Chapter 19: The Kingdom Beneath the Sea Part 3: The Wings Above the Abyss The ocean was quiet. Too quiet. After learning the truth behind the ancient conflict between the Naga and the Garuda, Adrian remained standing inside the underwater palace, his expression unreadable. The Naga elders had told him everything. For countless generations, their race had lived beneath the ocean. They were not a race that sought conquest. They did not desire territories above the clouds. Their home was the deep sea. The endless ocean currents. The ancient ruins hidden beneath the waves. The Naga had survived by avoiding unnecessary conflicts and protecting their own people. But the Garuda were different. They ruled the skies. With their enormous wings and powerful bodies, they considered themselves the natural rulers of the heavens. And for generations... They had hunted the Naga. Not because of a single war. Not because of a single misunderstanding. But because it had become tradition. A cycle repeated through countless generations. The young Naga grew up hearing stories about the Garuda. The Garuda grew up hearing that the Naga were their prey. Neither side remembered how the hatred began. They only remembered that it existed. Adrian stood silently. In his previous life, he had witnessed countless wars between civilizations. He had seen powerful beings destroy entire worlds because of pride. At that time, he believed such conflicts were meaningless. But after reincarnation... After experiencing a mortal life... He understood something different. Those who suffered were not always the ones who started the conflict. Often... It was the innocent who carried the consequences. A faint wave of spiritual energy suddenly appeared above the ocean. The Naga warriors immediately became alert. "The Garuda..." One of the elders spoke quietly. Adrian looked upward. "They came earlier than expected." A moment later— Several golden figures descended through the ocean barrier. Five Garuda appeared. They were not the main army. They were scouts. Their golden wings released powerful spiritual pressure, and their sharp eyes observed the underwater kingdom below. The leading Garuda looked down at the Naga. "So the rumors were true." "The Naga have found someone willing to protect them." His gaze moved toward Adrian. "So you are the human cultivator." Adrian looked at him calmly. "I am." The Garuda scout smiled. "You should leave this matter alone." "The conflict between our races has existed longer than your current lifespan." Adrian did not answer immediately. Instead, he asked. "How many Naga have died because of this conflict?" The Garuda scout's expression changed slightly. But he quickly recovered. "The weak die." "The strong survive." "That is the law of this world." Adrian's eyes became colder. "No." "That is only an excuse created by those who refuse to change." The Garuda's expression turned hostile. "You are an outsider." "You have no right to judge our race." Adrian looked at them. "Perhaps." "But I have the power to stop it." The next instant— A golden feather shot forward. It was fast. Extremely fast. Even some Naga warriors could barely see it. But Adrian did not move. A dark sword appeared beside him. Clang! The golden feather stopped. The entire ocean shook. The Garuda scouts stared at the blade. The Void Sovereign Skyblade floated beside Adrian, surrounded by silver patterns resembling endless stars. The sword released no overwhelming killing intent. Yet every Garuda instinctively felt danger. "This sword..." One of them whispered. "It is alive." Adrian gently raised his hand. The sword moved. "Originless Sword Path." A flash of silver crossed the ocean. The first Garuda scout was pushed backward. His golden armor cracked. But he was not injured seriously. Adrian controlled his strength. He was not here to massacre scouts. The other Garuda attacked together. Their wings created powerful storms beneath the ocean. Golden wind blades descended from above. The surrounding water was torn apart. But Adrian walked through the attacks calmly. One step. One movement. One sword. Every attack missed. Every counterattack forced the Garuda backward. The difference between them was absolute. The scouts quickly understood. They were not fighting a powerful cultivator. They were fighting someone from another level entirely. "Impossible..." The leader gritted his teeth. "Five of us cannot even force him to move seriously." Adrian appeared before him. The Void Sovereign Skyblade stopped in front of his throat. Silence filled the ocean. "Return to your clan." "Tell your leader." "The cycle between Naga and Garuda ends." The Garuda scout stared at Adrian. "You think our clan will surrender?" "No." Adrian lowered the sword. "I know you will not." The Garuda froze. Because Adrian understood them. Their pride. Their arrogance. Their unwillingness to accept defeat. The scouts retreated. They carried Adrian's message back to the sky. The true battle had not begun yet. --- Several hours later. Adrian stood outside the Naga Palace. The Naga King approached him. "You truly intend to go there?" Adrian looked toward the ocean surface. "Yes." "The Garuda will not stop." "And neither will this conflict." The Naga King remained silent. "Then what will we do?" Adrian turned toward him. "You will come with me." The Naga King was surprised. "To fight?" "No." Adrian shook his head. "You will not participate." "This is not your battle anymore." The Naga elders looked confused. "Then why bring us?" Adrian answered calmly. "Because someone must witness the end." The Naga became silent. Then Adrian raised his hand. The Originless Celestial Vault Ring released a powerful wave of energy. The ocean began trembling. Ancient formations appeared around them. Countless runes spread through the water. Then— A massive vessel emerged from the depths. It was not created by mortal craftsmanship. It was not a machine. It was an artifact born from cultivation, formations, and Adrian's own understanding. The Originless Heaven Ark. Its surface shone with mysterious patterns. The surrounding ocean currents changed direction because of its presence. Even the ancient Naga elders were stunned. "This artifact..." "How can something like this exist?" Adrian stepped onto the Ark. "Come." The Naga slowly followed. They did not understand Adrian's path. They did not understand his power. But they understood one thing. This person was different from every cultivator they had met. The Originless Heaven Ark rose. The ocean surface separated. For the first time in their lives, many young Naga saw the world beyond the endless sea. Not because they belonged to the sky. Not because they had escaped their nature. But because Adrian had brought them beyond the boundary that had confined them for generations. Above the clouds... The world changed. The endless blue ocean disappeared below. And far ahead... Something enormous appeared. A fortress floating among the heavens. A city built upon ancient formations and golden spiritual energy. The stronghold of the Garuda clan. The Celestial Golden Sky Citadel. Countless defensive formations surrounded it. Ancient weapons rested along its walls. It was not merely a home. It was a fortress prepared for war. The Naga elders looked at it with complicated emotions. For generations, they had only heard legends about the Garuda's sky domain. Now they stood before it. Adrian looked at the floating fortress. His expression remained calm. The Void Sovereign Skyblade floated beside him. The Originless Heaven Ark continued moving forward. The final confrontation between the ocean and the sky was about to begin.