DOTM: Chapter 184/185

Chapter 184: Which Set Is Suitable?

From the Fountain of Youth in the Caribbean world, Ethan had copied a natural magic circle. Although he hadn't fully analyzed all the secrets of this circle, he had at least grasped part of its principles.

If he were asked to gather life energy from a completely ordinary environment, he might not be able to do it. But with a clear objective, he could still extract life energy and store it in another form.

There were still many issues. Since Ethan hadn't truly mastered this magic, a portion of the life energy would inevitably be wasted—more than just a little, in fact.

But in the face of such a vast amount of life energy, should he just do nothing? It was impossible to simply discard it.

He couldn't absorb it directly either, as he wasn't capable of taking in such an enormous amount. Even if he managed to absorb it into his body, he wouldn't be able to utilize it effectively, and it would end up going to waste.

Relatively speaking, it was better to convert it into the "Spring of Life" and store it. Even if most of it would be wasted, it was still better than returning empty-handed.

Diana and Logan both knew what Ethan was doing, so they quietly watched him work. Only Cleo didn't know what was going on.

When Ethan took out the thick book again, Cleo guessed that the captain of the Goddess of Dawn was preparing to use that strange magic stone device for some unusual method.

Cleo had never seen a book-type magic stone device before. He had only heard about such items, but most of the ones he'd heard of were used for recording and storing data. He had never heard of one being used in this way.

Aside from marveling at how vast and mysterious the world was, filled with things he had never known or even heard of, he had no doubt that the abilities Ethan used did not originate from this world.

Maybe it was because the world held too many strange phenomena, but most people weren't surprised, or even curious, about unfamiliar abilities. Just because they hadn't seen something didn't mean it didn't exist. It only proved that their knowledge was limited.

Having lived in this world for quite some time, Ethan gradually discovered this truth. That's why he could use all kinds of methods without concern and didn't need to worry about being exposed.

The magic circle for gathering life energy was very complex. Ethan worked for a long time and ultimately completed only a simplified and inferior version.

The only optimized feature was the circle's activation speed. The moment Ethan completed it, the immense life energy was drawn in by the circle and gradually condensed into drops of pure water, which then formed a ball of liquid.

This water was composed of the purest life energy. Its effects surpassed even those of the springs Ethan had collected earlier.

If the previously collected spring water from the Caribbean world could replenish vitality equivalent to fifty years with just a small sip, then the current batch could restore vitality equivalent to one hundred years with the same amount.

Though vitality wasn't the same as lifespan, having sufficient vitality could increase one's lifespan limit, and it could also keep the body in peak condition for a long time, an incredibly practical benefit.

Moreover, with such a massive reserve of life energy, Ethan could produce a large number of "blood bottles" to ensure survival for himself and his companions when facing powerful enemies.

So even if the island contained no other resources besides life energy, Ethan still felt like he had struck gold.

Of course, he wasn't the type to hoard everything for himself. After collecting the life energy and bottling the refined Spring of Life, he took out a full bottle and handed it to Cleo.

According to what Cleo had said earlier, all the resources on the island belonged to Ethan, and he would only take what Ethan didn't want. But since the entire island had nothing but pure energy, and Cleo hadn't made any requests, even when he saw that Ethan had the ability to collect and take the energy, he didn't ask for a share.

He had kept his word and stood firmly by Ethan's side in the previous battle, never backing down. This left a good impression on Ethan.

For people like that, Ethan was never stingy. He specifically filled a large bottle of Spring of Life water and handed it to Cleo.

"This is what you deserve."

Ethan stopped Cleo from declining, then walked over to the "body" left behind by the embodiment of life not far away. He pulled out a box and extracted the pure spiritual energy that had yet to dissipate.

By now, the most valuable things on the island had been cleared out by Ethan. The island had completely become a barren land. Although there were still some plants remaining, Ethan knew that before long, they too would wither and die. After that, the island would be truly empty.

