Tidal Lands

The inexperienced newcomers gasped.

Gagnor noticed that there were also corpses of small animals near the little snake's body—worms, rats, and the like—as well as another, slightly larger snake. Without exception, they had all been severed in two, and the breaks in their bodies happened to form a straight line.

Just then, the warrior captain suddenly walked straight toward the boundary of the Tidal Lands, drawing a chorus of shocked cries. "Captain!"

Under the stunned gazes of those who had cried out, the captain safely reached the spot where the little snake had died. Then he leaned forward and steadily rested against empty space, as though there were an invisible wall behind him.

"Ha!" The captain sneered at the new recruits.

Ryan explained, "The Tidal Lands haven't truly opened yet. Small animals might have a chance of crossing the boundary, but humans can't even stick a single strand of hair through."

The captain pointed at the small animals' corpses on the ground. "During the Tidal Lands' closed period, not even ants can enter or leave. During the loosening period, small animals have a chance of getting through, but it's even more likely that they'll be sliced in half midway."

"Since snakes absolutely can't cross, this boundary is also commonly called the 'Serpent's Cut Line,'" he added. "If you're cowards, stay outside the Serpent's Cut Line after the Tidal Lands open, and you won't face any danger at all... Of course, anyone who signed a reserve contract or a short-term contract has to go in, unless you want to pay the penalty for breach of contract!"

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

During this period, most people felt quite good. The experience was like a picnic—relaxed and pleasant.

The only unpleasant thing was that as the temporary camp expanded, they had a minor "territorial conflict" with the nearby Bloodsail Pirates' camp. They nearly came to blows, but the matter was settled amicably through the mediation of a church priest.

"These pirates are shameless bastards. The sheriff should throw them all in prison!" someone grumbled indignantly.

"How could that be possible? The Bloodsail Pirates hold privateering licenses issued by the Duke. Who knows how much tax they contribute to the duchy and the church every year..."

"Bah! They were beaten into a complete rout by the Heretics not long ago. I'd say they contributed those taxes to Dibuto!"

"Exactly. I also heard that the Bloodsail Pirates once robbed a merchant ship belonging to the Mosa Followers. They're clearly traitors to both the duchy and Mosa!"

"No way. They dared to rob a ship belonging to the Mosa Followers?"

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

"Shut up already! There are people from the church right beside us!"

Gagnor neither joined nor paid attention to these disputes. He spent most of his time practicing swordsmanship and only chatted with those around him during meals.

The conversations mainly concerned information about the Tidal Lands. After all, before this, he had only heard of such a place through rumors.

"You're the apothecary from that day, right?" The unlucky warrior with a blue Sword Rune tattooed on his right arm finally recognized Gagnor and struck up a conversation during dinner one day.

Gagnor nodded. He already knew the other man's name, John.

John asked, "Are you planning to enter the Tidal Lands too?"

Gagnor replied, "I haven't decided yet. I'll make my choice a day after it opens."

John seemed to have something to say but hesitated. After thinking it over, he finally said, "If you're planning to go in—"

Just then, the hundreds of people who had long since gathered outside the Serpent's Cut Line suddenly erupted into a commotion. Waves of excited cries rang out. "The tide's rising! The tide's rising!"

"The Tidal Lands have opened!"

Everyone stopped what they were doing and turned in unison toward the Tidal Lands.

As the moon rose, the scene near the Serpent's Cut Line suddenly began to ripple with light and shadow. It seemed to be refracted through surging water, displaying enchanting colors beneath the cold moonlight.

"It really opened!"

"Mosa above, Everlasting Moss is waving to me!"

Only a dozen seconds later, several people charged over as if racing, crossing the Serpent's Cut Line in the blink of an eye.

Strangely, after rushing into the Tidal Lands, their figures gradually blurred. In the end, they vanished completely into the dim, tranquil scenery beyond the Serpent's Cut Line, as though they had entered another world.

"Go on, Level One soldiers! Today is your best chance!" the captain shouted from the camp. "But remember this: every other day, the Serpent's Cut Line's level restriction might remain unchanged, but it's even more likely to shift up or down by one level. That's how it works in almost all the Tidal Lands of the Stoneclaw Mountains."

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

Roused by his encouragement, several Level One Gray Eagle Mercenaries took up their weapons and crossed the Serpent's Cut Line, disappearing from everyone's sight one after another.

About half an hour later, nearly everyone who could and wanted to enter had gone in. Only then did the crowd gradually recover from the commotion, though the low discussions continued.

John also remembered what he had been 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 Holy Name 'Michael,'" he added.

Gagnor understood John's intentions. He merely wanted better medical support. At first, Gagnor had not really wanted to accept. For one thing, an apothecary's job was making medicine, and he could not actually provide much medical assistance. For another, he had always felt that John was somewhat unreliable.

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

Saint Michael was a saint renowned as a "protector," and his blessings were often related to protection.

"Michael." Gagnor repeated the name once and immediately confirmed that John was telling the truth. The method of verifying the authenticity of a Holy Name was that simple: one only had to recite it in the bearer's presence to sense a response.

"Sure." He agreed at once. "In return, whenever you're injured, I'll prioritize providing you with medicine and medical assistance."

John smiled. "Oh, right. My name is John Hydashia Michael. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"My name is Gagnor." Gagnor hesitated for a moment, but still did not reveal even a portion of his Holy Name. This seemed to cause a flicker of disappointment in John's eyes.

"Hydashia... That sounds like one of the Holy Names of the Water Element?" he asked.

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

A full day passed.

When the moon was about to rise again, the people who had entered the day before emerged from the Tidal Lands one after another.

Most of them were safe and sound, but they had nothing to show for it. Clearly, neither fortune nor misfortune had favored them.

It seemed that a few people had failed to come out. Judging by common sense, they had most likely died inside. Of course, there was also a smaller possibility—they had been bold enough to ignore the risk of the Serpent's Cut Line changing randomly.

There were lucky ones, too.

When several young people emerged from the Tidal Lands, the leader, who was dressed in a mage's robe, was holding two pieces of moss—one red and one blue.