Chapter 514: Act 262 – “Old Acquaintances”
The sunlight cast a golden sheen over the sea, and the battlefield from moments ago had transformed into a scene of calm tranquility. After the last Naga had vanished into the depths, only the shimmering surface of the water remained. Everything that had happened seemed like a mere illusion; if not for the battered hull of the Far Voyager reminding everyone, they might have thought they were caught in a nightmare.
However, the retreat of the Naga was not a portent of withdrawal.
“Look!” a sailor suddenly shouted.
Brendel lifted his head and suddenly saw a massive dark shadow emerging from the deep blue sea beneath the horizon. The lurking shape underwater was far larger than the Far Voyager; compared to it, the small three-masted sailing ship appeared as insignificant as a leaf. The shadow sped past under the Far Voyager, and everyone felt the ship shudder with a terrifying tremor. The mast and the rivets on the deck strained, as if they wanted to jump out of the wood, producing an almost unbearable sound.
Brendel’s gaze quickly shifted from one side of the ship to the other. He pressed his lips tightly together, remaining silent. The shadow beneath the surface signaled an unsettling message: only the legendary sea monsters were known to exist at such a size above the Seven Seas.
The gigantic shadow swam into the distance, then began to surface rapidly, arching the water as it emerged. The sea surged along a colossal spine, and a sharp fin broke the surface, creating a trail of white waves.
“My God!”
“What is that?” The sailors panicked. Any mortal seeing a mountain rising from the depths of the sea would feel their limbs go weak, especially considering that everyone present understood they were merely witnessing the tip of the iceberg. Captain James gripped his sword, suddenly realizing a terrifying possibility, causing his complexion to pale slightly.
“That’s a Sea Demon Whale! An adult Sea Demon Whale!” Brendel answered swiftly.
“You can’t be serious, Mister Brendel!” James gasped.
“I wish I were wrong,” Brendel couldn’t help but reply.
“By Martha!” The captain muttered to himself.
It wasn’t that he was too afraid; it was simply because the Sea Demon Whale was the most fearsome legend among sailors, one of the most terrifying monsters above the Seven Seas. Even in the grand library of White Harbor, only the oldest documents held any mention of them. Older sailors passed down tales of the creature’s terror through generations, claiming that only the unluckiest—or perhaps the luckiest—could witness its true form. Surviving an encounter with a Sea Demon Whale could only be described as being favored by the goddess of fortune.
According to the myths of the Vaunte Crusian lineage, the Sea Demon Whale was a descendant of the Sea Dragon, Garon. They were born as rulers of the sea. Fishermen claimed they could command storms, but they were also symbols of bountiful fisheries. In the Ten Cities region, harbors often featured the Sea Demon Whale as a common decorative motif, hoping to appease storms and bring schools of fish and prosperity.
However, encountering such a creature on the water was the greatest misfortune imaginable. Even the mightiest of human warships would seem like toys before them; the sheer physical power of an adult Sea Demon Whale surpassed that of a real dragon. Mortal spells and weapons could not harm them in the slightest; on the contrary, the magical power they inherited in their bloodline could overshadow even the most formidable wizard. Brendel knew all too well of instances where a Sea Demon Whale induced storms powerful enough to obliterate a harbor.
Yet, seeing this giant beast appear gave Brendel a sense of reassurance.
“This Sea Demon Whale is clearly aligned with the Naga; our firepower is too overwhelming, and it seems they dare not attack directly.” He turned back and said, “Mr. Sword Saint, it’s up to you now.”
A Sword Saint?! Both the captain and the sailors next to Brendel almost thought they had misheard when they caught the conversation. At this time, there were five individuals in the entire kingdom of Erluin who could be considered sword masters, namely Cross Bud, Eagle Dejyar, and Silver Knight Sylphy. These three all hailed from the province of Anlek, known for its rugged and bold populace. Throughout history, numerous renowned sword masters and even sword saints had emerged, including the Sword Saint Gorrekai of the Jablian people thirty years ago. Among the sword masters from Anlek, Cross Bud served the Duke of Lantonrand, while Dejyar and Sylphy had been loyal to the same noble lineage since the previous generation of dukes. Besides these three, the Siphai royal family and the Corvado royal family each had a sword master. As for the title of Sword Saint, no one had achieved it in Erluin since Darus and Gorrekai.
Yet now, this young lord referred to an ordinary-looking middle-aged man next to him as Sword Saint, and even in the presence of a legendary beast, all the sailors couldn’t help but steal glances.
Many gazes focused on Mephistopheles, the reputed young Sword Saint, who remained calm and stable as ever. He turned and asked, “Me?”
“Although the Naga have released the Sea Demon Whale, their actions suggest they are unwilling to pay too high a price for a simple raid. I only need you to make them retreat,” Brendel said, staring out at the distant sea, mentally calculating how much assurance he had in his words. While he knew the Naga quite well, he understood this particular group of Naga even better.
