The black warship cleared a path, flying towards the north.
Luca stood on the deck, watching as the people from the All-Beings Empire left.
Marcel had hesitated for a long time before ultimately not agreeing on the spot. He said he needed to consult with the Dragon King first.
Luca knew that this wasn’t a decision he could make, so he wasn’t in a hurry.
He told the other party that if there was any news, it could be sent to Seaway City in Haillan County, where he would be staying at the lord’s mansion for the time being.
Once the All-Beings Empire’s flying vessel had completely disappeared from sight, Luca turned and walked into the cabin.
Not long after, he arrived outside Sophia’s room.
He raised his hand and knocked on the door.
With a creak, the door opened.
Sophia was standing behind it, wearing a light blue nightgown, her delicate face expressionless.
She glanced at Luca, then turned and said, “Come in.”
Luca nodded slightly and stepped inside.
The luxurious bedroom was dimly lit. Thick curtains were drawn over the windows, and only the magical bedside lamp cast a warm light, making the room seem somewhat intimate.
However, the two people in the room clearly had no such intentions.
Luca did not sit down but spoke directly, “I’m not sure why you called for me.”
“It’s about the Celestial Pearl,” Sophia said while pouring tea.
Luca instinctively glanced at the blue crystal ring in her hand.
Before he could speak, Sophia continued, “Don’t worry. Right now, it’s my time. Her Perception is blocked, so she can’t hear our conversation.”
“Your time?” Luca’s sharp mind caught the implication in her words. He furrowed his brow, an inexplicable bad feeling stirring in his chest.
“Right now, we’re sharing one body. During the day, it’s mine; at night, it’s hers.” Sophia turned around and handed him a steaming teacup.
Her expression was calm, and her tone was as neutral as if she were simply saying that she had split a cake in half, not referring to her own body.
Luca felt his heart tighten. He could easily guess why Sophia had ended up in this state…
“What can I do to help?” Luca took the teacup from her, his gaze lingering on her. There was a hint of guilt in his eyes. After all, she was bearing the consequences for him.
Sophia shook her head. “You don’t need to do anything. When I received the Ice Snow Goddess’ inheritance in the Divine Ruins Secret Realm, I triggered some divine spell.”
“Her divine soul took the opportunity to merge with my body. But this divine spell also restricts Zenobia, preventing her from doing anything harmful to me.”
“She’s currently unable to break this divine spell, so you don’t need to worry about my safety. The reason I asked you to come here is to remind you of something else.”
She looked at Luca seriously and said, “If, and I mean if, you really find the Celestial Pearl, make sure she doesn’t get her hands on it.
“Ever since you gave her the Demon Box, Zenobia has been studying it non-stop.
“Although I don’t know exactly what she intends to do with it, I’m certain it’s not good. If she gets hold of the Celestial Pearl and breaks free from her current limitations…”
Sophia didn’t continue.
Because something like this had already happened 100,000 years ago, and both the gods and the Divine Court paid the price for it.
Even back then, when the gods were at their peak, it was a disaster. If Zenobia were to break free now, in this era of the Eternal Continent, it’s terrifying to imagine what would happen to the world.
“I understand.” Luca nodded. Even without Sophia’s warning, he would never give Zenobia the God-King’s treasure again.
If he did, even if the game hadn’t arrived yet, the two worlds would never return to peace.
Although Zenobia had been betrayed by the Ancient Gods back then, it didn’t mean her power was any weaker than theirs.
After all, this goddess of the Sin Domain was truly the Lord of the Abyss!
As Luca was about to close the door after leaving the room, Sophia seemed to remember something. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
“Oh, and there’s one more thing,” she said.
Luca stopped in his tracks and looked at her in confusion.
Sophia fiddled with her teacup and said, “Catherine’s place of enlistment is not far from Haillan County. In our last letter, I mentioned that we’d be heading to Haillan County soon.
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“She might come to see us in a few days.”
Luca was momentarily stunned upon hearing this. He couldn’t help but picture the image of a tall, graceful woman with wine-red hair, standing tall with confidence.
He had thought it would be a while before he would see her again, but it seemed that it would happen much sooner than expected.
…
As time passed, the flying ship continued its journey westward, heading towards Haillan County.
The temperature grew hotter by the day, and the water elements in the air were several times higher than in other regions.
From the sky, one could see vast stretches of lush, green land dotted with many rivers and lakes of various sizes.
Among them, fishing boats were everywhere, looking like diligent ants at work.
Not far from these areas were many fishing villages of all sizes. In the mornings, wisps of smoke rose from the chimneys of the villages, creating a more vibrant, rustic atmosphere compared to Dawn City, which had a more solemn and quiet vibe.
Standing on the deck, Luca could already spot Seaway City, nestled on the land. Beyond it, to the west, lay the vast and boundless sea.
