Chapter 722: [Set Sail (3)]
With frightful noises everywhere, where the ghosts of the dead congregate, it was surely an ocean of dread.
During the sailing, all kinds of bad things were happening, causing the journey of the Mischievous Wench to never be so boring. Not just storms but also monsters and demons tried to attack the Mischievous Wench, and the ghosts tried to entice any sailors that would peer at them from the deck of the ship. Fortunately, aside from the Asmodeus and Allen, most crew members were undead and would not care about these mischievous ghosts.
A few days have passed.
Due to the speed of the Mischievous Wench, the trip was 2-3 times shorter than normal, and they finally reached the outer circle of the Island of DESPARA, where the Imperial Capital of the Demon City was located.
Moments without battles are quite boring though so Allen passed his time, fishing. Of course, in hell, there are no normal fishes, and if it’s not a moving skeleton fish, it would be an ugly, inedible-looking man-eating fish such as piranhas and undead sharks. However, this is all about feeling and not really looking for food reserves.
In the River of Lamentation, morning, noon, and the evening was fishing time. As for the river surface which was filled with images of ghastly figures screaming and wailing, Allen discovered that the river of hell looks like that of a mirror.
Although the surface displays these terrible images, it didn’t mean they existed on the other side…
Probably existing in some different dimension or realm, but the other side was just like that of a normal river, albeit not normal!
Even still, it is dangerous to approach the water surface, as like any events in Horror movies, the moment a living being appeared within a meter of the surface of the river, whether it was humans or demons, hands will suddenly come out from the surface of the river and dragged you towards it. Obviously, not towards the bottom of the river, but to the other dimension—the Realm of the Ghosts!
Once you’re trapped, it would be extremely difficult for you to return, and if your will is as thin as paper, you will be corroded by them and be turned into a ghost just like them!
Even if it is Allen, he would find it quite troublesome to deal with it if he ever fell in such a foolish dilemma. Well, it didn’t stop him from quenching his boredom by fishing, though~
“I got a big catch!”
Beside him, Asmodeus raised her fishing rod while laughing carefreely.
“Oh ho, it’s a clam this time. Wow, it even has a pearl inside.”
She had caught a pearl oyster. Although it looks demonic and seemed like a classic Mimic monster that appeared like treasure chests in games, even with red eyes glaring at you, Asmodeus dealt with it without care. She forcefully tears the mouth apart with her bare hands and saw a dazzling red-blue pearl inside.
“This is lucky… a rare Hell Clam with a Demonic Pearl!”
Asmodeus laughed proudly.
Hell Clam, a congregation of Ghost Essences and turning into a Monstrous Creature of Hell. Although Asmodeus ripped it open apart like it was nothing, Hell Clam is considered High Ranking Monsters, even above Sea Ghosts. Its Defense can ignore even the power of a Lesser Deity, as it’s hard as the hardest metal and it secretes Ghost Toxin that can Kill Lesser Deity if not treated properly. Well, not like it could affect a Demon Prince such as Asmodeus and Allen.
Well, aside from its shell that is considered rare and good material for item creation, the pearl inside them were also considered extremely precious and above normal magical items.
It possesses the purest and densest demonic power of hell—can even be considered as the materialization of Demonic Energy. Hence, even Demon Princes and High Ranking Demons covet it as it could increase a demon’s power and abilities, just like how Cultivators can increase theirs using magic cores or spiritual stones.
Well, it’s rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn’s horns though—since from what Allen knows, Hell Clam would only appear once in a century.
“Hmph,”
Allen snorted in displeasure as he saw Asmodeus laughing proudly at him. The latter's expression irked him for some reason. As for the latter, she didn’t care about it, in fact, her expression became even happier. Truthfully, due to their boredom, it led the two of them to have a match to see who can fish out better things.
Although Hell Rivers are full of gruesome things, it is still the unique river of hell and it contains many precious things as well. And Hell Clam is just one of them. And right now, the competition is leaning on Asmodeus side as she had already fished out two precious things, Hell Clam included. The other one was an infant Corpse Eater Kun—a variant of a Monster Called Kun from the Chinese Mythology that can transform into an enormous mythical bird called Peng.
