It’s only narrowly that Somi and Kisa manage to lurch out of the way, followed by the bloodthirsty ineo. Jang and Seokga crash into the deck’s Hawaiian-style bar, wood splintering beneath them followed by broken bottles and the distinct smell of alcohol. Somi darts toward the mess and snatches up a long piece of glass, its sharp edge glinting as she wields it against the mermaids. It cuts into her skin, too, but the gumiho doesn’t seem to care as she launches herself toward a grinning cluster of mermaids.

The injured ineo throw themselves from the deck, heading for the waters below with angry screeches. Kisa’s made decent progress against them, but she can feel herself slowing as she remembers the footwork she learned in her academies, the exact way to sweep a blade.

Where would Jang hide her heart? Kisa pants through her teeth as she scours through all the possibilities. An organ like a heart can’t risk being found by a guest. Jang’s room would be an obvious answer, but some instinct tells Kisa that the jangsan beom would never have admitted to hiding the heart “somewhere safe” unless she was certain it wouldn’t be found. Her bedroom is too obvious.

Mentally, Kisa curses the CEO for making this ship so bloody big. Where is he anyway? Surely he would notice the chaos unfolding on his pride and joy?

The heart, the heart. The heart…Oh, no.

The ship lurches to a halt right underneath the looming archway of Bound God’s Pass. Kisa’s heart rises into her throat as she stares up at the dark, wet stone. Beneath them, within the rushing red waters, is Mireuk’s prison.

She whirls back to the ineo, but they’re grinning at her as they slip through the gaps in Deck 10’s railing, disappearing into the waters below with small splashes. Seokga’s bear is roaring as he swipes at the tiger with massive claws, only for her to ignore the way pain should erupt down her furred chest.

How do you win against an opponent who can’t die and can’t feel pain?

You restrain them, thinks Kisa desperately. But there are no ropes that could ever possibly hold down the monstrous jangsan beom…

“SEOKGA!” she screams in terror as the tiger closes its maws around the bear’s middle. Not enough to kill—Jang needs Seokga for whatever comes next—but enough for Seokga to roar hoarsely in pain. The sound of it cuts Kisa to the bone. She lunges toward the two beasts, but Somi’s hands wrap around her middle, dragging her back.

“You’ll get hurt!” Somi cries in her ear as Kisa fights to escape.