Chapter 623: 623
 

Traveler on the Sea

“Everything is normal…We are advancing.”

By the time they received the new order from the council, Ocean Traveler had already been sailing in the dark ocean for three days. Their target was still the Broken Islands, but the mission content had changed.

It was impossible to determine the direction in the dark water. Even high-intensity directional lighting spells could not pass through the dark sea. They could only rely on compasses and navigators to guide the direction. The navigators were water spellcasters who minored in astrology and the Earth School. They confirmed the coordinates of the submarine by sensing the power of the constellation and sensed the underwater undercurrents and the response of the earth element with elemental affinity to avoid reefs, underwater mountains, and other obstacles.

This huge black fish parted the cold seawater and advanced silently.

According to the orders of the Omniscient Tower, the Ocean Traveler, which was patrolling and inspecting the vast ocean, should head to the Broken Sea as soon as possible to conduct an in-depth investigation and provide underwater intelligence and eagle eye support to the follow-up fleet. It was said that something bad was happening there.

However, the navy headquarters still did not tell the crew what they were going to look for in the Broken Sea.

” An unknown species. Extremely dangerous. It breeds countless races and is extremely aggressive and threatening. You should proceed cautiously and search for the source of the sea beasts in the deep sea.”

The order from the council only had a vague description and explanation.

However, the crew of Ocean Traveler did not question or retreat. They firmly believed that they could complete the mission. This groundbreaking underwater warship gave them endless confidence.

The spindle-shaped submarine was more than 40 meters long. It was one of the pioneers of the Arcane Council’s deep-sea exploration project. It used a large number of cutting-edge technologies in materials science, fluid mechanics, alchemy, and magic, and spent a huge sum of money to build this powerful and huge underwater ship. It and its sister ships had high hopes and were regarded by the council as one of the hopes to challenge the elves ‘hegemony in the sea.

As a pioneer ship, it shouldered many missions, such as providing data for the next advanced underwater ship program, training talents, inspecting the marine environment, and searching for treasures from ancient shipwrecks.

After all, the sea was a mysterious and vast place that buried countless treasures, secrets, and even ruins. The Council prided themselves on being the guardians and guardians of the mortal world. There were also many secret records about the sea in the Omniscient Tower’s library. Exploring the sea was also the focus of the Council’s goal for the next century.

This was also the purpose of the Ocean Traveler’s existence.

There were a total of sixteen passengers, all of whom were mid-level and above. They were all triple-element mixed cultivators. These elite spellcasters of the council were all reserve captains of the future submarine fleet in the eyes of the councilmen. Their safety in the dark deep sea was also the primary problem in the design of this submarine.

Therefore, the space in the 40-meter-long submarine was first filled with a medium-sized teleportation array and 16 dimension stones. Just this alone was enough to build two heavy infantry legions.

There was also a battlefield-grade shield generator from the Song of Aizan, which could provide strong protection for up to five minutes at the most dangerous moment, creating time for the passengers to escape through spatial teleportation.

Compared to these two costs, the cost of the miniaturized magic-core technology and the hydraulic kinetic energy conversion cyclotron was not worth mentioning. The massive amount of elemental alloy that could equip a cavalry unit with a full set of top-notch enchanted armor was used to form the outer shell of the submarine, and the large number of magic crystals that powered the submarine became the cheapest part. These necessary equipment and materials already occupied 65% of the space.

There were also two small-scale offensive magic devices, eight Tidal Wave Cannon Arrows, food, medicine, and beds. The sixteen elite Spell Casters were forced to squeeze into the remaining narrow space.

They were responsible for piloting this miraculous underwater ship and exploring the endless deep sea.

This was the maximum number of passengers that the submarine could support, so every sailor had to take on multiple roles. The engineering officer had druid magic as a secondary skill. He was responsible for dispersing curious fish and sea beasts, separating seaweed and other dense underwater plants. The weapons officer was responsible for the food supply in the kitchen, and the medical officer was responsible for communications… They were all promising naval stars and believed that it would not be long before they would command their own submarines.

Before that, he had to complete every seemingly difficult task quickly and well.

” Contact the Azure Fleet again and inform them of our location and situation.”

In the command room, Captain McCulver gave his orders. They were the scouts in the deep sea, the pioneers of the fleet. The solemn order of the Omniscient Tower showed the danger and importance of this mission, because the enemy’s threat came from underwater, and underwater was their battlefield and stage.

He sat on the Mind Amplification Platform in the center of the command room. His spiritual power was amplified by the magic device and spread in all directions.

