The wind howled, and rain poured down as the three-masted ship rocked amidst towering waves, like a toy being tossed and caught repeatedly by a giant.
Alger Wilson's eyes lost their crimson hue, and he found himself still standing on the deck, unchanged from before.
He watched as the strange glass bottle in his hand shattered with a crack, frost melting into water and merging with the raindrops.
In just two or three seconds, the ancient artifact vanished without a trace.
A hexagonal snowflake appeared in Alger's palm, quickly fading and seeming to retreat into his flesh.
Alger nodded slightly, deep in thought for five minutes.
He turned and headed towards the cabin entrance, only to encounter a man with soft blond hair and a robe embroidered with lightning patterns.
The blond man stopped, looked at Alger, and placed his right hand, clenched in a fist, over his chest, saying:
"May the storm be with you."
"May the storm be with you," Alger replied, his rugged face devoid of any extra emotion, mimicking the gesture.
After exchanging greetings, Alger entered the cabin and walked down the corridor towards the captain's quarters.
Strangely, he encountered no sailors or crew members along the way; the place was eerily silent like a tomb.
The door to the captain's quarters opened, revealing a deep brown carpet, bookshelves, and a wine cabinet. The candlelit room cast a peculiar glow on the yellowing books and dark red bottles of wine.
On the desk, beside a candle, were an ink bottle, a quill, a black metal telescope, and a brass sextant.
Behind the desk sat a middle-aged man with a skull captain's hat and a pale face, glaring at Alger with clenched teeth:
"I will not yield!"
"I believe you can do it," Alger replied calmly, as if commenting on the weather.
"You..." The middle-aged man was taken aback, not expecting such a response.
At that moment, Alger lunged forward, closing the distance between them to just the width of the desk.
With a swift movement, he grabbed the middle-aged man's throat, his right hand gripping tightly, fish scales appearing on the back of his hand, and squeezed hard.
Crack!
The man's eyes widened in shock as his body was lifted off the ground. His legs kicked violently but soon went limp, his eyes losing focus, and a foul smell emanated from his wet trousers.
Alger hoisted the man, bent low, and stepped towards the wall.
Boom! He used the man's body as a shield, crashing into the wooden wall with monstrous strength.
The wall shattered, and the storm's wind and rain, carrying the scent of the sea, rushed in.
Alger twisted his body and threw the man out of the cabin and into the towering waves.
In the dark, stormy night, nature's power buried everything.
Alger took out a white handkerchief, carefully wiped his right hand, and then tossed it into the sea.
He stepped back and patiently waited for his companion.
"What happened?" The blond man burst in within ten seconds.
"The 'captain' escaped," Alger panted, frustrated. "He still retained some extraordinary power!"
"Damn it!" The blond man cursed under his breath.
He approached the broken wall and peered into the distance, seeing nothing but the storm and waves.
"Forget it, he was just a side target," the blond man waved his arm. "Finding this ghost ship from the Tudor era is an achievement in itself."
Even as a favored one of the sea, he wouldn't dare dive in such weather.
"And if the storm continues, the 'captain' won't last long," Alger nodded, noticing the broken wall beginning to mend itself.
He glanced deeply at it, instinctively turning towards the helm and sails.
Even through the layers of wood, he knew the situation there clearly.
No first mate, no second mate, no crew, no sailors, not even a single living soul!
The helm and sails adjusted themselves eerily.
Remembering the figure shrouded in gray mist, Alger sighed.
He turned to the raging storm outside, speaking in a tone both hopeful and fearful:
"A new era has begun..."
...
Ruen Kingdom's capital, Backlund, Queen's District.
Audrey Hall pinched her cheek, unable to believe what had just happened.
The ancient bronze mirror on her vanity lay shattered.
Looking down, Audrey saw her hand glowing with a "crimson" hue, like a celestial "tattoo."
The "crimson" faded, finally disappearing into her skin.
Only then did Audrey confirm she wasn't dreaming.