The group returned to the surface and chatted about how the green grass looked different from before as they strolled leisurely toward the shore.

This trip could be considered a complete success.

Both Ethan and Cleo were very satisfied with their gains.

Cleo didn't know how Ethan planned to use the Spring of Life. As far as he knew, the Fruit of Life could extend the life of adventurers, and it was highly valuable to them.

Yet what he had received from Ethan was something even better than the Fruit of Life. So when he was actually given a full bottle, he couldn't believe it.

He wasn't completely unmoved, it was just that he had kept his promise and didn't want to go back on it, so he had held himself back from saying anything. When Ethan handed him a full bottle of spring water, he even suspected he was hallucinating.

After safely storing the bottle, the group finally arrived at the edge of the island and prepared to part ways. Cleo returned to the Eternal, while Ethan boarded the Goddess of Dawn.

Presumably, both parties would rest for the night and leave the island the next morning, either continuing their voyage along this route or returning directly to the Central Island.

Since the cooperation had gone smoothly, Cleo made a solemn promise: "If you need help, just leave a message in the guild. As soon as I get word, I'll come find you immediately."

"If the time comes, I won't hold back."

Ethan didn't have many acquaintances in this world. Only a few had really interacted with him, and only three had left a lasting impression.

Helena, who led a group of women across the sea and refused to submit to any man.

Brent, who had a good reputation in the Sea of Calm and surrounding regions.

And now Cleo, with whom he had just collaborated.

Compared to Helena and Brent, perhaps only this newly met Cleo could be called a friend.

Watching Cleo board the Eternal, Ethan, along with Diana and Logan, returned to the Goddess of Dawn.

As soon as he got back on the ship, Ethan headed straight for his workshop. The Spring of Life water didn't require further processing for now, but the extracted spiritual energy had been collected too hastily and needed follow-up work.

He also had to carefully examine the spiritual energy to make sure there were no hidden dangers before he could safely store it away.

By the time he finished all this and left the workshop, the moon was already high in the sky.

Surprisingly, neither Diana nor Logan had gone to their rooms to rest. They were sitting on the deck, enjoying the cool sea breeze and watching the starry night sky.

When Ethan came out, Laura was already asleep on Logan's leg, while Diana and Logan quietly drank and chatted.

"What are you two talking about?"

"The night sky in this world doesn't look any different from Earth's, does it?"

Ethan sat down on the deck. He had never really paid attention to such things. To him, the night sky looked the same. Besides, this wasn't Earth. He hadn't learned how to identify constellations or navigate by the stars. Out here in this sea, they were either wandering around aimlessly or sailing straight ahead using the pointer. There wasn't much worry about getting lost.

"Honestly, if it weren't for the lack of familiar constellations, I'd think this was Earth."

Diana had been looking for a long time but couldn't find any constellations she recognized. Even the few that looked familiar turned out to be different upon closer inspection.

Logan wasn't interested in these topics and didn't know much about them anyway. He was just drinking and enjoying the breeze. Besides, Laura liked listening to Diana's constellation stories, so he stayed by her side. In the end, Laura fell asleep. Even if he wanted to leave, he couldn't.

"Is everything taken care of?"

"There's no problem. Just being cautious." Ethan looked at Diana—Zeus's daughter—and as the conversation touched on constellations, he couldn't help but think of that world. "Speaking of constellations, I know a world of Olympian gods where the goddess Athena holds eighty-eight sets of armor, each named after a constellation and possessing immense power."

"Oh? That sounds really interesting." Diana might not care much for clothes and dresses, but if the topic was weapons or armor, she became especially intrigued. "That sounds fascinating. I'd love to see them with my own eyes."

"There'll be a chance." Ethan had only casually brought it up, but he didn't think it would be difficult. Even if he couldn't reach that world, he could always create a version himself.

He believed that as his strength continued to grow, even a copy wouldn't necessarily be inferior to the original. But another question lingered in his mind.

"Which one suits Diana?"

(To be continued.)

