The cave was quiet.
Ash floated through the air like snow, drifting down from the broken ceiling above. The ground was scorched, cracked, and soaked in thick, purple blood. The Corrupted King Thresher lay still at the center, its body torn and burnt, its claws broken and twisted like crushed bone. It was finally dead.
Reinhart stood with his sword planted into the stone floor. The blade was nicked and bloodstained, but still sharp. His grip was tight, knuckles pale. A low hum still vibrated through the metal—Ironsing, alive inside it. His voice and his weapon were now one, every swing from the battle still ringing in the air like a bell struck too hard. His breathing was steady, but his body was exhausted.
Julius slumped against a boulder nearby, flames hissing out slowly around him. His coat was torn, and blood soaked one sleeve, but he was smiling—half-proud, half-crazed.
Subaru stood behind them, quiet, Yamato balanced lazily on his shoulder. His silver hair clung to his forehead, and dirt smeared his face, but his stance was relaxed. He didn't need to say much.
They had done it.
They had killed the beast that haunted them through Layer 1—the monster that had nearly ended them more than once.
"We did it," Julius said, voice rough. "We actually did it. That bastard's dead."
"That thing nearly broke us," Reinhart muttered. "But we didn't fall. Not this time."
"And Amelia didn't even show her face," Subaru added, grinning. "Guess she didn't want to see us win."
For the first time in days, they could breathe. They had earned this. The Depths hadn't claimed them.
"We should leave her a message," Julius said, standing and wincing. "Something rude. Like... 'Thanks for the warm-up.'"
He walked over to the monster's body and spat on its face. The spit sizzled on the hot flesh.
"Rot in hell."
Reinhart finally sheathed his sword across his back, letting it rest. It still vibrated softly, as if it hadn't finished singing yet.
But just as the cave began to feel safe, the air changed.
Cold.
Still.
A voice broke the silence.
"How cute."
All three froze.
The shadows at the edge of the cavern began to move. Smoke gathered. A figure stepped forward, silent and graceful.
Amelia.
She hovered above the stone like she wasn't even touching the ground. Her long coat flowed behind her like water. Her golden eyes glowed faintly, and her expression was calm—but cruel.
"Three little Divers," she said softly. "So proud. So loud."
Reinhart stepped forward, shoulders squared.
"You're too late," he said. "Your monster's dead. You lost."
Subaru smirked, stepping in beside him.
"Looks like we're the kings now."
Julius pointed at the corpse.
"We took it down without your help. So go ahead—cry or run. Either works."
Amelia tilted her head slightly, smiling like a parent humoring children.
"That?" she asked, looking at the corpse. "You think that was my King?"
The trio stopped.
"What?" Reinhart asked, eyes narrowing.
"You're lying," Subaru snapped. "That thing had black fire, glowing eyes—it was corrupted."
Amelia's smile grew wider.
"It was sick," she said. "Twisted. But not a King. Not even close."
Julius frowned.
"Then what the hell was that?"
"Just a normal Thresher," she replied. "Touched by the Depths. A puppet. The song it sang wasn't its own."
Reinhart gritted his teeth, his hand instinctively brushing the hilt of his sword. The hum inside the blade seemed to flicker in doubt.
"We nearly died," he said. "You expect us to believe that was nothing?"
"Not nothing," Amelia said. "Just... not what you think it was."
She floated closer, slowly.
"The Depths changes things. Weak things. Broken things. That Thresher got corrupted, sure—but it wasn't crowned. The real King hasn't even opened his eyes yet."
A cold silence followed.
"Then what was the point?" Subaru asked quietly. "Why did we fight it?"
"Because it noticed you," she said. "That's all. The Depths watched you struggle... and sent a challenge. You passed. Barely."
"You're sick," Julius muttered. "Playing games like this."
Amelia turned her back to them and began to float away.
"I didn't send it," she said calmly. "The sea did. And it's far from finished."
Reinhart stepped forward again.
"Then show us the real King."
Amelia paused, just for a moment.
"You wouldn't survive the first note."
She vanished into mist.