The sea was extremely dark, and the powerful illumination spell could not be of much use. In this eternal darkness, spiritual power was the bright eye. It was the navigator’s job to confirm the position and navigate to avoid obstacles. As the captain, he had to manage the overall situation and had a more important task.

“Captain.”

The vice-captain’s voice was heard.” My spiritual world is reacting with an unsettling throbbing. This uneasiness cannot be calmed down. It may even become an obsession that affects my working state. So, I must ask you. Where did the enemy or threat come from this time? What form is it exactly?”

A ship was a sealed unit in the sea, even like a cage. According to this theory, a submarine was the most terrifying cage in the world. It was isolated from the world and had many variables.

Although there were Air Elemental Crystals to purify the air and natural spells to supply oxygen, the air in the submarine was still dirty over time. The food was monotonous, the work was boring, and the environment was oppressive. Even with the tenacious souls of all the spellcasters, they still could not hold on for too long. In this closed environment, any sign of something bad would quickly turn into a huge disaster.

The captain thought for a moment and retracted his spiritual power.

He and his crew were not simply superior and subordinate. The strict hierarchy of the navy was not completely applicable here because every soldier of his was a talented spellcaster with wisdom, strength, and future. Good communication was necessary.

” We’ve all read the briefing and instructions. A few days ago, the conflict between Kant of Aurora and the Broken Islands intensified. Yesterday, a huge change occurred in the Broken Islands. The council did not disclose the details, but through communication with the Azure Fleet, I managed to sort out part of the situation.”

In fact, they had already set off for the Broken Sea three days ago. At that time, various events had already shown that Kant from Aurora would definitely launch a military operation against the Broken Islands. The Great Ocean Traveler was sent to the Broken Islands to secretly observe the battle and await further orders.

Of course, they also had a secret mission.

That was to confirm and evaluate whether the Arcane Magic Council’s top-secret weapon, the magic-powered attack submarine that could change the future of naval warfare, could pose an absolute threat to Kant’s new warship.

Of course, the above orders had been changed, and they had a new mission.

The captain’s voice echoed in the submarine, and everyone listened attentively.

” A certain sea monster that shouldn’t appear in a normal ecosystem has appeared in the Broken Islands. A huge number of strange and ferocious predators with a desire for flesh and blood that exceeds that of normal predators.”

He said,” Their numbers are extremely large, and their phenomenon is extremely strange. The council suspects that there are huge secrets, origins, and schemes behind them. Intelligence shows that most of them come from the deep sea. Then, discover the origin of the sea monsters and try to find the origin and truth. This is our mission.”

” That’s right.” The vice-captain was deep in thought.” That means Kant is currently on the Broken Isles?”

Captain McCulver nodded.” Yes, according to the Azure Fleet, the Aurora people have created an amazing commotion again. Steel birds that can carry up to a thousand people at a time can fly from the Broken Islands to the West Coast in an hour. One after another, there’s an endless supply. It’s unimaginable…”

The passengers were stunned. Even with their intelligence and brains, they could not imagine what the aircraft looked like. However, a sour feeling grew in their hearts.

After all, seven days ago, they had been resting in the naval base of the Council. That was why they had heard about Kant’s incident and the conflict and discord between the renowned Dragon of Skyquaking and the Council.

Therefore, the proud navy of the council had no good impression of this Aurora citizen who dared to humiliate the envoy of the council. They even saw him as a potential enemy. At the same time, they felt indignant and a sense of crisis.

Because they had also heard about the matter of the Afu.

The steel warship that was more than a hundred meters long was capable of slaughtering a group of dragons with astonishing power. Even though rumors and intelligence had belittled this alchemy warship, the proud Spell Casters still felt defeated. Now, there was another ” huge aircraft ” flying in the sky, which was also something that the Council did not have.

The people of Aurora were up to something new again.

“He’s transporting soldiers to the Broken Islands?”the vice-captain asked in a strange tone.

” No,” Captain McCulver shook his head.” We’re bringing back the survivors from the Broken Islands.”

He took a deep breath and said slowly,” Not only nobles, soldiers, scholars, and merchants, but also workers, farmers, servants, and even beggars. He helped everyone.”

This news was even more difficult to digest than the previous one. The crew members looked at each other in astonishment.

Only fools would believe in heroic stories and epic legends of so-called justice. The spellcasters were rational and calm, seeing through the truth of history through words that fooled the wisdom of the people. They all knew that since ancient times, the world stage was just a game of power. The so-called benevolent king had never been a benevolent king of the common people. The rich and powerful exploited the common people, just like wolves eating sheep.

When they heard that Kant had mobilized an unprecedented magic aircraft to save even a beggar, their first reaction was that Kant must be up to something else.

