Chapter 146: Tortuga

Chapter 146: Tortuga



"Buzz..."

The palm-sized mirror's surface rippled like the surface of water, rapidly expanding.

In an instant, everything before him transformed.

The apothecary's backyard vanished, and Karl found himself in a primeval jungle, where everything seemed incredibly lifelike.

However, time appeared to have frozen, with the surrounding leaves and flying insects all motionless.

"An illusion!"

Gazing at the scene before him, Karl exclaimed in awe:

"It's so lifelike, it's almost indistinguishable from reality."

He was well aware that these illusions were directly projected from the magic mirror into his psychic sea, and he was still in the apothecary's backyard.

He could even sense the presence of the magic mirror itself, and with a single thought, he could exit the illusion.

"Then..."

"Let's begin!"

As his thoughts focused, the frozen time began to flow.

The trees ahead swayed, and several large, ferocious legendary creatures roared as they charged towards him.

Simultaneously,

The ground shook violently, and a pulsating earth elemental force erupted beneath his feet, indicating the presence of an ambushing wizard nearby.

The illusions created by the Neff Magic Mirror were snippets of the wizard's memories, and this mirror allowed a late-stage first-rank wizard to train in spells, so the creatures within were naturally formidable.

"Boom!"

Karl leaped high, dodging the earth-based spell while clashing with the charging legendary creatures, sword in hand.

Battle intent surged in his eyes.

"Kill!"

Combat Technique—Furious Strike!

"Bang!"

"Pfft!"

The sword's shadow intersected with the ferocious beasts, spraying blood everywhere, and the acrid smell of blood filled the air.

This illusion...

It was almost indistinguishable from reality! However, just like in reality, if one was injured within the illusion, their psychic sea would also be affected.

Moreover,

Death was a possibility.

Combat Technique—Bloom!

Combat Technique—Holy Sanction!

"Bang!"

"Bang, bang!"

Several legendary creatures were blasted away, and before they could react, a shadow appeared at Karl's side, aiming a thin sword at his throat with such speed that it seemed to tear the very fabric of space.

An assassin?

"Stop!"

Karl roared, and his consciousness instantly withdrew from the illusion created by the Neff Magic Mirror.

His body trembled, his eyes wide open, and a sense of dread rose uncontrollably within him, leaving him shaken.

Death! For a fleeting moment, he thought he was going to die, and the fear of death prompted him to instinctively choose to flee.

"Phew..."

Karl exhaled, gradually regaining his composure.

"This magic mirror's illusions allow first-rank mid to late-stage wizards to train. From the start, it pits me against a wizard, a legendary knight, and legendary creatures. It's still too challenging for me to use it for cultivation."

"But..."

"If battle will can truly be awakened in life-and-death situations, this level of difficulty is just right."

He was certain he wouldn't put himself in genuine danger to master Holy Breath.

Although the illusions created by the magic mirror were equally perilous, they were not real.

Not only could he exit at any time, but even if he suffered a fatal injury in the illusion, as long as his willpower was strong enough, he could endure it.

At most, he would feel mentally fatigued for a while.

"A dangerous thrill is essential, and since I can't take real risks, this level of danger is just right. The constant pressure of life and death can unlock the potential within."

"Again!"

Before Karl, the scene shifted, and his body reappeared in the jungle, with several legendary creatures roaring as they charged towards him.

"Hmph!"

Karl snorted, and his body suddenly wobbled, transforming into an eight-meter-tall giant. He raised his foot and stomped on the ground.

Supreme Spell Seal—Earthshaker!

"Boom!"

The ground shook violently, and several legendary creatures were knocked down and impaled by stone spikes.

At the same time,

Two shadows appeared nearby, wielding thin, sharp swords and lunging at him.

Legendary Knights!

And they were expert assassins! Karl's eyes narrowed, and a powerful mental wave surged.

Terror Aura!

As it was a bloodline spell, it manifested with pseudo-second-rank power when cast by Karl.

It had a restraining effect on any being below the second rank.

