To be precise, the disturbance wasn't limited to the sea around the destroyer. The entire area seemed to be boiling, churning with countless bubbles that frothed on the surface.
The deep blue seawater gradually turned milky white, and a faint roaring sound reached the ears of the Sakura Prefecture soldiers.
"What's going on?"
"Did you hear that? Is that some kind of sound?"
Though they couldn't fully grasp the situation, anyone with a shred of common sense knew that diving into the water was the last thing they should do.
In the next instant, some distance from the destroyer, the sea surface rapidly swelled. A streak of red shot out of the water and soared into the sky—unmistakably SAM.
At the point where he broke the surface, it looked as if an explosion had erupted. Tremendous kinetic energy radiated outward, creating a series of massive waves that surged toward all the surrounding destroyers.
"Everyone hold on tight!" the captain shouted the moment he saw the sight. Within seconds, massive waves crashed against the ship in relentless succession, shaking it violently.
Five destroyers were scattered across the sea, each facing the waves at a different angle. Those positioned head-on endured the least impact, while those broadside to the onslaught had no time to maneuver. The instant the wave crashed against their hulls, a deafening whump reverberated across the water.
Despite their preparations, most of the crew instantly lost their balance and tumbled to the deck as the ships lurched violently. Fortunately, these were military-grade vessels, built to withstand such forces; a civilian ship might have capsized completely.
"Wh-what was that?!" As the crew scrambled to their feet, their attention naturally focused on SAM, who hovered in the air. Disbelief etched across their faces.
SAM floated about five meters above the waterline, calmly observing the sea as if waiting for something. She couldn't decide whether to admire the fishmen's tenacity or pity their foolish persistence in relentlessly pursuing her all the way from the depths of fifteen hundred meters.
The next instant, the sea's color deepened dramatically as countless dark green shadows surged from the depths, bursting violently to the surface!
These fishmen couldn't fly, of course, but their incredible speed and momentum allowed them to leap five meters out of the water with ease. Yet, faced with this spectacle, SAM simply raised his right hand slowly, clenched his fist, and swung it down.
It was an utterly plain strike, an ordinary punch, but the moment it struck the first fishman, searing flames erupted. They pierced through the creature's body and incinerated every fishman that had leaped from the water behind it!
BOOM!!!
To the soldiers on the nearby destroyer, it was as if a second sun had blazed into existence in the sky. The blinding firelight forced them to shield their eyes.
After consuming all the fishmen above the surface, the flames crashed into the water itself. Massive plumes of steam instantly engulfed the battlefield. With a single strike, SAM had annihilated at least dozens of the creatures.
Yet against their overwhelming numbers, it was barely a dent.
"@#¥...&!!!"
At that moment, a cacophony of strange, garbled sounds erupted from beneath the surface. To Firefly's surprise, the fishmen still submerged in the water suddenly scattered, swimming toward the nearby destroyers.
Could these fishmen actually speak? Or at least communicate with each other? Do they possess intelligence?
Firefly paused, momentarily stunned. Then, noticing the destroyers herself, she frowned slightly. She hadn't been paying attention to the surface of the sea; this situation was purely coincidental.
There was no doubt these ships were a liability. Otherwise, she could have easily flown away or hovered above the water, picking off the fishmen one by one as they approached. She had plenty of options.
But with the destroyers present, she now had to consider how to protect the ordinary people on board.
Fortunately, this wasn't much of a challenge for her. SAM executed a textbook Knight's Kick, aiming not at a specific monster, but at the sea itself!
The instant her foot made contact with the water, searing flames erupted from her leg. Planting her toes firmly on the surface, she swept her leg in a wide arc.
"I will set the seas ablaze!"
A wave of fire erupted from SAM, rapidly spreading in all directions and engulfing the entire area. At that moment, a raging inferno ignited across the sea's surface!
He had literally set the sea on fire!
While SAM had technically released his energy to ignite the surface, the visual effect was indistinguishable from the sea itself catching fire.
Only then did the crew on the destroyers realize what was happening. They stood frozen on deck, staring in disbelief at the spectacle unfolding before them.
"W-what the hell is going on?!"
"Where the hell did this come from? Is this even the sea anymore?"
"Holy shit!? The sea... the sea's on fire?!"
"Aaaah! It's scalding!"
One crew member accidentally brushed his hand against the ship's railing and recoiled instantly, his hand burned. By now, the entire destroyer had become searingly hot.
This was actually the result of Firefly deliberately holding back, maintaining a moderate temperature. Had she wished, melting these ships would have been child's play for her.
After the sea ignited, the intense heat prevented the fishmen, who had gathered around the destroyers, from leaping out of the water to attack the crew. They lingered for a while, but after several fishmen tried to breach the surface and were incinerated, the remaining creatures slowly retreated, vanishing from Firefly's sight.
She gradually extinguished the flames and flew toward the destroyers. SAM, using a voice modulator, spoke with a cool, mechanical tone: "Leave this sea area!"
Without hesitation, all five destroyers immediately turned and began to withdraw.
Although SAM wasn't their superior and they didn't recognize him, they executed his order with remarkable efficiency.
Then again, who in their right mind would dare defy SAM after witnessing that fiery spectacle?
Those men would likely never forget that sea of fire for the rest of their lives.