Abandoned Island off the Serian South Coast.

8:58 am. 25th Banem 1092.

29 Days to World's End.

"Ugh."

Kashi awoke with a groan to the chirping of birds. He felt like his veins were on fire, and his head pounded like a beating drum. Kashi winced, and then slowly opened his eyes. He found himself in an unfamiliar room. Cracked walls and extremely sparse funiture gave off an air of desolation and poverty.

Kashi groaned as he sat up on the bed. A frown formed between his brows as he looked at the date on the system clock. He had been out for two days? What the hell? That was two days of practice wasted! Kashi cursed as he stood up. He walked to the door and then pushed it open.

Kashi walked out onto a familiar beachside. He spotted five sailors rowing onto shore on a skiff, having finished their fishing for the day. Two sailors waited on the shore, to help with mooring the boat, but the remaining three were not in sight.

Hnnng!

Startled by a grunt, Kashi looked to his right where he saw a sailor snoring as he rested against the wall. As if sensing the daeben's gaze, the sailor woke with a start. The old midi smiled as he gave Kashi a once-over.

"So yer awake, kid? Was thinking you'd be down fer a few weeks. How's yer feeling?"

"Hurts like hell. But I'll live."

The midi grinned, amused by Kashi's answer. "All we can ask fer, really." His gaze then dimmed. "Don't know if yer ride's gonna make it though. He's in a bad way."

Kashi frowned. "Drix? What happened? No." Kashi grabbed the sailor and then tossed him over his shoulder. "Point the way. Tell me what happened as we go."

The midi pointed with its feet. "That way, kid." Kashi took off like a jet, but the midi's gaze remained calm, surprisingly unperturbed. "When yer disappeared, Drix ya call him? Yeah, Drix went looking fer ye. The kid charged across the Forever Sea nonstop for two days looking for ye. Luckily, he managed to find ye, but―"

"Drix!" Kashi shouted as he broke through the trees to a small clearing. The remaining sailors were crouched over a heavily panting Drix. The grass around was charred brown by electric sparks that shot out of the kirin's body. The sailors, a masonian man and a female kafu fed Drixlia some ground herbs, seemingly immune to the sparks.

Kashi frowned. The hell? Drixlia's electricity wasn't something you could just stand in. Who were these people, really? Bzzt! Kashi shook his head. This was not the time to consider that problem. Drixlia really did seem to be in bad shape. Kashi dropped the midi, and then rushed over to the kirin's side.

Drixlia looked terrible. Horrible injuries ran along its abdomen and legs, as if something had nearly torn it in half. The kirin's eyes were glazed over, evidently unable to recognize its surroundings. Its breathing was laboured and slow. Despite its brave struggle, it was nearing the end of its life.

As he examined Drixlia's injuries, Kashi finally recalled the last moments before he passed out. When he broke out of the ocean, Drixlia descended from the sky in a flash of blue lightning. But then, the monster chasing him caught up and attempted to swallow them whole.

In that moment of desperation, Drixlia jumped four tiers to forcefully utilize Tier 5 Gold Lightning. That overdraft alone was enough to break the kirin in pieces, but then, Drixlia got scratched by the monster's teeth as it escaped the beast's mouth. That scratch very nearly tore it clean in half.

That was the moment Kashi blacked out. From the moment Kashi broke out, to Drixlia escaping the monster, barely a second passed. That was how tight the margin of error, Drixlia was forced to work with. By all accounts, it was a miracle either of them survived that encounter.

The midi placed a hand on Kashi's shoulder. "Ye must be a great owner. He only had one thought in mind. Getting ye to safety. Alas, the best we can do is slow his passing, and reduce the pain."

"Thank you." Kashi looked at the pair of alchemists. "I will make sure to repay this favor." He then placed his hands on Drixlia, and said with a half-smile. "Sorry, Drix. I never agreed to a leave. We've still got way too much work to be done."

Whoosh!

"Oh my." The midi and alchemists exclaimed in shock as they watched green aura pour out of the daeben's hands, until Drixlia was shrouded in the green mist.

Kashi's brows furrowed. Perhaps because of Drixlia's high-level anatomy, it was taking longer than normal to heal its injuries. The daeben gritted his teeth. Damn it! This only happened because he was weak! He had to get stronger. Strong enough that he did not need to rely on anyone for help. Only

Fifteen minutes later, Kashi's hands shook and sweat pooled on his brows, but thankfully, Drixlia's condition had stabilized. The kirin's breathing was steady, if a bit low, and most of its injuries had healed. Some rest should take care of the rest.

