Volume One, Chapter 33: Journey to the Ruins

Knock, knock, knock!

A series of knocks roused Kirisaki from his slumber. When he opened the door, he found yesterday's attendant standing respectfully at the threshold. "Sir, Her Highness the Princess has arrived and asked me to fetch you," the attendant said.

"So soon!" Kirisaki exclaimed, surprised, then smiled faintly. "Alright, I'll wash my face and come down right away."

"Very well, sir," the attendant replied, nodding before turning to leave.

Kirisaki did more than just wash his face; he indulged himself in a comfortable half-hour bath before finally descending the stairs at a leisurely pace.

As soon as he reached the lobby, he spotted Salamni seated at a window booth. Today, she wore a white dress and a small crown rested upon her forehead, making her appear far more pure and beautiful than yesterday. Yet her expression was tense, clearly impatient from waiting too long for someone.

"Hello!" Kirisaki raised his hand in greeting and took the seat opposite her.

Salamni rolled her eyes, took a deep breath, and said, "I've found a clue."

"Mm," Kirisaki nodded. "Go on."

"According to ancient records, the power of the three-headed Water Demon seems to originate from the elemental water you're seeking." Salamni produced the Chronicle of the Taiping Lands, opening to the page detailing the Water Demon, and placed it on the table.

Kirisaki frowned, murmuring instinctively, "I never expected the Taiping Chronicle to be here as well."

Hearing this, Salamni asked in confusion, "Have you read this book before?"

"Of course," Kirisaki replied. "The Taiping Chronicle exists on many planets."

He meant the various Earths across the multiverse, though Salamni could not have known this and paid it no mind. She continued, "Now we have a clue, but the three-headed Water Demon’s location remains unknown."

"After all... it's only a legend. Whether it truly exists is still uncertain."

In her eyes, the Chronicle's accounts were impressive but lacked evidence, seeming more like fanciful tales.

Kirisaki looked up at her, saying, "You're sitting across from an Ultraman, so tell me—do you think legends are real?"

"That's different," Salamni retorted. "The Ultra Clan is renowned in the universe, but even they can't confirm whether Noah from the legends really exists. It's the same reasoning."

"Oh? Is that so?" Kirisaki smiled with meaning.

He was beginning to realize that this girl was not only attractive but somewhat muddle-headed as well. If the Ultra Warriors of the Land of Light heard her, they'd surely laugh themselves silly.

Noah Ultraman—without exaggeration, he is the god in every Ultraman's heart. Even the King of Ultra is merely a king, but Noah is revered as a deity, which shows how exalted his status is.

Of course, those people did not include Tregear.

Seeing Kirisaki’s gaze, as if she were a fool, Salamni became disgruntled and defended herself, "Well, it's true! Even if Noah does exist, he can't possibly be as overblown as described in the book."

"You're right," Kirisaki agreed.

To him, whether Noah or Zagi, both were merely beneficiaries of Grimud's favor. Yet, rather than being grateful, they committed abominable acts—utterly unforgivable.

Kirisaki fell silent, lowering his head to study the Taiping Chronicle.

He had to admit, it was a remarkable book. Not only did it record nearly every monster in the universe, but it also contained accounts of many powerful Ultramen, spanning from ancient times to the present, without exception.

Yet the identity of its author remained a mystery. Presumably, the author was a formidable being as well. To document a creature in detail, one must observe it up close—and that takes time. To record ultimate lifeforms like Noah and Zagi, the author must have taken tremendous risks.

But this was not Kirisaki’s concern. He only wanted to know where the three-headed Water Demon was sealed. As long as he could find them, breaking the seal would merely be a matter of time.

"Hey, the book only says the Water Demon was sealed," Kirisaki looked up at her. "Do you know the exact location?"

"No," Salamni replied bluntly, shaking her head.

Kirisaki: "..."

"But we can search the ancient ruins," Salamni continued. "Nuok has little land, but there are many traces of ancient ruins on the surrounding islands."

"Let's go!"

Without delay, Kirisaki snapped his fingers.

Immediately, Salamni’s vision shifted at lightning speed; in the blink of an eye, they had arrived overseas.

She stood stunned for three whole seconds before exclaiming in amazement, "Wow, you're amazing! You can do spatial transfer!"

"Just a parlor trick," Kirisaki waved dismissively. "We're now on the highest island of this planet. Look around—if you see something promising, we'll head straight there."

"Oh, alright," Salamni nodded, hurrying to the edge of the cliff to scan the horizon.

After a while, she pointed at a rather unremarkable island to the far right. "There, I've been there before."

Without further words, Kirisaki snapped his fingers again.

Upon arriving at the small island, he immediately unleashed his Ultra telepathy, enveloping the entire island to search every corner.

"Follow me!"

At that moment, Salamni gathered her skirt and walked forward cautiously.

Kirisaki glanced up and silently followed. Soon, a cave entrance appeared before them. It was small—one had to stoop to pass through.

"The ruins are inside," Salamni said, her face lighting up. She was about to call to Kirisaki but found him crouched before a stone, staring at a Heart of the Sea stone in a daze.

"What's wrong? What are you doing?" she called loudly.

The Heart of the Sea stone was unique to Nuok—a mineral with no energy, just like any ordinary stone, except for its peculiar appearance. It was commonly found along the coast.

Ignoring Salamni, Kirisaki reached out and picked up the Heart of the Sea stone. As he held it, he felt a cool sensation, as if the stone were emitting a breeze—faint, but undeniably present.

"This is..." Kirisaki’s expression grew serious. He crushed the Heart of the Sea stone in his hand.

Salamni’s eyes nearly popped out at the sight.

He had crushed the stone with his bare hands!

The Heart of the Sea stone turned to powder, as wisps of blue energy drifted outward, vanishing in an instant.

Salamni was once again astonished and rushed over. "How is that possible? The Heart of the Sea stone should be just an ordinary rock!"

"It's not that the stone is ordinary, but that your Nuok technology can't detect its energy," Kirisaki glanced at her and stood. "Come on, let's check inside the cave."

"Alright..." Salamni nodded woodenly, picking up a Heart of the Sea stone as she left.

This was a major discovery—if she could research its properties, Nuok would prosper!

Returning to the cave entrance, Kirisaki gathered a strand of light at his fingertips, instantly illuminating the interior.

Seeing the light, Salamni breathed a silent sigh of relief. Though Kirisaki claimed to be an Ultra Warrior, she hadn’t quite believed him. Now, her doubts vanished with the appearance of that light.

The two entered the cave side by side.

What they failed to notice was that, as they entered, a flash of light appeared in the sky.

It seemed to be a flying craft—and it approached with menacing speed!