Since entering the mysterious sea, everything had been calm and seemingly safe.
As usual, Rover lifted the curtain and looked out at the ocean, then at the fleet surrounding his ship, before finally turning his gaze toward the towering purple prism at the center of the sea. It pulsed faintly with a purple glow, like the breathing of a living creature.
But as the fleet passed by, an inexplicable sense of oppression weighed on everyone's hearts, urging the captains to sail away quickly.
"Just a little more to go. Looks like we can finally rest soon."
Captain Beidou glanced at Rover as he entered the control room, speaking leisurely.
Rover let out a sigh of relief—but soon, the entire fleet began to tremble slightly.
Everyone's eyes turned toward the prism at the center. It was now glowing intensely, blotting out the sky.
Like prey stepping into a trap, the once-calm sea began to churn violently. Towering waves crashed against the fleet, tossing the ships like drifting weeds. Then, at the edge of visibility, countless black dots emerged from the sea, rushing toward them.
Rover frowned and quickly scanned the horizon. He saw them clearly—mutated sea creatures.
The fleet reacted swiftly.
The outermost defensive ships began firing their cannons at the rapidly approaching monsters. The smell of gunpowder spread everywhere, and the thunderous explosions grew fiercer as the waves surged.
Rover looked around at the crew standing ready. They all knew—the real battle had only just begun.
...
"H-H-Hailong! Wh-what's happening?!"
Zhiping was practically jolted awake by the deafening cannon fire. His heart pounded as he rushed out of his room, watching the panicked crew hurrying down the hallway. He gulped, only calming slightly when Hailong found him and explained the situation.
"We've encountered enemies. The defensive fleet is holding them off, but our support fleet needs to prepare early."
Zhiping followed Hailong's quick steps to a storage room, where most of the crew was already moving supplies.
"Keep them dry! Be careful!"
It was explosives—being carefully transported and arranged to maximize their destructive potential.
A pair of gloves was tossed at Zhiping, who quickly put them on and joined the moving effort.
"Hailong… are we really going to use these?"
Zhiping's hands trembled as he watched the massive space gradually fill with explosives—enough to light up the night sky with a blazing explosion.
Hailong barely glanced at him, his hands never stopping.
"Then pray the defensive fleet doesn't get overrun. Or that we reach our destination before we're needed."
Zhiping fell silent. Only when the cannon fire finally ceased did his heart settle slightly.
On the way back, Hailong looked at Zhiping's pale face and chuckled.
"Kid, scared?"
Zhiping nodded, then looked at Hailong with confusion.
"Yeah… because if we're needed, doesn't that mean we'll have to use these explosives to clear a path for the main ship? It's basically a suicide mission. Aren't you all afraid?"
Hailong walked casually to Xu Liushi's bed, reached under it, and pulled out a bottle of clear liquor.
"You know why Xu Liushi likes to drink?"
He poured a cup and handed it to Zhiping.
Zhiping took it, staring at the liquor in silence.
"Because alcohol gives you courage. The strong burn numbs your emotions. So Xu Liushi always drinks—probably to blur the fear of death."
"Every crew member here was carefully chosen. No attachments, no family."
"Fear is human. It's instinct. So… I won't laugh at you for being scared. I understand."
Under Hailong's gaze, Zhiping downed the liquor in one gulp. The burning sensation felt like it was scorching his body, incinerating the fear that had coiled in the cold corners of his mind.
His face flushed red, and for a brief moment, he felt a warmth he hadn't known in a long time. He stared at the bottle in Hailong's hand, never realizing alcohol could bring such hope.
But Hailong put it away.
"A little for courage. Drink too much, and Captain Liu will throw you overboard."
His usual teasing finally made Zhiping relax. He looked out at the fleet and prayed silently that nothing else would go wrong.
...
Rover stood once more on a blood-soaked deck—the third ship of the defensive fleet. Only the sound of chewing remained.
The final screams of the dying had faded, drowned out by the cannon fire. No matter how hard Rover tried—just like in Spina di Rosula —people still died.
His Havoc blade slashed through an abomination of the sea, cleaving it in half.
"Too late again…"
Rover gritted his teeth. There was no time to linger among the wreckage. He had to move to the next ship.
By the final report, all the leaders had gathered, staring at the paper in Beidou's hands.
"Twenty-one defensive ships lost. Thousands of crew members gone."
A single clash had dealt a devastating blow to the human fleet on the merciless sea. Silence fell as they mourned their fallen comrades.
The eerie prism at the center seemed to count down their deaths. Just as humanity caught its breath, the purple light flared again.
The roars of monsters surrounded the fleet once more. Crimson eyes gleamed through the black mist rising from the sea.
A new wave of assault crashed toward them.