Chapter 329 - 151: Undead Transformation
’Fire seed, the hope of life, a path...’
Wei’en repeated these words in his mind. ’Are they already this pessimistic?’
"So, you guys are actually aware of the dangers that exist in this world?"
"We don’t know. Or rather, your question is the same one everyone wants to figure out."
Wei’en frowned slightly. "Everything is unknown?"
"Everything is unknown!"
Clelia nodded. "Honestly, if I hadn’t taken part in Menor’s last mission and heard him talk about this, I wouldn’t have believed it either."
"But besides the Red Moon, this world must be hiding certain secrets, or threats."
"So, the Eternal Life Association’s goal really is to change the world?"
"Mhm!"
"How? The way you did it back in Klande?"
"Klande..." Clelia wrapped an arm around his shoulder, looking at him flirtatiously. "If I said that was purely my own personal doing, would you be scared?"
"What’s there to be scared of? You can’t beat me anymore."
Wei’en glanced down, the sight making him dizzy. He quickly looked away. "Let’s just talk about what the Eter... what *our* Eternal Life Association plans to do."
"You’re asking the wrong person about that. Only Menor and his people know the specific plan. In fact, the vast majority of members just see this place as a sanctuary, just another option for themselves."
Wei’en: "..."
"But one thing is certain—strength is the foundation of everything."
Clelia chuckled lightly. "If you had been stronger than everyone else that time, couldn’t you have suppressed everything?"
’Strength...’
After all that talk, it wasn’t much better than her saying nothing at all.
Still, after hearing all this, Wei’en’s own thoughts became clearer. He looked at the dark clouds and storm in the distance, a brilliant smile once again appearing on his face.
’It’s just a matter of improving my strength. I happen to have a lot of free time during this voyage, so I’ll make good use of it.’
’Huh?’
’Something seems off...’
"A storm?!"
It dawned on Wei’en as he looked at the thick, dark clouds ahead and to the side. "Clelia, go meet up with Tina and the others first. I’ll send you all back to the Clown Theater in a bit."
The memory of last night’s endless swarm of Swordfish was still vivid in his mind. He had no desire to go through that again.
"What about you?"
"I’m going to find the Second Officer and see what experience they have with this. If they’re no help, I’ll come over too."
"Okay." Clelia nodded, her body instantly transforming into that of a male pirate, who stared blankly at the sea’s surface.
Wei’en: "..."
’Knew that woman wouldn’t just listen obediently.’
’Well, that’s one less pirate crew member.’
With that thought, Wei’en hurried toward the cockpit. "Ronan, there’s a storm coming over there."
"Captain, I’ve already seen it."
Ronan’s expression was grim. His hands flew across various instrument buttons and levers. He then picked up something that looked like a megaphone and shouted, "Storm’s coming! Everyone get back in the cabins! Jidda, take down the flag! Logan, keep an eye on the hull..."
The pirates outside orderly filed into the cabins. Those who had been called out also followed their orders, running to their respective posts and staring outside through the cabin’s glass windows.
’Now *these* are professionals.’
’Not like Clelia last night, who just raged and cursed...’
He then found Tina and the others, led them back to his quarters, and sent them into the Clown Theater before returning to the cockpit.
"Captain, a daytime thunderstorm isn’t too terrifying. This ship’s defenses are strong enough to handle it. But we must be careful when night falls."
"Oh?"
"There are three ironclad rules for sailing the Deep Sea." Ronan knew this was Wei’en’s first time at sea and gave a simple explanation. "First, at night, do not expose yourself to the Red Moon."
"It’s the same on land... I know."
"Second, don’t wake someone who is trapped in a dream."
"A dream?" Wei’en was taken aback. "You mean something like being devoured by a nightmare?"
"It’s more terrifying than that," Ronan said gravely. "It’s a dream world of pure slaughter. In there, you either kill or are killed... and if they aren’t woken up naturally, they will attack everyone around them."
"And the third?"
"Third, avoid using Extraordinary characteristics as much as possible. The Deep Sea is home to many terrifying mutations, and they are extremely sensitive to Extraordinary Power. They’ll use the cover of night to attack."