Her eyes sparkled, her lips curling into a smile as she stood and lifted her dress.
She curtsied to the air, then twirled and danced the latest court dance, the "Ancient Elf Dance," with joy.
Her graceful figure filled the room, her face beaming.
Knock, knock, knock! Someone knocked on her bedroom door.
"Who is it?" Audrey stopped abruptly, striking a poised stance.
"Miss, may I come in? It's time to prepare," her maid asked from outside.
Audrey glanced at the mirror, quickly smoothing her expression, leaving only a faint smile.
She checked her appearance one last time before gently replying:
"Come in."
The door handle turned, and her maid Annie entered.
"Oh, it's broken..." Annie immediately noticed the shattered mirror.
Audrey blinked, slowly explaining:
"Um, yes, well, Susie was here earlier, you know how she loves to break things!"
Susie, a not-so-purebred golden retriever, was a gift from her father, Earl Hall, and was adored by Audrey.
"You should discipline her," Annie expertly cleaned up the mirror shards, careful not to harm her mistress.
Finished, she asked Audrey with a smile:
"Which dress would you like to wear?"
Audrey thought briefly, "I love the one Mrs. Ginia designed for my seventeenth birthday."
"No, people will say the Hall family is in financial trouble if you wear it to another formal occasion!" Annie shook her head firmly.
"But I really like it," Audrey emphasized gently.
"You can wear it at home or less formal events," Annie insisted.
"Then the one Mr. Sedes sent the other day, with the ruffled cuffs," Audrey took a discreet breath, maintaining her graceful smile.
"You always have excellent taste," Annie smiled, calling to the hall, "Sixth wardrobe, never mind, I'll get it myself."
The maids bustled about, one fetching the dress, another the jewelry, another the shoes, one for the veil, one for makeup, and one considering the hairstyle.
As preparations neared completion, Earl Hall appeared at the door.
He wore a matching brown vest and hat, his blue eyes full of warmth, though age had taken its toll.
"Beckland's brightest jewel, it's time to leave," Earl Hall lightly knocked on the open door.
"Dad, don't call me that," Audrey feigned exasperation.
"Then my beautiful little princess, it's time to go," Earl Hall offered his left arm.
Audrey smiled, shaking her head:
"That's for Mother, the Countess."
"Then this side," Earl Hall offered his right arm, "for a father's pride."
...
Port Pritz, Oak Island, Royal Navy Base.
As Audrey alighted from the carriage, arm in arm with her father, she was stunned by the sight before her.
In the nearby military port stood a colossal ship, gleaming with metallic luster, without sails but with lookout towers, chimneys, and two open gun turrets.
It dwarfed the surrounding sail warships like a giant among dwarfs.
"Storm above..."
"Oh, my lord."
"Ironclad ship!"
...
Low exclamations intertwined as Audrey felt the same shock. It was a miracle created by humans, an unprecedented ocean miracle!
After an unknown amount of time, the nobles, ministers, and Members of Parliament finally recovered. At this moment, a black dot in the sky grew larger, gradually occupying one-third of the sky and capturing everyone's attention, making the atmosphere suddenly solemn.
It was a gigantic floating object flying in mid-air. It had extremely smooth and elegant lines, painted entirely in deep blue. A sturdy yet lightweight alloy frame supported the cotton fabric filled with hydrogen gas. Below hung a compartment equipped with machine guns, bomb bays, and direct-firing cannons. The exaggerated buzzing of the high-fuel steam engine and the frantic rotation of the tail blades formed a heart-stirring symphony.
The airship carrying the royal family had arrived, exuding a sense of majesty that looked down on everything from above.
A vertically downward "Sword of Judgment" emblem, with a ruby crown on the hilt, reflected sunlight on both sides of the compartment. This was a symbol of the Augustus family's long-standing heritage, traceable to the previous era.
Audrey was not yet eighteen, and had not participated in the "Introduction Ceremony." Under the guidance of the queen, she formally entered Beckland's social scene to declare her coming of age. For now, she could only watch quietly from a distance, unable to get close.
