Chapter 340 - 156: Endless Killing Intent
Under the night sky, a red moon ascended.
A gentle sea breeze blew past, carrying away the thick stench of blood from the Storm Hunter.
This three-masted sailing ship had just endured a fierce battle, and the signs were everywhere: a shattered deck, a figurehead with only half a head remaining, and blood-stained pieces of wood scattered about...
The deck, now cleansed by Soul-Devouring Magic, was devoid of the cruel and rampant pirates from before. Only Wei’en sat alone on the half-headed figurehead, toying with a lantern in his hand and listening with great interest to the sounds of Ronan and the others rummaging through the ship’s hold.
"Second Officer, you have to see this! We found more than forty women down here, and every single one is a beauty!"
"Gods, those bastards on the Storm Hunter really knew how to live—"
"More than forty?" The fear in Ronan’s voice instantly vanished, replaced by a hint of pleasant surprise. "Where are they? Take me to see... ahem, take me to rescue those poor, kind girls abducted by the Storm Hunter."
After a moment of lewd laughter from two of Ronan’s pirates, one of them asked in a low voice, "Ronan Second Officer, do you think we could leave just half for the Captain? Let the rest of us brothers get a taste..."
"You?"
"Second Officer, to be honest with you, I promised my late father that I would find a beautiful girl to be my wife before I turned fifty..."
"Wife? Reeve, how old are you again?"
"Forty-nine, sigh."
Ronan was heard deliberately lowering his voice, as if afraid of being discovered. "You know, from now on, these girls are the Captain’s private property. I suggest you wait until after the Captain has had his fill. Then you can go and ask him. Maybe he’ll grant your wish..."
"Thank you, Sec—"
"Had his fill~ hmm?"
"Ngh, First Officer, you’re, you’re here. Wait, why are you holding a knife...?" Ronan’s voice was instantly filled with terror. "Ah, don’t—"
A moment later, the three pirates, including Ronan, had the words "X BAD GUY" carved into their faces. Streaks of blood trickled down their cheeks, but they didn’t dare move a muscle.
"Oh~ The more I think about it, the more I feel these lovely, kind, beautiful girls should probably stay here on the Storm Hunter. What do you think, Second Officer?" Clelia twirled her knife, her bewitching eyes sweeping over the girls in the room. "I’m worried that with the Captain’s strange personality, he might bully them~"
"First Officer, you are absolutely correct!" Ronan agreed with a perfectly straight face. "They’ve just been through a terrible ordeal. They certainly don’t want to be disturbed any further. Letting them leave is the best option."
"Now that’s a good boy~"
"Second Officer..."
"Get lost! Calling me ’dad’ won’t do you any good. There’s no way I’m letting you lay a single finger on these girls!" Ronan, his eyes narrowed, stood in front of the tattered, terrified girls and righteously berated them. "Now hurry up and find the treasure on this ship! Don’t keep the Captain waiting..."
"Yes, sir!"
"..."
Wei’en covered his face, completely won over by Clelia’s bizarre logic.
’Even though my spiritual sense picked up the clear figures and astounding measurements of the forty-plus women, I would only choose to protect them with care. How could I let them remain in the dangerous Deep Sea?’
However, their little farce managed to dissipate some of the killing intent that had just been consuming his mind.
Slaughter...
Images flashed before Wei’en’s eyes: cruel pirates, despairing pirates, wails, fear, chaos... finally settling on Henrik’s face, a satisfied smile upon it.
He knew exactly where these changes came from.
Without the existence of the panel, he might still be struggling back in the Caster City State, living every day as cautiously as his original self.
Only daring to go to specific places during the day, not daring to slack off for a moment at night, unwilling to turn on the gas for heat when it was cold, staving off hunger with the cheapest black bread, even having to save food for the next day, calculating every day’s expenses down to a single penny...
Power brought change, and with it, a new life.
"SOB SOB SOB..."
Just then, a faint, ethereal whimper rose from beneath the calm sea. It sounded like several delicate women weeping softly, yet it also seemed to be lamenting his indifference.
[You have been corroded by the Origin of an unknown existence. Because your Origin Power exceeds 400, you have successfully saved against this Origin corrosion! Evaluation: An unexpected guest has interrupted a hard-earned good review... Special Reward: Origin +2, Spirit Level +3, Resilience Level +3.]
’Origin?’
Before Wei’en could look around, another message floated across his panel.
[You have entered the Endless Killing Intent Receptacle of an unknown existence. Because your Spirit Level is greater than 5000, you have successfully resisted the Spiritual Power corrosion. Evaluation: Annoying guy... Special Reward: Survival Points +20, Spirit Level +2.]
’Endless Killing Intent Receptacle?!’
Wei’en’s gaze hardened as he scanned the calm surface of the sea.
He knew of and had encountered a Faith Receptacle before—a place where gods collected the power of their followers’ faith. But a Killing Intent Receptacle...
’Killing intent can be collected, too?’
In that instant, several thoughts flashed through Wei’en’s mind. He recalled one of the Deep Sea rules Ronan had mentioned before—*Never try to wake a pirate trapped in a dream!*
’A dream... a dream of nothing but slaughter... Is that what this Killing Intent Receptacle creates?’
At this thought, Wei’en extended his spiritual sense, covering both the Storm Hunter and Ronan’s ship. Clelia, Ronan, Reeve...
Within his perception, the images of every pirate, woman, and prisoner appeared clearly in his mind.