Ficool

Chapter 62 - Chapter 62: Sea Beasts and Conflict

As he passed by the sailors, he attracted their attention, but none dared approach him, knowing that he was a 'sorcerer,' and coupled with his indifferent expression they didn't dare approach.

He reached the ladder attached to the main mast, leading to the crow's nest, and with a couple of quick jumps, he reached the top, using the ladder as a support.

Exclamations of surprise echoed as the nearby sailors stood frozen, mouths agape, some even falling to their knees and beginning to pray.

The vice captain, who was nearby, quickly calmed the crew, explaining once again that Mikael was a sorcerer, not a god. After settling the situation, Ruimis thought to himself, 'If I didn't know about the Akashic Records, I might have taken them for gods too. Compared to them, what are sorcerers? A bunch of charlatans only capable of dark magic?' He recalled the awe he had felt when he had first witnessed a similar scene.

Meanwhile, at the top of the main crow's nest, the sailor who saw Mikael suddenly appear was terrified and stammered, "W-what c-c-can I do for y-you, Lord?"

Mikael saw the sailor's reaction but ignored it. Instead, he asked, "If I stay here for the duration of the trip, and you go to another of the crow's nests, will it affect the ship's navigation?"

"I will do whatever your lordship asks!" the sailor responded, his voice shaking.

Mikael, irritated by the answer, kept his voice calm but firm. "I don't want flattery. I want the truth!"

The sailor, sensing his irritation, nearly panicked but managed to calm himself with a deep breath before replying truthfully, "If I go to another crow's nest, it won't make a real difference as long as there's someone acting as the navigator in one of the three nests."

Mikael thought for a moment. "Alright, you can go to another crow's nest, but if at any point all three nests are occupied by another 'sorcerer,' you'll return here to fulfill your duties as the navigator. Understood?" His tone was authoritative, the same one he had used to control his gang what felt like a lifetime ago.

The sailor instinctively saluted, much as he did when the captain addressed him. "Understood," he said before following Mikael's orders, inwardly surprised by his automatic response. He looked at the sorcerer with even more respect.

Mikael ignored him as he began to climb down the ladder. Taking out the advanced control puzzle, he started practicing his aura and mana control. At the same time, he used his elevated position to observe the ship's surroundings. Thanks to his enhanced vision, he could see into the dark water.

This was his plan: to train his control while keeping watch on the waters surrounding the ship for any suspicious movements. In the absence of a detection spell or a similar alternative, this was the best approach available. While his enhanced vision was powerful, it was not particularly efficient as a detection method.

Time continued to pass as the other Earth natives moved about, busy with various tasks. Mikael noticed someone dressed in mage robes occasionally casting what appeared to be a detection spell, but he paid them no mind, keeping his focus on the water.

His attention was drawn to a disturbance in the dark waters below. He kept his gaze fixed on the area for a few seconds, but nothing else moved. Then, another ripple caught his eye. This time, it was clearer, and he could discern the outline of a creature.

'There,' he thought, recognizing the movement as some kind of beast. Without hesitation, he leaped over the railing of the crow's nest, plunging straight toward the water below.

"He jumped!" an astonished sailor exclaimed.

The wind rushed past him as he fell, a sharp "swish" accompanying his descent. As he neared the surface, his two E rank swords from the Dirarnia world materialized in his hands. He waited a moment longer before igniting small flames beneath his feet, significantly slowing his fall. He entered the water with a controlled splash.

All eyes on the ship were drawn to the supernatural display, but Mikael disappeared into the dark waters, now hidden from view.

In the cold depths, he felt the chill of the sea pressing against him, though it was far from enough to hinder him. For an ordinary person, the water might have been unbearable, but to Mikael, it was a mere sensation. Ignoring the cold, he scanned his surroundings for the sea beast he had spotted earlier.

Not far away, a dark shape moved through the murky waters. To lure it closer, Mikael created a brilliant light with his flames. Though their power was dampened by the water, they still burned brightly, their supernatural nature defying the environment.

The light illuminated the creature—a sea serpent approximately five meters long. Its head turned toward the glow and locked onto Mikael. Its jaws opened, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth, and it surged forward in a predatory rush.

Mikael evaded by swimming to the side, but even with his superior stats, his mobility was hindered in the water, making the maneuver close. 'This isn't going to work,' he thought, deciding to change his approach.

The serpent, undeterred, adjusted its trajectory and lunged again. This time, Mikael didn't rely on swimming to escape. Instead, he created small, controlled explosions using his explosive style, propelling himself out of the serpent's path. As the creature passed, Mikael infused his swords with aura and slashed.

A burst of blood stained the water as the serpent's tail was severed. Writhing in pain, the creature tried to retreat, but Mikael wasn't about to let it escape. He threw one of his swords, guiding it with aura threads. The panicked serpent saw the gleaming blade coming and tried to dodge, but it was too slow. The sword pierced through its head, killing it instantly.

The water turned red as the serpent's blood spread through the area. Mikael scanned his surroundings. 'That's it?' he thought, finding no additional threats. After a final look around, he shrugged inwardly and used a small explosion beneath his feet to propel himself out of the water.