The two legendary knights' movements froze momentarily.

Karl waved his hand, intending to finish them off, but suddenly, the scene darkened, and several giant meteorites fell from the sky, striking him and sending dust flying.

First-Rank Spell—Summon Meteorites!

"Bang!"

"Bang, bang!"

The caster of this spell was likely a first-rank or stronger wizard, directly knocking Karl to the ground and raising a cloud of dust in the jungle.

Chain Fireballs!

Six fireballs followed, raining down without giving him a chance to catch his breath, and they exploded one after the other.

"Stop!"

Karl roared, and time froze momentarily. His figure swayed in the jungle and then disappeared.

Secret Technique—Gigantization!

Devour!

Terror Aura!

A large squid with saw-toothed tentacles and suction cups rolled in the jungle, biting at its opponents.

Meteorites, fireballs, missiles...

Various attacks rained down, striking one after the other.

The massive and formidable squid, under the barrage of attacks, was blasted into fragments without blinking.

"Phew..."

Karl opened his eyes, his eyes bloodshot, and his body staggered, retreating repeatedly.

"So strong!"

"No, it's not that my opponents are too strong, but that I'm too weak!"

"Even if I give it my all, I can only stand a chance against a mid-stage first-rank wizard in close combat."

"One-on-one, as always!"

"Unfortunately, the opponents in the illusion don't play by the rules and never give a fair chance for a one-on-one fight."

"Sleep!"

The next day.

Death!

Death!

Death!

A few days later.

Death!

Struggle!

Death!

...

A blur appeared before his eyes.

Karl reappeared in the jungle, his initial panic and caution gone, replaced by a chilling calm.

"Huff..."

"Inhale!"

Following the breathing technique of Holy Breath, Karl adjusted his internal 'breathing', and a glint of fighting spirit emerged in his eyes.

Battle will,

A surge from the sea of consciousness.

"As a wizard, the most important thing is to avoid unexpected battles and close-quarters fights."

"It's best to be well-prepared, plan for contingencies, and rely on overwhelming strength to crush your opponents."

"Use wisdom, not brute force, to solve problems."

Thoughts swirled in his mind.

"The same goes for cultivation and life."

"Be cautious in speech and action, avoid conflicts with more powerful entities, and stay vigilant to keep danger at bay."

"It's about having the higher ground and superior strength to crush your enemies, not letting momentary impulses lead you into danger."

"Caution!"

"Then, become stronger!"

"Finally, crush all opponents!"

Karl's eyes narrowed.

"But life is full of surprises, and no one can guarantee a smooth sailing journey."

"I'm willing to hide my strength and live a peaceful life, but trouble always seems to find me."

"In those moments..."

"I need the courage to fight with all my might, not just retreat and endure."

"Wizards have wisdom, and knights need courage. When it's time to be cautious, be cautious; when it's time to be brave, be brave. The two are not mutually exclusive."

"Kill!"

As his eyes narrowed, time began to flow in the illusion.

The old Karl always remembered his identity as a wizard and prioritized protection when engaging in combat.

Only when he was safe would he consider attacking his enemies.

This wasn't necessarily wrong.

But if he always played it safe, he might become weak and instinctively retreat when faced with challenges.

And that,

was precisely the bane of a knight!

Retreating meant weakness!

Attacking,

didn't necessarily mean strength.

"Boom!"

Spinning magic!

Chain Fireballs!

Gravity Pit!

Multiple spells unleashed simultaneously, and as death approached, Karl's mind tensed, but his consciousness went blank.

Suddenly,

"Boom!"

A substantial aura of battle will erupted from within him, forming a protective shield around his body.

The incoming spells didn't break through his defense or tear his body apart as they usually did.

Instead, they were blasted away.

Holy Breath!

The guardian, having mastered the battle will, merged his fighting spirit and physical body, thus harnessing the power of Holy Breath.

With its activation, the guardian's perception, speed, and strength surged.

"Die!"

The raging tentacles blasted away several magical arrows, ensnaring a mid-stage First Circle Wizard and squeezing tightly.

