NOVEL NEXT Chapter 450: Troubled Waters [2] [Bonus Chapter]
Back at the Shores of the Vermilion Kingdom...
The Storm Reaper squad was made up of ten Awakened, including Adrian, their leader. The lowest-ranked member of this exclusive squad was at Level 70, surpassing 95 percent of the Awakened in the Vermilion Kingdom.
Each member of the ten-man team had been with Adrian for a long time and attended the same academy as him. Most of them were actually his classmates, special-class students from the Vermilion Royal Academy. After graduation, they didn't apply to work for any guild and instead chose to follow Adrian, who had been the rank-one student at the time.
Over the years, their synergy had become terrifying. Whether facing human opponents or massive sea monsters, their coordination was seamless. No matter the situation, they always deployed in their skiffs—just like today.
Back on the deck of the warships, the rest of the soldiers watched, amusement flashing across their eyes. They had all temporarily abandoned their duties to witness the spectacular scene about to unfold before them.
"Heh, whoever that is, they picked the wrong day to mess with us," a middle-aged man with dark hair chuckled, leaning on the railing.
"For some time now, the Storm Reapers have only been hunting sea monsters. They've been itching for a real fight," another soldier smirked. "I bet they'll toy with the poor bastard before finishing them off."
"What if it's just a traveler who lost their way… did you guys ever think of that?" a tall, lean woman with sharp eyes pointed out as she rested on the railing of the ship.
A brief silence followed before someone scoffed.
"I hope it's not!" a younger soldier groaned. "That would be boring. I was looking forward to a good fight."
"Nonsense," another snapped. "If they were just travelers, they could've approached us peacefully, and we'd have sorted them out. Everyone knows we don't welcome visitors through the sea. The border is always open for that."
"It was just a theory," the woman sneered. "Don't bite my head off for it."
"Look, they're getting closer!"
A sudden shout snapped everyone's attention back to the ocean. The ten-man squad had already covered 500 meters, their skiffs gliding effortlessly over the waves. The enemy ship, however, remained completely still.
"Don't tell me they're scared already," a bored man scoffed. "Tsk, I had my expectations up for nothing. This is going to be the most boring fight in these waters."
Little did he know, he was about to swallow his words.
"Hey, you see anyone?" one of the squad members, a short youth with spiky hair, asked his teammate closest to him.
"Nothing yet… strange. Usually, they'd make a move."
They were all in a straight formation, their war skiffs cutting through the waves with practiced ease. The ocean beneath them churned softly, its surface shimmering under the sun. Unlike the chaotic tempests they often faced while hunting sea monsters, today the waters were strangely calm, as if the sea itself was anticipating the upcoming clash.
Adrian stood at the helm of the lead skiff, his eyes locked onto the lone ship in the distance. Behind him, his squad exchanged murmurs.
"Think they're worth the trouble?" one of the Storm Reapers muttered, cracking his knuckles. "It's been too long since we had a real fight."
"Heh, if they're strong, it'll be fun. If not, well… at least we get some exercise," another chuckled, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword.
Adrian ignored their chatter. His instincts told him this wasn't as simple as an unlucky traveler losing their way. The sheer confidence—or perhaps arrogance—of remaining motionless despite the approaching force unsettled him.
Soon, the skiffs came to a stop.
Adrian scanned the small ship, curiosity shining in his eyes. He had been in these waters for years now and knew how all the ships of the other kingdoms in the human domain looked, but this ship… this ship didn't look like any of the vessels from the six kingdoms.
"Everyone stay on high alert," Adrian warned. "I suspect the target is not from the human domain."
"You mean to say they're from the non-human continent?"
"Most likely." Adrian nodded, his voice brimming with certainty.
"Could it be the elves? They're the only ones who can openly make contact with us," Adrian muttered to himself. But the ship was white with color. The elves had an unhealthy fanaticism with the light green color.
Adrian dismissed that thought.
"Then who could it be?"
He felt that simply trying to figure out where the ship came from was a waste of time, so he decided to call out in a loud voice.
"Unknown vessel! Identify yourselves immediately!" Adrian's voice rang out in all directions, loud and clear.
Yet, there was no response. No crew appeared on deck, no flutter of sails adjusting course—nothing but eerie stillness.
A frown crept onto Adrian's face.
One of his men, a bald, broad-shouldered warrior with a scar across his cheek, shifted uneasily. "Captain… this is weird. Even pirates would've fired warning shots by now. What do we do?"
Adrian didn't answer immediately. His sharp gaze lingered on the ship's hull, noticing the faint carvings that ran along its surface.
"Approach with caution," he finally said. "We board the ship, but no one acts recklessly. Understood?"
Everyone nodded, and the skiffs closed the final stretch of distance, drifting silently alongside the mysterious vessel. Adrian was the first to leap onto the deck, his boots landing with a firm thud. Three others followed swiftly, fanning out to secure the area.
Just a few seconds later, they gathered at the deck once again.
"No one is onboard."
Adrian repeated, then his eyes widened as he bolted to the edge of the ship. His gaze fell on the water, but it wasn't the surface he was looking at—his eyes seemed to pierce through it, as if staring at something hidden beneath.
Then suddenly, his eyes glinted as if he had found what he was looking for. Adrian stretched his arm forward, and the water began to bubble.
***
This Bonus Chapter was sponsored by Kyle_Hilbert. Thank you for the castle!