Zhiping would never forget the sight—the dim, purple sky reflected on the cracked earth, surrounded by the roars of Tacet Discords that seemed to encircle him.
The cold, heart-stopping temperature made him shiver. Just as his feet touched the long-awaited ground, an unexpected order forced him back onto the ship.
Away from the land humans depended on, he felt like a child separated from its mother, staring blankly at another group of people gradually fading into the distance. Alone, he was swept along by the crowd, pushed into an unfamiliar place.
Zhiping looked around—apparently, he wasn't the only one confused about the situation.
They were like lambs awaiting slaughter, nervously waiting for the next step—until a voice broke the silence.
"Liu, I leave them to you."
The leader patted a tall man dressed as a captain. The wrinkles on his forehead were proof of a life weathered by hardship, but his eyes burned with unwavering determination as he gazed at the restless sea, where waves churned endlessly.
Then, the captain slowly withdrew his gaze and turned his attention to the lost lambs before him.
...
Three hours earlier...
"We have two destinations, which means we must split into two groups..."
Jean pointed at two red circles marked on the unfolded map—one was the Court of Fontaine, and the other was Petrichor Town.
Two completely different destinations meant two different risks. Whether it was the long land route infested with Tacet Discords or the mysterious and unpredictable sea, they had to make a choice.
"For escorting Rover to Petrichor Town via the sea route, I have someone in mind."
Ningguang nodded slightly, then stepped aside, revealing a captain of legendary reputation to everyone.
Captain Beidou—leader of the Crux Fleet, who had braved thunderstorms sailing between Inazuma and Liyue, and even slain the legendary sea monster Haishan. She was the undisputed choice.
Inside the makeshift command post, no one objected. In fact, most could think of no one more suited than Beidou.
"I'll need a few advisors and a lot of manpower."
Beidou scanned the room and stated her requirements.
Yae Miko maintained her usual playful smile, her fox tail swaying as she spoke leisurely.
"I have a couple of candidates here. One is Sangonomiya Kokomi—she once led soldiers to resist a deity's invasion and has experience in naval warfare. Plus, you two already know each other. The second is Kamisato Ayato, head of the Kamisato Clan. He can help you manage the fleet from the shadows."
Beidou nodded in agreement. After a moment of thought, Alhaitham, who had been studying the fleet's composition, suddenly spoke up.
"Among the allied forces of the six nations, those familiar with naval warfare are far fewer than those experienced in land battles. I propose dispersing the Crux Fleet's crew across all ships, assigning them as squad leaders to train the less experienced soldiers."
...
Back to the present...
In his daze, Zhiping finally understood the situation.
"Listen up! From now on, you're all my apprentice crew members. You follow my orders—got it?!"
The captain's hawk-like gaze turned to Zhiping, snapping him out of his stupor.
"You! Repeat what I just said!"
Under the captain's authoritative voice, Zhiping's body trembled slightly. The captain snorted coldly, his sharp eyes sweeping over the group once more.
"I expect every word I say to be engraved in your minds. If you can't handle it, or if you can't adapt, speak up now—the fleet hasn't set sail yet. I can report to my superiors and have you kicked out immediately.
Soldier, tell me your name. I can arrange for you to be transferred to the land forces!"
Captain Liu stood tall, exuding an oppressive aura.
Unwilling to back down, Zhiping gritted his teeth, straightened his back under the captain's piercing stare, and met his gaze head-on.
"Sir, I can adapt!"
As if hearing a joke, Captain Liu suddenly let out a cold laugh and stepped right in front of Zhiping, his voice harsh.
"Hmph! Soldier, try repeating everything I just said first!"
With those deafening words, Captain Liu turned and walked away without hesitation, disappearing from sight.
Zhiping slumped to the floor, relieved, his palms drenched in cold sweat as he recalled the encounter.
"You're Zhiping, right? I'm Hailong, your squad leader."
A burly man appeared before Zhiping, reaching out with a thick arm to pull him up.
"Captain Liu is always that strict—meticulous in everything he does. Most people aren't used to him at first."
Hailong patted Zhiping's back, and Zhiping quickly waved his hands, already feeling a sense of camaraderie with the friendly man.
"Come on, I'll fill you in on the ship's details as we walk."
Inside the ship's corridor, Zhiping peered out the window.
In the distance, the eerie purple sea emitted an inexplicable glow. The calm surface showed no signs of life, as if it had become a land of death.
Layers of dark clouds sealed the sky, allowing no light to pass through. Purple pillars rose from the depths of the ocean, piercing the heavens like a demonic ritual, weighing heavily on everyone's hearts.
The vast fleet, accompanied by the sound of crashing waves, lay anchored by the shore—like warriors about to enter a dragon's lair, uncertain of life or death.
An inexplicable panic gripped Zhiping, countless thoughts urging him to get off the ship immediately.
Hailong, observing from the side, accurately caught the fear in Zhiping's eyes.
"When faced with the unknown, people react in two ways—fear, because the unknown is terrifying, or excitement, because the unknown drives adventurers forward.
Clearly, you're the former. You're not cut out for sailing..."
Before he could finish, Zhiping interrupted.
"No, I... I can handle it!"
In Zhiping's eyes, alongside the fear, was a hint of defiance.
It was defiance against mediocrity, defiance against weakness—a desire to prove himself.
Hailong had seen that look in many rookies. They always wanted to prove they were special to the veterans.
But after weathering the storms and tempests of the sea, they'd silently shed their stubbornness, leaving only fear that eventually drove them to hide in a corner, accepting their ordinariness.
"We set sail in an hour. Think it over."
Hailong pointed to Zhiping's resting area and patted his shoulder again—this time, the weight of his hand felt heavy, like the crashing waves, carrying the wisdom of experience.
Zhiping pressed a hand to his chest, as if to keep his heart from leaping out. He leaned against the window, gripping the sill tightly, staring at the mysterious sea in the distance. An inexplicable dread still whispered for him to leave.
...
"That kid still hasn't left?"
Amidst the curling smoke, Captain Liu crushed the cigarette beneath his foot, snuffing out its faint glow.
"If you're so concerned, why not talk to him yourself?"
Hailong joked, only to immediately feel a sharp gaze that could pierce through him.
Just as he was about to speak again, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
The door creaked open, revealing a familiar figure that made Captain Liu's lips curl slightly—but the next second, Zhiping slammed his hands on the table.
"Brother Hailong, I've decided to stay!"