Gou is a dark elf in Warhammer

"The world of Haiwei is based on blue, a picture of vigilance and the endless mysteries of the ocean."

—Eldrasil Ghostwind, Stormweaver

The Sea Guard recruits elves who demonstrate the greatest potential in the citizen recruitment process.

These young candidates often displayed a sharper reflexes, a more stable temperament, and a natural affinity for bowstrings and longswords compared to their peers. As training progressed, their qualities were honed to a higher level, making them renowned for their exceptional archery skills and close-combat abilities.

They were trained in boarding operations and beach landings, learning to balance on decks soaked by waves, to kill on swaying gun hulls, and to understand military orders amidst the roar of storms.

Their duties include stationing themselves on fleet warships, guarding trade routes, or patrolling the waters around Ulthuan. Some Seaguard members are stationed in colonies, supporting local archers and spearmen, becoming the most reliable blue backbone of elven strongholds far from their homeland.

Living on warships and training in saltwater for extended periods has instilled in the crew of the Sea Guard an almost obsessive focus on hygiene. They repeatedly clean the crevices of their armor and scrub the decks until they shine. Unfortunately... other Asur members consider this a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

A classic case of a layman instructing a professional.

They spoke loudly in the barracks, using crude and cryptic maritime slang, their movements were unrestrained and their laughter sounded more like the whistling of the sea. Because of their rough manners and nautical slang, many Asur considered Haiwei to be undisciplined.

Typical prejudice and arrogance.

The existence of the Sea Guard can be traced back to the time of Inarion.

Because they need to conserve their energy before battle, they usually sit down before fighting. This habit has been passed down from the earliest times and has gradually become a tradition.

This tradition was also adopted by Duruci, and the Guardians would also remain seated before battle.

Within the entire Truch military system, only naval soldiers were allowed to sit on benches while on standby; this was not merely an institutional arrangement, but also a symbolic representation of their status. (Mentioned in Chapter 809)
Sitting and waiting for the killing to begin—this is the pride and bloody romance of the Truc Navy.

At least that's how the Emirates understood it, rather than following Asur's tradition.

Another tradition of Haiwei is that only members who have seen blood in battle are allowed to wear a red ribbon on their belt, which symbolizes the blood of the enemy.

The red of the ribbon was not bright, but rather a deep red close to dried blood, understated yet somber.

For Haiwei, this ribbon is not an honor, but a testament; not a boast, but a mark of responsibility.

The bonds between Seaguard members endure long after their service ends. These bonds are forged through rigorous training and the shared threats and challenges they face together. They can even transcend the ocean and different roles, allowing retired Seaguards to recognize each other at a glance when they reunite years later.

Refer to the relationship between Cherion and Gallian. (Chapter 806)
It wasn't just old comrades-in-arms, but a profound connection with the waves, the storms, and the blades.

The most outstanding warriors in the Sea Guard will be promoted to Sea Guard Commander.

In addition to commanding and motivating ordinary soldiers and piloting Skybreakers to attack the enemy from the sky, they are occasionally recruited into secret units to carry out covert operations such as secret surveillance and raids.

In investigating the Dream Wine incident, the task force members came from multiple ethnic groups—the ruthless and efficient Duruch Shadow Hunters, the Enil War Dancers who dance wildly on the death line, and the disciplined Asur Sea Guards.

The operation was jointly commanded by Elsin Alwyn's Shadow Hunter leader, Adria, the "Human Widow Slayer" Trunkas, and the Sea Guard commander stationed at Marienburg. (Chapter 834)
At present, the deployment of the Sea Guard is quite scattered. A small part was drawn by Darrowland to participate in the siege of Tal Achar; a small part of that is stationed in various fortresses, Marienburg and Brione to continue to undertake defensive tasks; another part is stationed near Wildwood Island, staring at the Duruch Navy which was also deployed there, quietly waiting for the Battle of Lorthern to end; and a part is going to sea with Renn to carry out a secret mission.

Another portion was deployed to Lorthern; these sea guards were all Lorthern sea guards.

This is the day of the Battle of Lorthorn.

Garian, with a red ribbon tied around his waist, was sitting, but he was not in Lorthorn's sanctuary, nor on the city wall near the vast ocean, but on the deck of the dragon ship, the Aetheron.

The long-unseen wooden deck trembled slightly, carrying the salty smell of the sea and the soft creaking of the mast, always giving him an involuntary sense of being in another world: as if the day he finished his service and this moment were only a breath apart.

With the arrival of Duruci, his days as the owner of the Golden Lion Bar came to an end.

The bar that had been converted from a warehouse was requisitioned by Duruci and turned into a military mess hall to supply food to the troops stationed nearby.

The Duruci officer who signed him up explained it quite logically: "After the renovation, you can cook here, and after the war, you might even save on renovation costs."

The tone was calm and natural, as if discussing the weather rather than requisitioning a person's entire future.

