Forged Tidal Turtle Shell Map and Message Delivery
In the Turtle Heart Hall on the seventh island of the Sarto Archipelago, Yuyuer and the group stood before an ancient stone table, holding a meticulously forged Tidal Turtle Shell Map. The surface of the turtle shell was engraved with intricate water-based magic array patterns, shimmering with ethereal blue light under the magic lamps, as if containing endless secrets. Zhamisi coiled her snake tail beside them, her deep purple hair swaying gently in the breeze, her gold-green scales glistening under the light, exuding a sharp aura. Xuanjia Elder sat quietly in the corner, the runes on his back shell faintly glowing, his wise gaze fixed on the two.
Yuyuer placed the forged map on the table, turning to Zhamisi and Xuanjia Elder with a firm tone: "This map looks authentic enough; it should fool Biqi." The "Biqi" he referred to was the leader of the main island. "He's long coveted the secrets of the sea clan, but he'll surely worry it's a trap. I guess he'll demand I personally go to present it."
Zhamisi nodded, her snake tail lightly tapping the ground: "That's exactly what we want. As long as he invites you over, we can turn the tables on him."
Xuanjia Elder spoke slowly, his voice deep: "Biqi is greedy but extremely cautious. We must ensure the plan is foolproof."
Yuyuer smiled confidently, pulling out a letter from his bosom that read: "Yuyuer is willing to offer the Tidal Turtle Shell Map in exchange for peace in the Sarto Archipelago." He handed the letter to a messenger pigeon, gently waving his hand, and the pigeon flapped its wings toward the main island. Its blue feathers traced an arc in the air, disappearing into the distant horizon.
Biqi's Reaction
On the main island, in a magnificent palace built from coral reefs and shells, Biqi sat on his throne. His figure was slender and tall, his deep green skin shimmering with cold light under the candlelight, his eyes revealing greed and calculation. When the messenger pigeon flew into the hall and dropped the letter into his hand, he slowly unfolded the paper, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly.
"The Tidal Turtle Shell Map?" Biqi murmured softly, a gleam flashing in his eyes. "The secrets of the sea clan... this is what I've dreamed of." However, his fingers paused on the paper, his gaze sharpening. "But this could be a trap. Why would the sea clan prince suddenly offer such a treasure?"
After a moment of contemplation, he turned to the crocodile general Eba beside him—a burly reptilian with a massive battle axe—and commanded: "Prepare to receive Yuyuer and his party. I want to see them personally and verify the map's authenticity. If it's a trick, deal with them on the spot."
Eba nodded, his battle axe trembling slightly in his hand, emitting a chilling cold light: "As you command, leader."
Group Actions
Meanwhile, Fa and the group discussed the action plan in the Turtle Heart Hall. Fa gazed at the distant lake, a silver light flashing in her right eye as she tried to peer into the main island's movements, but the mist and magical interference prevented clear vision. She turned to Yuyuer and said gently: "Since Biqi demands we go, we must prepare thoroughly."
Yuyuer nodded, his staff flickering with blue light: "Yes, we'll split into two groups. The first group—me, Fa, Zhamisi, Arya, and Kayla—will head to the main island to negotiate with Biqi and handle any conflicts. The second group—Rex, Salsa, and Tisk—will infiltrate the main island's communication center to expose Biqi's conspiracy and let all residents of the Sarto Archipelago know the truth."
Rex calmly adjusted his goggles, a data stream flashing by: "The communication center is key; I'll ensure we gain control."
Salsa's soul form floated in the air, her eyes flickering with shadow energy: "I'll handle the cover for infiltration; dark magic can make us silent and invisible."
Tisk patted his war hammer excitedly: "Once inside, leave it to me—I'll smash those reptilian soldiers to bits!"
Zhamisi's snake tail coiled around the stone table, her eyes burning with fighting spirit: "Good, Yuyuer, lead us to victory!"
After half a day's voyage, Fa and the group arrived at the main island, and the two teams immediately split up.
