Chapter 55: Banner·Storm Frenzy Fist
Candle Island, near the coast.
A lone Spirit Fire Raft drifted on the Ocean, swaying with the waves.
However, beneath the seemingly calm surface, a turbulent undercurrent raged.
Two indistinct figures were locked in battle below, their forms a blurry, intersecting flicker.
Until... a flash of white sword light!
Beneath the waves, it was as if a brilliant flower of flame had bloomed, only to vanish in an instant.
The water beneath the Spirit Fire Raft gradually calmed.
A moment later, the sea’s surface broke. Brother Yu grabbed the edge of the Spirit Fire Raft and pulled himself up, a sinister, dark monster head in his hand.
The head had already begun turning to Ashes and was slowly dissipating.
But Brother Yu didn’t mind.
He wanted to watch the thing turn to Ashes and disappear.
Only after the last speck of the head had vanished did Brother Yu let out a sigh of relief.
’Vengeance is sweet... That felt good...’
The Giant-Tailed Sea Monster wasn’t exceptionally strong—it was still Residual Ash Tier—but it was clearly stronger than other monsters. Coupled with the Ocean’s restrictions on his Candle Spirit Body, the hunt had been quite difficult.
Li Miao and Faraway hadn’t paid this creature much mind.
So Brother Yu had scored the first kill.
Afterward, Brother Yu glanced at the murky, ping-pong-ball-sized pearl in his hand.
[Giant-Tailed Sea Monster Pearl]
[Type: Special Item]
[Effect: Unknown]
[Explanation: A special item dropped after killing a Giant-Tailed Sea Monster. It seems to contain a faint, special life-force.]
"What kind of drop is this? Not even any bait."
Brother Yu frowned.
But he had just gotten his revenge and was in a great mood, so there was no need to worry about such minor details.
After stowing the Giant-Tailed Sea Monster Pearl, Brother Yu hummed a little tune, took out his fishing rod, and prepared to find a good spot to cast a line.
「Exile Island.」
Faraway sat beside the Spirit Candle and began to recover his Physical Strength.
At the same time, he took out the Pirate Captain’s loot and began to appraise it.
[Appraising item...]
[Banner·Storm Frenzy Fist]
[Type: Skill Book]
[Quality: Embers]
[Effect: After charging for a moment, wreathe your fists in a lightning-infused hurricane to deal wide-area damage.]
[Explanation: The terrifying power of a Celestial Calamity inspires fear, but this world has never lacked Heroes. They are the ones who dare to fight storms with their bare fists!]
"A Banner... It really is just a piece of cloth."
Faraway examined the Banner in his hand, which looked a bit like a handkerchief.
[Plunderer’s Triangular Hat (Crude)]
[Type: Hat]
[Explanation: The hat from the head of the Pirate Captain. There are still some bloodstains on the brim. Mmm... it has a rich piratey aroma.]
"..."
Faraway gave it a single glance before silently tossing it into his Spirit Candle Space.
Setting aside its Defense Power, the hat was riddled with holes. Aesthetically, it was a rather niche choice.
Of course, you couldn’t rule out people who enjoyed a dilapidated style and liked to cosplay as desiccated corpses.
Meanwhile, after evading the Pillaging Ship, Li Miao had also arrived on Exile Island.
However, unlike Faraway and Brother Mangzi, after reaching Exile Island, Li Miao did not choose to attempt boarding the Pillaging Ship.
This was because he had discussed it with Faraway before they entered.
They had estimated that this Unknown Island might be quite large, and one night might not be enough time.
Therefore, the task of conducting a thorough, grid-by-grid search was left to Faraway, while he would be responsible for a rougher, preliminary exploration.
If they hadn’t finished exploring by morning in the real world, they would log off and discuss their findings.
So, after arriving on Exile Island and lighting the Spirit Candle, Li Miao paid no mind to the Pillaging Ship and instead directly chose the route that circled the island to the right.
It was a narrow passage.
With his Candlefire Scimitar in one hand and a Small Wooden Shield in the other, Li Miao advanced cautiously, but his pace wasn’t slow.
As Li Miao moved forward, the rocks at the island’s edge began to rise and fall, obscuring the view of the surroundings. At regular intervals, torches appeared on the rock walls for illumination.
Everything indicated that people or intelligent beings existed here... or at least, they once had.
With a thought, Li Miao’s body lit up with illuminating Candlefire.
Even with the torches, he knew better than to let his guard down.
This island, named "Exile Island," seemed to be composed entirely of hard rock and ore.
The narrow passage under his feet had been forcibly excavated, circling the entire island.
’Exile Island... I wonder if I’ll meet a new NPC. I still haven’t even seen a second NPC in this game that I can actually talk to...’ Li Miao complained to himself.
CLINK CLANK...
The faint sound of mining hadn’t stopped since he set foot on the island.
RATTLE RATTLE...
Suddenly, Li Miao’s sharp hearing picked up a different kind of sound.
’Is that... the sound of armor rubbing and clashing?’
’It’s coming from the corner up ahead!’
Li Miao instantly grew serious. He channeled the Warfire within him, Ready to Strike.
Before long, a Soldier appeared from around the corner. He wore black Light Armor, held a Straight Sword and a torch, and had a cold, stern expression.
But Li Miao froze for a moment.
Because... aside from a paler complexion and cloudier eyes, the Soldier before him looked almost no different from a normal person!
’Is this a monster or... an NPC?’
But then, an information prompt identical to those for previous monsters appeared in his vision.
[Torch-bearing Soldier]
[Tier: Residual Ash]
[Level: 8]
[Explanation: A patrol Soldier on Exile Island. Seems like you can communicate with it?]
Its Talent and Skills were unknown, as expected.
After Li Miao read the explanation, his suspicion seemed to be confirmed, and he spoke directly:
"Hello... uh... can you understand me?"
His answer was the crisp sound of a Straight Sword striking an Elbow Guard.
CLANG CLANG CLANG CLANG!
"Ghh..."
The Torch-bearing Soldier seemed to be trying to shout, but only a faint, desiccated hiss came out.
And through its mouth, Li Miao suddenly saw its hollow oral cavity and utterly shriveled tongue.
It only looked like a normal person; in reality, it was still a mindless monster!
Realizing this, Li Miao instantly felt like a jackass.
Furious and embarrassed, Li Miao let out a cold snort. As Warfire flared, he swung his blade in a powerful, heavy arc that precisely struck its neck, decapitating it in one blow!
[You have killed a Torch-bearing Soldier]
The kill notification appeared, but Li Miao did not lower his guard.
Because ahead of him, more and more Soldiers were appearing!
And unlike the Torch-bearing Soldier with its Straight Sword and torch, these were armed with Straight Swords, Large Shields, and even Long Spears—they had everything!
Completely unfazed, Li Miao once again swung his Candlefire Scimitar.
BANG!
A Shield Soldier staggered back two steps, but it still blocked the attack.
The other Soldiers seized the opportunity, letting out hoarse roars as they all charged at Li Miao.
Seeing this, Li Miao performed a backward roll.
Then he turned and ran.
’I’d have to be crazy to fight this group of Soldiers in a narrow passage.’
’If I can’t break through their Shields and I’m restricted by the terrain, I’m guaranteed to die a horrible death.’
’Whatever happens, I absolutely can’t fight them here.’