Chapter 963: The Strange Bloods Explained
‘So…all of these guys got weird physiques too?’
‘Huh…what’s the longer explanation?’
=Back when the Storm Queen and he knights were running around, she would occasionally let them go on holiday like you do with yours.=
‘Okay…’
‘What do you-oh…do I want to know how intimate or…’
=The Storm Knights were very attractive in both their kaijin forms and human forms.=
‘Ah.’
<=Anyways, due to this horndog behavior, the amount of Kaijin blooded descendants in Roaring Tide is ranked second in terms of overall populations.=>
‘I se-wait a minute, second? Which continent is home to the most then?’
<=Umbral Spider.=>
‘That…makes a little too much sense. Wait, I’m getting distracted…what’s up with these Strange Bloods exactly?’
=Oh…we don’t know.=
‘Of course…’
…
[Are…are they just gonna keep bowing like this or what?,] Razorstella asked.
[I think they’re waiting for the maestro to prompt them or something.]
[Minn jarl…]
“Oh right, uh…stand back up?”
[…]
“Why aren’t they…oh, right.”
It took this exact moment for Zhen Liu to realize that it was highly possible that the Strange Bloods probably didn’t speak any other languages besides [Chaos] or Tide Tongue.
[Sit back up.]
[Yes, Kaijin Lord!]
Once they understood Zhen Liu’s words, the Strange Bloods proceeded to cooperate with one another to return themselves to a seated position. After all, they were still tied up.
That stated, their expressions in this moment went from being filled with despair, to being filled with dogmatic loyalty.
It was a bit unsettling seeing a group of rough and tumble [Chaos] wielding warriors looking like puppy dogs, but that was probably just a Zhen Liu thing.
[Alright, Chief Tusk was it?]
[Yes, Kaijin Lord!]
[You can just call me Zhen Liu.]
[Yes, Kaijin Lord Zhen Liu!]
‘Oh gods above and below, it’s that kind of trope? Fuck it, whatever,’ Zhen Liu mentally grumbled before moving right along to the important shit.
[Alright, why did you and your mates attack my group? I’m fairly certain that it involves that floating wreck over there, given the way y’all are looking at it, so what gives?]
[It is a sacred duty that was passed down to us from our ancestors, your predecessors, the Storm Knights.]
When Chief Tusk said the word, “predecessors”, he made it a point to gesture with his head towards the kaijin, not Zhen Liu.
Implicitly, they understood what Chief Tusk meant.
Emotionally, they had no idea how to process the idea that their predecessors, and by extension themselves, could have mortal children.
They knew it was possible, based on archived records, but it was another thing entirely when they were physical and visual confirmation.
As for Zhen Liu, he needed a little more information than that.
[Right…sacred duty…mind elaborating on that?]
[Actually, it’d be easier to show you. Boys?]
With the orders given, the Strange Bloods proceeded to take big gulps of air in a coordinated manner. As they did, [Chaos] began to build up in their throats.
None of the kaijin sensed any hostile intent from the action, but Chief Tusk still explained what was going on to them.
[Our blood can be traced back all the way to Sir Marlancer, Sir Krakelios, Sir Hammer fang and, well, you get the idea,] Chief Tusk explained while taking in a gulp of air as well.
Surprisingly though, he could still hold a conversation.
[And it’s thanks to that blood that we can carry not only their stories, but the stories of their descendants, our ancestors and everyone in-between. All we need is a little Chaos and aether.]
[Kaijin Art: Blood Ink Record!]
Fwooo!
[Whoa!]
[Gross.]
[Wait, can we do that too?]
Simultaneously, the Strange Bloods released a cloud of black mist that vaguely smelled of iron.
The clouds then proceeded to pool together until they formed a swirling projection of sorts, that depicted a time when the Endless Swamplands were a little less intense.
[Huh. Projected flashback powers. Neat.]
“Wait, why is there no color?,” Bellona pointed out.
“Or sound,” Alicia added.
Since the two of them were regulars at the library, they weren’t shocked by the projection thing, they were surprised at the lack of details that they had gotten used to.
[What did the consorts say?,] one of the Strange Bloods asked.
[They’re asking about the lack of color and sound,] Nepherage answered.
[Ah.]
