Chapter 5: The Naval Battle Begins

A week later, Akafir, with Mels and the others looking after him, was completely healthy again. The group of five set off from Sekdo, beginning their journey toward the jungle where the Forest Elf Clan resided.

Sha Luo entrusted the tavern to the old butler and had a brand-new martial arts outfit tailor-made, restoring her identity as a dashing and spirited swordswoman.

Kaslo vanished for a while during those seven days. According to him, he was distributing the plundered wealth to trustworthy friends, but no one really knew what he was up to.

When Mels summoned Little One to carry everyone away from Sekbang, the envious gazes of Kaslo and Sha Luo greatly satisfied Mels's pride. Since childhood, Little One had always made him the target of ridicule, but after prolonged battles, Little One's evolution to this stage truly delighted Mels.

Little One flew swiftly, and within just half a day, the jungle inhabited by the Elven Clan was already within sight of Mels and the others. Perhaps the elven sentries had detected Mels's approach, as Little One was soon guided by them into the elven settlement.

A whole new world fascinated Kaslo and the others, but what most captivated Mels was the Wind Ship parked on the open ground not far in front of the Tree of Life.

Although Mels and Sol had already seen a prototype of the Wind Ship, they were still struck by its beautiful design. The Wind Ship was golden yellow, with its bow and stern curving high upward. It measured about thirty meters in length and seven meters in width. Unlike ordinary ships, the Wind Ship had no mast; on its deck, there was only a control room the size of a small house, and ten elven cannons, unique to the elven race, were mounted on each side of the hull.

The elven ability to control natural forces was unparalleled across the continent. According to the elven elder, these elven cannons were more powerful and had a longer range than ordinary catapults. Moreover, they relied entirely on the ever-present wind spirits as an energy source for firing, eliminating any ammunition limitations.

However, since the Wind Ship also used the same energy source for propulsion, firing the cannons would noticeably reduce the ship's forward speed. The elves' original Wind Ship design had no hollow interior, but considering that Mels and the others were embarking on a long voyage, the elven elder specially hollowed out the interior to create several rooms for them to rest and store essential food and fresh water.

Overall, the Wind Ship was finished, but the elves, who loved elegance, were still adding beautiful sculptures to their masterpiece of wisdom. Because of this, Mels and the others had to wait an additional three days before they could begin their true long voyage.

On the morning of the third day, with the help of the elves, the Wind Ship was transported to a gentle beach over ten kilometers away.

Just as Mels and the others boarded this rare magical vessel on the continent, the elven elder held Mels back and said, smiling, "Young human, we have prepared everything for you. I believe you've already learned everything you need to operate it, but I must still remind you: the sea is the creator of all living beings, and likewise, it can destroy us at any moment! Crossing the barrier created by the gods cannot be achieved by courage alone. If you exhaust your wisdom and still cannot break through the divine boundary, please return to our elven clan, and let us face it together with you."

"Thank you. You have already given us much help, and I will remember your words," Mels replied politely. Hearing Mels's response, the elven elder smiled and nodded, then looked up at the surrounding sky and said, "Go now. The morning wind is the gentlest. I believe the spirits in the sky will open the path to your dreams for you."

Accompanied by the elves' beautiful songs wishing them victory, Mels and the others slowly boarded the Wind Ship. Since Sol needed to pilot the Wind Ship, he had to leave the others' sight first and enter the control room alone, while Mels and the others waved goodbye to the elves from the stern.

As the Wind Ship emitted a dull sound and trembled slightly, a pair of green glowing wings suddenly unfolded above the control room. These wings then generated an incredible force, propelling the entire ship forward at high speed.

"The wisdom of the elves is truly unparalleled, to create such a fast sailing ship!" Kaslo exclaimed in amazement.

"That's not all. Do you feel any shaking? It feels like we're on flat ground now, with no trembling sensation at all! And at such high speed, there isn't even a strong wind—it's as if we're standing still," Sha Luo said excitedly.

"Yes, without the elves' help, we could never have reached the Federation within half a year," Mels said.

"By the way, Brother Mels, what exactly is this Federation you mentioned? Why must we reach the Federation within half a year?" Kaslo approached Mels and asked in confusion.