Allen glimpsed at her, but not a single word left his mouth. Asmodeus, probably due to her luck, could fish up a great hell shark, small crustaceans-type creatures, and antiques from the sea. Allen could get, tiny tentacle fishes, skeleton piranhas, or if he was lucky a red finned ghost fish. This hurt his delicate pride.
He had always believed that he had the protagonist's privileges and was extremely lucky.
And yet...
After a few hours, Allen once again threw his line deep into the river.
Moments later, due to a fish nibbling on the bait the line moved.
‘Looks like I’ll get a large fish this time’
Allen’s eyes brightened immediately. Without hesitation, he pulled on the fishing rod with all his strength.
“This time, it would be a big catch!”
The fish with its mouth opened wide caught on the hook. But seeing the ‘big catch’ he caught, the corner of his lips twitched. Indeed, it is a big catch, the problem is, it couldn’t really be called a fish since it was a sea monster with six legs and an ugly face that looks like a pit bull.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Kwaaarg!”
The monster tried to threaten him with its roar. However, Allen only glared at it in annoyance and then it stopped the monster from struggling.
In terms of cruelty, no one could top him when he is in a bad mood.
“It looks pretty tasty!”
Allen cut up the sea monster into pieces and returns it in the sea without a care as if nothing had happened. Well, it wasn’t a bad catch, especially since he hadn’t prepared a proper bait for fishing in the hell river.
However, during that time, Asmodeus pulled in a large black scaled drake-type eel fish, one that she could barely carry.
“… …”
Allen acted as if he didn’t notice the hell creature caught by her. Still, how the hell does she do it? She even caught a dragon type at that...
… …
“Your fishing skill is unmatched as always.”
Allen muttered with a voice laded with sarcasm.
“This isn’t much, Master.”
Asmodeus replied amiably, though her eyes flashed a proud look.
“It seems you caught many valuables as well…”
Allen rolled his eyes.
Pottery, old bottles, even fish holding a treasure in their bellies, after a few hours of fishing, all were caught by Asmodeus. If you compare her fishing to her fighting skills, it seemed to be just as fierce.
Asmodeus had an odd sense for fishing, and she used it to the best of her abilities, that even Allen who can be considered to be good at everything he wants to do was still quite inferior in a sense.
I guess this is what they call, a battle of an all-rounder to a specialized—though, it’s not really like that but probably the same.
Asmodeus had a long experience in fishing, while for Allen, this is basically the first time he had done something like this. Although he has memories about it from the other incarnations of Dante, it was not the same as doing it himself.
Knowing it by the mind is not any similar to knowing it by heart.
“Once you get into it, fishing is something that has a lot of depth”, said Asmodeus, who hated long explanations.
Asmodeus was someone who looked like a lazy person but in reality, tries really hard to be the best. She was a kind of cheeky character who you can’t hate!
Allen shrugged. At this moment, suddenly as he was renewing his patience on his fishing skill, his eyes widened in shock when he heard a familiar ringing noise.
[Congratulations, Master! You have learned the Sailing skill!]
It was Uriel’s voice. Allen’s gaze narrowed.
I almost forgot about this skill.
Due to the fact that Uriel has now been connected to the Akashic Records, even though the game system had completely eluded him due to his distance away from the mortal world, away from the range of its blessings, he was still able to retain much of its system through Uriel.
At first, Uriel can only do basic commands such as activation of his abilities and skills, as well as the [Plunder] through Beelzebub, but after fusing with the [Fragment of Akashic Key] Allen had found within Athena’s Old Temple, he was now able to do a lot more, even to the point of automatically learning skills such as this when proper qualifications and requirements have been obtained, just like the Game System does.
Now, this had truly become a unique system only for him. Not only it organized and managed his abilities and physical existence, but it also upgraded several of its uses.
[ Sailing: travel affiliated skill
General skill to use a ship on the sea or river.
As the skill level goes up the skill in handling ships increases and the ship gets bonus movement speed
Chances of meeting storms or hail decrease.
Long voyages, extraordinary discovery or sailing in ill wind increases the leveling speed of this skill
At the intermediate skill level, the sailor’s discontent can be quelled and keep loyalty from dropping so it is useful for long voyages.
Current skill level: Beginner Level
The ship gets a 3% increase in speed.
A decrease of 1.5% chance of meeting storms.
-You have gained 5% Stamina!
-You have gained 6% Leadership Skill!
-You have gained 5% Agility!
-You have gained 10% Luck!
