A Journey That Changed The World.-Chapter 1401: It’s... Protecting Us

While the four children were lost in the Domain, Archer was in Emberport City as the Mana Storm slammed into Thrylos. Waves slammed against the road that traced the shore west, forcing the merchants into the rest stop.

''Damn weather,'' he muttered. ''It's only getting worse.''

He tried to teleport to the Domain, but nothing happened as a portal didn't open, just as Aisha's voice echoed in his mind. 'My love. High Command has lost contact with the 1st Fleet. They were returning to southern Draconia, and she's not responding to my messages.'

'Alright, I'll contact Olivia since I gave you girls the tattoos and can use more mana,' he replied.

Following that, he sent the white-haired beauty a message that she instantly answered. 'Arch! We've taken shelter on an island to the far south thanks to the storm blowing us off course.'

When Archer heard this, he teleported to the 1st Fleet and appeared on the flagship's bridge, shocking the surrounding sailors. Olivia smiled as she questioned. ''How did you do that, handsome? Mana isn't working?''

''Think of you girls as end points of a journey, and I always have one active on you,'' he revealed, casting another spell on the older woman.

She giggled when feeling a tingling sensation across her belly, which put a smile on her face. ''Is that the thing you just mentioned?''

He nodded while answering. ''That's right. Now, where is this island? I'll go check it out before the sailor disembarks to get away from the storm.''

Olivia guided him to the bridge's balcony, where a mist-shrouded island that looked massive loomed in the distance, its sandy beach piercing the fog. Summoning his wings with a shimmer of light, her eyes narrowed as he studied the enigmatic landmass.

''I'll scout it,'' he said, voice low and resolute. ''I would have sent the fleet to the Domain, but the way's sealed.''

The older woman offered a faint, knowing smile and pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. With a powerful beat of his wings, Olivia launched into the air, gliding effortlessly on the wind's currents, his silhouette cutting through the mist as he soared toward the mysterious island.

He noticed the outline sharpening against the horizon. The chill bit at his face, but as he neared the shore, a strange warmth rose to meet him. He glided smoothly until his boots touched the beach, the hot sand searing through the soles despite the icy winds.

Archer paused, eyes scanning the desolate stretch of coastline. The mist clung low, curling around jagged rocks and sparse, wind-bent trees, the distant crash of waves mingled with an eerie silence.

His senses sharp, wary of the island's unnatural warmth and the secrets it might conceal beneath its shrouded veil. A strange feeling washed over him, prompting him to try to send a wave of mana, but it cut out.

''Huh? Strangm,'' he muttered in confusion.

Suddenly, a pack of wolves burst from the mist, their snarls echoing across the beach. His eyes narrowed, and with a thought, he unleashed a volley of Mana Blasts. The radiant spells tore through the air, striking the beasts with precision.

One by one, the wolves collapsed onto the hot sand, their bodies thudding heavily as the mist swirled around their fallen forms. He continued and stepped I not the mist, only for it to swirl around him.

A faint pulse stirred Archer's dampened mana, snapping his senses to attention. Intrigued, he ventured deeper into the island, his boots crunching against the hot sand until it changed to grass as he explored.

The mist parted to reveal a dense forest of gnarled trees and a modest hill rising at the center. He noticed the island was eerily empty of life, untouched by life beyond the earlier wolves, except for small beasts they fed off.

His gaze swept the secluded landscape, and he muttered under his breath, ''This would make a perfect hidden stronghold, far from the trade routes, unseen and untamed.''

Following this, he sent Olivia a message telling her to use the island to shelter from as there was a bay big enough to house the 1st Fleet. This pleased the older woman as the Flagships horn blared out.

While waiting for them, Archer sensed more monsters lurking in the mountains that circled the grasslands. He quickly used Mana Manipulation to track them down, only to find loads of predators hunting the other beasts.

'It's an island paradise,' he thought, sending Olivia another message. 'Keep the sailors on board. There are strong monsters in this place.'

