Chapter 38: Charge! The Rescue Operation!

In the Ghost Sea, inside the Azure Giant Whale.

“Everyone, we have now arrived directly beneath the target island. This place is no ordinary area, so Rashid will drop everyone onto the island in a special way. Before that, there are several key points you must remember.”

In front of the hundreds of elite members of the Merman Tribe who were fully equipped and nervously preparing for the final checks, the only one knowledgeable about this place, Pirate King Rashid Bachiri, was conducting the final mobilization.

“The dangers of the Ghost Sea need no emphasis; I believe everyone here understands that. I know those who have made it this far are fully prepared to lay down their lives for the rescue of the Princess. However, unnecessary sacrifices would surely sadden Princess Nitira and Your Majesty.”

“To minimize casualties and increase the efficiency of the rescue, please drop any biases you may hold against me and follow orders starting now!”

With a knowledgeable yet somber gaze, the Gold-haired Man scanned the crowd. Seeing no apparent signs of dissent or unexpected moves from the Merman forces, he nodded in satisfaction and continued.

“Thank you for your trust. To make a long story short, I first need to present a few ironclad orders—these orders cannot be violated under any circumstances and must be followed first and foremost.”

He raised three fingers.

“First, no matter what happens, ensure that your protective gear is functioning properly. If you see illusions beyond reason, hear unintelligible whispers, discover any part of your body acting against your will, or feel strange itches and pains without cause, you must report immediately!”

“Second, aside from teammates and rescue targets, all that you see in the Ghost Sea is an enemy. No matter what you encounter, you must not hesitate or doubt; once again, listen less, see less, think less, and always prioritize following orders!”

“Third…”

At this point, Rashid suddenly paused for a moment, hesitating imperceptibly before resolutely beginning to speak again.

“Third, always believe… you are still alive.”

Before anyone could express their astonishment, he clapped his hands vigorously.

“Remember these three points! Now, let’s get ready to depart!”

“Woo~~!!!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a torrent of intense whirlpool-like energy suddenly surged out from the Giant Whale alongside its loud call. The force was so strong that it swept up everyone in the vicinity, including Rashid himself, and they shot skyward!

Just as they were about to crash into the top iron-gray “ceiling,” a massive circular opening perfectly appeared, allowing a surge of rushing blue water to burst upwards!

“Woo~~!!!!”

The Giant Whale’s long, trumpet-like cry echoed across the sea and sky, as hundreds of figures erupted from the dark, murky water, creating a magnificent arc as they fell toward the nearby shore.

“Bang!”

With white wings flared, Miss Vilyric floated gracefully down, followed closely by everyone else who tried to minimize the impact in their own ways, adjusting their body postures in mid-air—though they certainly couldn’t fly.

“Boom boom boom boom boom!!!!”

“Ouch! My butt!!”

In an instant, the ground was filled with the sounds of heavy objects landing and cries of pain.

However, those chosen by Queen Anies for this mission were all elite members, and the rushing water acted as a cushion to lessen the impact. This first wave of landings, while noisy, did not cause significant injuries.

“Ow, ow, ow… What’s with that stinky fish? Couldn’t it have given us a heads-up before blasting us out? My butt is about to fall off…”

A certain Miss Thief covered her backside as she grimaced and scrambled to her feet, immediately looking for the culprit behind her misfortune. However, the hazy ocean had long since lost the Giant Whale’s figure, which had submerged and disappeared.

Meanwhile, the more composed Hong Yan surveyed the surroundings, taking in the situation.

“This place… Wait a moment, this seems like the scene I saw during my meditation? The group of islands submerged in the deep sea of the East Sea Pearl, like it just rose from the ocean; does it actually exist? But what on earth is going on, that whisper…”

“Alright, Hong Yan, don’t dwell on it any further.”

At the timely reminder from the Priestess, the Swordsman Girl’s expression shifted, abandoning her train of thought. The protective necklace around her neck that had been subtly vibrating gradually calmed down, though her expression still looked a bit unpleasant.

“What a terrifying form of spiritual pollution… Is this the Ghost Sea? Compared to the Emerald Sea Region, this influence is at least ten times stronger… Just being on the shore is like this; I can’t imagine what it’s like in the deep sea.”

“After all, it is something left behind by the God~”

The Black-haired Girl shrugged nonchalantly and began to glance around.

According to Rashid, while the Ghost Sea is a one-way trip for the living, the dangers within vary depending on the environment.

If one had to classify the layers, the deep sea is naturally the most dangerous place, being the true origin of all the Ghosts.

After that, while the ships floating on the surface can offer some resistance to the intangible whispers, the effect is still minimal. Anyone daring to sail into the Ghost Sea would find the outcome unchanged.

And if one were to identify the relatively safest area in this eerie marine domain, it would be the larger islands, which to some extent can insulate the concept of sea.

According to the Island King, there are also islands in the Ghost Sea; the larger the island, the more diluted the strange powers surrounding it become. Hence, only the mentally resilient can operate on these islands under sufficient protection for some time.

Based on the current circumstances, he truly isn’t spewing nonsense.

However, for ordinary people, even knowing this distinction is futile. Without the Master of the Sea serving as protection, it is practically impossible for them to cross the sea and reach the islands. Even the departure from the Azure Giant Whale was intentionally aided by its energy to protect them.

It’s genuinely a challenging journey.

Clearly, traversing the Ghost Sea is no simple task, and this opportunity might allow for some experimentation…

“Clap… clap…”

Just then, strange footsteps grew nearer, interrupting the Priestess’s thoughts.

It was the island’s “natives,” who had discovered these uninvited guests, and they didn’t seem particularly friendly.

“Those are Deep Sea Ghosts, prepare for battle!”

Experienced Alec was the first to raise his trident. At his battle cry, the landed Mermen quickly took combat stances, protecting their Your Majesty in the center, with Rashid, Miss Le Qiao Qiao, Hong Yan, and others also drawing their weapons.

Before long, more and more figures appeared, gradually surrounding the groups near the shore in a semicircle.

“Whoa, what on earth is that…?”

Seeing the so-called Deep Sea Ghosts for the first time, Miss Vilyric frowned, taking a half step back, looking utterly incredulous.

These creatures are nothing but a form of spiritual pollution; their mere existence is a sight that burns the eyes, reminiscent of the previous Depraved Beings.

If the current information is anything to go by, the “Ghosts” on this island would have once all been Mermen, but their bodies have completely lost their original forms, with skin, muscles, and bones rotting away from years of immersion in seawater, replaced instead by countless thin tentacles.

Those tentacle-like appendages densely filled the gaps left by decayed bodies, constituting over seventy percent of these “Ghosts’” physical structure, transforming them into a wholly different eerie entity.

Formed by the aggregation of countless bizarre beings, their very existence is almost beyond recognition as living beings.

   

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