers.
Charlie: Ah—!
Kael activated his FirstErasure, eliminating the space exactly as Diego instructed. Charlie was yanked back, clinging to the railing. She stared at her hand in shock.
Pink scales.
They were moving—traveling at terrifying speed along the surface of the whirlpool.
Diego: These things prevents anyone from entering the ocean.
Leona asked how Diego was able to see the scales when none of them could. That was when they realized—Diego didn't just have precise movement. His eyesight was just as precise.Though this was good news for them, the bad news was that they couldn't do anything to help Michael. All they could do now was hope that he would win the battle.
In the ocean, Michael lay motionless. Diana believed he had finally fallen asleep due to energy drainage and the violent whirlpool spinning him endlessly.
Diana: Looks like he's out cold, hehe. Now, time to dig in… I wonder how tasty he'll be ♡
She thought this as she swam closer and closer. Just as she was about to reach him, Michael suddenly woke up. In one sharp motion, he launched his right hand forward—his arm extending unnaturally, retractable using his custom strings.
He named it CordBreaker.
The fist shattered through the barnacles and slammed directly into her lower abdomen—her womb. The impact sent a surge of pleasure straight to her brain, overwhelming her senses. Her control broke instantly, and both the barnacles and the whirlpool collapsed.
Diana: (thought)Such ecstasy… I've never felt something so wonderful like this.
Now free from her grasp, Michael rushed toward her, appearing as though he was about to strike again.
Diana: (thought)Oh no… he's coming. I have to get away—but the pleasure is too much. I can't even move an inch.
Michael closed the distance, more than capable of dealing massive damage. Seeing how doomed she was, Diana slowly closed her eyes and accepted her fate.
But instead of hitting her, Michael activated the band, confirming her defeat. He pulled her into his arms and began swimming upward. With the band suppressing her powers, Diana could no longer breathe underwater. Her consciousness began to fade.
Diana: (thought)Oh, what a day… even for my last cruise. Dying in the hands of my love? This… must have been fate. I have no regrets whatsoever…but it saddens me to think that I'll die from the hands of my first love. It's turning dark...
Seconds later-
Diana: (thought)W-What is this soft sensation I feel on my lips?
When she opened her eyes, she saw Michael giving her his remaining air, mouth to mouth.
Diana: (thought)M-My first kiss…? T-This feels nice ♡
Still dazed, she clung to that thought as Michael and Diana emerged from the water. Seeing that Michael had won, everyone erupted into cheers and rushed to help them climb aboard.
Once back on the cruise, Diana clung to Michael like her life depended on it.
Diana: Master!! ♡
Everyone froze.
Charlie stared in disbelief-
Charlie: Hey! What the hell did you do to make her submit to you?!
Before Michael could respond, Diana interrupted cheerfully-
Diana: Master, it felt so good when you knocked me up in the water ♡ Let's do it again, please ♡
The shock level somehow went higher.
Michael: No—no, no, no! It's not like that! You're misunderstanding!
Michael tried desperately to explain, but no one was listening anymore.
"To think that a pervert like you exists in this world," someone muttered. "You should be eradicated."
Diana continued clinging to him while Michael screamed at the top of his lungs-
Michael: IT'S A MISUNDERSTANDING!!!
The next morning, the cruise reached a port in G City. Once they were close enough to land, their watches began working again. CTP arrived and escorted the three prisoners to the Ice Box.
Before being taken away, Diana turned back-
Diana: (softly)You'll come visit me, won't you?
Michael—his face bruised, dignity destroyed—could only nod weakly.
And with that, they left.
Now, only 22 days remained before they could finally fulfill their mission.