Chapter 597 - 88: Scylla
"The only thing we need to do now is figure out how to make Scylla come into contact with this magic potion," Shen Fei said, looking at the bubbling potion, its color a ghastly green.
But now, they could only trust Calypso.
"Previously, I managed to get the magic potion into her bathwater while she was bathing, which made the potion effective. Now that she has turned into a monster, she no longer bathes."
Calypso was also a bit troubled. If she hadn’t been so furious back then, she wouldn’t have caused Shen Fei such a big problem.
The four of them pondered for a while, but still couldn’t come up with a feasible plan; the main issue was that Scylla, now a monster, hated bathing.
It was difficult to get the magic potion on her; they couldn’t exactly make her eat it...
"Just let her eat it," Shen Fei suddenly thought of the possibility. He remembered that if a ship wanted to pass Scylla, six people needed to be sacrificed.
So, if they feigned passing through Scylla and placed the potion on someone meant to be swallowed, Scylla would naturally ingest the potion.
The other three quickly understood what Shen Fei meant, but Calypso said, "Scylla is a demigod, and during the effect of the potion, she’ll be able to digest any non-demigod life."
"Even the Muses." Calypso looked at the Jasper Pool; after spending time together, she had learned that one of Shen Fei’s partners was a Muse.
No wonder so many things happened with these three alone, as she was well aware of the Muses.
Though generally only singing and dancing, their divine skill could enhance their abilities.
But Scylla herself as a demigod was formidable, especially on the sea, so much so that even Calypso couldn’t easily resolve her.
"Doesn’t she require six people to be sacrificed? As long as the potion is on the person being sacrificed, once she swallows them, the potion can take effect."
Shen Fei revealed his plan.
"But who will go?" Calypso was a bit puzzled.
"Can transformation skill be used? Transform animals on the island temporarily into human form..." The Moon God looked at Calypso; everyone had witnessed Calypso’s transformation skill.
It wasn’t a matter of being convincing anymore.
Rather, apart from the soul, the form was entirely changed.
"No. If that were possible, I would have used this method to help Odysseus pass by Scylla back then.
My transformation skill can only change the form, not the soul.
While it might be undetectable on the surface, with Scylla’s rank, once swallowed, she’d immediately detect a problem and could quickly spit them out before the potion kicks in," Calypso explained, worriedly looking at Shen Fei, "I’m not unwilling to help you, that’s just the reality."
She feared Shen Fei would think she was unwilling to assist him.
"I understand," Shen Fei reassured Calypso with a calm look, "In that case, I will go myself."
"If I’m the first, Scylla shouldn’t suspect. For the remaining five, Calypso can use the transformation skill to turn animals into humans."
"No!"
Calypso objected vehemently for the first time, although Shen Fei was blessed by the divine spirit, Scylla wasn’t easy prey. If the potion acted too slowly...
Shen Fei might be crushed by Scylla’s power and completely digested in her belly.
How could she let Shen Fei take such a risk?
"Why not let them go," Calypso looked at the Moon God and Jasper Pool. They were aiming to return to Ida Island with Shen Fei safely; naturally, they should take the risk.
Not Shen Fei.
After all, one is Artemis’s priest, the other a Muse, surely they have means to survive inside Scylla for a while.
The Moon God and Jasper Pool exchanged glances; naturally, they didn’t want Shen Fei to risk himself either, after all even if they died here.
They couldn’t be resurrected, but after the task, they could reappear outside.
However, if Shen Fei died here, the task would fail; Jasper Pool said, "Let me go then."
"No, I should go. I have the Shield of Athena; even if Scylla swallows me, she’ll find it hard to digest me.
Your music as a Muse has a strong effect on turning Scylla back into a sea nymph!"
Shen Fei waved his hand, looking at Calypso, "Going home is my goal, but I also want to eliminate Scylla, so future travelers across the Strait of Messina aren’t threatened by her."
Calypso heard Shen Fei’s firm tone and didn’t dissuade, but her fondness for Shen Fei increased substantially, thinking he was much braver than Odysseus.
...
Days later.
A ship stood on the shores of Aia, and with Calypso’s help, crafting a ship was a breeze for Shen Fei and his companions.
There were eight people and a cow on the deck, including five people whose eyes were blank, simply holding the sail ropes.
Calypso hid on the ship; her relationship with Scylla was tense because Scylla’s transformation into a monster was caused by her.
If Scylla saw Calypso, it would likely break the rules and sink the whole ship.
"Let’s set off."
The ship moved without wind, naturally due to Calypso’s magic.
The ship lurched through the waves, heading for the Strait of Messina.
Shen Fei stood at the bow, eyes fixed ahead, ready for Scylla to appear at any moment.
"There she is!" The Moon God suddenly shouted, pointing ahead. Shen Fei followed her gaze and saw a massive figure looming in the waves.
Scylla had appeared.
Her body was huge and grotesque, almost unbelievably massive, taking up nearly the entire vista.
Her body resembled a gigantic mountain, coated with rough scales that gleamed with a sinister light in the sun.
Her six heads were enormous and hideous, eyes shining with an icy glint as if seeing all, issuing deep roars that turned the sea tumultuous.
She somewhat resembled Orochi slain by the Saintess, but while Orochi had serpent heads, Scylla’s heads resembled lizards with massive gill-like structures.
The sea wind howled and waves surged.
Scylla’s roars came closer, her body tumbling in the waves as if sensing prey nearby.
"Here I go!"
Shen Fei jumped into the sea, followed by the animals transformed into humans; they were controlled by the Muse’s Great Salvation Skill.
To Calypso, it was divine skill.
After all, the Muses were demigods, so mastering divine skill was quite natural.