-You have obtained related skill: Related Knowledge of the Sea: 4% ]
Apart from this, Allen also managed to obtain [Shipbuilding Skill] which he was able to level by constructing small boats using wood or inspecting the entire ship and repairing it if there’s even tiny damage—and since Allen had creation skill, it was a piece of cake and his [Shipbuilding Skill] steadily advanced in level as if sitting in a rocket.
And along with his fighting both monsters attacks and storms, he was able to obtain a title of [Sailor] that increased leadership skills and sailing proficiency. Now, although he was doing better for a layman to be a captain of a ship, with these skills and titles he was like a tiger given wings even in the river of hell. Various kinds of information about sailings and ship buildings appeared inside his mind as if he had always known about it.
“Watch out for the reef. Full starboard!”
Allen turned into the cay to avoid the reef.
Before it was still too early to completely control the Mischievous Wench with his deficient skills, so difficult banking and cutting maneuvers could not be used indulgently even if it was him. Just like how a sailor in the human world couldn’t completely grasp the power of nature back in the mortal world, Allen was also the same here in Hell River.
Not only the [Leviathan Physique] was currently out of his body, but also even with it, he would not be able to control the rivers of hell. It was just impossible as it would be like trying to steal the control from the world itself…!
Hence, he was just a normal sailor in this kind of river—though, he was now doing well due to his recently acquired skills, it was still insufficient.
Allen was able to steer much better due to his improved proficiency. He then sneaked a peek at the passing reef. On top of the coral reef, a charming mermaid waved. A beautiful naked upper body and lower body covered in fish scales, she was something you couldn’t normally see in the sea. It takes a great fortune to be able to meet a mermaid. Especially in this realm.
“But Captain, there's more beneath the watermark here than meets the eye! Me think, leaving this place, a better choice!”
The Centaur; Tornus muttered with a worried expression.
Allen turned at him, his brows furrowed: “The Mermaid Cove? Are you afraid of Lore, lad?”
"Aye, the Mermaid Cove, Captain! Every worthless seaman fears the name, and rightly so, though few know why or dare to ask." Tornus replied solemnly.
"Be the stories true?"
Allen frowned, asking with voice laded in interest. But Tornus didn't reply. Allen's brows raised in doubt; "Say what robs you of your staunch heart, Tornus, or forever leave it to the whiter fields of fancy."
"...Mermaids, captain?"
Tornus replied with a wry smile.
Allen grinned: "Aye. Mermaids. Sea ghouls, devil fish, dreadful in hunger for the flesh of man. Mermaid waters, that be our path. Cling to your soul, Tornus, as mermaids be given to take the rest, to the bone.”
“Aloha!”
As they were talking, a mermaid blushed as she waved to Allen and Tornus direction. Allen turned towards them and waved with a faint smile in response. Even if the other party was a horrendous monster, still, as a gentleman, if a woman greeted you, you must do the same.
That's the burden a true gentleman bears...much less, it was a beautiful mermaid with breathtaking and devilish appearance.
“Now, see there and feast your eyes, my boy; all these beautiful mermaids. Creatures of legend and lore, right in front of me! Don’t you think, it’s more beautiful than mere words of mouth?”
“That’s,”
Tornus frowned but didn’t dare answer.
Allen grinned at him. He suddenly found out that acting like a pirate was kinda fun, much more, a Captain at that!
Probably, even the trickster of the Caribbean would take his hat off to him at this moment. Allen mused.
“…What an exciting adventure, indeed! All treasures are not silver and gold, lad—thrills, and lores are one as well…!" he laughed heartily as he looks at the cove full of mermaid and siren waving at him, though some wanting to lure him.
However, with his power, this kind of charm was utterly useless and harmless, and now even with the skill [Amokinesis Immunity] obtained from Athena’s Old Temple, this kind of temptation was child’s play.
Well, as long as their charm wouldn’t work, mermaid and sirens would not do anything else to the passing sailor. As long as you won’t try anything to them, they would just watch you passed by. Though apparently, instead of nullifying the charm the mermaids and sirens were releasing at him, it seemed like it was more that, he was reflecting all of them, causing the mermaids and sirens that saw him become mesmerized.
Most beautiful mermaids and sirens have a flushed expression as Allen smiled at him. Because of this, he could not help but laugh in amusement.
What a sinful man I had become~