CHAPTER 234: ROYAL OCEAN

"We came from the Seventh Circle," he said, the faintest trace of a smile still on his lips.

"Seventh... Circle?" Neptunia repeated, her voice faltering slightly. Surprise flickered across her face as her eyes widened, then narrowed in suspicion.. Well not even beleiving it Honestly. "You mean... directly from the Seventh Sea?"

Her tone was uncertain. She leaned forward just slightly, trying to catch the subtle meanings behind his expression. But not getting it... Somewhat or maybe whole.

"Yeah..." Razeal said, his tone calm and confident, though his mind was already weaving threads of deceit faster than the current around them. "Yeah, we did come directly from there. That’s why we weren’t completely sure if this was the Third Sea or not. But seems like" his lips curved into a faint smirk, "we succeeded."

It was a clean lie smooth, effortless, and told without even a flicker of hesitation. The kind of lie spoken by someone who was born to lie.

Maria, standing beside him, blinked slowly. Her face was blank for a moment, then twisted slightly in confusion. She had absolutely no idea what kind of nonsense he was talking about.. Seventh Circle? Succeeded? What the hell was he even saying?

Still, she stayed quiet.

Because as absurd as it all sounded, she could see something happening.. the yellow-haired woman’s expression shifting, caught somewhere between disbelief and fascination.

Whatever Razeal was doing, it was working.

Maria folded her arms across her chest and sighed inwardly. I’m just going to let him dig whatever grave he wants. He looks way too confident to be stopped now.

Neptunia, on the other hand, looked completely taken aback. Her brows drew together, confusion flashing in her bright eyes. "How?" she demanded, her tone sharper now. "From the Seventh Sea directly to the Third? That’s that’s not even possible!"

Her disbelief was genuine. There was no trick in her eyes, no mocking tone just raw shock at the audacity of what she’d just heard. "You’d have to cross four entire layers! There’s no logic behind that, no gate structure that allows it!.. Like yeah one by one but.. All together?.. Like directly? Right?"

Razeal tilted his head slightly, pretending to be mildly amused at her reaction.

"Well," he began, voice carrying a lazy kind of arrogance, "don’t stress too much about it. It might sound like I’m spouting nonsense, but I’m not. It’s simpler than it sounds."

He paused just long enough to make her lean in a little.

"All we did," he continued smoothly, "was get out of the Seventh Sea directly into the outer ocean.. then went straight to the Gate of Atlantis, which connects to the outside. From there, we just waited for the right timing. The Reverse Gate will forms eventually. We simply calculated when it would occur and used it to drop inside another sea directly. No need to cross one by one.. that would’ve been such a bother."

He said it all with such calm conviction, as if he’d been teaching her something obvious like it was a routine technique that anyone clever enough could pull off.

Neptunia’s golden eyes widened slightly as she blinked, her mind spinning through the information he’d just thrown at her. "Wait," she said slowly, "you mean.. you knew about the Gate of Atlantis? You knew its direction? Its pattern? That’s.. impossible. How do you even know about that? And the Reverse Gate how could you possibly predict that phenomenon?"

Her words came out in quick bursts, her disbelief clashing with growing intrigue. "No you said you are from seventh sea so how did you even managed to calculate the Reverse Gate! It’s random, chaotic!.. Its not even thing in Royal ocean? And yet you’re saying you used it intentionally?"

Her eyes darted across his face, searching for some hint of deceit, but all she found was calm confidence.. that unshakable composure, the faint curve of a man who didn’t need to prove himself.

He stood with arms folded, gaze steady and unreadable.

To her surprise, the longer she stared, the more convincing he seemed.

And worse his explanation did make a strange kind of sense.

It wasn’t impossible, not entirely in theory atleast. Just extremely difficult.

She swallowed softly, murmuring almost to herself, "Such geniusness... why didn’t I think of that?"

Her voice was low, thoughtful, and far less defensive now. The suspicion had dulled, replaced by genuine curiosity.

Razeal caught that shift instantly. He didn’t even have to say much.

Just one push further.

"I have my ways," he said with a faint chuckle, his tone carrying both arrogance and amusement. "I don’t say it often, but people tend to call me a genius. So of course, what’s difficult for others" he spread his hands lightly, "comes easy for me."

His fake confidence was almost dazzling.. so well performed that it looped back into believability.

Neptunia blinked again, still processing everything. Her posture relaxed slightly as she rubbed her chin, her gaze lingering on his face longer than before. In her mind, Razeal’s image began to shift.. from an dumbassssss who fell through her city roof, to someone far more intriguing. Someone capable.

