novelraw Chapter 229: Beyond Legend
Chapter 229: Beyond Legend
The heavy rain gradually lessened, its downpour washing away the lingering fragrance of petals. Chen Qi carried the Flower Witch on his back, holding her legs with both hands as he boarded the Blood Blade Pirates' ship, the Dagger.
The crew cheered:
"We're saved!"
"Don't forget to bring the research materials from that abandoned navy base!"
The Dagger's crew hurriedly carried valuable items and documents onto the Blood Blade Pirates' main vessel.
"My crew! Where is that Gunfire Queen?" A towering man roared across the deck, his booming voice carrying over the sea as he brandished a massive axe.
Chen Qi's gaze was involuntarily drawn to him. The man had an exceptionally thick beard and wild hair, clad in simple but sturdy armor. His face bore numerous scars, his posture upright with broad shoulders that made him resemble an immovable mountain.
Veteran Gael - the Blood Blade Pirates' Hammer, a legendary fourth-tier Blade-Floral Aspect Earth Warrior, a heavy drinker with terrible memory, one of the crew's founders, and a legendary mentor.
Chen Qi recognized him as an exceptionally popular NPC. Gael possessed numerous Blade Aspect skill cards and several uniquely powerful martial techniques: Tyrant Fist, Iron Head Technique, Earth Axe, Drunken Fist, Earth Shield...
He served as combat instructor for all Blood Blade officers. Every player who joined the crew and rose to officer rank had to pass Gael's evaluation. On player forums, Veteran Gael was considered one of the best mentors for mastering fourth-tier Blade Release.However, Gael had an atrocious memory and despised attending any strategic meetings. He was a warrior dedicated purely to martial arts - preferring drinking and exhilarating, physical combat over discussions.
As a legend, he stood as one of the Blood Blade Pirates' supreme combatants - a reassuring bedrock for the crew. Seeing him, the sailors visibly relaxed as if a weight had lifted from their shoulders.
When no one answered, Gael bellowed again:
"Tell me where that damned Gunfire Queen Carol is! As long as I'm here, I won't let her lay a finger on you!"
His thunderous voice resonated like warm currents through everyone's hearts.
A crew member hesitantly pointed toward bubbling waters in the distance:
"Earlier... under the Flower Witch's spell... the Black Hunter threw her into the sea. She hasn't resurfaced yet... seems to be drowning."
"???"
Even battle-hardened Gael froze momentarily. Carol getting knocked out? The Pirate Queen drowning? This was as bizarre as the Blackship Sea Dragon choking on seawater.
Chen Qi explained:
"Mr. Gael, perhaps there's something strange beneath these waters trapping Big Mom Carol."
Something strange that could restrain that old hag... Gael gripped his poleaxe, peering at the troubled waters where increasingly more bubbles surfaced.
BANG!
A mechanical arm burst from the waves, entwined with countless tentacles.
"Carol's arm... That shadow beneath... So many monsters in the depths? Even my experience fails against this tide..."
Gael's breathing steadied like mountain winds as his muscles tensed. Planting his feet firmly into the steel deck, he hurled his poleaxe with tremendous force!
The deck trembled violently from the impact! Following a perfect parabolic arc, a massive shockwave erupted from the distant waters!
Agonized screams followed.
Chen Qi slowly turned toward the commotion. Blue flames erupted across the sea surface as two charcoal-gray arms and countless black tentacles gripped Carol's neck and legs, relentlessly dragging her deeper!
Gael's pupils contracted sharply:
"The Azure Beast..."
"Without Deep Sea Hunter artifacts or abyssal flames, I can't calm that thing! But it's been too long since I fought sea monsters!"
Gael clenched his fists, itching for battle as he stepped forward.
Legends spoke of the Azure Beast - human yet more terrifying than any monster.
The Blood Lady sighed deeply:
"Gael, we must depart immediately. Even if we defeat the Azure Beast and Carol, our ship would sustain critical damage - leaving us prey for other factions."
Currently, the Blackfin Crew weren't the only ones drawn to the Trial Grounds. They'd recently encountered vessels from both the Ice Demon Pirates and Bonfire Energy Company.
Frowning, the Blood Lady gazed sorrowfully at Chen Qi:
"More than just the Blackfin Crew are targeting the Flower Witch and Black Hunter. We must leave quickly."
Gael roared upward:
"Set sail!!"
The Blood Lady wiped rainwater from her eyes, addressing Chen Qi:
"Thank you for your efforts! Our deepest apologies - though war's spark has ignited, we failed to arrive promptly."
Suddenly, blood trickled down Chen Qi's black hair onto his neck - the Flower Witch's blood. He turned to see her pale face resting on his shoulder, lips colorless and trembling. Each labored breath seemed painfully heavy, like a desert traveler deprived of water for days - desperately clinging to life's flickering embers.
Fen's breathing and heartbeat grew increasingly faint.
The situation looked grim... Chen Qi asked:
"Is there a doctor aboard?"
The Blood Lady nodded:
"I know some medicine. Please follow me."
Carrying Fen, Chen Qi trailed the Blood Lady through the rain into the Blood Blade's cabins.
...
Medical Room.
Chen Qi carefully transferred Fen from his back to a sofa, then gently laid her on a bed, bandaging her wounds.
"Fen, relax... you're safe now..."
She lay quietly wrapped in clean bandages, though her pallor and shallow breathing revealed immense suffering.
"Both of you, our sincerest apologies for failing to stop Carol..."
The Blood Lady apologized while preparing medicinal broth. Testing its temperature, she pried open Fen's lips with a spoon to administer the remedy.
Green spiritual energy then emanated from her fingertips, forming a faint mist.
