Chapter 938

A group of people running swiftly across the surface of the ocean looked like strange, fantastical beings.

Of course, that was just how it seemed from afar. To the ones actually doing it—drenched in sweat and struggling—it was anything but glamorous.

“Ugh... haah... We trained for this, running on water and all, but this is no joke... And we might have to keep doing this all day...”

“If it’s not harder than carrying a whole person on your back, maybe shut up...”

A panting grumble from one member earned a dry rebuke from another.

To bring along the few wind-users who couldn’t walk on water, the stronger water-users were carrying them on their backs or in their arms.

It was more efficient that way—carrying them while the wind-users lightened their own bodies took less energy than trying to run side by side.

“If you’ve still got the energy to complain, you’ve got energy to focus. A single misstep and you’re falling in—stay sharp.”

Steber, running at the back of the group, called out in his usual relaxed tone.

He was carrying Yergin Shiller, a wind-user, on his back, but showed no sign of strain—not a drop of sweat, just steady movement.

“You’re amazing, Steber... You look more alive out here on the sea than you did on land. I’m honestly jealous.”

One of the stragglers said in awe.

Steber chuckled.

“Not at all. I’m struggling, too. If you want to find someone who isn’t, don’t look at me—look up front.”

“Ah... Yeah, Yuder doesn’t count. You can’t compare anyone to him.”

Their eyes turned at once to Yuder, who was leaping ahead at the front of the group.

Maintaining a steady grip on the water beneath your feet, molding it to your pace, then releasing it repeatedly—that was a delicate and difficult feat.

Even for water-users, not everyone could do it.

Among the elite Cavalry, none of them lacked the skill.

But moving across a stream or a river was vastly different from running over the open sea.

That had been the hardest part of their training in preparation for this mission.

‘If you fall into shallow water, you can swim out. It’s no big deal. And there aren’t waves. But this... this isn’t like that.’

Most of the Cavalry had never even seen the sea in their lives.

Steber # Nоvеlight # was one of them.

He’d been born and lived 43 years in the Capital.

It wasn’t until he came south that he saw the ocean for the first time—a thing he’d only ever heard described.

He’d imagined a really big river. But the sea was nothing like a river.

It stung with salt, you couldn’t see the bottom even when diving deep, and waves of unknown origin relentlessly pounded the shore with foaming white crests. It was... terrifying.

Before their underwater training, he’d even doubted whether he could really control such an enormous body of water.

Cold sweat had trickled down his back just thinking about it.

Of course, he didn’t let the others see. He was too embarrassed to let the younger ones see him flounder.

But Yuder was different.

He came from the mountains—just like Steber.

He couldn’t have been familiar with the sea either.

And yet, he hadn’t hesitated for even a second before diving in.

Unlike Steber, he wasn’t pretending.

He genuinely wasn’t afraid.

He moved as if he could walk across even the furthest part of the ocean as though it were flat ground.

He had that much power—and that much confidence.

That blank expression that never flinched, never faltered, gave everyone the strength to keep moving even in the face of nature’s vastness.

Following him made even this empty ocean feel like something they could handle.

Gave them room to laugh, to talk.

Of course, if they said all that to Yuder, he’d probably frown just slightly and call it nonsense.

‘And then he’d say it means we’re not good enough and add another training regimen... like he always does...’

The thought made Steber chuckle faintly.

At that moment, Yuder slowed down and turned his head.

“We’ll start the search in this area. Get ready.”

“Oh, it’s here.”

The sea didn’t look any different.

But if Yuder had chosen this spot, it had to be the right one.

No one questioned him. They began preparing.

They spread out at set intervals.

Those who had been carrying wind-users handed them off to others.

Steber passed Yergin off to another member as well.

That person would carry Yergin during the first dive.

When the first team returned, the roles would reverse.

This would be their routine for the entire day.

“Be careful, Steber.”

“You too.”

In the heavy silence of rising tension, Steber loosened his stiff muscles.

Twelve people, including Steber, had gathered in a circle around Yuder. The rest waited on the water’s surface.

“On three.”

Yuder raised his hand.

One finger bent.

Then another.

Three, two, one.

As his hand clenched into a fist, Steber released his hold on the water beneath his feet—and plunged straight down.

Hrrmph.

During training, Steber had submerged in seawater for the first time in his life.

It was completely different from freshwater.

If freshwater was like soft white bread dough that responded easily to your touch, seawater was like trying to knead an enormous, black, hardened loaf made for giants.

‘All I’ve ever done is run a bakery, so that’s the only comparison I can think of.’

Regardless, he endured the crushing pressure and dove deep.

Then, without hesitation, he activated his power.

The water wrapped around him, clearing a space to breathe.

When he opened his eyes, they didn’t sting.

The current didn’t crash into him.

Even fully submerged, he felt no pain.

‘If it stays like this, I can last as long as I did in training.’

This was the second ability available only to skilled water-users: the power to stay submerged for long periods.

The stronger the user, the longer they could last.

Steber had once held out for a full hour during training—the longest of any ordinary Cavalry member.

“Ordinary,” of course, excluded the monster named Yuder Aile.

He’d stayed under far past the time limit and only came out because he said it was pointless to go longer.

No one knew how long he could truly last.

Looking around, Steber saw the others slicing through the water with ease, exchanging glances.

Everyone was fine.

Yuder signaled with his hand—changed the gesture.

Begin the search.

Water began spiraling rapidly around Yuder’s body, creating a current.

He swam deep into the sea, flicking his wrist slightly.

A magical bracelet lit up in response, glowing brightly.

The others followed him in formation, activating their own bracelets.

Thanks to the current Yuder had created, they barely had to exert themselves.

He was shouldering the full resistance of the water to make it easier for them.

Yet he showed no sign of strain.

Following him, Steber could only feel awe.

‘He really is incredible... If someone like that keeps getting stronger with age, how powerful will he become...?’

The deeper they went, the darker it became.

Steber scanned the area, alert for anything unusual.

But he couldn’t shake a strange feeling.

‘We’ve come this far in... and I haven’t seen a single fish.’

Back during shallow water training, they’d seen plenty of fish—even ones bold enough to come to the surface.

When diving, you could always spot schools of colorful fish swimming below.

But now... there was nothing.

As if something terrifying had driven them all far, far away.