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Chapter 22: Dawn Tide Breaker

Not long after, we arrived at a group of islands, a sea mountain range. Like pointed pyramid stalagmites, the enormous black stones protruded from the water and into the gray sky. The whole atmosphere and weather had changed just when we had crossed another invisible wall.

At the base of the mountains, in the few places where it was flat, ships anchored. Dozens of wooden huts gathered with another dozen mine entrances per hut behind them.

“A black steel mine . . .”

While the mines were toiling, numerous duels took place by the huts. The rest worked on some kind of construction on the two largest ships, which were connected by a scaffold-like wide bridge.

Picks and swords clanged, hammers and pistons banged. At first glance, I could already see hundreds of people, and there would be those inside the hut and in the mines as well.

The salty smell with a faint whiff of Jade Mintl intensified as we entered the long shadows of the mountains.

“Not bad, huh?” Nita leaned against my shoulder. ”Did I promise too much back then?” I knew she smiled without seeing her face.

I clenched my fists in excitement. “I would love to go straight—”

Bubbles burst beneath us, and the ship swayed.

“Oh, oh.” Nita drew her daggers.

“What's that!?”

“Well, what do you think? It’s a”—The ship threatened to topple as a colossal creature shot out of the water a few dozen meters away—“Monster.”

Water splashed harder than rain, and a torturous scream rippled through the air. Thin, smooth wings spread, sending a strong gale to us. White scales covered its blue reptilian body. Spikes jutted from the head and down along the back, with two arms with long, sharp claws reflecting the bright light. Instead of legs, a thick working tail and a fin left the creature seemingly gliding over the water. And directly toward us.

It hurled an arm back, and the tattoos engraved to it glowed a brilliant purple. The predator's yellowish eyes locked onto us, thrusting for destruction.

“Take cover!” Captain Reysan’s voice boomed over the aggressive water.

Nita pulled me on my coat. Next, we stood atop the main mast. And for my part, I felt like throwing up from the sudden jerk.

The air was suddenly a lot colder, and we were a lot closer to the monstrosity that could only be a Water Dragon. Something that shouldn’t even exist.

Nita held me close to her, her grip relentless. “Don’t blink, or you’ll miss it.” She watched the dragon in awe, waiting.

A figure blurred in the air in front of the incoming monster. Like a squirrel that faced a wolf, the size difference alone testified to insanity.

All wind circulation stopped in an instant. The figure flashed a glaring green, and suddenly all air surged to him. Swirling power raced to his hand, creating a sphere of sharp wind blades.

Whoever this person was, he knew how to use Jade Mint to its core, unleashing utmost threat.

The next instant, only a part of a wing and a little of the dragon’s tail remained. The rest just missed, not even a trace of blood.

“You saw that?” Nita nudged me enthusiastically. “That is our vice general.”

The dead remains of the water dragon hit the water, the waves reaching us a few seconds later. A Water Dragon. A Dragon.

“Did this dude just one-shot a freaking Dragon?! Are you kidding me?!”

Nita laughed. “I couldn't believe what kind of guy he was when I met him either, but let me tell you something, Hercu. That was nothing.”

“Nothing? Is she serious? How does he handle the aftermath? How much Jade Mint would something like that cost? Can a human even consume that much?!”

“Don't look like that. We’ll need it. There are beings down there who play in completely different leagues.”

“What have I actually been doing all this time?” I mustered Nita’s handsome face, her green spoiled red hair flailing in the wind. Her eyes sparkled with awe. “She . . . is serious.”

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My heart fell. All the way down to the ocean, no, even deeper. This wasn’t a place for children. I spotted James and Darrick cheering. Why would they . . . where was their fear?

“How much would we have to train to reach even remotely close to such power? We can’t survive this the way we are.”

I ran my metal hand over the mutated scales of my other. I tapped the blueish-purple gem on my backhand, inspecting how the golden ornament reflected the little light depending on the angle.

“I need you.” I gave in to the itching feeling. If I wanted to have a chance, this was it.

“Aw, Hercu, you sweetie,” Nita said, but her voice became random background noise.

The tingling sensation moved up to my shoulder and directly into my head. It demanded something. Something in the water.

“Oh. You want something from the body of the Water Dragon?”

As if it were answering me, the tingling grew more assertive. A desire spread through me. I inhaled deeply through my nose. Despite the salt, I could smell precisely where it was.

