Nox and the others didn’t just stop their tyranny there. They moved through the outer areas of the Abyssal Kelp, taking out one team after another. The other participants were constantly on the lookout, afraid that they would be next. It continued for the rest of the second day. The third day hit like a hammer. By morning, every camp was whispering the same thing—avoid the dark-haired human with the shark rider, avoid the twin princesses with the spinning currents, and for the love of the deep, avoid the serpent that comes from nowhere. Without realizing it, the group of four had struck fear into everyone’s hearts! After several hours of hunting, Nox finally exhaled. "That’s enough." "Already?" Lyra asked. "Yes, this much should put us in first place." Nox nodded confidently. Dorran patted the sack over his shoulder. It looked like a small whale’s gut, stuffed with trophies—both the stolen ones and those they had hunted themselves. "Feels like it." "The event should end any moment now," Coralia reminded. "We should head toward the boundary of the forest." Just then, a loud horn echoed through the forest, announcing the end of the event. From the thick plants, groups walked out slowly—some limping, armor bent, weapons broken, eyes tired. All around, teams could be seen cursing under their breath. But when they spotted Nox’s group, they immediately went quiet and looked away. Right at the entrance of the forest, a row of judges in shiny scale armor stood beside a specially crafted coral table that was a magical artifact on its own. When trophies were placed on it, glowing runes automatically displayed their total count above. "Turn in," a judge with a stern expression ordered. Teams stepped up one after another, emptying their sacks onto the table. Their scores appeared in soft light—numbers low. 73. 112. 146. One proud team hit 231 and held their breath. Nox placed his bag down, and the table groaned. The judge’s eyebrow twitched. "Name." Get full chapters from 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵※𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮※𝓷𝓮𝓽 "Team Nox," Dorran said before Nox could answer. "Or ’Please Don’t Make Us Cry’—your pick." Nox nodded at Shade. The serpent slid another heavy bundle onto the table, and Coralia added another, as if placing the final touch. The judge blinked in surprise; this was the biggest sack he had seen in the entire event. "You’re sure this was all taken inside the outer area?" "Yes," Nox replied calmly. Glowing symbols rose from the table to the top of the coral arch, counting. They didn’t stop for a long time. Whispers began. Then louder chatter. "That can’t be right." The symbols froze. The final number shone bright and clear. Then gasps spread through the clearing like a wave hitting a wall. The judge cleared his throat, face turning serious again. "Recorded. Step aside." They obeyed. Other teams came up slowly, eyes darting toward the glowing 1,384 like it was an untouchable mountain they could only dream of climbing. Seeing that arrogant number floating above the arch, many participants felt completely demotivated. "Thirteen hundred and eighty-four?" someone muttered. "That’s not even possible..." "Did they rob everyone?" another shouted angrily, but his voice quickly faded as one of the judges climbed onto a makeshift podium. All eyes fixed on him, waiting for the final results. "By the order of the Royal Hunt," the head judge announced, his voice echoing through a conch shell, "this year’s first place goes to Team Nox." It was silent for a moment, but then a cheer started at the edges, growing stronger as people remembered that first place meant royal favors and enormous rewards. Even rivals clapped, because the score difference was simply too great to ignore. "Winners," the judge continued. "Return to Aquaria at once. His Majesty is wait—" Suddenly, a heavy pressure struck the city like a weight falling from the sky. It hit the harbor first. The water surged. Statues along the streets shook. Fish froze, then scattered again. People looked up all at once, the same thought crossing their minds—something had arrived. Nox’s skin tingled. Shade stiffened. Grim let out a low rumble. Lyra went pale, eyes widening. "That energy—" "I feel it too," Coralia said, voice tight. Far beyond the walls, the Abyssal Kelp Forest swelled, as if something inside had taken a massive breath. Then the kelp split apart like curtains drawn wide. It was the Sea Devotees! Their line stayed perfectly straight as they marched from the forest across the seafloor toward Aquaria—like a rising tide made of soldiers. At their center walked one man with silver hair, armor that moved as if alive, and eyes that never blinked. Alarm bells rang. Barracks doors flew open. Soldiers filled the walls and streets. The plaza crowded fast as guards held citizens back. Nox didn’t move. He watched Kaelen, remembering him from his first time in the Abyssal Kelp Forest. "Your Majesty!" a captain shouted. "Should we close the gates?" Above them, on the tallest balcony, King Thalasar stepped out. His crown gleamed. His cloak glittered with shell pins like tiny moons. His eyes flicked briefly to the group, then back to the sea. The Sea Devotees halted just beyond the range of the city’s ballistas. They didn’t look afraid. The front line parted, and Kaelen walked forward alone until he stood at the invisible line where the city’s magic barrier met open water. He looked up at the balcony. When he spoke, his voice wasn’t loud—but it carried clearly through the water. "King Thalasar," Kaelen said, calm and firm, "hand over the humans to us." The plaza rippled with murmurs. Some citizens whispered in support of handing over the outsiders, especially those who had participated in the hunt, while others looked horrified at the suggestion. "Over our dead bodies!" someone shouted, then flinched as the person beside him hissed and pulled him down. Kaelen lifted a hand, palm open, his expression serene. "We will not harm your people. We seek only the outsiders. They trespassed where they should not. They bring imbalance. Hand them over, and we will leave." Dorran’s face turned pale. He looked at Nox and whispered in a barely audible voice, "That’s us."