novelraw Chapter 355: Tentacle Witch
Chapter 355: Tentacle Witch
Buy a ship? Buy a ship?
Soft whispers, like tolling bells, echoed across this pitch-black sea.
In the darkness, the surrounding scenery began to change, the seawater shifting from deep blue to gloomy gray-blue, a piercing cold completely overwhelming their Ghost Ship!
"Buy a ship..."
Little Crow silently repeated the words, tiny ice crystals instantly forming on her arms.
As the distant monster appeared, the surrounding temperature plummeted sharply, even breathing made one feel the ice crystals condensing in the air!
Memories about disasters surged in Little Crow's mind.
She immediately thought of the legends of the Witch Sea—the Abyssal Merchant!
A Shell affinity mutated humanoid monster that walks in darkness!
In eras before the Dimensional Tide arrived, it could be called the nightmare of countless merchants and fishermen!Of course, the spectral monster before them was far stronger than the Abyssal Merchant!
After steadying the seriously ill Fen, Little Crow softly said:
"Specter Merchant, a mysterious natural disaster roaming the seas, they feed on soul currency. In the Great Sea Coffin, even renowned heroes are merely currency for their transactions..."
Little Crow lowered her head.
She saw that within the flower-laden ship were placed white skeletons, each skeleton holding treasured valuables!
Black Blood Empire's Fire Serpent Longsword, Goldenfinch Kingdom's Red Dragon Aphrodisiac, White Tower Federation's Grand Magus Book...
Just from the faint supernatural aura emanating from these remains, one could tell that every deceased in this ship started at least as a fourth-tier Transcendent!
This meant the 'maiden' before them was a terrifying monster capable of wiping out their entire ship!
Damn it, I always run into trouble... Little Crow looked up and whispered:
"Run quickly..."
Before she could finish, the next instant, something slimy wrapped around her foot.
"Customer, buy a ship?"
A slippery spectral tentacle directly coiled around Little Crow's waist, then like a swimming snake, twisted up to her neck.
Little Crow turned her head in terror.
She saw a gentle maiden with tentacle hair, wearing thin long clothes, had already arrived beside her, pressing her fanged mouth against Little Crow's ear.
A faint fragrance, mixed with the scent of sea breeze... Little Crow clenched her teeth.
Just based on appearance, the monster before them even had some resemblance to a witch.
In the Great Sea Coffin, to lure humans into traps, Abyssal Merchants imitate voices and appearances that humans favor!
But undoubtedly, no matter how beautiful the monster before them was, it couldn't conceal its monstrous nature!
The tentacle monster blew a breath by Little Crow's ear and asked again:
"Buy a ship?"
After three seconds of silence, Little Crow honestly said:
"No."
"..."
The moment the words fell, the tiny crack on the other's chest slowly opened into a giant worm-like mouth, suddenly biting toward Little Crow's arm!
"One of the best ships!"
A firm voice broke the silence in the air.
Somehow, Chen Qi had already stood behind Little Crow.
After speaking, he pulled the Tentacle Merchant away from Little Crow along with those spectral tentacles, like lifting a mischievous cat.
Finally encountered an encounter-level big shot, though not exactly safe... Chen Qi held the petite being in his hand, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
Tentacle Merchant, because it greatly resembles the Ice Witch, was called Gluttony Witch, Tentacle Witch by players, the most dangerous Abyssal Merchant in the Great Sea Coffin.
Though only one and a half meters tall, its strength rivals the deep-sea titan. Once it goes berserk, it becomes a mud truck that crushes everything in the sea!
In the future, this monster would emerge from the Great Sea Coffin rift, reach the real world, and bring a little gluttony shock to the many warships in the Witch Sea!
However, though extremely dangerous, due to its good looks and liking for tentacle binding, it had extremely high popularity in the forums.
Its popularity was incredibly high, even surpassing the Book Saint of the Book Tower.
Many players even specifically went to the Witch Sea to provoke it just to be bound to death by the Tentacle Merchant's tentacles.
An extremely dangerous monster, but not impossible to trade with or utilize.
Like the Abyssal Merchant, this monster fears light.
Chen Qi recalled the specific details of the monster in his hand.
As an A-rank rift encounter, it had many good things extremely hard to buy in the real world.
Whether fourth-tier profession cards, domain skill cards, or unimaginable warships.