Hearing Kaslo's question, Mels's originally relaxed expression suddenly stiffened. After a moment of contemplation, he told Kaslo and Sha Luo everything that had happened since Frank Island, leaving the two of them utterly stunned.

"Brother Mels, are you saying those mysterious people have their own country overseas, and that country is the Federation? And they want to destroy us, but they've only slowed down for a year because they lack something called the Divine Crystal?" Sha Luo asked Mels after organizing her thoughts.

"Yes, that is indeed the truth. Although I don't know exactly how they plan to destroy the continent, I firmly believe they have the capability. Because Frank Island vanished in an instant under their attack!" Mels nodded.

"Heavens, there's such a dangerous situation! Boss, why didn't you tell me earlier? If you had told me sooner, maybe I wouldn't have boarded your pirate ship," Kaslo suddenly wailed dramatically.

Just as Mels was startled by Kaslo's sudden emotional outburst, Sol's voice came from behind them: "It's not too late to tell you now. You can just jump off the ship here and swim back. If you don't encounter sharks or anything, you might reach land in a couple of days."

Hearing Sol's suggestion to Kaslo, everyone was stunned at first, then burst into laughter.

In truth, Kaslo had originally intended to lighten the tense atmosphere. Even if he were really asked to leave the ship now, he'd probably have to be tied up and thrown overboard.

"Boss, I've locked onto the destination. Just as the elder said, the Wind Ship can advance automatically and avoid dangers like reefs. At the current speed, we'll probably reach the Divine Barrier in about ten days. Once there, the Wind Ship won't be able to proceed further, and we'll have to find a way to break through the Divine Barrier," Sol said to Mels after laughing.

While Mels and Sol were discussing the route, Kaslo pulled Sha Luo aside and asked, "If the Divine Barrier really exists, can the key you have break it? What exactly is inside the brocade box? Can you show us?"

"I don't know what's inside the brocade box either. But from my master's tone, whatever is inside must have a miraculous effect," Sha Luo said after a moment's consideration. She then turned and took out the brocade box from her backpack, saying to Mels and the others, "Please, everyone, come over. I think we should open it first to see. At the very least, we need to know how to use this thing."

"What? You don't even know how to use it?" Sol looked at Sha Luo in surprise.

"What's so strange about that? My master never let me touch it. Even when he gave it to me, he repeatedly warned me not to open or use it casually. So of course I don't know what's inside or how to use it!" Sha Luo pouted, displeased.

Sol turned to Mels with an incredulous expression and said, "Boss, can I give her a beating?"

"Heh, if you can beat her, go ahead and do it. I have no objections!" Mels's words immediately reminded Sol that Sha Luo was a swordswoman skilled enough to rival Mels. Even ten of him wouldn't be her match.

"Hmph, I'm not afraid of her. It's just that I suddenly remembered an old saying: a good man doesn't fight with a woman. I'll let her off this time," Sol said, his greatest skill being his ability to lie without blushing, remaining perfectly calm.

"Alright, enough nonsense. Let's quickly see what's inside the brocade box," Mels said, not wanting to banter with Sol any longer.

Under the urging of Mels and the others, Sha Luo slowly removed the metal seal from the brocade box, then used the specially made key to open it. Instantly, multicolored light radiated from the box. While Sha Luo and Kaslo were astonished, Mels and Sol turned pale.

After a long moment, Sol finally spoke: "How is this possible? This is just a Divine Crystal!"

"Divine Crystal? This is the Divine Crystal you said the mysterious people rely on to destroy the continent?" Kaslo was the first to react.

"Exactly! If we hadn't already given the Divine Crystal to a friend for research, we could take out an identical piece right now," Mels nodded calmly to Kaslo.

"What should we do then? If we can't break through the Divine Barrier, no matter how fast this ship is, we won't be able to reach the mysterious people's Federation within half a year," Sha Luo seemed flustered, holding the brocade box and unsure what to do.

"Don't panic yet. Even if we turn back now, we won't find a good way to break through the Divine Barrier in a short time. Let's continue forward instead. Perhaps the Divine Crystal possesses unknown powers that can shatter the Divine Barrier! After all, we've only seen the Divine Crystal; we know nothing about its power," Mels said.