But her laughter stayed behind—echoing through the stones, light and cruel.
The cavern was quiet again.
But now it didn't feel like peace. It felt like a warning.
Reinhart looked at the Thresher's body again. Its face looked different now—less like a monster, more like a message.
Subaru sat down and stared at the ceiling, eyes dull.
Julius didn't speak.
They had won.
But it didn't feel like a victory anymore.
Chapter 11.5
Reinhart sat at the edge of the ruined tower, high above the jagged cliffs of Layer 1. The wind howled through the broken stones, but he didn't move. His sword rested across his knees—steel darkened from battle, edges still stained with yesterday's blood. The humming of Ironsing had faded to a low murmur inside the blade. It almost felt… tired.
Just like him.
He stared out at the endless mist. Shadows moved below like forgotten things. In the distance, a broken bell tower leaned sideways, barely standing. A lot of things down here were like that—broken, but refusing to fall.
He sighed.
No monsters today. No screams. No fighting.
Just silence.
Reinhart liked silence. It was the only time he could hear his own thoughts. The only time he could be honest with himself.
Everyone thought he was the strong one.
"The rock.""The leader.""The one who doesn't flinch when it gets bad."
Even Subaru had said it once, laughing as he wiped blood off Yamato:
"You? You're like iron, Reinhart. Unbreakable. Wish I had that."
But Reinhart didn't feel unbreakable.
Not right now.
His right hand trembled slightly on the hilt of his sword. He curled it into a fist.
He remembered the first time he came down to the Depths. He had a full squad back then. Seven of them. One carried a harp. Another joked too much. One of them—a girl named Lenne—had Ironsing like him. She used to hum while she fought. Not to focus. Just to stay calm.
They were all dead by Day 4.
He had promised himself he wouldn't let anyone else die like that again.
And then Subaru showed up, wild and unpredictable.
Then Julius, loud and always hungry, but with fire that felt real.
Reinhart didn't know when exactly they became more than teammates. Maybe it was when they pulled him out of the mud after that Shadow Serpent fight. Maybe it was when Subaru, half-conscious and bleeding, still asked if Reinhart was okay.
Or maybe it was just… how they kept standing back up.
Every time the Depths tried to break them, they stood back up.
And so did he.
"I'm not strong because I don't feel fear," Reinhart muttered to himself. "I'm strong because I don't stop."
He pulled his sword up and looked at it closely. It had cracks near the base, but it still held. Just like him.
"If I break, they fall too."
He couldn't let that happen.
A small rock clattered behind him.
Reinhart didn't turn.
"Subaru," he said quietly.
"How'd you know?" Subaru replied, walking up and sitting beside him. "Julius said you were brooding again."
"I'm not brooding. Just thinking."
Subaru glanced at the sword.
"You gonna sing to it again?"
Reinhart shook his head.
"Not today."
There was a long pause. Then Subaru said:
"You don't have to carry everything, you know. You don't have to be the strong one all the time."
Reinhart looked at him. The wind blew quietly between them.
"Yeah, I do."
Subaru didn't argue. He just sat there, watching the fog roll.
"If we make it out of here," Reinhart said suddenly, "what would you do?"
Subaru blinked.
"What?"
"If we ever escape. What would you do?"
Subaru leaned back.
"Sleep in a real bed. Eat something that isn't mushroom stew. Maybe buy a house. A quiet one, with no monsters."
Reinhart chuckled softly.
"Sounds peaceful."
"What about you?"
Reinhart didn't answer right away. He thought about it. Then said:
"I'd teach."
"Teach?"
"Sword. Ironsing. How to survive down here. I don't want anyone else going through what we did without a fighting chance."
Subaru looked at him for a long moment. Then smiled.
"You're really not as cold as you pretend."
Reinhart stood slowly, gripping his sword.
"I just don't show it. Doesn't mean I don't feel it."
The wind picked up again, louder now.
Reinhart faced the mist. And softly, quietly, he sang.
One low note.
The sword hummed back.
The Depths listened.
And for the first time in a long while… it didn't feel like they were alone.