On the Eve of the Final Battle

Once Jörmungandr lost the Abyssal Chasm’s power boost,it stood no chance against Empress Elizabeth.

Most likely, it would perish by the Sword in the Stone.

Even if disaster struck and the Empress fell,

Jianye would still be there to step in—a double safeguard.

As for the Draconic Parliament—after losing Azure, Indigo, and Yellow Dragons,they were no longer a real threat.

The only remaining danger was Purple Dragon’s planto detonate the ammunition depot.

That explosion would destroy most of the fleet’s munitions,kill countless maids and laborers hiding in the shelters,and might even sink the entire Hodyr.

So after luring Jörmungandr to the surface,the main battle would belong to the Empress and the Dragon-Slaying Guards.

Black’s role?

To disarm Purple Dragon’s “Doomsday Countdown” spell—before it could ignite the depot.

In short—with the royal fleet now at maximum combat readiness,they were well-prepared to face Jörmungandr.

After the Loyel incident,Elizabeth’s injuries had nearly healed—and Jianye’s recovery was even swifter.

Both core figures who shaped the ending were now in peak condition.

Fighting a Sea Dragon King without the Abyssal boost?

No problem at all.

Tomorrow evening, Black would personally begin the prologue’s final battle.

The next morning,

Black walked toward the medical bay.

Little Jinzi had been badly wounded during yesterday’s assassination attempt,so he’d taken the young wyvern to the healers.

Now, he was coming to pick it up.

Just as he turned the corridor corner,the medical bay door opened.

Probably sensing his presence,

Little Jinzi flapped excitedly out of the room.

It looked far livelier than yesterday—its damaged scales already regrown.

Spotting Black, it chirped joyfully and dove into his arms.

“You’re looking much better,”

Black smiled, ruffling its head.

“Let’s go eat.”

Just as they turned to leave,

Alice and Carina appeared at the far end of the hallway.

Seeing the pair, Alice’s steps faltered—almost imperceptibly.

Her lashes trembled;her fingers tightened unconsciously on her sleeve.

She couldn’t bring herself to meet Black’s eyes.

Black, keenly perceptive,saw the conflict flickering in her gaze.

Little Jinzi, thrilled to see a familiar face,waved its tiny wings at Alice—a cheerful greeting.

Carina also noticed the awkward tensionand was about to say hello—

“We have urgent matters. Don’t delay us.”

Alice spoke quietly,then quickly pulled Carina away, hurrying off without a backward glance.

Little Jinzi let out a disappointed whimper.

Black watched Alice’s retreating figure,a dull weight settling in his chest.

He forced himself to look away.

Now isn’t the time to dwell on this…

He dared not think too deeply about Alice—or his resolve to escape afterward would waver.

He turned and continued walking—only to meet Jianye head-on at the next corner.

Good. He’d been looking for her anyway.

Jianye clutched a thick tome to her chest,head bowed in thought.

Her long black hair swayed gently with each step,and the white three-flower hairpin at her side fluttered in the sea breeze.

Her hazel eyes were downcast—until she sensed someone approaching.

She looked up—and froze at the sight of Black.

The “black-haired youth” who shouldn’t exist in the original storynow stood before her in royal guard uniform,an Imperial Wyvern perched on his shoulder.

At first, Jianye’s protocol had been clear:eliminate all anomalies that disrupted the novel’s plot.

So when she first encountered Black,she’d sensed a dire threat—and tried to kill him.

She’d failed.

Since then, the story had spiraled further out of control,deviating in ways she never predicted.

So she’d… adjusted.

Not “given up”—but changed strategy.

Let chaos unfold. I’ll grow stronger.

She’d farmed sea dragons relentlessly during the tides,leveled from 40 to 45,and spent every spare moment in the library,unlocking more arcane skills.

She believed: as long as she was strong enough—and backed by her system—she could weather any plot twist.

“Jianye.”

Hearing Black greet her so casually made her eyebrows lift.

What’s his game?

Last time, she’d tried to kill him—and now he was saying hello like an old friend?

Out of respect for the princess,she gave a curt nod—but quickened her pace, eager to avoid deeper entanglement.

As they passed,Black subtly slipped a folded note into her hand.

Jianye froze,but by the time she turned,

Black was already gone.

Bewildered, she opened the paper.

It read:“If the Empress falls, you must draw the Sword in the Stone.”

???

Jianye stared, utterly baffled.

In the novel she knew,the Empress could not lose to Jörmungandr.

Who is this guy?

She studied the note, suspicion swirling.

Though she didn’t know Black’s origin,their few encounters suggested he meant her no harm.

So… what did this warning mean?

Whatever.

No matter who Black was or how he twisted the plot,she had plenty of trump cards.

As long as she didn’t face Elizabeth or Jörmungandr directly,she could protect herself.

She glanced toward where Black had vanished,lost in thought…

Time trickled away.

Until the Hodyr’s horn suddenly blared—piercing the evening clouds.

In his cabin, Black paused mid-wipe of the Golden Fishing Rod.

He walked to the window.

The sunset should have painted the sea in warm gold—but instead, the water looked like muddy sludge,churned with silt and shadow.

Deep brown waves rolled,hiding everything beneath.

Gone was the clear blue—this was the Caribbean Sea’s signature murk.

“You never know how many sea dragons are watching you from below.”

Such water blinded human perception.

Dragons could lurk beneath the hull,only revealing themselves at the moment of attack.

That horn blast was a warning to all:

Stay vigilant. Avoid the rails. Keep to the center.

But Black took a deep breath,hoisted the fishing rod onto his shoulder,and walked toward the edge of the deck—to a blind spot in the Dragon-Slaying Guards’ patrol route,hidden from prying eyes.

“Come on, Jörmungandr,”

he murmured, gazing into the churning deep.

“This grand performance…is waiting for you.”