The Rise of the Black Plain

Chapter 2671  The First Months of the Journey

Some time later, the group sailing northwest from Marris left the 'safe' stretch of sea behind, entering a zone of eternal sea fog. From this point on, the dangers ahead became more and more imminent, and the group sailed more cautiously, reducing speed and keeping a constant lookout.

After crossing the perpetual fog, they reached a part of the Violent Sea known to few—an area with little fog, but full of dangers.

...

"The area we've entered may seem calm, but it's far from safe," said navigator Izan to Minos, as he accompanied the ship's leader on an early morning walk.

The sea breeze beat gently against their faces, but the tension was palpable in the air.

After serving his shift and taking a moment to rest, Minos was on his own time, walking around the ship's deck and observing the apparently tranquil surroundings.

Today, they were sailing under a clear sky, with waters as calm as a lake's, moving at 70% of the ship's maximum speed.

With a clear view of over 15 kilometers on the horizon, the group felt more confident than they had in weeks. Since leaving Marris, they had sailed for almost two months in an area of dense fog and storms, where they could barely see a kilometer ahead. Now, with their arrival in this area, it was natural to feel a little more relieved. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Izan continued in a serious tone, "Below, these calm waters are the biggest monsters you can imagine. Many marine races choose places like this to lay their eggs and leave their young. Despite the savage methods these creatures use—leaving their offspring at the mercy of the world—there are always powerful individuals who stay behind, protecting the future of their species."

The old navigator stared at the dark blue waters with a contemplative gaze, as if he could see beyond what was on the surface, glimpsing what lay hidden in the depths.

Minos listened without doubting Izan's words. He could also feel, through the dark waters, the presence of various organisms: fish, sharks, giant squid, water snakes and much more. Some of these beings were in their infantile stages, but there were adults around—creatures as large as the Sky Whales of the Spiritual World. The cultivation of these sea creatures was impressive; Minos could even identify Supremes within his field of vision.

'Luckily, our ship's formations are working very well. We're practically invisible to almost all of these creatures,' thought Minos.

He felt the steady rhythm of the sailor's breathing beside him, a reminder that, no matter how calm the sea seemed, danger was always present.

"Right. This place really is full of hidden terrors. We'd better not draw their attention," said Minos in a calm voice, before retreating into the bowels of the ship.

Izan remained where he was, his eyes still fixed on the horizon, as Minos descended to the lower level of the ship, heading for the cultivation room.

The room, measuring 35 square meters, had space for eight people to cultivate simultaneously. Of the eight spaces, five were currently occupied.

Minos chose one corner, sat down on a large cushion, closed his eyes, and positioned himself cross-legged.

As soon as he closed his eyes, a small golden hourglass appeared in front of his chest, releasing golden beams that intertwined around his body like ethereal chains. Even with his eyes closed, Minos felt an intense white light in his mind as his consciousness moved into the future, glimpsing the days and weeks to come.

As the ship continued its journey, Minos realized they could pass unnoticed by the sea creatures below them, as well as any dangerous natural phenomena. However, one particular night caught his attention, causing him to frown in concern.

'A ship...' The sight of a shadow in the night disturbed him, causing deep discomfort in his heart.

Opening his eyes back in the cultivation room, Minos felt drops of sweat trickling down his forehead. He looked up at one window and saw that it was still daylight, in contrast to the gloomy night he had seen in his premonition—a night when a strange ship would come their way.

Getting up quickly, Minos ran to the command cabin, where Diret was accompanied by Tiolos and the giant Clexvog.

"Chief..." Clexvog noticed Minos' serious expression, but ignored it.

Minos looked directly at Diret and asked, "Are there any phenomena in this area that cause a particularly dark night? Can you tell us where and when we will pass through such a region?"

Zocarro didn't have nights like those in the Spiritual World. The difference between day and night on that planet was more a question of light intensity. Day, for the inhabitants of that world, was the period when all the stars illuminated certain areas simultaneously. Night, on the other hand, was the time of lowest light intensity, when only one star illuminated those areas, creating a luminosity similar to twilight in the Spiritual World.

But Minos had seen in his vision a night as dark as those on his home planet—something extremely unusual and disturbing.

Diret frowned. "In a few weeks, we should pass through an area of magnetic storms. Almost the whole of the Violent Sea has this band of penumbra, where the nights are very dark. But despite the strange phenomenon, these areas are usually no more dangerous than where we are now."

There was a strangeness in Diret's voice, related to the fact that cultivators could see in the dark as well as in the light. Therefore, the intensity of the darkness shouldn't be a factor.

"What's worrying you?" asked Tiolos, his eyebrows furrowed in concern.

"I saw a ship. On the fourth dark night of our journey, a black ship, with no signs of life, will cross our path. Something about it sent a shiver down my spine," replied Minos, his voice low but charged with tension.

Clexvog and Tiolos changed their expressions, the dark circles in one of their eyes intensifying, while their breathing became heavier.

"Let's prepare for trouble. Whatever it is, we'll face it with our best," said Tiolos, clenching his fists before leaving the cabin, determined to prepare for whatever was to come.

Clexvog and Diret continued to talk for a few more minutes, agreeing their strategies and action plans, before also leaving the cabin to join the preparations.