He had staked his entire fortune on the Golden Lion Bar, and when the bar was requisitioned, his wealth was transformed into the bulging bag of coins in his arms. With the slightest movement, the bag would produce a crisp, melodious metallic clinking sound, even more pleasant than the clinking of glasses and plates in the Golden Lion Bar.

However, the voice also seemed to be a reminder, reminding him that all he had left was this heavy bag of coins.

He is now homeless.

Fortunately, the bonds between the members of the Seaguard remained strong even after his service ended, and the Cherion family accepted him back.

Lilian tidied up his room and laid out clean sheets, while Karendir quietly placed an old-fashioned oil lamp by his bedside—its familiar shape left Lilian speechless for a moment.

Regrettably……

Gone, all gone, turned into ruins.

The good news is…

Garian and the person sitting in front of him, Cherion, were unaware of this.

On his first night at Cherion's house, he didn't sleep a wink. He just sat there quietly, his mind racing with thoughts. It was like the oppressive air before a storm—damp, sticky, and suffocating. His hand touched the faded red ribbon, as if touching the past, or perhaps some unawakened responsibility.

At the moment the sun broke through the sky, he made his decision.

Fight for the Phoenix King!

So he enlisted a second time and became a naval guard once again.

Then he appeared on the deck of the Etherion.

Everything familiar yet strange unfolded beneath my feet: ropes, masts, weapon racks, and the salty, pungent smell of Haiwei on the deck.

As for why he was on the Aetheron, and where he was going next, he had no idea. Not only did he not know, but his comrades Cherion, Theresa, and Verain also didn't know, and the ordinary soldiers didn't know either.

Only the sea helmets' movements, commands, and gazes revealed a tense premonition, like the moment before a storm is about to tear through the clouds.

All he knew was that he was a soldier and had to obey orders.

"reef!"

When Delamar's voice echoed across the deck, the sea guards who had been sitting on small stools began to move.

The snapping sound of the mast ropes tightening swept across the ship's side as the sea guards, transformed into sailors, leaped upwards on the rope nets like spiders climbing a storm.

But Galian didn't move.

As a retired sea guard, he possessed the skills of a sailor, but he didn't need to move around like one. Because he was a second-time enlistmentee, his skills had become somewhat rusty, and he didn't have the opportunity for rehabilitation training; he was directly assigned to the combat ranks.

He sat on the bench with his hands on his knees, maintaining the traditional posture of Haiwei, waiting for the slaughter to come.

He sat watching his comrades work, watching Theresa nimbly climb to the top of the mainmast and hang a flag that was unfamiliar to him.

The flag fluttered in the wind, its black and silver colors forming a sharp symbol that foreshadowed some significant action.

As he looked around, he gazed into the distance. To his right stretched an endless horizon, but to his left… he couldn’t see the horizon; it was obscured by mist.

The mist wasn't a naturally formed soft white, but rather a thick wall of fog with a faint iridescent sheen, as if even light hesitated to penetrate it.

Although he didn't know why the sails were being lowered or what the destination was, he could vaguely sense that it was all related to the existence hidden in the mist. Otherwise, why would he lower the sails?

His first feeling about the fog wasn't danger, but rather to avoid it!

Like a giant sea monster breathing with its eyes closed, ships must remain still and wait.

Five minutes later, the Etherion came to a stop on the sea.

The entire ship seemed to hold its breath in deep water; even the waves were unusually calm, but Galian's heart was beating even louder.

Along with the Etherion, five other falcon ships that had accompanied it also came to a stop.

The sea surface rippled slightly, and the six ships seemed to be stopped by some invisible force, remaining still on the relatively calm sea in front of the fog.

"That's it?" Imralion frowned, his tone a mixture of dissatisfaction and barely suppressed agitation.

“What else?” asked Ryan, who was sitting by the helm. He crossed his arms, seemingly taking it all in stride.

Delamal and Imralion exchanged a glance, hesitant to speak, yet still wanting to. The sea breeze ruffled their cloaks, and the gentle metallic clanging of ropes striking the masts echoed from the deck, a reminder to them to remain composed.

The question was asked by Imralion, who meant that he could ride the giant eagle to do something proactive, instead of being so passive.

"Wait half an hour, trust me!" Ryan said with certainty, as he rolled up his sleeve and pointed to the watch on his left wrist.

However, it turned out that it didn't even take half an hour.

Less than ten minutes later, a formation of Pterodactyls emerged from the mist on the left side of the Etherion, towards the direction of the mist.

The mist seemed to be torn open by some force, and damp, cold air rushed in with the flapping of the pterosaurs. Multiple pairs of huge wings struck the air, creating waves that spread outwards across the sea.

The Etheron and its five falcon ships remained motionless, as did the sea guards, showing no sign of engagement. The eagle claw ballistae were still covered by tarpaulins, and some simply looked up to observe.

