Chapter 648: Noon and Night

Whoosh! Gasp!

The loud panting sounds entered Klein's ears in a slow and rhythmic

manner. It left a chill running down his spine as he felt an

inexplicable sense of horror, but he didn't feel any dangerous

foreboding.

It wasn't only him. Cattleya, Frank Lee, and the other pirates also

heard the panting sounds. They either turned their heads, looked

outside, raised their weapons, or were on high alert, showcasing their

rich experience.

After trying to discern the source, Klein discovered that the intense

panting stemmed from the ruin ahead of them. It originated from a spot

between the peak made of stones and stone columns.

At that moment, Bloodless Heath Doyle floated out of the shadows. He

clasped his head and softly grunted in pain.

"There's a corpse...

"There's a corpse there!"

Corpse? A corpse that pants loudly? Klein's thoughts raced.

Cattleya, who had subconsciously removed her heavy glasses and looked

towards the ruins, had her expression suddenly turn solemn. She turned

her head towards the pirates in the dining hall and said, "Quick!

"Quickly circle around that area and do not approach it!"

Her voice contained a magnetic allure that jolted everyone awake. The

sailors rushed out of the dining hall and headed for spots that needed

help. Under Navigator Ottolov and Boatswain Nina's instructions, they

adjusted the sails and changed direction, passing by the ruins from a

relatively great distance.

Only when the peak formed by stone and stone columns vanished beyond the

horizon did Bloodless Heath Doyle lower his hands; his expression no

longer in pain.

Upon seeing this scene, Klein narrowed his eyes. He felt that this Rose

Bishop, the second mate of the Future might be a huge latent risk on

this voyage.

This wasn't because of his contempt towards Beyonders of the Secrets

Suppliant pathway, but a judgment he made from combining the Admiral of

Stars's description and how Heath Doyle had reacted.

*Just now, Heath Doyle was the only one in pain while everyone heard the

loud panting. He instinctively believed that there was a corpse buried

in the ruins, and Cattleya's reaction after her observation proved his

words.*

*That means that even if Heath Doyle doesn't proactively listen to the

True Creator's voice, just by having the Beyonder powers of a Listener

is enough to make him hear more than the average person and most Low-

and Mid-Sequence Beyonders in ordinary environments. Hence, he was

affected the most and obtained more information on the danger when we

encountered the panting sounds while being sufficiently close to the

source of the sounds.*

*Here, it doesn't mean that problems can be resolved by avoiding similar

ruins. Because according to Cattleya, these waters are filled with

voices that can make a demigod lose control⁠---voices that shouldn't be

heard. If Heath Doyle were to be in an inadequate or overly adequate

state one day, he might end up hearing those lethal whispers.*

*Similarly, even if a Sequence 6 Rose Bishop is inferior to a demigod

who is good at listening, the gap can't be too huge. In terms of the Die

of Probability, just 2 points⁠---not 1 point⁠---is enough to have Heath

Doyle hear voices he shouldn't hear to go mad or lose control... I have

to warn Ma'am Hermit even though she should've long figured this out and

made the corresponding preparations...* Klein retracted his gaze

and heard his stomach groan softly.

He had yet to have breakfast.

At this moment, beer was splashed across the floor. Butter had been

splattered everywhere. All kinds of food---roasted fish, toast, white

bread---were strewn across the floor or hanging off of something. All of

them had become somewhat dirty.

It should still be edible by peeling off the outer layer...

Klein looked at a piece of bread that was leaning on a table leg, in a

dilemma on his course of action.

This was at odds with Gehrman Sparrow's persona!

When he decided to wait for lunch, Cattleya instructed the chef,

"Prepare breakfast for the rest once more.

"Leave this to Frank. P-perhaps he has uses for it."

For the rearing of monsters? Klein lampooned inwardly.

After a while, he finally had breakfast which wasn't as sumptuous as

before. It was a smoked pork sausage and two utterly burnt toast, as

well as a cup of unsedated light beer that was treated as water.

Due to them traveling through very dangerous waters with the

possibilities of mishaps happening at every turn, Klein showcased his

eating skills from back when he was studying in college. He only spent

one to two minutes to finish the breakfast just like he did back in his

college's mess hall.

He left the pirates' dining hall and came to the deck. He was having an

after-meal stroll while also observing his environment.

At that moment, the sea still appeared as though it was illuminated by a

midday sun as it was colored gold.

Klein stopped and looked into the distance and saw a point of light

ahead expanding.

Under the sun's illumination, the point of light was producing

coruscating, multi-colored lusters due to the refraction. It was a like

a gigantic and transparent gem.

As the Future continued forging ahead, the point of light gradually

revealed itself.

It first parted before becoming clear. It was comprised of four gigantic

columns made of pure diamond.

They were like legendary columns that held up the sea. They extended

downwards and stably stood there, holding up a sizable floating island.

Above the floating island, the soil was charred black without any hint

of greenery. In its depths, the lights had such an abnormal brightness

that it outshone the midday sky.

