Chapter 291 An Astonishing Turn of Events on Fishmen Island
It had been some time since Croakatoa last returned to the frogmen’s village at the Warty Tidal Flats.
Since its mistress Lady Eleena was taking part in the Twin City Cup and the frogmen were not usually seen by the average person, Eleena decided not to summon it for the time being so as to prevent any incidents, and allowed it to go on a long leave of absence.
Although the frogmen’s village had been destroyed by a flood, the Players had since helped them rebuild it, even improving it far better than its dilapidated state before.
Each of the snow-white houses were tidy and clean, even having a huge pool connected to the sea built into it in consideration of the frogmen’s habits, as well as for keeping their skins moisturized.
Moreover, the beach and the residential area which were linked to the two dungeons of the Gray Fjord Port and the Fishmen Island were also part.i.tioned with coconut trees reminiscent of the tropics.
The beach no longer looked like it was a mess like before, with rows of beach umbrellas and wooden reclining chairs placed on the sand. There was also a storehouse built at the corner, where little shovels, buckets, picnic mats, beach b.a.l.l.s, and the like were kept.
And beside the storehouse was a branch of the Iron Cauldron, although it was closed temporarily since the tavern owner was away at Lancaster for the duration of the Twin City Cup as well.
Still, even if Earthlings were to transmigrate to the frogmen’s village right now, they probably wouldn’t take notice that this was a dwelling of sticky, slippery amphibious lifeforms, but that they had arrived upon a holiday resort like the Maldives.
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On the fifth day of his long leave, Croakatoa was wearing its special-made shades and leisurely lying down on a reclining chair, allowing the warm sun to shine upon the tiny chrysanthemum marking over its back.
Ever since the frogmen’s village came to strategic partnership with the believers of the G.o.d of Games, their living conditions were apparently improving day after day.
Compared to before when they were full one day, starved the other and had nothing more than dried fish to gnaw at, the frogmen now didn’t have to worry about food at all—their previously withered bodies were now growing stronger by the day with sufficient protein and fats.
Over the last few days, Croakatoa had also found frogfolk eggs which were as large as ostrich eggs in the pools within some of the houses. It seems that there would be a group of tadpoles coming to the village soon, a burst in frogmen population that hadn’t been observed for some time.
As their lives improved, even their elder’s perpetual frown had improved, its dried skin now appearing damp and seemingly having a dozen more years to it.
It wasn’t just the tribe either—Croakatoa was satisfied with its life now too.
Though Edward often summoned it as a bait to divert a Boss’s attention, after Croakatoa had gotten used to it and started to effectively seize even the sights of the largest of Bosses and tease monsters infinitely more powerful than itself, nothing else compared to the delight of providing an opening for its allies to maximize their damage.
Moreover, Eleena didn’t always use it as cannon fodder.
Most of the time, the young lady would summon Croakatoa whenever she encountered something interesting, happened upon grand scenery, or was about to go for a feast, so that it could share such wonderful moments of her adventures.
That naturally included the towering emerald foliages of the Trinia Forests, the elven capital hidden deep within the woods, the sinister corpse of the Dead Red Dragon, the fishmen island that descended from the skies and the Mountain Tigers’ stronghold that stood staunchly upon the Vierlin Plains…
It had just been a few months, but Croakatoa was able to see the greatest of sights that it never would have seen even across several lifetimes, witness grandness that should have nothing to do with it.
Even as it basked under all those things, Croakatoa also felt its own strengthening.
If its current self would return to the moment when it contracted with Eleena, it would probably have the right to brag that it could take down five of the alleged greatest frogmen warriors single-handedly.
It therefore earnestly felt that it was utterly wonderful that it could become a part of the Players.
“Sigh. What a pity, the Twin City Cup is garnering too much attention… or I could have joined as well and fought by Lady Eleena’s side.” Croakatoa sighed as it turned so that its white stomach was now baked by the sun.
That was when dark clouds suddenly appeared in the skies.
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Winter had clearly pa.s.sed and the weather was slowly becoming warm, but Croakatoa couldn’t help shivering
It took off its shades and watched the skies doubtfully.
While the ocean skies were volatile, what it was seeing is definitely not normal.
Right now, dark clouds had occupied eighty percent of the visible sky, but it was not the usual gloomy weather that blanketed the entire world before a typhoon. Instead, a restlessly swirling vortex had appeared above the seas, as if some demon king was about to be born from it.
For better or worse, the Warty Tidal Flats was Croakatoa’s hometown. Even though it was now a part of the Players’ fellowship, it would often return to the frogmen village to farm dungeons or for dinner gatherings, and was therefore aware of what usually happens at sea.
In no time at all, Croakatoa realized what was right beneath the ma.s.sive vortex cloud in the skies.
“The fishmen island? Could it be due to the Players not farming it over the last few days?”
Croakatoa tilted its head, puzzled by the situation.
But as it looked on in shock, something really came through the cloudy vortex from the skies and landed straight on the fishmen island!
***
Xi Wei naturally was aware of the strange occurrence on fishmen island.
In fact, he even knew what was actually happening to the fishmen island… the divine power he had laid on it was knocked out by another divine power, creating new fishmen albeit at a slow pace!
Xi Wei was not unacquainted with the aspect of the divine power as well—it was the Ocean G.o.ddess’s divine power, sealed within the Sea Sapphire.
Clearly, the Ocean G.o.ddess had taken some time off her confrontation against the Earthweaver, came here on a whim to see how a noob good like Xi Wei was faring with the trial she had imposed on him.
Hence, she realized that not only was Xi Wei perfectly fine, but his believers were also playing around her fishmen island like it was a farm.
Therefore, she freaked out.
Still, she couldn’t really make a direct move against Xi Wei since she still has to be wary about the Earthweaver, one of the Seven Divine Fathers. That said, she managed to spare some divine power, causing a surge in fishmen population on the island and even dumping a Boss-cla.s.s monster called the Night Tide Dragon.
As with the Ultimate Drake blown up by Jessica with Sefarim—the elves’ greatest treasure, the Night Tide Dragon wasn’t a true dragon. That said, compared to the pseudo dragons such as wyverns that were a source of meat or mounts for humans, it was untold times stronger since it was next to the true dragon bloodlines when it came to purity…
And at first, Xi Wei thought that the Ocean G.o.ddess would be going for his face.
However, he had moved the location of his divine kingdom slightly after she had fired her lance into his domain, and it was unlikely for her to find him immediately again—not that she would spare the time to do so anyway. So, that was why she could only aim her fury at the newbies who were farming fishmen on fishmen island…
“Isn’t that a coincidence?” Xi Wei muttered, sliding a glance at the corpse of the Dead Red Dragon behind him which he had altered halfway. “And here I was thinking that this gimmick I’m making is not up to standard for the second round of the tourney, the ‘dragon-slaying heroes’…”
At that very thought, Xi Wei extended a tentacle, crafted a message with his divine power and sent it up the vortex above fishmen island.
“Thank you for sp.a.w.ning a Boss, Ocean G.o.ddess!’
Purple-red thunder promptly exploded out of the clouds of gloom, blasting the hundreds of fishmen along with the dozen of barely-surviving Players within an inch of their lives.
Nonetheless, the Players were clearly the Ocean G.o.ddess’s target and the fishmen were merely caught in the middle—but it’s their own fault raising steel weapons up high while encircling the Players.
“That woman really strikes out at her own followers too when she’s mad…”
Xi Wei shrank a little when he saw what had happened, and began to draft a message that he would send out to the Players hanging around Lancaster for the Twin City Cup.