The three ships neared them rapidly and eventually, dozens of people started to stream out from the three ships. They jumped down into the water, sticking their hands out and the sea started to freeze. 

Due to the fact that there were dozens of water elemental users, the water froze up rapidly and created a walking path. Others began to jump down from the ship, charging towards all of them and on the decks of the ships, there were multiple people standing there with bows. 

“How did Ephert get this many people on his side?” Haru mumbled out in disbelief. “Even if elemental users are everywhere, the ones that can control their elements this well are uncommon.” 

“According to Hana and K’xug,” Yun adjusted his glasses, stepping forward. “It seems like Ephert had completely monopolised the mercenary market of the whole continent.” 

“Bastard,” Kiyae cursed out, clicking her tongue. “As if forcibly making people as slaves weren’t enough.” 

Xue and K’xug could sense the ominous presence of light and dark magic growing on the three ships. They looked at each other, and without another word, K’xug sprouted out his wings. 

Once again, this caused another panicked commotion among the others. They still weren’t used to seeing K’xug this way. 

Haru almost collapsed to the ground again, letting out a weird yelp. 

“We’ll go first.” Xue stated simply as K’xug carried him. 

“Ah, hey, bring me along!” Ryo exclaimed, waving excitedly. “Me! Me me me!” 

K’xug rolled his eyes, carrying Ryo along. There was no telling how much the man would continue to bug him later on.

He believed Ryo was capable of protecting himself and dodging the enchanted weapons or arrows. 

The three of them flew straight past the mercenaries still charging onwards, the water elemental users maintaining the ice pathway. 

“We need to take out those water elemental users,” Yun advised. “Once they are down, the ice pathway would break leaving the mercenaries to swim across or be swept away by the waves.” 

“I’ll distract them!” Hana chirped, flipping her bow expertly and pulling the bowstring back. 

“I’ll support.” Yun adjusted his glasses, whipping out his fans. 

“I’ll beat up anyone that dares to come up here.” Kiyae grinned, cracking her knuckles. 

“And I’ll--” Haru started to say. 

“You’ll rest.” Cecil interrupted, lukewarm. “Compared to Kiyae, your injuries are worse and you’ll impede the recovery process.” 

Haru pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes at Cecil. 

“I took on the role to be the healer since all of you were rushing off,” Cecil narrowed her eyes at Haru. “After all the effort and medicine the healer went through to help you, I won’t let you waste it.” 

Haru sighed in resignation, sinking down to the ground in defeat with one leg up. 

“That’s right, captain, listen to the healer.” Kiyae snickered. 

Yun smiled faintly. 

“Fine, fine!” Haru waved in frustration. 

Hana giggled. “I’ll be shooting my arrows now!” 

Hana released her bowstring, the ice arrows shooting across the water and past the mercenaries. They had already reached the bottom of the ship, scaling it with their elemental powers. 

Yun gave his fan a large sweep, creating gales that threw some of them off the ship. 

“Wah!” 

“Aargh!” 

“Kiyae, Cecil, there are some strays!” 

“Okay!” 

“Got it, Yun Yun!” Kiyae winked, hitting his ponytail.

“...”

Yun sighed. 

Haru drew circles on the ground. “I wanna fight too.” 

Hence, Hana was solely focused on shooting down those water elemental users or throwing them off balance. The rest of them focused on preventing any mercenaries from climbing onto the ship. 

Haru was left to draw more circles on the wooden floor. For every time he took a step forward to enter the fray, there were multiple warning looks from all around him.  

***

K’xug reached above the ships, noticing that the archers were panicking and aiming the arrows enchanted with light magic at them. 

“What the--”

“He’s flying?!” 

“Are those actual wings?!” 

“Shoot them down! Shoot them!” 

He prioritized Ryo first, tossing him onto another ship. Ryo let out a happy cheer, clearly not caring about how he was tossed aside without warning. 

K’xug threw Xue the next, and Xue wasn’t flustered in any way. 

After which, the three of them landed on top the decks of each individual ship. The mercenaries were in a scrambling mess due to their unexpected entrance. The three of them surged forward, skillfully dodging and taking the mercenaries down with their own abilities. 

Under the impact of their fierce fighting, the ships started to break apart. Ryo, who had the wildest personality among them all, destroyed the ship first. Despite it being unintentional, Ryo still destroyed it. 

Fortunately, it wasn’t a ship that belonged to Haru this time. 

Just then, he saw a mercenary flailing helplessly in the water. His casual kimono had been ruined by the fight between him and Ryo. 

“Da-damnit! I can’t swim! I told them I can’t swim!” the mercenary panicked, struggling. “I had no ch-choice but to--” 

The mercenary started to sink down into the water. 