Once airborne, he noticed that the ship had drifted some distance away. This didn't concern him—he had expected it. Covering the soles of his feet with aura, he ran across the surface of the water as if it were solid ground.

Reaching the ship, Mikael leaped tens of meters into the air. A silent explosion under his feet gave him a mid-air boost, mimicking a low-grade flying technique. He landed back in the crow's nest, passing over the astonished crew. Even the other members of his group, participating in the military mission, were visibly surprised by his display of strength.

Back at his original position, Mikael cast a quick cleaning spell to dry himself and his clothes. With the water gone, he resumed his watch.

For Mikael, there wasn't much to reflect on—he found the sea beast pathetically weak, as it had taken him less than a minute to kill it and return to the crow's nest. That included the entire encounter, from the moment he spotted it to the moment he resumed his position. If he considered only the actual fighting time, it was over in an instant!

The sailors below, however, experienced something entirely different. Sea beasts were renowned for their strength, far surpassing that of ordinary humans. They were massive, powerful, swift, and incredibly durable—bullets usually had little effect on them. Seeing the sorcerer leap from the crow's nest, dive into the water, and return moments later, with the water below stained red, was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

The crew's morale soared. The tense atmosphere that had lingered, only partially alleviated by the presence of the eight sorcerers on board, dissipated entirely. If one sorcerer was capable of such incredible feats, what could all eight accomplish together?

Of course, the sailors had no way of knowing that Mikael's strength far outclassed that of the other seven sorcerers. What mattered was the renewed confidence surging through the crew. Over the following hours, they occasionally witnessed Mikael diving from the crow's nest into the water, only to resurface moments later and return to his perch. Each time, cheers erupted from the sailors. Even the captain and vice-captain felt relieved by Mikael's presence.

Not everyone shared the crew's enthusiasm. The seven other participants in the military mission were far less pleased. They gathered in a secluded corner of the ship to discuss the situation.

"This can't go on! We need to do something, or our grades will be abysmal!" exclaimed a bearded man gripping a spear.

"He's right!" another chimed in.

"But what can we do?" a third asked, frustration evident in their voice.

The group fell silent, deep in thought, until a woman in mage robes spoke up. "Why don't we ask him to stop hoarding all the sea beasts for himself and let us kill some?"

The heavily armored man who had been the first to appear in the waiting room with Mikael scoffed. "Do you hear yourselves? He isn't 'hoarding' anything. He's just faster and better than us. Crying about it won't change that," he said with a dismissive shrug.

His words sparked a heated debate. Most of the group supported the idea of confronting Mikael, but two dissidents—a petite woman clad in white armor and the heavily armored man—refused to agree. They saw no reason to provoke a conflict with someone who had done nothing against them and was, in a way, simply doing his 'job'.

Ultimately, the group split into two factions. The two dissidents decided to leave Mikael alone, while the remaining five, led by Tristan, resolved to confront him and demand he stop "selfishly hoarding" the sea beasts.

Tristan's group left their meeting spot and made their way to the main deck. They arrived just as Mikael emerged from the water, having slain another sea beast. At that moment, Mikael was thinking, 'The frequency of these sea beast appearances is increasing.'

"Mikael!" Tristan called out.

Mikael turned, spotting the group of five. He stopped mid-jump, letting himself land gracefully on the deck, and regarded them with an inquisitive look.

Tristan stepped forward, speaking in a self-righteous tone. "You've been killing all the sea beasts since the beginning. Why don't you leave some for the rest of us instead of hoarding them all? It would be better to share the workload."

Mikael instantly understood their intentions. 'So that's their angle,' he thought, noticing how the nearby sailors were watching the interaction. They were clearly trying to use peer pressure to force him into compliance. Unfortunately for them, he never cared about other opinions.

He cast a disdainful glance at the group, his expression was as if he were looking at insects. "If you're not getting any sea beasts to kill, it's not because I'm 'hoarding' them. It's because you're too weak to reach them before I do. It's as simple as that—a skill issue."

"So no, I won't stop killing them. If you want your share, get better and kill them faster," he concluded before preparing to leap away, considering the conversation over.

At that moment, the bearded man with the spear, his face red with anger, snapped. The humiliation of being rebuked in front of dozens of people, combined with the frustration he felt at the failure of their strategy, was too much. He gripped his spear tightly and, with a furious scream, charged at Mikael.

"Jason!?" his companions shouted, stunned by his sudden and unexpected attack.

At that moment, Mikael, who was about to leave, shifted his focus back to the charging Jason. With effortless precision, he stepped to the side, allowing the spear to graze past his right. In the same fluid motion, his sword flashed.

"Thud."

Jason's spear-wielding arm hit the ground with a dull sound. He stared at the empty space where his arm had been, his mind struggling to process the reality. The pain struck seconds later, and he let out an agonized scream. "AAHHHHH! My arm!" he howled hysterically, clutching at the stump with his remaining hand.

Author Note:

If you'd like to support me or get access to advanced chapters, you can find me on Patreon—just search for SDASLUMMY.

Of course, if you'd rather not, I totally understand! (I often do the same when reading novels myself.)

If you want to support me without paying, dropping a few Power Stones or leaving a review means a lot and really helps the story gain visibility.

Thanks a ton for reading—I truly appreciate it!

More Chapters