The Scene on the Main Island
The main island is the core of the Sarto Archipelago, gathering 12 different reptilian clans, starkly different from the singular styles of other islands. The architecture is diverse: coral reef palaces stand tall along the coast, vine-woven suspension bridges span swamps, and shell-decorated squares buzz with activity. On the streets, various reptilians come and go—some with pointed horns, others in thick armor, some dragging long tails—their eyes flashing with vigilance and curiosity.
In the market, snake people sell shimmering herbs, crocodile people display sharp shell weapons, and frog people play peculiar instruments in the corners, their sounds deep and melodious. In the training grounds, reptilian soldiers wield spears, their scales glistening in the sunlight, showcasing formidable combat strength. The air is filled with dampness, mixed with the scents of earth and sea breeze, both unfamiliar and awe-inspiring.
Fa and the group were led to a luxurious meeting room, its walls inlaid with sparkling gems, the ceiling hung with crystal chandeliers emitting soft light. They sat at the long table, quietly awaiting Biqi's arrival.
Undercurrents in the Meeting Room
In the main island's meeting room, the air was thick with humidity and tension. The walls were embedded with shimmering blue-green gems, refracting eerie light, and the crystal chandeliers on the ceiling cast a soft yet uncanny glow, as if ready to condense into some unpredictable magic at any moment. On both sides of the long table, Fa and the group sat upright, with Yuyuer in the center, tightly gripping the forged Tidal Turtle Shell Map, his staff leaning quietly beside him. Fa stared ahead, her right star eye faintly flickering, trying to penetrate the palace's magical barriers. Zhamisi coiled her snake tail, her deep purple hair trembling slightly with her breath, her gold-green scales glistening under the light, exuding a dangerous aura. Arya's fingers lightly rested on the Storm Bow, ready to respond at any time. Kayla's thunder claws emitted a low hum, intertwined with frost and lightning, revealing her inner restlessness.
The meeting room door was suddenly pushed open with a deep footstep sound, and Biqi entered. His figure was slender and sinister, his deep green skin shimmering with cold luster under the candlelight, a crown inlaid with dark red gems on his head, his long robe dragging on the ground, exuding oppressive majesty. Behind him followed Crocodile General Eba, his burly body nearly filling the doorway, his giant battle axe trembling slightly, radiating chilling killing intent. Biqi's gaze swept over the group like a knife, finally stopping on Yuyuer, the corners of his mouth curling into a meaningful cold smile.
Yuyuer stood up, though his heart churned with unease, maintaining the composure of a sea clan prince. He bowed respectfully, his voice steady and clear: "Leader Biqi, I am Yuyuer, here to offer the Tidal Turtle Shell Map in hopes of exchanging it for peace in the Sarto Archipelago." He slowly took out the forged turtle shell from his bosom, its surface engraved with intricate water-based magic array patterns, shimmering with ethereal blue light under the lamps, as if truly containing the endless secrets of the sea clan.
Biqi's gaze was instantly drawn to the map, a flash of greed in his eyes. He approached slowly, reaching out to take the map, his fingers gently stroking the patterns, trying to discern its authenticity. His movements were extremely slow, as if savoring the sense of control in this moment. The atmosphere in the meeting room froze instantly, everyone holding their breath.
Infiltration of the Communication Center
Meanwhile, Rex, Salsa, and Tisk infiltrated the communication center on the main island of the Sarto Archipelago. This communication tower soared into the clouds, its body constructed from hard coral reefs and shimmering shells, the surface embedded with magic runes emitting ethereal blue light, like a living magical fortress. At the top floated a massive magic crystal, its surface flowing with complex energy veins, serving as the communication hub for the entire Sarto Archipelago, exuding an awe-inspiring pressure. Inside the tower, Frog General Waming personally guarded it; he was short but highly threatening, agile as the wind, skilled in using poisoned darts and swift leaping attacks, his eyes flickering with cunning and cold light. More unsettling was his apparent supernatural perception ability, multiplying the difficulty of infiltration.
The infiltration team gathered in the shadows outside the tower, the night thick, sea breezes bringing bursts of moisture that masked their presence. Salsa's soul form detached from her mechanical cat shell, turning into an almost invisible shadow, quietly floating in the air, her amber eyes scanning the tower's defenses. Rex adjusted his goggles, data streams flashing like waterfalls on the lenses, his fingers rapidly typing on a virtual keyboard, controlling a squad of micro-drones to probe the tower's internal layout. Tisk gripped his war hammer tightly, muscles tensed, eyes burning with fighting spirit, his beard dotted with a few drops of seawater, glistening under the moonlight.
