Arknights: The Life Inside-Chapter 80

Even though this passenger ship weighed tens of thousands of tons, it was still as insignificant as a speck of dust in the vast sea.

"Disaster in the deep sea." The words spoken by the captain stirred something in Yoren's mind. He felt like he was on the verge of understanding, but the knowledge was elusive. If he had to relate it to something from the background of Arknights, there was only one possibility: ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com

The Deep Sea Hunters.

But they weren't bounty hunters. They had no business dealings, accepted no employment, and their whereabouts were unknown. While they were an organization, they weren't like others in the world.

Unlike Black Steel International, Penguin Logistics, Rheinland Life, or Raytheon Industries—entities that people could immediately picture—the Deep Sea Hunters were different.

Their name alone implied their purpose. They hunted in the deep sea—a realm that even the nations of the world dared not enter. More than an organization, they were an ancient lineage, a secret hidden beneath the waves.

No one knew what they fought in the deep sea, or what they hunted.

"Woo~~~~~"

A low roar echoed from beneath the water, this time from a much greater distance.

The mist began to thin, and the oppressive scent in the air faded. As if freed from an invisible grip, the old captain rushed down the stairs, his steps unsteady. He reached the deck and peered out at the sea with a solemn expression, as if confirming something.

He turned back to Yoren, fear and a hint of desperate prayer in his eyes. He looked ready to cry.

"Boy, I don't know who you are, but please, don't anger it any further."

Yoren slowly unclenched his fists, letting the black energy within him dissipate. It was clear that the captain knew what this was—perhaps he had experienced it before.

"Captain, it's obvious that it provoked us, not the other way around. But... was it scared?"

The captain shook his head. "No. The disaster hasn't ended. They'll return soon. We have to leave this area immediately."

Yoren's breath caught in his throat. "Wait. Did you say they? There's more than one?"

The captain's expression darkened with despair. He likely knew they wouldn't escape this place alive, but survival instinct drove him to struggle regardless. He carefully studied the color of the water before responding.

"Yes. According to the legends of the sea, there are different types of disasters. What we just experienced was only one—it's called the Call of Death."

"What about the second?"

"No one knows. No one who has encountered it has ever survived. Even the ships themselves vanish without a trace."

A chill ran down Yoren's spine.

He still didn't know what kind of creature this "disaster" truly was, but through the captain's words, he now understood that there were different kinds of them. If the last attack had been a form of mental assault, then the next would likely be a physical one.

For some reason, he and Ifrit had remained unaffected by the mental attack. Instead, they had been preparing for a fight. Maybe even the "disaster" itself was confused. When its hypnosis had failed, it retreated. Now, just like a strategist switching tactics, the deep-sea entity was preparing for a direct confrontation.

"Yoren!"

A familiar voice called out as figures rushed out of the cabin.

ACE led the charge, followed by the Platts brothers and a group of terrified passengers. Yoren had been right—now that the pink mist had faded, the people's consciousness had returned to them.

However, the ship still couldn't move. It remained frozen in place, as though trapped in an invisible cage, waiting for a predator to claim its prey.

Several men ran to the deck's edge, staring in horror at the swirling pink waters. Even a fool could tell they were nothing more than food on the table now.

The weak, elderly, and sick huddled against the cabin, their cries of despair filling the air.

"This is just like the legend! We're all going to die at sea!"

"No one can escape the deep-sea disaster! We'll be swallowed by fear!"

"I don't want to die! I don't want to be found as a rotting corpse! I want to go home!"

Someone vomited violently, unable to handle the horror of their situation. Even the seasoned crew members stood frozen, their faces ashen.

Yoren clenched his jaw, irritation rising.

"Shut up. You're not dead yet."

No matter what kind of disaster awaited them, he wasn't going to sit and accept it. This wasn't over yet.

A sharp determination burned in his eyes. If these things were called "disasters of the deep sea," then he was the embodiment of calamity itself. And he wasn't the only one on this ship capable of fighting.

"Oooouuuhhh~~~~"

A deep, guttural roar rose from the sea, different from before.

At the same time, the wind picked up. The breeze blew away the last remnants of the pink mist, revealing the darkened sea. The sun had vanished behind a massive storm front, casting everything in eerie twilight.

"Oooouuuhhh~~~~"

The roar came again—closer this time.

ACE's face was grim as he scanned the horizon, but there was little he could do. This was beyond human strength.

The Platts brothers stared blankly at the water, their expressions hollow. Young Puda gripped his brother's hand, his eyes red-rimmed with fear.

"Brother... is this our retribution?"

Prue took a deep breath. "Maybe."

"But why? We only processed Originium. We never did anything truly evil. Why do we have to suffer this fate?"

Prue's gaze remained fixed on the sea. "Perhaps it's fate. We took wealth from those who risked their lives for Originium. We benefited from their suffering. Maybe now, fate has decided we've taken too much—and it's time for the balance to be paid."

If you don't do anything, nothing will change. Of course, there are some things you can't change no matter what you do. It all depends on the judgment of the person involved.

