Chapter 39: The Whisper of Expansion

Even those countless delicate tentacles that formed the body of the “Ghost of the Deep Sea” seemed like individual entities, wriggling rapidly at different frequencies at all times, making one’s scalp tingle and goosebumps rise just from looking at them.

“Swish, swish, swish, swish, swish!!!”

A dozen rusty harpoons were thrown from afar, blocked by the merman guards in the front, who had already turned the battlefield into a messy fight without uttering a word to each other.

Although these things were filled with tentacles, or one could say parasitic and symbiotic, they appeared quite bizarre on the outside. However, their individual strength was clearly inferior to the elite troops led by Queen Anies. While they were not in full retreat, a path was quickly forced through.

“Advance! Advance! Don’t linger in battle! Our goal isn’t to eliminate them! Everyone, follow closely!!!”

Rashid shouted from the front, showing a demeanor that seemed quite refined, but it was evident that the title of Pirate King wasn’t just for show. Though he hadn’t yet reached legendary status without considering that “Book of Truth,” he was quite capable of handling these broken beings pieced together by tentacles.

Interestingly… this guy also used divine magic, resembling a holy knight with dual mastery of both magic and martial abilities, exceedingly effective against these undead-like creatures.

Miss Vilyric didn’t rush to intervene at this stage; instead, she observed the surrounding environment and those strange beings while swiftly moving along with the team. She occasionally pretended to cast a few low-level healing spells to help restore the wounded nearby, providing quite a significant support effect.

She was searching for the source of the true anomalous power in this area, the “Ghost Sea.”

Indeed, Vilyric could sense an oddly bizarre influence emanating from the environment here. It wasn’t energy, nor a mental attack, but more like a law entangled around this land, or sea, a… polluted law, much like the spiritual power of the Ancient Spirit Realm, yet possessing some differences.

This influence was spread through “information,” manifesting as an incomprehensible whispering murmur. However, whether it was a murmur or information, these could never be generated out of thin air, so there must exist one or multiple central sources.

If she could find the origin of this power, perhaps they could dispel the environmental erosion of the “Ghost Sea,” or even trace it back to uncover the true formation reasons of this island, which was both similar to and different from the East Sea Pearl royal court.

“I feel like I’ve seen something similar to the worlds of ‘inside’ and ‘outside’ before. But which is real and which is a reflection… Hehe, who can say for sure?”

The black-haired girl’s whispered thoughts didn’t reach anyone’s ears, as Rashid cleaved through a “ghost” holding a rusty harpoon with his sword. A brilliant golden light erupted from the blade, instantly incinerating the countless tentacles that formed its body, before turning back and shouting again.

“We need to pick up the pace! The ‘Book of Truth’ is stirring restlessly; I have an ominous feeling…”

However, before he could finish his sentence, an indescribable, eerie, formless aura suddenly howled out from the center of the island, sweeping over everyone present!

“Ugh…”

In that instant, Hong Yan, who was originally gracefully slaying enemies, froze, clutching her forehead in pain. Her normally clear eyes, which should have been crystal clear due to years of sword training, now erupted with dark hues that surged forth, turning into whispers and murmurs around her ears.

“What… what is this? Captain, I… I think I hear strange voices!”

“My hand, my hand has turned into a monster! Cut it off, hurry!!!”

“Shut up, shut up! Aah, be quiet!!!!”

Not just her, but many other merman warriors from the royal court suddenly went into a frenzy as if they had been struck by some sort of mental attack.

Those with stronger powers or mental resilience, like Anies and Alec, merely showed pain like Hong Yan, temporarily losing their ability to act. However, more mermen fell to the ground, unable to suppress their moans, hands clasped over their ears.

Some even, as if witnessing some horrific illusion, in sheer panic, chopped at their own limbs with their weapons, blood splattering everywhere before their companions could intervene, leaving them grievously wounded.

As they plunged into madness, the protective gear they wore—necklaces and various magical items made from mind-calming materials—began to flicker violently, cracking with terrifying lines that seemed ready to shatter at any moment.

The once-structured team was thrown into chaos.

Fortunately, those “ghosts” rushing in from all directions also seemed affected by this aura; they abruptly dropped their weapons, kneeling in unison as if in worship, bowing respectfully toward a common direction, completely postponing their offensive and giving the mermen a moment to breathe.

“Damn it, is it already starting to descend… There’s no way out.”

Rashid, the Pirate King, shielded by the “Book of Truth” and unaffected by that aura, gritted his teeth, sheathed his long sword, and opened the ancient book filled with blank pages, beginning to mumble a chant.

“O great origin of all beginnings, I pray to you.”

“You are the embodiment of light and hope, the first beam of light in the world, the master of all beauty and brightness.”

“Please grant us the light of ‘Purity,’ heal our wounds, cleanse our souls, dispel the evil within our hearts, and create new life once again!”

“Purify · Sacred Prayer!”

“Buzz~~~”

Golden light spread from the “Book of Truth” in Rashid’s hand, transforming into countless pure points of light that enveloped everyone around, calming their madness, healing the wounds from self-harm, and even allowing severed limbs to gradually regrow in the glow, quickly regaining control of the situation.

“Wow…”

Miss Vilyric, who was about to intervene, raised her brows.

As a priestess who had mastered holy magic to perfection, she could naturally tell from the effects and aura that this was at least a sixth-tier spell, one that could only be wielded by someone beyond the legendary level. Yet, Rashid, who was nowhere near legendary, could wield such power?

Was he granted some sort of privilege by using the “Book of Truth”?

However, the “Book of Truth” should have only provided him the energy to cross tiers with his magic, at most alleviating burdens and backlash. If Rashid didn’t understand the chant for “Purify · Sacred Prayer,” he probably wouldn’t be able to wield it at all.

   

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