"Xue, what's wrong?" Seiya asked, turning toward him then followed the direction of the boy's gaze.
And froze.
Gasps echoed around the boat. Heads turned. Even the chatter of the other passengers died into a stunned, whispering hush.
From the thick wall of mist ahead, something massive began to take shape. The boat drifted slowly, silently, cutting through the fog like a blade through silk.
The mist began to part.
There, towering above the riverbanks, stood colossal stone figures carved directly into the mountainside. Their heads lost in the heights of the cliff, shoulders broad enough to hold temples upon them, arms stretched out with ancient, reverent grace. One held a massive urn tilted downward, from which a roaring waterfall poured endlessly into the river below, the spray casting clouds of mist into the air and drenching the boat in cold drops.
The water thundered around them, yet no one spoke. Not a soul dared to disturb the majesty of what they were witnessing. Whispers filled the boat like the rustle of trees,
"Are those real?"
"How old is this?"
"I've never seen anything like it…"
"Is that… a goddess carved into the stone?"
Intricate carvings covered every surface massive symbols, The boat drifted silently through the sacred veil of mist, its passengers staring in breathless wonder as more of the ancient landscape revealed itself. Water shimmered in the air, catching slivers of sunlight as it poured from the great urn held by the mountainous figure. It wasn't merely a statue, it was a mountain carved into divinity.
The entire river valley seemed to awaken. Towering cliffs stretched on both sides, each etched with sacred reliefs—giants locked in celestial combat, battle scenes, deities, sacred beasts, a goddess sitting atop thrones of lotuses, phoenixes with wings of flame unfurling across entire walls of stone. A thousand stories etched in stone, frozen in time.
Then, from among the crowd of passengers, someone pointed frantically.
"L-Look!" the man shouted, awe-struck. "Is that… carved from the entire mountain?!"
Gasps followed, heads turning as a second mountainous figure emerged opposite—this one with twin dragons spiraling up its form, their fanged maws open in silent roars, their stone scales so detailed they seemed to shimmer.
A boy leaned over the edge to get a better look only to be shoved forward by someone behind.
"Hey! Don't push me! Are you trying to toss me into the river?!"
"I didn't even notice you were there! My eyes were on… this! it's my first time going to the capital!"
"Mine too," another chimed in, laughing with disbelief. "Thanks to His Majesty for allowing us commoners to enter the imperial capital. Who could've imagined… seeing all this with our own eyes?"
A haughty voice cut through the awe, a woman draped in embroidered robes speaking with disdain.
"You common folks are too easily impressed," she scoffed. "This is just the edge of it. You should count yourselves lucky. In the past, trespassers near the gates were executed without question."
She turned, gesturing toward the looming figures now fully revealed in the mist.
"What you're gawking at is not a mere sculpture. That—" her voice dropped with gravity, "—is one of the Nine Sentinel Gates guarding the imperial capital. Each one was forged over centuries and infused with immense divine power. They've stood vigil for over a thousand years. No soul enters the capital unless the gates permit it… and none who have dared defy them have ever returned."
A shiver ran through the boat.
The mist parted completely now, unveiling an immense pair of grand doors towering several meters high—carved seamlessly into the mountain between two colossal divine figures. The twin dragons flanking the gate had their tails curled into the archway, forming the threshold, while their mighty heads loomed downward, as if judging every soul that dared pass beneath them.
Lanterns floated midair, glowing softly as they drifted above the river, casting shimmering reflections on the rippling water below.
As the boat neared the gate, a sudden flicker pulsed through the air.
The dragons' eyes—empty just a breath ago—glowed to life in a fierce, otherworldly red. A low hum trembled through the air. Their gaze locked on the approaching passengers, piercing deep into their spirits. The crowd froze.
No one dared to speak. A collective breath was held. Astra instinctively held Xue closer. Shion had returned to the deck, a few paces from the rest, arms crossed—but his sharp eyes betrayed unease even beneath his usual indifference.
Kaen stood motionless, his gaze locked on the towering gate. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, he murmured,
"…We've crossed into the Outer Sanctum. Ryoma, don't delay. The dragons are scanning everything. They won't let the gate open unless all is clear. Trick them."
Ryoma, who had been staring intently at the dragons, narrowed his eyes. Then, quietly, almost imperceptibly, he stepped back. His hands slid behind his back. Swiftly, fluidly, He began weaving silent hand signs, hidden from the view of those around him.
Except Xue. The boy blinked once, then slowly exhaled. A faint shimmer pulsed around him barely visible and vanished in an instant.
Moments later, the crimson glow in the dragons' eyes dimmed and died. Their stone gazes dulled once more, returning to their lifeless stillness.
The tension dissolved from the air like a sigh.
A murmur spread through the boat, half-relieved, half-awed.
Suddenly, the colossal gates groaned open, the sound deep and ancient—like the earth itself yawning awake. The massive doors parted, revealing a narrow path carved between towering cliff-like walls. Light filtered through the mist, painting golden streaks on the stone as the boat drifted forward, drawn in by an invisible force.
