After his bath, Zach eagerly finished the remaining spirit fruit. Immanuel noticed an invigorating effect on the boy; Zach became livelier, bouncing around with a newfound energy. Occasionally, he would stand still and touch his stomach, his eyes half-closed.
Meanwhile, Syl, having unfurled the sails, was now stationed in the captain's chair on the bridge. Her focus was entirely absorbed by the device Immanuel had given her, her knees drawn up close and her nose nearly touching the gadget.
Approaching her, Immanuel inquired, "Any progress?"
Distracted from her examination, Syl replied, "Oh, yes. There's a mechanism, see? But it needs activation, likely through a power source or a special key. Place your fingers here," she guided, positioning his hands on specific parts of the device.
"Now, channel your core energy to your hands," she instructed.
As Immanuel concentrated, directing more and more of his core energy into his hands, the device responded. It unfolded like a blooming flower, revealing an array of symbols orbiting around a small black arrow, reminiscent of planets encircling a sun. The sight was mesmerizing.
Syl's excitement was palpable as she realized the nature of the device. "It's a navigator!" she exclaimed. "It can lead us to something."
Immanuel, already exerting substantial energy into the device, noticed the arrow's erratic movements. He focused intensely, funneling more of his core power into his fingertips.
"Can you increase the energy flow?" Syl asked, her eyes fixed on the device.
With his eyes closed to maintain concentration, Immanuel amplified the energy he was channeling. The device responded, the arrow stabilizing and pointing decisively towards one of the symbols.
"Yes, that's it!" Syl confirmed after briefly stepping away to steer the ship in the direction and locking it in place.
Opening his eyes, Immanuel relaxed, and the device retracted into its closed form.
"We'll head towards the symbol that looks like a little squiggle," she announced with a sense of adventure.
"Is that smart?" Immanuel queried, a hint of caution in his tone.
"Well, we don't have a specific destination at the moment, do we?".
"That's undeniably true," Immanuel conceded with a smile.
"You know, this morning, I just sprang out of bed with a burst of energy, feeling like I wanted to do everything at once," she shared, her eyes briefly meeting his before she turned to sit in the captain's chair. "And these robes... they're more than just fabric. They feel like mranstam feathers against my skin, yet there's something more to them."
Embracing the robes tightly, she continued, "I can't bring myself to take them off. It's like removing a part of me. Strange, isn't it?"
Immanuel, intrigued by her experience, moved to a couch near the window and settled into it. "Could it be that the robes are imbued with some kind of effect or spell? Have you heard of clothing that enhances certain abilities?"
Syl thought about it. "I've never encountered such a thing. I'm familiar with enchanting shields to absorb impacts through energy distribution, but this," she gestured to her robes, "is something entirely different. I found patterns inside the fabric unlike anything I've seen before."
She then stood and walked over to Immanuel, a thoughtful look on her face. Sitting down on the couch beside him, she asked gently, "May I?"
"Of course." Extending his hand, he felt her teeth sink in. The scent of her hair wafted towards him, fresh and enticing, drawing his eyes to where her neck vanished beneath the flowing robes. The sensation of her drinking stirred a heady intoxication within him.
'Shouldn't I be feeling weak by now?' The thought fluttered through his mind.
She exhaled deeply, collapsing onto the couch in a sprawl much like a carefree teenager.
He felt a growing urge to kiss her but instead asked, "How long can we live on the ship without food?"
"How many fruits do you have?" she replied, her eyes still blissfully shut, embodying the serene contentment of a well-fed cat beside a warm fireplace.
"That's a good question." He opened his inventory and checked.
"Eleven," he counted.
"It would be wasteful to consume them one after the other. However, if we increase our water intake, perhaps we could stretch one fruit to last every three days for the three of us," she suggested.
"So, we have approximately 33 days before we're relegated to only water. Did you know I used to eat one or two of these daily?"
"Are you a prince?" .
"No," he chuckled.. "You're not the first to ask, though."
Zach entered and made his way to his couch, curling into a fetal position to sleep. They exchanged knowing smiles as they observed him.
"I'm going to inspect the seeds and bottles. My goal is to achieve ascension to stage 4 within twenty days.
"Take your time, we’ll hold the bridge." Immanuel responded.
She stood, moving towards the captain's chair, pausing as if to speak, but then, reconsidering, she exited.
Stolen novel; please report.
Left with little else to occupy himself, Immanuel dropped to all fours, playfully sniffing the ground as though he were an outlandish bird.
---
Zach and Immanuel took turns standing guard, as Syl devoted herself towards pushing for stage 4. The days flew by and their supply of spirit fruits dropped to a mere two. Following a vigorous sparring session, Immanuel was careful to wear only his underpants, sparing his robes from damage. Both he and Zach had developed nice tans from their time spent under the sun.
Immanuel traversed the deck on all fours clad in his undergarments, when suddenly Syl emerged unexpectedly from below. This break from their normal routine caught him off guard. He bounded towards her like an exuberant puppy, emitting playful, squeaking noises.
He approached her eagerly, nudging her gently with his head.
"Ooh ooh," Syl chuckled, giving him a pat on the head. In a swift, playful gesture, he nudged her more forcefully. She reacted with agility, seizing him by the neck before vaulting onto his back. With a fluid motion, she adjusted her grip, now encircling his chest.
The game was on..
Immanuel started burning his energy and began to thrash about like a wild bull. Amidst his movements, Syl's laughter rang out. He leaped onto the railing, feet planting firmly before executing a backward somersault, landing deftly on all fours. Despite his efforts, she did not let go.
As he calmed down, she rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm prepared to attempt ascension. Could you periodically check on me? I might need blood or water." She said softly in his ear.