"The tower's defenses are tighter than expected," Rex said in a low voice, calm and suppressed. "The first level has thirty guards patrolling, equipped with magic sensing devices; the second level is a high-tech and magic combined trap zone, including laser nets and poison gas arrays; the third level is Waming's elite troops, plus automated patrolling mechanical guards. We must proceed carefully."
Salsa's voice echoed faintly from the shadow: "I'll go in first and clear the first level guards. You follow." Her soul form turned into a wisp of black smoke, silently slipping through the coral cracks on the tower's exterior, infiltrating inside.
First Level: Shadow Assault
Inside the tower, the lighting was dim, with heavily armored reptilian guards standing on both sides of the corridors, holding spears embedded with magic crystals, their gazes sharp as eagles. Their helmets were fitted with sensing devices, low-frequency hums in their ears, ready to detect any anomaly. Salsa's shadow form drifted lightly, almost merging with the shadows. She paused behind a coral pillar, shadow energy condensing at her fingertips into several slender tentacles, silently extending toward a guard.
The tentacles wrapped around the guard's neck, tightening instantly; the guard had no chance to cry out before being dragged into the shadows, collapsing softly. Salsa's movements were fluid; in the next moment, she was behind another guard, her shadow blade slicing through his sensing device, then knocking him out with a strike. Her figure shuttled between the guards like a specter of death; in mere seconds, dozens of guards had fallen silently.
Rex's drone swarm followed closely, emitting nearly inaudible low-frequency interference waves, paralyzing the surveillance crystals in the corridors. Data streams showed the guards' communication devices had been shielded. Tisk strode forward, his war hammer swinging lightly to smash a magic array attempting to activate an alarm, sparks flying, the air filled with a scorched smell.
"First level breached," Salsa's voice sounded in the communicator, with a hint of calm triumph. "But the guards are highly alert; the second level is more dangerous."
Second Level: Deadly Maze
The three arrived at the second level, where the atmosphere was entirely different. The ground was covered with shimmering runes, walls interlaced with fine red laser nets, the air filled with a faint poisonous gas scent, making one dizzy. In the distance, two mechanical guards moved slowly, their shells made of magic-reinforced metal, eyes emitting scarlet light, arms ending in energy cannons, ready to fire at any time.
Rex's mechanical eye scanned quickly, analyzing the trap triggers. "Pressure-sensitive traps, laser nets, and poison gas arrays, plus the mechanical guards' heat-tracking," he said in a low voice. "We can't force our way; it'll trigger a full alarm."
Tisk grinned, a flash of excitement in his eyes: "Then let me clear the path!" He swung his war hammer, metal magic surging, an invisible force emanating from the hammer head; the runes on the ground dimmed instantly, traps forcibly suppressed. He strode forward, each step on a trap without reaction, laser nets disconnecting automatically upon approach, as if twisted by some force.
"Your metal magic is cheating," Salsa praised, then turned to Rex: "But the mechanical guards are yours."
Rex nodded, his fingers moving; the drone swarm rushed out, releasing an electromagnetic pulse. The mechanical guards' red eyes flickered, their movements halting instantly, but then they emitted a piercing alarm sound, energy cannons charging. Seeing this, Salsa's soul form turned into shadow, instantly passing through the wall to behind one mechanical guard, shadow energy condensing into a blade, precisely stabbing its core energy slot. Sparks burst, and the mechanical guard crashed down.
The other guard turned toward Tisk, firing a scorching beam from its energy cannon. Tisk roared, swinging his war hammer; metal magic formed a barrier, barely blocking the attack, but the massive impact forced him back several steps, cracking the coral ground beneath. Rex reacted swiftly, the drone swarm launching micro-anesthetic darts, hitting the guard's sensors, finally paralyzing it.
"Second level cleared," Rex gasped, "but the alarm has been triggered; time is short."
