Chapter 97 The Great Tide
—A huge storm and high tide are coming.
Initially, many tourists still lingering on the shore did not accept this explanation.
Most of them just casually echoed with phrases like, "Oh, don't say such discouraging things," or "It's a perfect day for playing in the water, how can we just leave because of a non-existent storm warning?" and walked away without a care, resuming their interrupted recreational activities.
As the sea grew rougher and the rocking became more noticeable, a few apprehensive tourists accepted the advice, packed their bags, and headed towards the city.
But that's still too slow.
It's like being afraid of being deceived, yet still holding onto a sliver of hope, occasionally glancing at the sea while tidying up, praying that it's all just a false alarm.
But how could the ever-changing nature stop for the unwilling swaying of a single blade of grass? Even the flapping of a butterfly's wings requires an extremely large group, and only after traveling most of the way can it, through a series of coincidences, stir up a huge storm on the other side of the distance.
The wind and waves grew even stronger.
Even the sky gradually darkened.
Most of the boats that sensed something was wrong moved closer to the shore, and the experienced boat owners called out to their companions. However, a few thrill-seeking tourists ignored the warnings and instead went deeper into the surging tide, riding surfboards and speeding between the undulating drops.
[All tourists are urged to evacuate the beach immediately! A massive storm with high tides is approaching! All residents still on the shore are urged to evacuate immediately.]
[Repeat. Please include all...]
Amplified by magic, standing atop the slightly higher, jingling tower, Gray and Hikari, who had come to help, shouted back and forth across the wide coastline. The magic rising from their raised fingers illuminated the area with striking colors, converging into a dazzling light above everyone's heads, attracting the attention of most.
Even so, it's just a drop in the ocean.
He hurled the lightning he had gathered in his hand upwards, and the rising beam of light split into countless golden branches that scattered in all directions, startling a large group of people nearby. After regaining their senses, they panicked and ran away, not even daring to stop and pick up their belongings.
After several rounds, the crowd around him had dwindled to almost half.
Indeed, perhaps the most direct form of intimidation is still the most effective.
The small white-sailed boat that Yuel and his companions were in had just docked and was moored to the side of the long breakwater where the waves occasionally washed over it. The young men, filled with trepidation, hesitated and retreated towards the city, while Yuel, after watching the waves for a long time, approached the breakwater together with Swift and Leticia, who were still standing there.
"What are you doing here?" I asked suspiciously.
Walking briskly at the front, Yuel took off his glasses, brushed his wet bangs back, and silently looked at me with his bright orange eyes, which were very similar to his mother's: "I've come to check if my brother needs any help."
I shook my head: "Your timely evacuation is the best help. If possible, it would be best to take the tourists who are still stranded with you." I paused, then remembered something else, "Oh, right, there's one more thing. Please ask the person in charge of managing this anti-tidal formation to come and confirm that it can at least block most of the tides."
For these three individuals who are not mages and possess only limited protective abilities, forcing them to do things beyond their capabilities would be extremely irresponsible. Moreover, given the situation they are about to face, it is not something that an ordinary junior mage or someone who can only wield a decorative sword stand can handle smoothly.
I didn't really want them involved, but if I refused everything, there was no guarantee that someone wouldn't do something foolish. Delegating the task of evacuating the coastal residents to Yuel and Swift, who were more easily recognizable in the city, would obviously be better than relying solely on the three of us.
Without questioning or doubting, Yuel simply stared at me for a few seconds, nodded slightly, and then quickly led Leticia, whose face was filled with worry, toward the city.
Swift, however, approached with some doubt and pointed to the ground: "This thing, can't it stop us now?"
I don't know how to answer.
Feeling the immense magical energy gathering from afar, silence enveloped us for two seconds. We could only shake our heads and sigh, "I don't know..."
The mermaid statues guarding the Mermaid Harbor coastline do indeed form a decent defensive array, even serving to divert and channel the oncoming tides. However, perhaps due to the less-than-stellar abilities of its designer, while they could barely withstand ordinary storms in previous years, after long-term wear and tear, they are practically powerless against the impending major storms.
That would truly be an extremely massive storm.
The sharp, howling wind whipped up the sand and gravel on the beach, causing the scattered, thin pages of paper to tumble everywhere. The edges of clothing were lifted and rolled about, making a rustling sound. If one did not exert all their magical power to maintain stability, they would likely be blown away by the increasingly violent wind, or even swept away along with it.
But that's not the most fatal thing.
At the edge of perception, the massive, ever-gathering mass of magical energy had already manifested a translucent form in mid-air. It looked like a condensation of azure water, with the ceaselessly flowing water swirling around a core, the splashing magical water as smooth as silk, yet containing terrifying power.
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