Healing Arts!
Under the combined treatment of medicinal mist and broth, Fen's breathing stabilized - yet her wounds continued bleeding.
The Blood Lady bit her lip:
"Black Hunter, I'm sorry... My abilities cannot properly heal the Flower Witch's injuries..."
Chen Qi found it curious how frequently this legendary figure apologized. He responded:
"Blood Blossom Disease. This condition makes her wounds exceptionally difficult to heal."
The Blood Lady's lips parted slightly:
"Blood Blossom Disease?"
She'd never encountered this extremely rare condition in Beiguo!
"Can it be treated?" Chen Qi asked.
After contemplation, the Blood Lady replied:
"Blood Blossom Disease is exceptionally rare in Beiguo - this is my first case. Sustaining her life isn't difficult, but complete recovery requires rarer herbs that may take time to acquire."
I see... Chen Qi nodded, touching Fen's feverish forehead. Fortunately, her Release activation had been brief, keeping injuries manageable.
The Blood Lady emphasized again:
"Rest assured, Black Hunter. You undertook this mission for our sake, yet we failed to arrive in time..."
Guilt weighed heavily on her for the delayed rescue.
Bowing deeply, her crimson hair sweeping the floor, hand over heart:
"From this day forth, the Blood Blade Pirates shall never fail our benefactors. We'll spare no effort for the Flower Witch's full recovery."
"Understood..."
Chen Qi acknowledged. The Blood Lady's tone seemed unusually gentle for a legend.
But this was favorable... Chen Qi couldn't suppress his relief. After these events, the Flower Witch and Blood Blade Pirates had reaffirmed their alliance - though at severe cost.
Gazing down at Fen, Chen Qi estimated at least ten days for full recovery.
Knock! Knock!
The Blood Lady covered Fen with blankets before coldly commanding:
"Enter."
A petite and a towering figure entered - Veteran Gael and Little Red Riding Hood.
"Blood Lady, Black Hunter! I'm Veteran Gael, Blood Blade warrior and former navy!"
After brief introductions, Gael nudged Little Red to bow in gratitude.
Chen Qi inquired:
"Mr. Gael, what's the situation outside?"
Gael declared solemnly:
"Worry not. No ship dares enter my striking range."
Noticing the injured Flower Witch, he sighed deeply:
"Our deepest apologies. Our affairs have endangered you so gravely."
Safe then... Chen Qi forced a relieved smile:
"Not at all. The Trial Grounds hold importance for us as well."
"Nonsense! Without you, Fenrir and the Dagger's whelps couldn't have reached the abandoned navy base, let alone the Trial Grounds!!!"
Gael downed strong liquor before continuing:
"Our Blood Blade youth grow increasingly pathetic under the Dimensional Tide - unable to properly defend our own territory!"
He glared at Little Red beside him:
"Like this troublemaker! Beating up someone who confessed to her!"
"I..."
Little Red clenched her fists, flushing crimson as she glanced at the Blood Lady.
Smiling slightly, the Blood Lady inquired:
"Gael, why so many pursuers? Navy research alone shouldn't attract Bonfire Energy's hunter teams."
Over fifty warships now surrounded Red Maple Island - representing five major factions. This scale suggested impending large-scale conflict, all stemming from that abandoned base's transmission.
Was the Flower Witch's intelligence truly so valuable?
Gael explained quietly:
"The Witch Trial Grounds involve Witch profession cards. Combined with the Flower Witch and Black Hunter, such attention isn't surprising."
The Blood Lady nodded curiously.
"Additionally..."
Gael hesitated momentarily:
"Legend marks most Transcendents' peak. To surpass legend under New Sun's laws requires becoming a Fringe Hunter - serving at our world's borders, resisting its horrors before returning victorious..."
"A thorny path of certain death. Yet legend-surpassing power isn't limited to this route."
Beyond legend... Chen Qi also grew intrigued. For players, fourth-tier represented the peak, with paths beyond typically hidden in main storyline clues.
Undoubtedly, the Witch Sea's main plot involved this progression.
Other more "accessible" paths existed too. Organizations like the Blackfin Crew and Sea God Pirates claimed methods to transcend humanity into dragon-like beings approaching divinity - though most were scams.
Gael continued:
"The Ice Witch stands as a legend-surpassing Saint - neither Fringe Hunter nor noble-bred vessel, yet wielding godlike power..."
"Legends say she knew a path beyond legend, entombed within the Witch's Coffin - making the Trial Grounds integral to this mystery. Such tangible legends naturally attract attention."
He reminisced. The Ice Witch's confirmed existence made the Trial Grounds more alluring than even Deep Sea Hunter treasures.
"I see..."
The Blood Lady nodded before whispering to Chen Qi:
"Black Hunter... regarding my request... did you encounter my husband, the Blood Emperor, in the Trial Grounds...?"
At this, Gael exhaled sharply:
"That waste! Our Blood Blades need him no longer!!"
"Don't say that..."
The Blood Lady clasped her hands hopefully.
"..."
Chen Qi blinked, glancing at nervous Little Red.
Well...
Current evidence suggested:
Little Red was the Blade Witch The Blade Witch's profession card was taken by the Blood EmperorBlood Lady, your valiant husband might already be... Chen Qi coughed awkwardly:
"Madam, perhaps inquire with Fenrir after he wakes."
Gael interrupted decisively:
"The Blood Blades need no fleeing coward! We require powerful new blood! Black Hunter, you sound young!!"
"..."
Gael seemed entirely done with the Blood Emperor... Chen Qi frowned.
Gael proclaimed:
"Black Hunter, name your reward! Anything within my power is yours!!"
Downing another drink, he pounded his chest emphatically.