I step into the tent, the thick scent of oil, metal, and sea salt lingering in the air. One by one, I greet the assembled hunters. Some nod stiffly, others offer wary glances. Then a man, probably around my uncle's age, strides toward me with calm authority.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Jay," he says, extending a firm hand. "I'll be leading this subjugation."
I grasp his hand, steady and sure. "I'll be in your care."
He gives a curt nod and gestures for me to follow. We pass through a reinforced flap into a brightly lit chamber lined with weapons of all kinds. Rifles gleam under the overhead lamps, swords hang in symmetrical rows, and the smell of gunpowder clings to the walls.
"This is the weapon room. Take whatever you need," Jay says. "The government is paying anyway."
I don't hesitate. My eyes fall on a sleek matte-black handgun. I pick it up, test its weight, then slide it into the holster at my side.
Jay raises an eyebrow. "Didn't expect a mage to grab a gun."
"Shooting spells isn't so different from firing a bullet. Practicing with guns helped me refine my mana control."
A slow grin spreads across his face. "You really are the Magic Scholar, huh?"
I scoff, already regretting his choice of words. "Let's not start with the titles. It's Zeyra."
He laughs, the sound weathered but warm. "Alright, Zeyra."
After a quick inspection of the room, I grab a set of lightweight leather armor—nothing fancy, but good for mobility.
"Well," Jay says as he hands me a comm earpiece, "once you're geared up, head to the dock. We launch after lunch."
"Understood." It doesn't take me long to get ready and I head outside.
spotting someone waving at me. I jog over, the scent of grilled meat wafts through the air.
"Here," Jay says, handing me a wrapped sandwich.
I take it gratefully, surprised by how hungry I am. "Thanks."
"You like sandwiches?" he asks with a chuckle.
I nod, chewing thoughtfully.
"You remind me of my granddaughter," he says, his voice softening. "She's in high school overseas. Her mom thought it'd be safer there."
"And you stayed behind?" I ask gently.
His gaze drifts out over the ocean. "I'm a hunter of Medea. I have responsibilities here... and personal reasons, too."
I don't press. Everyone in this world has shadows they don't want disturbed.
He shakes off the mood with a clap. "Well! Enough of that. Let's get going!"
He leads me to the boat. The team's already assembled. Jay steps up and calls out, his voice cutting through the sea breeze.
"Alright, listen up! Our mission is simple in theory, difficult in execution, subjugates the giant shell and recover the object inside. The whole operation will be broadcasted via Recrelay. Land teams will provide real-time updates on aerial threats."
He gestures to me.
"We also have a new addition. You all know her as the Magic Saint herself. Her abilities will be very helpful to our success."
I manage a modest smile, trying to ignore the mutters of awe and curiosity from the others.
Jay takes the wheel, and we roar across the water. Salt sprays my face as wind whips through my hair. My earpiece pulses blue, signaling an incoming transmission.
You ar-e 34-0 kilom—eters away.
I glance up. A glowing Recrelay orb floats above us, broadcasting the mission to the country.
You are 23–5 ki—lometers away.
The waves grow turbulent, the ocean swelling beneath us like something alive. I brace against the railing.
— [The subjugation team is rapidly approaching the shell! Tensions are high, Rick—do you think they'll make it?]
[If I were a betting man, I'd say yes. Not only is this one of Medea's elite squads, they've got Zeyra—the Magic Saint herself. Rumors say she once neutralized a B-class rift solo.]
—
The coastline vanishes behind us. The sky grows wide and empty. The drone hums above like an artificial star.
Y-ou are 6-5 kilomete—rs away.
The boat slows.
And there it is looming unaffected by the turbulent waters.
The giant shell.
Hundreds of meters wide, its iridescent surface gleams under the sun like mother-of-pearl, pulsing faintly with mana. It sits partially submerged, ancient and inert… for now.
Jay's tone turns grim. "We hold position here. No one approaches until we know what we're dealing with."
He opens his mouth to continue but a shriek tears through the sky.
A skydrake dives, razor feathers slicing the air. One grazes the deck inches from Jay's head.
My instincts take over.
[Lumenflare]
A searing beam of light rips through the sky, striking the beast. It convulses mid-flight and crashes into the sea.
More follow an entire flock descending in a frenzy of claws and wings.
"Get ready!" Jay shouts.
Chaos erupts. I summon [Radiant Shield] to deflect incoming projectiles, then charge mana for a wide-area blast.
But then, just as suddenly as they attacked the drakes scatter, fleeing inland.
"Land team, respond!" I yell. "Twenty-three drakes inbound! Repeat: twenty-three!"
C-copy th—t
Jay frowns. "What scared them off?"
A massive shadow falls over us.
I turn and barely manage to scream.
"JUMP!"
A monstrous tongue lashes out, snapping the boat in half like paper. I'm thrown into the sea, dragged under by the current.
The cold is a knife. I fight to the surface, gasping, ears ringing with the thunder of impact.
"CAPTAIN!"
I see Jay bloody and unconscious being pulled onto the fractured remains of the boat.
I swim toward them, ignoring the sting of salt in my eye and mouth.
"Get him up there!" I shout. "Careful his head's bleeding. Debris must've struck him when we were hit."
"Where's the healer?!"
Silence.
My heart drops. I curse under my breath. Bodies float in the water. The team is in disarray. The shell looms closer too close.
A teammate clutches my arm. "Can you heal him?"
"I'm not a healer," I mutter. Then louder, "But I can buy him time."
"Five minutes. We'll hold it off for five minutes."
I nod. "I promise."
I kneel beside Jay, pressing my hand to his chest. His heartbeat is faint but there.
I stop his bleeding before casting a spell
[Chronolock]
Golden sigils swirl beneath him. Time halts for his body locked in a moment just before death. His wounds won't worsen for ten minutes.
If I don't overuse mana for the next ten minutes.
But I already feel my body weaken at the large mana consumption.
[Congratulations! New monster was discovered! Shell of Eternis – S-Rank entity.]
I glance at the notification and immediately regret it. The others have seen it, too.
A roar echoes across the water.
I breathe, Calming myself.
I stand and whisper one last spell:
[Aegis Ward]
A tongue crashes toward me and is repelled by a shimmering barrier.
"RESCUE THE INJURED!" I shout to anyone still standing. "Fall back to the raft! And regroup to attack afterwards!"
The water trembles beneath the shell as its true form begins to rise.
I don't care what it is.
All I know is—I'm going to have to fight it.