Chapter 931

Turning

Chapter 931

"The previous enemy came from the sky, but this time, I believe the enemy will come from the sea."

No one could perfectly predict natural disasters with human power. The frequency and location of monster occurrences were no exception. There were areas where monsters rarely appeared, but this knowledge was merely the result of long-accumulated experience. No great magic or clever mind could foresee danger and prepare for it perfectly in advance.

Yuder, who had seen the future disasters, was no exception to this rule. Since arriving in the south, he had already witnessed many phenomena different from his memories. The current unusual tremors under the sea, while eerily similar to the early stages of the southern earthquake he had experienced in his previous life, were occurring years apart.

Despite considering all these variables and striving to prepare for everything, Kishiar's words were his will, but if it were Yuder, he couldn't have stated it so definitively. Convincing people of a seer's certainty based only on the present elements was an arduous task.

Yet, everyone present nodded without doubt at Kishiar's words.

Yuder believed this was the true power of Kishiar.

Expressing one's intentions honestly does not guarantee that the other party will fully understand them. Gaining and maintaining trust in a collaborative situation was challenging.

Despite this, Kishiar managed to accomplish it all in his own way, under the difficult circumstances where he couldn't properly come forward after the day of hail. Even the doubtful affirmations that sounded somewhat unrealistic at first felt very natural once they were placed on the foundation he had prepared in advance.

Seeing his smiling face, it felt as though all preparations had already been made, no matter how serious the situation. The heavy and difficult task of bearing the faith, expectations, and also the anxiety and fear of the many people present felt not just light but even joyful to him.

‘If I did not know that it was because of the experience of being forced to be suppressed without being able to do anything for a long time, I would have simply thought it was mysterious.’

But now he knew. He knew how thoroughly he had prepared to willingly face the current situation, and what he dreamed and hoped to achieve.

Knowing this, Yuder did not stop the perilous situation where the one leading everyone should be the first to step forward. He remembered clearly how he had recently suffered and recovered from a serious injury, yet he allowed it.

It was not out of optimistic belief that he would not be harmed or in danger. Kishiar probably harbored similar thoughts towards Yuder but remained silent, likely for the same reasons.

They both knew the importance of this day to each other, worrying and fretting, yet not obstructing each other's path.

Yuder saw Lady Myra El Herne leaving to protect and guard her people, and Meghna quickly moving ahead to report to General Gino. Kanna, Ever, and Steiber, as if by agreement, efficiently divided their team members according to their roles and sought permission.

Yuder's task here was simple. As the sole person with memories of the southern earthquake from his previous life, he knew exactly how it started and where the most dangerous place was.

He was planning to go there soon.

'The Charlama Sea, the initial starting point of the Southern Earthquake.'

The Charlama Sea was a name given by fishermen to the sea area in front of the southern coastal region centered around Charloin. It encompassed the areas most affected in his previous life, characterized by scarce sandbanks and exceptionally deep waters. It was famously known as a gathering place for rare marine life since ancient times.

‘The appearance of the coast is like a place that traps water, with many indentations, yet the bottom is very deep, and the land's terrain is low.’

Therefore, as he had told Kishiar before, it was a topography perfect for being swiftly submerged by a storm surge or massive waves. The reason such a disaster hadn't occurred before was simply because it was a region not prone to heavy rains or earthquakes - nothing more, nothing less.

Due to the long-standing peace, people had forgotten to be vigilant. In his previous life, the lack of preparedness for such eventualities led to many being unable to evacuate in time, suffering significant casualties.

Most of the populous towns in the south were located along the coast. The impact of the earthquake had swept away those places instantly, inevitably resulting in enormous damage.

At that time, three out of the four areas Yuder had identified, including Charloin, had completely collapsed and sunk due to the tsunami, and another, due to its particularly weak ground, had caved in, creating a massive hole that swallowed the entire town.

But that was not the end. Once the coastal areas were in chaos due to the earthquake from beneath the sea, aftershocks would continue to spread to the surrounding regions as if on cue. However, more agonizing for the people than the aftershocks was the onslaught of monsters swept in from the sea and the infectious diseases arising from the injured and deceased.

Monsters from the depths usually had little interaction with humans. But at that time, with the coastal areas submerged, sea-born monsters could approach the land and continue to cause harm.

It had taken a long time to completely eradicate those creatures, which added to the suffering of those already troubled by the earthquake's aftermath.

'Ultimately, everything starts with the great earthquake originating in the Charlama Sea, engulfing the entire south. If that's properly prevented, the subsequent chain of damages can be significantly reduced.'

"Yuder."

Yuder lifted his head at the sound of his name. Steiber stood before him, leading several Awakeners specialized in water manipulation. They were the ones Yuder had instructed Steiber to gather immediately in the event of such a day and bring to him.

"You're here."

"Hmm. So, it has come to this. It's quite unusual for us to move together like this. I hope this old man doesn't slow down you youngsters. Are you sure it's alright for me to accompany you?"

Steiber smiled lightly. His words were casual, but his eyes were serious.

In his previous life, Steiber, despite his exceptional skills and reputation, had been overshadowed by Yuder and never made it to the position of Deputy Commander. In this life, having stayed in the capital for various reasons, including his family, he had not had the opportunity to showcase his true abilities, leading to considerable self-doubt.

However, Yuder firmly believed that Steiber's abilities would be more useful than anyone else's today, even more so than Steiber himself.

"The Commander didn't choose his Deputy Commander based on age. Even if there's a mistake, I'm here, so what's there to worry about?"

Steiber chuckled awkwardly.

"Ah, that's true. After all, with the spirit of our Cavalry united like this, we might actually be safer than the others. Just tried to lighten the mood with a bit of nervous chatter."

"Please proceed as we discussed earlier. Nothing more, nothing less; just keep that in mind."

"Alright."

"Go ahead. I'll follow shortly."

"Understood."

As Steiber hurried off with the members skilled in water manipulation, Yuder approached Kishiar.

"Commander."

"Have you sent Steiber ahead?"

"Yes."

The man, knowing where Yuder was headed without needing to be told, smiled.

"Good. Then let's complete our final checks and depart."

To avoid repeating the mistakes made on the day of the hailstorm, where everyone moved too hastily leading to unforeseen errors, Kishiar stayed behind to the very end, meticulously checking the surroundings.

He ensured everything was in order - the personnel remaining at the branch to guard it, the situation in the prisons, the medical unit's status, the emergency dispatch routes, and information on nearby evacuation sites. Only after confirming everything did he finally step out of the branch's doors.

"Let's go."

Yuder followed Kishiar, who walked ahead confidently, wearing the sword that signified his new role as the swordmaster and chosen wielder of the divine sword. Walking behind him, bearing witness to this new chapter, felt profoundly different.

In the distance, under the overcast sky, a resonant sound repeated as if the air itself were ringing.

Like a call to someone, they headed towards the thundering sound without hesitation, swiftly moving forward.