After Jeanne departed from the sector aboard the wyvern, the once-chaotic ocean slowly settled into a serene stillness. The aquatic life residing deep underwater returned to their usual rhythm, blissfully unaware of the horror that had just swept over their world.
The only difference was that the Seaborn population in the area had plummeted to an all-time low. Yet, within two short days, new swarms would arrive, turning these waters into their playground once again.
The carcasses floating on the surface had already been repurposed as food. Arriving swarms devoured the remains, converting their fallen kin into energy for daily growth, allowing the ecosystem of the deep to return to its endless cycle.
Meanwhile, the two Aegirian technicians who had witnessed the entire ordeal were left in absolute silence, staring blankly at their monitors. It felt as though they had watched a bizarre, unbelievable theater play, with the Seaborn and the two surface women acting as the main cast.
"This change is beyond understanding... I genuinely don't know whether this is a good thing for us or a catastrophic bad sign."
"I couldn't agree more."
The two remained frozen in their seats for a long time, unable to process what they had just seen. A surface dweller had wiped out an entire horde of Seaborn with zero effort—monsters that had plagued Aegir for countless generations, entirely helpless against her power.
It was like wandering into a remote monkey settlement only to find the primates discussing general relativity and building antimatter warheads. The sheer absurdity of the situation made them question their own sanity.
"You're not dreaming. We can all verify that," a voice echoed from behind them, startling both technicians so badly that they practically jumped out of their seats to bow in greeting.
"However," the official continued, his eyes fixed on the image of Jeanne playing on the screen, his expression unreadable, "I believe our perception of surface civilization needs a dramatic revision."
"I think my perception of surface civilization needs a dramatic revision!" Skadi remarked from the back of the wyvern, watching Jeanne shrink the golden horn back down to the size of a small ornament before slipping it into her shirt.
What she had witnessed today was a complete revelation. It shattered every concept she had formed during her years spent wandering the surface world.
She had always viewed the surface as a primitive, backward land, lightyears behind Aegirian technology. Most places couldn't even manage proper indoor plumbing, let alone advanced infrastructure!
Skadi had traveled far and wide across the land and considered herself well-traveled. Supported by her naturally heightened perception, very few things on Terra ever managed to surprise her.
The only exceptions were the first time she laid eyes on a Mobile City, her subsequent dealings with the enigmatic Feline named Kal'tsit, and now, the young woman sitting right in front of her.
"Well, you can hold on to that surprise," Jeanne said with a light shrug. "Honestly, I'm a complete anomaly on this land. For the most part, your assessment of the surface isn't wrong."
Jeanne shrugged again, though her mind was still swirling with the sensation of using the horn. That surreal experience was something she couldn't easily forget.
In that brief moment, it felt as if she had ascended into a state of higher perception, looking down upon the entire world. She even felt that if she were to setup a proper ritual in a strategic location, she could erase every living creature on Terra and usher in a whole new era.
Honestly, why do world-ending superweapons always end up in my hands? I'm supposed to be a good person!
While Jeanne lamented her accidental descent into villain-level firepower, she failed to notice Skadi studying her with intense scrutiny, as if trying to unravel every secret the mysterious girl possessed.
"You really are a strange person," Skadi said softly. Yet, knowing that Jeanne was the one holding such power made it feel far less terrifying than it should have been.
If anyone else held that kind of world-shattering weapon, Skadi would be deeply concerned for the future of the world, wondering if they would use it to hold all nations hostage.
But as for Jeanne? Skadi was fairly certain the girl would find a vault made of solid D23 steel, lock the horn inside, and pray it never saw the light of day again.
"You're looking at me funny," Jeanne muttered, petting the dragon Fafnir resting in her arms, though her gaze drifted back toward the ocean below.
The sea beneath them was dead silent now—an uncanny quiet neither of them had ever witnessed before. Suddenly, a flash of silver gleamed beneath the waves. Driven by instinct, Jeanne commanded the wyvern to swoop down, snatching the silver streak right out of the water.
It was a scaled beast—a common fish. Jeanne looked at the thrashing creature in her grip, thoroughly surprised. "There are still normal fish alive here? I thought the Seaborn ate everything in these waters."
Jeanne held the energetic fish up, and Skadi leaned in with clear interest. She hadn't expected any native marine life to survive in this corrupted stretch of ocean either. For a tiny creature to survive and grow to this size among swarms of monsters was nothing short of a miracle.
"Silver-scale. It's a type of fish with very tender meat," Skadi noted. "These little guys excel at hiding under deep rock crevices. That's probably how it survived surrounded by the hive. No matter how many Seaborn there are, they can't cover every single inch of the ocean floor."
Looking at the tasty fish, Skadi couldn't help but feel a sudden pang of respect. Even in an ocean as brutal as this, such fragile life found a way to endure.
"Yeah. Life is surprisingly resilient," Jeanne sighed, holding the squirming fish.
Just then, she noticed Fafnir staring intently at the silver scales, drool practically dripping from the dragon's jaws. The dragon clearly wanted to gobble it up as a quick snack.
"Oh, come on," Jeanne chuckled, tapping the greedy dragon on the nose. "You're not starving. Why do you have to pick on a little guy that worked so hard to survive?"
With a gentle toss, Jeanne threw the silver fish back into the ocean. Fafnir watched her snack disappear into the waves and flicked her tail in annoyance.
"You don't need it anyway, and you can't eat it raw. Just consider it a good deed..." Jeanne coaxed, gently stroking the dragon as Fafnir thumped her tail against Jeanne's leg in protest.
Skadi watched the scene in silence for a long moment. For some reason, seeing Jeanne handle the dragon reminded her of her former captain, though her captain was nowhere near as easygoing.
Skadi turned her head back toward the deep blue waters. Knowing that a real solution to the Seaborn threat might actually exist made the endless ocean look far less grim than before.
I hope the captain's mission is going smoothly, wherever he is, Skadi thought, offering a silent prayer for her captain, who she believed was still alive somewhere out there.
"I simply wish to achieve my goals in an orderly manner. Strictly speaking, I have no intention of making enemies of Iberia or the Inquisitors."
Inside an interrogation room at the local High Inquisition office, Skadi stared at the man sitting across from her, barely able to believe her eyes. The very person she had been worrying about was sitting right in front of her!
Ulpianus, Captain of the Third Squadron, sat quietly in the chair. His right eye was bruised purple—the result of Fafnir instinctively throwing a punch the moment they noticed him sneaking behind them when they returned to the city.
When Jeanne and Skadi returned, they were stunned to learn that the dangerous rogue accused of destroying six clock towers and twelve buildings in the city was none other than Skadi's former commander.
"I was merely tracking a few dangerous cultists..." Ulpianus said, raising a hand to lightly touch his bruised eye before looking up. "Though it really has been a long time, Skadi. I must say... that little dragon beside you packs quite a punch."