In the deep, unfathomable seas of Rinascita, countless indescribably massive creatures dwell.
And what Ray was now staring at was one of the most legendary among them, Cetus the Tidebreaker .
Legend has it that it is the ferryman of departed souls, guiding the spirits of the deceased across the waves toward the unreachable heavens. It never shows the slightest hostility toward humans or fishing boats.
So why did it appear in the coastal waters?
Ripples of unease spread through Ray's heart as his gaze followed the slowly gliding immense shadow beneath the sea. An inexplicable sense of foreboding quietly crept over him.
Some intuition was silently tapping at his consciousness, telling him these waters weren't safe.
And his intuition had never been wrong before.
In an instant, everything around him seemed to be choked by an invisible giant hand. The entire world plunged into a deathly silence, even the whispers of the waves and the sighs of the wind vanishing completely.
Ray gripped the Swiftblade, his gaze sharp as a torch, alertly scanning his surroundings, not missing any subtle movement.
He had always been extremely confident in his physical abilities.
Even empty-handed, he could contend with Echoes.
Now, with Carlotta's Resonant weapon in hand, it was like adding wings to a tiger.
As long as he didn't encounter an exceptionally formidable opponent, he was fully confident he could handle it.
Unfortunately, the Whale was precisely that kind of exceptionally formidable opponent.
One had to remember: this was the vast, boundless ocean, the Whale's home turf.
Even if he possessed the power to fight it, under the cover of this endless deep blue, his strength was destined to be greatly diminished.
Boom—!
In an instant, a storm erupted, raging waves surged.
The once-quiet sea finally tore off its calm facade, revealing its most savage nature.
Surging waves galloped like ten thousand horses, rolling in layer upon layer, carrying an earth-shattering force as they rampaged wildly in every direction.
Ray clung desperately to the gondola, shouting hoarsely, "Faster! Go faster!"
The gondola let out a muffled, low roar, suddenly accelerating, struggling to navigate through the furious waves.
But where could they possibly escape to amidst these towering waves?
A wave like a towering wall crashed down as if to utterly swallow them into the deep sea.
"Tch, damn it!"
The image of the avalanche-like giant wave reflected in Ray's eyes until a flash of golden light suddenly burst forth from within them.
Driven by courage from who knows where, he leaped from the gondola, slashing head-on toward the roaring wave.
The next moment, the giant wave was split in two, collapsing and disintegrating.
No, it wasn't just split.
The frequencies constituting the wave seemed to be disintegrating?
Or perhaps...being completely consumed?
「Could this... be my Resonance ability?」
Ray's heart jolted, his face full of disbelief.
But reality left him no time to ponder.
In the moment he cleaved the giant wave, he was already face-to-face with that deep shadow.
The Whale floated quietly on the sea surface, watching him silently.
It thrashed violently in the deep water, its enormous tail carrying the force of ten thousand tons as it swept toward Ray.
Gritting his teeth, Ray could only raise the Swiftblade horizontally in front of him. The next second, a terrifying force slammed heavily against the blade, he was sent flying like a cannonball, completely out of control as he was hurled backward.
Just then, the gondola suddenly leaped from the sea, catching Ray in mid-air with perfect timing.
"Well done, partner!" Ray shook his numb, vibrating right hand and gave a thumbs-up to the gondola beneath him.
The gondola let out a cheerful, low hum before suddenly accelerating again, trying to leave the Whale far behind.
But clearly, its speed was no match for the Whale's.
Watching the massive whale close in, Ray couldn't help but growl, "What's wrong with this thing... has it gone mad?!"
He still hadn't figured out how to use his Resonance ability properly.
Fighting such a behemoth on the vast open sea meant the odds were incredibly slim.
Just then, a massive ship silhouette appeared in his vision.
Before he could react, the world shrouded in darkness abruptly transformed, as if he'd fallen into a dazzling, disorienting dream.
The starry sky, the ocean, and the world seemed to blend into chaos. He reached out a hand, as if he could touch the stars, yet they slipped through his fingers like phantoms.
He was stunned.
Why...were there jellyfish flying in the sky?
For some reason, the previously frenzied, aggressive Whale gradually calmed down, as if drawn by some dreamlike power, slowly sinking into the abyss and ceasing its pursuit.
By the time Ray snapped back to reality, the giant ship was already quietly anchored before him.
Someone on board lowered a gangway, shouting toward him, "Hey, you there, kid! Stop daydreaming! Get up here!"
Ray paused briefly, hesitated for a moment, but still stepped onto the gangway.
No matter what, he had to personally thank this stranger who had intervened to save him.
That was basic courtesy.
Once on deck, he recalled the gondola to his terminal and was about to express his thanks when his gaze suddenly fixed on the badges on everyone's chests, each one bore the emblem of the Fisalia family.
'They are from the Fisalia family?'
Ray suddenly remembered the time a while back when he was surrounded by people from the Fisalia family.
Could it be...that saving him now was a continuation of that incident?
That shouldn't be.
After all, his sea voyage was a last-minute decision by Carlotta. Aside from the two of them, no one else could have known.
So, this encounter was purely coincidental?
Moreover, judging by the other party's demeanor and actions, they didn't seem to harbor any malice.
"Oh my? It seems our little guest is wary of his savior."
A clear female voice sounded from among the crowd.
A tall woman stepped forward gracefully, her purple hair swaying slightly in the wind. Her makeup was refined and elegant, her speech carrying a natural composure.
Her indigo-blue eyes reflected the shimmering light on the sea's surface.
If Carlotta were likened to a dazzling gem, then the woman before him was more like a pearl hidden in the dark depths of the ocean, subtle, mysterious, yet possessing its own radiance.
The moment she appeared, a name instantly flashed through Ray's mind.
Cantarella.
The rarely seen head of the Fisalia family.
Almost no one had seen her true face.
Despite the previous conflicts with the Fisalia family, Ray maintained courtesy, giving Cantarella a slight bow. "Thank you for your help, Miss Cantarella."
Hearing him speak her name, Cantarella showed a trace of surprise. "Oh? You recognize me?"
Her gaze lightly swept over Ray, finally settling on the crystalline Swiftblade in his hand.
"That form, that frequency... I see. You're Carlotta's person?"
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If we cross 200 powerstones, there will be another bonus chapter.
Read advance chapters on [email protected]/lost_moon