It was ten o'clock at night in Dulas Port City, Flanders Duchy, in mid - November. The fishing season before winter was drawing to a close. The port docks brimmed with ships of all sizes and styles. Save for those unlucky fishing boats that had returned empty - handed due to some "accidents", most sailors had pocketed a handsome income.
The sailors, clutching the money bags freshly received from the captain, flocked in groups to the taverns near the port. Having been away from women for over a month, these sea - faring men were bursting with pent - up energy. Along the way, they whistled lasciviously at the girls on the roadside.
"Hey, guys! How about hitting the Deep Harbor Tavern tonight? It's the crème de la crème among the port's taverns. The drinks are top - notch, and the roasted meat is to die for. Once you've eaten and drunk your fill, you'll be glued to the table legs, not wanting to leave!"
"Really? Then you've gotta show me around. I'm itching to check it out."
Six sailors from the same ship were eager to let loose with their hard - earned money. Besides the brothels, the taverns with their never - ending supply of drinks were the obvious choice. Some seasoned sailors even planned to take the two newbies to their regular haunt to get them acquainted.
After a ten - minute stroll from the port, a single - story tavern on the street corner came into view. The lively din inside had seeped through the walls, making these sailors, who had been surrounded by fish at sea for over a month, salivate with anticipation.
"Brother, why isn't there a guard here? I've heard our port is a real den of chaos, full of gangs. Is this tavern safe? We're all carrying a 'fortune'! If we get robbed, it'll break our hearts."
The newbie was clearly spooked. On the ship, the old sailors had regaled him with tales of the port's lawlessness. The money bag in his arms was his first taste of earnings, and he didn't want it to vanish into thin air. But his worry seemed misplaced, as he caught the teasing glint in the old sailors' eyes.
"Ha, unsafe? Let me tell you, the safety of this tavern is on par with the local garrison. Most of the garrison policemen like to unwind here after work. And then there's that big guy inside...!"
Bang!
Just as he spoke, the wooden door of the tavern burst open, and two figures went flying out. To be exact, two brawny men were hurled out as if slapped by a colossal beast. They hit the ground like two deflated sacks, struggling to get up while bowing and apologizing profusely to the inside of the tavern, promising to be more careful in the future. They tossed some money on the ground and scurried off.
"Ha, we're in luck today! It's been ages since anyone dared to cause trouble in the Deep Harbor Tavern, and we just happened to witness it. Kid, do you think it's safe now... Hey, Kelot! Over here, bro. How's it going today?"
The newbie watched in awe as his senior warmly greeted the figure emerging from the tavern, while he himself was rendered speechless.
Standing nearly two meters tall, his chiseled muscles glistening under the neon lights, and exuding an overpowering presence that demanded attention, Kelot radiated a fierce aura that sent shivers down one's spine.
The newbie gaped, suddenly feeling that his once - proud muscles were as soft as white bread compared to this man.
"That's Kelot. He showed up out of the blue as a guard in the Deep Harbor Tavern two months ago. Since then, heh heh, all those who came to cause trouble or collect protection fees have been tossed out like that. That's how the Deep Harbor Tavern became famous. Everyone in our port knows there's a monster here, and it's as safe as houses."
The old sailor turned to share this local lore with the newbie beside him, then strutted proudly towards the approaching Kelot.
"Lame Jack? Haha, is your leg better? How was your catch this month?"
Picking up the drink money of the two troublemakers from the ground, Kelot squinted his eyes and took a few steps forward before recognizing his long - lost acquaintance.
As for how they met, it dated back to two months ago when Kelot first arrived. Jack was among the first wave of drunk troublemakers and one of the first to be thrown out by him.
"Tsk... It seems I haven't spent enough time in the water.
Jack, you go in first. The landlady has something for me to do!"
Feeling a sudden restlessness welling up inside him, Kelot murmured to himself. Then he looked up, patted Jack on the shoulder as he approached, and said with a smile.
Immediately, he sprinted towards the shore beside the tavern. Descending the steps usually used for fetching water and doing laundry, Kelot scanned his surroundings to ensure no one was following. Then he took a deep dive into the frigid sea water!
