Chapter 59 - The Isle of Forgotten Tides
Kai's spirit-powered skiff raced across the raging sea.
Towering waves crashed against its reinforced hull.
Behind them, flashes of blue and black illuminated the horizon.
Nereus was still fighting.
Each strike of his sapphire trident raised walls of water hundreds of metres high.
But even from this distance...
Kai could tell he was losing ground.
---
The Book of Infinite Beasts hovered above the skiff.
Side Quest
The Pearl of Tides
Distance Remaining: 18 kilometres
Estimated Arrival: 22 minutes
Warning:
The relic may only acknowledge one who values harmony over domination.
---
Selene adjusted the sails.
"The sea's changing."
Kai looked ahead.
The storm had vanished.
In its place was an unnaturally calm stretch of ocean.
Not a single wave disturbed its glass-like surface.
Even the wind had disappeared.
Ignis frowned.
"I don't like this."
"The calmer the sea..."
"The deeper the danger."
---
Without warning, the Compass of Dawn spun rapidly.
Its needle locked onto a tiny island hidden within thick silver mist.
At first glance, it seemed ordinary.
White sand.
Towering palm trees.
Crystal-clear water.
Yet there was something ancient about it.
Something untouched by time.
The Book reacted immediately.
New Location Discovered
Isle of Forgotten Tides
Status: Hidden Sanctuary
Age: Over 10,000 years
Visitors Recorded: 3
---
Kai blinked.
"Only three?"
Caelum...
The First Beast Sovereign...
And...
The third name was missing.
Only a blank space remained.
The Archivist had erased it.
---
The group stepped onto the island.
The moment Kai's boots touched the sand, the mist closed behind them.
The sea disappeared.
There was no visible way back.
Rowan looked around uneasily.
"I don't think we're alone."
The Ashfang Dire Wolves growled softly.
They sensed countless eyes watching from the forest.
---
A soft splash echoed nearby.
Kai turned.
Standing ankle-deep in the water was a little girl.
She couldn't have been older than ten.
Her long blue hair reached her knees.
She wore a simple white dress woven from shimmering sea silk.
Tiny fish swam around her feet without fear.
She smiled.
"You finally came."
Selene instinctively reached for her sword.
"Who are you?"
The girl giggled.
"I'm the caretaker."
"I've been waiting for the Beast Sovereign."
The Book tried to analyse her.
Analysis Failed
Guardian Authority Detected.
---
Ignis whispered,
"Impossible..."
"She's not human."
The girl nodded cheerfully.
"I'm not."
She bowed politely.
"My name is Neria."
"I'm the Spirit of the Pearl."
---
Kai stepped forward.
"We need the Pearl of Tides."
Neria tilted her head.
"I know."
She pointed toward the centre of the island.
A magnificent tree stood there.
Its leaves shimmered like flowing water.
Suspended beneath its roots floated a pearl the size of a human heart.
It glowed with soft sapphire light.
"The Pearl has waited ten thousand years."
"But it cannot simply be taken."
Kai expected another trial.
Instead...
Neria asked a single question.
"If you had to choose..."
"Would you save one Guardian..."
"Or one thousand ordinary people?"
Silence fell.
Selene looked at Kai.
Rowan lowered his head.
Even Ignis said nothing.
Kai closed his eyes.
Images flashed through his mind.
Fenrir.
Noctis.
Thalassor.
The frightened merchants.
The children aboard the burning ship.
He opened his eyes.
"I reject the question."
Neria blinked.
"You... reject it?"
Kai nodded.
"A Beast Sovereign shouldn't decide whose life has more value."
"If I become strong enough..."
"I'll save both."
The island became completely silent.
Then...
Neria laughed.
Not mockingly.
Joyfully.
"That's exactly what he said."
Kai frowned.
"The First Beast Sovereign?"
Neria smiled mysteriously.
"No."
"The Third."
Everyone froze.
"The Sovereign whose name the world forgot."
The Pearl of Tides began to shine.
For a brief instant...
A blurred silhouette appeared beside Kai.
A young Beast Sovereign wearing a cloak embroidered with ocean waves.
His face remained hidden, as if reality itself refused to reveal it.
Yet his voice was clear.
"Don't let them erase hope..."
"Even if they erase my name."
The vision faded.
The Pearl floated gently into Kai's hands.
The Book of Infinite Beasts glowed brighter than ever before.
Divine Relic Acquired
Pearl of Tides
Grade: Divine
Effect:
- Restores weakened seals.
- Purifies corrupted oceans.
- Resonates with the Third Star Fragment.
Neria's smile slowly disappeared.
"You must hurry."
She looked toward the eastern sea.
"The second chain has already broken."
Far beyond the island...
A deafening roar echoed across the ocean.
The sky darkened.
The Book displayed one urgent message.
Seal Integrity
79%... 71%... 65%
Time Remaining Until Complete Seal Failure:
Less than 30 Minutes
Kai clenched the Pearl of Tides.
"We're going back."
As the group raced toward their skiff, Neria remained standing beneath the ancient tree.
She whispered to the empty air,
"Good luck..."
"Ninth Beast Sovereign."
"You're walking the path that none of the others could finish."