UNDER THE DEPTHS OF NOCTHARIS
Salim was dragged deeper into the ocean.
The darkness around him was almost complete.
His body twisted helplessly through the water as whatever had grabbed his leg continued pulling him downward.
Then—
Salim saw something.
A body.
His eyes widened.
Ton.
Ton was floating motionlessly in the darkness, blood trailing from an injury on his head.
"TON!"
Salim tried to swim toward him, but the force around his leg kept pulling him away.
How can I even see him in this darkness?
Then Salim noticed something moving around them.
Hundreds of tiny glowing fish drifted through the water, their bodies giving off a faint light that illuminated the darkness.
The strange glow revealed the surroundings.
And then Salim saw it.
Something enormous moved behind Ton.
Salim slowly turned.
His eyes widened.
A massive serpent emerged from the darkness.
Its enormous body disappeared into the depths below.
Salim stared at its face.
Then recognition struck him.
No...
The second head of Yamato no Orochi.
Salim's breathing stopped for a moment.
Michael told me that he faced one of these before.
The serpent's enormous eye focused on him.
Salim looked around desperately.
He needed a way out.
Then his eyes caught something in the distance.
A long, straight shape.
It looked almost like a sword standing in the middle of the ocean floor.
Salim looked down at his leg.
A thick rope-like appendage from the serpent was wrapped around it.
If I can change its direction...
Salim grabbed the rope.
He twisted it with all his strength.
The serpent's movement shifted.
The rope dragged Salim toward the left—
straight toward the strange sword.
The serpent didn't seem to understand what he was doing.
Salim got closer.
Closer.
Then his eyes widened.
That's not a line...
It was a sword.
A real sword.
Embedded deep within the rock.
Salim immediately grabbed his bow.
He drew an arrow.
He fired.
The arrow curved through the water, changing direction in midair.
It passed around the serpent's body—
and struck the rope.
CUT.
The rope snapped.
Salim was free.
The serpent stared at him.
Then its enormous mouth opened.
Smart one.
Its eyes narrowed.
But I am really hungry today.
Suddenly—
dozens of smaller serpents emerged from the darkness.
They charged toward Salim.
Salim's expression changed.
"Too many..."
He fired an arrow covered in flames.
The fire immediately disappeared beneath the water.
Salim froze.
Of course.
Fire doesn't work underwater.
He gritted his teeth.
Most of my abilities are useless down here.
The serpents rapidly approached.
Salim looked toward the sword.
That sword...
He had no other choice.
He charged toward it.
The smaller serpents followed.
The glowing fish scattered as Salim raced through the dark water.
He reached the sword.
Then noticed something engraved into the stone beneath it.
"LACOD DARMEN'S BLADE."
Salim froze.
Lacod?
His eyes widened.
Wait...
Is this related to Junyu's family?
The serpents reached him.
They attacked.
Salim grabbed the sword.
He pulled.
Nothing.
He pulled harder.
Still nothing.
"COME ON!"
The sword didn't move.
Then—
BOOM!
A shockwave erupted from the blade.
The surrounding water violently rippled outward.
The serpents were blown backward.
Salim stared at the sword.
Words appeared across its surface.
"ONLY FEW CAN LIFT THIS."
Salim looked up.
The great serpent was watching him.
And it was laughing.
A deep, distorted sound echoed through the water.
Then Salim looked toward Ton.
His body was sinking deeper.
Farther.
And farther.
Salim's expression collapsed.
I lost.
His hand loosened around the sword.
No.
A hand suddenly rested on his shoulder.
Salim froze.
He slowly turned around.
A familiar figure stood behind him.
"Acharya Karn?"
The figure smiled.
"Yes, son."
Salim stared at him.
"You look lost."
Salim lowered his head.
"I am."
His voice became quieter.
"I don't know what to do anymore."
He looked toward Ton disappearing into the depths.
"It feels like I'm lost."
Acharya Karn looked directly into his eyes.
"Listen."
The glowing fish drifted around them.
"You were not given the Eye of Mahakaal because you were strong."
Salim looked up.
"You were given it because you were brave."
Salim shook his head.
"I am not brave."
Acharya Karn smiled.
"You are, son."
He placed his hand firmly on Salim's shoulder.
"But first..."
He paused.
"Do you even know anything about yourself?"
Salim hesitated.
"I am Salim."
"Salim."
Acharya Karn looked at him.
"And then what?"
Salim remained silent.
The question echoed through his mind.
His identity.
His purpose.
His place among the Devil Horns.
His responsibility.
He finally answered.
"Right-hand man of Devil Horns."
Acharya Karn smiled.
"Then be it."
Salim's eyes widened.
Suddenly—
the vision shattered.
Salim's eyes snapped open.
A tremendous force erupted from his body.
BOOM!
Light spread through the ocean.
His entire body began glowing.
The darkness around him disappeared beneath a brilliant radiance.
The glowing fish scattered.
The water itself seemed to illuminate.
The great serpent stopped laughing.
Its enormous eyes widened.
For the first time—
it was afraid.
Salim slowly raised his head.
His expression had completely changed.
He looked at the serpent with now two eyes..
But with three!-