Chapter 654: 654
Seven days after escaping the prison, Arthur and co reached the barren and gloomy coast of the Black Sea, also known as the Black Kraken Sea . As the name suggests, the water was the color on ink, you can"t see anything under the blackened surface . Moreover, the canopy seemed to be split into two sides, one was bright and the other, the one above the sea, was cloudy and grey .
"Sir Arthur, there is a small town North-East of here . You can hire a captain or some sailors or pay some spirit stones to board with other travelers . "
Esco respectfully explained to Arthur a few things while stating the importing things . He grew accustomed to his role and didn"t dare ask anything about Arthur or the others and would remain quiet if he"s not needed . The only one who he was kind of friendly with was Vyncent, who"s also a bit of an outsider too .
Arthur never talked to the blond young man but he didn"t kick him out of the dark cloud either .
"I don"t see the point in boarding with others, it"ll only make the route longer . We can just go straight to the Land of the Golden Sand . If the Kraken shows up then I"ll deal with it . "
The parasite looked at her but didn"t speak or agree . Unexpectedly, it was Radolf who stepped forward and politely said,
"Empress, with all due to respect, I don"t think it"s worth it to anger the Kraken . Its violent by nature and causing a loud ruckus will only attract unwanted attention . "
"So?"
Radolf hesitated for a brief moment, glanced at Shen Shen, who was curiously looking at the black sea, before adding,
"We can board a boat that will pa.s.s through the second danger zone… I know of a place called the Waterfall of Youth and Old . I"m sure Little Shen will like it . "
Only when she heard that did Zaarae hesitate as she looked at Shen Shen, who listened to the mythical being . Her eyes gleamed as she looked expectantly at Zaarae as if she was waiting for her approval .
In the end, the Empress relented with a sigh .
"Alright . "
Arthur secretly gave Radolf a thumb-up then said,
"Let"s go find a boat then . "
The parasite attempted to fly into the black sea but the moment he flew above the black water, his body started falling uncontrollably as if something was pulling him down .
Fortunately, a gentle aura enveloped him and brought him back atop the dark cloud .
"The Black Sea"s gravity is fifty-five times stronger than here and the s.p.a.ce is very unstable . Flight is difficult but if you use one of your abilities, it is still possible to do it but it"s necessary and costly . "
Zaarae smiled at Arthur and explained the reason behind his sudden fall .
…
A few minutes later, the Dark Cloud landed next to a relatively large town bustling with mainly demons . Actually, the word "demon" is a general term for all the races originating from the demon realm . Whether it"s beastkin, succubus, devils, ghosts, skeletons, zombies, undead, orcs, goblins, imps, kobolds, lizards, etc…
The village was called "Dark Coast" and isn"t ruled by anyone, it"s only a place for demons to rest and merchants to reload their goods . Though Arthur"s group looked no different than humans, no one bothered or provoked them .
They quickly reached the medium-sized port and found a relatively large black s.h.i.+p which is going to depart soon .
"Next . "
A short and fat green-skinned goblin holding a long yellow sheet of paper wrote the names of new pa.s.sengers while beckoning for the next in the queue to come closer .
Arthur wasn"t bothered by waiting but Zaarae seemed extremely bored and wanted to just started get on the s.h.i.+p already, nevertheless, she didn"t flare up and obediently stood behind Arthur .
It has to be said that her exceptional beauty did cause a few curious make demons to sneak a couple of glances but that was all . It was the same thing for Fariya, whose clothes were revealing but, as she was standing next to the Empress, her charm was rendered ineffective .
The goblin raised its head and looked at the tall man standing before him .
"Names and number of pa.s.sengers . "
"Arthur and they are with me . We"re 8 . "
The goblin looked at the group, his eyes pausing for a second on Zaarae and Fariya before saying
"That will be 72 red spirit stones or 1,600 gold . "
Spirit stones are a common currency in all of the multiverse but demons also like gold and use it a lot too . Goblins are especially fond of the s.h.i.+ny golden metal and like to collect it, like the deceased Buo Buo, who was quite wealthy though it"s too bad his possessions ended up in Arthur"s hand .
Arthur flicked his hand and threw a small bag of red spirit stones to the goblin, who excitedly caught it . The demon carefully counted before nodding his head and signaling for Arthur to board the s.h.i.+p .
…
Along with his group, there were around twenty other people on the s.h.i.+p, mostly goblin merchants . There were three orcs warriors wearing thick red plated armors but they seemed to be protecting one goblin who had a fake long mustache and was wearing extravagant clothes .
"Ah! We"re finally departing . "
Zaarae"s mood was slightly elevated as the black s.h.i.+p started moving after thirty or so minutes . She held Shen Shen"s hand and went to the side of the s.h.i.+p . The little girl wanted a closer look at the black water so the Empress accompanied her just to make sure nothing happens, after all, this black sea is still a dangerous zone and although this is a safe zone, mishaps can still happen .
*****
At the center of the Black Sea, hundreds of kilometers under the surface, amidst the primordial shrouded waters, a pair of eyes slowly opened, they glowed with an ominous red light as they illuminated a small area . A creature that was bigger than a mountain has awoken from its slumber . Its thick and absurdly lengthy tentacles started moving, slowly stretching to the surface .
A deep and orotund voice emitted from the sea creature,
"Emmmpressssssssss… . . "