The cultivation master

Just before the Pirate King could strike the captain, a dark mist rapidly enveloped the air. Suddenly, Cyrus appeared before him and deflected the blow. The scene was utterly shocking. Utilizing this type of magic was extremely challenging and required a deep understanding of spatial science. Anyone capable of using Blink in such a combat situation was undoubtedly a master.

But Cyrus didn't stop there. His attack speed surged dramatically as he summoned the aura blade, reconstructing the broken sword blade with condensed aura. This advanced technique was considered high-level; even for Julian, who had trained for years at the Knight Academy and was well-versed in its theoretical and practical foundations, creating such a refined condensed aura was practically impossible.

The sight of magic and aura made it clear that the most dangerous person on the ship was Cyrus. At that moment, friend and foe were indistinguishable. One by one, the pirates were suppressed and eliminated. The Pirate King found himself powerless against Cyrus. This weakness revealed one key truth: he was the weakest Pirate King.

However, if Cyrus had not set the dock ablaze, sunk the sloops, and complicated matters with his magical attacks, the galleon would have been defeated long ago.

Taking advantage of the situation, Cyrus struck harder; even after the sword hilt was destroyed, he continued to attack the Pirate King with his fists.

'Why is this so easy...?' he thought.

As he pushed the Pirate King to the brink of death, his eyes shone with blue flames, and he struck the Pirate King's chest with his palm. In that fleeting moment, the blue energy connected with the Pirate King's memories, tearing away thousands of them. Like a pruned tree, he felt the sea breeze and was filled with an indescribable calm.

For a brief moment, the thoughts of the Pirate King materialized before Cyrus; his pupils trembled. Time slowed as Cyrus focused on the Pirate King's battered face, witnessing a tear slide down his cheek before he could smile, and the world around him faded to darkness.

Boom!

The body of the Pirate King was hurled with such force that it split the bow of the brig.

'Was that man seeking death from the beginning? But why?'

Finding no answer, and realizing he had no choice but to sacrifice the galleon, he decided to spread his wings and continue his journey through the skies. But suddenly, a gigantic creature emerged from the depths of the sea, towering several hundred meters high.

"Who dared to disturb the sacred waters with their magic?"

Its gaze fell upon the two ships caught in the vortex, which appeared incredibly small and insignificant.

This sea creature was known as Aruka.

A massive giant with a body made of water and a foamy crown upon its head.

Aruka roared, grasping both ships in its palm, then lifted them close to its face with a grimace.

"A filthy curse emanates from that ship! The sea must be calmed! A sacrifice must be made! A price must be paid!!!!"

Suddenly, a dark shadow appeared within Aruka's body, swimming toward them.

The terrified captain pointed at the shadow and stammered, "That… that legendary beast is the Kraken!!!"

Without warning, the Kraken's tentacles burst from the water, enveloping the brig. A gaping hole formed beside the ship, revealing rows of sharp teeth like jagged rocks.

The Kraken retracted its tentacles, and the brig was torn in half.

The screams of desperate sailors echoed through the heart of the merciless storm.

Thunderous lightning illuminated Aruka's blue body, while dark clouds relentlessly swept overhead.

Everyone had surrendered. There was no fighting against this mythical creature.

Julian dropped his sword. The captain removed his hat; all eyes were fixed on the beast. The sound of the brig's planks breaking still rang in their ears.

[It's over now...]

[We don't even have a cannonball to fire...]

[The journey ended before it began...]

These thoughts spiraled in their minds. Who could have guessed they would face an Aruka?

Of course, if they had possessed the Stone of Memories, perhaps they could have defended themselves, but with the Kraken and the ship's damage, even that stone would be of no help.

Was this truly the end?

For Cyrus, however, everything was different. He was capable of choice. Would saving that ship ultimately be more beneficial, or would it lead to trouble later?

He could gamble on Aruka.

Yet something within urged him to seek a new path.

[Maybe I can still save this ship. I don't know much about the changes in this world, and even if I have to reveal some of my power, perhaps ultimately saving these people will serve me well.]

But what he didn't realize was that they had already sensed, from his subtle display of power, that Cyrus was no ordinary magician. They even considered the possibility that he had been hiding his true strength all along.

Cyrus made his decision. It was still too early to destroy that ship.

The storm had subsided, but the sky remained shrouded in dark clouds. Cyrus used Blink to ascend to the main mast, part of which—the Crow's Nest—had been destroyed.

Hanging from the mast with one hand, he gazed at Aruka.

Aruka bent down, bringing its face close to the mast, and in a voice as deep as the darkest ocean, addressed Cyrus: "You… you smell familiar."

It hesitated for a moment and continued when it received no answer, "Why?"