Third Level: Waming's Challenge
The three charged into the third level, the core area of the communication tower, with even stricter guards. Twenty elite guards held magic weapons, forming a semicircle formation, on high alert. In the center stood General Waming, clad in light armor, toying with a green-glowing poison dart, a cold smile on his lips. Magic patterns faintly flowed on his skin, seeming to sense everything around.
"Intruders, show yourselves," Waming's voice was low and chilling. "I've smelled your presence long ago." He stomped fiercely, the ground shaking, an invisible sound wave spreading; Salsa's soul form was forcibly shaken out of shadow mode, revealing herself.
"He can sense invisibility!" Salsa gritted her teeth, shadow energy erupting to form a black barrier, blocking the elite guards' first wave of attacks. Rex's drone swarm rushed into the battlefield, firing micro-lasers to precisely knock down several guards' weapons. Tisk roared, swinging his war hammer with thunderous force toward Waming.
Waming flashed, leaping into the air, poison darts raining down like a storm toward Tisk. Tisk swung his hammer to block, but two darts still pierced his shoulder and arm, the venom spreading rapidly; his face turned pale instantly, movements slowing. "Damn, this poison is strong!" he cursed through gritted teeth, dropping to one knee.
"Tisk!" Salsa exclaimed, shadow energy turning into several blades, slashing at Waming. Waming dodged agilely, simultaneously emitting a sharp croak; the sound wave vibrated, causing Salsa's soul form to tremble violently, nearly unable to maintain shape.
Rex quickly pulled an antidote from his backpack, tossing it to Tisk. Tisk caught it, downing it in one gulp; the toxin gradually subsided. He surged to his feet, roaring as he charged at Waming, his war hammer clashing fiercely with the poison darts, sparks flying, the ground smashed into a deep pit.
At that moment, the tower's alarm blared fully, the piercing sound echoing through the main island. An elite guard took advantage of the chaos to trigger the emergency alarm; footsteps of reinforcements came from outside the tower, the situation precarious.
"Reinforcements are coming!" Rex shouted anxiously. "We need to end this quickly!"
Salsa gritted her teeth, her soul form erupting with unprecedented shadow energy, forming a massive black vortex that engulfed Waming and several guards. Inside the vortex, shadow tentacles attacked wildly, guards falling one by one. Rex's drone swarm coordinated with anesthetic darts, precisely hitting the remaining guards, rendering them combat ineffective.
Tisk seized the opportunity, channeling metal magic into his war hammer, smashing heavily into Waming's chest. Waming was sent flying several meters, crashing into the coral wall with a muffled grunt. He struggled to rise, but Salsa's shadow tentacles quickly wrapped his limbs, pinning him down firmly. Rex stepped forward, cuffing him with handcuffs, a crisp "click" sounding.
"Under control," Rex sighed in relief, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Head to the top, control the communication crystal!"
Crisis and Victory at the Tower Top
The three rushed to the tower top, arriving before the massive magic crystal. The sounds of reinforcements' attacks grew nearer, the tower door battered fiercely, emitting deafening booms. Rex placed his palm on the crystal, data streams flooding in, his mechanical eye flickering with blue light. "Hacking the system, preparing for broadcast," he gritted his teeth, fingers trembling, evidently under immense pressure.
Tisk stood at the door, swinging his war hammer to repel incoming reinforcements one by one. His metal magic formed a temporary barrier, but the reinforcements were numerous, cracks appearing in the barrier. "Hurry, Rex! I can't hold much longer!" he urged loudly, sweat dripping down his beard.
Salsa's soul form turned into a shadow barrier, reinforcing the tower door's defense, but her energy was rapidly depleting. "Rex, buy me some time!" she growled, her voice laced with fatigue.
"Ten seconds!" Rex shouted, data streams finally breaching the crystal's last defense. He slammed the confirm key; the crystal erupted in dazzling light, the broadcast system activating.
The large screen in the main island's meeting room suddenly lit up, displaying the communication center's footage. Biqi's conspiracy and the main island's oppressive actions would be revealed to the public, the broadcast spreading across the entire Sarto Archipelago. At that time, all residents would see the truth.
"Success," Rex slumped to the ground, showing a weary smile. "Now it's up to Yuyuer and the others."
