Kragthar of the Tha Clan had always believed the deep sea was eternal.
In the endless darkness beneath the waves, his clan had lived for generations. Their territory stretched across towering coral ridges and winding underwater caverns, where faintly glowing algae clung to the stone and pale sea crystals drifted slowly with the currents.
Life there was quiet.
Cold.
Ancient.
The Tha Clan was not powerful. Among the countless merfolk tribes scattered across the deep ocean, they were considered small to medium in size, numbering just under a thousand members.
Yet they had endured.
And in the deep sea, survival itself was proof of strength.
Kragthar was the son of the clan's priest.
Among the merfolk, the priest was a revered figure—someone capable of listening to the currents of the ocean and drawing upon the mysterious magic of water.
Compared to the terrifying sorcery wielded by surface wizards, such power was modest. But within the ocean tribes, it was sacred.
The priest could mend wounds, calm violent tides, and cast simple spells that strengthened the warriors of the clan before battle.
Because of his father's position, Kragthar had been trained well from a young age.
Years of hunting and patrol had shaped him into a capable warrior. Now he commanded a small group responsible for guarding the outer waters of the clan's territory.
That day had begun like any other.
The sea was calm. The currents slow.
Kragthar and several warriors were patrolling the far edge of their territory when the sound reached them.
At first it was faint.
A distant rumble carried through the water.
Then came something worse.
Screams.
And the unmistakable vibration of battle spreading through the ocean currents.
Kragthar's expression changed instantly.
Without hesitation, he signaled his warriors.
They turned and rushed back toward the clan stronghold.
The closer they swam, the clearer the chaos became.
By the time they arrived, the sight before them froze the blood in Kragthar's veins.
The Tha Clan fortress—built among towering coral pillars—was already engulfed in war.
Two rival merfolk clans had launched a full-scale assault.
The waters were thick with drifting blood.
Broken weapons and shattered coral floated everywhere as warriors clashed in brutal combat. Spears flashed. Claws tore through flesh. The currents themselves seemed to tremble with violence.
Kragthar saw the situation clearly the moment he arrived.
The attackers had come prepared.
And they were stronger.
Rage surged through him.
The Tha Clan fortress—his home—was drowning in blood. Warriors he had grown up with were fighting desperately among the coral pillars. Some were already falling beneath the enemy's claws and spears.
For a brief moment, Kragthar's grip tightened around his weapon.
Every instinct in his body screamed at him to charge forward and join the battle.
But even as anger burned in his chest, another truth forced its way into his mind.
The Tha Clan had already lost.
Too many enemies.
Too many fallen warriors.
Even if he joined the fight now, it would change nothing except adding another corpse to the battlefield.
Kragthar clenched his teeth, forcing down the fury rising in his chest.
Then he remembered something most warriors did not know.
Beneath the coral fortress lay a hidden passage—an ancient escape route known only to the priest and a few trusted members of the clan.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Kragthar slipped through the battlefield and entered the clan stronghold.
Inside, the scene was no less grim.
Several wounded warriors lay scattered across the stone floor.
At the center of the chamber stood his father.
The old priest was injured, one arm stained with dark blood, yet his posture remained steady.
When he saw Kragthar, his expression hardened.
"You must leave," the priest said immediately.
Kragthar opened his mouth to protest, but the priest raised a hand and stopped him.
"There is no time."
The old merfolk pushed a small bundle into Kragthar's arms.
Inside were several precious relics—artifacts passed down through generations of the Tha Clan.
"These must not fall into enemy hands," the priest said quietly.
"Take whoever you can… and escape."
Kragthar's jaw tightened.
He understood the meaning behind those words.
Their clan was finished.
Without another word, he turned and left.
Within minutes, Kragthar gathered as many survivors as he could and led them through the hidden passage.
Nearly one hundred merfolk escaped with him that day.
But the journey that followed was brutal.
The rival clans pursued them relentlessly through the ocean depths.
The wounded slowed them down.
Some were left behind.
Others fell during desperate skirmishes along the way.
Days passed.
By the time they finally reached the outer seas, only forty merfolk remained.
Most were injured.
Exhausted.
Hungry.
Their once-proud clan had been reduced to little more than a fleeing remnant.
Then, while crossing the waters known as the Stormy Seas, Kragthar noticed something above the waves.