Suddenly, there was a long screech that was emitted from the island.

It was loud and unrestrained, but it gave people a hair-raising sense of

danger.

Before long, Klein heard the galloping sounds of horses as he saw two

steeds that seemed to be tempered from gold rush out of the floating

island. Behind it was a beautiful chariot which was similarly made from

gold.

At this moment, Cattleya's voice was amplified as she hurriedly had it

resound in every corner of the Future.

"Look down!

"Don't look at it!"

Klein was never one to put on a brave front. He subconsciously lowered

his head upon hearing those words and looked at his leather boots.

He noticed that the sunlight which illuminated the deck was becoming

brighter before it dimmed and was rapidly restored to its former

brilliance.

"It's alright now." Cattleya's voice sounded in the ship again without

any obvious emotional fluctuations.

Only then did Klein look up. He discovered that the two steeds tempered

from gold and the beautiful chariot they pulled behind it had vanished.

The diamond pillar silently supported the floating island as resplendent

glows swirled around it.

*What a huge diamond... What a strange floating island. What would

happen if I hadn't lowered my head and had watched the golden chariot

charge forward?* Klein looked around as he suddenly frowned.

A pirate who stood about seven to eight meters away from him had already

vanished. Standing there were two pitch-black footprints.

Looking at the ashes floating in midair, Klein vaguely knew the outcome

of not lowering his head.

*Thankfully, Admiral of Stars has been here a few times in the past. She

knows what to avoid and when to bow her head. If I had hired Mr. Hanged

Man, even if he was the one steering the ghost ship, we might've already

been wiped out by now... No, if the Future hadn't arrived at its

destination ahead of time without giving me any time to prepare, I

would've long sought out Will Auceptin's advice. A magician never

performs unprepared... Besides, if I had hired Mr. Hanged Man, I

definitely would've purchased the relevant information from Ma'am

Hermit...* Klein first sighed before recovering his calm.

He didn't suggest visiting the floating island to explore it. He left

the Future to pass it by and head forward.

In the rest of the time, the sea was like the outer world. There were

only the undulating waves, the vastness, silence, and endlessness.

Klein occasionally saw fire embers floating on the surface of the sea,

but he didn't find any signs of marine creatures, including mermaids.

Time ticked by, and lunch was soon underway.

Just as Klein was about to leave the deck for the dining hall, he

suddenly realized that his surroundings had darkened!

The sky which had remained in a midday state no longer had any sunlight

as it was covered in rich darkness.

This change was so sudden and fast that Klein's first reaction was to

wonder who had switched off the lights!

Silently, the Future was covered in a layer of resplendent stars that

illuminated paths in every direction.

Cattleya's voice that contained a magnetic allure was once again

magnified as it resounded in everyone's ears.

"Return to your room or find any corner you can and make yourself fall

asleep.

"Then, wait until you wake up naturally."

Puzzled, Frank Lee asked loudly, "What will happen if I don't sleep?"

At that moment, his voice boomed like a speaking bear.

Cattleya stood behind the window of the captain's cabin and said, "When

we wake up, we will find you gone, never to be found again."

The night here is that terrifying? Klein was curious, but he

had no thoughts of attempting to stay awake.

He returned to his room, and using the starlight which hadn't been

extinguished on the Future, he unfolded a paper crane and picked up a

pencil to quickly write:

"What should be taken note of when traveling to the dangerous waters on

the easternmost front of the Sonia Sea?

"Where can I find mermaids there?"

Putting down the pencil, he folded the crane. Without taking off his

coat, he lay in bed and, with the help of Cogitation, quickly fell

asleep.

In a hazy world, he suddenly jolted awake, clearly knowing that he was

dreaming.

No one is infiltrating it... Klein surveyed his surroundings

and found himself on a mountaintop. Behind him and to his sides were

black, cloister-like buildings. Ahead of him was a withered tree and a

protruding boulder.

On top of the boulder, Cattleya sat alone. She hugged her knees and

leaned her body forward as she stared at the mountain opposite them.

She was still dressed in the black classical robe that exuded an air of

mystery. Her expression wore an indescribable look of confusion.

At that moment, she didn't move at all; it was as though she was a stone

sculpture.

Why is she in my dream? Klein took a few steps forward and

leaped onto a boulder.

Before he could ask, he was stunned by the vast scene before his eyes.

It was a feeling that struck a blow to his body and soul.

In front of the boulder was a bottomless cliff and across the cliff was

a mountain which was covered with countless palaces, spires, and

majestic city walls.

These buildings were opulent and stacked in circles. Just one of them

was abnormally huge and didn't resemble a human's residence. Combined

together, it had an indescribable sense of epic proportions that seemed

legendary or mythical.

The sun hung far away as it cast the colors of the sunset onto the city

as the light seemed to be frozen.

"This is a dream shared by all of us..." Cattleya continued sitting

there, hugging her legs as she said as though she was in a reverie.