” Why?” the engineer sneered.” Are you short of slaves, my lord from the east?”

The weapons officer shook his head.” I’ve never heard of Kant owning slaves. I guess he’s showing off his power. He’s proving that his flying machines are efficient, powerful, and cheap. He can even bring back beggars and lowlifes without caring about the cost of transportation.”

“Or are you trying to win the favor of some idealists? This is a good reputation.” The navigator said casually,” It’s enough to be passed down in history books and sung by bards.”

” No, perhaps it’s an even more despicable scheme.”

Captain McCulver interrupted his colleagues ‘speculations.

He pondered for a moment and said slowly,” We are at the bottom of the sea. We can’t see what’s happening on the surface. Since we didn’t see it with our own eyes, Kant’s motives and schemes are not something we can evaluate. However, we can still find some clues from the orders of the Congress and the Navy Department.”

The captain recalled the official order that was projected through the one-time use resonance core crystal.

” The council has changed their order and ordered us to investigate the source of the sea monsters. The Azure Fleet has already mobilized in large numbers. They also need our advance investigation and positioning. The situation in the Broken Islands was originally Kant’s battlefield. Why would the council conduct a large-scale secret intervention?”

He looked at the crew and asked,” And it’s obvious that he’s acting alone. He has to hide it from Kant.”

” Kant is hiding some sort of secret from the Broken Islands,” the vice-captain said immediately.

“That’s right!”

” Also, considering the type of attack that the Broken Isles encountered, as well as our new mission, it’s almost certain that the secret Kant is hiding is related to this sea monster attack. If that’s the case, there are two possibilities.” Captain McCaffoff agreed.

” Firstly, this sea monster attack was triggered by Kant. He used this opportunity to completely destroy the Broken Isles and forcibly move the trade hub of the western sea back to the Far Harbor. He also plundered the wealth and talents that the Broken Sea had accumulated over hundreds of years. Not only did he not bear any infamy, he even received moral and praise…”

The crew members shuddered when they heard that. They were immediately filled with righteous indignation. If that was really the case, Kant’s actions were no different from a demon king’s. It was a detestable and evil act.

” The second possibility is that this attack was caused by the Broken Isles. The endless sea monsters pose a great threat to the ships on the sea. Of course, they are also a powerful force. Currently, the ships on the surface have no ability to resist attacks from the deep sea. You know this better than anyone else. I think Kant wants to take this power for himself.”

“We can’t let him get away with this!” the crew members said in unison.

” That’s right. We can’t let him succeed. Although the council didn’t give any specific instructions, their attitude has already explained everything. Sending us to the most dangerous sea area means that the council would rather risk the loss of the Ocean Traveler to find out the source of the deep-sea attack…”

” Such decisiveness and determination already shows that Kant isn’t innocent.”

The captain stood up from the mental platform and spoke with a strong voice,” Kant intimidated the world with Forbidden Spells. Steel warships dominated the seas. Now, there’s a huge flying device that looks like a divine bird. The sky has also been tainted by him. Everyone, beneath the sea is the Council’s last pride. We can’t lose our last advantage. This is the reason for our battle. No matter what secrets Kant is hiding, we can’t let him succeed.”

A cold glint flashed across his eyes.” If Kant was the one who released the monster of the deep sea, then we must find evidence and expose his evil nature to the world. If he intends to get his hands on this dangerous power, we must strike first. Find the target, summon the Azure Fleet, and crush his greedy scheme. This is our mission!”

” You’re right.” Captain McCulver looked at the vice-captain with a sharp gaze.” Now, do you still have any doubts?”

“Sweep clean, Your Excellency!” ” For the safety of the world and the well-being of all living beings, as well as the unshakeable rights bestowed upon the Arcane Magic Council by the gods!”

” Then, Ocean Traveler, continue forward!”

This was their mission, a responsibility that they could not shirk.

This was because the Ocean Traveler was the only combat unit in this area that could go deep into the sea.

The mortal world was mysterious and boundless. There were so many secrets hidden in the world, and Spell Casters were at the forefront of exploration. The sky had long been conquered by mages. Even the stratosphere was touched by sky mages with powerful magic power. The earth was also explored by explorers. The huge caves that no one had stepped into were also entered by earth vein sorcerers. Only the deep sea was still an absolute forbidden area for living beings.

It was dark, cold, boundless, and the immense water pressure. Even the strongest of the generation could not venture deep into the boundless Dark Domain. It was only when the Council’s wisdom created this unprecedented underwater submarine that the proud steps of the mages stepped into this desolate forbidden zone. Only they could enter.

Only they could take on this responsibility.

Forty minutes later.