The deep blue sea reflected the glaring golden light of the sun, stretching endlessly beyond the horizon.
The salty, humid sea breeze swept past, and Luca could already smell the distinctive fishy scent carried by the ocean air.
If one wanted to put it more elegantly, one could simply call it the “scent of the sea.”
This was the largest sea area in the entire Eternal Continent—the Western Sea!
“Finally, we’re here.” Luca stretched lazily.
A faint smile appearing on his face.
After days of flying aboard the ship, his routine had been nothing but crafting magic runes and sparring with Sophia.
It felt dull and monotonous, like being stuck in prison.
Such a peaceful, idle life was something Luca found hard to adapt to.
Thankfully, they had finally reached their destination.
At that moment, a cold voice suddenly rang out beside him.
Causing his smile to freeze on his face.
“We’ll have a match once we reach Heilan City. This time, I won’t lose again,” Sophia said, her arms crossed, her tone flat.
“Senior, how about we just skip it this time?” Luca turned his head stiffly, a bitter smile on his face.
Although his level hadn’t yet reached the higher tiers, after several rounds of tempering and with his battle experience honed in the apocalypse, Luca’s strength was far beyond Sophia’s current level.
Thus, in all their previous sparring sessions, Luca had always won decisively.
This didn’t sit well with his proud senior.
So, after every loss, she insisted on challenging Luca again. If she lost, she would keep going until she was utterly exhausted, collapsing from fatigue before she would stop.
Luca had considered letting her win once, but after Sophia had seen his true strength, she could immediately tell if he was holding back.
If that happened, she would feel deeply humiliated and would turn her frustration into even more violent and self-destructive attacks.
There was no way out—Luca had to face her every time.
These past few days, she had really worn him out, and he was desperate to take a break from the constant sparring.
But Sophia clearly wasn’t planning to let him off the hook.
She fixed him with her ice-blue gaze, her expression as cold as ever. She didn’t speak, just stared at him relentlessly, her eyes sharp like two arrows.
After a while, Luca started to feel like ants were crawling all over his body. His face became uncomfortable, as though he were a guilty man caught in the act of a crime.
“I surrender…” Luca held out for only a few minutes before finally giving in.
He had no choice but to agree to his stubborn senior’s request. He knew if he didn’t, Sophia would keep staring at him like that, day in and day out. Luca had tried to resist before, but her persistence far exceeded his expectations.
Now, was this considered emotional abuse? Luca couldn’t help but silently complain to himself as he saw the satisfied expression returning to Sophia’s face.
By this time, their flying ship was already approaching Seaway City. In the sky, countless other flying ships were either taking off or landing.
From above, it was clear that the city was even more prosperous than the once-bustling Southwind City.
Seaway City had an overall circular layout, with large drainage canals running through the center, wide enough to accommodate several boats sailing side by side.
Compared to the towering, grand structures of Dawn City, the buildings in Seaway City were lower and more delicate in design.
The streets, paved with blue stone, were lined with white-walled, red-tiled stone lofts. The roofs were arched, better suited to withstand fierce winds and heavy rain.
At the heart of the city stood an exquisite castle, which served as the Lord’s residence. Surrounding it was a thick defensive stone wall.
Ships and merchant caravans, loaded with vast amounts of goods, made their way along the canals toward the city gates.
They had to pass through inspection by the city guards before they could enter the city.
When the flying ship finally settled at the dock.
Luca and Sophia disembarked together.
Ahead of them, a long line had already formed, filled with people waiting to have their identities and goods checked by the soldiers.
Neither Luca nor Sophia revealed their true identities.
Like everyone else, they presented their passes to enter Seaway City.
As soon as they stepped out of the dock, a group of men dressed in gray cloth robes immediately surrounded them.
Luca glanced at them, quickly realizing they were a group of carriage drivers, but he didn’t pay them much attention.
One of them, wearing a broad grin, enthusiastically approached them. “Where are you two fine folks heading? For just 20 copper coins, I can take you anywhere in Seaway City!”
“20 copper coins? Old John, you’re shameless!” Another man nearby chimed in, slapping his chest and confidently addressing Luca. “Young brother, take my carriage! For only 15 copper coins, I’ll get you where you need to go!”
At that moment, others joined in, each touting their own offers. “My horse runs faster than yours!” “My carriage is more comfortable!” “My price is lower than his!”
The competition was fierce.
Passersby who had stopped to watch couldn’t help but stare.
Wondering why they weren’t getting such treatment.
To be honest, anyone with a sharp eye could tell that these two young travelers, from their attire, appearance, and the aura they carried, were not ordinary.
Especially the young woman in the blue dress.
These carriage drivers had spent many years hanging around Seaway City’s docks.
They had seen all sorts of people.
But they could all agree on one thing.
In their entire lives, they had never seen a girl as stunning as her.