Hearing Mels's words, everyone felt slightly reassured, though they still had no confidence about how things would develop in the future.

Just as everyone was troubled by whether they could break through the Divine Barrier, Akafir, who had disappeared for a moment, emerged from the cabin. He was holding a handful of fruits and shouted to Mels and the others, "Boss, the elves' food is really delicious. Come and try some too!" Looking at the innocent Akafir, Mels and the others couldn't help but feel both amused and envious. After all, only he didn't need to worry about these matters, and only he could set everything aside to enjoy a beautiful life.

The Wind Ship sailed extremely fast, but the vast sea remained as magnificent as ever. In the first few days, Mels and the others still felt a long-lost enthusiasm for the sea, but as time passed day by day, this passion was gradually replaced by loneliness. The topics of conversation among them dwindled, and they even gradually lost interest in talking, which made these active young people particularly restless.

Six days passed quickly. The Wind Ship had passed countless islands, but the legendary Divine Barrier still hadn't appeared before their eyes. Perhaps because the ship was too fast, the sea monsters Mels had worried about never came to harass them.

Out of boredom, Mels and Sha Luo began a "quiet" sparring session, often staring at each other to cultivate their willpower. Although Mels held a significant advantage in this regard, such contests also trained his combat aura.

While Mels and Sha Luo found something to do, Sol and the others weren't so fortunate. The naturally active Sol was almost driven to madness by this loneliness. If not for the need to reach the Divine Barrier as soon as possible, he would have likely sought out a larger island to explore.

Unfortunately, Sol's idea was opposed by everyone. Left with no choice, he could only follow Akafir's example—eating and sleeping—and stop thinking of other mischievous plans.

On the evening of the eighth day, just as everyone was about to enter the cabin to rest, the Wind Ship suddenly trembled slightly, and its speed gradually slowed. For a ship that had been sailing smoothly all along, this trembling was an abnormal occurrence and immediately caught the attention of Mels and the others.

"Boss, something seems to be happening outside," said Sol, who had been hoping for something to occur.

"Hmm, let's go out and see," Mels also sensed something unusual about the trembling and led the way out of the cabin toward the deck. Sol and the others, of course, followed closely behind.

It was dusk, and the setting sun still cast an orange-red glow, dyeing the boundless sea and sky into a magnificent scene. The sea surface was unusually calm, with even smaller waves than usual. Within the visible range of Mels and the others, there were no clouds in the sky, suggesting it wasn't the calm before a storm.

After looking around for a long time, they still couldn't figure out what was wrong. However, the Wind Ship's speed continued to slow, even showing signs of gradually coming to a stop. Seeing this, Mels frowned slightly and immediately sent Sol to the control room to check if there was a problem with the Wind Ship itself.

But shortly after, Sol returned with the message that everything was fine. In fact, Mels already knew the Wind Ship was safe—the green glowing wings unfolded above the hull showed no signs of weakening, which was enough to indicate everything was operating normally.

"Boss, could it be that we've reached the edge of the Divine Barrier? The elven elder also said the Wind Ship can't break through the Divine Barrier. If..." Before Sol could finish, Kaslo interrupted.

"Impossible. I've seen the Divine Barrier many times; it should be an area of thick fog. And based on our current journey, we still need at least two days to reach the region where the Divine Barrier is located," Kaslo shook his head.

Just as everyone was arguing endlessly about the Wind Ship's abnormal slowdown, Sha Luo suddenly exclaimed, "Look quickly! Something is floating up on the sea surface!" Following the direction she pointed, everyone was shocked!

On the calm sea surface around the Wind Ship, four whirlpools suddenly appeared. From these whirlpools, four tentacle-like objects, resembling those of an octopus, slowly rose and rapidly approached the Wind Ship.

Seeing this scene, Mels's first thought was that they had encountered a sea monster. But before he could issue any orders, the four massive tentacles had already made contact with the port and starboard sides of the Wind Ship, firmly gripping the hull.