Kashi waited for his mana to refill, and then transported Drixlia to Orez, where it could recuperate under Yggdrasil's branches. The daeben then looked at the silent, but stunned sailors. He rose to his feet and bowed. "Thank you. Drix would not have made it without your help. I will certainly repay this debt."

The midi waved off Kashi's gratitude with a nonchalant smile. "What's yer name, kid? That was something special, you just did."

"Kashi of the Hopeful Maggots."

"Kashi? Hopeful Maggots? What's that - Some sorta guild?"

Kashi stared at the midi with shock in his eyes. Not to brag, but was there a soul who had not heard of the Hopeful Maggots? Especially in Serisis, Rosendun and Merriheim? "Yes. It's a guild. My guild."

The midi clapped his hands, praise in his gaze. "Oh? Yer a guildleader, are ye? No wonder yer all peculiar-like. So, what brings you here? Seemed like ye were training?"

Kashi nodded. "Something like that." The daeben warily observed the smiling midi, and the other sailors. Previously, he had been too panicked to notice, but there was more to these sailors than met the eye. For one, he could not sense how strong they were. Which meant they were either stronger than him, or had very good concealment techniques. The daeben's eyes narrowed. "If you do not mind, may I request your identities?"

The midi shrugged. "Well, it ain't any grand secret. The name's Fang Ling." He pointed at the alchemists. "He's Jang Guk, and she's Chen Moon. We, along with the seven on the shore, are what remain of the Queen's Guard."

"Queen's guard?" Kashi's brow shot up. "The Serian Queen?"

"Yeah."

"But she's―"

"Dead?" Fang Ling snorted. "Can't be proven without a body. We believe the queen is still alive, somewhere out in the Forever Sea. We search for her everyday."

Kashi stared at the midi. What level of devotion was this? The queen had been pronounced dead over twenty years ago. These guys did not give up in that whole time? Kashi was not sure if this was loyalty or stupidity.

As if reading the youth's thoughts, Fang Ling said, "Often times, the difference between loyalty or stupidity lies solely in the result." He then pointed to the shores. "C'mon kid, ye should meet the others. I'll tell ye everything as we walk."

Kashi thought about it, then followed the midi. Interestingly, pure-blood midis did not 'walk', but hopped like the rabbits they evolved from. Of course, you'd only have yourself to blame if you dared to underestimated them because of this.

Fang Ling exposed the truth as he walked. The Serian Queen Xu Yao, often went on expeditions across the Forever Sea, in search of not only adventure, but items that could boost Serisis' economy. Most of the few plants that could survive in Serisis' harsh soil were found during such excursions.

During one expedition, Queen Xu Yao stumbled upon a great treasure that granted her nigh command of the sea. She hoped that with this, she could turn Serisis into a great fishing city, by driving away the much stronger beasts which killed local fishermen.

Unfortunately, the treasure's power attracted the King of the Sea, Kudrick of the Void. Kudrick was a giant leviathan that was over sixty meters in length, twice the size of the average blue whale. The giant leviathan usually spent its time at the lowest depths of the ocean, thousands of meters deep.

On that day, however, Kudrick was offended by the tug of an item that dared to control its territory. It thus launched a devastasting attack on Queen Xu Yao's ships. Hundreds perished in an instant. Queen Xu Yao, realizing the severity of the battle, immediately ordered the sea to swallow up and then transport the survivors to a safe location.

The last Fang Ling saw of his queen, was her proud back as she faced off against the mountain that shot up from the sea.

"That fish did not kill Her Highness." Fang Ling said to Kashi as they walked up to the seven sailors who were inspecting the skiff for any damages. "I feel it in me bones. Her Highness is out there, waiting for us to rescue her." He frowned. "We would have found her by now, were it not fer that bastard, Kudrick. Ever since that battle, he lurks close to the surface and chases us if we dare enter his territory."

"Kudrick." Kashi's gaze turned cold. "He's the one who wounded Drix?"

"Most likely. Those bite marks were too deep. Only Kudrick could have caught yer beast at that speed." Fang Ling paused when they reached the skiff. The sailors stopped their work to inspect the daeben with curious gazes. "Lads, meet Kashi. Kashi meet the lads." Without pause, he jabbed a thumb at Kashi. "Kashi here's a guild leader, alright? Treat him with some respect."

