Capítulo 714: Chapter 232: The Girl’s Journey

After paying a hefty fee on the Federation West Coast, the girl’s journey of pursuit officially began when she boarded a large sailing ship bound for the Napolet Islands.

Many dangers existed on the journey; on the evening of the third day deep into the Endless Sea, when the ship was passing the Dark Cape, a rare gigantic tropical storm swept through the night sky.

As the ship struggled to advance amidst the raging waves, at the peak of the storm, some unknown terrifying entity from the deep sea emerged, lurking below the vessel.

At that moment, including the Sixth Rank Guardian, the crew members were so terrified that their legs went weak, and they had even begun to prepare drifting bottles as farewell notes.

Fortunately, the unknown entity in the sea below did not harm the ship–it simply swam alongside the ship for a while before diving back into the deep sea.

Listening to the girl’s vivid narrative, Anvis could almost see those mountain-like dark waves towering, the immense shadow of the sea monster cast on the sea surface longer than the ship itself, and the expressions of fear and despair on the faces of the crew and passengers.

And the unspeakable relief and touch when seeing the twin spires of the Radiant Temple emitting a warm orange glow on the horizon, indicating the end of the storm.

“After arriving at the Napolet Islands, I joined a small exploration team on the main island to catch Silver Spearfish — prepared to venture into the Sea of Darkness, northwest of the islands, in search of the whereabouts of Origin City, Yaina.”

Claire, gently hugging her knees, leaned against a gray-white rock, her eyes filled with reminiscence.

“According to my research, Yaina was originally built on the Yar Continent.”

However, due to an unknown event that followed, the entire city of Yaina, along with a part of the continent, split from the main plate of the Yar Continent and fell into the depths of the Sea of Darkness.

I parted ways with them midway and ventured into the Sea of Darkness alone, following the information on the relic sea map I remembered until I arrived at the region marked on the map as the Endless Sea.

There, every six months, a phenomenon known as the Sinking Mist occurs.”

“It’s a unique current that gathers the souls of numerous dead marine creatures; pale ghostly lights flowing like the Netherworld river among mortals.”

“If a living person touches it, they will be quickly consumed by it and eventually become part of the stream of souls.”

“Following the guidance of the ghostly current, I navigated out from the mist area, and then entered a terrifying hurricane zone.”

“There, the sky was covered with thick dark red thunderstorm clouds almost pressing down to our heads, with continuous spouts and unstable spatial areas visible everywhere, except for a small calm area where the ghostly current flowed.”

“As my ship continued to follow the pale current deeper in, peculiar basalt pillars protruding from the sea began to emerge ahead of me. As time passed with my navigation, these pillars grew taller.”

“Until at last, numerous huge basalt pillars, rising hundreds of meters above the sea, crisscrossed to form an arch-like structure. Through that giant arch, I finally saw the Lost Continent.

“There, the sky is always shrouded in gloomy mist, the beaches a vast desolate black desert, the air exceptionally cold, with no signs of life, resembling the legendary Netherworld.”

At this point, Claire suddenly tilted her head, and her pale fingers tapped her forehead.

“Hmm… speaking of which, on that forgotten land, I also saw many bizarre ancient ruins left by non-human species. I remember you are looking for clues about powerful ancient beings; perhaps investigating there would yield some results?”

“Indeed, I should also explore there in the future.”

Listening to Claire’s words, Anvis nodded generously. Even without knowing about these ruins, for the legacy of the Star Cluster Civilization, he was bound to visit once in the future.

As the two conversed, at this moment, a flock of Nightmare Crows was getting closer in the sky. Even though the Nightmare Crows have average vision during the day, it was sufficient for them to spot the two on the ground.

“Gua ga—”

Accompanied by a shrill and hoarse cry, the leading crows dove down without hesitation, ready to launch an attack on the two, with the rest of the flock also poised to strike.

However, before they could get close enough to attack, a surge of immense magic power suddenly burst forth from a small figure below!

“Gua gu! Gua gua gua! Gua wu—”

Feeling oppressed as if facing a deadly natural disaster, the previously aggressive Nightmare Crows suddenly panicked. Screaming, they desperately flapped their wings to turn around, scattering a large number of black feathers in the chaos.

As the flock of crows fled in panic, the ring glowing on Anvis’s finger dimmed once more.

“Your style hasn’t changed, Anvis,”

Watching this scene, Claire couldn’t help but twitch the corners of her mouth. No matter when, she felt both helpless and admiring towards Anvis’s fighting style that relied purely on equipment to overpower opponents.

After all, being able to overpower in every fight through equipment also shows a form of substantial strength.

“I can’t help it. Unlike you, senior sister, who can explore the Lost Continent alone, my strength is still weak, and I also dislike meaningless fights. Only the gold coins at home are somewhat plentiful.”

Anvis spread his hands and comfortably lay down beside the young girl.

“By the way, senior sister Claire, as a reward for helping me find those ruin information, what kind of equipment and financial support do you need? Please list them for me.”

“No, no need for rewards. We are companions, after all, this level of mutual help is natural.”

Claire shook her head, her tone light and airy as she spoke.

“Really? With such ‘simple’ equipment?”

Upon hearing this, Anvis turned his head and gave Claire a slight look. The subtle meaning in his gaze made the half-elf girl purse her lips, and she couldn’t help but have blue veins popping on her forehead.

What does ‘simple’ mean?!

“… Anvis, has anyone ever told you that you are very annoying?”

“No, they have only ever told me how charming I am!”

“…”

After a brief moment of speechless eye contact, they both laughed again.

“Haha, Anvis, you’re still as narcissistic as ever…”

With a smile in her blue eyes, Claire helplessly shook her head, her tone becoming serious again,

“But I do have one thing for which I hope to get your help.”

“What is it? As long as I can help, of course, there’s no problem!”

Hearing the girl’s tone, Anvis also became slightly serious.

“Anvis, actually, I hope to use your power to help me find the ‘Key’ that opens Origin City.”

Claire explained.

“In this journey, although I reached that Lost Continent, I couldn’t truly enter Origin City.

Based on the clues in my memory, I managed to traverse the cold, vast, and silent black desert, and inside the massive mountain range that seemed like the edge of the world at the desert’s end, I found the entrance to Origin City.

But without the ‘Key,’ I couldn’t get through there.”

“A Key? Is it this?”

After listening to Claire’s description, Anvis thought for a while and then took out the fully-restored Star Body Stone Plate from his ring and handed it to the young girl.

“Its power feels somewhat familiar, it should be related to the Star Cluster Civilization, but I don’t think this is the key to that door.”

Upon receiving the Stone Plate, Claire carefully checked it and then shook her head.

“The power of that door is very special, it is like a vast world’s unique essence of power, one that you would never mistake once you’ve encountered it.”

Saying this, the girl gently took Anvis’s hand, synchronizing their Perceptions to that of her experience at that time.