"Pfft!"

A mid-stage First Circle Wizard,

Dead!

This was the first time Karl had killed a mid-stage First Circle Wizard, and it happened in the midst of a chaotic battle.

But the next moment,

"Boom!"

A burst of flames engulfed his body, turning it into a charred piece of coal.

Back in the real world, Karl leaned back, letting himself lie on the ground, his face filled with euphoria.

He could feel the changes within his body.

The once ethereal battle will now had a tangible quality, coursing through his body and tempering his flesh and blood.

Even his constitution had improved.

Name: Karl

Constitution: 7.9

Mental Power: 6.7

Source Quality: 0

Rank: Legendary Knight, First Circle Wizard

Abyssal Bloodline Fusion Rate: 36.7%

"By cultivating Holy Breath, my bloodline fusion rate increased by almost 2%, and my constitution has significantly improved. Adding the consumed Source Quality..."

"My constitution value is approaching 8!"

Karl murmured to himself:

"With my current strength, I should have a good chance against a mid-stage First Circle Wizard."

The Endless Sea.

Over a dozen ships sailed into the thick fog, silently following the direction of the currents.

"The environment around Tortuga Island is truly bizarre. It can distort a sailor's sense of direction, and even the most skilled navigators can't find their way here."

Connie put away his nautical chart and looked ahead:

"Whether it's a legendary creature or some other means, nothing seems to work."

"Indeed, it's strange." Karl stood there, testing various methods to determine their location with his magic wand, all to no avail. But instead of disappointment, he smiled in satisfaction, musing:

"I've never encountered such a method. As you said, the Endless Sea is hidden, and even the deities can't see through it."

"That's right." Connie leaned on the railing, letting the sudden sea breeze ruffle his hair. "Even the deities can't fathom this sea."

"Really?" Someone whispered, "Aren't the deities all-knowing and all-powerful?"

"How could they be?" Connie chuckled, "If they were truly all-knowing and all-powerful, they wouldn't have fallen. Not to mention..."

"The deities existed before Pirate Island, and even they couldn't easily enter it."

"So, that's why Tortuga has always been a sanctuary for pirates throughout the ages!"

"I know that much," Aya nodded.

"The book mentions that during the time when the gods had not yet fallen, some unbelievers would flee to uninhabited places to defy the gods' blessings."

"Tortuga Island is one of those places."

"Hmm!" Blasphemy Knight Ana huffed.

"Heretics!"

The rest on the ship merely smiled at her remark.

Centuries ago, when the gods still watched over the world, accusations of heresy and blasphemy were grave and punishable.

But now, genuine faith in the gods was rare.

It seemed that people didn't truly believe in the gods; instead, they revered great power and true miracles.

When the gods faded, so did faith.

◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇

"Sometimes, Tortuga is shrouded in a disorienting fog, and other times, it's battered by storms and thunder..."

Elder Connie continued, "Various natural barriers protect the island, making it difficult for outsiders to approach. Ironically, it's the ordinary folks who have a chance to set foot on the island."

"The Pirate King, like me, was cursed by an unknown entity. His physical form became peculiar, and he possessed a weapon called Eldris, which could control two invisible monsters."

"Even if it's a legendary creature, he's not afraid of it."

Elder Connie spoke up to here, letting out a sigh.

The once-powerful Pirate King, who had single-handedly challenged the entire Free Harbor, was long dead.

Facing an evil god,

The commoners' idea of strength seemed like a joke.

"Mr. Karl."

Elder Connie snapped out of her thoughts and turned to look at Karl.

"If you can occupy Tortuga and take advantage of the island's terrain, you might have a chance to stand against the evil god."

At these words, many on the ship showed signs of excitement.

Their mission was to occupy the Pirate Island and establish another base outside of Swift City, free from the threat of Free Harbor.

Swift City still faced the danger of Free Harbor, but Tortuga could become a true sanctuary.

This expedition included over a dozen warships and thousands of crew members, the elite forces of both the Dragon King Guild and the Sea God Society. Their full support for this mission was due to this very reason.