“We have arrived at the Broken Sea Domain.”

The navigator turned the astrolabe in front of him, and the power of the stars passed through the endless sea and projected onto it. Astrology was the most effective, rigorous, and stable way of positioning. Because of the vastness of the universe and the greatness of the stars, the power that crossed the infinite astronomical distance to reach the mortal world could not be blocked or concealed by anything.

” Turn off the cyclotron and report the coordinates to the Azure Fleet.”

” Activate all detection systems,” the captain ordered.” Investigate the surrounding environment, detect life, confirm depth, draw a topographic map, and confirm the route.”

All sixteen crew members started to move. Each of them had their own duties and reported back one after another.

” There’s a continuous tremor coming from the water surface.”

” Kant’s alchemical weapon should be suppressing the sea monster…Check again.”

” Activating life detection system. Refilling magical crystals, increasing power, expanding detection boundary…Oh gods, I think I’ve discovered the sea monsters described in the intelligence. Their numbers are extremely large.”

A few crew members who were doing reconnaissance work in the command room looked over.

The chairs and other unnecessary equipment in the command room had all been folded and retrieved. The huge life signal interaction device was fully activated. This advanced reconnaissance device gathered the six most effective and advanced detection mechanisms in the world: life sensing, heat reading, soul fluctuation, spectrum observation, electric current outlining, and sound wave capture. Even the Brotherhood’s assassin master would have to suffer in front of this device.

Powerful functions meant huge size and energy consumption. The reason why it appeared on this ship was enough to show that the designers thought it was meaningful.

At the edge of a transparent circular crystal plate, dense red dots were flashing continuously, forming a continuous and huge light spot. A seventeen-meter-long Mel-toothed Whale was only a tiny red dot the size of a needle tip when projected on the crystal plate with a diameter of three meters.

The captain walked forward and released his mana. He raised his hand and the crystal emitted countless light spots. They floated into the air and formed a 3D diagram. The dense red spots formed a terrifying tornado that rolled from an unknown place below until it reached the surface of the water.

This meant that a terrifying flood of monsters was constantly attacking the surface of the water.

The sheer number of them was impossible to estimate. No matter how detailed the information was, it was not as shocking as seeing it with their own eyes. It was not until now that the crew of the Great Ocean Traveler knew that the information was true.

It was indeed a huge number.

The captain took a deep breath.” Send a message to the Azure Fleet. We have discovered the enemy’s tracks. Please ask them to be on guard, advance cautiously, and slow down until we find something.”

“.. Yes.”

“Captain, do you want to see it with your own eyes?” the vice-captain asked softly as he looked at the huge astrolabe.

The Ocean Traveler had an observation window. In order to install a window on the submarine, the R & D department and the military department had paid a huge price, but this was also a necessary design. One of the missions of the Ocean Traveler was to search for underwater relics and shipwrecks. These high-value targets needed to be confirmed by visual inspection. Using perception spells and spiritual power skills as eyes was not a real eye after all.

The observation window was in front of the command room. When using it, one needed to unlock the elemental lock and open the partition. The cost of the porthole glass was high, so it could be integrated with the submarine’s outer shell and withstand the deep sea water pressure.

After the partition was opened, the long-range illumination lamps would be turned on. Two energy-consuming refraction crystals would project a strong and dazzling light to the front, giving the observers a chance to see it with their own eyes. Because the service life of the observation window and the illumination lamp was extremely short, the use time was extremely precious.

The captain thought for a moment and shook his head.

” Captain, the Azure Fleet has replied that they will proceed cautiously. The commander asked us to be careful.”

“Got it.”

Captain McCulver looked at the flashing life signal on the crystal disk and looked at the bottom of the tornado.” That’s where they came from. Navigators, set the route and prepare to sink. We have to approach carefully, trace the source, and activate all shielding mechanisms…”

“Yes, sir!”

In the endless darkness, there was an uneasy current surging in the distance. The creatures in the nearby sea area had long fled or had been eaten up. Only endless sea monsters rushed to the surface of the water like tornadoes, stirring up terrifying whirlpools and undercurrents. In the distance, the silent black fish gradually approached and sank.

It was a deep valley in the sea. It was bottomless and terrifying.

“They didn’t notice us, did they?”

” No, Captain. Don’t worry.”

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

The first update, 6,000 words.

[P.S. 2: I’m super sleepy today. I don’t seem to have slept enough. I wanted to finish it earlier, but I delayed it until now. I wanted to finish it and post it at the same time, but it’s not good to let everyone wait until two or three o’clock. I’ll post this part first. Those who are sleepy can watch the second chapter tomorrow.]