Chapter 16 – Book 1 (1/2)

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Book 1 Chapter 15 – Sea G.o.d's Temple (1)

'I've succeeded.'

Accomplis.h.i.+ng and incredible Achievement.

Based on its level of difficulty, it was safe to say that no one other that himself would have been able to receive that reward. It requires one to complete various steps, overcoming monumental obstacles all along the way.

However Woohyuk was far ahead of any other adventurers. There had been many of them watching him in the sky as he cleaved the Abyssal Gate in two, but since he was well out of range of any of their spells or attacks. They were like a dog chasing after chicken only for it to fly up to the roof. 1

By now many of them would be arriving at the Central Lake, but he didn't feel any threat now that he had the t.i.tle of Ruler of the Calm Sea. If ever a naval battle were to break out, he was confident in emerging victorious even if he were to face off against every other player in the sector.

Woohyuk peered into the gla.s.s bottle, then smashed it open on the Kraken's head.

Zzangrang!

It was an imposing sailboat with a skull symbol on its black square sails, it's bow in the shape of a dragon's head was made entirely out of bones. Not to mention the dozens of cannons on either side.

He didn't know what the curse was about, but was willing to give it a shot. In every respect it was a cut above the Galley which he had anch.o.r.ed near the sh.o.r.e.

Woohyuk threw the miniature s.h.i.+p into the lake, causing the s.p.a.ce to s.h.i.+mmer as if one were seeing a mirage in the desert. Finally, the Abyssal s.h.i.+p resumed its original size.

Chulssuk

As he sailed the s.h.i.+p across the lake, he could hear the splas.h.i.+ng of the water as the s.h.i.+p's speed would cut through any waves. It's hull emitted an ominous dark energy as it raced across the water.

'It must be a pirate s.h.i.+p.'

Pirates had occasionally been hired by Lords when there was fighting to be done at sea or in strategic straits. At the end of the day however, pirates were still outlaws at sea, and wouldn't be easy to control.

Woohyuk had used his Three Clawed Eagle to arrive on the deck of the Abyssal s.h.i.+p, and the guy was trembling weakly, attempting to gain some sympathy from his cruel owner.

“Go stay at the crow's nest.”

The battle against the young Kraken had truly been far too exhausting. If it hadn't been for the fact that he had tamed it using the ability of the Paradise Elixir, it would have surely flown off mid-battle. It was simply impossible to fully tame such a creature with a few cracks of a whip.

Woohyuk then went below deck and headed towards the captain's quarters. Generally speaking the source of the Curse could be found there.

KKiiiiiic

As he opened the door, a round wooden table and bed came into view. Woohyuk walked inside and picked up the captain's diary that was lying on the table.

Bang!

The door was suddenly slammed shut, and a black figure appeared as it strode towards him. Completely unfazed, Woohyuk asked.

“Are you the captain of this s.h.i.+p?”

“There was a time when I was, but now I am but a ghost lost at sea.”

Pirates had a tough life, Sailing to find treasure sounded good and all, but the seas were treacherous. Still, sometimes they were even less so than your colleagues or subordinates that might stab you in the back.

“Tell me about this curse you've been afflicted with.”

“First, let's see if you are worthy.”

As the ghost captain finished speaking, a cutla.s.s that was lying in the corner of the room flew into his grasp.

A crescent blade with a large round guard above the hilt . It was your typical pirate sword. Woohyuk swung Grandia without any worries.

Clang!

The sharp sound of the two swords crossing rang out in the room.

“I am more than qualified, I've tamed the Kraken.”

“So it was you, I was wondering why it stayed so calm despite seeing this s.h.i.+p.”

The ghost captain lowered his cutla.s.s as he began to tell his tale.

“My name is Drake. I was once known as a Pirate King and would roam the seas without any fear.”

Woohyuk sat down on a chair as he listened to his story.

Drake had been very interested in any legendary treasures, and had fortuitously obtained a treasure map of a Historical Site found at sea.

After many years of searching, he had finally located this Historical Site and entered the Lost Temple . Unfortunately this attracted the Sea G.o.d's wrath, who cursed him for trespa.s.sing.

He and his crew were cursed to be forever erased from the memory of others.

Still, because of Drake's brilliant career and abilities, he along with his crew would remain as ghosts of the Abyssal s.h.i.+p, to obey its next captain.

'As expected.'

He hadn't known about Drake, but he had antic.i.p.ated some clues to that long lost civilization.

It was a place that even the most prominent archaeologists from his time weren't able to locate, so Woohyuk had theorized that it might be located in the Calm Sea.

“Since you were able to defeat the Kraken, you should be able to easily arrive at the Sea G.o.d's Temple.”

Deep within the temple, in a certain treasure chest, Drake and his crew's heart had been stashed away. Only by finding them and stabbing each of them would they finally be released from the Sea G.o.d's curse.

“If I accept this request of yours, what would I get in return?”

“To properly man this Abyssal s.h.i.+p, you need a team of competent sailors. We would be of great value to you at sea, so even if you were to release us, we would continue to follow you in your lifetime. Also, as a bonus I can tell you the location of a few Hidden treasures I know about.”

Even after returning to the Eeth continent, he wouldn't be sailing for quite some time. Still, in order to sit on the Divine Throne, he would need the added benefits of those treasures found at sea.

'I was planning on visiting anyways.'

If he didn't explore the Temple now, he wouldn't get another chance in future.

Woohyuk nodded.

“Good”

“You can claim owners.h.i.+p over the Abyssal s.h.i.+p by grabbing hold of the s.h.i.+p's wheel located on the bridge above deck. Still, this s.h.i.+p isn't capable of diving underwater.”

Drake placed some equipment on the round table. It looked like scuba gear, including breathing a.s.sistance, flippers and diving mask.

All of it had been designed by him through years of research.

“At first I used these, but it was still far too dangerous down there, so I had to invent something else. ”

The movement speed under water was far too restricted, and if you take into consideration the time one had before having to come up for air, the chances of any exploration being successful was close to zero.

“For that reason I developed another invention, it's really too bad I didn't have the chance to reveal it to the world.”

Drake left the captain's quarters as he guided Woohyuk to his latest invention.

'It's a submarine.'

Although it was made out of wood, that didn't mean one should underestimate it. In this world, high-quality wood could be incredibly durable.

Woohyuk closely examined the submarine's structure. There were fins that were implemented much like on a fish, to reduce any resistance. An engine was installed that could be powered by mana, and it was even equipped with torpedoes to be used as weapons.

It was the very pinnacle in fusion of magic and engineering.

“Did you attend some engineering university or something?”

“I have no idea what you are talking about, I simply designed it. As for the actual production, it was done by a team of Alchemists and s.h.i.+pwrights.”

He was a man ahead of his times.

Woohyuk was beginning to warm to the guy due to his many talents.

“In your previous life you were a Pirate King, how about being an Inventor King in this one?”