On the Other Side
Leaning against the cabin door, Bai Luo watched as the sailors efficiently carried out Beidou's orders, when suddenly, an inexplicable chill ran down his spine.
Was someone thinking about him?
But that wasn't important now. The immediate danger demanded his full attention.
"Prepare the ballistae! Load the cannons! Combat units, cover the merchant ships! Get the merchant ships to retreat first!"
Beidou stared at the looming dark clouds ahead, issuing commands with unshakable calm.
At this time, Osial was still sealed beneath the ocean, and the Guizhong Ballistae had yet to be repaired. Thus, Beidou's fleet was armed only with the most traditional ballistae and cannons.
She never deluded herself into thinking these weapons could harm the monstrous creature lurking within those clouds. Back when she fought Haishan, these weapons had, at best, served as distractions—never truly wounding the great sea dragon.
And this new foe... was even more formidable than Haishan had been.
Truth be told, in the past, Beidou would have charged headfirst into those dark clouds without hesitation, engaging the beast in a battle fit for a man—or rather, a battle-hardened woman.
But time had not only tempered her strength—it had also made her wiser.
Back when she faced Haishan, she had prepared meticulously, and her crew had been the most elite sailors.
This time was different. Their mission had been simple cargo transport—this encounter was entirely unexpected.
Moreover, many of these sailors were ordinary folk with no experience battling sea monsters. Charging recklessly into battle now... the risks were far too great.
"Boom—"
Thunder roared, and gales howled as the storm raged within the dark clouds. The monster's silhouette grew clearer by the second.
Beneath the churning waves, glimpses of its terrifying form emerged—a sleek, scaleless body covered in glowing, vein-like elemental channels, pulsating with an eerie blue light.
"Another sea dragon? No... a sea serpent!"
Drawing from her experience, Beidou quickly identified the creature.
She had encountered serpentine sea monsters before, but none as ferocious as this one.
What puzzled her most were those elemental channels on its body.
Aside from elemental beings, most creatures couldn't naturally develop such organs. Even humans relied on Visions to wield elemental power.
So... just what was the origin of this monstrous serpent?
"A sea serpent? Could it be... the great Watatsumi Omikami, Orobashi?"
Hearing Beidou's words, Kaedehara Kazuha suddenly recalled that name.
But he quickly dismissed the thought.
Orobashi had long since perished under the Raiden Shogun's blade. He had even seen its bleached bones himself—a sight that sent chills down his spine even in broad daylight. There was no way it could have returned.
If this truly were Orobashi, it would either attempt communication or annihilate the fleet outright—not toy with them like this.
The winds grew fiercer, churning the sea into spiraling whirlpools.
A foul, rotting stench of fish and brine spread across the waters, clinging thickly to the air.
The seasoned sailors could endure it, but the new recruits and merchants hoping to strike it rich in Inazuma were less resilient.
Especially those prone to seasickness.
Already nauseous from the voyage, the overpowering stench sent them retching uncontrollably—some even vomiting bile.
"Fire the cannons! Drive it back!"
The ballistae and cannons had long been primed. At Beidou's command, the warships unleashed their firepower.
Strongmen chanted as they cranked the winches, tightening the ballistae strings.
Arm-thick bolts were loaded, and with Beidou's order, they shot forth in unison.
The roar of cannons and the twang of bowstrings filled the air.
Soon, the stench of rot was drowned out by the acrid smell of gunpowder—but the results were far from ideal.
The bolts and cannonfire vanished into the dark clouds without a trace, as though swallowed whole by some unseen maw.
Seeing this, Beidou understood.
"Hailong."
"Yes, Captain."
Hearing his name, Hailong—the fleet's helmsman—swallowed hard before responding.
Was he afraid?
Of course he was. Though he had been among the crew that fought Haishan with Beidou, this unknown sea serpent was far more terrifying.
At least with Haishan, they had felt some semblance of fighting spirit.
But this serpent...
Just looking at it made Hailong's legs tremble uncontrollably.
No matter how strong his will, his body's instinctive fear was hard to suppress.
"Look at you, shaking like a leaf. 'Hailong'? More like 'Haichong' (Sea Worm)."
"Captain, I just—"
"Enough. Take a few of the new recruits and escort the merchant ships away first. As for the route... we'll figure it out after we shake off this serpent."
The wind whipped at her cloak as Beidou raised a flask and took a deep swig.
Though in this storm, it was hard to tell whether she was drinking rainwater or liquor.
"Captain! I won't leave! I'm staying!"
Having served under Beidou for so long, Hailong could guess her intentions.
He couldn't abandon her now.
"You're the best helmsman on the Alcor. I trust you with those ships. Besides... do you really think I'd lose?"
She tossed the empty flask into the sea, then hefted her massive claymore in one hand, her voice brimming with unshakable confidence.
At nine years old, she had dared to dream of slaying Haishan.
Back then, everyone had laughed at her—but in the end, she had done it.
Now... facing this serpent, she would do it again.
Because she was Beidou—the Uncrowned Lord of the Ocean!
"...Understood."
Hailong's trembling ceased, his resolve steadying.
This was the reassurance a true leader brought—even if they faced a monster rivaling the likes of Rex Lapis himself, as long as they followed her, they would dare charge into the depths of hell!
At the retreat order, all ships except the Alcor and two other warships turned around, sailing swiftly in the opposite direction.
As Beidou had said, they could chart a new course later—survival came first.
And survival meant putting as much distance between themselves and the serpent as possible.
Noticing the fleeing ships, the serpent coiled within the storm, preparing to bypass the Alcor and give chase.
Compared to the handful of humans on the warship, the larger fleet was far more enticing.
But Beidou wouldn't let it have its way.
"By the power of thunder— Smite the Sea Dragon!"
Crackling Electro energy surged around her blackstone greatsword, shaping into the form of a raging sea dragon as Beidou leapt high, bringing her blade down upon the monstrous serpent.
Just as she had once done to Haishan.