At the end of the long sturdy jetty, one could see the Abalone Floating Port where no ships are docked.
The port is actually a circular jetty encircling the whole atoll where its white sandbar land occasionally gets submerged by the rising tide especially due to the Advan Sea's annual whirlpool.
The disappearing atoll is the reason why the port was constructed hover on the submerged shore.
In the clear blue lagoon of the island which is 1, 643 feet wide and 307 feet extending down to the tip of the centered seamount, a forest of swaying seaweeds filled the entire mountain with no fish or other predators in sight.
Right now, millions of Crystal Abalones feasted in the area.
In capturing a speedy mana species, it all depends on the Covetor's ability and strategy.
Either one considers on emptying the lagoon waters or simply manipulate the kelps to trap the abalone.
"Finders Keepers" is the game's ultimate rule so it is up to the lucky ones' decisions on how to secure their catch.
Alist and Shandley reached the circular port where about 30,000 Mana Covetors stood around.
Specialists were seen warming up or chatting with fellow challengers, each projecting their aurae.
Most are Water Specialists given that their pervasive powers hold advantage of the tournament situation but despite the geographical advantage, one should take note of what rank the Covetor holds when catching B-rank species.
A Covetor's rank may be not be determined by many as they don't usually tell or show each other their cards' color but a frequenter of the sea game can tell the rank based on the previous years' generous mana fodder contributions.
Take Twisted Trapper as an example, who was spotted close to the lagoon's mouth.
Twisted Trapper is a 6'4'' tall, manly looking, light brown-skinned Earth Specialist with small green eyes and half-ponytail styled long verdant colored hair made into dreadlocks adorned with Crystal Abalone shells.
He donned a white infinity hemp scarf over his shirtless muscular body, which was riddled with visible scars, and brown breeches that matched his cavalier boots.
Last year's game reported that his catch consists a bulk of ultraviolet, gray, and lime green Crystal Abalone along with excess scarce class species.
From that data, he is a four-starred Covetor.
The same is true for Alist who is the youngest four star ranker and is capable of seizing a lot more than one thinks.
Twisted Trapper and Alist have long been rivals in the annual sea games but their competition is fair and friendly.
In fact, he and Alist are sparring buddies despite not knowing each other's identities.
"Here comes the old man." Alist jeered in his direction.
"What old man?!" Twisted Trapper gasped as he approached the incoming girls. "So all this time you girls saw me as an 'old man'? I'm only twenty!"
"EEEHHHHHH!" The girls yelled in unison.
Shandley shook her in disbelief. "I don't believe it. You even said you have a wife. And what's with those shells on your hair? Jeez, you look like a walking seaweed!"
Twisted Trapper raised an eyebrow. "I do have a wife but we're not married yet, Deleer. Though I might even expect a baby from her soon. I also considered settling in Darya with her as well because of the godparents tradition."
Unlike Shandley who was now believing Trapper's words, Alist still couldn't believe it but decided to go along with it.
"Well, congratulations if ever that happens. We also look forward to your stay in Darya for a long time, old man." Alist smiled cunningly.
Trapper chuckled. "Hah! You and your two-faced personality are killing me before the game. Your aura may be stronger than before but I'll definitely beat you to it."
At this time, five minutes are left before the tournament begins so the trio's conversation shifted from teasing to assessing the new Covetors of the game.
"Based on today's gossip," Shandley said as she blocked their conversation from eavesdroppers. "There are five new people on this port. Behind you, Alist, is Savage the Fire Specialist. He actually has the same age as Trapper despite him being shorter than me and I heard that he's also an Covetor for other species as well so he's experienced. Four Specialists away from his left is Iron Fist who is obviously a Metal Specialist but I don't know how he manipulates his ability and he's older than the three of us. On Trapper's four o clock side is Swiftest but I don't know his abilities so he's either a Wind or Lightning Specialist. By his side is his sister named Hypno whose speciality may have something to do with hypnosis. And lastly, from my left is Icy who is a rare Ice Specialist in this day's sea game and she's a total bitch. I heard that she's the daughter of a clan leader from a tribe in Eudaria but she's—."
"Um…Deleer, you're gonna be out of breath again. Fan yourself a bit." Alist paused the rapper of the talk.
"Okii…hafff…huff, okiii—aaahhhhhh. I think I'm okay now."
Shandley suddenly felt the warm air calming her down.
