The town of Oceanside smelled like salt, fish, and money.
Massive ships lined the docks as far as the eye could see. Sailors shouted across loading ramps while merchants argued over prices with enough passion to start wars.
Fishmongers hauled in catches larger than horses.
Children ran through the streets carrying baskets of shellfish.
Sea birds circled overhead screaming like unpaid debt collectors.
And in the center of all of it—
Jax Darquebane stood smiling like a child in a toy store.
"This," he said proudly, "is exactly what I wanted."
Bunny looked around excitedly.
"There's so much food!"
Lexi stared toward the ocean.
"It's so BIG."
Llandra, meanwhile, was already analyzing the port.
"The defenses here are terrible."
Jax nodded.
"Yep."
She blinked.
"You agree?"
"Absolutely."
"…And you're smiling?"
"Because that means opportunities."
Llandra sighed.
That answer somehow explained everything about Jax.
Oceanside had once technically belonged to the Empire.
Now it flourished under United Kingdom trade.
The harbor had doubled in size over the past two years.
Fishing exports alone had become one of the largest industries on the continent.
And thanks to portal trade routes—
Fresh seafood reached Solmere within hours instead of weeks.
Jax considered that one of his greatest achievements.
Not the portals.
Not the politics.
Fresh crab.
Barb arrived at the docks with her two sons already arguing with a shipwright.
The older beastkin woman looked completely in her element.
"What do you mean it can't support modifications?" Barb barked.
The shipwright pointed defensively.
"It wasn't built for dimensional expansion!"
"That sounds like coward talk."
Jax arrived beside her.
"How's it going?"
Barb pointed toward the harbor proudly.
"I found your ship."
Then Jax saw it.
And immediately grinned.
"Oh… that's beautiful."
The vessel was enormous.
Four full decks.
Dark polished wood reinforced with enchanted metal plating.
Massive white sails with gold trim.
Elegant without looking fragile.
Powerful without looking brutish.
It was less a ship and more a floating palace.
Lexi's eyes widened.
"We're taking THAT?"
Bunny was already climbing the loading ramp.
"I CALL FIRST BED!"
Nyxian's voice echoed from behind.
"You sleep upside down half the time. You don't deserve bed priority."
Jax purchased the ship within the hour.
The previous owner nearly fainted after hearing the amount offered.
Jax named it immediately.
"The Horizon."
Llandra folded her arms.
"That sounds suspiciously optimistic."
"Adventure requires optimism."
"Adventure usually requires preparation."
"That too."
Then Barb and her sons went to work.
And work was apparently an understatement.
The dimensional housing modules had already been partially completed beforehand.
Barb called them: "Portable dimensional anchor units."
Jax called them: "Luxury magic apartments."
Barb preferred his version.
The first dimensional unit became the Vixens' quarters.
The moment Jax stepped inside, even he paused.
"Barb…"
The inside was massive.
Far larger than the exterior space should logically allow.
A full living room sat near the center with luxurious couches and enchanted lighting.
A massive kitchen lined one wall.
Storage rooms.
Bathing area.
Private bedrooms.
And at the far end—
One gigantic master suite.
Bunny immediately dove face first onto the bed.
"This thing is HUGE!"
Nyxian smirked.
"Well… it needed to be."
Lexi nearly tripped over herself laughing.
Even Llandra turned slightly red.
Jax wisely decided not to comment.
The crew quarters were equally impressive.
Barb had designed separate rooms connected to a communal lounge area.
Large kitchen.
Dining hall.
Bathing rooms.
Storage.
Even entertainment areas.
Jax blinked.
"This is nicer than most inns."
Barb crossed her arms proudly.
"Good workers deserve comfort."
One of her sons added: "And happy crews don't mutiny."
"…That too," Barb admitted.
The best part was the modular design.
The dimensional spaces could be transferred between ships if needed.
Only a handful of magical anchor points needed installation.
Barb explained it proudly while pointing at glowing rune circles.
"If the ship sinks, the dimensional units remain intact."
Jax stared at her.
"You planned for ship sinking?"
"I plan for everything."
Jax nodded respectfully.
"That's honestly terrifying."
Over the next several days, the Horizon transformed into the most advanced ship on the continent.
Enchanted reinforcement plating.
Mana assisted steering.