However, safety must be noted when purchasing... Chen Qi cautiously looked at the monster in his hand.
In rifts, many high-tier monsters must maintain their Affinity principles.
The Tentacle Merchant's essence is a Shell affinity monster that digested a special profession card;
it instinctively follows the 'Merchant' Shell principles and won't easily attack travelers through robbery.
One thing for another, this is the iron law the Tentacle Merchant must follow.
But the Tentacle Merchant constantly tempts 'customers' to buy its things.
Once a customer cannot pay the corresponding price, it uses 'the customer's life' to pay this debt!
Creak! Creak!
"Customer, you want to buy the best ship~"
The moment Chen Qi finished speaking, the Tentacle Merchant in his hand twisted its slender neck, splitting open a mouth full of tiny sharp teeth.
These two rows of sharp teeth instantly erased her beauty.
But despite this, Chen Qi instinctively felt a strange sense of pity and protective desire.
It's a sea witch's charm... Chen Qi's face flushed red, maintaining calm.
His mental resistance was high enough to easily resist charm skills!
The Tentacle Merchant happily shook its tentacle hair, dangerous light flashing in its eyes.
Just now, this human had agreed to buy its things!
This look is hostile, Deep Sea Affinity ineffective... Chen Qi inwardly startled.
Meaning, this deep-sea monster, essentially like the Abyssal Merchant, is a human who fell into madness, worshiping some ancient beings...
And like the Abyssal Merchant, seems immune to his Deep Sea Affinity!
Chen Qi didn't deny it, agreeing:
"Yes, my ship needs modifications, I need a new engine. If possible, I also plan to buy some new things..."
Since the Dragon Tamer King battle ended, his ship's ghost flame engine had been severely damaged.
Ordinary engines simply couldn't support the massive energy required for spatial leaps.
Chen Qi vaguely remembered that besides the fourth-tier Shell affinity profession card Great Sea Merchant, various legendary engines hidden in the world, domain knowledge, could all be bought from the Tentacle Merchant.
Among them, there might be knowledge helping break through the Rift Slash bottleneck.
Chen Qi added:
"I have quite a bit of 'currency', can buy things."
Money! Money! Money! The small Tentacle Merchant twisted wildly in Chen Qi's hand like a little fish, then excitedly said:
"Ship, ships are at my home, I'll take you to my store!"
After speaking, it whooshed free, jumped onto its small boat, and raised the sail.
Then it took out a finger-sized whistle and blew it.
Boom! Boom!
Massive sea winds rose, waves began surging, pushing the ship forward.
The whistle controlling wind and waves, all good stuff... Chen Qi felt particularly emotional.
Chen Qi turned the ship, following behind the Tentacle Merchant.
Now, Little Crow finally snapped out of her panic.
Little Crow stood up, biting her index finger, asking:
"Qi, have we already died...?"
Just now, Chen Qi had agreed to the 'buy a ship' request. If he couldn't pay the price, he would be taken by the Tentacle Merchant as sacrifice to the Deep Sea Ancient God!
The price for buying a ship was an indescribable astronomical sum!
In rifts, monsters don't believe in 'Shell Coins', they only believe in 'supernatural currency'.
In hazy memories, the Disaster Messenger's experience told her that unless one had fifth-tier Saint strength or was a legendary Shell affinity merchant, could this transaction possibly be completed!
However, facing the Tentacle Merchant, Little Crow racked her brains but couldn't think of other solutions.
If they refused, this monster would unhesitatingly destroy their ship!
Perhaps, Chen Qi who excelled at naval combat had a slim chance.
Qi agreed to the Tentacle Merchant's request for us.
For us... Little Crow gripped the lantern in her hand, feeling inexplicably guilty.
Chen Qi's help to her now far exceeded her initial help to him.
Little Crow's principle was never owing others, yet her current strength made it impossible to imagine how to repay this favor.
Offering herself... no, would a third-tier Transcendent have any value in the eyes of a legend... Little Crow bit her lip, shaking her head.
Her eyes seemed to return to that afternoon when she failed the Goldenfinch Kingdom Medical Academy entrance exam.
We've already died? Chen Qi looked at Little Crow with confusion.
Chen Qi patted her shoulder, saying:
"It's fine."
