Our gaze shifts to the vast and boundless ocean.
In the deep blue, almost inky waters, a vast swarm of sirens of all shapes and sizes, like the most loyal scavengers, traverses and swims through dark deep-sea trenches, rugged underwater mountains, and ancient shipwreck graveyards, following the coordinates left by Lind.
Some of them are as large as small mountains, dragging huge, twisted metal wrecks with brute force; others are nimble and slender, like deep-sea fireflies, emitting a ghostly blue or pale green light, squeezing into narrow crevices, taking out smaller fragments one by one, and gathering them into a net woven from huge corals or tough seaweed pulled by stronger sea monsters.
This was a silent yet highly efficient deep-sea salvage operation.
The remains of the Zedo civilization marked by Lind, regardless of size, were carefully collected by them.
Subsequently, driven by them, powerful ocean currents were guided and converged, like invisible conveyor belts, carrying these remnants of creation from beyond the stars towards a hidden bay on the edge of the continental shelf.
This bay has been cleared and sealed off by Lind's forces.
The cliffs on the shore have been slightly modified and covered with a smooth metal platform.
A simple yet technologically advanced, deep blue portal stands majestically here, its complex energy circuits on the frame flickering like breathing, creating a striking contrast with the surrounding primitive and rugged coastal scenery.
This is the transit point between the deep sea and the stars.
The sirens manipulated ocean currents to push the collected debris to shallow waters, where amphibious, heavily armored, and incredibly strong sirens servant races (like giant crabs or crawfish) carried it ashore and neatly stacked it in the designated area in front of the warp gate.
Once a certain amount is accumulated, the warp gate will emit a low hum, and a dark blue light screen will sweep across it. The piles of metal debris will instantly disappear and be directly transported to the dust-free analysis chamber or smelting plant inside the Steel Sky.
On this day, another considerable batch of debris arrived, including a fragmented outer shell that appeared to be some kind of large energy core, its surface still bearing faint, unsettling energy fluctuations.
Just as the sirens were busy with the final handover, the light screen of the warp gate, which had been operating quietly, suddenly began to fluctuate violently.
Buzz—!
The light does not absorb inward, but expands and condenses outward!
A tall, imposing figure, accompanied by an overwhelming spiritual pressure, slowly stepped out from the light screen.
It was Lind.
He did not descend in his true form, but rather was a highly condensed crystalline avatar. However, the solidity of his form and the aura he emitted were almost indistinguishable from that of his true self.
His purple eyes swept over the piles of debris on the beach and the various sea monsters that appeared and disappeared in the sea, emanating a sense of awe. He nodded slightly.
"Well done."
His voice resounded directly in the minds of all the siren involved in the salvage operation, calm yet carrying undeniable praise: "Your efficiency has exceeded my expectations."
Beneath the surface of the sea, several elders of the siren tribe—usually the oldest, the largest, or the individuals with the most dazzling magical aura—slowly emerged from the water.
Their mental fluctuations were filled with utmost respect, even a sense of being flattered.
It is our honor to serve you, rulers of the stars.
An elder, with tentacles like ancient silver whiskers and eyes like deep vortexes, responded in spiritual language: "The ocean knows your power and is grateful for your gifts."
The gifts they referred to not only included the special energy crystals that Linde had promised and partially paid for, which could purify bloodlines and enhance magic, but also the actual benefits Linde had provided by eliminating their nemesis, the Naga, and tacitly allowing them to occupy more magic-rich sea areas.
Linde's gaze fell on the elders, especially on the tridents they held, which were made of coral, bone, or rough metal.
In the culture of the Siren, the trident is not only a weapon, but also a symbol of status, power, and strength. It is the medium through which they perform certain clan secret arts, similar to a sorcerer's staff.
"Your hard work deserves extra reward."
Linde spoke slowly.
He raised his hand, palm up.
The magic of the surrounding space instantly boiled and converged into his palm! It was not only water element magic, but also pure energy from the core of the steel sky, and a trace of the Zedu civilization's understanding of energy materialization!
A dazzling light erupted from his palm, and the highly compressed energy emitted a hum like the ocean tide, drawing the attention (or senses) of all the sea monsters, their mental fluctuations filled with amazement and longing.