The sailors glanced at Fang Ling, then at Kashi. After a short pause, they smiled. "Nice ta meetcha, Kashi." An old masonian in his fifties greeted. "Let us know if ya need any help."

Fang Ling nodded, pleased with their reaction. He then turned to more pressing matters. "No luck this time too?"

"None." The masonian groaned and shook his head. "We've checked everywhere else. It's time to accept it. If the Queen's alive, she's definitely within Kudrick's territory."

Fang Ling frowned. His eyes turned grave as he gritted his teeth. "So, in the end, we must battle Kudrick. Hehe, what a bad joke." The sailors' gazes grew heavy, but not one looked down. They had resolved to rescue their queen, and they would do so, even if it cost them their lives.

"Sorry to say this, but if Kudrick's what I saw, then you do not stand a chance." The sailors glared at Kashi's rude remark, but the daeben continued with a cold gaze. "It's not a matter of strength. Its command over water is absolute. You're dead if you hit the sea."

Fang Ling glared at Kashi. "With all due respect kid, this ain't none of yer business."

"On the contrary, it is certainly my business," countered Kahsi. "Kudrick almost killed Drix. I owe him." Kashi was pissed. Royally pissed. Both at himself and this Kudrick bastard. "It'll take few months, but I do have a way to remove its control over the ocean. I only ask that you wait for a while."

Fang Ling's gaze narrowed. "What method is this?"

"A hydra." Kashi did not attempt to hide the truth. He needed to show some sincerity in order to gain their trust. "A hydra is probably the only sea creature capable of seizing control of the ocean from a leviathan."

"Yer saying ye have access to a hydra?"

"Yes. An infant Hydra, newly hatched." There was no need to reveal he had two. "It will take a few months for her to reach maturity. So, please, be patient for a while longer."

Fang Ling observed the daeben's tone and expression. It did not seem Kashi was lying, but he found the prospect too outlandish to believe. So, with raised brows, he asked, "Ye own a hydra? Ye?"

Kashi nodded. "Yeah." He raised his hand and summoned a large portal. Water flooded from the portal, accompanied by a man-sized Hydra. The black beast's feelers inspected the unfamiliar area, but then upon sensing Kashi, it ran back and nudged the daeben with its heads.

"That..." Fang Ling opened his mouth, and then closed it mulitple times. He was at a complete loss, disbelief and shock in his eyes. examined Kashi once more. What the hell was this kid!? How could he nonchalantly summon a Hydra?

Kashi smiled and then returned Dee to Orez. "That should be enough, right?"

"Uh... uh, yeah?" Fang Ling looked at Kashi like the daeben was an alien. "How'd ye get yer hands on a Hydra? And it looks like she likes ye, even?"

"Secret." Kashi decided to keep a small air of mystery. "I just need time for her to grow. Then we can go hunt Kudrick together. How does that sound?"

Fang Ling observed the daeben. "What's yer angle?" The old guard was no fool. No one risked their lives for others without some ulterior motive.

"I want to kill Kudrick," Kashi answered honestly. "Also, I am interested in this treasure your queen found. If we must kill Kudrick to find her, then I'm all for it."

Strangely, Fang Ling's expression relaxed upon hearing Kashi's greedy answer. "Alright. We'll wait for ye. But there ain't no guarantees on the queen's treasure. Only she can decide on its fate."

Kashi smiled. "You do not need to worry about that. I can be persuasive."

Fang Ling thought about it, then sighed. "Alright, kid. Deal's on." The midi's eyes shone. "So, what're you gonna do now? Back to practice?"

"Yeah. Got a big battle coming up. I need to be ready."

"Ready, huh." Fang Ling cracked his fingers as he gave the daeben a once-over. "Can't work with a weakling, and can't work with a dead man." His lips curled in a grin. "Fer that Hydra's sake, let's have a little spar."

The daeben grinned as Ferulic's Bow appeared in his hand. "Don't die, old man." 

A/N: Hope y'all are enjoying the holidays! Happy New Year in advance! Oh, and this volume will soon be nearing it's conclusion. It's been an awesome year! Special thanks to all Patreons who have made pursuing this dream something feasible. Love you guys, and can't wait to see what Next Year Brings!