Her expression softened into faint amusement, but her eyes were sharp. "You’re... not what I expected," she murmured.

Maria, off to the side, was watching all this with a mix of frustration and awe. What a bullshitter, she thought, pressing her hand against her forehead. I didn’t know he could lie this smoothly. Does he just make this up as he goes? Or does he have this much actual knowledge about Atlantins?

She looked at the yellow-haired woman clearly impressed, completely buying into his story then back at Razeal, who now looked almost smug.

Is this how he’s been tricking everyone this whole time? she wondered, narrowing her eyes. Has he ever lied to her too?

The thought lingered longer than she expected.

Meanwhile, Razeal sighed lightly, as though genuinely disappointed by something. "Still," he said, his tone casual but carrying a trace of dissatisfaction, "it’s a little disappointing. From my calculations, I expected we’d land directly inside the Royal Sea ..or at least somewhere within the Second Sea."

He shook his head, his dark eyes lowering slightly, voice dropping into a faint mutter that sounded far too real. "What a disappointment."

Disappointment, my ass, Neptunia cursed inwardly, her bright golden eyes twitching slightly. If only I’d thought of this... or had a way to cross the seas like that... how easy life would be. And this motherfucker her lips curved into a thin, incredulous line, crossed four entire seas like it’s nothing, and now he’s looking disappointed? What a damn smartass.

She forced a smile to keep her irritation hidden, but her expression betrayed the faint twitch at the corner of her mouth. He really has no idea how impressive that sounds to anyone else, she thought, rolling her eyes internally. Still, she didn’t say anything about it.

Instead, Neptunia tilted her head slightly, her voice taking on a smoother, more composed tone. "That’s... really brilliant, I must say," she said, almost sincerely this time. "Even I’ve never thought of that."

Then her gaze sharpened, her yellow eyes running from his feet to his face as if evaluating him. "And from what you’ve said, it sounds like our destinations might just be the same.. the Royal Ocean."

Her lips curled into a faint smile, more teasing than friendly. "So tell me, are you going there to watch the Royal Challenge?" She leaned forward slightly, her tone turning almost playful, "Or... are you planning to participate in it?"

The way she said participate carried a faint mocking edge, as if she found the very idea amusing. Her tone was light, but her eyes the sharp glint in them.. showed that she was judging him.

Razeal’s dark eyes narrowed slightly. Royal Challenge? he repeated in his mind. He had no knowledge of it. But the way she spoke the weight she gave to the words.. made it clear this was something significant. Something that drew people across seas to the Royal Ocean maybe?

So that’s why she’s going there, he thought, quietly connecting the dots. This "challenge" must be an event big enough to draw every ambitious soul in Atlantis even making other people’s attracted to it..

His mind immediately began to absorb every piece of information, storing it like a puzzle he could assemble later.

"No, I’m not," he said finally, voice calm but confident. "I have another destination."

He let a small, dismissive smirk curve his lips. "I’m not interested in something that small. My goals are far bigger than that."

The arrogance in his tone wasn’t subtle ..it was deliberate. A mask of pride meant to provoke curiosity, and perhaps, challenge.

Neptunia raised a brow at that, the teasing smile fading from her face. "Oh?" she said slowly, her tone rising with feigned amusement. "Ohhhhh? Far bigger, you say?"

Her voice shifted slightly, carrying a note of disbelief that didn’t bother to hide itself. "And what exactly would that be?"

The sharpness in her words wasn’t just curiosity it carried a hint of offense. Razeal caught it instantly. So this event really means something to her, he thought. Either it’s sacred... or personal.

Whatever it was, it clearly wasn’t something to mock lightly.

Still, he didn’t flinch. He met her eyes evenly, his voice level as he replied, "Ocean Black. That’s where I want to go."

For a brief second, silence fell between them.

Then Neptunia’s expression changed completely.

"Ocean Black?" she repeated, her tone both surprised and disbelieving. Her eyes widened slightly, her voice laced with confusion. "But... why would you.. no anyone want to go there?"

Her gaze swept over him once again, from head to toe, as though re-evaluating him entirely. "Like seriously.. why?" she asked again, her tone bordering on incredulous.

It wasn’t just curiosity anymore.. it was genuine concern mixed with judgement.

But realizing how harsh she might have sounded, she quickly softened her tone, her posture straightening again. The faintly dismissive look faded from her face as she shifted to a more measured, businesslike tone.