Behind them, the great doors slowly began to close. One by one, other boats followed, gliding silently through the threshold. As they passed beyond, the heavy gates sealed shut with a thunderous echo that reverberated across the water.
The mist hung low, but shapes moved within it—more vessels emerging from the fog like phantoms. Small river boats with families huddled close, merchant barges piled with goods, a regal ship bearing imperial flags, and even sleek transport skiffs filled with cloaked figures. All heading in the same direction.
Kaen exhaled, tension lingering in his shoulders. "We're close," he murmured, eyes still on the path ahead. "We'll be reaching land soon."
Ryoma gave a short nod and parted his lips to speak when—
"Astra?"
Seiya's voice sliced through the quiet, sharp with concern.
Kaen and Ryoma turned instantly and froze.
Astra stood at the far end of the deck, her body trembling. Her expression had shifted completely—gone was her self. In its place was something raw and frantic. Her breathing came in short, ragged gasps. Her hands clawed at her neck, nails digging into her skin as if trying to rip something unseen away.
Her steps moved backward without control, as though trying to flee from a force pressing in.
"Evils' Breath…" Kaen whispered, his voice cracking. His face paled with sudden regret. "We completely forgot about it."
Everyone turned toward her at once—and terror took root.
"The sanctum barrier…"Seirou said, his voice low with dread. "It's rejecting her—because of it."
"Ryoma," he said sharply, turning. "We forgot she can get infected by Evils' Breath again."
"Astra—!" Kaen surged forward, panic breaking through his usual calm. "Stop!"
His shout rang across the waters like a thunderclap—so loud, so sudden, that everyone turned. Even passengers in nearby boats froze, their chatter silenced as they stared in confusion and alarm toward their boat.
"Someone's shouting, what's going on over there?"
"Look! Look there—!"
But it was already too late.
Ryoma moved, faster than any of them could follow—his hand shooting forward, a flash of energy curling at his fingertips.
"No—don't!"
But just before Ryoma could reach her, Astra stumbled—her fingers still clawing at her throat—then fell backward over the edge of the boat.
A sharp splash echoed as she hit the water, vanishing beneath the surface.
Everyone's breath hitched.
Gasps and shouts rang out from the other boats.
"There! Someone fell into the river!"
"Was that a woman?!"
"Gods, she just disappeared!"
Ryoma was already at the edge, eyes scanning the rippling water with sharp, desperate precision. There was no sign of her, no bubbles, no movement, no flutter of fabric.
Not a single trace.
Without hesitation, he leapt in, slicing cleanly into the water with barely a sound.
Everyone on the boat rushed to the edge, leaning over, trying to catch a glimpse of the water below. The mist clung low, and the ripples from his fall spread like ghostly rings across the surface.
Kaen and Seiya both moved instinctively ready to jump in after her but Seirou and Shion caught them back with firm grips.
"Let go!" Seiya snarled, thrashing against Shion's grip. "She's drowning down there!"
"She knows how to swim, idiot!" Shion snapped, holding him back with force, his voice low and sharp. "Don't lose your head now!"
Seirou leaned in close to Kaen, his voice calm but resolute. "Ryoma will handle it. Don't crowd the water. If you go in now, it'll only make things worse."
Kaen's fists clenched, the tension crackling through his shoulders. He took a step forward, but didn't fight him.
Meanwhile, beneath the surface, Ryoma sliced through the dark water like a blade eyes narrowed, muscles taut, scanning every flicker, every shiver of current. But there was nothing. Just vast, echoing emptiness. He shot upward, breaking the surface with a sharp gasp, chest heaving as he spun in place, desperate for a sign. Then—without hesitation—he dove again, vanishing soundlessly into the depths like a shadow swallowed whole.
On deck, panic spread like fire.
"Shion! I swear, if you don't let go—" Seiya shouted, struggling against the arm locking him back.
And then a voice rang out, sharp and urgent, from another boat nearby.
"Another splash! Someone just jumped in from that boat!"
Heads whipped around. Gasps erupted. Through the swirling mist, a second figure could barely be seen, cutting through the air before vanishing into the river with a clean dive. The ripples spread wide, vanishing into the white shroud.
"What is happening?!" a passenger cried. "Is everyone going to fall in one by one?!"
The crowd surged to the edges of the boat, murmurs turning to anxious shouts.
Kaen dropped to his knees, breath caught in his throat, sweat clinging to his brow. His hands trembled slightly as they pressed to the wooden deck.
Through the chaos, Xue pushed past legs and robes, small hands gripping fabric as he struggled forward. He stumbled to Kaen's side, eyes wide, blinking rapidly in confusion.
"…Astra?" he asked softly, his voice lost beneath the roar of panic.
Kaen turned slowly, pulling the boy into his arms, jaw clenched.
"We weren't ready for this," he murmured. "Not here… not now."