Ryo sat on top of the pile of debris, sighing and he put away his halberd, jumping into the water. A few seconds later, he burst out of the water with the same mercenary who was coughing out water. 

“Hey, what kind of mercenary doesn’t know how to swim?” Ryo mumbled out, supporting him as he swam to the pile of debris. “Maybe this line of work isn’t suited for you.” 

“It’s not like I had a choice--I needed...money! And the jobs were all--ruined by--Ephert!” 

“Hold onto this.” 

The mercenary inhaled shakily, looking up at Ryo. “Th-thanks.” 

Ryo climbed up onto the pile of debris, shaking the water away from his hair as his earrings danced along to his movements. 

The other two ships where Xue and K’xug were at started to break apart. Just before the ships fully sank, the archers shot out arrows as their last desperate attempt to bring their enemies down with them. 

Alas, it became a stray arrow.

More specifically, a stray arrow headed towards Ryo. 

“Hey, watch out!” The mercenary he saved exclaimed in horror. 

His exclamation somehow made K’xug and Xue look over their shoulder, since they had gotten rid of their enemies who were left stranded on the water with debris. 

Ryo burst open his eyes, halting his movements. He dodged the arrow, but it managed to nick him in the arm and he winced.

He crouched down, clutching his arm as his face writhed in pain. 

K’xug and Xue rushed over to Ryo. 

They knew the tragic fate that awaited mortals who came into contact with light magic. 

K’xug was the first to reach there with his wings, kneeling down on one knee beside Ryo. He tore Ryo’s hand away from his arm in a hurry, stiffening as he did so. 

Xue leapt across the debris, reaching them quickly enough. He noticed the frozen reaction from K’xug and Ryo who still wore a pained expression. 

“Is it…” Xue questioned, apprehensive. 

K’xug shot his head up and he pulled Xue down in a hurry. 

“Agh! It-it burns!” Ryo cried out. “What is happening to me? Wh-what is this? It feels…” 

The small cut on his arm was bleeding and showed the slightest sign of disintegration, his skin and the flesh around it turning into flakes. However, just as the process is fully complete, his skin and flesh would return to normal and the process repeated itself. 

K’xug looked at Xue. 

Xue frowned. 

His body...is becoming a worthy vessel. 

The archives in the heavenly realm had records dating back to the first Supreme God. It was him who created the process of allowing mortals to ascend to the heavenly or demon realm. However, before they could ascend, they had to baptize themselves with light magic.

The most obvious telltale sign their body was a worthy vessel...is when they no longer disintegrated.

Even if they passed the initial test of making past the cloudy cliff to ascend to the two realms, if they did not pass this process, it would be utterly meaningless. 

There was no explanation how the entire process worked, since it was a method created by the first Supreme God who was extremely elusive and omnipotent. 

Nevertheless, Ryo was halfway there. 

K’xug and Xue were amazed at Ryo. 

“He-hey, why are you looking at me like that--” Ryo winced out before he paled. “Am I--am I going to disappear like them?!” 

K’xug shook his head, his eyes turning demonic as he gathered a small ball of dark magic onto his palm. 

“No, just stay still,” Xue deepened his frown. “K’xug is neutralizing the effects.” 

Ryo blinked rapidly and he felt the burning sensation on his cut gradually fading. He was bewildered, looking down at his arm. 

It was a normal cut now, still seeping out blood. 

“I don’t understand…” Ryo tilted his head. “Everyone who came into contact with that frightening arrow all disappeared from existence, doesn’t matter how tiny the contact was…” 

Xue and K’xug remained silent. 

“How is that possible?” Ryo questioned, looking at them. “In the first place, what even are those things?” 

Their conversation was soon interrupted by a clamorous noise, and they realised that in the sea, whirlpools had started to form. 

“What the hell--” 

“Ahhhh!” 

Without knowing, Haru’s ship had already come close to them. The whirlpools seemed to be controlled by someone, not allowing the whirlpools to interfere with the movement of their ship. 

The ice pathway had been completely annihilated, the mercenaries were now scattered across the water, scrambling to hold onto the debris of the ruined ships. 

On the deck of the ship, Yun stood there with his fan, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. 

“Hey! You three!” Kiyae hollered, gesturing towards them. “Get up here, quick!” 

There were no whirlpools leading to their ship, and some of the mercenaries were desperate to climb onto them. They were only kicked off heartlessly by the others. 

The three of them didn’t hesitate to move, swimming towards the ship across the sea. A rope ladder was thrown down to them, and they scaled it skillfully. Ryo was wincing slightly due to the injury on his arm, but he pushed on. 

Just like that, Ephert’s plan to hold them back or to inflict serious injuries on them was thwarted. The combined strength of Haru and his comrades, along with Xue and the others were too overwhelming. 