"Well... even if I don’t understand why," she said carefully, "I wouldn’t say our destinations are different.".. Maybe he’s just crazy.. she said it her head.. ofcourse..

Razeal arched a brow slightly, silent but interested his expression telling her to continue.

Neptunia folded her arms loosely across her chest and sighed. "Because, whether you know it or not," she said, "if you’re aiming for the Ocean Black, then your path and mine are almost the same."

"Oh?" Razeal’s voice carried curiosity this time, faint but noticeable. His dark eyes glinted as he watched her, the subtle shift in his expression urging her to go on.

"Well," she began, "the Ocean Black is something deeply hidden.. the Royal family.. i mean only the King of the Ocean himself knows where it is no one else."

She paused, her tone dropping lower, her words more deliberate now. "And it’s not just about secrecy. Even if someone did find its location, no one has ever been able to come back from it alive. It’s constantly shifting changing its position like it’s alive, moving across the seas. The only one who can reveal its true location is the King himself."

Her eyes lifted to meet his again. "And as you can imagine, the King wouldn’t give that information for free.. Or even at bigger prize..."

Razeal stayed silent, expression neutral but mind racing behind his calm eyes.

Neptunia smiled faintly a sharp, knowing smile. "But you’re lucky," she said, her voice turning lighter again. "Because if your goal truly is the Ocean Black, then there’s a chance.. one, and only one that can get you there."

She leaned slightly closer, her tone quiet but filled with purpose. "If you participate in the Royal Challenge and win second place.. as a reward for winning.. The King himself will grant you a single wish."

She paused to let her words sink in.

"A wish that the King cannot refuse, no matter what it is," she added, her eyes gleaming with the weight of her statement. "That’s the rule of the Ocean Throne.. the dignity of the King’s word."

She crossed her arms again and smiled, confident and composed. "So, if you really want to reach the Ocean Black, that wish would be your key. You could ask for the path, the location.. even direct passage. And he would be forced to grant it."

Her gaze softened slightly as she looked at him, lowering her voice. "Which means... if you want to go there, our paths align perfectly. We both need to reach the Royal Ocean."

She smiled again, this time with a touch of warmth behind the calculation in her tone. "So come with me," she said simply. "Because that’s where both our journeys lead.. to the same destination."

Razeal stood silent for a few seconds, the faint smile still on his lips. The shadows in his eyes shifted slightly as if he was already calculating his next move.

Razeal narrowed his eyes slightly at Neptunia’s words, his gaze thoughtful and sharp. He wasn’t the kind of man who believed things easily.. not from strangers, and especially not from those who offered help so conveniently. Still, her explanation... made a certain amount of sense.

Could what she’s saying be real? he wondered. The logic seemed sound enough, but it was too soon to trust it blindly.

Yet, even with his doubts, one fact was clear he needed to reach the Royal Ocean. That was his next step, no matter what. Whether Neptunia’s words were true or not, he’d figure it out eventually.

He exhaled slowly, lowering his gaze for a moment in thought. "That’s fine," he said finally, voice even and calm. "It does seem that our destination is the same ..the Royal Ocean."

His dark eyes lifted again, expression unreadable. "As for the Royal Challenge or whatever that is," he continued, his tone casual, "I’ll consider it later. If there’s another path to what I need, I’ll find it myself. But for now..." He leaned forward slightly, his tone growing heavier, "I need to know one thing."

His gaze locked on hers. "What is it that you want from me? Or from us? You wouldn’t help for nothing."

Neptunia smirked faintly, folding her arms beneath her chest. "Well, that’s a good point," she said smoothly. "I wouldn’t believe a stranger either. But it’s your choice whether you trust me or not."

She paused for a moment, her voice turning a touch more serious. "As for what I want? Isn’t it obvious?"

Razeal stayed silent, waiting for her to continue.

"I want to reach the Royal Ocean too," she said plainly. "And as you probably know, it’s not exactly easy to get there. We’ll have to cross three more borders.. three seas between here and the Royal Ocean. And each one is guarded by the resistance of the Sea Lords."

Her tone lowered, more businesslike now. "Those Lords don’t let just anyone through. Only the strong.. the ’worthy,’ as the rules of Atlantis say. Each border is crawling with their minions, guards, creatures of the sea amd ofcourse those monsters from that circle. The further we go, the more dangerous it gets."

