Chapter 396 - 176: I Said It Was Just an Accident...
They stood atop the Pyramids they each guarded. With a strange sense of ritual, they unwound the strips of cloth from their bodies, circle by circle, revealing dark, shriveled physiques as desiccated as mummies.
’What is this?’
’A sacrifice?’
The questions flashed through Wei’en’s mind and were gone. He knew there was no time to explore the unknown; he had to escape these waters as fast as possible.
Just then,
As everything on the island sank, the figure in the deep chasm gradually revealed itself. Countless twisted, tangled tentacles twitched, slowly probing outward, their innumerable barbs churning the remains of Dakman Island.
On its chest, a colossal mouth filled with countless tiny worms was devouring everything around it as if feeding. As seawater rushed in, innumerable fish and aberrations from the Deep Sea were torn to shreds by those tiny worms and swept into the giant maw.
HISS!
Wei’en had only perceived it for less than a second before his Spiritual Power was instantly torn, and a sharp, violent pain lanced through his head.
’That—what is that?!’
[You have glimpsed an unknown Deep Sea Giant Beast. Your Spiritual Power has been torn. Evaluation: Merely a third-level calamity, albeit one that is advancing... Special Rewards: Survival Points +100, Spirit Level -200 (Temporary), Spirit Level +10, Resilience Level +5.]
’A Deep Sea Giant Beast that’s currently advancing, with power comparable to a third-level calamity?’
’Doesn’t that make it a fourth-level calamity?’
Wei’en had seen what Tina looked like when she lost control and became a fourth-level calamity. Even though she hadn’t intended to harm anyone, the terrifying phenomena that manifested around her had been enough to kill countless people.
’And now this terrifying Deep Sea Giant Beast—with its colossal body and obviously astounding destructive power—is about to become a being on par with a fourth-level calamity?’
As he thought this, Wei’en pulled out a bottle of Enlightenment Potion and poured it into his mouth. It began to restore his Spiritual Power, slightly easing his headache.
Now that he understood the bandaged freaks had used an Alchemy Array to create a Deep Sea Giant Beast, he had no intention of lingering. Fleeing for his life was the best course of action.
Besides, with the Steamship approaching Dakman Island, he couldn’t afford to wait.
"ROAR—"
Another roar echoed, as if celebrating its release. It carried a strange, joyous quality, announcing its advent to the world.
All around, whether human, aberration, or fish of the Deep Sea, all felt a rising despair. Realizing their doom was inescapable, they let out their own mournful cries.
"Damn you, Red-hair—"
"Damn it, this is all your doing, Red-hair!"
Uh...
Wei’en: "..."
’Are these people idiots? Can’t they see I’m being pulled in by that monster too?’
’If that monster were actually mine, I’d probably wake up from my dreams laughing... Even if my strength couldn’t reach the level of the Sea Emperor Isabella, having my own Deep Sea Giant Beast would still be pretty damn impressive, wouldn’t it?’
After a moment of wild thoughts, Wei’en sensed that Clelia had gathered all but a small group of people. He quickly calculated the time he had left.
’Ten seconds!’
’I can only hold on for ten more seconds, at most. If we can’t leave by then, I’ll be devoured by that terrifying beast.’
"Clelia, faster! It’s a Deep Sea Monster!"
"Just two left! I’ll be quick!" Clelia had never felt such a sense of accomplishment. ’Turns out saving people is so much harder than killing them!’
’Two?’
Wei’en’s expression eased slightly. He extended his spiritual senses outside the ship, careful not to perceive the terrifying beast again, afraid of suffering the pain of having his Spirit torn apart once more.
But the gruesome scene around him still sent a chill down his spine. Struggling Deep Sea fish, aberrations, and even corpses still wearing expressions of despair were all being inexorably dragged by the current toward the terrifying beast.
’Corpses?’
Wei’en’s eyes narrowed. ’Those aberrations are going to die anyway. Might as well use them to increase my power!’
"Wait here for two seconds!"
Without waiting for Ronan to react, he teleported from the cockpit and reappeared at the ship’s stern. He kept his head bowed, careful not to look at the Deep Sea Giant Beast, and issued a command to his ghosts through his very essence.
"Siyaam, Sir, Sute!"
"..."
The ghosts cast one Corpse Explosion Skill after another. A sickly green light fell upon the corpses, and countless pustules began to form, absorbing flesh and bone. They swelled and burst in an instant, like bombs detonating in a packed school of fish, spattering all nearby creatures with a virulent, pustulent plague.
A chain reaction of muffled pops, bursts, and splatters followed—
Once that was done, Wei’en didn’t linger. He returned directly to the cabin, grabbed Ronan, and teleported to the ship’s hold.
"Everyone, hold hands!"
Without hesitation or panic, everyone—pirates and members of the Queen’s Guard alike—did as he commanded and joined hands.
Wei’en pulled out the Golden Key and grabbed Clelia’s hand. With a dizzying lurch, the entire group vanished from the cabin, returning to the Clown Theater.
In the instant of spatial transition, he heard a final, mournful roar from the world outside.
’Did that sound a little... desperate?’
"Phew—"
Only when he saw the familiar space of the theater did Wei’en finally breathe a sigh of relief. Ignoring the system notifications frantically popping up in his mind, he collapsed onto the floor.
’Sigh, a perfectly good ship... gone again...’
"Thank goodness, thank goodness we made it back..." Clelia’s expression also relaxed. "That thing the Alchemy Array created was absolutely terrifying!"
The other pirates and Guards, their faces still etched with panic and fear, looked around the theater and began to cheer. "Long live the Captain!"
"Red-haired Captain, thank you so much!"