The sun shone intensely over West Port, reflecting golden hues on the churning ocean waters. The salty sea breeze mixed with the aroma of spices and fish. The harbor was visible from the hill where they stood.
Eris was visibly excited, her eyes gleaming with anticipation as she gazed at the vastness of the sea in the distance.
"Let's go quickly! I want to bathe in the sea! Hurry!" she exclaimed, holding the hem of her sword scabbard to keep it from bouncing as she ran toward the entrance of the port city.
Geese, who was beside her, raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms.
"Aren't these seas infested with monsters?" he asked cautiously.
Rygar chuckled—a dry, confident sound. His eyes momentarily glowed as he activated his magic eye.
"I can see them. That won't be a problem. If it is..." he smiled predatorily, "I'll just freeze the entire bay."
Geese shuddered at the casualness of the response. He was already accustomed to Rygar's absurd abilities, but the cold-blooded way he spoke of such extreme actions always sent a slight chill down his spine. Eidar, on the other hand, just laughed.
"You'll never think the way he does, Geese. Accept it."
As they walked toward the city, Geese began to slow down. Rygar noticed and frowned when he saw his companion's relaxed yet resolute expression.
"Boss!" Geese called, placing his hands on his hips. "I think this is where we part ways."
Rygar blinked in surprise. They were still at the entrance of West Port; they hadn't even entered the city yet.
"Geese? Why do you say that? Weren't you heading to the Central Continent to look for Paul and Zenith?"
Ghislaine also seemed confused by the sudden statement, and Eidar immediately protested.
"You can't leave, Geese! Who's going to cook without you? Rygar? Do you want us to die?!"
Right after saying that, he raised his arms as if to shield himself, and as expected, Rygar unleashed a low-intensity sonic blast that sent Eidar flying dozens of meters back. However, the man rolled to a stop, laughing.
Rygar snorted and turned his attention back to Geese, who merely chuckled at the scene before replying.
"About the food..." he glanced sideways at Lilia, who maintained a serene yet slightly proud expression. "Lilia must know how to cook quite well."
Lilia closed her eyes for a moment, silently accepting the compliment. Geese continued:
"And about searching for Paul and Zenith in the Central Continent... That was my initial plan, but you're already heading there. I'm sure you'll look for them along the way. So, I decided to head to Begaritt instead. I have some friends there, and I'll search for information about them."
Rygar crossed his arms and remained silent for a moment. Begaritt... He knew that continent was relentless, and any journey there would be fraught with danger. But Geese wasn't a fool. He knew how to handle himself.
After some thought, Rygar sighed and nodded.
"Alright, Geese. If you need anything, send a letter to the Legion or the Sword Sanctuary. If it's within my reach, I'll do something to help. Thanks for everything so far."
Geese smiled and extended his hand to Eidar, who had already recovered. The warrior shook it firmly and said seriously:
"Thanks for the tips."
Rygar raised an eyebrow.
"What tips?"
"Nothing!" Eidar replied quickly, looking away.
Before Rygar could press the matter, Skoll—the massive giant wolf that had disappeared for a few minutes—returned trotting and dropped a seventy-centimeter rabbit at Geese's feet. The wolf barked once, as if offering a farewell gift.
Geese looked at the animal and sighed, picking up the dead rabbit and throwing it over his shoulder.
"Well, if fate allows, we'll meet again!" he said, turning to leave.
Rygar watched as Geese walked away. When they first met, Rygar had felt something strange emanating from him. It was an odd sensation—he couldn't tell if it was good or bad. His instincts were confused, as if something hidden lurked behind that mischievous smile. But throughout the journey, Geese had proven to be nothing more than an eccentric man with his own peculiar code of conduct.
Geese always did as he pleased, roaming the world freely. Rygar had never been able to predict exactly what he was thinking, but one thing was certain: his many skills made him a man who made friends with ease. Rygar didn't like to admit it, but he was disappointed to see him leave. However, he understood his reasons and let him go without objection.
Aisha's voice brought him back to reality.
"Monkey uncle is leaving?" she asked, frowning.
Lilia sighed and replied, "Yes, dear, he is."
Aisha shook her head, slightly disappointed.
"What a shame… He cooked even better than Mom…"
Silence fell over the group. Rygar, Ghislaine, and Eris looked at Aisha with surprise and a hint of sympathy. Lilia, however, remained still, processing her daughter's words. Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"What did you say?" she asked, her voice calm but carrying a subtle threat.
Aisha froze and slowly turned her head to face her mother.
Eidar had to cover his mouth to keep from laughing.
