Chapter 143. Twilight Seekers and the Couples
The boy with a short sword strapped to his waist stepped forward confidently, a spark of determination in his eyes. "We are adventurers," he declared, his voice steady.
"Be polite," the girl beside him gently chided. She had a soft, calming presence, and unlike her companion, she carried no visible weapons. Despite this, there was an air of quiet strength about her.
The boy was Ling Tian, and the girl was Yumina. Together, they were known as the "Twilight Seekers," a duo that had quickly earned a reputation for their remarkable skills and teamwork.
They had arrived at Pearl Village, a small but lively community that stood as the last bastion of defense against the encroaching sea. The village head had requested the adventurers’ aid to fend off the incoming monster tide, a perilous event that occurred when the sea level rose and the waters surged onto the island. The island itself was modest, with only one large village, but its people were hardy and determined to protect their home.
The monsters that accompanied the tide were unlike any seen on land, twisted amalgamations of sea creatures with the ability to walk on land. Crabs with shells as hard as iron and claws that could snap a tree in half, lobsters that stood on two legs, their pincers the size of a man’s torso, and other grotesque beings that combined the worst traits of both land and sea. Each creature stood at half the size of an average human but was easily twice as deadly. They moved with an unsettling grace, their beady eyes shining with malevolent intelligence.
"Hey, is that them?" one of the adventurers whispered, eyeing Ling Tian and Yumina with a mix of awe and curiosity. A group of other adventurers, who had taken on the same task, stood nearby, preparing for the coming battle.
"They’re incredibly strong, especially that girl. Her skills are too annoying to deal with," another adventurer muttered, recalling a past encounter where Yumina’s abilities had turned the tide of battle in an instant.
"What are they called again?"
"Twilight Seekers."
As the adventurers exchanged nervous glances, the noisy ocean suddenly fell silent. The abrupt stillness was more terrifying than the roars of the waves. All eyes turned to the shore, where they saw the sea begin to recede at an unnatural speed, revealing the ocean floor in its wake. Far on the horizon, a massive wave began to form, towering above the water, growing larger by the second. But it wasn’t just one wave—behind it, another, and another, each one building in intensity, creating a wall of water that surged toward the island with frightening speed.
"Everyone... kill them!" one of the adventurers shouted, the fear in his voice betraying the urgency of the situation. The adventurers, now united in their resolve, drew their weapons and braced themselves for the onslaught.