Gale-force winds whipped waves against Dunkirk Harbor's breakwater.
In the distance, an iceberg nearly a hundred meters tall could vaguely be seen being driven by the gale, crashing toward the harbor breakwater with the swells. But figures flickered atop the breakwater, and two enormous fireballs howled forth, blasting the iceberg into a wild shudder amid the waves. Huge chunks of ice flew through the air; by the time they fell into the water, they were no longer enough to pose a threat.
Two stray dogs with exceptionally long fur hurried along the base of the roadside wall in a bedraggled state, their greenish eyes searching the night for something to fill their bellies.
A row of pitch-black stray cats sat neatly along the dock, their heads tilted as they watched a fishing boat that still had lights burning. Before long, a burly fisherman emerged from the boat, cursing under his breath, and carelessly dumped a large basin of fish guts onto the dock.
The stray cats silently rushed over and began wolfing down the fish guts. The fisherman glanced at them, shook his head hard, then carried the wooden basin back into the cabin.
Four coal-black steeds, like spirits of the night, silently pulled a four-wheeled carriage down the street beside the dock. Beneath the coats of these four fine horses ran strange iron-blue patterns. They were hybrid descendants of the Magic Beast Azure Cloud Beast and purebred horses, far surpassing purebred horses in both strength and speed.
Such hybrid descendants of Magic Beasts were worth a fortune. Unless one was a high official or noble, one would not merely be unable to command these horses known as Black Steeds—one would not even be able to find a way to purchase them.
The driver was a burly man clad in