Wei’en nodded. Just like in the city-states, the Deep Sea posed similar dangers.
"We’re about to enter the storm zone. Try to avoid using Extraordinary Power now, too!" Ronan’s face was solemn as he stared at the instrument buttons before him.
BOOM, CRACKLE, WHOOSH...
After entering the dark clouds, the wind and waves suddenly grew more violent. Streaks of lightning tore through the cloud cover, striking the sea’s surface and kicking up sprays of water.
Wei’en stood steadily inside the cockpit, looking out at the apocalyptic scene. He couldn’t help but feel a nervous sweat break out over this long voyage.
"Don’t be fooled by the lightning. It looks scary, but it’s no threat to this ship. It’s the monsters that might appear under the hull that are truly terrifying."
After sailing for some time, Ronan’s expression relaxed a little. "We’re fine now. The most dangerous part is entering the storm zone."
"Mm."
Wei’en watched for a while longer. Seeing that everything was under control, he turned to leave the cockpit. "You keep an eye on things here, then. I’m heading back."
"Captain, please rest assured. You can leave it to me."
Ronan watched him leave respectfully before sighing at the surrounding storm.
’A member of the Eternal Life Association?’
’I hope I can survive this... My girls, *sob*...’
...
...
When Wei’en returned to the Clown Theater, he saw Clelia and the others already preparing a meal. They chatted from time to time, talking about how they felt seeing the Cordo Sea today. They seemed to be getting along well.
"Tina likes the sea," the white-haired girl said with a smile when she saw him approach.
Wei’en patted her head. "I’ll take you to see it again next time."
"Tina, next time."
Clelia gave him a flirtatious look. "We’re not going to have to get another new ship, are we? If I’d known, I might as well have tried sailing it myself..."
Wei’en shot her a glare. "Nothing’s wrong outside. We finally found such a professional ship. If you turn them into puppets, I won’t let you out again."
"I know," Clelia pouted. ’Fine, I won’t go out. It’s nice in here anyway.’
"Alright, after dinner, continue studying the Gonzalez language. Zero-Type, one more thing for you. Starting today, you will learn how to make Mechanical Puppets."
Shawa nodded silently and obediently picked up the parchment to read.
"Ah? Understood, Father..."
Zero-Type replied in a deep voice, clearly happy to be learning something new.
After eating with them, Wei’en returned to his workshop and got busy again.
The thought of having to hand over four thousand gold pounds to the Black Pearl made his heart ache.
’Such a huge amount of Magic Potions... I wonder if Flanta can even handle it all.’
But before he started making Magic Potions, Wei’en wanted to test the new undead transformation skill he had learned. He hadn’t forgotten about the former Liaison Officer who had skimped on his intel fee.
He then took out the corpse of the Liaison Officer, Olivia.
Looking at her vacant, wide-open eyes and the ferocious expression on her face, Wei’en curled his lip.
"Ghost."
"Bo’a, Tiao’ji, Syeji!" (Undead Transformation!)
A Rune Array appeared beneath the corpse. Wisps of gray smoke spread along its patterns, gradually condensing at the nodes.
The smoke then billowed upwards, combining with the Hexagram Array below to form something like a hexagonal cage, which gradually submerged the Liaison Officer’s corpse.
"Hm?"
Wei’en focused his gaze inside the Array. Even when he used his Spirit sense to probe, the smoke prevented him from getting any feedback.
He could only faintly hear a "CRUNCH, CRUNCH," sound, like something chewing on food.
As time passed, the gray smoke gradually began to change. Streaks of black smoke started to appear, circling the Hexagram before finally settling in the center, as if entering the Liaison Officer’s corpse.
[You have successfully used the Undead Transformation (Death God) Magic to transform an Undead Creature—a zombie. You have obtained the "Deadpool" identity and the random talent ability, Death Forewarning. Evaluation: Not bad luck. Special Reward: Survival Points +10, Toughness Level +2.]
’I got the "Deadpool" talent on my first try?’
’That’s a one-in-four chance.’
’The Liaison Officer’s luck... seems pretty good, doesn’t it?’
Wei’en noted the prompt on the panel and fixed his eyes on the gray mist, eager to see the final result.
"ROAR—"