Chapter 779: Sea Monster

The arrival of Kenley Truth brought many new magical ideas and a large number of magical books to the Magic Guild. Having once studied under the Grand Magician of the royal court, she was well-versed in the mainstream developments of the magical world in the Kingdom of Steel Ridge—insights far beyond what mages from remote island nations could access.

But this place had an Archmage.

Liszt intended to build a legendary reputation around Acheronides, so he rarely arranged for her to interact with ordinary mages and did not disclose the method of advancing to Archmage. Not that revealing it would help—with the Magic Web shrinking, even if great magicians knew how to reach it, they would find it nearly impossible.

Even a genius like Acheronides had barely managed to touch the Magic Web with the help of a mermaid’s tear.

What chance did ordinary mages have of comprehending the inaccessibility of the Magic Web?

Instead, Liszt hoped to use Acheronides’ influence to guide mages in serving the territory. When a mage made significant contributions, he would arrange for Acheronides to offer them some guidance. Only those mages who were fully devoted to the Magic Guild and possessed the strength of a great magician would earn the privilege of following Acheronides.

Currently, only Cris had earned this qualification. As for the twins Lucy and Ruth, they didn’t count—they were protégés personally cultivated by Liszt.

After absorbing the knowledge brought by Kenley and others, and with the spark of new ideas combined with the Earth knowledge provided by Liszt, Acheronides quickly developed the third super magic: the Centrifugal Hydromolecular Shield.

This magic used a special Magic array to make magic power particles move in uniform circular motion, separating water-attribute magic power from chaotic magic power to create a stable magical shield. The circular shield had freakishly strong defenses, capable of withstanding even a casual strike from a Dragon Knight.

Undoubtedly, once this super magic could be cast instantaneously, Acheronides would play a tremendous role in assisting Liszt in battle—not just by shielding him but, more importantly, by protecting herself.

A support who can't save themselves would hardly be able to safeguard the frontline damage dealers.

Despite Acheronides having developed three super magics, Liszt still hadn’t managed to crack the fourth technique of the "Fire Dragon Knight - Dragon Knight Manual."

However, after experiencing the volcanic eruption, Liszt had made some progress—he could now borrow Leo’s draconic aura and project it himself to intimidate enemies. This was an excellent surprise attack, especially effective against magical beasts.

Back when the Grand Duke had casually exuded draconic aura while fishing, Liszt had been envious for quite some time. Now, he could finally do the same.

He was feeling pretty damn pleased.

But just then, Lucy and Ruth, who had begun mastering the operation of the magic platform, sent him an urgent alert.

The message came from the exploration fleet: "At coordinates XX on the nautical chart… encountered a terrifying sea monster resembling a giant turtle. Initially mistaken for a small reef, it was only upon approach that we realized it was a sea monster. The Opportunity got too close and was suddenly lifted out of the water as the turtle rose like a small island. The monster is now slowly swimming southeast. Requesting rescue from the Lord."

"An island-sized turtle monster?"

Liszt immediately recalled the thunder-attribute turtle shell worn by Emily. Perhaps this sea turtle was a type of Supreme Dragon Beast. "Could it be that the Supreme Dragon Beast clue provided by the smoke mission isn’t the unicorn Kenley mentioned, but this turtle sea monster reported by the exploration fleet?"

Whether it was or not, they had to mount a rescue.

Liszt wasn’t skilled in battling sea monsters, so he had to send Acheronides. As a water-affinity Archmage, she could even take on a water dragon, let alone a Supreme Dragon Beast.

...

According to the nautical chart, the exploration fleet was currently searching for islands in the waters south of the three islands. Finding those three islands in the vast ocean had been sheer dumb luck. Now, as they ventured further south, their luck had run out, and locating more islands proved far more difficult. For over ten days, they hadn't seen so much as a rock.

Thus, when they saw the turtle sea monster, they initially mistook it for a reef—where there were reefs, there were likely islands nearby.

In their haste to approach, they spooked the monster into motion, causing the Opportunity to get stuck.

"Over 1,300 kilometers from Black Horse Island… At Acheronides’ water-manipulated propulsion speed, it should take about two and a half hours. Let's hope that turtle doesn't throw a fit and destroy my Opportunity during that time," Liszt muttered. Damn! The Grand Duke had only gifted him six Fast Royal Yachts.

With the shipyard yet to fully grasp the construction technology of three-masters, losing even one Fast Royal Yacht would be a huge setback.

The Flame was hastily loaded with a large batch of supplies prepared for the exploration fleet. An hour later, under Acheronides’ control, it raced toward the disaster site.

They arrived exactly on time two and a half hours later, but there was no sign of the exploration fleet. Liszt summoned Leo, hopped onto the dragon, and took to the skies for a slow search.

Through continuous communication with the exploration fleet via the magic platform, they eventually pinpointed the fleet's whereabouts.

"Thanks for the rescue, Your Highness!" Yevich Shui Huasheng, his face wind-chapped and purplish-red, skipped the small talk and got straight to it. "The sea monster is swimming about a kilometer ahead. It's not moving fast, but we dare not approach, fearing it might be provoked again and cause unnecessary losses."

At that moment, the harpoon-like Tearing Staff, which had been brought aboard the ship, trembled and transformed into the Undead Yuchou—Virginia Truth. "Your Highness, I attempted to approach the giant sea monster, but it was highly sensitive to me. I could sense its disgust toward my undead nature."

"I understand. Prepare to rescue the Opportunity. I’ll handle this sea monster."

After some inquiries, Liszt put Yevich in charge of the Flame to oversee the transfer of supplies. Meanwhile, he mounted Fire Drake Rio and took to the skies to support Acheronides. There was no doubt that Acheronides was the only real fighter here.

"Be careful."

"No worries, bro. I’ll keep myself safe."

With that, the sea witch swiftly swam forward.

Liszt, holding back his dragon’s presence, continuously scanned the area ahead with Dragon Eye Trajectory. The magic aura feedback from the sea turtle monster was a purplish-white—undoubtedly, this was a thunder-attribute sea monster.

Moreover, the intensity of its magic aura indeed qualified it as a Supreme Dragon Beast.

Most importantly, the concentration of magic power was strongest in its shell, making it impossible for Liszt not to connect it with the palm-sized turtle shell obtained from the Dragon Knight Ka Erluo.

"Eyeballing it, the shell’s diameter is close to a hundred meters. That means this half-dragon turtle is probably even larger than an adult Fire Dragon... Fortunately, no matter how dense its magic power is, it still can’t compare to that of a true dragon. Otherwise, I’d seriously wonder if dragons are really the strongest creatures out there."

During his observation, Acheronides had already approached the half-dragon turtle.

However, she did not attack immediately, seemingly locked in a standoff with the creature. The half-dragon turtle, now aware of her presence, stopped swimming and slowly turned around.

Sure enough, stranded on its shell was a fast sailing ship.

This half-dragon turtle, having lived for who knows how many years, had coral growing all over its shell. At first glance, it looked just like an ocean reef.