The older woman nodded in approval as he observed the colossal ships gliding into the bay, their hulls cutting through the mist with precision. They aligned flawlessly, each vessel slotting into place to accommodate the entire fleet within the sheltered waters.

Satisfied, he spread his wings and flew toward the flagship, landing on the bridge's balcony, his gaze lingering on the armada now anchored in their newfound haven. Olivia appeared with a smile.

''Thanks for the help, handsome,'' she warmly said before going to help her commanders.

Just then, the storm increased, causing massive waves to appear in the distance. They were headed straight for the island. He waved his hand and cast Cosmic Shield over the fleet, costing him more mana than usual.

***

As Archer battled the weather, Asta woke up, gasping, in the heart of a vast swamp, its murky surface glistening under the storm's glow, but that's when he spotted the eyes breaching the surface staring at him.

He gulped at the sight before he noticed twisted trees loomed, their gnarled roots clawing into the muck, a thick fog coiled around them, heavy with the stench of decay. Lev coughed, wiping slime from her face.

Rev struggled to his feet, scanning the eerie stillness. ''Where… are we?'' he rasped.

''Don't leave the plateau we're on,'' he revealed, glancing at the surrounding waters. ''Monsters are lingering under the surface, they're waiting for us to get close.''

The other three looked at this with wide eyes as Lev commented in a small voice. ''What are they?''

Moments later, the monster rose from the water before signaling to a nearby path with its large head. Asta was shocked as Rev spoke warily. ''Did it just communicate to us?''

Everyone nodded as he proposed. ''There's a path through the swamp, could it be guiding us to safety?''

Following that, the children decided to take it as it was the only way to get away from the swamp. They clutched each other's hands, their boots sinking into the damp, mossy path that snaked through the swamp.

Fireflies flickered like tiny lanterns, casting faint glows on the murky water. The air was thick with the croaks of unseen frogs and the rustle of reeds. Behind them, the giant monster lumbered after getting out of the water, its massive frame shaking the ground with each step.

Its scales glinted under the moonlight, and its low, rumbling growl echoed through the mist. As they ventured deeper, a pair of slinking, eel-like creatures with glowing red eyes emerged from the water, their jagged teeth bared. freeweɓnovel.cøm

The children froze, gripping each other. Before they could react, the monster let out a loud growl, a bone-rattling sound that sent ripples across the swamp. The eels hissed, then retreated into the dark water, their eyes vanishing beneath the surface.

''Keep moving,'' whispered Asta, his voice steady despite the fear.

The group pressed on, the path narrowing as gnarled roots twisted across it. A sudden screech pierced the air, and a winged beast with leathery skin swooped down, talons aimed at Lev, the smallest.

Moments later, the monster swung its enormous tail, swatting the creature into the reeds with a wet thud. It snarled, its amber eyes scanning the shadows, daring anything else to approach.

The children glanced back, awestruck. ''It's... protecting us,'' Rev whispered, clutching his sister's sleeve.

Their protector huffed, its breath warm and earthy, and nudged them forward with its snout. As they hurried along the path, the swamp seemed to shrink back, its dangers cowed by the beast's presence.

Asta pressed forward, guiding the group through the swamp until they emerged into a ravaged woodland, where splintered trees lay scattered and massive fish rotted on the ground.

His sister went wide-eyed as she whispered. ''The wave caused all this?''

Following that, the beast let out a low growl before returning to the water and smoothly slipping inside, leaving them with a growl. The children watched this as Lev shouted. ''Thank you!''

A splash of its tail was the reply they got. Moments after that, Asta led them through the woods, speaking quietly. ''Let's go find the wall, we couldn't have been taken too far.''

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the Mana Storm's fury waned but persisted. Rain fell in faint trickles, yet the wind howled relentlessly, tearing through the ravaged woodland. The children found a tree hollow to shelter from the weather.

Moments later, Asta sensed something and poked his head out, only to see the same creature from the cave, but they were surrounded. His face paled in horror until a whistling echoed out.