Water purification systems.
Enhanced sails.
Magical refrigeration.
Emergency portal anchors.
Llandra looked increasingly concerned each day.
"At what point does this stop being a ship?"
Jax answered immediately.
"When I add cannons."
Nyxian looked delighted.
Llandra looked exhausted.
Their next stop was Brannic and Merriweather.
The moment they entered the workshop, Merriweather zipped through the air dramatically.
"My favorite troublemakers have arrived!"
The fairy immediately landed on Jax's shoulder.
"Tell me you're heading somewhere dangerous."
"The Dark Continent."
Merriweather's smile widened.
"Oh good. I was worried life was becoming too stable."
Brannic emerged from the forge wiping sweat from his beard.
"You people ever take vacations?"
"We ARE preparing for vacation," Jax answered.
Brannic stared at him.
"…You define vacations strangely."
Weapons and armor inspections began immediately.
Peacemaker received additional reinforcement enchantments.
Requiem was recalibrated.
Llandra's Starpiercer glowed brilliantly during tuning.
Bunny's hammer nearly shattered one of the testing platforms.
Again.
Merriweather added several new enchantments to everyone's armor.
"Underwater breathing."
"Pressure resistance."
"Emergency flotation."
Nyxian blinked.
"Flotation?"
Merriweather nodded proudly.
"If you fall into the ocean, your armor will act as a life preserver."
Nyxian slowly turned toward Bunny.
"To be fair… she already comes with natural flotation devices."
Bunny gasped dramatically.
"YOURS are almost as big!"
Both women immediately turned toward the fairies.
Pixelle froze.
"…Why are you both looking at us like that?"
Nyxian pointed accusingly.
"Merriweather should start with your armor."
Lexi immediately expanded into full size.
"Excuse me?! Mine are practically on par with Nyxian's!"
Nyxian stared at her chest.
"…You know what? Fair."
Pixelle crossed her tiny arms.
"I refuse to participate in this ridiculous competition."
Bunny pointed.
"That's because you'd lose."
Pixelle puffed up angrily.
"I am proportionally magnificent!"
Jax slowly backed away from the argument.
Brannic watched him retreat.
"Smart move."
"I've learned survival instincts."
Several weeks later, everyone's equipment reached absurd levels of enhancement.
Merriweather floated proudly in the air.
"If any of you die now, it'll be emotionally insulting."
Their final major stop was Grathok.
The troll businessman sat behind an enormous desk reviewing trade manifests.
Unlike his old rougher days, Grathok now wore elegant suits almost exclusively.
Though the massive knives at his belt remained.
He looked up when Jax entered.
"Ah. My favorite source of profitable nightmares."
"Good to see you too."
Jax sat across from him.
"I need information."
"That usually means danger."
"Dark Continent."
Grathok became immediately serious.
Even his expression darkened slightly.
"That place…"
He leaned back slowly.
"There are creatures there even I've never seen personally."
That got Jax's attention.
"You interested?"
Grathok laughed deeply.
"Interested? Absolutely."
Then his eyes gleamed greedily.
"If you somehow encounter a Void Serpent… bring me the scales."
He began listing creatures rapidly.
Abyssal Krakens.
Ironhide Leviathans.
Nightfang Panthers.
Crystal Spine Hydras.
Even Brannic had apparently requested materials beforehand.
"Everyone's making shopping lists now?" Jax asked.
"Yes," Grathok answered immediately.
"Because you're insane enough to actually find these things."
As Jax left Grathok's office later that evening, he looked toward the ocean.
The Horizon rested in the harbor glowing softly beneath enchanted lanterns.
Massive.
Beautiful.
Ready.
Behind him, the Vixens laughed together while arguing over cabin assignments.
Pixelle was still insisting she deserved the largest room because: "Royal fairy status matters."
Nyxian kept teasing Bunny about buoyancy enchantments.
Lexi was pretending not to care while secretly measuring herself against Nyxian in reflective windows.
Llandra was already organizing expedition supply manifests.
And for the first time since the war ended—
Jax felt truly excited again.
Not for battle.
Not for conquest.
But for discovery.
Beyond the horizon waited mysteries untouched for generations.
The Dark Continent.
The shattered barriers.
The truth about summoned heroes.
And maybe—
The truth about himself.