Chapter 185: Intimidation

Even the next morning, Ethan still hadn't decided which set of holy armor would suit Diana. It seemed that since all the sets had already been made, the best approach would be to just let her wear whichever one she liked.

Standing in front of the helm, Ethan stretched, did a few simple movements to loosen up, inhaled the salty sea breeze, and watched the sun gradually rise above the horizon.

The nearby island looked no different from the day before, but Ethan could sense that the remaining life force on the island was nearly depleted. It had even begun to affect the island's existence. If his feeling was correct, then within a few days, this island would sink into the ocean at a rate far faster than that of typical floating or sinking islands.

This was the island's final moment in this world, but to Ethan, it meant nothing. He wouldn't feel anything about it. This island had simply been a stop along his journey, even if it had provided him with a significant amount of life energy.

Turning on the console, Ethan raised the anchor and set the sails. The Goddess of Dawn gradually began to move. He guided the ship away from the island, adjusted the course once they had cleared the coast, and headed into the open sea.

From where he stood, he could see that the Eternal was also leaving the island. Judging by its course, it didn't look like they were returning to the Central Island, so they were probably continuing to sail for a while.

"Maybe it's because there's nothing more to gain on that island."

Obviously, the Spring of Life Ethan had given Cleo wasn't something that could be distributed casually. Likely, only Cleo himself and a few trusted officers would benefit from it. For the majority of the crew, they gained nothing from this voyage, so it wasn't surprising that they would want to look for a new island.

They seemed to be heading in the same direction as the Goddess of Dawn, but Ethan didn't mind even if they sailed together. After such a smooth first cooperation, there was no reason they couldn't continue working together.

At that moment, Logan came out of the cabin, stretching his neck as he complained to Ethan, "I was wondering why it suddenly got so wobbly. I thought the waves had picked up, but it turns out we've already set sail."

Because Ethan's Goddess of Dawn didn't require many crew members, the interior space was quite spacious, and everyone had a well-placed room. Logan could tell they had departed just by looking out the window. He had come out to see if there was anything that needed his help.

"There was no point in staying there, so I decided to leave."

After walking a lap around the deck, Logan stood next to the helm. From there, he could see the Eternal not far behind, maintaining the same speed and sailing in the same direction as the Goddess of Dawn.

"They've set sail too." As for the people on the Eternal, Logan only had a favorable impression of Cleo, but that was it. He didn't pay them much attention. "I thought you'd leave after breakfast."

"This sea is so vast that I could just let the ship sail on its own and go eat. It wouldn't matter." In fact, he could even leave the ship moving straight ahead and go do something else entirely.

Ethan had done that many times before. But no matter what he was doing, he would stay on the deck to ensure he had a clear view and could react quickly to any unexpected situation.

"Sailing really does sway a lot. It's not as comfortable as being moored next to an island."

When anchored near an island, the ship would still rock a bit, but not much, and it could even feel relaxing. But once at sea, the motion was much more noticeable. Especially during meals, it tested everyone's reflexes. If you weren't careful, your plate could slide right off the table.

Not to mention the food on the floor was practically inedible. At first, Logan had cursed out loud more than once, but lately he was starting to get used to it.

"Anyway, let's eat breakfast first."

Diana, who hadn't appeared until now, came out of the cabin holding some food and juice. The food stores on the Goddess of Dawn were well-stocked, so they didn't need to ration anything. In fact, sometimes they needed to eat more to prevent food from spoiling due to long storage.

On the sea, storing both food and clean water was always a challenge. The food preservation methods from Earth's Age of Sail were pitiful by comparison, and most modern people wouldn't be able to tolerate it.

Ethan had often been grateful that this world wasn't purely a sailing-age world and that there were still magic stones and magic stone equipment.

Laura, who was still in a sleepy phase, came running out as well. Everyone aboard the Goddess of Dawn gathered on the quarterdeck, enjoying a hearty breakfast in the sea breeze while chatting casually.

