"I think I understand how Lvonette’s brother managed to survive this place," Elsie exclaimed, her voice filled with realisation.

"We have a significant advantage here thanks to the information we received. Imagine if we didn’t know about the boatmen and attacked them, unaware that they were here to guide us. These individuals seem quite powerful, and we would have been killed and devoured by them even before starting our journey," she continued.

"You’re right. We need to be cautious every step of the way," I responded.

Several hours had passed since we set sail. Our boatman seemed incapable of communication, remaining fixed in position with his hands tightly gripping the steering wheel. His large, white-dot eyes focused in a specific direction. It was as if his sole purpose was to operate the ship.

Gradually, the sky transformed into a reddish hue, signalling the setting sun. We had already enjoyed our supper in the central room of the ship.

"The true nature of the realm reveals itself in the darkness," Kei recalled in the second hint provided by Lvonette.

"Maintain our formation and remain vigilant for threats from all sides," I commanded.

My companions followed suit, adopting our predetermined formation. I positioned myself at the front, Elsie in the middle, and Kei at the rear. We stood together at the centre of the boat.

As nightfall enveloped the surroundings, the reddish sky turned into darkness.

"Nothing appears unusual," I remarked.

"Is that a dolphin?" Kei asked from behind. Following his gaze, we noticed a dolphin peeking out from the water just below our boat. It emitted cheerful sounds, seemingly luring us closer.

"Don’t approach it," I suggested.

We could also observe various large and small sea creatures nearby, their presence visible through the crystal-clear water.

"Wait! Elsie!" Kei screamed as Elsie turned towards the dolphin.

"I’ve never seen the sea before, so this is all new to me. Relax, guys. What harm can this small creature do?" She reasoned, waving at the dolphin. In response, the dolphin cheered and emitted clapping-like sounds.

"See, it’s harmless." Elsie’s voice trailed off as her expression transformed into one of shock. Her mouth gaped open, and her eyes were fixated on the dolphin. Curious, we approached her to understand the reason for her reaction.

I could hardly believe my eyes. The dolphin’s body began to decompose slowly, its skin turning dark brown and peeling off to reveal its entrails. Blood from the dolphin splattered out, leaving only its skeleton behind.

Was it dead? This phenomenon occurs with every fish and sea creature around us. Their bodies started decaying, and blood mingled with the sea, turning it red. Only their skeletons remained.

The once beautiful sea lost all its elegance, transforming into a sea of blood. A dim light shimmered from its dark red surface. All the creatures, large and small, emerged from the sea, their skeletons the sole remnants. They moved towards our boat like zombies.

Finally, I understood that we were indeed in "the sea of devils."

*

"Maintain formation! Protect the boat! If it sinks, we’re finished!" I shouted as we braced ourselves to confront the onslaught of skeletal monsters.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

This was the moment of truth, the culmination of our three months of training.

Drawing my weapon from its holder attached to my waist, I revealed the long white chains connected to a scythe and a weight, forming my signature weapon known as the chain-scythe.

The skeletal dolphin leaped towards me, its jaws poised to tear into my flesh.

Focusing on the surrounding solar energy, I harnessed its power, allowing it to flow through my body at an increased rate. I reached a state of Zen, but this time I pushed myself further, pulling in all the sol energy I could muster. Unlike before, there was no burning sensation as I had cleared impurities from my sol channels. I had broken through that barrier and grown significantly more powerful. My zen state now lasts over an hour.

Grasping the handle of my scythe, I hurled the scythe-head towards the attacking creature, the chain connecting it elongating as it soared through the air.

However, the creature evaded the blade, causing the scythe to pass by it. But that didn’t matter since I could manipulate the scythe by tugging on the chains in my hand that were linked to it.

I pulled the chains, and the scythe rotated, piercing the skull of the dolphin. The creature slumped lifelessly to the ground.

More of them approached as I readied myself to face them. I prepared to unleash a technique of my own creation.

As I swiftly retrieved the scythe, the chains retracted, and I firmly gripped the centre of the chain with my fist. With a surge of energy, I initiated a forceful rotation of my body, causing the scythe to transform into a formidable shield-like formation. The scythe’s blade extended outward, while the chains connected to it spun rapidly around me, resembling the blades of a spinning fan.

The spinning motion created a whirlwind of deadly force, generating a protective barrier around me. The rapidly rotating scythe acted as a shield, intercepting and deflecting any incoming attacks from the skeletal monsters. The centrifugal force created by the rotation enhanced the defensive capabilities of the technique, making it difficult for the monsters to breach my defense.

As the monsters approached, the cyclonic motion of the shield unleashed a devastating offense. The sharp edges of the scythe’s blade tore through the skeletal bodies with tremendous force, cutting limbs and shattering bones. The rotating shield became a relentless whirlwind of destruction, slicing through the monsters like a tornado.

With precise control over the spinning scythe, I continuously adjusted my body’s rotation, ensuring that I could effectively engage enemies from all directions. The technique not only provided me with a means of defence but also served as an offensive powerhouse, tearing apart any adversaries foolish enough to challenge me.

In the midst of this intense battle, my attention briefly shifted to my companions, ensuring their safety amid the chaos, while the cyclone shredder continued to repel and dismantle the skeletal horde.

Kei swiftly dispatched the skeletal creatures with remarkable agility, his dual daggers piercing through their skulls at incredible speed. To my amazement, the daggers autonomously returned to his hand as he uttered a small chant, showcasing his mastery over the weapons.

Unlike my own approach, which relied on raw strength, Kei effortlessly eliminated each enemy with a single precise strike. His proficiency was truly awe-inspiring.

Suddenly, one of the creatures managed to breach our defensive formation, leaping towards Kei from behind. I cried out in warning, fearing for his safety. However, my concern was unwarranted, as Elsie swiftly intervened. With a gauntlet of crystal formed through her skilled crystal sol-weaving, she delivered a devastating punch that pulverised the creature into fragments.

"Conserve your energy! We have an entire night of battle ahead of us!" I exclaimed, urging my companions to pace themselves.

***

"Finally, it’s over!" A wave of joy washed over me as the sun began to rise, signalling the end of the nightmarish battle. The sea gradually returned to its serene state, with the creatures retreating and their bodies reverting to normal. The once bloodied waters transformed back to their crystal-clear clarity.

We had fought tirelessly throughout the night, our bodies adorned with minor bruises but no fatal wounds. Our strategic approach played a crucial role in our survival. One of us would retreat to the rest area when their Zen state waned, allowing the other two to continue the fight.

"Wait, why did the boat stop?" Kei asked, his voice laced with weariness.

Curiosity piqued, I decided to investigate our motionless boatman, who had steered the vessel unperturbed throughout the night as if nothing had transpired. It stood there like a statue, oddly untouched by the wrath of the creatures. They did not perceive the boatman as an enemy, rendering our protection unnecessary.

As I laid my eyes on the boatman, shock overcame me. His head was severed, and a cascade of black liquid was spewing from his body like a waterfall. Was the boatman dead?