The coastline of Golden Harbor Town stretches for over twenty miles, with its natural harbor boasting deep docking water, the shallowest part being about fifteen meters, while the deepest reaches nearly forty meters.
As the town gradually expanded, the dock also received extensions. Nowadays, even the multi-masted sailing ships constructed by the Southern Countries can easily dock at the harbor pier.
Currently, the port is filled with various multi-masted sailing ships, single-masted square-rigged ships, and even some galley ships, all gently swaying amidst the calm sea water.
Under the shroud of night, Golden Harbor Town remains brilliantly lit, and these adventurers seem to have endless energy.
No matter how tiring their day was in the endless forests and vast plains, they still enthusiastically gather in taverns at night to talk boldly.
Many adventurers, under the guise of night, sneak into the ladies’ buildings with high-hanging lanterns, and it isn’t long before the especially refined residences emit high-pitched voices like a noble band’s male and female duet.
Mist gradually spreads over the depths of the sea, drifting towards the coast under the sea breeze, enveloping the ships docked in the harbor and parts of the town.
The watchful sailors on these ships have already grown accustomed to this scene and aren’t surprised.
A young sailor crawled out of his companion’s bunk, shuffled into his shoes, and put on waterproof and warm clothing.
Enduring the unpleasant mix of dampness from the ship bottom seeping into the cabin, soaking wood, garbage, food, and cargo, along with the stench of moisture, body odor, and mildew, he lit the mast lamp at the bow to prevent any accidents.
Yet he didn’t notice, amidst the thickening mist, an ugly monster quietly emerging from the sea in the distance.
A pair of venomous and cruel eyes wandered around in the mist, quietly observing this seemingly sleepless town.
This creature, from head to toe, measured about two to three meters long, with a slender physique. It bore deep green skin covered in grid-like patterns, with sections occasionally sprouting fine scales.
Its head was distinct, with developed jaws and sharp teeth, limbs with webbed feet, and small sail-like dorsal fins growing on its head, neck, and the sides of its forearms, alongside a pair of fish-like eyes.
The creature’s tail bore a pair of strong fin structures, and its sharp claws clutched a trident adorned with coral and seaweed.
This was the Shahua Fishman, referred to by coastal human residents as a sea demon. These creatures typically inhabit sea caves or deep-sea trenches.
They love hunting and attacking any creature they encounter, though trading is also in their nature, they prefer plundering coastal settlements and merchant ships to obtain what they desire, displaying a highly predatory and intelligent fish-like race.
However, since those Bronze Dragons, who consider themselves just and good and never feed on intelligent creatures, relish the taste of these creatures, often preying on them, they do not recognize these Shahua Fishmen as intelligent beings.
Unlike the Blue Dragons among the Five-Color Dragons, who not only acknowledge these Shahua Fishmen as intelligent beings but are even more decisive in devouring them than the Bronze Dragons.
This Shahua Fishman was a member of a fishman tribe living in a deep-sea trench far from this sea area. Previously, these Shahua Fishmen occasionally patrolled this sea area without paying it any heed because they knew this place was an ogre settlement.
Those foolish ogres were poor yet powerful, making them unworthy of Shahua Fishmen’s attacks and plunder. Besides, the scarce passing merchant ships had failed to capture the Shahua Fishmen’s attention.
But recently, this sea area seemed to get increasingly lively with more humans and merchant ships passing by and docking here, catching the eye of a creature patrolling this sea area, prompting him to begin covert probes.
In the eyes of these Shahua Fishmen, humans appear extremely weak and easily bullied, so after observing for some time, this Shahua Fishman submerged into the sea, drawing nearer to the sailors on the ship.
The young sailor still unaware of the impending danger, glanced enviously towards the bustling town on shore upon lighting the ship’s mast lamp,
muttering to himself: "Facing men’s backsides all day, I’m about to forget the delightful scent of those ladies, damn it."
Suddenly he heard a loud water-breaking sound, hurriedly turning towards the source of the noise, vaguely spotting a green monster leaping out of the water within the mist, unleashing a powerful jet of water towards him.
The yell forming in the sailor’s mouth hadn’t yet emerged, when he was struck square in the face by the powerful water jet, all he felt was darkness before his eyes.
A sharp trident had already penetrated his body with tremendous force, and the sailor feebly collapsed onto the deck.
Thump, the Shahua Fishman grabbed the ship’s side, leaping onto the deck without lingering, dragging the unconscious sailor and then jumping back into the sea.
He planned to report to the Fishman Nobility and Priestesses ruling the tribe, hoping to receive a substantial reward.
...
"Make way, make way!"
In the water, where they possess several times the strength compared to land, the Shahua Fishman effortlessly dragged the human body with one claw into the giant cave in the sea trench, driving away other fishmen approaching due to the scent of blood and flesh.
Upon entering this deep and vast cave, he ignored the Shahua Fishmen guards eyeing the human fiercely, bypassing them directly, heading towards the upper layer of the cave.
The upper layer of the cave contained a spacious area, appearing somewhat lustrous under the reflection of various underwater corals and gemstones.
The cave ceiling and walls had strange and grim murals drawn with a special grease.
Most of these murals depicted fierce sharks battling various bizarre deep-sea monsters, representing the deity worshipped by these Shahua Fishmen - Shark God Sekla.
Beneath these murals sat a tall, intimidating, and ugly male fishman, surrounded by several female fishmen, who were busy with the propagation of their species.
This was the Priestess among the Shahua Fishmen and the Fishman Baron ruling this tribe.
The patrolling fishman dared not look any longer, as the Priestesses, despite being playthings of the Fishman Baron of the fishman tribes, wielded huge influence and held high status due to their qualification to channel the divine power of Shark God Sekla within the Shahua Fishman Race.
"Baron, I bring good news."
Throwing the already pale and bloated human to the ground, the patrolling fishman knelt, his fish eyes fixed on the ground beneath, not daring to look up.
Busy with the Priestess lay the Fishman Baron, flexing his hideous body, turning to the intruding patrolling fishman with a chillingly sharp grin, saying, "This news had better satisfy me!"