Little Crow blushed, whispering:
"That tentacle monster looks at you like a hungry beast, it will definitely eat you."
Huh? Looks at me?
Chen Qi looked back at the ship in the fog.
In the hazy mist, the Tentacle Merchant stared motionlessly at him, tentacles twisting, panting heavily!
Thus, in its eyes, humans equal food.
But isn't this look too hungry?
For a moment, Chen Qi couldn't guess the 'Tentacle Merchant's' purpose.
As long as you have money, you won't be attacked... Chen Qi stroked his chin.
His supernatural currency wasn't much now, but he had many money-making skills.
Moreover, relying on the Daylight Lantern, even if the Tentacle Merchant directly attacked, though he couldn't defeat it, he had self-preservation ability.
But Fen and Little Crow would be in trouble.
Hope nothing major happens... Chen Qi held the lantern, silently praying in his heart.
Moments later, the Tentacle Merchant looked back, slippery tentacles tightly embracing its own body!
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Its face flushed red, heart pounding wildly, unable to resist heavy panting.
That hunter just now, in terms of strength, was clearly just a small fry, but his own spirituality emitted a special scent, making it feel a strange sensation!
As a mutated being that long contacted the deep sea, sold things in the Merchant's Coffin, and lost human nature, it hadn't experienced this kind of pleasure for so long!
This was its first time seeing such a 'fragrant' small fry! Also the first time since birth!
It could feel an unprecedented craving from Chen Qi!
Excitement, pleasure, hunger, appetite!
This feeling was indescribable, like a thirsty man charmed by a Goldenfinch Kingdom dancer!
If not for the supernatural 'Shell Principles', it would have tied Chen Qi up immediately!
However, as a special existence, it must follow the Shell Principles!
No, no, can't directly act!
The Tentacle Merchant bit its tentacle, excitedly whispering:
"Forever even a witch cannot stop..."
"Forever..."
...
After two days of sailing.
In the piercing cold wind, Chen Qi's ship followed the Tentacle Witch's many small merchant ships, advancing all the way.
The closer to the Witch's Coffin, the heavier the fog, the colder it became.
In legends, the Witch's Coffin's essence is an extremely cold land where time flows slowly.
It's said that lying in the coffin there, time never passes.
Eternal youth, time stands still.
This 'static time' can even deceive the world's death god, avoiding the death god's hunt.
Therefore, for 'hibernation', countless nobles, adventurers crossed thousands of miles, frantically searching for the Great Sea Coffin.
The Great Sea Coffin is the Witch Sea's highest A-rank rift in early stages, also one of the triggers for the War of Nations.
Chen Qi looked forward.
Giant ice fog covered everything, daylight seemed to disappear, the entire world shrouded in boundless cold.
Chen Qi looked back at the weakened Fen.
Fen's condition was worsening.
Fen sat by the bonfire, holding Water Spirit No. 2, extremely weak.
On the second day, Fen was like an ice sculpture, silent for a long time.
And Little Crow, as a drug-enhanced subject, relied on injecting dangerous spontaneous combustion medicine to avoid major problems.
"How much longer? Little Tentacle Witch..."
Chen Qi called out loudly.
Pop!
In the fog, the Tentacle Merchant snapped its fingers:
"Already arrived, customer!"
With the crisp snap, in the thick fog, a tall tower lit up.
Wind gently blew through hair, Chen Qi looked up, incredulously at the magnificent scene before him.
Before him was an abandoned port city forgotten by time, standing lonely between sea and mist, with a five-hundred-meter high tower at the center.
Even in this uninhabited rift, the city's former prosperity was hard to conceal.
Only, this prosperous city no longer had 'residents', replaced by countless monsters like the Tentacle Merchant, countless deep-sea monsters roaming the sea!
And the Sea Goddess statue had become an evil god statue draped in robes with countless eyes.
"Encounter land..."
Chen Qi felt particularly emotional, looking at the many ships at the port.
In the distance, a giant black-sailed ship emitted an ominous aura.
Who? Chen Qi followed the gaze.
On the ominous black ship's window, a pair of lion-like blazing eyes stared down imperiously and fixedly at him, and Fen on the ship.
He saw a familiar person, a fiery woman with flowing red hair, wearing a captain's hat.
The undead once buried at sea by him and Fen, Little Crow's superior, Big Mom Carol was looking at him.