Ash clenched her teeth and stared intently at the small girl.

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Then, she turned her head to look at Hughes, she was ready to dissolve the Symbiotic Contract.

At that moment when she surfaced from the sea, she should have died.

It was only her strong physique that allowed her to linger on, surviving just long enough to meet Hughes.

He had changed the fate of the Cursed Ones, so she had pledged her loyalty to him.

Now, it was time for her to die.

Not far away, in the seawater, Nini pounded her head in frustration.

If only she were as strong as Ash.

Just now, she could only watch helplessly as everything happened.

When Ash was impaled, her heart nearly shattered, yet all she could do was watch from the sea, not daring to reach out even a single finger.

Ash’s blood spilled into the sea, its metallic sweetness mixed with the bitterness of her tears, a taste she would never forget.

If only she were as strong as Ash.

She was too weak.

She couldn’t do anything.

Ash glanced at her and gave her a weak smile.

Nini understood what she meant.

Once the contract was dissolved and Ash died, she would take Hughes and flee.

If that foreign woman succeeded, they might still be able to stay on Castel Island.

If not…

She closed her eyes.

Ash was right.

Wherever Hughes was, that was home.

"I’m sorry."

Her trembling voice drifted into the waves.

Monica’s body was covered in terrifying corruption.

Her form was growing larger, the immense pollution gathering rapidly, until nothing could stop her anymore.

The last time she had seen that two-legged fish was in the deep sea.

He was an interesting person, one who knew many, many fascinating things.

She had wanted to hear more of his stories about the land.

It seemed that would never happen now.

The land… wasn’t fun at all.

"I’m sorry," she murmured in her heart.

No one noticed.

On her twisted body, on her grotesque face, a single tear slid from the corner of her eye and into her gaping, monstrous maw.

So, tears from the land were just as bitter after all.

Nora slowly gathered all her strength.

She felt incredible.

Her body was so light.

As expected, the moment of death was when a Burier was at their strongest.

What a pity—it would only last for an instant.

But in the end, the Bone-White Raven’s followers had found a home.

The refugees would survive.

Hughes, you’d better keep your promise.

Otherwise, I’ll crawl out of my grave to find you!

It was almost time.

Nora closed her eyes.

Too bad she wouldn’t be able to record this in her journal.

The Silent Sanctum did not believe in tears.

Only blood trickled from the corner of Nora’s eye.

This would be her final curtain—

Huh?

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

Everyone had struggled with all their might.

Courage and bloodied tears intertwined.

The mortals quietly awaited the judgment of fate.

Then, the next moment—

A weak yet determined voice echoed in everyone’s ears.

"Stop! I have a way!"

Hughes braced himself against the reef and stood up.

His entire body trembled uncontrollably, yet his eyes shone with astonishing brightness.

Nora instinctively froze for a moment.

The gathered energy lost its guidance and scattered in an instant.

Her expression changed.

“Damn it!!”

The next second, she was struck by Monica, who had transformed into a monster, and was sent flying, her fate unknown.

The monster slowly turned toward the cave.

"Hold her off, just for a moment!" Hughes shouted with a twisted expression.

Nini hesitated for a second, gritted her teeth, and was about to charge forward—

But the massive monster suddenly stopped.

Bang!!

A gunshot rang out.

Under the moonlight, everyone’s gaze turned toward the monster’s rear.

Old butler Connor sat on horseback.

No one knew when he had circled behind the monster.

"Young Master, let me borrow your gun."

Holding the reins in his left hand, his right hand held a white flintlock, still faintly smoking.

It was the very gun Hughes had never fired.

"Connor!" Hughes felt his vision blur with heat.

Monica, now a monstrous creature, slowly turned around and looked down at Connor.

Then, with a furious roar, she charged at him.

"Hyah!"

Connor snapped the reins and pressed his body against the horse’s back.

The horse neighed loudly and galloped in a wide arc, leading Monica away into the distance.

"Old friend, we fight side by side once more."

Connor glanced at the gun in his hand and gave a relieved smile.

The roar gradually faded away.

With Monica drawn away, the cave fell silent.

Hughes knew time was precious.

He immediately shouted toward Ash, "Don’t dissolve the contract!"

Ash froze.

She opened her mouth to speak but said nothing.

Then, Hughes turned to Nini.

"Form a contract with me—now!"

"What?! But you’ll be drained dry!!!"

"Trust me!" Hughes growled.

"Hurry!"

Nini panted heavily.

Struggle flashed across her face, but only for an instant.

Then, she gritted her teeth and reached out to Hughes.

Hughes staggered forward, collapsing onto the jagged reef.

He didn’t seem to notice the pain.

He crawled forward, his fine clothes stained with blood and dirt.

But his outstretched hand broke through the water’s surface—

And firmly grasped Nini’s!

Symbiotic Contract—formed!

No hesitation.

No delay.

The moment their hands clasped, the contract was sealed.

The next instant—

Like a raging tide, vitality surged from Nini’s body into Hughes.

Then, it flowed toward Ash!

Nini was stunned.

Ash was stunned.

Hughes rolled onto his back, lying on the reef, and laughed at the night sky.

“Hahaha! It worked! Cough—It worked! I knew it would!”

He laughed hysterically.

"The Symbiotic Contract is truly absolute equality!"

"Vitality isn’t used to heal wounds—it’s the currency set by the contract!"

"As long as I form contracts with multiple people, I can act as a hub—allowing life force to circulate among all the contract holders!!!"

"You didn’t see this coming, did you?"

"This is the real function of the Symbiotic Contract!"

"This is—"

"A shared life pool!"

"This is—"

"Symbiosis!!!"

Every word he spoke struck the Sirens’ hearts like a hammer.

The same injuries that left Hughes and Ash on the brink of death—

With Nini added to the equation, became only moderate wounds.

And—

Nini planted all six hands on the reef and leapt onto shore.

Under the moonlight, her towering form gleamed brilliantly.

She, too, had gained the ability to move on land.

Not far away, Ash stood up as well.

Moments ago, she had been dying—

Now, she could fight again.

Hughes turned his gaze toward the other Sirens in the sea.

"For Castel."

"For our shared home."

He spoke in a low voice.

"Let our blood flow together."

He reached out toward the sea—

And from beneath the waves, countless hands grasped his.

The tide of battle had turned!