The Asur were no strangers to the flying creatures pterosaurs. The fleet, consisting of the flagship Atheron, was stationed at Dawn Fortress year-round. Most of the Asur on these six ships were also stationed at Dawn Fortress, which was located in the southernmost part of the Southlands.

On the edge of that scorching and humid jungle, the pterosaur was a constant companion.

The Asur members were also familiar with the situation. Along with Duruchi, a Pterodactyl flight formation also came to Lorthion. When operating in Lorthion, the Pterodactyls could often be seen by looking up.

Over time, the shadows that sweep across your head can even give you a sense of security.

After approaching the Etherion, the Pterosaur formation did not land directly, but circled around the Etherion. After circling three times, one of the Pterosaurs began to descend, and eventually the Pterosaur stopped on the deck of the Etherion.

The heavy claws pounded on the wooden deck with a low creak, while the pterosaur's vertical pupils scanned its surroundings warily.

Under the watchful eyes of the Asur, the spirit lizard atop the pterosaur's back picked up its staff and then nimbly leaped onto the deck. Its movements were so light as if it had never been bound by gravity, and the soft thud of the staff hitting the ground was exceptionally clear in the silence.

The moment the staff touched the deck, Raine appeared in front of the spirit lizard and said something the Asur couldn't understand.

The lizard tilted its head and sized up Renn. The next moment, it began to hiss and crackle. The sound was like wet stones rubbing against each other, or like fragments of some ancient incantation.

"Why are you here?"

“Umak has given me a task!” After saying that, Raine seemed to anticipate what the Lizard Priest was going to do next, and he turned his body to the side.

Just as he had predicted, upon hearing the word "Umak," the lizard priest bowed and praised Umak.

That was the lizard's usual gesture of respect—exaggerated, devout, swift, and perfectly in sync with the ritual.

"What do you need me to do?" the lizard priest asked after the ceremony.

“Zetlan!” Raine said, pointing towards the mist.

The lizard priest nodded, then began to examine the ship.

His gaze slid from the mast to the helm, then down to the ropes wrapped around the deck, scrutinizing every detail as if assessing whether the ship could withstand the upcoming action.

Once again, Raine pointed to the stern tower with lightning speed and precision, as if he not only knew what the Spirit Lizard wanted to see, but also what it would do next and even what it would say.

It's because the dragon boat stopped here for the first time.

Five minutes later, the five harpoons surrounding the Etherion moved, forming a 212 formation with the Etherion at the center. This meant two harpoons were positioned in a single file on the port side of the Etherion, one harpoon was positioned behind the Etherion, and the other two harpoons were positioned in a single file on the starboard side of the Etherion.

The wooden hulls glided gently across the sea, their masts casting long, thin shadows in the fog. The six ships, like runes in some ancient ritual, were precisely arranged in a predetermined pattern.

Once the formation was complete, the Etheron and its five falcon ships moved and headed towards the mist.

The waves pushed open by the ship's hull left intermittent white lines on its side, as if writing a prologue into the unknown during this brief moment of tranquility.

The fog grew thicker and thicker, rising from the sea like the slow, white breath of a giant beast.

This lizard priest was transferred from Itaza and has been stationed in Nakhto for many years. His task is not to manage Nakhto, but to monitor, warn, and guide.

There are five temple cities in the Southland Jungle: the core city of Zetland, Nakhto which faces Zetland across the sea, as well as Kosiota, Tarraqua, and Totiathe.

Geographically, Nahto is similar to Çanakkale, which guards the Sea of ​​Marmara, also known as the Dardanelles Strait, while Zetland is similar to Constantinople.

Or, to put it another way, Bohai, Weihai, and the capital region.

When Duruci's Black Ark or fleet appears here and stops at the designated location, he is responsible for verifying their identities. After verification, he is responsible for guiding the fleet into the fog and arriving at Zetland.

If the ships anchored here are not Duruqi's fleet, then he is responsible for monitoring them; if any unfamiliar ships head straight into the fog, then he is responsible for issuing warnings and even launching attacks.

In fact, he had already discovered this before the Asur fleet even arrived, because the Time Sentinels were deployed in Nakhto.

All of this was done to protect Zetland.

In the new version of the grand plan, Zetland is not just a city; it is more like a cornerstone that supports the jungles of the Southland. If it is shaken, the entire Southland will be affected.

It is worth noting that the Pterosaur formation that accompanied him had anti-submarine capabilities.

The moment he entered the mist, Raine summoned Thelmara.

Accompanying Azsalion and Bel-Ayhor to Nagarus were ten Sea Guards, three of whom died in battle outside Gorund after only a few days.

The other seven are still alive and well, and have lived to this day.

Thelmara was one of these seven. He was also present when Dakous visited the Duruci version of the Albatross-class merchant ship. After hearing Verissa's introduction, he interrupted Verissa's introduction with an extremely shocked tone.

And he was on this ship because… (End of Chapter)