---
The carriage moved along the dirt road, and as they neared the port city, the distant sound of waves crashing grew louder.
Ahead, one of the city gate guards leaned against a post, half-asleep, struggling to stay awake. His eyes suddenly snapped open when he spotted a massive black silhouette approaching. The morning light reflected off the dark fur of the wolf, and its colossal form exuded an intimidating presence. His heart pounded in his chest, and in a panic, he instinctively grabbed his bow and shouted:
"A RANK A MONSTER!" Without hesitation, he pulled the bowstring and fired an arrow at Skoll.
Time seemed to slow. Seated in the carriage, Rygar snapped his head toward the guard, his eyes glowing with fury. With a mere wave of his hand, a violent gust of wind deflected the arrow midair, sending it flying off course. The wind current did not dissipate; instead, it took shape before him, sculpting itself into a razor-sharp claw. Before the guard could react, the attack tore through his body, ripping him to shreds, his blood staining the dusty ground at the city entrance.
A scream of horror echoed among the other guards. Some drew their swords, while others hesitated, stepping back. Rygar gave them no time to regroup. In an instant, he was already in front of the guard captain, his speed leaving a trail of wind in his wake. He grabbed the man by the neck with a crushing grip, forcing him to his knees with brutal strength. The captain's eyes widened in terror, his body trembling as he felt the warrior's claws slightly pierce his throat.
"I have no problem slaughtering your men right here and now," Rygar growled, his deep voice dripping with menace. "So if you want to live, order them to stand down."
The captain swallowed hard, his heart hammering against his ribs. He knew that if he made the wrong decision, he would be dead before he even realized it. Taking a deep breath, he gathered what little authority he had left and shouted:
"STAND DOWN!"
The guards hesitated. One of them, a young and nervous recruit, opened his mouth to protest.
"But Captain, he killed Dek—"
"He attacked a group of travelers without warning," the captain interrupted, his voice firm but shaky. "He deserved his fate."
The air grew heavy with silence. The guards exchanged glances, but no one dared to speak further. Rygar released the captain, who collapsed to his knees, gasping and clutching his throat. Without another word, the warrior turned and returned to the carriage, his eyes still glowing with lingering fury.
The caravan moved forward without further interference. The guards, though displeased, stepped aside, watching in silence as the group passed through the city gates.
Inside the carriage, Lilia finally broke the silence.
"Don't you think that was a bit brutal back there?" Her voice was tense, but her expression remained neutral, as if she wasn't sure how to feel about the situation.
Rygar furrowed his brows, but before he could respond, Ghislaine interjected:
"In the Asura Kingdom, people kill for far less. He may have been fierce, but the man attacked Skoll without reason. He did the right thing." Her voice was firm, unwavering.
Lilia seemed surprised but said nothing more. Rygar also fell into momentary thought. He wasn't the type to kill indiscriminately, but at that moment, his reaction had been purely instinctive. Ghislaine supported his decision. Eris crossed her arms and huffed.
"That's right! They attacked Skoll! He got what he deserved!"
Eidar simply observed, expressionless. His loyalty to Rygar was unquestionable. No matter what happened, he would not abandon him.
"That guard tried to attack Skoll and was killed for it?" Aisha asked, her voice carrying a touch of confusion.
"Yes, Aisha," Rygar replied. "That's why caution will always be your ally. Always try to know who you're fighting against. Choose your enemies wisely. And remember—if you raise a weapon against someone, be prepared to be killed in return."
The little girl furrowed her brow, reflecting on his words. Lilia also pondered them, as if she finally understood the logic behind Rygar's brutality. She sighed and dropped the subject.
The caravan continued through the stone-paved streets of the port city. The chatter of the townspeople grew louder as they ventured deeper into the marketplace, and curious gazes fixed on the group. Many whispered about the absurdly large black wolf walking beside them. Others stared at Rygar and his fierce appearance—some with respect, others with caution.
They arrived at a modest inn, with a wooden sign creaking in the wind. Rygar stepped inside, and the owner, a middle-aged man with a tired face, looked up as he entered.
"When does the next ship to the Central Continent depart? Preferably one that can carry monsters as well," Rygar asked directly.
The man observed the peculiar group for a moment before replying:
"The seas are turbulent and full of storms. The next one should leave in about two to three days, but if you want to bring a monster along, there's only Captain Joulk, who will return in about ten days. Not many ships carry monsters. His service is also very expensive. But you won't find another ship willing to take monsters, as the port is controlled by a noble from Milis."
Rygar brought a hand to his chin, pondering.
"Then, I want rooms for six people and an ebony wolf during this time."
