The large ship cut through the choppy waters of the ocean as heavy rain poured down from the stormy sky above. The crew of the ship worked tirelessly to keep the vessel on course.
The captain stood at the helm, his strong hands gripping the wheel tightly as he barked out orders to his crew. "Hard to starboard!" he shouted over the howling wind, his voice barely audible over the roar of the crashing waves.
The sailors scrambled to obey, pulling on ropes and adjusting the sails as the ship lurched violently to the right. The rain soaked them to the bone, but they worked with precision and skill honed from years at sea.
As the storm raged on, the waves grew larger and more erratic, crashing against the sides of the ship with a deafening roar. The crew fought tirelessly to keep the vessel from capsizing, their muscles straining as they worked in perfect synchronization.
"Brace yourselves!" The captain yelled as a particularly large wave came crashing towards them. The sailors held on tight, bracing themselves against the force of the water as it hit the ship, sending spray flying in all directions.
Despite the chaos around them, the crew never lost focus. They worked together seamlessly, knowing that their lives depended on their ability to keep the ship afloat.
Through it all, the sailors kept up a steady stream of communication, calling out to each other and to the captain as they navigated the treacherous waters. "Trim the sails!" "Secure the cargo!" "Hold on tight!"
"We've weathered the worst of it, lads," he called out to his crew. "But we're not out of danger yet. Stay sharp, and we'll make it through this storm together."
The sailors nodded in acknowledgment, their faces grim with determination. The ship creaked and groaned as it continued to battle the elements, but the crew worked tirelessly to keep it on course, their spirits unwavering in the face of adversity.
Seemingly perfectly balanced, Mikoto idly stood on the main mast of the ship. He did not seem to mind the violent rain assaulting his body as he stood with folded arms. It was as if he were waiting for something. And he was.
("Ah, there...")
As the crew began to relax slightly, a sense of unease washed over them as the ocean around the ship stirred inexplicably. The erratic waters now churned even more violently, creating a swirling vortex of frothy waves.
The captain's eyes widened in horror as he caught sight of a large shadow moving beneath the surface of the water. "What in the name of the Gods..." he muttered under his breath, his heart pounding in his chest.
Suddenly, with a deafening roar that echoed across the tumultuous sea, a massive sea serpent-like creature emerged from the depths. It was unlike anything the sailors had ever seen before - a colossal beast with scales as black as midnight and eyes that glowed with an otherworldly light.
The serpent's long, sinuous body coiled and twisted through the water, its enormous head rearing up high above the ship. Its jaws were lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth, dripping with seawater and menace.
The sailors on deck gasped in awe and terror at the sight of the creature, frozen in place as it loomed over them like a harbinger of doom. The ship seemed minuscule in comparison to the sheer size and power of the sea serpent, its presence a reminder of the vast and unforgiving depths of the ocean.
The captain quickly snapped himself out of his daze, his instincts kicking in as he shouted orders to his crew. "Man the cannons! Prepare to defend the ship!" he bellowed, his voice filled with a mixture of fear and determination.
The crew sprang into action, scrambling to arm themselves with whatever makeshift weapons they could find. They knew they were facing doom, but they were not about to go down without a fight.
As the sea serpent reared back, preparing to strike, the sailors braced themselves for impact. The creature's massive head loomed over the ship, its eyes fixed on its prey with a predatory focus that sent shivers down the crew's spines.
The sea serpent unleashed its magic, fierce ocean hurricanes began to spiral and swirl around the ship, threatening to engulf the ship in their savage embrace. They swirled violently and threatened to tear up anything in their way. Something that would no doubt be an easy task.
With a lackluster focus, Mikoto extended his hands, and a shimmering barrier of pure mana materialized around the ship, deflecting the raging hurricanes with resolute strength. The barrier crackled and hummed with raw power, holding back the ferocious onslaught of the sea serpent's magic. Mikoto's expression remained serene, his gaze locked on the colossal creature.
"All of this should probably be more than enough proof," he murmured.
Mikoto drew forth the essence of fire, molding it into a pulsating orb of incandescent radiance. The orb blazed with an intensity reminiscent of a miniature sun, casting a warm, golden glow across the deck of the ship. With a swift, graceful motion, Mikoto extended his palm, and the radiant orb hurtled through the air with astonishing speed, leaving a scintillating trail in its wake.
The sea serpent, caught off guard by the sudden burst of brilliance, let out a deafening roar as the orb collided with its massive form. A blinding explosion of light and heat erupted in the heart of the ocean, sending shockwaves rippling through the water. The spray soared high into the sky, catching the sunlight in a dazzling display of iridescence, before cascading back down in a torrential symphony. The ship remained unharmed, encased within the protective embrace of Mikoto's barrier, as the colossal explosion subsided, leaving behind a tranquil ocean once more.
