The Secrets of Jörmungandr and the Impending War

Ming Yu was quick to react, seizing it in her palm. The serpentine phantom was utterly dismayed, thrashing violently as it tried to break free.

She suddenly remembered something.

She still had no idea how Jörmungaṇḍr had managed to win its resurrection match. The bizarre phenomenon before her now brought that very mystery to mind.

‘Could this creature still be alive?’

‘But why hadn’t I encountered this situation before?’

After pondering for a moment, Ming Yu still found no answers. She gave up on the thought, clenching her fingers with sudden force and crushing the phantom into oblivion.

“Hiss—”

Without warning, a desperate hiss echoed in her mind.

Ming Yu was slightly startled. The White-feathered Sea Eagle’s words had also manifested directly in her thoughts, just like this.

Before she could delve deeper, the dissipated phantom on her hand seemed to be drawn by some unseen force. It slowly seeped into her palm, then flowed into her body.

Concurrently, the persistent hunger in her mind gradually faded. The rumbling sounds from her stomach grew fainter, as if everything had merely been a figment of her imagination.

Moments later, the hunger completely receded. However, her head began to throb, and waves of dizziness washed over her.

Ming Yu stumbled, collapsing onto the dark snake scales. Her blood-stained hands clutched her head as she gasped, enduring the tearing sensation within her skull.

“Munch, munch… Mmm, so delicious… Ming Yu, aren’t you going to eat some… Hey? Are you alright?!”

The White-feathered Sea Eagle leaped from Ming Yu’s shoulder, burying its head directly into a spot not covered by black scales. It began to feast ravenously, even turning back kindly to ask Ming Yu a question.

As it turned, it saw Ming Yu frowning slightly, her expression grave. The White-feathered Sea Eagle froze, utterly bewildered by what was happening.

Just as it found itself helpless, a figure descended from the sky. She landed steadily beside it, startling the bird so much that it flapped its wings and took flight on the spot.

Molly gazed at the colossal snake’s remains beneath her feet, her eyes filled with a complex emotion.

The formidable sea beast, which had been so arrogant and easily toyed with her just moments ago, was now reduced to someone’s spoils of war.

Molly shifted her gaze, her eyes falling upon the silver-haired woman slumped on the ground, clutching her head. She approached cautiously, scrutinizing the stranger.

She hadn’t clearly seen the woman’s face before, but now, a closer look revealed a delicate countenance. Her exquisite features caused Molly to momentarily lose herself in awe.

She swallowed, the disappointment she felt regarding their power disparity instantly lessening. In its place rose admiration for the woman’s beauty and curiosity about her identity.

‘Was she a sea beast hunter from Pharos?’

Seeing that the other woman remained motionless, Molly took a deep breath. She patted her own face, then bravely stepped forward.

“Um, hello?”

“…”

She had been ignored.

Molly clicked her tongue, then took several deep breaths, striving to calm herself. She reined in all her unnecessary arrogance.

Before this individual, her title as “Ultimate Hunter” felt like a mere jest. The vast disparity in their power spoke volumes more than any words could.

This was not Dresa, nor was it Pharos. This was the perilous ocean, a hell on earth where violence reigned supreme.

Ming Yu still clutched her head, her eyes slightly vacant, offering no response. She felt as though her head was on the verge of exploding.

All sorts of information suddenly flooded into her mind. Jörmungaṇḍr’s entire life seemed to transform into a film, countless memory fragments flashing through her consciousness.

Among these were not just visual scenes but also deeply felt hunting techniques and special abilities. This included the secret of how Jörmungaṇḍr had won its resurrection match.

All the knowledge and skills it had mastered were now stripped of their original imprint and claimed by Ming Yu as her own. It was as if she had witnessed and experienced everything firsthand: the hunting, the devouring, and even death itself.

“Psionic power, an extraordinary force originating from the mind…”

“The Void Realm, a metaphysical sanctuary of souls…”

“Ascension, the ultimate pursuit of life…”

“…”

‘Strange knowledge indeed.’

****

Pharos Inner City, Hunter Association Headquarters.

The familiar conference hall.

The familiar councilors.

The familiar silence.

A heavy atmosphere permeated the entire conference hall. The silence was unprecedented, and a pallid gloom cast shadows upon every face.

Fujiwara Tachima scratched his head in irritation, his brow deeply furrowed.

Jiang Chen, looking helpless, crossed his arms and propped one leg over the other. These two, who usually clashed over opinions, now had no desire for bickering.

In the main seat, Seti’s expression remained calm. He held a large-screen tablet, repeatedly confirming the two red dots on the screen and their distance from Pharos.

The silence, however, did not last until the meeting’s end.

Seti lowered the tablet, interlocking his fingers beneath his chin. His gaze was complex and profound as his aged voice was the first to break the stillness.

“The Kraken and Leviathan have begun a new round of battle within the warning zone. The aftermath of their fight has already had some impact on the health of citizens in the outer city.”

“If they are allowed to penetrate deeper into the warning zone and reach the near-shore areas, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

“The lives and property of our citizens will be severely threatened. The entire city, this entire urban cluster, over two centuries of painstaking effort, will be utterly destroyed.”

“Regardless, we must intercept the Kraken and Leviathan within the warning zone. We cannot allow them to approach Pharos any further.”

“Now, in my capacity as the Association’s Chairman, I issue this directive:”

“Inform all active hunters to prepare for engagement.”

Seti’s gaze swept over the attendees, his eyes calm. He inquired in a subdued voice, “Does anyone have anything to add?”

As his words fell, no one dared to meet his gaze.

At this moment, Seti was not merely a respected elder or a powerful chairman. He was a commander poised to wage war.

Many would undoubtedly perish in this battle. Yet, to falter now would mean everything they protected, everything they cherished, would be annihilated under the sea beasts’ rampage.

Thus, they had no retreat.

The entire conference hall was utterly silent, so quiet that a pin drop would be audible.

After a moment of silence, Seti nodded slightly.

“Very well, the meeting is adjourned.”

****

By the time Ming Yu regained her senses, she was being helped to a seat in the cabin of a hunting yacht. She found herself facing a slender woman with blue hair and blue eyes.

The deluge of unprecedented knowledge had caused her immense shock. Her mind felt as though it had been turned upside down, with intermittent throbbing pains.

Dresa’s refugee fleet, riding the waves, had traversed Pharos’s warning zone at full speed. Although they heard several heart-stopping whale calls during the journey, these sounds did not impede their progress.

The journey was smooth and unimpeded.

As dawn broke, the magnificent city architecture became faintly visible. This sight invigorated everyone, leading to embraces and cheers that rose in continuous waves.

Pharos Port Eight.

Supported by Molly, the pale-faced Ming Yu followed the crowd out of the cabin. White Feather, perched on her shoulder, curiously surveyed the surroundings.

Stepping onto this fortress, which held everything she knew, her numerous near-death experiences made Ming Yu feel a profound sense of unreality. She was lost in a bittersweet reverie.

‘Finally, home.’