Volume One

Chapter One: Five Stars in Alignment

　　Fate is both an end and a beginning.

　　The vast, boundless sea, the beautiful night sky—a super battleship, a miracle in itself, is riding the waves, like a fierce beast stirring up clouds and rain.

　　"Congratulations, Prince, Princess. Upon your return, you can inherit the throne. The era of our Kaliya Kingdom's revival is about to arrive!" The royal grand mage Martin was overjoyed; this was the light Kaliya had awaited for so long.

　　Prince Alexander Hamilton was also very happy. Gazing at the vast sea, his days as a hostage were now gone forever. A new chapter was finally unfolding. He would unify the continent, then conquer the sea tribe, and establish the greatest dynasty.

　　Precisely because he had been a hostage, his ambition, his aspirations, his patience, and his insight far surpassed those of ordinary kings.

　　Unlike the prince, the princess's gaze was entirely on the baby in her arms. Nothing in the world was as important as a single strand of her baby's hair. Her beautiful face constantly radiated the greatest motherly love. The struggles and ambitions of men had nothing to do with her.

　　After ten years as a hostage, he was finally returning home. His father had developed this invincible anti-magic sea fortress—a miracle beyond imagination. Even the sea tribe would have to yield. The era of Kaliya was about to be born in his hands.

　　"Princess, don't worry. I will make our son the most glorious person on this continent!" the prince said confidently, his gaze toward his son full of hope for the future.

　　Everything was filled with joy, but suddenly, the once-dark sea lit up. Five moons appeared in the sky. With six moons, the sky was filled with a dim glow, and the sea roared like an enraged beast.

　　Everyone was stunned by this strange sight, but the royal grand mage Martin's face turned deathly pale. He muttered, "Five stars in alignment, five stars in alignment—it really exists. The prophecy has begun..."

　　The sea does not understand the hearts of men. Waves over twenty meters high crashed against the ship. The Titanic-class ship, said to be unsinkable and the continent's number one warship, shook violently. The defensive magic array on the hull burst with dazzling light. Crafted by over a hundred mages, its defense against water magic was said to be the best on the continent, but even now it was struggling.

　　Their opponent was not the sea tribe's mages, but the endless ocean itself, and the eternal, invincible power of nature.

　　Soon, the immense energy made the defensive magic array falter. The people on board finally realized their predicament. But in the vast sea, even a grand mage had little chance of survival. Cries, chaos, the sound of the storm—this was the theme.

　　Martin was ranked among the top three mages in the continent's mage guild. At this moment, he was the only one able to remain calm. This was the first requirement of a mage. He knew that life and death hung by a thread.

　　"Mage, please take the prince and go. We have no hope. Please, you must take him and escape safely!" Prince Alexander Hamilton shakily grabbed the mage's robe. Though he was a high-level warrior, in this situation there was no chance of survival. Only a mage could do it, and Martin was the continent's most powerful wind mage.

　　All ambitions were now empty. The prince and princess's only hope was for their bloodline to survive, and only Martin had that ability.

　　There was hardly time for extra words. The Titanic-class ship, said to be so strong even the gods would marvel, was already breaking apart. People fell helplessly into the sea. Occasionally, some mages tried to use magic to stay afloat, but were instantly swallowed by the giant waves.

　　In the face of such great and cruel power, all resistance was futile.

　　Perhaps the heavens truly are cruel. The raging wind, rain, and waves were not enough—bolts of lightning shot toward the Titanic-class ship. The deafening thunder drowned out all other sounds, leaving only absolute silence in their ears.

　　As a grand mage, Martin had only one thought in his mind: to ensure the safety of the baby in his arms. He was the kingdom's only hope, the sole heir. It was unimaginable what would become of Kaliya if the heir was lost.

　　Mage Martin's lifelong mastery of wind magic was now being used to its fullest. He knew resistance was useless; he had to yield to the power of nature. The Titanic-class ship beneath his feet was already mostly silent, but the prince and princess's gaze was deeply imprinted in his mind.

　　Why did it have to be like this? Why!

　　God, this is too unfair. The prince had endured ten years of hardship and was about to succeed, only to be met with death—meaningless death.