***

Cecil inspected them for injuries, guiding them to the medical bay that had been built into the ship. Once again, this was a stolen cruise ship that Haru had proudly proclaimed. 

Cecil was speechless at Haru. 

While inspecting them, K’xug shook his head at Cecil, clearly telling her there was no need to inspect him and he was completely fine. 

On the other hand, Xue did not say a word. He sat on the bed quietly, remaining indifferent. The water from his kimono stained the bed sheet. 

K’xug glanced at Xue, scoffing in disbelief. 

Shameless. 

The only thing that touched him the entire fight was the water from the sea. 

Cecil inspected Xue first. 

On the inside, Xue was secretly pleased that Cecil had approached him first rather than Ryo. 

“Are you alright?”

“Mhmm.” 

“Right, you should be,” Cecil nodded. “Since K’xug was fine, you should be as well.” 

“Damn it,” Ryo growled out in annoyance. “This cut is itching me.” 

Cecil immediately switched to Ryo, much to Xue’s dismay. 

“You were injured, Ryo?” Cecil fussed over him, frowning. “Where? Is it only here? Your arm?” 

“Yeah, it was a damn stray arrow that nicked me,” Ryo mumbled out, as if disappointed in himself. “I should have dodged that weird arrow completely…” 

She stiffened upon hearing Ryo’s words. 

“Is...is it the same arrow they used back at the coliseum?” 

“Yeah!” 

Cecil widened her eyes in disbelief, grabbing Ryo’s arm hastily and looking closely at the cut. She then swivelled her head towards Xue.

He was the only one who could explain how Ryo made it out without disintegrating.  

However, Xue only wore a frown and did not say a word in response. 

“See? You are surprised that I’m okay too, right?” Ryo grinned. “I’m not the only confused one here.” 

“Yes...definitely…” Cecil nodded absentmindedly, fiddling with her storage ring. “I’ll dress your wounds, you should change into some dry clothes.” 

Ryo looked at his cut, seemingly glum as Cecil administered treatment. 

“I can’t believe I let an arrow hit me,” Ryo clicked his tongue, narrowing his eyes. “I’m just not good enough yet, not good enough…” 

“Okay, you are--” 

“Stronger, I’ll get stronger!” Ryo burst up from the bed, dashing out of the medical bay as he hollered. “Hey, K’xug! K’xuggg! Fight me! Fight with meeee!” 

Cecil was flabbergasted, blinking rapidly. 

Ryo ran away like the wind.

On the other hand, K’xug who was still making his way out to the upper deck heard Ryo’s voice echoing through the corridor. A shiver went down his spine and he quickened his pace. 

It would be a good time to use his concealment spell now…if he could. 

Eventually, Xue and Cecil were left in the medical bay. Cecil was keeping her bandages and ointment into her storage ring.

“How did Ryo make it out safely?” She questioned Xue, still keeping her things. “Is there some method to prevent them from disintegrating? Or was it luck? No...it can’t be...”

“He is starting to meet the requirements of a worthy vessel.” 

“...?” 

Cecil lifted her head up, tilting it. 

“His elemental energy is growing and accepting the transition to light magic, for his body,” Xue explained. “If he wanted to, he could ascend to the heavenly realm in the near future.” 

“Such...such a thing is possible?” 

“The first Supreme God made it so, it was probably thousands of years ago...or more than that.” 

Cecil nodded in understanding. 

How interesting. 

Just then, a beeping noise was heard. 

[ Congratulations! You have fixed another plothole of the story! ] 

[ No points will be given since it was not a plothole you discovered by learnt about it from the characters~ ]

“...”

“Fine, who cares, who needs those points anyway.” 

[ … ]

AI500 felt like its host was looking down on points now.

Cecil was intrigued by the newfound information, her charming eyes still gleaming delightfully. 

“Cute.” 

She snapped out of her daze, looking down at Xue still sitting down on the bed. He had been observing her closely the entire time, an adoring look in his grey eyes. 

“Who?” 

“You,” Xue smiled at her. “You are cute.”

“...” 

Cecil felt her heart skipping a beat. 

She had forgotten. 

In the novel, once his feelings of love was finally reciprocated, Xue was very affectionate in his words. He was blunt and straightforward in his words, which just added on to how affectionate he could be. 

In simple words, he did not hold back. 

...this isn’t good for my heart. 

Really not good.

Cecil bit on her lower lip. 

“You are doing that again.” 

“Hmm?” 

“Biting your lip,” Xue leaned in closer as he lowered his voice. “It makes me want to kiss you again.” 

She released her lips instantly, blushing. 

As expected! 

Really, really not good for my heart! 

