"Chirp!"
A dove-shaped familiar, its feathers shimmering with shifting light patterns, swept through the misty sea fog and darted toward the narrow waterway formed by the two towering sky-high bronze-gray gates.
"Hum—"
The instant the tiny creature slipped into the gap, the dense patterns covering the colossal structures—like mountains forged of metal—lit up as though alive. Vein-like lines brightened, blue-green liquid surging through them, and from within came a faint grinding, like machinery scraping bone.
"Boom!"
Two massive battering-ram-like blocks, each several meters wide, slammed out from within the bronze-gray cliffs on either side. A surge of divine force roared outward, warping the air itself. The White Dove familiar was crushed instantly, scattering into drifting motes of spiritual light.
So that was… the Rock Smash?
Aboard the Argo, suspended in the outer fog, the heroes collectively sucked in a sharp breath.
If they'd drifted in unprepared, caught off guard, it would have been disastrous.
"Don't be afraid—leave it to me!"
The little mermaid—who felt she hadn't gotten nearly enough chances to prove herself on this voyage—puffed out her modest chest with pride. Riding atop the Leviathan whale, she swam right up to the collision point and produced a conch shell from who knows where. She pressed it to her lips and blew a soft melody.
A few obscure, ancient notes shaped a strange tune. In response, the light patterns on the symmetrical bronze-gray slabs flickered with rhythmic pulses.
"Hum!"
The two collision stones that had just crushed the familiar slowly relaxed their alert stance. With the glow of spirit patterns dimming and a low tremor echoing through their cores, they withdrew back into place.
The transparent barrier covering the waterway entrance faded away as well.
"Alright! Go through now—hurry and stay close!"
Seeing the path completely open between the bronze-gray cliffs, the little mermaid patted the Leviathan, and the pair darted into the gap without hesitation.
"This place gives me the shivers. Move it, move it!"
Once he saw the girl safely pass a third of the narrow passage with no issues, Jason raised his sword and urged the crew on. A strange sense of dread pricked at him, and after shouting the order, he scratched both arms fiercely to shake off the unease.
Below deck, the Argonauts dug their oars into the water, propelling the massive ship like an arrow loosed from the bow, right on the guide's tail.
As the Argo entered the narrow channel, the towering bronze-gray walls rising to the heavens—and the intricate patterns pulsing upon them—cast a heavy sense of danger over the crew.
From the lookout, Samael observed everything carefully. His fingertip brushed one of the bronze-gray walls, lifting a thin layer to inspect it. His brows tightened.
It looks like stone… but the material is metal.
Bronze gates… voice-triggered mechanisms…
Why would something like this exist in the Sea of Oceanus? It felt utterly out of place.
"Come on! Hurry! The Rock Smash is closing!"
Just as the Ancient Serpent sank deeper into thought, the mermaid girl who had reached the end of the passage first waved frantically, snapping him out of his contemplation.
Strange… even the closure timing is shorter now. What's gone wrong?
At the exit, the mermaid looked up uneasily at the twin bronze monoliths. Confusion clouded her eyes, and a subtle anxiety stirred within her.
Thankfully, the heroes were rowing with everything they had, and the Argo surged forward.
As the stone walls vibrated with harsh groans and the transparent barrier began to reform, the great ship burst out of the narrow passage at the last possible moment.
The view before them opened wide. The suffocating pressure vanished instantly—only to be replaced by shock across every face.
Before them, the vast sea churned violently. Thousands of the undercurrents that had raged through the Storm Sea—large or small—were now twisted from countless angles and by varying forces into obedient arms of current, all spiraling toward the center of this great basin.
They converged into a single, titanic vortex, several thousand meters across.
Not again—NOT AGAIN—NOT AGAIN!
Jason's heart clenched. His eyelid twitched wildly as his mind screamed. He raised a hand, about to shout for the crew to start rowing as fast as possible—
"Don't worry, don't worry! All the chaotic currents that were raging in the Storm Sea have already been tamed here by Lord Poseidon's ocean authority.
Look—see how those wild currents are being drawn into the [Eye of the Tide Sea]? They form a delicate balance. It looks scary, but it's actually totally safe!"
Riding the Leviathan as it surfaced, the little mermaid assured them with absolute confidence.
The heroes steadied themselves and looked carefully. To their relief, everything was exactly as she said. Even without rowing, the Argo floated calmly, showing no sign of being pulled into the giant central vortex.
Thank the gods. Thank the gods.
After confirming again and again, the heroes all let out long exhalations of relief. With their nerves finally loosening, the Argo shifted from the raw power of its human engines to light Magecraft and wind propulsion. Following the guide, they sailed toward the long stretch of mist ahead.
While relaxing their bodies, the heroes stretched, gathered in small groups on the deck, and marveled at the unique spectacle of Oceanus as the ship glided steadily forward.
In the distance, the [Eye of the Tide Sea] spanned thousands of meters—an enormous hollow depression. Its heart was pitch black and impossibly deep, as though it connected straight down to the depths of the underworld.
"Wuu—wuu—wuu—wuu!"
Once the Argo drifted clear of the [Eye of the Tide Sea], a white band of light—like a hanging curtain—descended ahead, blocking their path.
The little mermaid navigator lifted her conch again. Using the same trick as before, she blew out those strange, ancient notes. As the light patterns shimmered, the curtain from the sky slowly drew back at one corner, revealing the outer ring of endless sea mist.
"Once you break through this fog, you'll save nearly half the journey and reach the waters near that… Colchis Kingdom ahead of schedule. The rest is already on your chart. Goodbye."
Having finally delivered on her promise after much stumbling, the small navigator looked relieved. She climbed onto the Leviathan whale and waved to the humans who had helped her—and whom she had helped in return.
"We're almost at a human city. Want me to take you for a look around?"
Feeling guilty, Prince Calydon leaned against the rail and offered the invitation, hoping to repay the navigator who had ended up helping them far more than expected.
The little mermaid's eyes sparkled, clearly tempted, but after thinking it over, she shook her head and refused with reluctance.
"No… The Great Offering is in a few days. I snuck out to get some fresh air. If they find out, I'll get scolded!"
She paused, glanced back over her shoulder, and her expression grew even more resolute.
"And besides, something feels wrong. The Storm Sea and the Rock of Collision aren't behaving normally. I need to bring this news back to everyone."
Seeing her determination, Prince Calydon had no choice but to abandon the idea of smuggling this sea princess ashore. One after another, the heroes waved to the reckless yet warmhearted girl.
"Hold on. Before you leave, let me say goodbye to this big fellow."
With a soft smile, Samael hopped down from the lookout and approached the rail.
The Leviathan whale surfaced with a low call, gently pressing its head into the palm of its creator in a gesture of affection.
Man and beast watched together as the Argo slipped deeper into the mist, vanishing completely into the swirling haze. The little navigator patted her mount, then lay laughing against its back as she whispered to it.
"Well, those humans are pretty fun. If I ever get the chance, I'd really like to visit one of their cities. Maybe someday… Anyway, let's head home. If my brother catches us, we're done for."
Riding the sea beast downward, the little mermaid disappeared beneath the waves—never noticing the faint, pale red shimmer that rippled through the water and dissipated without a trace.