Cero nodded slowly. "I understand. But the question is, why is she here? And why is she chained like this?"
He stepped closer, ignoring the tense stances of the marines around him, whose grips on their weapons visibly tightened. "Careful, sir. We still don't know what she's capable of," one of the marines cautioned.
Cero dismissed the warning with a wave, crouching slightly to examine the girl more closely. "Who… are you?" he asked softly, though his tone remained cold.
The girl raised her face just a fraction higher, her glowing red eyes locking onto Cero's gaze as if assessing his intentions. Finally, in a voice hoarse and barely audible, she spoke words in a language none of the marines could understand. The cadence of her speech was almost lyrical, like an unfinished incantation.
Cero's mind buzzed as he mentally engaged his AI system. "System, can I understand what she's saying?"
[System: The subject's language is not fully recognized within local data sets. However, advanced analysis can be performed with further interaction. Would you like to activate the linguistic augmentation module?]
"Yes," Cero replied tersely.
An unfamiliar sensation rippled through his mind as the once unintelligible words began to make sense. Slowly, the girl's voice, cold and laced with arrogance, became clear.
"Who are you?" she finally asked, her crimson eyes narrowing as they bore into his.
Cero remained silent for a moment, weighing his words. He knew this childlike being, despite her fragile appearance, was far from ordinary. Eventually, he answered in a tone both firm and measured, "I am Arcana Cero, commander of the New World Exploration Fleet. Now, young lady, who are you?"
The girl smirked faintly, the corners of her lips curling into a chillingly unnerving smile. "Arcana Cero… an interesting name," she murmured, as if savoring each syllable. "Did Hitos over there not tell you anything?"
Cero glanced briefly at Hitos, who stood under the watchful eyes of two marines nearby. The captain's sweat-drenched face grew more strained, clearly trapped in an unfavorable situation.
"Oh, he wasn't particularly forthcoming," Cero replied, his eyes returning to the girl. "All he managed to say was that you're some sort of abyssal being—a Drake Abyssal."
The girl raised an eyebrow before letting out a cold, mirthless laugh that resonated like shards of ice. "A Drake Abyssal? How pitiful to be regarded so lowly. Foolish Hitos… he doesn't even comprehend who he captured."
Cero's composure remained steady, though his curiosity deepened. "Then help me understand. Who are you, truly?"
The girl took a deep breath and straightened herself slightly, her heavy chains clinking softly against the movement. With a tone of pride tinged with bitter irony, she answered, "Very well, if you must know… I am the Queen of the Mystical Kingdom of Yundal. My name is Isvel Tharion, the last sovereign of a now-extinct magical bloodline. And here I am, chained and humiliated by petty humans who cannot even grasp the meaning of true power."
The atmosphere in the room grew tense. The marines exchanged uneasy glances, their apprehension evident. Even Ragner, standing near the entrance of the vault, stepped forward, his expression hard with caution.
"Queen of a mystical kingdom?" Ragner echoed skeptically. "If that's true, how did you end up in the hands of a slaver like Hitos?"
Isvel rolled her eyes, as though the question were beneath her. After a moment of silence, she spoke again, her voice more serious but no less laced with sarcasm.
"My kingdom, Yundal, was one of the last places in this world where magic flowed pure. We had no need for your crude technologies—we thrived alongside the forces of nature itself. But the larger empires, like Delos and its allies, could not tolerate our existence. They wanted our magic for themselves, and when I refused to surrender it, they chose to destroy us."
She paused, lowering her gaze momentarily before continuing, her voice colder now. "Our final battle occurred five years ago. They sent thousands of soldiers and dozens of mages to lay siege to our capital. I used every ounce of my power to protect my people, but my magic was too overwhelming… or perhaps I was too enraged. The city was destroyed, along with nearly everything and everyone within it."
Ragner and the other marines were visibly unsettled by her tale, but Cero maintained his unflinching stare. "And how did you end up on this ship?" he asked.
Isvel shrugged lightly, the chains on her wrists rattling faintly. "After that disaster, I had no kingdom left to rule. I tried to disappear, but they wouldn't let me go so easily. They sent bounty hunters, mages, even monsters to capture me. Eventually, they succeeded. They sold me to that idiot Hitos, who thought I was just another magical creature he could peddle to the Tower of Sorcery."
Hitos, overhearing this, looked even more terrified. "I… I didn't know she was… this dangerous! I only—"
"Silence," Cero interrupted sharply, his gaze never leaving Isvel. "I'm not talking to you."
Cero stepped closer to Isvel, his eyes locking with her fiery gaze. "You claim to be a queen, yet here you are, a prisoner. If you possess such immense power, why haven't you escaped?"
Isvel smiled bitterly, her expression filled with disdain. "Because that power is a double-edged sword. I could obliterate all of this if I wanted, but you wouldn't like the aftermath. You see, the power within me… isn't entirely mine. It's the raw, untamed force of this world itself. If I unleash it, not just you, but everyone here—including myself—will be annihilated."
Cero stood silently, processing her words. If what Isvel claimed was true, she wasn't just a powerful entity but a potential cataclysmic threat.
"So, you've chosen to remain in chains?" he asked finally, his tone skeptical.
"I've chosen not to kill more than I already have," she replied coldly. "But don't mistake that for submission. I don't work for anyone."
Cero smirked faintly, though his eyes remained devoid of warmth. "We'll see about that. You may be a queen, but right now, you're my prisoner. And I will ensure your power serves my purpose."
Turning on his heel, Cero gestured to the marines. "Take her to the flagship. Ensure she's securely restrained. If she tries anything, don't give her a second chance."
"Yes, sir!" the marines responded in unison.
As Isvel was escorted out, Cero glanced briefly at Hitos, whose face was pale with fear. "And you, Captain… I have more questions for you. From now on, you will cooperate fully, or I'll make sure you never see land again."
Cero returned to the main deck, his eyes fixed on the endless horizon. This world continued to reveal its secrets, each more dangerous and enigmatic than the last. But one thing was certain—power like Isvel's could be a weapon or a threat. His job was to ensure it became an asset.