Above The Sky-Chapter 1775 - 352: Lightning Squirrel and Iron Raccoon
New Continent.
Eastern coast of the Endless Ocean, Dawn Harbor.
One hundred and twenty years ago, pioneers from Far Shore Island set sail on the most advanced steam-powered long-distance ships of their time towards the other side of the Endless Ocean on the western side of Terra Continent, eventually reaching the New Continent.
According to the intelligence from the high-level Ascendants of that time, although the New Continent was barren and desolate, being a nascent land, it possessed a wealth of precious mineral resources. Even though Far Shore Island was not short of minerals, the ample rare minerals in the New Continent still held significant mining value, attracting a group of adventurers.
At that time, as Far Shore Island was contending with the Tranquil Sea Nations for the ’Life-Extending Marvel’ deep within the Tranquil Sea, a large number of Ascendants remained on the mainland. This exploration team had only two members at the Second Energy Level, making them somewhat stretched when facing the endless ocean’s crises.
Due to the Endless Ocean’s whirlpools, Sea Beast attacks, and abnormal magnetic field changes, only six out of a total of fifteen ships eventually reached the New Continent.
Of the surviving 486 pioneers, only 129 lived until the arrival of the second fleet, with one of the two Second Energy Level members perishing.
A nearly three-quarters death rate, for two reasons.
First, the New Continent’s natural Origin Quality field and Domain of Void are extremely abnormal. Simply put, the concentration of Origin Quality varies, as does Spirit Energy, making it difficult for humans accustomed to a stable environment to adapt.
Just as deep-water animals would die if brought to shallow water, and shallow-water animals would perish if brought to deep water, humans, as higher beings, found it hard to adapt to such drastic environmental changes. The pioneers could only dismantle the ships’ Alchemy Furnace Core to create Domain Towers, maintaining a stable Origin Quality environment.
Second, were the attacks from local Magical Beasts.
The Magical Beasts of the New Continent are, simply put, intelligent.
Or rather, these creatures are not so much beasts as they are intelligent beings with beastly powers.
The Magical Beasts of the New Continent bear some similarity to those native to Terra itself but are stronger and more intelligent—because only the outermost circle of the New Continent has a basic plant ecology. Most beasts inhabit the coastal areas, so the landing and camp-building activities of the pioneers seemed provocative, as if they were encroaching on territory.
The initial attacks were repelled by force by the pioneers without much thought. Normally, beasts would retreat after suffering heavy losses, but they did not realize these beasts’ intelligence had reached the point of remembering ’hatred’ and persistently ’seeking revenge.’
Thus, on every night that followed and every exploratory outing, they faced ambushes by local Magical Beasts.
The robust bodies of the local Magical Beasts could adapt to the New Continent’s abnormal natural environment, and their movements were far more agile than humans. In the first year, merely dealing with their harassment exhausted the pioneers’ energy.
Until the arrival of the second wave, the pioneers only managed to establish a basic food production system and a barely stable port covered with ruins and signs of destruction. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
Far Shore Island took the exploration team’s situation very seriously—because the sea battle in the Tranquil Sea between Far Shore Island and the Seven Cities Alliance ended in mutual ruin, with no victor. The Seven Cities Alliance, backed by The Empire’s financial support, recovered more rapidly, compelling Far Shore Island to contract its power and focus on the New Continent.
Unable to dominate the Tranquil Sea, Far Shore Island dispatched a professional army. Unable to defeat the Seven Cities Alliance, yet surely capable of defeating beasts? Indeed, under the suppression of Far Shore Island’s professional soldiers, the various beasts entangled with the pioneers were entirely eradicated, bringing long-lost peace to the port.
But the peace did not last long.
Due to the military oppression from Far Shore Islanders, the New Continent’s beasts, who possessed intelligence but had not developed due to a lack of pressure, were forced to unite... even forming several huge ’Magic Beast Kingdoms.’
Though they couldn’t truly be called kingdoms, at best, they were loosely grouped clusters of Wise Magical Beasts, but the Beast Kings, whom they invited, originally dormant, indeed possessed Fourth Energy Level strength.
With Fifth Energy Level needed to suppress the mainland, and Fourth Energy Level not easily stationed long-term on the New Continent, the presence of several Beast Kings was enough for Far Shore Island to sign a non-aggression agreement with them.
It sounds somewhat humiliating, but this actually accelerated Far Shore Island’s colonization of the New Continent significantly.
Because a vast area of the New Continent’s eastern coast was designated as ’Human Territory,’ with rare appearances of Wise Magical Beasts, the pioneers could develop freely, embarking on in-depth development and construction of the New Continent.
The once dilapidated and simple port transformed into today’s brilliant and dazzling Dawn Harbor, the brightest pearl of Far Shore Island on the New Continent.
Even at night, Dawn Harbor remains splendid and resplendent. The glow of Nevernight Harbor illuminates all around. The Tidal Power Station at the mouth of the fjord and geothermal energy provide nearly unlimited energy, stabilizing the natural environment, while Domain Towers stand tall around the port, maintaining a Land of Bliss.
Of course, for the people of Terra Continent, whether such a colony, where stepping out may mean sudden death, exploratory outings often encounter beast attacks, and one must work twelve hours a day, can be considered a Land of Bliss is indeed another matter. But for those living precariously, with lava rivers next to their homes, or sometimes having to sleep on boats adrift at sea, Far Shore Islanders consider being able to sleep safely in solid ground homes and to settle in areas without earthquakes and volcanic eruptions unequivocally a Land of Bliss.
