Chapter 193

Chapter 193:

Darkness poured from Carl's palm, spreading over Noah like a living void, consuming every inch of the ancient ship.

The relics of the old era had no reason to exist anymore.

Joy Boy's so-called promise? Carl would erase it, leaving nothing but empty words in its place.

But just as the darkness was about to engulf Noah entirely, an immense shadow fell over all of Fish-Man Island.

Carl's hand stilled.

Above him, several colossal heads loomed in the water, their vast forms stretching beyond sight.

The Sea Kings.

The entire island fell into a stunned silence.

Every fish-man and mermaid froze, their bodies locked in place as if weighed down by an unbearable force.

In front of Ryugu Palace, Otohime stood outside the gates, looking up at the monstrous beings hovering above.

"What… is happening?" she murmured.

Carl, closest to the creatures, remained calm. Not even a flicker of surprise crossed his face.

He spoke softly, almost in amusement.

"Finally decided to show yourselves? Were those lesser beasts your doing?"

One of the Sea Kings, a behemoth with a bird-like beak, tilted its head, its mouth opening and closing in an attempt to communicate.

Carl, however, did not have the Voice of All Things.

He could not understand them.

And what he did not understand, he had no interest in hearing.

With a flick of his wrist, darkness once again surged toward Noah.

At that moment, the Sea Kings' eyes glowed red.

A deep, primal rage burned within them as they glared at Carl.

Then, with the bird-beaked one in the lead, the Sea Kings surged forward.

The sheer force of their movement created powerful currents, shaking all of Fish-Man Island as if an earthquake had struck.

Carl snorted.

With a simple swing of his arm, he hurled the blackened Noah straight at them.

The massive ship, now a void of darkness, shot forward like a meteor.

The Sea Kings' expressions—if such creatures could have expressions—shifted in visible shock.

They panicked, attempting to halt their immense bodies, but their size and speed made it impossible to stop in time.

Boom!

The impact was deafening.

Noah smashed into the Sea Kings, sending a rain of shattered wood and blood through the water.

Carl watched as splintered remains drifted around him. With a casual wave, his darkness surged, swallowing every last fragment and drop of blood, leaving no trace behind.

The Sea Kings, though not fatally wounded, were now beyond enraged.

They wanted to tear Carl apart.

As they lunged again, shadows writhed behind Carl.

Dark tendrils shot out, wrapping around the necks of the Sea Kings.

The gravity in the darkness was crushing.

No matter how the colossal beasts struggled, they could not break free.

The violent force of their thrashing sent massive currents through the water, creating whirlpools and waves that threatened to overturn Fish-Man Island.

But then—

They stopped.

The Sea Kings ceased their struggle, their massive forms stilling.

They had realized the truth.

If they kept resisting, they would destroy Fish-Man Island themselves.

Now bound, floating in place, the humiliation was unbearable.

Carl smirked.

"Animals should know their place," he said. "Did you really think you were some kind of chosen saviors? At the end of the day, you're just tools."

The Sea Kings' glares deepened.

Their mouths moved, speaking among themselves in their ancient tongue.

Carl, of course, could not hear them.

But he could guess.

"Don't get too worked up," he continued. "Soon enough, you'll serve me willingly. That day isn't far off."

The bird-beaked Sea King stretched its long neck, opening its beak as if to respond.

Carl chuckled. "Let me guess—you're going to say, 'You're dreaming'?"

He let out a cold laugh.

"Just wait and see. The eight hundred years you've spent waiting will mean nothing in the end. Hahahaha!"

As his laughter echoed, Carl's form twisted.

His body collapsed into a swirling black vortex—

And then, he was gone.

The darkness that had bound the Sea Kings vanished along with him.

Yet the Sea Kings did not feel relief.

They exchanged long, silent glances, their voices rumbling in the deep.

"Who was that human? Could he be the one from the prophecy?"

"But Noah is gone. This is not how it was foretold."

"Will Joy Boy truly return?"

"Or was his promise… a lie?"

"No. Impossible. The prophecy was real. Until now, everything had followed it."

"That human is the anomaly."

"And he knows something. If that's the case, both Joy Boy and that man are in danger."

"We can protect Joy Boy while he is in the sea… but what of the other?"

"We do not know. But one thing is certain—if that human truly stands in opposition, then even Joy Boy will not be enough to stop him."

Silence fell between them.

Below, the fish-men of Fish-Man Island continued to tremble.

They did not know what the Sea Kings were thinking.

But for the first time—

Some among them wished Carl would return.

Because at least, compared to the Sea Kings, they could understand Carl.

After what felt like an eternity, the Sea Kings turned.

One by one, they vanished into the depths of the ocean.

And then—

They were gone.