Chapter 103: Master of the River, Master of the Sea (1)

"We’re about to go through the reef area. Everyone, hold on tight!"

"The sea fog is rolling in. Can we navigate through it?" Karyl asked Karl Mack as he looked at the dense fog beginning to envelop the sea.

Wiping his nose with the back of his hand amidst the humid air, Karl replied, "The fog doesn't matter. In fact, this is my first time out this far at sea... Let’s just hope the map isn’t wrong, eh?”

Of course, Karl Mack was merely jesting. The fact that he had memorized the location of all the reefs marked on the map was an incredible feat in itself.

The more I see, the more impressive it gets.

During several days of sailing, Karyl had noticed a few times something unique about Karl Mack's sailing skills.

I never thought you could steer a boat like this. I mean, I've been on Suan Hazar's ship from the Olivurn special forces, but never on Mack Meister's ship.

If he had to think of famous ships from his past life, it would undoubtedly be the flying ships of the Guidance Mercenary Gang and Suan Hazar's mana ship.

However, apart from flying ships, it was indeed the Golden Meister's Golden Surge that had played a significant role during the Oracle War.

Creak—

Swish—

Unfazed by the thick fog, Karl Mack forcefully turned the ship's wheel left and right. He was not even looking ahead at the sea; it was as though he could instinctively steer the boat according to the map he had memorized before setting sail. When he last turned the wheel, a loud splitting sound came from the ship's bottom.

"A reef?!" Joey Johansel shouted, gripping the ship's railing. Even if Karl had memorized everything on the map, the sea was inherently unpredictable.

"No." Karl Mack shook his head. "It didn't sound like scraping against a rock. Unless something sharp like teeth was tearing out the bottom of the hull."

"Could it be...?"

That was when the dense sea fog slowly cleared. It looked as if the sea was boiling, with bubbles foaming on its surface.

Clack—!

Sounds of teeth clashing against each other filled the air, accompanied by a violent surge of water.

"Horned Piranha...!!" Yurin Huygar shouted as he saw dozens of giant fish swarming from underneath the ship.

Unlike the man-eating fish known to inhabit rivers, these were nearly the size of fully-grown sharks, with sharp horns protruding from their heads. Each clash of their horns and teeth caused the ship to sway and rock.

"It's proof we've arrived." Even surrounded by monsters, Karyl remained composed. "We’ve arrived at the Archipelago of the Giant Specters."

Swoosh—

Karyl drew his sword and pointed in a direction.

"Karl Mack, steer that way! There's a small hole inside the fifth rock. Push the bow in there."

"Eh? Was there something like that?"

"You wouldn't know. It's not on the map,” Karl explained, his eyes wide open. “A map makes for a good guide, but you can’t rely solely on it. Don't worry. In a few years, your navigational skills will be unrecognizable. Just push the ship in without thinking."

"Eh? Oh, yes."

Realizing that Karyl had seen through his specialty of predictive navigation, Karl Mack nodded and took a deep breath as he steered the ship.

Whoosh...!!

"Is this... okay?" Joey Johansel asked nervously as he watched the Horned Piranha swarm pound against the Howard’s deck, rising up menacingly.

"Originally, the Howard was built to cross Fonein. Besides, if it breaks down now, we'd become ghosts of the water before even reaching the principality, so let’s hope it holds out.”

"Yeah..." Joey rubbed his neck at Karyl's nonchalant remark.

"And our real target isn't these creatures. Hold on tight!!"

"Our real target...?"

As soon as Karl Mack saw the fifth rock Karyl had pointed to, he turned the wheel with all his might. The Howard swayed violently, and white waves splashed against the rock.

"Hmm..."

Yurin gripped his mace with both hands, its size exceeding a person’s head, and took a combat stance.

"Yurin, everything else is fine, but don’t shatter the deck.”

Having never seen his mentor in combat, Joey seemed puzzled by Karyl's words.

"I'll try."

But despite Karyl’s instruction, Yurin seemed somewhat eager.

"Huaaah!!!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Yurin charged toward the leaping Horned Piranha, swinging his mace with all his might.

Thump—!

With a dull sound, the piranha's head burst open, shattered by the sheer impact of the mace.

"..."

Yurin swiftly wiped off the blood and bits of flesh from his face before charging at the next monster.

"Karl, you stay inside. I'll tell you when it's over. You need to be ready to steer the ship right away."

