Chapter 307: The Calamity

Chapter 307: The Calamity

There was no warning; the calamity arrived just like that, and the Amphibians suffered heavy losses as a result. Those in the shadows, the true masterminds, were also in shock.

No one expected it to appear here suddenly, slaughtering indiscriminately. Legends about it had long vanished in the Torrent of time.

Only those nearly Immortal beings still remembered it, including the few Shadows hiding behind the Amphibians. As Amphibians, living by the sea inevitably meant some contact with it, even if that contact was mostly just a passing brush.

For ordinary people, it was just a minor whirlpool in the ocean currents, neither good nor bad. Occasionally, it would swallow people or animals who strayed into it, and occasionally it would bring large amounts of fish and shrimp.

But this was just the memory of ordinary people, like a nest of ants not panicking at a human’s approach. However, for a very few, it was an existence that could not be ignored, a former opponent and prey.

For the Amphibians, the ocean was also their indispensable home. If they could capture this Monster and tame it, it would bring immeasurable help.

First they tried persuasion, then capture, but with no result at all. Fighting against an ocean current in the sea was difficult enough, and after repeated probing, they found this Monster had no fatal weak point. Scattering it, or even taking a part of it, only provoked its anger. If things looked bad, it would dive into the water and run away without looking back. A long time later, when you had already forgotten this grudge, it would suddenly appear and take fierce revenge. After a few rounds of this, no one bothered it anymore.

Some also tried to find things it cared about, like its own kind. But as they searched, people gradually discovered it was just a lonely wanderer. Either lying dormant deep in the sea, or drifting with the ocean currents.

As they understood more, everyone began to leave it be, as it was a being without any restraints. This Monster might have a bad temper, but most of the time it was half-asleep, acting on instinct and intuition. Even when it caused some damage, it was limited, because it never left the ocean even half a step.

And as long as it did not leave the ocean, no one could subdue it. Similarly, as long as it did not leave the ocean, its threat to the Continent was very limited.

Observe, understand, then forget. As ancient beings, many remembered it, but also did not quite remember it. Only when they passed by it by chance would they suddenly realize it was still alive. That legend of the sea, that Monster named “Xina.”

Its threat was limited, but that absolutely did not include the scene before them. The Southern Coast was now piled with corpses, but many more were rising and falling, tumbling in the waves, drifting toward the shore.

Ola felt like crying but had no tears. As a Guardian of the Amphibians, he was powerless to stop all this. Fight? It wasn’t that he hadn’t thought of it, but that he didn’t dare. If he blocked the Monster Xina, it would only stir up greater storms here, causing more deaths and injuries.

They were too far away, unable to stop it in advance, and could only watch helplessly as this storm swept past.

Restraint! The loss of restraint was the most terrifying thing.

Just like the battles countless years ago, they fought and killed each other but would not exterminate the other’s people. At least not before the other’s Guardian truly fell.

Their collisions and captures were more like cutting flesh with a blunt knife, slicing the opponent until they bled profusely, slowly draining all their spirit and strength, before delivering the final blow.

The schemes and dangers during that time were too painful to recall. But many things were like that: if you didn’t advance, you would fall back. When the Fruit ripened, if you didn’t take it, someone else would. Strength and weakness also slowly changed over countless years of accumulation.

Mana made them, and also oppressed them. Mana was the existence that created miracles, and there had been cases where the underdog turned the tables. A moment of carelessness could mean death and the destruction of one’s people. Especially for nearly immortal Guardians like them, time held little meaning. Life-and-death battles from countless ages ago felt like yesterday, right before their eyes. Countless corpses piled here, on this beach, though back then there were also many more corpses of Alien Races.

Ola did not like this place, especially when winter came and the cold wind would freeze the ocean surface. When that happened, he would have to take his people back to the warm south for temporary shelter.

But this time, how many could he take back?

Who called it here! In his anger, Ola wanted revenge, but not on the rootless, drifting Monster—Xina—but on the one who provoked it. Because Ola knew Xina would never stir up storms for no reason.

With hatred and thoughts of revenge rising, Ola’s figure gradually vanished from where he stood.

The storm surged along the coastline, destroying everything in its path. The Dragon Riders, already experienced in dealing with such things, had moved far from the coast and watched nervously.

The howling, surging sea waves swept past the East Coast like a gust of wind, leaving only the Dragon Riders looking at each other in dismay.

Maya crouched on the coast. It was her who brought the news a few days earlier, giving the Dragon Riders ample time to prepare. Watching the receding storm, she growled softly and relaxed her body.

A few days ago, a familiar presence swept across, making her unable to resist howling at the sky. Eileen asked what was wrong, but she couldn’t explain. Under the influence of Mana, she just felt a restless urge.

After hesitating for a while, Maya signaled to Eileen that she wanted to go and see. So, the human and the dragon stared at each other anxiously. Eileen could sense Maya’s hesitation, and could sense that Maya actually hoped she would stop her. But for some reason, Eileen also wanted to see for herself.

Eileen nodded. “I’ll go with you.”

…

Perhaps the water of the Eternal River was too clear, the boundary between river water and sea water at the estuary was not obvious. Bran sat cross-legged on the river surface, as if he had no weight at all. The distant storm drew closer, but he seemed completely unaware.

The rain and mist thickened, but could not conceal his figure. The storm seemed to hit an invisible wall, repelled at the boundary between river water and sea water.

The storm grew heavier, the raindrops on the sea surface larger, but the river surface behind Bran shimmered with sparkling ripples.