The owner blinked, shocked.
"A... wolf?" His eyes widened as he looked out the window and saw Skoll sitting outside, his presence imposing. The owner hesitated, but his posture changed the moment Rygar placed a small pouch of gold on the counter.
"I'll pay extra if his stay needs to be a little longer," Rygar added.
The innkeeper looked at the group and then at Skoll, clearly conflicted.
'A little longer?! A little longer, my ass!'
In the end, he sighed and relented.
"We can place him in the open field behind the inn… but we don't have a room or a stall big enough for him."
"That'll do," Rygar agreed, and so the group settled in, preparing for the days of waiting ahead.
After settling into the inn, we headed straight for the beach. Eris and Aisha were extremely excited; honestly, so was I, since I hadn't had the chance to go into the sea back in Zant Port. Lilia was curious, while Eidar and Ghislaine, who had seen the ocean before, didn't seem to care much.
The sea at West Port was different from the one at Zant Port—cleaner and bluer. With many rock formations around, it probably had less salt as well.
In truth, both seas were far more beautiful than the ones I had seen on Earth, perhaps because they hadn't yet been affected by large-scale pollution like in my previous world.
The salty smell of the sea breeze, the sound of small waves breaking on the sand, and the endless vastness of the horizon… all of it stirred something deep inside me. This was the perfect opportunity to test various techniques that I usually had to restrain due to potential environmental damage. Out on the open sea, I could explore them without much concern.
Skoll still drew a lot of attention as he walked through the narrow streets of the port city. His precise movements and ebony fur made people turn toward us with curiosity and fear. However, when we finally arrived at the beach, we noticed something peculiar—no one was in the water. It seemed that the locals had a well-known fear of sea monsters.
I activated my magic eye and analyzed the water. There were minimal fluctuations. With my enhanced hearing, I could pick up the faint movements of fish beneath the surface. To test it, I used water magic to create a gentle ripple. The schools of fish reacted instantly, scattering in all directions. For now, it seemed safe.
Turning around, I saw Eris already preparing to enter the water. She had removed her boots, weapons, and part of her armor, but since this world didn't have bikinis, she planned to swim in her undergarments and a thin tunic. Without hesitation, Eidar followed her, already pulling off his shirt as he prepared to jump in. I smiled at their enthusiasm. Deciding to join them, I took off my shirt and let the sea breeze touch my skin.
For the first time in a while,, I looked closely at my own body. I was only eleven years old, about to turn twelve, but my height was equivalent to that of a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old. My physique was well-defined, the result of years of rigorous training and my innate strength as a beastman. From my estimations, I would grow to be quite tall in adulthood. Observing my own appearance, I concluded that I might as well adopt my tribe's custom of going shirtless from now on. It was a natural practice for them, and I saw no reason to avoid it any longer.
With this new resolution, I dove into the sea.
The sensation was overwhelming. The cold water embraced my body, and the vastness around me made me feel freer than I had ever felt before.
I opened my eyes underwater. The seabed was filled with smooth stones and golden sand. Small fish swam in schools, weaving between the rocks. Sunlight pierced the surface, creating golden beams that danced in the deep blue. I could see bubbles slowly rising, reflecting the light in a mesmerizing way. Every detail was fascinating. The ocean was alive, pulsing, filled with mystery and beauty.
I swam deeper and deeper, testing my lung capacity. My body, conditioned by extreme training, moved effortlessly through the water. I had learned to swim during floods in the Great Forest and was quite good at it, but swimming in the ocean was a slightly different experience.
Finally, I stopped moving and let my body float in the vast blue. The absolute silence of the ocean surrounded me. Only my controlled breathing and the gentle movement of the currents broke the stillness. Then, as I gazed at the immensity around me, I felt something profound within.
The world is enormous.
I remembered Master Verdia's words: "There is so much to explore… so much to discover."
A shiver ran down my spine. Yes. This world was full of secrets. Full of wonders and dangers. And as long as I was strong enough, I could go wherever I wanted.
I could take whatever I desired.
The thought thrilled me. Excitement bubbled inside me like a rising flame, and on impulse, I decided to test something.
I used Howling Magic right there, at the bottom of the sea.
I released the magic at full power. The sound reverberated through the ocean, and the force of the sonic wave created visible ripples in the water around me. Fish scattered in all directions. The sand on the seafloor lifted in cloudy swirls. Small echoes of the roar vibrated through the depths.
I surfaced with a grin.
Taking a deep breath, I looked around. The horizon seemed even farther now, as if calling me to explore it.
What are we compared to the vastness of the entire world?
This world still had much to show me.
---
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