The ship continued toward the mainland.
But the atmosphere had changed.
Nobody spoke about Kael.
Not because they had forgotten him.
Because none of them understood what his appearance meant.
Leonhardt stood alone.
He looked at the medallion he had taken from the ruins.
The strange symbol of the Eye remained engraved upon it.
He had kept it because something about it felt familiar.
Now he knew why.
It reacted to his power.
Leonhardt activated his Eye of Destiny.
The medallion began to glow.
Suddenly…
A voice echoed inside his mind.
"Find the First Temple."
Leonhardt immediately dropped the medallion.
He stepped back.
The vision disappeared.
—Leonhardt?
Evelyn approached.
—What happened?
Leonhardt picked up the medallion.
—It spoke to me.
Saya appeared behind Evelyn.
—The medallion?
Leonhardt nodded.
Victoria immediately became serious.
—What did it say?
Leonhardt looked at them.
—Find the First Temple.
Silence.
Saya frowned.
—Do you know what that means?
—No.
Victoria looked toward the horizon.
—Then we need to find out.
Leonhardt nodded.
But before they could continue…
A horn sounded.
The ship's crew immediately panicked.
Leonhardt looked toward the sea.
Several ships had appeared.
They were approaching rapidly.
Their flags were black.
At the center was the same symbol.
The Eye.
Leonhardt's expression changed.
—They're here.
Victoria drew her sword.
—The people Kael warned us about.
Saya smiled.
—Finally.
Evelyn raised her bow.
—You look way too excited.
—I'm not.
Saya's smile widened.
—Maybe a little.
The enemy ships surrounded them.
Then…
A figure appeared on the largest ship.
A woman.
She wore silver armor.
Her long black hair moved with the wind.
She looked directly at Leonhardt.
—Leonhardt.
His heart stopped.
She knew his name.
The woman smiled.
—Or should I say…
She raised her hand.
A dark symbol appeared.
—Bearer of the Eye.
Leonhardt raised Fate's Edge.
—Who are you?
The woman laughed.
—My name is Seris.
She pointed toward him.
—And I'm here to take what belongs to us.
Leonhardt's eyes narrowed.
—The Eye?
Seris smiled.
—Exactly.
She raised her hand.
The enemy ships attacked.
The battle began.
Arrows filled the sky.
Magic exploded across the ocean.
Saya jumped onto the enemy ship.
Victoria followed.
Evelyn fired from a distance.
Leonhardt charged forward.
The enemy soldiers were powerful.
But Leonhardt had learned something.
They weren't ordinary soldiers.
Every single one had the Eye symbol.
And every single one had been trained to fight people like him.
Leonhardt activated his Eye.
He saw their movements.
Their weak points.
Their attacks.
He cut through one.
Then another.
But the more he fought…
The stronger the Eye became.
His vision expanded.
He began seeing things he shouldn't.
The battlefield.
The ocean.
The enemy ships.
And something else.
A massive structure beneath the sea.
Leonhardt froze.
The First Temple.
It was there.
Underwater.
Hidden beneath the ocean.
Leonhardt suddenly understood.
The island hadn't been the destination.
It had been a clue.
The ruins had been pointing toward something much larger.
—Leonhardt!
Victoria shouted.
He turned.
Seris was standing in front of him.
Her sword was already moving.
Leonhardt barely blocked.
The impact sent him flying.
He crashed onto the deck.
Seris approached.
—You really are the bearer.
Leonhardt stood.
—You know too much.
Seris smiled.
—And you know too little.
She attacked.
Leonhardt blocked.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Each strike was faster.
His Eye activated.
He saw her next move.
He dodged.
Then another.
And another.
Seris's eyes widened.
—You can see the future.
Leonhardt moved.
—Not exactly.
He attacked.
Seris blocked.
—Then what do you see?
Leonhardt's sword stopped against hers.
—Possibilities.
He pushed her back.
Seris smiled.
—Then let me show you mine.
Dark energy exploded.
Leonhardt was thrown backward.
The entire ship shook.
Seris raised her hand.
The ocean began to move.
A massive vortex formed.
Leonhardt stared.
Beneath the water…
Something was awakening.
The First Temple.
Its ancient walls began to rise from the depths.
The entire ocean trembled.
Everyone stopped fighting.
Even Seris looked surprised.
Leonhardt stared at the enormous structure.
A giant door opened.
The Eye symbol appeared.
Leonhardt felt his power react.
The same voice returned.
"The bearer has arrived."
Leonhardt stepped forward.
—That's the First Temple.
Seris looked at him.
—You heard it too.
Leonhardt turned.
—What?
Seris's expression changed.
For the first time, she looked afraid.
—The voice.
Leonhardt stared at her.
—You heard it?
Seris didn't answer.
Instead, she looked toward the temple.
—We have to leave.
Leonhardt was surprised.
—What?
—Now.
Seris turned toward her soldiers.
—Retreat!
Her ships began to move away.
Saya stared.
—They're running?
Victoria lowered her sword.
—Why?
Leonhardt didn't answer.
He was staring at the temple.
Something was wrong.
The voice had not only spoken to him.
It had spoken to Seris.
And whatever was inside that temple…
It frightened her.
Seris looked back one last time.
—Leonhardt!
He turned.
—Don't enter the temple.
Leonhardt narrowed his eyes.
—Why?
Seris's expression became serious.
—Because the last person who entered…
She paused.
—Was the reason the Eye of Destiny was created.
Leonhardt froze.
Before he could ask anything else, Seris disappeared into the distance.
The temple remained.
Waiting.
Leonhardt looked at his companions.
Saya was already smiling.
—We're going inside, aren't we?
Evelyn sighed.
—I already know the answer.
Victoria looked at Leonhardt.
—It's your decision.
Leonhardt stared at the ancient entrance.
His Eye of Destiny burned.
He could feel something calling him.
Not forcing him.
Calling him.
He stepped forward.
—We're going in.
Saya smiled.
—Of course we are.
Evelyn shook her head.
—Why did I know you were going to say that?
Victoria smiled slightly.
—Because it's Leonhardt.
The group approached the temple.
Behind them, the enemy ships disappeared into the horizon.
But far away…
Kael watched from another vessel.
His expression was serious.
—So they've opened the First Temple.
A shadow stood behind him.
—Should we follow?
Kael shook his head.
—No.
The shadow looked surprised.
—Why?
Kael looked toward the temple.
—Because the temple doesn't belong to us.
His eyes narrowed.
—It belongs to him.
The shadow was silent.
Kael smiled.
—Let's see what the Eye shows him.
Back at the temple entrance, Leonhardt placed his hand against the ancient door.
The Eye symbol began to glow.
The door opened.
Darkness awaited them.
Leonhardt took a deep breath.
Then he stepped inside.
The moment he crossed the threshold…
The door closed behind them.
A voice echoed through the darkness.
"Welcome, Bearer of Destiny."
Leonhardt raised Fate's Edge.
His companions gathered around him.
The darkness began to move.
And somewhere deep within the temple…
Something opened its eyes.
The journey to discover the truth about the Eye of Destiny had begun.
But Leonhardt did not yet know the most important truth.
The Eye had not chosen him.
It had been waiting for him.
And the moment he entered the First Temple…
The destiny that had been sealed long ago finally began to awaken.