Alist simply shrugged her shoulders.
'Of course you're better now,' She berated her friend in her mind. 'Because of the guy you forgot to mention who was even behind you, oblivious girl. That explains why I always felt the breeze blowing in our direction whenever you are rapping. Why haven't I noticed this for the past two years?'
To the far side of Shandley's back is Era Duress in his usual dark windbreaker-like trench coat and dark breeches.
Alist finally realized one conclusion: Era was motivated to join today's game because of the red ones' appearance and intends to bestow one to her oblivious friend.`
She ruffled her short hair with her hand thinking of what kind of mess Shandley may get into.
Although she was happy that Era can possibly no longer disturb the Main Love Team, she couldn't shake the feeling of another drama going on with the bad boy and her friend.
Alist then decided that she will have a one-on-one talk with Shandley's hardcore stalker today and hopefully close a deal with him for becoming Alist's friendly informer of what's happening in the noble's circle.
Shandley may have mentioned the distinct newcomers of the tournament's Mana Covetors circle, Alist admits that her friend's level of awareness forgot 75 other new Specialists which includes their sponsors who are likely stand behind and watch the tournament unfold.
In contrast to the previous yearly games, there were even more participating royals and nobles in the crowd today.
This afternoon's game is going to be incredibly rough with the highborns joining in because when things don't go well in their favor, the classic dirty blackmailing comes into play.
Toxic classism exists in any continent or world so its no doubt that there will be greedy people who won't settle for a fair game and the so-called honorable winner.
Alist had Shandley step back towards the edge of the outer circular port and secretly slipped five pink abalone crystals which were worth four stars of mana regeneration because this is needed for her job as Alist's passive monitor.
They agreed that opening her passive Sound Zone in a chaotic area like this B-rank game can deepen her battle concentration and practice the animalistic echolocation.
"He's here." Shandley sent a whisper-message to her ears.
Alist looked at the person hovering 400 ft above the lagoon and answered back. "Yeah, that smug son of a bitch."
The geezer she cursed at is a plump blind late mid-aged arbiter who was sitting on top of a flat pull sled that flies.
It shouldn't be a surprise that the flying sled was in fact a flying artifact but rather, the arbiter is one to look at.
Sir Hanks is actually a commoner who was deemed an armiger that bore the Burgher or Peasant Coat of Arms.
He is what history books call the medieval bourgeoise as he lives within the city walls of the Amory Kingdom and has done great service to the royals which caused him to lose his sense of sight.
Though he may not be able to see his surroundings, he is an example of an experienced echolocator.
But to Alist, his role as arbiter meant nothing but deep shit.
He is truly the perfect example of blind justice.
Hanks was simply the mascot of the nobles he served and his escutcheon revealed a tactile version of the Lady Justice wearing ragged peasant clothes.
A classist manifestation.
It is clear to Alist that he is the epitome of the sightless cronies who followed the biddings of corrupt leaders.
In the previous games, she can already tell that this old geezer is a lecher and an absolute greedy venal.
Like most of the cautious people participating, Alist stayed silent and unspeaking throughout the competition so as not to attract the arbiter's attention whose reaction is equivalent to that of the 'noise' Monsters in the movie A Quiet Place (A/N: I love this great power couple in real life).
She acted stealthily despite having passive support from Shandley whom she persuaded not to join as she did not want her friend to be caught by Hanks because of their incredible teamwork.
The lusty Hanks will even mark her on his talent poaching list and bring her to his superiors.
To make matters worse if ever that happens, her friend would become a noble slave because her features said so.
'It's a relief that he's blind though. Otherwise, Deleer will be goners for good.' Alist assured herself thoughtfully.
Every Covetor turned to the figure as if he was a shining beacon and awaited his signal to begin the sea game.
Hanks began his soothing opening remarks. "Seeing as we have new additions to the competition, I welcome you all especially the Counts, Viscounts, Barons, Lords, Miladies, and Burghers like me. On this day, the red ones have graced us with their presence as reported by the scouts and I so today's game will be more exciting than before. We may not have the ceremonial trumpet to accompany us in our trials as the sounds will frighten away the Fodders. Oh! I can hear the clocks from your pocket watches that scream 30 seconds before the tournament starts. Remember that there is only one rule to this game: finders keepers. And that in Kaiden, we are fighters. In Kaiden, we rise. Ready your Specialism as you all begin in three…two— ONE!"