Xue reached forward, wanting to wrap his arm around Cecil’s waist and pull her down for a kiss. It was then he realised his clothes were still wet, and he paused. 

She noticed it too, stuttering her words out. “Yo-you should change into some dry clothes.” 

“I will,” he continued smiling, reaching his hand up to stroke her cheek. “After you kiss me.” 

“...?!” 

“I can’t touch you since I don’t want your clothes to get wet.” 

“Th-that doesn’t...make any sense…” 

Xue chuckled, closing his eyes as he tilted his head towards her. 

The sunlight streamed in through the opened window, bathing Xue in a warm light and highlighting his attractive features. His sensual lips were curved into a smile, and there were still droplets of water clinging to his hair, rolling down his face from time to time. 

Cecil couldn’t help but admire this picturesque scene. 

So handsome…

She closed her eyes, her hands touching his cheeks as she leaned down, kissing his lips. In the medical bay, the soft sound of waves was heard through the opened window. 

The kiss was light and short. 

Cecil withdrew, her eyelashes fluttering. 

Xue slowly opened his eyes as well. 

“I’ll go change now,” his voice was gentle and light as he stood up from the bed. “And I’ll be right back.” 

His eyes lingered on her a little longer before he reluctantly left the room, leaving Cecil alone behind in the medical bay. 

She needed to be alone anyway. 

Cecil buried her face into her hands, exhaling heavily before she lifted her head up. 

He’s really...too affectionate. 

However, anyone could see the happy smile adorning her plump lips. 

This is nice. 

This is so nice. 

Cecil touched her lips softly with her fingers before she squealed, burying her face into her own hands again. 

***

Their journey to find Haru’s master, lord Kiba, took a week across the sea. The second continent was filled with water after all, and the best mode of transport has always been ships. 

Fortunately, Cecil had prepared more than enough medicine for the sea-sick Hana. The four of them passed their time like how they always do. 

Training. 

Although, the onlookers could tell there was a different kind of atmosphere among the four of them. 

Cecil and Xue seemed to be more closer than ever, and especially Xue, who seemed to be smiling than usual. Even if they were apart, they tend to smile for no reason. 

It gave some people goosebumps. 

The soul fragments inside Xue were also getting goosebumps from the amount of times he had been smiling. However, how could they blame him? 

They were smiling for no reason as well. 

Hana and K’xug stole glances at one another, and when their eyes met, they hurriedly looked away. Their movements became stiff when it came to training with one another. 

“Ah,” Kiyae spoke wistfully. “Love is in the air.” 

Haru shuddered, rubbing at his arms. “Gross.” 

Ryo was determined to get stronger, stealing K’xug away from Hana. Hana pouted to herself, voicing out her displeasure. 

"Give K'xug back!"

"No way! I wanna fight him!"

Yun approached Xue. 

The ash blonde-haired man was watching Cecil that occupied a quiet area on her own at the upper decks. He leaned against the wooden railing with his arms across his chest. 

The large ship was more than spacious. 

No one dared to disturb her, especially after seeing the concentration apparent on her face. 

She was practicing her dancing along with the movements of her daggers. They had now grown rather used to the standard of fashion of this continent, their clothing were always either a kimono or a yukata.

Cecil paused, shaking her head and mumbling to herself. 

Xue smiled fondly.

“Xue.”

He did not turn to look at Yun, still staring at Cecil. 

“Speak.” 

“Those strange weapons back at the coliseum, and how Ryo was completely unharmed by it,” Yun began to say, adjusting his glasses. “Do you have an explanation for all of them?” 

“Do you need one?” 

“For lord Kiba and Haru,” Yun nodded his head, solemn. “I need a precise explanation.” 

Xue finally looked away from Cecil, his warm expression becoming indifferent. “I’ll explain it once we are in front of your lord.” 

In fact, Xue himself didn’t completely know everything. 

He had no idea why angels and demons were descending down into the mortal realm, when they were clearly having a never-ending war with one another. 

“Thank you.” 

“...” 

Xue looked back at Cecil. 

“No need,” he lowered his voice, just enough for Yun to hear him. “Following your annoying captain and the rest of you...isn’t so bad after all.” 

Yun paused for a moment, before he smiled. 

“Likewise.” 

Yun walked away. 

Just then, Cecil finished her movements completely and she beamed. She turned her head, finding her gaze meeting Xue. 

She sheathed her daggers, raising her hand as she waved at him. 

“Xue!” 

Her smile was dazzling. 

Xue couldn’t help but smile back. 

It really isn’t so bad. 

Everything.

Right now. 

Xue lifted himself off the wooden railings, walking towards Cecil. 

***

《 start 》

Your soft lips. 

Your lovely expressions. 

Your laughter.

Your smile. 

I can’t get enough of it. 

《 stop 》