Chapter 1090: Chapter 262: Old Acquaintance
The sunlight cast a golden sheen on the sea’s surface, and the battlefield moments ago instantly reverted to a scene of calm seas. After the last of the Naga Clan dove deep into the sea, only the shimmering waves remained on the surface. Everything that had happened earlier seemed like an illusion; if it weren’t for the battered hull of the Distant Land still reminding everyone, perhaps they would all believe they had just awoken from a nightmare.
But the retreat of the Naga Clan was not a precursor to withdrawal.
"Look!" A sailor suddenly exclaimed.
Brand lifted his head and suddenly saw a vast shadow emerging from the distant dark blue sea. The shadow lurking underwater was far larger than the Distant Land, making the small three-masted schooner seem like a mere leaf in comparison. The shadow passed under the Distant Land at great speed, and everyone felt the ship’s hull shudder terribly. The rivets on the mast and deck strained as if they were about to leap out of the wood, emitting a sound that made one’s teeth ache.
Brand’s gaze quickly shifted from one side of the schooner to the other. He pressed his lips tightly and remained silent. The shadow beneath the sea heralded an unsettling message: within the Seven Seas, only a dreadful sea creature from legends could possess such a massive body.
The immense shadow swam towards the distance, then began accelerating upwards. The giant shape arched out of the water, sending waves cascading down either side of a massive spine, and a sharp fin broke the surface, leaving a white trail.
"My God!"
"What is that thing!" The sailors became frantic. Anyone would be shaken to their core seeing a small mountain rise from the sea, let alone knowing that what they saw was just the tip of the iceberg. Captain James, clutching a longsword, considered a horrifying possibility, his face paling slightly.
"That’s a Sea Demon Whale! An adult Sea Demon Whale!" Brand had already answered first.
"You’re not mistaken, are you, Mr. Brand?" James gasped.
"I wish I were mistaken," Brand couldn’t help but reply.
"Martha above," the captain murmured softly.
It wasn’t that he was too timid; it was just that the Sea Demon Whale is considered one of the most terrifying legends passed down by the sea people. It’s one of the most dreadful monsters in the legends of the Seven Seas—so dreadful that one could only find mention of them in the oldest of records in the Great Library of White Port within the Thousand City State. Seasoned sailors passed down tales of its horror from generation to generation, saying that only the most unfortunate—or perhaps the luckiest—people could witness its true form, and surviving an encounter with a Sea Demon Whale could only be attributed to the favor of the Goddess of Fortune.
In the myths of the Vaendecruz people, the Sea Demon Whale is said to be the offspring of the great sea dragon Dagon, born to be monarchs of the sea. Fishermen claim they can harness storms, yet they’re also symbols of bountiful harvests. In the Ten Cities Region, ports often use the Sea Demon Whale as common decorations, hoping to calm storms and bring in schools of fish and prosperity.
However, encountering such a monster at sea is the greatest misfortune. Even the most powerful human warships are mere toys before them. The sheer physical strength of an adult Sea Demon Whale exceeds that of an actual dragon. Mortal spells and weapons cannot harm them in the slightest, whereas the magic power inherited through their bloodline can overshadow the most formidable wizards. At least from what Brand knew, there were several occasions where the power of a storm summoned by a Sea Demon Whale completely destroyed a port.
Yet seeing this giant beast appear, Brand suddenly felt a sense of reassurance.
"This Sea Demon Whale is obviously in league with those Naga. Our firepower is too strong; it seems they don’t dare attack on their own." He turned back and said: "Sword Saint, now it’s up to you."
A Sword Saint?! The captain and several sailors near Brand heard the conversation, almost doubting their ears. Currently, in the entire Erune Kingdom, there are only five people who could be called Sword Masters. They are Cross Hand Buga, Eagle Djal, and Silver Knight Sivia. All three hail from the Anlek Province, known for its fierce populace and history of producing renowned Sword Masters and even Sword Saints, like the Yabuli Sword Saint Gurekais thirty years ago. Among the three Sword Masters from Anlek, Cross Hand Buga serves the Duke of Lantoni, while Djal and Sivia have followed the prestigious Duke Anlek family since the previous generation. Besides them, the Xifah Royal Family and Kerkova Royal Family each have a Sword Master. As for being a Sword Saint, ever since Darus and Gurekais, no one in Erune has held that title for several years.