"You knew my plan?" Karl asked incredulously.

Instead of answering, Karyl chuckled and swung his sword at the attacking piranhas.

"May Yula's blessing be upon us!" Joey Johansel unfastened the rosary around his neck, made the sign of the cross, and clasped his hands as if praying. Then, a pale milky light radiated around him.

"Agnus."

The light surged forth and enveloped Karyl and Yurin. The former felt lighter as the light seeped into him. It was a different sensation from the magic buffs he usually used.

I thought he would be inferior to Yurin as his disciple, but his divine power seems to be on par with his combat prowess.

Agnus was a priestly buff that enhanced all physical abilities for a certain duration. Although highly effective, it consumed a significant amount of divine power, making it difficult for even high-ranking healers to cast on multiple people.

"Joey, did you also pray for me? I don't need it."

"I shall support you! Please focus on the prayers of war, Master."

Unlike them, Joey Johansel was not adept at combat, but his experiences in relic exploration seemed to have given him a clear understanding of his duties.

"That's not bad either."

Crunch—!

With that, Yurin crushed another Horned Piranha’s head with his foot, seemingly pleased with how far his disciple had come.

"May Yula's joy be upon us!"

After casting his prayer, his mace, drenched in piranha blood, glowed an even deeper shade of red. The crimson hue suited him so well that the nickname Madman naturally came to mind. If this were a battlefield, his enemies would all cower in terror.

However, monsters didn’t feel fear; they would merely charge at their enemies like moths to a flame.

"Kraaaah!!!"

Yurin charged at the piranhas pouring onto the deck.

Bang!

The monsters aimed to shred Yurin’s arms and legs with their razor-sharp teeth, but Joey's protective shield pushed them back before they could even touch Yurin.

Hmm.

Karyl quickly climbed onto the roof of the steering cabin. Since starting their journey, he had always entrusted the vanguard to Yurin, not only because of his exceptional abilities as a combat priest but also because Karyl had never felt comfortable entrusting the front to anyone else in Suan's absence.

Thanks to him, I can try using the Secret Technique at ease.

Violet sparks of electricity flickered from Karyl’s hands, different from the typical lightning elemental magic.

It’d be really bad if I hit the ship...

Watching Yurin swing his mace freely among the horde of monsters, Karyl turned his gaze to the sea, where the Horned Piranhas were leaping onto the deck.

To complete the Arcane Blade, I need to be able to control my Arcane Mana.

Just like when he was learning to wield the sword, Karyl believed that the most efficient way to grow was through actual combat.

He had fought on countless battlefields, swinging his sword to survive amidst the stench of blood, the deafening clashes, and the echoing screams of allied and enemy soldiers. That was how he had mastered the blade.

Magic is the same.

Crackle...!!

Unlike before, when he merely utilized the power of magic itself, Arcane Techniques required delicate control.

I need to extend the mana a bit longer... And increase the number of strands.

At that moment, magic flowed from Kary’s fingertips like threads, spinning like yarn. He had memorized this method of honing Arcane Techniques from Allen Javius’ memories.

"Argh!!"

However, each time the threads of magic touched each other, Karyl felt a dizzying surge of pain, and his fingers snapped back.

Roar!

Then, a piranha charged at Karyl, its horn pointed to impale him.

"Careful!”

At the same moment, Yurin Huygar jumped up with all his strength and swung his mace.

Crack...!!

The piranha's shell splattered in all directions, some of it landing on Karyl. But that hadn’t been the only monster charging at them.

"Tsk! You bastards!!"

Profanity escaped the priest’s mouth, and no one could blame him, for a pair of sharp teeth had sunk into his arm.

"Are we still far off?!" Yurin shouted as he tore the biting piranha off his arm and flung it to the ground.

But then, a violet-gold pattern briefly appeared in Karyl’s eyes, merely for a second.

Crackkkkk—!!

The power burst from his hands, the strands quickly intertwining and spreading like a net. The moment the arcane chain touched the seawater, it sizzled like oil on water, and steam burst forth.

It was as though the sea fog had just rolled back.

Rooaaarr!

The pained screams of the Horned Piranha echoed all around, and the ship's bow swayed heavily from the arcane chain.

"Ugh...!!" Joey Johansel yelled without realizing it as he covered his ears.

"..."