However, she didn't mind too much. She even felt relieved because she didn't have to face the princes.
The "miracle" of human conquest of the sky landed steadily. The first to come down the gangway were spirited young guards. They wore red ceremonial military uniforms, white trousers, and carried rifles with ribbons. They lined up in two rows, waiting for the appearance of King George III, the queen, the princes, and the princesses.
Audrey had seen important figures before and had no interest in them. Instead, her gaze wandered to the two black-armored knights standing like statues beside the king.
In this era of steel, steam, and firearms, there were still people who insisted on wearing full armor!
The cold metallic sheen and the deep black helmets gave off an aura of heaviness, majesty, and unquestionable authority.
"Could they be higher-order 'Judgement Knights'..." Audrey recalled the occasional bits and pieces from her elders' conversations. She was curious but did not dare to approach.
With the arrival of the royal family, the ceremony finally began. The current Prime Minister, Lord August Nigen, stepped to the front.
He was a member of the Conservative Party, one of the only two non-aristocrats to have become Prime Minister so far. For his outstanding contributions, he was granted the title of lord.
Of course, Audrey knew more. August's brother, a major supporter of the Conservative Party, was named Palace Nigen, the current Duke of Nigen!
August was about fifty years old, tall and thin, with sparse hair and sharp eyes. He scanned the crowd and said:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I believe you have seen it. This is an ironclad ship, an ironclad ship that will overturn the times. It is 101 meters long, 21 meters wide, designed with high freeboard, with a main armor belt 457 millimeters thick, and a displacement of 10,060 tons. It has four 305-millimeter main guns at the front and rear, as well as 6 quick-firing guns, 12 six-pounder guns, 18 six-barreled machine guns, and 4 torpedo tubes. It can reach a speed of 16 knots!"
"It will be the true dominator. It will conquer the sea!"
The nobles, ministers, and Members of Parliament were in an uproar. Just the Prime Minister's description was enough for them to imagine the terrifying power of this ironclad ship, let alone seeing it in person!
August showed a slight smile, gave a few more remarks, and then bowed to King George III:
"Your Majesty, please name it."
"From Port Priz, let it be called Priz," George III said, looking quite pleased.
"Priz!"
"Priz!"
...
From the First Lord of the Admiralty and the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Navy, the name spread, eventually reaching the ironclad ship, where officers and soldiers cheered in unison:
"Priz!"
Amid the celebratory atmosphere, salutes were fired in succession. King George III gave the order for the maiden voyage and test firing.
Woo!
The whistle sounded, and thick smoke billowed from the chimneys. The faint sound of mechanical operations could be heard.
The gigantic object set sail. When it left the harbor and used the two main guns at the bow to bombard an uninhabited island ahead, everyone was stunned.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The ground seemed to shake, dust rose into the sky, and a hurricane swept outward, stirring up waves.
Prime Minister August turned satisfactorily and said to the nobles, ministers, and Members of Parliament:
"From now on, those seven pirates who call themselves generals, those four who usurp the title of king, will only tremble and await their doom!"
"Their era is over. Even if they have some extraordinary powers, ghost ships, or cursed ships, only ironclads will dominate the seas!"
At this point, August's chief secretary deliberately asked:
"Can't they build ironclads themselves?"
Some nobles and MPs nodded secretly, considering this a possibility.
August immediately smiled and shook his head slowly:
"Impossible, forever impossible! Building such an ironclad requires three large coal-steel complexes, twenty steel mills of a certain scale, sixty scientists from the Beckland Artillery Institute and the Priz Ship Research Institute, more senior engineers, two royal shipyards and their nearly a hundred subsidiary parts factories, a Navy Department, a Shipbuilding Committee, a Cabinet, a visionary and steadfast king, and a great nation producing 12 million tons of steel annually!"
"Pirates can never do it."
He paused for a moment, then raised his arms and shouted passionately:
"Ladies and gentlemen, the era of ironclads and great guns has arrived!"