At such close range, Mels suddenly realized these tentacles weren't from any ordinary creature. They were pitch black and even emitted a metallic sheen. "These are metal, not living beings! Sol, go to the control room immediately. Upon my command, fire the fourth and eighth elven cannons on both sides!" Mels already understood what they had encountered. Needless to say, everyone knew that in this world, aside from the mysterious people, no one could command such massive metal weapons!

As Sol rushed toward the control room on Mels's orders, the Wind Ship had already stopped completely. Almost simultaneously, Mels and the others felt the ship tremble before it began to rise slowly. Clearly, the mysterious figures had captured their vessel and were now attempting to lift the entire ship out of the water to prevent Mels and his companions from escaping.

Weapons in hand, Mels and the others stared blankly at the unfolding situation, unsure of what to do. Just then, a voice that was hard to place as male or female, yet exceptionally clear, emanated from beneath their feet: "Land-dwellers, lay down your weapons. Repeat, land-dwellers, lay down your weapons! We do not wish to harm you. Please lay down your weapons."

Hearing the demand, everyone turned their gaze to Mels. Implicitly, Mels's decision now represented everyone's. At that moment, Mels was pondering the earlier warning from the other party: "Hmm? They called us land-dwellers? Aren't we usually called 'experimental subjects' by those mysterious types? Could these people be different?"

"Please lay down your weapons. Please lay down your weapons," the voice continued to urge.

After careful consideration, Mels finally made a decision. Calmly sheathing his longsword, he loudly addressed the surroundings: "We agree to your request, but you have to promise not to attack us, and you need to identify yourselves!" "We understand your terms. Please remain in your current positions. We will send representatives to negotiate with you," the voice replied, still exceptionally calm.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Wind Ship carrying Mels and the others rose another five meters. Then, an even larger metal cylinder rose from the sea. When it made contact with the Wind Ship, the top of the cylinder swiftly opened, and two men in silver suits, around thirty years old, stepped out and walked toward Mels and the others.

Watching the mysterious figures approach, Mels and his companions couldn't help but feel tense, but they were at least relieved to know that their captors were humans, not terrifying magical beasts.

The two men seemed intent on reducing mutual hostility, maintaining smiles on their faces until they stopped about three meters away from Mels and the others.

"Greetings, land-dwellers. I am Mika Blade, commander of the Second Maritime Patrol Fleet of the Free Army," the man introduced himself.

"My name is Mels, and these are my companions. May I ask why you are stopping us from proceeding?" Mels inquired.

"I believe you have misunderstood," Mika replied with a slight smile. "This area is already beyond the normal shipping lanes for Landers. Further ahead lies a region filled with reefs and sea monsters, shrouded in perpetual fog, where shipwrecks are common. It seems you've strayed off course, which is why we halted your progress. We hope you will not venture into this dangerous area."

"Thank you for your concern, but our destination is precisely the Divine Barrier. If I'm not mistaken, you should also be soldiers of the Federation, right? The place we're headed is your homeland: the Federation, on the other side of the Divine Barrier!" Although the other party had not explicitly stated whether they belonged to the Federation, Mels seemed convinced they were Federation soldiers.

"The Federation? How do you know about the Federation?" Mika blurted out, immediately pressing for answers.

"Just as you are unwilling to disclose your identity, we will not reveal the details of our mission. I can only tell you that we are heading to the Federation on orders from Commander Divak!" Mels declared loudly.

Originally, Mels had intended to use Divak's reputation to intimidate these mysterious figures, but he hadn't expected his clever plan to backfire.

Upon hearing Divak's name, Mika's expression changed rapidly. He then whispered to the man beside him, "What's their combat rating? Any threat?"

"I will check immediately," the man beside Mika replied, pulling out a small metal box and scanning Mels and the others.

After a moment, he lowered his voice and reported to Mika, "The strongest power level is around 1,200, but one of them has a Summoned Beast with combat power exceeding 2,500. They pose no immediate threat to us."

Hearing this report, Mika furrowed his thick brows. After a moment of silence, he murmured, "You are still young and unaware that land-dwellers can freely control their combat power as battles change. If I'm not mistaken, since Divak sent them, I believe their combat power must exceed 10,000, perhaps even more!"