Yurin covered his nose with the collar of his robe to block off the foul stench of the burning piranha flesh, thinking to himself,

To wield such magic at his age... Being ranked among sorcerers is impressive, but this use of magic is unlike anything I've seen before. Who is his master?

He couldn’t possibly have known that Karyl’s true master was a Grand Sorcerer of Allen Javius from a thousand years ago, surpassing even Kaye Aesir, hailed as a great sorcerer.

This is tough.

Karyl spread out his tingling hands. Given how much power he had just wielded, his palms were naturally damaged; they looked as though they had been scorched by fire.

"Phew..."

Although it barely even felt like an elementary training method for Arcane Techniques, which far surpassed the ranks of ordinary sorcerers, this was the best Karyl could do under the circumstances.

Thump-!!

As the white smoke began to clear, a dagger shot past Yuri, narrowly avoiding his face by a hair’s breadth before embedding itself in the prow of the boat.

The piranha skewered on the dagger convulsed, let out dark smoke as if scorched by the power flowing from the blade, then went limp.

This is indeed easier.

Karyl chuckled lightly as he descended from the roof and pulled out the Agnel from the dead piranha.

"..."

Yurin felt a tingling sensation on his face from the sharp wind created by the flying blade.

"You also know how to use a sword?” he asked Karyl after he took his blade back. Seeing Karyl's unusual prowess, which he had assumed was just that of a sorcerer, Yurin glanced at him with narrowed eyes.

I haven't seen him properly use a sword... Maybe he's just learned dagger techniques. Or...

He rubbed his nose, keeping his eyes on Karyl.

"Wow..."

The sea quickly turned red as the bodies of the Horned Piranha piled up on the surface, floating. Karl Mack, having spectated the trio’s battle from the steering cabin, was completely lost for words.

I had my own doubts, but this is more incredible than I expected.

Karl Mack now seemed to understand why Karyl had been so confident when he first mentioned the route.

He was relying on his skill, not luck.

Choosing such a drastic solution to penetrate into the domain of the Water King actually seemed like it would make their plan a success.

"Both of you, get ready,” Karyl said to Joey and Yurin as he sat on the bow.

"...What?"

"Because this is just the beginning. Why else would we come to this harsh archipelago if not to go to the principality? Right, Karl?"

At his words, Karl Mack slowly nodded and circled his finger.

"Yes. The Horned Piranha is a bait to lure it out."

"A bait?" Joey Johansel asked, seemingly unable to grasp the plan of the two.

Kuuu... Kurrrrrr...

At that moment, the previously calm waves began to surge again, as if an earthquake rumbled beneath the sea; it sounded as though the earth itself was trembling.

The Archipelago of the Giant Specters bore its name in an ancient Eastern language, tribute to the adventurer from the Eastern Lands who had first discovered it.

VOOOOSHH-!!

The waves surged forth with a massive roar, lifting the ship so high it seemed to fly momentarily before crashing back down with a loud splash.

"...!!!"

All eyes were drawn to one place.

The meaning of

Giant Specter...

Joey Johansel, looking at the sudden darkness that enveloped them, shouted out the meaning in the old Eastern language.

"K-Kraken...?!!!"

Karyl, as if he had been waiting for this moment, gestured toward Karl Mack. The scent of the piranha blood spilled in the sea had drawn out the master of the archipelago.

"Our real target is that creature. It's a bait to hook the Water King. We need to take it to where the Water King resides."

"...Huh?!" Joey shouted at Karyl, more surprised than when he saw the Kraken.

"Karl."

Having already understood each other's intentions before they started hunting the piranhas, Karl quickly entered the steering cabin as soon as Karyl spoke.

"It's going to get rougher than before. Hold on tight!!!"

Creeeak...!!!

Karl Mack turned the wheel with all his might.

“Kraaaaaaaaa—!!”

The Kraken's roar resounded once more.

Sweat beaded on Karl's hands gripping the wheel. The tension didn’t stem just from the approaching monster that seemed close enough to reach the stern, but also from having witnessed the trio’s incredible battle.

"Ha... haha..."

Karl’s entire body tingled with excitement. Despite the life-or-death situation, the corners of his mouth curled into a smile. He had never experienced something like this in his past life, and he was unwittingly glad to have followed Karyl on this journey.

"That guy is crazy too..."

Yurin Huygar, after stomping on the piranha that had been embedded in the prow of the boat, looked at Karl Mack in disbelief.