It had been two months since he landed in this world. Yes, Kelot's soul didn't belong here. His hometown was a world away. But dwelling on it now seemed pointless, so he put it out of his mind.
The place where Kelot woke up was the port's stone embankment. The first person he saw was the landlady of the Deep Harbor Tavern, and it was she who took him in. The name Kelot was what he gave himself after spotting it on a nearby wine box.
"Ahh... It's still so much more comfortable in the water. I've been training for two months, but why hasn't the time I need to soak in the water every day decreased?"
If someone could see in the water at night, they would witness a truly bizarre sight. At this moment, Kelot's body in the water was constantly expanding and contracting, and his skin had turned a cyan - purple hue, not the normal color of a human but that of some otherworldly creature.
It was only after spending two months poring over books bought from an old scholar at the port that Kelot learned that, strictly speaking, he wasn't a full - fledged human. He was a half - giant, specifically with the bloodline of a tidal giant that once roamed the ocean.
Don't be misled. This world was far from peaceful. Disputes raged everywhere. Humans weren't the sole masters of this continent. Although the technology in some parts of this world lagged behind Kelot's previous life, in other aspects, it was already highly advanced, even surpassing his former world.
On this continent, the advanced and the backward coexisted. Some people zoomed around in cars, while others plodded along in carriages.
Magic and science coexisted here. Some people engaged in battles with the thunderous roar of cannons using all sorts of machines, while others wielded different kinds of magic to unleash devastating attacks. The battles between people were no longer the only show in town. In places hidden from ordinary eyes, powerful and ferocious monsters held their own territories and lived their own lives.
Modern metropolises similar to those in Kelot's previous life had sprung up. There were wooden houses with pointed roofs and roads paved with small stones, as well as magnificent manors built by combining steel, stones, and magic, and wide roads paved with cement for cars to speed on.
Here, multiple energy sources coexisted. Coal, oil, wind, and electricity had all become viable energy options. However, the energy generated by magic and alchemy was also propelling the whole world forward. You could see electric lights and ovens, as well as safes protected by magic arrays.
Propellers, gears, pistons, and bearings were ubiquitous in machinery, and they tended to be massive, providing the driving force for human society's development.
The giants mentioned earlier were human - like creatures scattered across the continent. These towering beings, generally seven or eight meters tall, were no friends of humans.
There were incidents of giants attacking humans every year, even every month. These highly intelligent creatures always seemed to find the weak spots in human cities. After a rampage of destruction, they would leave behind a trail of debris and the remains of their meals.
Therefore, almost every country on the continent had issued a kill - on - sight order for giants. All giants, regardless of their temperaments, were fair game. This was also the reason why Kelot had rushed into the water just now. The tidal giant bloodline in his body required him to soak in water for a certain period every day to keep it in check.
If Kelot stayed on land all the time, the tidal giant bloodline in his body would rebel, and some tell - tale giant characteristics would surface, such as a gigantic body and a strange skin color.
This was precisely what Kelot was desperate to avoid. At heart, he still considered himself human and yearned to live in human society. If his half - giant identity was discovered here, not only would he be unable to live a normal life, but he might not even survive. After all, half - giants were prime research subjects for some people.
As for the training Kelot had mentioned, it was something he had gleaned from reading about half - giants in the books.
There were quite a few half - giants in this world, and there were also some accounts of them in the books. It was said that half - giants actually had half of their bloodline from humans. The most fundamental way to suppress the other half of the giant bloodline was to strengthen their human bloodline!
Strong enough to devour the other half of the bloodline! To fuse it with their human bloodline. By then, the giant characteristics would naturally fade away, and the human bloodline would reap great benefits from devouring the giant bloodline.
Because the giant bloodline didn't just bring the curse of being hunted. On the contrary, it also harbored extremely terrifying innate abilities!
Among the abilities that the tidal giant bloodline had bestowed upon Kelot, he now knew there were physical enhancement and water element affinity!
Although other abilities remained undiscovered, just these two had already served him well and provided him with the means to survive in this world.