Tidal Lands

Many of the inexperienced newcomers gasped.

Gagnor noticed that near the small snake's corpse were the bodies of other small animals—worms, mice, and another, slightly larger snake. All of them were cut in two, the severed points forming a straight line.

Just then, the warrior captain suddenly walked straight toward the border of the Tidal Lands, prompting a chorus of exclamations: "Captain!"

To the astonishment of those who cried out, the captain safely reached the place where the small snake had died, then leaned back, resting steadily in the empty space as if there were an invisible wall behind him.

"Ha!" the captain scoffed, looking at the raw recruits.

Ryan explained, "The Tidal Lands aren't truly open yet. Small animals might have a chance to cross the border, but a person can't even stick a hair through."

The captain then pointed to the corpses of the small animals on the ground: "During the closed period of the Tidal Lands, not even an ant can get in or out. When it's in a loosening period, small animals have a chance to pass through, but they're more likely to be cut in half along the way."

"Because snakes can never pass through, this border is commonly known as the 'Serpent's Cut Line'," he added. "If you're cowards, you can stay outside the Serpent's Cut Line after the Tidal Lands open, and you won't be in any danger... Of course, those who signed preliminary and short-term contracts have to go in, unless you want to pay the penalty!"

The Gray Hawk Mercenary Group's temporary camp was not far away. The group went there, settled down, and waited for the Tidal Lands to open.

During this time, most people felt good, experiencing it like a picnic, relaxed and happy.

The only unpleasant thing was that as the temporary camp expanded, they had a bit of a "territorial dispute" with the neighboring Bloodsail Pirates camp, almost leading to a fight. In the end, it was resolved by the church priest.

"Those pirates are a bunch of shameless bastards. The sheriff should send them all to jail!" someone grumbled.

"How could that be? The Bloodsail Pirates have a letter of marque issued by the Duke, and they contribute a lot of taxes to the duchy and the church every year..."

"Bah, they were beaten to a pulp by heretics not long ago. I bet they're contributing taxes to Dibuto!"

"Yeah, I also heard that the Bloodsail Pirates even robbed a Mosa Follower merchant ship. They're clearly traitors to the duchy and Mosa!"

"No way, they dare to rob a Mosa Follower ship?"

"I heard it from my uncle. He's a bard and knows a lot! He also told me that the current Pope likes—"

"Shut up, the church people are right next to us!"

Gagnor didn't participate in or pay attention to these disputes. He spent most of his time practicing Swordsmanship, only chatting with the people around him during meals.

The content of the chats mainly revolved around understanding information about the Tidal Lands, since he had only heard of such places in rumors before.

"You're the apothecary from that day, right?" The unlucky warrior with a blue Sword Rune tattooed on his right arm finally recognized Gagnor, asking while eating dinner one day.

Gagnor nodded. He actually already knew the other person's name: John.

John: "You're planning to enter the Tidal Lands too?"

Gagnor: "I haven't decided yet. I'll make a decision a day after it opens."

John seemed hesitant, thinking for a moment before saying, "If you're planning to go in—"

Just then, the hundreds of people who had already gathered outside the Serpent's Cut Line suddenly stirred, with cries of surprise: "The tide is rising! The tide is rising!"

"The Tidal Lands are open!"

Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned to look at the Tidal Lands.

As the moon rose, the scenery near the Serpent's Cut Line suddenly shimmered with light and shadow, as if refracted by the diffuse tide, presenting a beautiful color under the cold moonlight.

"It's really open!"

"Mosa be praised, the Everlasting Moss is beckoning to me!"

In just a few dozen seconds, some people rushed over like they were in a race, instantly crossing the Serpent's Cut Line.

Strangely, after these people rushed into the Tidal Lands, their figures gradually blurred, eventually disappearing completely into the dim and quiet scenery behind the Serpent's Cut Line, as if they had entered another world.

"Go now, level one soldiers, today is your best chance!" the captain shouted in the camp. "But remember, every other day, the level restriction of the Serpent's Cut Line may remain unchanged, but it's more likely to change up or down by one level—the Tidal Lands of the Stoneclaw Mountains are almost always like this."

"If you don't want to be trapped in the Tidal Lands, you must return before the next moon rises!"

Encouraged by him, several level one Gray Hawk mercenaries also crossed the Serpent's Cut Line with their weapons, disappearing from everyone's sight.

About half an hour later, after almost everyone who could and wanted to enter had gone in, the crowd gradually calmed down from the commotion, but the low-voiced discussions continued.

John also remembered what he was about to say: "If you're planning to go in, I can protect your safety. What do you think, apothecary?"

"I'm a level two warrior, with the sacred name 'Michael'," he added.

Gagnor understood John's idea, which was simply to have more medical insurance. He didn't really want to accept, firstly because the apothecary's job was making medicine, and he couldn't actually provide much medical help, and secondly because he always felt that John was a bit unreliable.

But after hearing the name "Michael," he changed his mind.

Saint Michael is a saint known for his role as a "protector," and his blessings are often related to protection.

"Michael," Gagnor repeated the name, immediately confirming that John was telling the truth. The method of verifying the authenticity of a sacred name was that simple: just recite it in person, and you could feel something.

"Okay," he immediately agreed. "In return, when you're injured, I'll give you priority for potions and medical assistance."

John smiled: "Oh, right, my name is John Hydashia Michael. Nice to meet you."

"My name is Gagnor." Gagnor hesitated for a moment, but still didn't reveal even one syllable of a sacred name, which seemed to make a hint of disappointment flash in John's eyes.

"Hydashia, that seems to be a sacred name of the water element?" he asked.

"That's right, Hydashia is one of the most common sacred names among coastal residents," John said again. "It's also because of this sacred name that I chose the blue Sword Rune."

A whole day passed.

As the moon was about to rise again, the people who had entered yesterday came out of the Tidal Lands one after another.

The vast majority were safe and sound, but also empty-handed, obviously neither luck nor misfortune had favored them.

It seemed that a few individuals had not come out. Logically, they were likely dead inside. Of course, there was also a smaller possibility—that they were brave enough to ignore the risk of the Serpent's Cut Line changing randomly.

There were also lucky ones.

When a few young people came out of the Tidal Lands, the leader, wearing a mage robe, was holding two pieces of moss, one red and one blue.