He straightened up, and she released her embrace.. "Certainly. Is it a painful process? I'll accompany-"
"No, I must do the first phase alone. We've stolen some of the most potent ingredients available, which should maximize the benefits of my ascension. But, it also implies it will be extra painful and dangerous." She pressed her head against his cheek in a brief, intimate gesture. Then, releasing him, she descended back below deck.
Immanuel, feeling a twinge of nervousness on the empty bridge, resorted to his pipe for distraction. As he stood there, a distant movement caught his eye. At first, it appeared as erratic, towering waves.
"Zach! Zach!" His voice carried a sense of urgency as he called out. Zach hurried out from the bridge, following Immanuel's pointed gesture. "Look over there!"
Zach's eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation, then leapt onto the railing.
"What do you see?" Immanuel asked.
"Fish in the water. Many."
"Are they coming towards us?"
Zach fell silent, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "No, but there are many. We're bound to intersect their path."
"Should we try to avoid them?”
Zach did not answer.
"Let's try and get something to eat." Immanuel said when they came closer. Zach dashed to the bridge and returned with two crossbows, placing one on the deck.
As they drew nearer, the scene unfolded with surreal grandeur. Enormous birds, rivaling the size of jumbo jets, soared through the sky, their leisurely circles lending an air of majesty to the scene. Their white plumage contrasted starkly against their massive black beaks. Below, the sea was teeming with creatures. Resembling dolphins yet adorned with menacing spikes on their backs, they surfaced briefly before diving again. Among them were creatures varying in size, some as small as rats, others as large as three-story buildings. There were so many Immanuel could not see where the group ended. The sea was filled with them as far as the eye could see.
As they entered the path of the creatures, they luckily avoided collision with the ship.
"I'll take a shot at one while you leap in and anchor your claws into it. Then, I'll reel you back in," Immanuel suggested. Zach responded by tying a rope around his waist.
"Let's target a smaller one," Immanuel proposed, scanning the water. Spotting a suitable target, he pointed it out. "There!" Zach leaped, transforming mid-air into his Lycan form. Immanuel waited for the perfect moment before firing the crossbow, hitting the creature in the head.
Zach landed on the beast, his claws sinking deep. The creature, wounded and startled, dove rapidly, dragging Zach along. Immanuel grasped the rope firmly, feeling the initial strain as he struggled to maintain his grip. He ignited his core, channeling his full power. The rope tensed under the increased force.
Hel began to haul in the rope. The spiked dolphin thrashed in the water, its movements erratic and powerful. Then, breaking the surface, Zach emerged, his claws embedded in the side of the beast's head, his teeth clamped firmly. The creature's struggles intensified, but once lifted from the water, its resistance weakened. Methodically, Immanuel drew them closer.
Immanuel hauled both Zach and the captured beast onto the deck. Zach, invigorated and eager, immediately declared, "Again."
Immanuel reached for the crossbow, but Zach interrupted, "No need. I'll choose. Just be ready to pull me back." His gaze fixed on the sea with predatory intensity. Immanuel held the rope firmly, watching as Zach leaped. Like a hawk descending upon its prey, Zach landed on the head of another creature, which promptly dove. This time, Immanuel was prepared, instantly pulling on the rope. The beast thrashed wildly as he dragged them aboard.
Zach, now fully immersed in his hunting instincts, was visibly exhilarated. "Again," he urged, releasing the creature, which continued to flail on the deck, its head marked with several wounds.
"Whenever you're ready," Immanuel responded, a hint of concern in his voice as he noticed the birds above beginning to descend gradually. Zach jumped.
Again, he reeled in Zach, this time the beast was already lifeless. It was larger, and Immanuel strained to pull it onto the deck.
"Again," Zach stated, perched on the railing, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. Zach licked his lips eagerly before diving once more.
The birds now showed a clear interest in the ship. They swooped down in intimidating dives, pulling up just before reaching the sails. Their massive size cast ominous shadows over the entire deck, their presence terrifying. Immanuel, his core ablaze with maximum power, started pulling Zach back, who had managed to overpower an even larger beast. With every ounce of strength, he hauled them onto the deck.
"Zach, look at the birds," Immanuel cautioned, noticing Zach reaching for the crossbow. "No! Don't attack them. They could easily snap this ship in two." Yet Zach, eyes narrowed, began to aim the crossbow. "Zach, damn it, no!"
Reluctantly, Zach lowered the weapon
"Let's move these creatures to the ship's storage room. Then we'll see how the birds react." He started by heaving the largest creature through the hatch.
Once all the creatures were below deck, Zach returned to the railing. The birds were now much higher. ‘Good.’ Thought Immanuel. "Again," Zach said.
The seemingly endless school of punk rock dolphins continued. Despite their growing exhaustion, Immanuel and Zach were reluctant to waste such an opportunity. Just as Zach prepared for another dive, a massive shark erupted from the depths, snatching a large beast between its jaws. The shark rose higher, towering above their main sail, before crashing back into the sea with a tremendous splash.
"Enough," Zach declared, beginning to untie the rope. Immanuel stood there, a mix of awe and disbelief etched on his face. 'What the fuck,' he thought, overwhelmed by the sheer wildness of their surroundings.
Immanuel's attention was swiftly drawn to another scene: a second shark leaping high out of the water, a punk rock dolphin clasped tightly in its jaws.
"The cavalry has indeed arrived," he murmured. In a stunning display of nature's choreography, a bird swooped down at that very moment. The scene unfolded like a slow-motion sequence from a film, with the bird deftly snatching the front end of the punk rock dolphin right from the jaws of the leaping shark.
"Yeah, we're done here," Immanuel agreed, still mesmerized by the spectacle. He then turned to Zach, "Can you clean the blood off the deck? I need to check on Syl."