[It’s a known limitation of the art,] Chief Tusk explained. [We of the Strange Bloods can hear it, but others can’t.]
[Same with the colors?,] Zhen Liu asked.
[No, the memories just lack color for some reason.]
[Huh. Weird.]
[But, we are quite adept at narrating so others don’t get lost.]
[We can also provide voices!,] Shell of the Strange Bloods added. <
[Huh…alright.]
“Wait, could they speak Tide Tongue this whole time?”
________________________________________
At the edges of the Endless Swamplands, far from the territories of the warring clans and beastial kings, was a small tribe known as the Strange Bloods.
By every metric the Strange Bloods could be considered the lowest of the lows in the social hierarchy of the swamp because of how weak they were perceived by the wider world.
But that was far from the truth.
…
[Humble brag much?]
“I literally can’t judge them for that.”
…
In reality, the Strange Bloods were the descendants of powerful warriors that defied the very laws of this world, the Storm Knights.
…
[Huh…I remember three of them, the rest are new.]
[Wait, is that Marlancer?! He looks so…thin.]
[And not crazy.]
[Abomination breakdown, not even once.]
…
And not only that, but the Strange Bloods had a teacher and provider that was none other than the leader of the Storm Knights, the Invulnerable Storm Queen.
…
[Whoa!]
[That’s the Storm Queen? Damn, she’s gorgeous!]
“That’s Jin Fang’s mother? She looks just like her.”
“In a more filled out sort of way, sure.”
“That’s a big ass trident.”
“That’s what you’re focusing on?”*2
[I’m more concerned that nobody knows her name…]
…
For years, the Storm Queen and the Storm Knights taught the Strange Bloods everything they needed to survive and thrive in the Endless Swamps, making sure that while we weren’t the biggest threat in the waters, that everyone would think twice about fighting them.
…
[This sounds idyllic as hell.]
[Wait for it.]
…
Until one day…something out of the ordinary occurred.
…
“There it is.”
…
It was a day like any other, the birds were singing, the fish were jumping and the turtles were bubbling.
The Strange Bloods were all set to go and do a day of hunting, gathering and general cultivation…but the sudden arrival of their progenitors.
Splash
Especially when they arrived in their fame galleon…that was filled to the brim with scared and battered people.
…
[Wait…that’s the vessel we just dug up from the bottom of the swamp, right?]
[It is.]
[So why does it look so…different?]
[Screw that, why do those people look so…scared?]
…
Confused, we asked what had caused this sudden visit.
We hoped it was for the best, but it turned out to be the worst.
[Undertow is under attack. The Queen has commanded that we evacuate as many as the civilians as we can. Can we count on you to protect our people while we make the rounds.]
[Of course!]
[Thank you.]
…
“What got someone like the Storm Queen do something like this?”
…
Over the course of mere hours, the [Strom Queen’s Galleon] dove and returned from the [Abyssal Lands] over a dozen times. Each time it dove and resurfaced, it brought with it over a hundred refugees at once, accompanied by a Storm Knight, or multiple knights.
Each group looking more and more battered than the previous batch.
Until the ship dove and resurfaced once last time, carrying only three people aboard.
Marlancer of the Storm Knights…
[Hurry now, take the princess to safety! And protect the ship!]
A boon companion of the Storm Queen, whose name was lost to the sands of time…
“I will, I will! Now go and help the others!”
[Don’t have to tell me twice.]
“Wah…”
“Shhh, shh, it’s okay. It’s okay…”
And a small little girl, wrapped in a blanket carrying the emblem of the Storm Queen.
________________________________________
[…shortly after this event, we of the Strange Bloods were tasked with guarding the galleon the day that her inheritor would come and we would bestow upon them the means to-]
[HOLD THE FUCK UP!,] Zhen Liu suddenly interjected with a yell that shocked everyone, including the kaijin.
Chief Tusk felt a little miffed about being interrupted, but he could also sense Zhen Liu had a fairly good reason why he interrupted, he just needed to hear it.
[First off, in lieu of my predecessor, I salute thee and your warriors for a duty well-deserved in protecting this vessel.]
[Thank you, Kaijin Lord Zhen Liu.]
[Second, could you possibly go back to the part where the galleon had delivered it’s last set of passengers? There’s something I need to see.]
[Uh…sure.]