The passengers on the ship had already decided it was the latter. Other than the cries of women and children, the deck was silent. Some might not have given up yet, but in the face of the unknown, they simply didn't know how to resist.

Then, an old voice shattered the silence.

"All crew, take your positions! Left rudder full, heading 275, power unit two in two!"

The words were like a flickering candle in the night, offering a glimmer of hope to those trapped in the cold and dark.

The captain hadn't given up yet.

Hearing his desperate command, the passengers' despair briefly lifted. Hope, however irrational, made them cling to his words. They didn't even understand what "power unit two in two" meant, but they were willing to grasp at any straw, no matter how frayed.

"Captain, take us out of here, please!"

"You're the expert on the sea—we believe in you!"

"Please, I'll give you everything I have!"

"I am the chairman of the Taigu Chamber of Commerce. If we make it back, I'll transfer two-thirds of my assets to you!"

Desperate promises poured out as the passengers placed all their hopes on the old captain.

Yet, despite his command, most of the crew remained frozen. Some took a tentative step but hesitated when they saw no one else moving.

Yoren saw the truth. The captain's order wasn't a beacon of hope—it was a final struggle before death. The passengers didn't understand, but the crew did. They knew this was the sea, and they were like lambs caught in the water. No matter how hard they struggled, the crocodile's jaws wouldn't loosen.

The captain was stunned by the blind faith in their eyes. He had spoken without thinking, but his words had ignited desperate hope. And that hope would soon be crushed.

He knew the ship could not escape. What he truly meant was "I don't want to die," but they had misunderstood him. And now, guilt weighed heavy on his shoulders.

"I can't promise we'll escape," the captain murmured. "I can only say I'll try... but hope is very slim."

"Come on, Captain, stop talking and sail the ship—we believe in you!"

"I..."

The ship was like a dying patient, and the passengers were the desperate family members. They blindly believed in the captain's ability to save them, while the captain and crew knew the truth: the Grim Reaper had his hands around their throats. Only a miracle could save them now.

The captain suddenly looked ten years older. Tears welled in his eyes as he whispered, "I'm sorry. I lied."

A firm hand rested on his shoulder.

Yoren stood beside him, expressionless.

"That's enough. Ordinary people should act like ordinary people. Leave the rest to me."

Dark clouds gathered in the sky, and the scent of blood thickened in the air. Whatever was coming—it was close.

Yoren turned to ACE, urgency in his voice.

"ACE, throw anything that can float into the water—wooden boards, tables, lifeboats, anything. Please."

"Yoren, what are you planning?"

"Trust me."

ACE hesitated only for a moment before nodding and getting to work.

Next, Yoren grabbed Prue's shoulders.

"Prue, do you have any Origin Stones with you?"

Prue, who had been prepared to write a final letter to his family, blinked in confusion. "Origin Stones?"

"Yes. S-class Origin Stones. You and Puda have been smuggling them—don't tell me you didn't bring any."

Puda's voice piped up, nervous. "Yoren, why do you need an Origin Stone now? You can't sell it."

"I'm not selling it."

"Then what—"

Yoren grabbed his collar, his voice sharp. "No time for questions! If you want to live, give me the stones and do what I say!"

Puda, taller than Yoren, suddenly realized he was being lifted off the ground. Yoren's grip was like iron.

"I—"

"Puda, get the box," Prue said quietly.

Puda hesitated before rushing into the cabin.

Prue leaned in close to Yoren and whispered, "I've noticed. You always keep that scarf around your neck. If I'm right... you're infected, aren't you?"

"I am."

Prue's expression was complicated. "Even if you can activate powerful Origin Stone Arts... what can one infected person do in the middle of the sea?"

Yoren didn't answer. He just walked past him, heading for the deck.

Through the crowd, he found Ifrit sitting beside Snowsant.

Kneeling down, Yoren placed his hands on Ifrit's shoulders and took a deep breath.

"Ifrit, I need to tell you something."

Ifrit looked up, her expression unreadable. "Go on."

"In the past, I saved you. In Mandel City, during the Catastrophe. At Base Four, when the flames surrounded you. I didn't do it because I thought I was strong—I did it because I wanted to."

Ifrit shrugged. "Yeah, thanks for that."

Yoren's gaze didn't waver. "Hemer entrusted you to me. I promised I'd get you safely to Victoria. But now... we're facing the greatest challenge of our lives. And this time, I don't know if I can save you."

For the first time, Ifrit's casual attitude faded. "Do you need my help?"

Yoren didn't answer immediately. He continued, "Ifrit, maybe this world seems simple to you, but the truth is far crueler than you know. In Rhine Life, Hemer protected you. After we left, I protected you. But the world won't always give you someone to rely on. You need to grow. You need to stand on your own.

"Right now, this isn't about helping me. It's about helping yourself. About protecting the people you care about."

He let the words sink in.

Because this time, there was no safety net. No second chances.

This time, death would not be kind.