Travelers venturing beyond their homeland must always carry some skills for survival. For Kazuha, his ace was his ability to interpret the wind.
The wind carried countless messages—such as the sword intent suppressed within Kenshin Himura, the scent of alcohol lingering around Captain Beidou, or even the unique fragrance that seemed to waft from Lady Ningguang.
Kazuha's expertise lay in deciphering these signals, enabling him to detect distant enemy ships or lurking sea monsters.
Now, the sea breeze carried a faint, salty stench. It wasn't the typical fishy smell—it had a sticky, slimy undertone, reminiscent of a giant octopus from the depths of the ocean.
But if it were just an octopus, that wouldn't be an issue. The Crux had the strength to turn it into octopus balls for dinner.
The problem was that this scent in the air reeked of danger—so intense it made Kazuha's hands tremble uncontrollably.
The last time he felt this way was in the Inazuma City arena. Could it be...?
"Kazuha! What's going on?"
Beidou climbed swiftly to the lookout tower, her brows furrowed in concern.
When Xu Liushi had relayed Kazuha's message about changing course, she initially thought it was a joke. But when the message came from Kazuha himself, she couldn't remain calm.
To date, Kazuha had made seventeen predictions, each perfectly foreseeing approaching storms and saving the fleet from potential disasters. If he was sounding the alarm now, it meant there was something truly threatening ahead.
"There's something dangerous in our path," Kazuha said firmly, pointing ahead.
"Do we have to change course? Rerouting could completely derail our plans. Even with ample supplies, there's a risk we might run out before reaching Inazuma," Beidou responded gravely.
Changing course wasn't as simple as turning the wheel. The new route had to be carefully charted to avoid reefs and the territories of sea beasts—a massive undertaking.
"The wind tells me many things. But this time..." Kazuha closed his eyes to concentrate. "...even the wind trembles because of this creature. Aside from the danger, I can barely gather any other information."
Hearing this, Beidou felt a chill creep up her spine. The usually calm sea breeze was chaotic, shifting wildly.
"Change course! Prepare for combat!" Beidou's voice echoed decisively.
Realizing the danger wasn't a natural disaster but some kind of living creature, she sprang into action.
Beidou wasn't afraid of sea creatures. She had once slain a sea monster herself.
Every Liyuean knew the name of Beidou, the Captain of the Crux. Her exploits were legendary. Even storytellers at Yujing Terrace would recount her battles with sea monsters alongside tales of adepti and archons.
Liyue and Inazuma shared a popular phrase: "The fin splits the abyss, the tail touches distant peaks."
Fishermen sang it while working, passing the tune from shore to shore.
The song was about a mythical sea creature called Haishan, which Beidou had famously slain.
Haishan was a massive beast that resembled both fish and dragon, capable of creating tidal waves with a single movement.
Beidou had long dreamed of challenging it, and after many failed attempts, she finally succeeded. Leading a small crew armed with cannons, spears, and bows, she battled Haishan for four grueling days and nights.
On the fifth day, as the sun's first rays struck Haishan's face, Beidou delivered the finishing blow, severing its head.
At that moment, a bolt of violet lightning descended from the heavens, granting her a Vision—a divine reward for triumphing over sea and storm.
This incident earned Beidou the title "Uncrowned Lord of the Ocean," though her crew still preferred calling her "Boss."
The warning about danger ahead quickly spread throughout the fleet. But apart from the merchants, no one showed fear. What could possibly be more dangerous than Haishan?
But as time passed, the source of the danger gradually revealed itself.
Dark clouds blanketed the sky, stretching across the entire horizon. Thunder rumbled ominously within, sounding less like lightning and more like the growls of a massive beast.
The sky itself seemed torn asunder—half black, half blue.
The eerie sight left even the boldest sailors trembling. Some of the more faint-hearted among them soiled themselves in terror.
"What in the world is that?"
Standing atop the figurehead of the Alcor, Beidou felt a shiver run down her spine.
Amidst the pitch-black storm clouds, the faint silhouette of an enormous creature could occasionally be glimpsed. Even from a distance, its sheer size was mind-boggling.
Compared to this monster, the mighty Haishan seemed insignificant.
This creature transcended the category of "beast." A better word came to mind: "Demon."
The dark storm clouds seemed aware of the Crux's presence and began moving toward them, accompanied by deafening roars.
Beidou gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. There was only one course of action.
"Prepare for battle, everyone!"
. . . . .
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