Volume 2: Shenzhou Academy & The Battle of Venice
The magic-armored coastal patrol boat carved decisively through the raging swells of the East Sea, trailing twin ribbons of frothing white wake that stretched far astern. The briny ocean wind carried a bone-chilling dampness that lashed across the main deck, yet it could not extinguish the triumphant atmosphere permeating the wheelhouse.
Ahead of the bow, the gloomy, jagged reefs of Blood Wave Bay had long retreated beyond the misty horizon. In their place, the massive granite breakwaters and fortified seawalls of the East Sea Forward Base gradually loomed into view. Towering arcane watchtowers decameters high stood like iron sentinels piercing straight into the azure sky, their crowns flickering with the turquoise pulse of long-range detection arrays sweeping invisible waves of mana across the maritime boundary.
When the patrol craft docked at Military Pier No. 3, three deep, resonant blasts of the siren sounded in sequence, signaling the return of the reconnaissance unit.
Along the wharf, dozens of soldiers from the Arcane Border Defense force in ash-gray combat fatigues stood at attention while overseeing the unloading of military supplies. The moment they saw five young figures descend the gangway from the main deck, the battle-hardened veterans could not conceal their utter shock.
“It’s that student squad from Shenzhou Academy!”
“Did they actually make it back alive? Didn’t the coastal observation post report a Level-3 demonic beast tide at Blood Wave Bay early this morning, with suspicions of a Commander-level monster surfacing?”