Salsa returned to her mechanical cat shell, her amber eyes flickering with light: "I'll rest for a bit."
Hidden Crisis
Just as the broadcast footage spread across the entire Sarto Archipelago, Biqi lowered his head to examine the map; a silver light flashed fiercely in Fa's right star eye. She caught a figure almost blending with the wall in the shadows—Chameleon General Huanqiao. His camouflage was superb, scales changing color with the environment; without Fa's star eye ability, no one could detect him. Huanqiao held a slender poison-sting dagger, its tip flickering with deadly green light, clearly ready to launch a sneak attack. Fa lowered her voice, warning her teammates softly: "Be careful, there's an invisible enemy in the shadows."
Arya's fingers instantly tensed on the Storm Bow's string, wind elements condensing at her fingertips, ready to fire. Kayla's thunder claws let out a low growl, frost and lightning energy swirling around her, the shadow of her giant leopard form faintly emerging. Zhamisi's snake tail lifted slightly, poison magic condensing into a thick green mist at her fingertips, her eyes igniting with fighting spirit. Yuyuer maintained composure on the surface, continuing to stall Biqi: "This map is a treasure from the sea clan's sanctuary, containing powerful water-based magic. If Leader Biqi uses it wisely, the Sarto Archipelago will surely prosper."
Biqi raised his head, squinting, his tone laced with doubt and mockery: "Sea clan prince, why are you willing to offer such a precious item? Aren't you afraid I'll take the map and break my promise?" His fingers tapped the map lightly, producing a crisp sound, as if testing Yuyuer's limits.
Yuyuer smiled slightly, his tone sincere yet firm: "I only hope for peace, unwilling to see the conflicts between islands continue. This map is a symbol of peace, and my expectation for the archipelago's future."
Ignition of Conflict
Biqi was silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into piercing laughter, the sound echoing in the meeting room, filled with sarcasm and disdain. "Peace?" He slammed the map onto the long table with a bang, the crystal cups on the table trembling slightly. "In this dog-eat-dog world, peace is just a fantasy! You think offering this will earn my mercy? Naive!" A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes, his tone turning cold: "Tell me, is this map fake? Are you trying some trick?"
Yuyuer's heart tightened, but he remained calm on the surface. He spoke slowly, trying to stabilize the situation: "Why say that? This map I brought personally from the sanctuary; it's absolutely genuine. If you don't believe, summon a mage to verify."
Biqi snorted coldly, killing intent growing in his eyes. He turned to Eba, commanding in a low voice: "Capture them; I want to interrogate them personally!" Eba grinned, revealing sharp teeth, raising his battle axe with a whistling wind as he lunged at Yuyuer and the others. At the same time, Huanqiao in the shadows moved, his figure flashing like a ghost, the poison-sting dagger stabbing straight at Yuyuer's nape.
Fa reacted instantly, her short blade flashing with cold light, appearing in front of Yuyuer in a blur, blocking Eba's battle axe. Sparks flew from the metal clash; Fa's earth magic condensed a lava pattern under her feet, shaking Eba back several steps. At the same moment, Arya drew the Storm Bow, a wind-element arrow whistling out, precisely hitting Huanqiao's dagger, knocking it to the ground. Huanqiao grunted, his figure quickly retreating, vanishing into the shadows again.
Kayla roared, her third (giant leopard) form fully manifesting, thunder claws swinging with arcs of electricity as she pounced at Eba. Zhamisi's snake tail lashed fiercely, poison mist turning into several green arrows, shooting at Biqi. Biqi shifted his body, the scales under his robe flickering with magic light, easily blocking the poison mist. He sneered: "You dare make a move on my turf? Seeking death!"
Chaos Erupts
The meeting room instantly descended into chaos. Eba swung his battle axe, stirring violent air currents; each chop made the ground tremble slightly. Fa dodged agilely, her short blade clashing with the axe, sparks flying; her right star eye constantly scanned, capturing Huanqiao's movements. Arya stood at the rear, the Storm Bow firing several arrows in succession, wind elements turning into whirlwinds, slightly suppressing Eba's assault. Kayla's thunder claws collided head-on with Eba's battle axe, the clash of lightning and metal producing deafening booms; the two were evenly matched, neither yielding.