The light gradually receded and took shape.
A trident, formed entirely of pure, dark blue crystalline material, appeared in Lind's hand.
It is about two meters long, and its streamlined halberd body seems to be carved from the finest sapphire. Inside, there are specks of starlight flowing, as if a miniature starry sky is sealed inside.
The three halberd tips were incredibly sharp, gleaming with a cold, icy light. Their structure was not simply sharp, but rather contained a geometric beauty that guided energy flow, with edges so sharp they seemed capable of cutting through light.
At the junction of the halberd body and the tip, there is a deep blue jewel that rotates slowly, like a liquid eye, seemingly containing endless power from the abyss.
The entire trident emitted a powerful and pure magical energy fluctuation, the energy level of which made the "family heirlooms" in the hands of the elders pale in comparison.
However, Lind's voice rang out, shattering the sirens' extreme desires and fantasies:
"This thing was not forged for killing."
He flicked his fingertips, and the Crystal Trident emitted a clear and melodious hum, like the song of a giant whale in the deep sea, conveying a tranquil yet majestic aura.
"It is a ritual object, a symbol."
Lind's gaze swept over the elders whose eyes were burning with fervor. "It represents your covenant with me and with the Iron Sky. The holder of it can better sense the pulse of the ocean, soothe the raging currents, and, when necessary, pray to me for a response (of course, whether or not a response is given depends on Lind's mood)."
To put it bluntly, this is a super luxurious "magical tool" containing a huge amount of magic power, but mainly used for rituals and communication. Its practical value may not even be as good as a well-enchanted ordinary weapon, because it was not designed for collision and slashing.
Even so, its symbolic significance and unparalleled magical affinity for sirens are enough to drive any sirens elder mad!
That surging and pure magic, even just holding it in one's hand, is an unparalleled enjoyment and nourishment for them!
"This...is too precious!" Another female elder, whose body was inlaid with seven-colored seashells, said in a trembling voice, her huge compound eyes filled with excitement.
Lin De smiled faintly and flicked his wrist slightly.
The Crystal Trident transformed into an elegant blue arc, hovering precisely in front of the eldest, silver-bearded, tentacle-wielding elder.
"It's yours now. How you distribute it is up to you."
The elder's huge, scale-covered claws trembled slightly as he carefully grasped the shaft of the Crystal Trident.
The moment they made contact, its massive body shuddered violently! The already powerful magical energy around it instantly became even more solid and active, even causing the seawater in a small area around it to ripple gently, shimmering with a soft halo.
It felt the vast and boundless magical reserves within the trident, as immense as the ocean itself (although most of them were inert and difficult to use directly for attack), and was so excited that it almost burst into tears (if sirens could cry).
[In the name of the abyss and the tides!] The elder raised the trident high, and despite knowing it was a ceremonial weapon, still performed a gesture of the highest respect a siren could bestow. [The siren race will forever be your eyes and arms of the ocean! Where your will leads, the ocean currents will flow!]
Behind it, all the sea monsters that surfaced, regardless of their strength, let out a silent spiritual cry, expressing their submission and excitement.
Linde watched this scene with satisfaction.
A ritual artifact that he could easily create, yet it could be exchanged for the more steadfast loyalty and more efficient service of a powerful sea race—this deal couldn't be more worthwhile.
"Continue with your work."
Linde's figure gradually faded, re-merging into the light screen of the warp gate. "Keep up the efficiency, and I won't treat you unfairly."
As soon as he finished speaking, his projection disappeared.
All that remained were the piles of wreckage on the beach, and in the sea, the siren elder, gripping the crystal trident tightly, filled with excitement, and countless pairs of eyes behind him, filled with awe and fanaticism.
The azure warp gate resumed its stable operation, silently swallowing up batches of Zedo debris on the shore and transporting them to the steel sky that floated beyond everyone's comprehension.
The sirens, now basking in unparalleled glory and symbolism, plunged once more into the deep blue with renewed fervor, searching even more diligently for the fragments of stars scattered across the dark seabed.
They firmly believe that as long as they remain loyal and devoted, the mighty being who holds the stars may bestow even more "blessings".
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