"Hmm?"

Karl didn't respond to Elder Connie's question but instead, with a slight movement of his eyes, gazed down at the calm seawater below.

"Something's coming."

"It's a mermaid!"

"Whoosh..."

As he spoke, the seawater below erupted, and a mermaid wielding a trident leaped high into the air.

"Swish!"

Karl's fingers flicked.

Battle Aura condensed into a bead, piercing through the mermaid's skull, leaving a trail of blood from the back of her head.

"Plop!"

The mermaid fell back into the water.

Usually, he wouldn't be able to do this.

After all, Battle Aura was an intangible force, and once it left his body, it would dissipate quickly. But now, with the enhancement of Holy Breath, Battle Aura could act like a physical entity, piercing the mermaid's skull from over a dozen meters away. This display caused Blasphemy Knight Ana to raise an eyebrow.

Among the crowd,

Only she could discern the extraordinary nature of this technique.

"It seems..." Karl finished his move as if it were a trivial task, and looked up towards the island.

"We're approaching Tortuga."

Aya's face turned stern.

"Prepare!"

She raised her hand high, her voice echoing across the sky, "Check your arrows, medicines, and weapons. Get ready to land on the island."

"When Tortuga fell, some managed to escape." Elder Connie drew her own weapon, "According to those who fled, there are at least three legendary creatures on the island, and a red-eyed mermaid."

"At least four legendary beings!"

She glanced at Karl.

"No problem."

Karl's expression remained calm.

"If it's just an ordinary legendary creature, Ana alone can handle it. There's no need to worry."

"Worry?" Elder Connie smiled bitterly. "I wouldn't dare."

As Blasphemy Knight Ana aged, her strength grew. The Ana of today was more than twice as powerful as the Ana of a year ago.

If we were to categorize her strength, she would be in the mid-legendary stage, whereas a year ago, she was in the early legendary stage.

While Karl wasn't in the mid-first rank, his techniques were more diverse, and his true power exceeded Ana's.

Moreover,

There were other helpers!

"I see it!"

The lookout shouted from above, "I see the island!"

The fog gradually thinned, revealing a smaller island than Swift City in the distance.

"Kirk Ship Number One!"

Aya shouted, "Approaching the coast!"

On the other side, Karl swiftly summoned a magic carpet with a flick of his wrist and flew towards the island.

From above, he could quickly survey the entire island.

Zero-Circle Spell - Life Sense. He gently tapped his staff on his forehead, and invisible mental energy surged downward, sensing the life force below.

Ordinary mermaids!

Fierce creatures!

Magical creatures!

Blue-eyed mermaids!

...

"It seems that after the mermaid army occupied Tortuga, they didn't leave a large garrison, treating it as a regular occupation. That simplifies things."

"Hmm?"

"Legendary creatures!"

Karl raised an eyebrow, assessing the island's resistance, and his expression gradually relaxed.

"With our strength, we can handle this without issue!"

Kirk Ship was a single-deck vessel with a square sail and a sturdy hull, designed for stability and cargo capacity.

This cargo ship was primarily used for transporting goods, featuring a massive square cabin that could unload supplies into the sea.

"Wow..."

The heavy Kirk ship sliced through the water's surface, approaching the coast, and instead of using an anchor, it crashed directly into the shore.

"Boom!"

The dozens of meters long cargo ship ran aground on the coast, its cabin opening to reveal countless tangled vines extending from within.

Sarala Tree!

A First Rank Late Stage lifeform!

Although it was restrained by flames and moved slowly, it was indeed a solid First Rank Late Stage existence.

In the cabin of this Kirk ship, there was actually a Sarala Tree!

"Pfft!"

"Pfft pfft!"

Root after root pierced the ground, and the life-filled water source continuously flowed into its body through the roots.

"Whoosh..."

"Is this the new residence that my master found for me? The water vapor is abundant, and the place is spacious, it seems quite good."

The Sarala Tree swayed its branches, and more and more branches grew, spreading towards the island.