Her golden eyes flickered with memory, or maybe exhaustion. "I’ve managed to cross a few lower oceans on my own before, but from this point onward... it won’t be easy. For the last month, I’ve been waiting ..watching travelers come and go, hoping to find someone capable enough to cross with me.. Having same intrest top ofcourse."

Her gaze landed squarely on Razeal. "And then you here," she said simply. "Strong.. Well atleast seems like it. You aren’t exactly the...type but then again.. Fastest option and best.. Ill choose faster.."

She tilted her head slightly, her smile faint but cunning. "If we work together, our chances are much better. Alone, even I’d admit it’s close to suicide. And if we’re too unlucky..."

She looked off to the side, her tone darkening. "We might just bump into one of the Sea Lords themselves. If that happens, running will be our only hope. Dying alone out there would be a just bad..?"

Her gaze flicked back to him, her expression calm again. "So yes. I thought .. why not together?"

Razeal stayed silent for several seconds after she finished. Her explanation... made sense. It even matched some of the things the old man had said before about Atlantis’s structure the borders, the guardians, the Sea Lords.

He glanced down slightly, thoughtful, then back at her. "You know the paths to all the oceans, then?" he asked finally.

Neptunia nodded confidently. "Yes, I do. Actually," she added, brushing a strand of yellow hair behind her ear, "I know the best routes. The ones that are fastest, safest, and least likely to draw the attention of a Sea Lord or their minions."

Razeal’s lips curved faintly. "That’s good," he said quietly. His tone was calm, but inside his mind, the gears were already turning. If she’s right... and her paths are truly that safe, this might be easier than he thought.

A faint spark of amusement flickered in his eyes. Can my luck really be that bad twice in a row?.. And if its just one time he can definitely.. Take care of it.. not that big of a deal for him..

He nodded once. "Good," he said aloud. "Then we have a deal."

His tone hardened suddenly as he met her gaze again. "But I’ll warn you now if you try anything, if you even think about crossing me, you’ll regret it."

Neptunia raised a brow at his tone, then let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "Relax," she said, waving her hand dismissively. "I don’t have time for tricks. I’m not here to play games. And I have no reason to waste my energy on people who clearly have nothing to steal from..."

Her tone was teasing, almost arrogant. "You two look poor... Respectfuly." she said lightly, smirking. "I doubt I’ll find anyone richer than myself around here. So trust me ..I’ve got no reason to betray you."

Razeal didn’t react. He simply stared at her for a moment, his face emotionless, then gave a small nod. "My name’s Razeal," he said, his tone clipped and simple. "And she’s Maria."

He didn’t offer a handshake, didn’t soften his voice. Just stated their names as fact.

Neptunia didn’t seem offended. She merely nodded in return, her tone neutral. "Neptunia," she said, reintroducing herself with a slight shrug, as though formality didn’t matter much to her either.

There was a pause.. brief but noticeable. Then her lips curved again, this time in a more mischievous smile. "So..." she said, drawing out the word, "are you two a couple?"

Razeal blinked once. Maria frowned.

The question caught both of them off guard. Neptunia’s expression was playful, her golden eyes full of amusement. "I mean, you did fall together through a building, and you were holding her like she was made of glass," she teased, her voice lilting with curiosity. "But now you’re standing a few feet apart, not even talking to each other. It’s strange."

Her tone was half mocking, half genuinely curious ..the kind of question meant to probe just a little deeper.

"No," Razeal and Maria said in perfect unison.

Razeal’s voice was flat, indifferent. Maria’s, however, carried a clear note of disgust.

Neptunia blinked, taken aback by how fast and unified the response was. "Oh," she said, laughing softly, "ohhh." Her tone was amused now. "That was quick."

She tilted her head, glancing between the two of them, studying their faces. "Then what exactly is your relationship?" she asked, her expression colorful and curious. "You don’t seem like friends, and she doesn’t seem like your subordinate either..."

Maria froze for a second, caught off guard. She hesitated, glancing toward Razeal, as if unsure what to say.

Razeal, however, didn’t hesitate for even a breath. A small, confident smile appeared on his lips.. ".. Well.. She’s my Bitch,"

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Thanks for reading, guys. And ah, sorry ..

I didn’t even notice it was going a bit slow. But don’t worry, I’ve learned a lot from all of you, and I’ll work on it. Sometimes I get too caught up in chasing perfection and end up losing the main point, which can make it seem boring from a reader’s perspective. It’s just hard to balance between the reader’s and the author’s point of view because from my side, it felt perfect. Still, no worries, I’ve got it now and I’ll do better.

Thanks for understanding.

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