The next day, Chris and Lindsay Windson woke up early.
After breakfast, the two set off for Sandsworth. Soon, they arrived at the dock. To reach Sandsworth, a boat was required. The fare was five Essence Stones per person, costing them ten in total. They boarded a ship alongside dozens of other passengers.
According to Chris’s knowledge, the sea route from Darkrock to Sandsworth was often plagued by a powerful group of pirates. However, in most cases, paying a toll would keep the pirates at bay.
With a rumble, the ship set sail. The journey to Sandsworth would take about three days, just in time for the auction at the Mission Hall, which was scheduled for five days later.
On the deck, Chris and Lindsay took in the surrounding scenery. Chris observed that Aethelgard bore a resemblance to ancient Amerosia. There were no traces of industrial civilization or advanced technology-everything was primitive. The absence of pollution made the seawater appear crystal clear.
For the Aetherbinding practitioners on board, this was an ordinary sight. Yet, many wore expressions of worry. The sea not only harbored pirates but also dangerous sea beasts. These creatures were far more ferocious than land-dwelling beasts, capable of devouring an entire ship if given the chance.
Fortunately, this route passed through shallow waters, where only low-grade sea beasts were known to appear. High-grade beasts typically resided in the deep sea.
As hours passed, the sky darkened. The passengers grew increasingly vigilant, knowing that sea beasts were most active at night.
Suddenly, the ship rocked violently.
“Mr. Shelby!” Lindsay cried out in alarm.
Chris reassured her, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here. Nothing will happen.”
“It’s bad news-we’ve encountered a Sharpfin Shark!” the captain shouted.
The Sharpfin Shark was a Fifth Grade sea beast, comparable in strength to a mid-level Pinnacle practitioner. Normally, these sharks stayed in deep waters, so its presence in the shallow sea was shocking to everyone aboard.
“Be careful!” the captain warned. “Don’t let the shark bite through the ship!”
The Sharpfin Shark’s teeth were razor-sharp, capable of tearing the vessel apart. As it attacked, the ship swayed violently. If the hull was breached, everyone would plunge into the sea.
Most of the Aetherbinding practitioners on board were relatively weak, with only a few at the Pinnacle level. Many turned pale as they realized the danger before them.
A scream pierced the air.
One of the crew members, attempting to fend off the shark, was swallowed whole. The sight made everyone gasp in horror.
Chris scanned the ship. Aside from the captain and a few crew members, the strongest among them was the captain himself. However, even his strength-at mid-level Pinnacle-was insufficient against the Sharpfin Shark.
The captain charged at the beast with an axe in hand, but the shark struck him, sending him flying.
Chaos erupted. Passengers screamed in terror as the ship rocked harder and harder. Seawater began flooding the deck, and everyone scrambled to bail it out. Thankfully, the ship was sturdy enough to withstand the shark’s relentless attacks-for now.
At this critical moment, Chris stepped forward, gripping his Dragon Slayer sword. The Sharpfin Shark seemed to sense danger as it locked eyes with him. Chris wasted no time, launching himself at the beast.
This was his first encounter with a sea beast, and he wasn’t sure what to expect. With a single powerful strike, he brought the Dragon Slayer down on the shark’s head, cleaving it clean off.
Chris’s strength, at mid-Solstice level, far surpassed the mid-level Pinnacle Sharpfin Shark. The battle was over in an instant.
The onlookers stared in stunned silence. None of them had anticipated that someone with such formidable power was aboard their ship.
After killing the shark, Chris carved out its Heartstone. In Aethelgard, both land and sea beasts possessed Heartstones, though those of sea beasts were far more valuable.
The passengers now gazed at Chris with a mixture of awe and apprehension. His effortless victory over the Sharpfin Shark suggested he might be a late-stage Pinnacle practitioner-or even at the Pinnacle peak. While Pinnacle practitioners were common in Sunnyvale, those at the higher stages were rare and highly respected.
The captain approached Chris, gratitude written all over his face. “Thank you for slaying the Sharpfin Shark. Without your help, we’d all be dead by now.”
Chris waved him off and said, “Get the ship moving. The blood will attract more sea beasts if we linger.”
Realizing the urgency, the captain immediately ordered the ship to set sail. The shark’s massive body painted the water red, and the scent of blood would undoubtedly draw more predators.
As the ship sailed away, Chris breathed a sigh of relief.
“Look over there!” someone suddenly shouted.
Chris turned to see a swarm of low-level sea beasts feasting on the Sharpfin Shark’s corpse. The sight sent chills through everyone on board.
The Blackridge Strait, the passage between Darkrock and Sandsworth, was notorious for both sea beasts and pirates. These pirates were backed by powerful families, making them nearly impossible to eradicate. Their dominance over the strait had long gone unchallenged.
With the Sharpfin Shark dead, calm returned to the ship. Chris and Lindsay sat on the deck, enjoying the sea breeze.
However, Chris couldn’t help but notice the wary glances cast their way. After his display of strength, the passengers now regarded him with a mix of fear and respect.