"Hey, hey, hey, is this weather normal?"
On deck, the crew were all drawn to the sea surface not far away, staring intently at the distant horizon. The timid ones were already ashen-faced with fear.
In fact, they couldn't entirely be blamed. The scene was too bizarre, exceeding their comprehension.
Looking out, a vast expanse of thunderclouds hung in the sky above the distant sea level, with lightning striking intermittently. The strong winds churned the sea into a furious tempest.
If it were just that, it wouldn't be much. After all, encountering a strong storm or two while sailing at sea was not uncommon. The problem was, the freak weather was very targeted, as if it were specifically aimed at that particular stretch of ocean. If you drew a vertical cross-section from the edge of the thunderclouds, the sea on one side was turbulent with wind, while on the other side, it was eerily calm, as if completely unaffected.
"Are we really, really going into a place like this?"
"Shut up, don't disrupt morale here, or I'll throw you to the sharks."
Soon, the fleet sailed into the thundercloud zone. The moment they entered, the strong winds and turbulent sea caught everyone off guard.
However, compared to what was to come, this was child's play. From the moment they entered the thundercloud zone, they had truly entered the territory of the Trench Tribe.
Before the crew could adapt to the churning sea, the Trench Tribe launched their attack.
Ah!
Accompanied by a scream, the attack officially commenced.
Following the direction of the sound, a crew member was pounced on by an incredibly ugly half-man, half-fish monster. Its skin was dark and pockmarked, and its sharp fangs had already pierced the crew member's throat.
"What is this monster?!"
"Brother, brother, hang on!"
Some quick-thinking crew members had already drawn their handguns and fired several shots at the monster fish.
Despite its ugly appearance and pockmarked skin, the monster fish was exceptionally tough. The bullets from the handguns simply ricocheted off, having no effect.
Those who reacted quickly ran back inside to retrieve a "Big Pineapple" and unleashed a barrage of fire at the monster fish.
After a full magazine, the monster was finally killed. Unfortunately, the unlucky crew member had his throat bitten off by the monster fish and then riddled with bullets, a truly tragic end.
"Ah! Monster fish! Monster fish everywhere!"
The sea surface was now a dark, crowded mess, almost entirely filled with monster fish. Many were already grabbing onto the sides of the ships, trying to climb aboard.
"What are you all standing around for?!"
The captain of this group, the one who had been the first to react and retrieve the "Big Pineapple," roared. He then grabbed a machine gun and went to the ship's side, unleashing a volley of fire at the swarm of monster fish below.
The crew members who had snapped out of their daze temporarily put aside their fear and returned to their posts.
The ship's mounted cannons fired non-stop at the monster fish in the sea. However, the sheer number of monster fish was overwhelming. As soon as one was killed, another would immediately take its place. Moreover, these mindless monsters didn't even spare their own dead companions. Any that were killed were devoured by their surrounding comrades within seconds, leaving no trace.
The number of monster fish continued to increase. Many had already climbed onto the ships, roaming the decks. Some were even more ruthless, attacking the hulls of the ships in suicide attacks, quickly creating large holes beneath them.
Finally, one warship couldn't hold on any longer. It had over ten large holes, each a meter wide, opened in its hull by the monster fish. Seawater poured in relentlessly, and it soon sank.
The people on the other ships had no time to offer rescue. The moment they fell into the water, swarms of fish monsters would converge, devouring the fallen crew members at an astonishing speed, leaving no trace.
"Holy Lord, what should we do now? If it comes to it, please step in."
Watching ship after ship of the fleet sink and the crew being massacred in such a brutal fashion, even Savage's eyes twitched.
He didn't care how many crew members died. He only cared about himself. If these people all perished, then it would be his turn.
"Wait a little longer, just a little longer."
Bai Qi watched the scene unfolding before him, his brow furrowed. He hadn't expected the Trench Tribe to be so frenzied. However, he couldn't act now; he had to wait.
"What are you waiting for?"
Savage was very perplexed, unable to understand what Bai Qi was trying to achieve.
In the sea not far away, several large and small schools of fish huddled together, sometimes scattering, sometimes gathering, like flowers blooming in the ocean.
Suddenly, as if sensing danger, the schools of fish dispersed.
Soon, two sharks emerged from the depths of the ocean. Strangely, two people were riding on the backs of these sharks. These two people were dressed unlike ordinary people, wearing something that resembled leather, clinging to their bodies. The patterns looked like fish scales. Even stranger were their necks; two rows of gills, used for breathing underwater, had grown on their necks.
These two individuals, riding sharks and possessing gills, were Atlanteans.
In humanity's earliest conceptions, Atlantis was merely a legend, nonexistent. But as Aquaman joined the Justice League, Atlantis gradually appeared in the public's view.
As if sensing something, both individuals stopped simultaneously.
One, with braided hair, turned to his companion and said, "Calder, do you feel that? There's a strange fluctuation."
Calder nodded and replied, "Yes, Gas, it's in that direction. The Trench Tribe. Someone has mistakenly intruded into their territory."
"Calder, what are you doing?! The Trench Tribe are a pack of irrational beasts. It's extremely dangerous to go there rashly."
Seeing his companion about to go, Gas quickly stepped forward to stop him, but received a righteous reply from Calder.
"No, Gas, this is our duty. Protecting humans from harm by the Trench Tribe is what every Atlantean should do."
Saying that, he ignored Gas's obstruction and charged towards the direction of the Trench Tribe's territory on his shark.
"Oh, fine. You go, I won't bother with you anymore."
Gas turned his shark to leave, but after swimming only about two meters, he turned back and quickly chased after him.
"I knew you wouldn't leave me behind."
Calder said happily as he saw Gas catching up.
"Oh, come on, Calder. I just don't want to go back alone and be lectured by the Queen. That's all."
"Alright, alright, I understand."
Soon, the two Atlanteans arrived at the sea area where the fleet was located.
They surfaced and looked at the dense mass of Trench Tribe monster fish and the sunken ships not far away. Gas frowned and said, "These humans are in big trouble. I've never seen so many Trench Tribe gathered together."
"Indeed," Calder nodded. "But we still have to help them."