A shadow.
He swam closer to the surface and looked upward.
A massive vessel was sailing across the ocean.
Kragthar's eyes narrowed slightly.
When they fled, they had brought valuable treasures and relics with them.
But relics alone could not rebuild a clan.
They needed supplies.
Weapons.
Resources.
A lone ship traveling through dangerous waters was an opportunity the deep sea rarely offered.
Kragthar watched the vessel silently for a long moment.
Then he made his decision.
They would follow it.
For three days, the surviving merfolk swam quietly beneath the waves, tracking the ship from the shadows.
Patient.
Silent.
Waiting.
Finally, when the vessel entered a remote region of the ocean where few ships ever passed, Kragthar raised his hand.
His warriors gathered around him in the dark water.
Then he gave the order.
Attack.
On the deck of the wizard transport ship, chaos erupted.
Ivan stood near the railing, staring at the creatures attacking the barrier.
Up close, the merfolk were far more terrifying than they had first appeared from a distance.
Their scaled bodies slammed violently against the transparent shield surrounding the ship. Long claws scraped across the barrier with harsh screeching sounds, leaving ripples of light spreading across its surface.
Dozens of blue figures swam just beyond the shimmering shield, their fish-like faces twisted with savage intent.
Behind Ivan, many wizard seeds had already begun to panic.
For most of them, this was the first time they had ever seen a merfolk.
Fear spread quickly through the crowd.
Some instinctively stepped backward.
Others turned and began running toward the cabins.
The calm atmosphere from earlier had completely vanished.
Several wizard apprentices rushed onto the deck at that moment.
Their robes fluttered as they pushed through the frightened wizard seeds.
"Return to your cabins immediately!"
"Lock your doors and do not come out until ordered!"
Their voices were sharp and commanding, leaving no room for disobedience.
But the situation had already descended into chaos.
Wizard seeds pushed and shouted as they tried to escape.
Meanwhile, Ivan did not move.
His eyes remained fixed on the merfolk outside the barrier.
Something about their movements felt… deliberate.
They weren't attacking blindly.
They were testing the barrier.
Several merfolk repeatedly slammed their bodies and weapons against the shield, yet the barrier only rippled faintly under the impact.
It clearly wasn't something that could be broken by brute force.
Then Ivan noticed something.
At the front of the attacking group, one of the larger merfolk suddenly swam backward.
Its clawed hand reached to its waist and pulled out a small object.
A circular blue orb.
The orb glowed faintly, strange runic patterns moving slowly across its surface like flowing water.
Ivan's eyes narrowed.
A faint sense of danger stirred in his mind.
The merfolk rushed forward again.
It slammed its claws against the barrier several more times, as if confirming something.
Then, without hesitation—
It smashed the orb directly against the shield.
For a brief moment—
Nothing happened.
The orb stuck to the barrier like a drop of glowing water.
Then cracks began to spread across its surface.
Ivan's pupils shrank slightly.
"Not good…" he muttered.
The orb shattered.
A surge of violent energy burst outward.
The protective barrier surrounding the ship flickered violently as waves of blue light spread across it.
Then—
CRACK.
The shield shattered like fragile glass.
With the barrier gone, nearly forty merfolk leapt onto the deck.
The moment their webbed feet touched the wooden floor, the wizard apprentices reacted.
Spells erupted into the air.
"Fireball!"
"Wind Blade!"
"Acid Arrow!"
Blazing fireballs roared across the deck. Blades of compressed wind sliced through the air. Streams of sizzling acid shot toward the invading merfolk.
But the number of wizard apprentices present was far too small.
To keep the massive transport ship operating, apprentices were stationed at several key points throughout the vessel. Engines, navigation formations, defensive arrays—each required supervision.
Because of this, only a handful had reached the deck so far.
Several apprentice-level merfolk quickly intercepted them, engaging the wizard apprentices in direct combat and preventing them from protecting the wizard seeds.
Meanwhile, the remaining ordinary merfolk rushed toward the terrified wizard seeds.
Screams filled the air.
Some wizard seeds froze in place, unable to move.
Others ran desperately toward the corridors.
Not far away, Victor and the two burly youths had also been thrown to the ground when the ship abruptly halted earlier.