"God!"

"Blessings upon the world!"

Ana placed one hand on her chest, her head bowed, and when she lifted her skull, a pure blackness flashed in the depths of her eyes.

"Swish!"

"Swish swish!"

Her figure moved like lightning, rushing towards the island.

The greatsword on her back resembled a scythe of life, and wherever it passed, mermaids emerged, their bodies dismembered.

Until...

"Bang!"

Two red-eyed mermaids blocked her path.

"Two of them?"

Ana's eyes flickered.

"As time passes, the strength of the mermaids is also increasing. Have more blue-eyed mermaids advanced in rank?"

...

Tavern!

Stable!

Casino!

...

Karl hovered in mid-air, looking down below. Through the remnants of the ruins, he could vaguely discern the original environment.

"Huff!"

The gust of wind rushed towards his face, and he suddenly rushed downwards, simultaneously activating two seals.

Chain Fireballs!

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

Explosions rang out.

A bizarre, twisted creature, seemingly assembled from multiple beings, resembling a whale, was enveloped in flames.

"Roar!"

Not far away, a ten-meter-long, white-furred ape emerged, roaring.

"Heh..."

Karl chuckled.

Combat Technique - Furious Strike!

"Boom!"

One man and one ape collided in mid-air, their clashing energy creating visible shockwaves in all directions.

"Roar!"

The white-furred ape roared towards the sky, a hideous split appearing on its arm, and its body struggled to retreat repeatedly.

They collided head-on.

The massive ape was actually beneath him.

"Swish!"

Karl landed, sword in hand, and charged forward. The battle aura, solidified by Holy Breath, enveloped his sword as he slashed forward.

Combat Technique - Gale Slash!

Sword energies crisscrossed in mid-air, and the white-furred ape screamed, its body now covered in gashes.

With the reinforcement of Holy Breath, Karl's every move carried a terrifying killing power.

An ordinary sword strike,

comparable to a full-force blow from a gigantified state.

'If I could learn the killing moves and ultimate techniques bestowed by the deities...'

'I should be able to defeat enemies of higher ranks.'

'The Green Family has inherited the Six Circle Tower for countless years, and their status remains unshaken. Their ancestor was only a Five Circle Wizard, yet the powerful deities are on par with Six Circle Wizards. The things they bestow are no less than the Green Family's inheritance!'

'This world has too many treasures waiting to be discovered!'

"Wow..."

As the thought turned in his mind, a huge insect-like head burst out from underground, charging towards Karl.

Secret Technique - Gigantization!

Bloodline Manifestation!

"Wow..."

A colossal, terrifying squid appeared in the field, rushing towards the insect.

Terror Aura!

"Smack!"

The soft tentacles carried terrifying power, lashing the insect with the force of irregular blades, carving a long wound on its body.

Karl's body flipped, and the agile tentacles wrapped around the insect, seemingly soft but actually incredibly tough and elastic. The insect struggled desperately but couldn't break free, while the suckers and serrated edges of the tentacles started frantically devouring its life energy.

Devour!

In just a few breaths, the insect's flesh and bones melted, its body withering and horrifying.

'Legendary Creature!'

'With the blessing of Holy Breath, I can now easily handle legendary creatures.'

"Crack!"

The tentacles suddenly exerted force, breaking the insect's neck. The body borrowed strength to leap into the air, grappling with another bizarre whale.

The two monsters entangled, burrowing into the underground, causing dirt to fly and the ground to shake.

Soon.

On the ruins.

"Whoosh..."

The tentacles slowly retracted, transforming back into Karl's body, and in his hand, there were now over a dozen Great Providences.

The place where the few legendary creatures had been was an abandoned warehouse. During the fight, Karl had casually searched through the items inside and found the Great Providences.

And the three legendary creatures he fought...

Died.

On the other side.

Under Aya's command, the crew from Swift City had also started disembarking, weapons in hand.

Swordsmen and archers took their positions, and knights and great knights stood in formation.

They were going to completely occupy this island.

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(End of Chapter)

Chapter end