Chapter 34: A Sea of Banners and Waves
The annual hunting grounds had not yet been revealed.
And yet, before the first rays of sunlight had fully climbed over the jagged peaks of Azure City, the massive plaza before the Azure Lotus Sect had already become a sea of people.
Thousands of participants crowded the enormous stone square, their voices blending together into a deafening roar that echoed off the surrounding mountain walls.
Merchants pushed through the masses carrying trays of food and wine. Gambling stalls had appeared overnight, with excited spectators placing bets on which settlement would emerge victorious.
Above them, countless colorful banners fluttered violently in the cold northern wind.
The banner of Azure City depicted the nine-tailed mountain range.
The banner of Iron Ridge showed a black hammer striking an anvil.
The banner of Jade Serpent Basin displayed a massive green serpent coiling around a lake.
The banner of Frostwood Hold carried the image of a white wolf beneath a snowstorm.
And hanging separately from all the others, attached to a tall mast near the northern entrance of the plaza, was a dark blue banner embroidered with a silver ocean wave.
The banner of the Islanders.
The Vikings.
Their arrival had caused a considerable stir.
The massive stone gates leading into Azure City had opened shortly after dawn, allowing the first official delegation to enter.
It was Iron Ridge.
The crowd erupted into cheers.
The people of Iron Ridge marched through the city gates in disciplined rows, all wearing heavy black armor reinforced with dark steel plates.
Even their younger participants looked like veteran soldiers. Large war hammers rested on their backs, while thick chains and metal talismans hung from their waists.
Leading them was a broad-shouldered young man with short black hair and a scar cutting across his left eyebrow.
"Holy shit, that’s Darius Blackforge!"
"I heard he killed an entire pack of Frostfang Wolves by himself!"
"No, idiot, he killed two packs!"
The young man ignored the cheers entirely.
Darius Blackforge was only twenty-three years old, yet he already possessed the reputation of a battlefield monster.
Rumors claimed that he had shattered an Apprentice-tier magical beast’s skull with his bare hands after losing his weapon during a hunt.
Walking beside him was a tall woman carrying a massive rectangular shield almost as large as her own body.
Helena Stonewall.
Unlike Darius, Helena’s expression was calm and detached. Her black hair was tied into a practical braid, and countless scars covered her exposed arms.
The two stopped beneath the banner of Iron Ridge without saying a word.
Several minutes later, another wave of excitement swept through the crowd.
The representatives of Jade Serpent Basin had arrived.
Unlike the heavily armored warriors of Iron Ridge, the people of Jade Serpent Basin wore flowing green robes decorated with silver serpent patterns.
They looked less like soldiers and more like nobles attending a festival.
At the front walked a handsome young man with long dark green hair and narrow golden eyes.
"That’s Shen Yu!"
"The Poison Prince!"
"I heard he poisoned an entire river to kill a monster swarm!"
The young man smiled pleasantly as he listened to the crowd’s admiration.
Beside him walked a beautiful young woman carrying a jade flute.
Lin Mei.
She wore a soft smile on her face, but nobody in the northern territories underestimated her.
Three years ago, she had put an entire bandit fortress to sleep using sound magic before burning it to the ground.
The rivalry between Iron Ridge and Jade Serpent Basin was famous throughout the region.
The moment Darius and Shen Yu locked eyes, the temperature around them seemed to drop.
Neither spoke.
Neither smiled.
But everyone nearby instinctively took several steps backward.
Fortunately, before either side could begin posturing further, another commotion erupted near the city gates.
Frostwood Hold had arrived.
The representatives of Frostwood immediately stood apart from the others.
They wore thick white furs over silver armor, their breaths visible in the cold air despite the relatively mild weather of Azure City.
Leading them was a woman with short silver hair and pale blue eyes.
Freya Winterborne.
The crowd’s excitement intensified.
Unlike the previous two leaders, Freya possessed a reputation that bordered on legendary among the younger generation.