When they struggled to their feet and saw the merfolk swarm onto the deck, Victor's face instantly lost all color.
His earlier arrogance vanished completely.
"Run!" he shouted.
Without hesitation, he turned and fled toward the corridor.
The two large youths reacted differently.
Although surprised, they were still high-level knight apprentices.
Their physiques were massive, their muscles coiled with explosive strength.
When a charging merfolk tried to intercept them, one of the burly youths simply stepped forward and threw a heavy punch.
The impact sounded like a hammer striking metal.
The merfolk's body was blasted backward and crashed violently against the railing before collapsing into the sea.
The difference in physical strength was obvious.
But even they had no intention of staying to fight.
After clearing a path, the two youths quickly retreated toward the corridor as well.
Ivan barely spared them a glance.
At that moment, another merfolk had already locked onto him.
The creature lunged forward, claws raised, its jagged teeth bared.
Ivan's muscles tensed.
He was about to strike—
But suddenly—
Olivia moved.
The timid girl stepped forward without thinking.
She jumped directly in front of Ivan, spreading her arms wide as if trying to shield him.
Her small body trembled slightly.
Her eyes were tightly shut.
Yet she did not step back.
For a brief moment, even the charging merfolk seemed startled.
Ivan blinked in surprise.
Of all the things he had expected—
This was not one of them.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Foolish girl."
His hand moved instantly.
He grabbed Olivia by the shoulder and pulled her aside in one smooth motion.
The merfolk's claws slashed through empty air.
Before the creature could recover—
Ivan's leg shot out like lightning.
Bang!
The kick struck the merfolk squarely in the chest.
With Ivan's low-level knight strength, the force was overwhelming.
The creature was sent flying nearly five meters before crashing onto the deck and sliding across the floor.
It did not move again.
Ivan didn't even look at it.
The situation around them was deteriorating rapidly.
Without wasting another second, Ivan scooped Olivia up in his arms.
"Hold on."
Before she could even react, Ivan burst into motion.
With the speed of a knight, he sprinted toward the corridor leading to the cabins.
Behind them, the deck had already turned into a battlefield.
At the center of the deck, the two merfolk warriors had not yet moved.
They could feel it.
A presence.
Cold.
Heavy.
Like the deep ocean suddenly pressing down from above.
Something had locked onto them.
Then—
A figure appeared.
There was no flash of light. No dramatic movement.
One moment the space behind the wizard apprentices was empty.
The next moment, someone was standing there.
Wizard Lucien.
His dark robe fluttered slightly in the sea wind as he looked toward the invading merfolk with calm, indifferent eyes.
The moment he appeared, a sharp mechanical voice echoed inside Ivan's mind.
Nova.
"Warning. High-intensity energy radiation detected."
"Radiation level significantly exceeds known apprentice-level data."
"Energy signature currently unmatched in database."
There was a brief pause.
Then Nova spoke again.
"Preliminary analysis: energy level likely corresponds to a higher lifeform beyond apprentice classification."
"Estimated category: formal wizard-level energy source."
"Recommendation: increase distance immediately to ensure master's safety."
Ivan's pupils shrank slightly.
Even without Nova's warning, he could already feel it.
The air around Wizard Lucien seemed heavier somehow, as if invisible waves of pressure were slowly spreading outward.
Standing nearby felt… dangerous.
This was the first time Ivan had witnessed a true wizard so closely.
The difference between a wizard apprentice and a formal wizard was like the gap between a candle and a blazing sun.
Ivan had no intention of staying here to watch the battle unfold.
Without hesitation, he pulled Olivia along and hurried toward the corridor.
The two of them quickly reached their cabin.
The moment the door shut behind them, faint runic patterns lit up across the walls.
Lines of soft blue light spread through the room, forming a quiet protective barrier.
Clearly, every cabin aboard the ship had been reinforced with magical formations.
Only then did Ivan finally relax slightly.
Outside, the sounds of battle were still echoing across the deck.
All eighteen wizard apprentices aboard the ship had now gathered on the deck.
And at their center stood Wizard Lucien.
Although the merfolk seemed numerous, the balance of power was actually the opposite.
In the wizarding world, the strength of a wizard was absolute.
Even though both were first-tier lifeforms, a formal wizard could easily defeat several merfolk warriors of the same level.