"10,000! How is that possible? Divak's combat power is only around 20,000!" the young man exclaimed in disbelief. "What are you talking about? Are you planning to detain us or let us go?" Mels, seeing that the situation was not unfolding as he had anticipated, began to press forward step by step, hoping to understand the other party's true intentions.

Hearing Mels's question, Mika suddenly smiled, as if having made up his mind. He said to Mels, "Even if you truly carry Divak's orders, I must still fulfill my duty. Now, I offer you two choices: first, leave this place; second, perish at the bottom of the sea!" Mika's words were undoubtedly a challenge, shattering any remaining goodwill between the two sides.

"So it comes down to a fight after all. Boss, let me test them first," said Akafir, who had been watching the scene while munching on an apple. He tossed the leftover core aside and stepped forward to face Mika directly.

Mels was well aware of Akafir's combat prowess. Although Akafir wasn't physically strong and lacked endurance, his speed and skills were far from ordinary. Therefore, Mels did not object, only quietly advising Akafir to be careful.

"Commander, let me test him. You can observe the opponent's combat power closely," the young man beside Mika suggested.

"Very well. Humat, remember, land-dwellers are excellent fighters. Be extremely cautious," Mika instructed.

As Humat handed his power detector to Mika, Akafir was already rolling his head and stretching his limbs on the other side, preparing for battle.

Although Mels knew that a confrontation with the mysterious figures was inevitable, he hadn't expected the first battle after setting sail to unfold so quickly.

Just as Mels had anticipated, Humat wielded a weapon identical to those used by Emma and the others. An orange-red metallic glow shot out from a small metal rod, which then transformed into a Beam Sword. This beam weapon was their trump card for overcoming enemies.

Kaslo and Sha Luo were naturally clueless about such weapons, but Mels and Akafir had encountered them many times before. Thus, Mels didn't need to waste words reminding Akafir to be wary of the opponent's weapon, which could slice through iron like butter. Although Akafir swayed and stretched his limbs, appearing as if he didn't take his opponent seriously, his gaze never left Humat's arms as he assessed the opponent's strength.

Humat was clearly no weakling either. Faced with Akafir's provocative actions, he stayed calm, waiting patiently for Akafir to assume his stance.

Watching the two on the battlefield, Mels and the others, who had already stepped back, simultaneously realized that the opponent they had encountered this time was no ordinary foe. Akafir was likely to face a hard fight.

"Are you ready?" Humat suddenly asked, seemingly unwilling to let this tedious waiting continue any longer.

Hearing Humat's urging, Akafir knew that further delay would not yield the desired effect. He adjusted his sword stance, gave Humat a slight nod, and prepared to launch an attack.

However, to everyone's surprise, before Akafir could initiate his assault, Humat swung his sword and charged toward Akafir.

It turned out that Humat had not been unaffected by Akafir's provocation. Instead, he adhered to a principle akin to "chivalry," unwilling to launch a sneak attack before Akafir was fully prepared. Now that Akafir was ready to fight, the anger Humat had forcibly suppressed earlier erupted, and he showed no mercy in his attack.

"Ah, after all these years, he still hasn't overcome his fiery temper. Perhaps suffering a setback this time will be good for his growth," Mika remarked softly as he watched Humat charge forward like a madman.

Seeing the enemy lunging toward him, Akafir was momentarily stunned before a wave of exhilaration washed over him.

Judging by the speed his opponent displayed, there was a significant gap between Humat and Akafir, which further bolstered Akafir's confidence in victory. However, the weapon in Humat's hands remained a considerable threat. Thus, Akafir could only opt for guerrilla tactics, seeking openings in Humat's defenses rather than engaging in direct combat.

Once Akafir began moving with lightning speed, not only was Humat on the battlefield taken aback, but even Mika was left dumbfounded.

"Is this a speed land-dwellers can achieve? Impossible! The power detector still reads 750. How can he increase his speed without boosting his power?" Mika muttered in disbelief.

On the other side, Mels watched Akafir's speed with immense joy, thinking to himself, "I never expected Akafir to improve so much in these past six months. It seems if I don't push myself harder, he'll soon surpass me!"

As Mels and Mika each pondered their own thoughts, the two on the battlefield had already entered the true stage of close combat. The blood flowing through their veins might soon add a streak of crimson to the golden Wind Ship.