The Rise of the Black Plain - Chapter 2691: Different Fates

Three days after Minos’ action, the Sea Serpent appeared at the site where the level 120 shark had been disintegrated.

Arriving in the area after receiving an alert from one of his men investigating signs of the Nautilus’ Compass nearby, the level 124 creature shifted his gaze to the site of the fight.

What was there to see? Nothing really. The sea was, mostly, very difficult to distinguish from one area from another. Unless there were islands or continents nearby, the sea, for the most part, was an environment with little distinguishable information.

However, for a creature of the Sea Serpent’s level, what it saw was not a place of pink sky and dark blue waters, but a colorful canvas of different colored laws, heat and energy density.

‘Someone powerful was here… I estimate his power to be no less than level 122.’ Judged the strongest creature in the Violent Sea, as its expression changed, becoming deeper.

“This is wrong. The bearer of the Nautilus’ Compass should be a Sovereign at most,” it muttered as it stood motionless, with half of its large body on the level of the sea surface.

How did it know Minos’ cultivation? As someone who had already come face to face with the Nautilus’ Compass on several occasions, it had its methods of checking the power of the one holding the fate of this part of a True Celestial’s body.

But the unnatural energy distortion in that area where the level 120 shark had died was no less than the power of a level 122 Supreme!

‘Did he come across another enemy? I didn’t know him well, but any Supreme capable of reaching the middle of our stage has lived long enough to have enemies in every corner of this world.’ Pondering further, the golden-eyed creature considered the possibility that its envoy to this area had not faced the holder of the compass.

Looking to its left, where a merman was waiting for its orders, the Sea Serpent said, “Marsious, investigate signs similar to these in this area. I will continue with my previous searches.”

“Aren’t you going to investigate this yourself?”

“This may be related to the Nautilus’ Compass, but I feel my destination is not in that direction. There’s somewhere else I want to go.”

The merman no longer questioned, nodding respectfully and then leaving as soon as his leader had disappeared from the area, without any remorse for the loss of the level 120 shark.

…

Meanwhile, in the opposite direction to the Sea Serpent’s movement, Minos was sitting in a wheelchair, his wings retracted and his appearance somewhat cadaverous.

His eyes were sunken into his face, while dark circles as black as night marked his once beautiful and majestic golden eyes. His white hair, once platinum and shiny, now looked dull, somewhat yellowish, as if it were dirty.

His skin was thin, down to his bones, which, at the moment, didn’t seem to have any muscles covering them.

Despite his terrible appearance, the worst thing was his spiritual fluctuation, once vigorous and as warm as a star, now withdrawn, subtle to the point that it could be imperceptible even to the most attentive.

In the situation Minos was in, his companions had no doubt that he could die at any moment!

“Sigh! The effects of the sacrifice were really terrible this time.” Gloria, behind Minos, holding his wheelchair, muttered in a tone devoid of any good feeling.

Seeing him like that wasn’t easy for any of Minos’ wives!

Abby and Ruth, also there with him, at the bow of the boat, lowered their heads, breathing deeply.

“There’s nothing we can do. The stronger the sacrifice, the greater the consequences,” said one of the level 116 giants, aware of how Minos was feeling at that very moment.

Minos’ situation was clearly the worst they had ever seen, but some of the Supremes there had already been through similar things.

“How long before he recovers?” asked one of the Generals standing next to those off duty around their ship.

For the last two days, they had traveled an unbelievable distance, surpassing, in two days, six months of travel towards Uzira.

Thanks to Minos’ powers and the directions he had given his crew, they had avoided all kinds of danger and were now a good distance from the site of the level 120 shark’s fall.

Ruth, the group’s chief doctor, who knew her husband best, estimated, “A year for him to recover fully. Unfortunately, he’ll probably never be able to use the power of the Flashdrain parasite again.”

Abby looked at her fellow Armhands and warned. “Be prepared to use yours, too. We’ll probably complete the remaining 40% of our crossing of the Violent Sea without his support. It will be up to you to get us safely to Uzira.”

The strongest men there nodded, showing that they understood, but they couldn’t help worrying, fearful for their fates. If they sacrificed their parasites, they would end up weakened, like Minos, vulnerable. Given the sea they were traveling on, that would be tantamount to signing up for the death list!

However, they had little choice in the matter. Either they would do their best to survive this sea, or they would die one way or another!

“What about the Sea Serpent? How are we sure we’ve lost him?” Someone asked after a silence of more than a minute.

Minos heard that and muttered quietly, “Don’t think about it. Its fate differs from ours.”

Everyone looked at Minos, some surprised that he could still speak in that state, others curious about the implications of his speech.

Abby looked at Minos and told him not to struggle. But the surrounding men couldn’t help but question him.

“Are you sure about this?”

Minos tried to smile, shaking his head, but not speaking.

Ruth clenched her fists, continually giving her energy to Minos to get better as quickly as possible. “Let’s not talk too much about that for now. We have Wenni and Walkas ready to guide us and Minos’ prophetic abilities have proven themselves many, many times.”

The group agreed on this point and soon dispersed, giving their leader room to breathe, each of them going to their original positions on the ship.

With more than a year and a half of travel still ahead of them, they still had a lot of work to worry about!