That was why this world was called the Wizard Plane.
Planes were usually named after the strongest race inhabiting them.
Like.....
The Elf Plane.
The Abyssal Plane.
The Orc Plane.
And here—the Wizard Plane.
Wizard Lucien calmly observed the battlefield for a brief moment.
Then his gaze shifted.
He looked directly at the two merfolk leaders standing among their warriors.
Without another word—
Wizard Lucien's figure rose slowly into the air.
His robes fluttered as invisible magical force lifted him upward, carrying him high above the ship.
Seeing this, the two merfolk leaders immediately understood his intention.
If a battle between first-tier beings erupted on the deck, the destructive aftermath would slaughter everyone nearby.
With heavy expressions, the two merfolk warriors shot into the sky as well.
First-tier lifeforms naturally possessed the ability of flight.
Only a few rare species—such as Ground Dragons, Flickering Sloths, or Ghost Horses—were exceptions that required higher evolution before achieving flight.
The three figures quickly moved away from the ship, stopping several hundred meters ahead across the open sea.
Only then did the true battle begin.
Below them, the wizard apprentices continued fighting the remaining merfolk.
Above the sea—
power gathered.
The two merfolk leaders attacked first.
They clearly understood one thing.
Against a wizard, allowing distance meant death.
With explosive speed, the two warriors charged toward Wizard Lucien from opposite directions, tridents and clawed weapons gleaming with killing intent.
They intended to drag the wizard into close-quarters combat.
Wizard Lucien simply watched them approach.
His expression remained calm.
Then he raised one hand.
"First-level Spell."
"Blazing Suns."
In an instant, brilliant flames erupted into existence around him.
One.
Three.
Seven.
Nearly twenty blazing fireballs materialized in midair, orbiting Lucien like miniature suns.
The surrounding air twisted from the intense heat.
The merfolk leaders' expressions changed.
Then Wizard Lucien waved his hand.
The blazing suns shot forward.
Like a meteor storm.
Explosions echoed across the sky as the fireballs streaked toward the two merfolk.
The warriors tried to dodge.
But the number of projectiles was simply too great.
Several fireballs struck them directly.
BOOM!
Flames exploded across their bodies.
For creatures born in the deep sea, fire magic was one of the most destructive forces imaginable.
Their scales charred instantly.
Painful roars echoed across the ocean.
But Wizard Lucien did not stop.
His voice sounded again.
"Blazing Suns."
Once more, a ring of blazing fireballs appeared around him.
They shot forward like divine punishment.
Then again.
And again.
By the third wave, the merfolk leaders were already badly injured.
Their bodies were scorched black in several places, their movements slower than before.
At the same time, Kragthar glanced downward.
The scene below made his heart sink.
The ordinary merfolk warriors were already collapsing under the relentless spells of the wizard apprentices.
Many had died.
Others were desperately trying to escape back into the sea.
The ambush had failed.
Retreat was the only option left.
Kragthar exchanged a glance with the other merfolk leader.
They understood each other instantly.
But before they could flee—
Wizard Lucien's cold voice echoed across the sky.
"After attacking my ship…"
"You think you can leave?"
His hand rose slowly.
Dark power gathered in the air.
"First-level Spell."
"Dark Binding."
Black chains suddenly burst out of the void.
They wrapped around the two merfolk leaders like living serpents.
Kragthar struggled fiercely.
But he was already exhausted from previous battles.
The chains tightened.
Wizard Lucien then summoned a small black box into his hand.
With a flick of his finger, the lid opened.
A powerful suction erupted from within.
Before they could resist, the two merfolk leaders were dragged inside and sealed away.
Seeing their leaders captured, the morale of the remaining merfolk collapsed instantly.
The wizard apprentices seized the opportunity.
Spells rained down like a storm.
Fireballs.
Lightning arcs.
Acid arrows.
Dark claws.
Screams echoed across the deck.
Within minutes, most of the merfolk were dead.
The few survivors attempted to flee back into the sea—but the wizard apprentices pursued them mercilessly.
When the battle finally ended, not a single attacker remained alive.
The deck was silent once more.
Wizard apprentices immediately began collecting samples and materials from the corpses.
For those on the wizard's path, resources were everything.
Knowledge.
Materials.
Opportunities.
Nothing could be wasted.