The Dragon had a mer-bead.

I jumped.

“Hercu?!”

The cool wind dried my eyes as I accelerated downward. Whizzing, I pierced the surface of the water. Like a glowing needle in a haystack, I saw what I was longing for. Just a minute later, I reached my destination. The dragon’s tail floated on the water. I climbed onto it and walked along it. At the very end, at the tip, was a small pearl. Just half the size of a pea. I reached out my trembling hand for it. It burned in me to eat it.

“What are you doing?” A deep male voice resounded above me.

The man that had killed the dragon hovered in the hair. His muscled were well-defined but couldn’t distract from his short-styled hedgehog hairstyle. He frowned down at me, his eyes as green as pure Jade Mint. Inticrately peppy tattoos branched from the tip of his fingers all the way to under his sleeveless shirt.

I slicked my wet hair back and retorted to his stern gaze. “What you just did. I want to learn that too.”

The tingling worsened, and I had to hold my arm, so it didn't claw his prey. That's right, it was his prey. The mer-bead was his, not mine.

“And if I want to learn from him, I shouldn't steal his stuff right away, even if I long for it.”

He narrowed his eyes while mustering me. “Your arm . . . but your Quinta . . . how did your arm become like this?” He massaged his chin.

“Let’s make a deal.” He didn’t even let me answer.

I nodded firmly.

“Five seconds. If you haven’t fainted until then, I’ll teach you. But if you faint, you’ll have to tell me everything.” He nodded at my arm.

His gaze bristled from sheer confidence.

“Will you hit me or—”

“I will not move, and I will not harm you physically in any way.”

“Did he rehearse the answer? I'm probably not the first person he's pulled this on.” I swallowed. “I have nothing to lose. And to achieve my goals . . . and protect the children, I can’t stay like I am.”

I loosened my shoulders. “I’m ready.” I bluffed, ignoring the fear of what he might do to me.

Instanstanous weight pressed down on me. Not only from above. From every possible angle. On my skin, my bones, my organs, and even my emotions. The world flickered in profound red distortions, and he suddenly appeared like the monster he truly was. A demon that could wipe out entire crews with a flick of his wrist. A slayer of something I hadn’t even known existed.

A Dragon Slayer flew above me, his judging gaze piercing me.

I unwillingly dropped to my knees, and the air squeezed out of my lungs. He watched me indifferently. He didn’t enjoy nor resented the pain he forced upon me. It simply happened

My eyes drifted upward, threatening to give in and leave me to darkness. I could barely move even a muscle twitch—

I twitched my left shoulder muscles. My prosthesis moved.

“Come on!”

I punched myself straight in the face, knocking the metal and some sense back into me. My vision somewhat stabilized, and a second later, like pressing a switch, all the pain and dizziness, all the pain vanished.

I clutched my throat, gasping for air between coughs.

“Huh.” The man laughed. He landed beside me and patted my shoulder. “I like you.”

Water splashed behind me, and suddenly Miru’s firm grip held my shoulder, though his strength felt silly after I had just experienced some real power.

Miru bowed. “General Jagger.”

“Finally here, huh. You guys took your fair spare of time.” The general eyed Miru’s hand on my shoulder, then his own on my other shoulder, and gave Miru a questioning look.

He let go immediately.

“Go tell Reysan that we’ll dive in two days. No more delays. He can meet me later tonight.”

“Yes, sir.” Miru bowed again.

Now he shot a questioning look from me to the general.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of him.” It sounded like he smiled, but he didn’t.

“I apologize for his misbehavior. I—”

The general held up a hand. His palm was also tattooed.

“I’ll take care. Deliver my message now.”

Miru bowed even deeper this time. Without any more words, he left. And how other than by running over the water? At this point, such a surprise wasn’t even a real surprise anymore. I just saw a dude fly so . . .

“The good guy is always so serious. He should learn to loosen up a bit and relax,” the general said with a deadpan expression.

I stifled the comment. He liked me, and I liked that he would teach me something. No reason to risk anything with such a person.

“My name’s William O’Jagger. What’s yours?” He turned to the land and held out an arm for me to take.

“Hercu. Very pleased to meet you, William.”

Before I could add his surname, which I had forgotten to say, he eyed me. His eyes swayed between mine as if he thought of slapping me now or later.

He chuckled. “Come then, Hercu.” He stressed my name. “I’ll introduce you to the rest.”