Earlier, inside the dam’s rupture…

  [Critical! Critical! Critical! Critical! Critical!]

  Beep! Beep! Beep!

  The HUD screen inside Jack’s cockpit flashed a frantic red.

  [Arcanite Engine Limit Reached!]

  “Shit! Don’t die on me now!” Jack screamed, exasperation thick in his tone. He bypassed the safety protocol, pushing the engine past its limit despite the fact that it could suffer permanent damage. The engine revved violently, clashing against the blaring warning signals.

  “Jackie! They will begin to restore—”

  Lupus’s voice crackled before cutting off as the HUD flickered on and off, losing power.

  “Lupus!?” Jack yelled in desperation. Sweat gathered on his brows and chin, his throat dry. The thrill of the moment had been replaced with terror.

  Before his eyes, the surging water pushed against his barrier, endless and menacing, like the abyss itself staring back at him. The hull’s light flickered back momentarily.

  “Lupus!? Can you hear me?!” he blurted out, cold smoke suddenly escaping his lips.

  No answer. His comm was malfunctioning. The dim hull was eerily silent, save for his throbbing heartbeat and laboured swallowing.

  A sudden chill crept over him. “What is happening?!” Jack muttered, his legs quivering as the freezing air seeped into his cockpit.

  Ice began forming over his barrier, but the fragile ice soon shattered as water flushed through the gap.

  Jack’s mind raced. “It must be Lunice!—”

  Then, a chime rang out, ethereal and divine, as if echoing from the depths of his mind. Jack snapped his head sideways, wondering if he was hallucinating.

  An amber grid illuminated before him, its light piercing through the darkness. His Armatus’s hands sensed tremors — movement, closing in.

  “Must be the arcane!” Jack analysed, feeling a surge of hope.

  The hole his Armatus had supported began to shrink.

  “Yeah! Baby! Yeah!” Jack roared with ecstasy, but in his excitement, he had overlooked a basic law of physics.

  As the gap grew smaller, the pressure of the water jet increased dramatically.

  The semi-frozen jet slammed into his Armatus with full force, knocking everything askew. The impact flung Jack onto the console, his head colliding—

  Fortunately, his helmet minimised the blow, but his vision swam. The metallic taste of blood filled his nostrils and mouth.

  Before he knew it, his arms and legs lifted involuntarily. His stomach dropped as he felt himself accelerating.

  “I’m free-falling…”

  His fingers trembled as he struggled for the glove controller—

  KA-WHOOM! SPLAAAAASH!

  A thunderous crash. A brutal shockwave sent pain searing through his body. A wet, gasping noise escaped his lungs. His ribs, spine, and limbs ached, fading into numbness.

  “L~lupy…” A small whimper escaped his lips, swallowed by the muffled, deep sinking noise surrounding him.

  His eyelids fluttered shut against his will.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

  Everything faded…

  ***

  Jack awoke in a strange place. His vision was foggy.

  Glancing down, he inspected himself. His attire had changed — royal pants and a long coat in black and gold accents. He sat on a lavishly cushioned seat near an airplane window. A quick glance revealed a spacious yet sparsely seated area, resembling a luxurious private aircraft.

  “Where the heck am I?” Jack thought. He tried to glance around but quickly realised he had no control over his body. “Is this a vision of sorts?”

  His elbow rested on the armrest, his chin propped against his knuckles. His fingers instinctively reached for a hard-covered book, its intricate glyph design marking it as an arcane text. His gaze skimmed the lines unnaturally fast.

  “What the heck? I can’t make sense of any of this,” Jack grumbled internally.

  “Ah! How’s it going?” A gentle voice rang out beside him.

  Jack exhaled softly, eyes still on the page. “Boring. We should’ve just teleported.” The words echoed from his mouth, but the tone was lighter, less resonant than his usual husky voice.

  “My prime disciple, I do not wish for you to become too reliant on mana-dependent transport,” the man beside him spoke, his tone steady yet passive.

  Jack stole a glance. The man was draped in a royal coat and a wide-brimmed hat, both pristine white.

  “Who is this sorcerer? Wait~that’s Celestius Ignius Lux Draconus!”

  The legendary Mage of Ares, protector of Germund for decades. Time and again, he had repelled invaders and challengers, safeguarding his people and preserving peace. But something within him changed — until, at last, he unleashed the light of punishment.

  “The Celestius sacrificed himself in the Battle of Germund a few months ago… This must be a vision from the past!” Jack pieced together.

  “Yes, Master…” Jack replied, feigning nonchalance.

  “When teleporting, you must perform complex calculations, using the sun as a reference for entry and exit points. The spell safeguards you from materialising in outer space or at a dangerous altitude. But there is always a risk.” The wizard brimmed with wisdom as he lectured.

  “Yes…” Jack faltered, shrinking back.

  “With your current mana reserves, I doubt you could even cast a simple Empyrion afterwards.”

  Jack remained silent, merely nodding in acknowledgment.

  A beautiful air hostess stopped beside them, her blonde hair styled in a loose floral bun. She pushed a cart forward. “Would you like a drink?” she asked with a polite smile.

  Ignius waved her off, but when her dazzling blue eyes met Jack’s, they held a hint of playful seduction.

  “What about you, master?” she asked sweetly.

  Jack’s mouth moved on its own. “Not at this time, thank you.” Then he winked at her.

  The lady bit her lower lip in anticipation.

  “Ugh… this guy’s got way too much charisma…” Jack grumbled softly.

  Ahem!

  Ignius deliberately cleared his throat, interrupting their exchanged gaze. “Please enjoy your rest. Let me know if you need anything…” she said, stressing her words to Jack before moving on.

  Suddenly, the plane shuddered erratically. Red warning lights flashed. The overhead oxygen compartments dropped automatically.

  “What’s happening?!” Jack stammered, instinctively turning to the window.

  A glowing red visor, the size of an arm, loomed outside — radiating malice.

  As though death itself was staring back at him.

  “An Armatus?!” he gasped.

  His body froze.

  His breath stopped.

  And then—

  Nothing.

  ***

  “Iasis!”

  “Please wake up!”

  “Mister Jack!”

  “How long has he been out?”

  "Princess! Please save him!"

  Lupus’s voice faded in and out.

  "Iasis!"

  Louder. More urgent.

  A warmth coursed through Jack’s body — soothing, like basking under the sun.

  His eyelids fluttered open, a translucent green aura engulfed him, invigorating his skin.

  Blurry figures huddled over him. Slowly, their faces came into focus.

  His head rested on Lupus’s lap. Her tearful eyes never left his face.

  Lupus. Frain. Lunice. Lenny. Larry. Even Triss.

  Meanwhile, Aurelia and Friederich stood a few metres back, giving them space.

  “Jack…” Lupus whimpered, sobbing. “You came back to me…”

  Jack propped himself up. “Yes… I did… I’m alive…” he muttered, part of him still stuck in the vision.

  Three Hoffmann sisters and Frain threw their arms around him, hugging him tightly.

  “Umm, guys? Haha…” An awkward laugh escaped him.

  Aurelia, standing with Triss and her guardian, met his eyes. “Thank you,” he mouthed.

  The red-haired princess nodded and turned away.

  “Tsk!” Aurelia clicked her tongue, grimacing.

  As Aurelia turned to her, Triss averted her gaze awkwardly.

  Friederich exhaled, his expression turning solemn. “Aurelia, we need to talk. Triss, you come too.”