Their conversation had no fixed topic.

One moment, Diana and Ethan were talking about how this ocean-filled world seemed interesting. The next, they were discussing whether they should catch some fresh seafood for dinner. Then, the topic shifted to their next destination. Did they have any plans?

"Head toward the middle of the route."

Regardless of the other questions, Ethan had already decided to continue onward. He wanted to see what was going on near the central part of the route.

Although he had decided to build his next ship as a high-grade steel warship, he still needed to see the actual situation for himself. After all, the climate and ocean conditions in this world were more complex and unpredictable. Who knew what kind of special situations he might encounter?

"The Eternal seems to have changed course."

While they chatted, they kept an eye on their surroundings. At first, the Eternal had been sailing right behind the Goddess of Dawn, in the same direction.

After a while, the Eternal appeared to adjust its heading and speed up. It was now off to the side of the Goddess of Dawn. Based on their respective courses, the distance between the two ships would gradually increase until they eventually lost sight of each other.

"Well, the sea is vast. There's no reason to head in the exact same direction."

Adventurers rarely traveled together unless necessary. Everyone preferred to explore and claim new islands for themselves, even if one ship alone couldn't carry all the resources those islands offered.

"There's a ship ahead, coming straight toward us."

While speaking, Diana spotted a ship ahead. Based on its heading, it seemed to be coming from the middle section of the route.

By Ethan's estimate, they were already approaching the front part of the central zone. The ship was either returning from the vicinity of the central region or coming from even farther out.

Either way, it meant the crew was made up of highly capable adventurers. They were likely returning from a successful expedition and had nothing to do with Ethan and his group.

"The color of that ship is a bit off."

Hearing Diana's comment, Ethan picked up the binoculars. As the distance between them closed, he could finally see the other ship clearly.

"The hull is reinforced with metal for defense and stability. Although it's currently wind-powered, there's probably a propulsion system installed."

What caught Ethan's attention was that the other ship had opened its gunports, revealing dark cannon muzzles. That was not a good sign.

Even though the two ships were sailing toward each other, the ocean was wide enough that unless it was intentional, a collision was unlikely. A small course adjustment would allow them to pass each other at a considerable distance.

"Maybe it's just a show of force, trying to intimidate us into giving way?"

That was entirely possible. After all, adventurers had all kinds of personalities. In a world without laws or rules, people often relied on strength to settle things. There would always be those who believed their fists gave them the right to act however they pleased. Intimidating others was just a way to entertain themselves during a boring voyage.

"Adjust our heading and see how they react."

Of course, Ethan wasn't afraid. He wanted to determine whether the other ship was simply trying to scare them or if there were other intentions involved.

If it was just posturing, then once Ethan adjusted his course and showed a willingness to yield, the other party would likely back off. At most, they'd just flash their cannons and then sail away.

But if there were other intentions...

"Looks like they don't intend to let us go."

Not long after Ethan adjusted the course, the other ship did the same. But this time, their adjustment clearly targeted the Goddess of Dawn. It was obvious now—they had set their sights on Ethan and his group.

Even if this was just another round of intimidation, Ethan wasn't about to dodge a second time.

"Looks like trouble. This is shaping up to be a naval battle."

Ethan held the helm with one hand and operated the console with the other. A three-dimensional image of the Goddess of Dawn appeared on the display. Under his mental control, the ship's weapons systems and ammunition reserves were shown.

For Ethan and the others, long-range artillery combat wasn't ideal. Given the abilities of the crew aboard, close-quarters combat was their real strength. In addition, both Ethan and Diana had flight capabilities, so distance wasn't an issue.

However, Ethan didn't plan to immediately go all out. He wanted to test the other ship's combat strength and get a sense of the general level of firepower in this ocean.

Part of him didn't deny that he was eager to experience an actual naval battle. Still, he was prepared to activate the magic shield at any moment. Whether it was for fun or observation, he wasn't about to let the enemy land a hit.

(To be continued.)