Mephistopheles pondered for a moment, realizing the truth in Brendel’s words. Captain James also came to the realization quickly and nodded eagerly, “Indeed, while pirates are desperate men, if the gains from their plunder don’t exceed their losses, it would be a losing proposition for them.”
Afterward, he couldn’t help but look at Mephistopheles with a hint of confusion, searching his mind for someone comparable, but it was destined to be in vain. Whether it was Darus or Kaeregus, they were both far more renowned than Mephistopheles, who could almost be considered a young junior in comparison.
“When did Erluin get another Sword Saint?” The young captain was perplexed beyond measure.
At that moment, the Gray Saint nodded, “I will give it a try.” As he spoke, one hand rested on the hilt of his sword, and suddenly, everyone felt a terrifying pressure erupting from his frail body. This pressure felt almost tangible, like a gust of wind, causing even the sails of the Far Voyager to flutter. Everyone present, including the top golden-tier individuals like Medisa and Xi, couldn’t help but feel a momentary chill, while the ordinary sailors nearly buckled and dropped to their knees.
“My God, he really is a Sword Saint!”
“Martha above, when did Erluin have another Sword Saint?!” At that moment, everyone but Brendel’s subordinates experienced unprecedented astonishment. Their shock was not only over Mephistopheles’s identity but also Brendel’s background. Who exactly were these rebels occupying Toniger?
Only Brendel completely ignored the overwhelming aura of the Gray Saint. His will had long been resilient enough to surpass the pinnacle of elemental force. Not to mention the mere pressure from a Sword Saint, even the innate pressure emanating from a dragon’s bloodline was something he could easily disregard. He observed as Mephistopheles released his aura without reservation. Then, a circle of gray light emanated from the Sword Saint, spreading outward in all directions, instantly engulfing the nearby sea surface, coloring the entire sailing ship in a dull gray hue.
Gray Domain.
At that moment, everyone instinctively fell silent. Even someone as well-versed as James didn’t recognize it, but at least he understood that this was the legendary force of elements.
Elemental Awakening.
Setting aside swordsmanship, this alone already marked him as a true Sword Saint.
It wasn’t just the ship’s crew that fell silent; the Sea Demon Whale that had just surfaced also became still, quietly floating on the water not far away. This was the respect of a strong being. Although the Sea Demon Whale was a monster of myth, it dared not take action against a true master who had awakened the elements. They were ancient beings living in the ocean, their intelligence rivaling that of sentient humans.
Thus, an odd scene unfolded on the sea. The tiny Far Voyager and the massive Sea Demon Whale suddenly found themselves in a brief moment of calm, as neither side dared to advance recklessly. Only the ordinary sailors aboard and the young officers of the White Lion Army couldn’t help but look up and gawk at this rare spectacle. Perhaps for many of them, this would be a once-in-a-lifetime sight; it would surely be the most legendary and glorious moment of their lives.
Especially for the sailors who had spent years earning their livelihoods at sea.
After a short while.
Brendel finally saw several figures emerging from below the surface, surfacing to reveal a mix of men and women. Naturally, these figures were Naga. They looked up at the people on the ship, their expressions equally filled with confusion. They had come to raid an ordinary human merchant ship, but who could have known that this ship was equipped with weaponry comparable to a warship, and even housed a powerful being who had awakened the elements? Had these humans not yet made any aggressive moves, they might have suspected this was a trap specifically laid for them.
Now it appeared more akin to crashing into a certain country’s royal procession while disguised.
While this might sound absurd, the thoughts of the leading Naga echoed similar sentiments; otherwise, it was simply too outrageous. They slowly drew closer to the Far Voyager’s railing, and upon recognizing Brendel, their certainty deepened, compelling them to lift their heads and ask, “Which prince’s distinguished presence is aboard this ship?”
“Prince?” Before Brendel could respond, Antinna let out a laugh.
Brendel looked at Antinna in surprise because he had always regarded this assistant as poised and cool-headed. He couldn’t comprehend what was so amusing in that statement. Did he fall so badly short of the image of a prince in her eyes? There were certainly handsome and beautiful individuals among the princes and princesses of the kingdoms of Vaunte, yet there were also some who were less than flattering. Given his current standing, it wasn’t unacceptable to role-play as a prince of a modest little kingdom.
As Brendel looked at her, the noblewoman seemed to have recalled something, and her face flushed instantly, turning crimson all the way down to her neck. She discreetly coughed and immediately turned her head away.
Brendel was baffled by her reaction and didn’t dwell on it but instead turned his attention back to the Naga beneath the ship—at this point, even the sailors realized that these Naga were seeking peace. Brendel’s intuition hadn’t led him astray; even robbers didn’t wish to exhaust themselves for the sake of a singular raid. After all, in these waters, there were some that they could provoke, and some that they could never afford to.
Any force under the protection of a being that had awakened elements possessed at least that level of strength.
But what no one knew was that at this moment, as Brendel looked at the Naga below, a thought flashed through his mind:
“Indeed, it’s you all—”
…(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please consider voting for it on Qidian (qidian.com) with recommendation or monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