The crew members looked on with utter befuddlement. The creature that dwarfed the ship in size was suddenly no longer there. It was just gone just like that, furthermore, the rain and heavy cloud cover were no more. It had been completely eviscerated to nothing but ash.
The crew erupted into cheers and applause, their voices reverberating across the deck in jubilant celebration. Mikoto merely hummed as he leaped off the main mast and landed gracefully on the main deck. He received various thanks and smiles for being the ship's savior and whatnot.
He did not really want to deal with any Astrothians, but well, there was a reason for that.
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[Earlier]
Within the confines of Professor Eugene's cabin, a large room with smooth wooden floors and walls, lanterns in every corner, a carpet draped on the floor, and paintings decorating the walls, the group idly stood. Mirabella was seated on the bed while Agatha stood not far from her.
Victoria and Fiona were situated near Professor Eugene, while Lucinda and Mikoto leaned against the wall.
"You want me to take care of any Astrothians alone?" Mikoto questioned, his words being directed to the ever-stoic Professor Eugene, who just nodded his head in confirmation.
"Seriously? You want this plebe to fight alone?" Mirabella almost scoffed as she crossed one leg over the other. "Look at his mana reserves. My little sister has more than him."
Agatha remained silent, not giving any input. It was hard to really gauge Mikoto based on how strong he was. Though it was brief, they had battled, he seemed at ease in that battle, he was even full of himself with that bout.
Despite her current distaste for the boy, she would admit that there was maybe a chance that Mikoto Yukio was, in fact, strong.
"Excuse me, sir, but as I said Dread Sea Crawlers frequent the sea this close north and they would be too much to handle for a first-year," Lucinda argued. "Could I at least support Mikoto?" Professor Eugene shook his head.
"I already have a gauge on what you all can do. Victoria is here for her intelligence, Mirabella for her destructive capability, Agatha for her versatility, and it is obvious why you were chosen. But I know little of Mikoto, hence I want to use this opportunity to see what he can do."
"But-" Lucinda was interrupted by a giddy Victoria.
"Oh, I'm sure it will be fine, Lucinda dear," the blonde stated, causing Fiona to give her a questioning stare. "I say we give dear Mikoto a chance." She said as she directed a smile at the boy.
("Barring me, no one is really privy to Mikoto and how strong he can be. He is a spawn of Octavia after all.") She thought, but Victoria seemed awfully confident in him.
"Still, a Dread Sea Crawler is registered as a Class A in terms of threat level," Lucinda murmured.
"C'mon, Lucinda, where's the trust in your future teammate?" He asked bemused. "I'll kill the oversized snake, easy."
"S-sorry." The girl could just give a sheepish apology. "It's just that it is hard to gauge your strength."
"Cause of his pathetic mana," Mirabella chimed in. Victoria just smiled knowingly, and Fiona could not help but narrow her eyes at the girl. Agatha, meanwhile, just looked at the two with a raised eyebrow.
"If things get out of hand, we will interfere," Professor Eugene informed.
"Don't worry, it won't," Mikoto stated. "I'll go wait for it to show up on deck, see ya."
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(Victoria, in terms of intelligence, it could be said she is way ahead of her peers. Even among her fellow spawns of Almeric. We are looking to expand her horizon for battle, to develop her intelligence even further.)
("Agatha and Mirabella are brimming with potential. Potential that can be unleashed should they be pushed to their limits. Then they can awaken and be great assets to the nation of Galadriel.")
("Lucinda is the single most valuable person in Galadriel. A war had almost broken out when she was born, nations wanted to have the single spawn of Octavia for themselves. Her worth measures up to the king himself. Her potential is limitless, with the right mindset no one could stand in her way.")
"And Mikoto..." Like the rest, he had watched Mikoto's 'battle' with the Dread Sea Crawler through a Zephyra Illusora. Though it was not a battle but a complete annihilation. Professor Eugene stepped onto the main deck as the sun started to peak through the clouds. The others were spread about on the ship.
"That guy actually managed to do it...." He heard Mirabella mumble to herself. She seemed about as confused as Lucinda.
"He really has that much mana? Enough to unleash a spell of that caliber? But why can't I sense it?" The spawn of Octavia questioned herself. "It could only mean one thing...."
"So he was holding back." He heard Agatha mutter.
The only ones who did not seem as surprised were Victoria and Fiona. The latter had recommended Mikoto if he recalled. And Victoria must have a way to perceive Mikoto's mana signature. Seeing as the boy kept it hidden.
("Keeping one's mana hidden means making use of illusion magic to make it seem less than it is. This works by creating layers of illusions, one can use one's own mana to break these layers and reveal the person's true mana capacity.") Professor Eugene mulled over the information. ("However, that is only possible if you possess more mana than the person who conceals theirs. Not even Lucinda could perceive his mana, and is this why Lady Guinevere held an interest in this boy?")
"Is his mana so absurdly large that it eclipses that of the court mage?"
Who was Mikoto Yukio? And where did he come from?