Zhamisi's snake tail slithered agilely, poison mist swirling around her, forming a natural barrier. She stared coldly at Biqi, her voice laced with anger: "Biqi, you've exploited the islands' resources, and now you want to kill us to silence us? You think the Sarto Archipelago will submit to you forever?" She flicked her fingertip, a thick poison mist heading straight for Biqi's face.
Biqi raised his hand, a dark green magic barrier unfolding instantly; the poison mist bounced off, scattering to the ground with hissing corrosion sounds. He sneered: "Submit? This archipelago should be ruled by me! You rebels are just eyesores! Once we capture you all, see who dares resist me?" He suddenly condensed a dark green energy ball in his hand, hurling it at Zhamisi. Zhamisi lashed her snake tail, dodging agilely; the energy ball hit the wall, exploding into debris.
Yuyuer took advantage of the chaos, raising his staff; the blue gem shone brightly. He chanted incantations, a wave rising from the ground, turning into several water tornadoes, pouncing at Biqi and Eba. The water tornadoes charged directly; Biqi snorted, his magic barrier unfolding again, intercepting the tornadoes, turning them into splashing water. Eba was staggered back by the water flow, his battle axe flying out of hand, smashing into the wall and leaving a massive crack.
Biqi's Probing and Counterattack
Biqi's gaze returned to Yuyuer, a hint of interest in his eyes: "Sea clan prince, your magic is somewhat interesting. But you think these tricks can shake me?" He stepped toward Yuyuer slowly, each step carrying heavy pressure. Fa tried to intercept, but Huanqiao suddenly emerged from the shadows, his poison-sting dagger stabbing at her waist. Fa reacted swiftly, swinging her short blade; earth magic condensed a stone wall, blocking the attack, but Huanqiao's figure vanished again.
Biqi stopped, saying coldly: "Yuyuer, I'll give you one last chance. Tell the truth about this map, and perhaps I'll spare your life." His finger pointed at the map, his tone carrying undeniable threat.
Yuyuer took a deep breath, firmness flashing in his eyes. He knew he couldn't back down now, or the plan would fail. He spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of provocation: "Leader Biqi, you want the truth? Then come take it yourself!" He raised his staff fiercely, a dazzling blue light erupting from the tip; water magic condensed into a massive vortex, enveloping the entire meeting room. The water roared and swept through; Biqi's magic barrier trembled slightly from the impact.
Eba roared as he charged at Yuyuer, but Kayla's thunder claws intercepted again, the two falling back into fierce combat. Zhamisi seized the moment to attack, poison mist turning into a giant python, coiling toward Biqi. Biqi sneered, the energy ball in his hand exploding fiercely; the poison python shattered, but Zhamisi used the momentum to retreat, her snake tail lashing to sweep up the tables and chairs behind Eba, smashing them into his back.
Stalemate and Turning Point
The battle reached a fever pitch; the meeting room's furniture was utterly destroyed, walls covered in cracks, water flows intertwining with poison mist, the scene in utter disarray. Biqi's face grew increasingly grim; he clearly hadn't expected Yuyuer and the group to be so troublesome. He said in a low voice: "Fine, since you're insistent on death, don't blame me for showing no mercy!" He raised both hands high, a dark green magic array unfolding beneath his feet, strong energy fluctuations shaking the entire room.
At that moment, noisy voices of many citizens came from outside the meeting room, followed by Rex's voice through the communication crystal: "Communication center secured; the recent broadcast footage has been sent across the entire Sarto Archipelago." Yuyuer's heart leaped with joy, knowing the second team's action had succeeded. He shouted loudly: "Biqi, your conspiracy is exposed; the residents of the Sarto Archipelago now know the truth of your exploitation!"
Biqi's face changed drastically; he turned sharply to look out the window, the magic crystal at the distant communication tower top flickering with light, evidently hacked by Rex. He gnashed his teeth: "You dare..." Before he finished, Fa seized the opportunity, her short blade drawing a cold arc, stabbing straight at Biqi's shoulder. Biqi reacted quickly, his magic barrier barely blocking, but his shoulder was still slashed, drawing blood.