At the age of nineteen, she had already survived three expeditions beyond the Dragon Bone Range and personally killed multiple magical beasts that most experienced hunters would never dare approach.
A massive white wolf walked quietly beside her.
The creature’s shoulders reached her chest.
Nobody questioned why the guards allowed the beast into the city. Nobody wanted to.
Following behind Freya was another young man carrying a long spear crafted from blue crystal.
Erik Frostblade.
Unlike Freya’s calm demeanor, Erik wore a broad grin as he surveyed the crowd.
"Looks like Iron Ridge still hasn’t learned how to dress properly," he called out loudly.
Several veins immediately appeared on Darius Blackforge’s forehead.
"And Frostwood still hasn’t learned how to survive without hiding behind oversized dogs," Darius replied.
The spectators instantly became excited.
Insults between settlements were practically mandatory during the annual hunting event.
However, before the argument could escalate further, a heavy pressure suddenly descended over the plaza.
Everyone instinctively turned toward the raised viewing platform overlooking the square.
The settlement masters had arrived.
The first to appear was Master Garrick Ironvein of Iron Ridge.
The old man looked more like a retired general than a settlement lord. He possessed broad shoulders, gray hair, and a permanent scowl that made him appear perpetually disappointed in everyone around him.
Beside him stood Lady Xu Yan of Jade Serpent Basin.
She wore elegant green robes and carried a jade smoking pipe, appearing more interested in her tea than in the thousands of people below.
The third was Lord Harald Wintermane of Frostwood Hold.
Despite his age, the white-haired man still looked capable of strangling a bear with his bare hands.
The crowd erupted into respectful applause. Yet the excitement quickly transformed into confusion.
Because one seat remained empty.
The central seat.
The seat reserved for the Sect Master of Azure Lotus Peak. Whispers spread throughout the plaza almost immediately.
"Where is Sect Master Lotus?"
"Why hasn’t she appeared?"
"Is she not attending?"
Even the settlement masters frowned. Garrick Ironvein glanced toward the empty seat and grunted.
"Late."
Lady Xu Yan slowly exhaled smoke from her pipe.
"That old woman was never late."
Harald Wintermane crossed his arms.
"I don’t like this."
The three exchanged brief looks. None of them appeared satisfied. Then, before anyone could speculate further, a deep horn blast echoed across the entire city.
Every head turned north.
The Vikings had arrived.
The city gates slowly opened. Silence spread through the crowd. Unlike the other settlements, the Vikings had not brought banners. They had not brought servants. They had not brought spectators.
Only twelve people entered the plaza. All of them were tall. All of them possessed pale skin, blonde hair, and cold blue eyes.
At their front walked a young woman carrying a massive black spear over her shoulder.
Astrid Wavebreaker.
The crowd watched in complete silence.
Unlike the heavily armed warriors of Iron Ridge or the elegantly dressed mages of Jade Serpent Basin, the Vikings wore practical clothing suitable for sailing and combat.
Their leather armor was scratched. Their boots were stained with salt. Several of them still wore necklaces crafted from the teeth of sea monsters.
Astrid stopped near the edge of the plaza and slowly surveyed the massive gathering.
Her expression never changed.
Behind her, one of the younger Vikings quietly muttered in their native tongue.
"Chief sent us across half the ocean for this?"
Another nodded.
"We could have reached the western storm currents by now."
A third glanced at the thousands of spectators surrounding them.
"All this for a mainland hunting competition?"
Astrid remained silent for several seconds. Then she replied calmly.
"The Chief gave an order."
The others immediately stopped complaining.
Still, despite their emotionless expressions, every Viking privately shared the same thought.
They had spent their entire lives battling sea monsters, exploring unknown islands, and surviving storms powerful enough to destroy fleets.
And now, for reasons beyond their understanding, their Chief had ordered them to participate in what felt suspiciously like a children’s game.
