Moon Pincer Peninsula is divided by a river known as the ‘Rainbow Tide River’ into two larger regions, the southern region called ‘Southern Tidal Region’ and the northern region known as ‘North Moon Region’.
Mongna Ant Land Cottage is located in the North Moon Region.
The shape of Moon Pincer Peninsula is quite special, resembling a giant crab pincer, as well as a plump crescent moon, hence its name.
Below the pincer, near the ocean, is a large bay, known as ‘Flash Vortex Bay’. Along the bay’s coastline, there are four academies, from north to south, they are: Mongna Ant Land Cottage, Lierre Songster Sanctuary, Rapid Flow Twin Towers Academy, and Black Reef Sanctuary.
These four academies form an academy alliance—the Flash Vortex Academy Alliance.
The Flash Vortex Academy Alliance is not a simple affair; it was established by ancestor sorcerers a millennium ago to withstand the Sea Race from the ocean. Since then, the four academies have served as a natural barrier, curtailing the Sea Race’s ambitions towards Moon Pincer Peninsula.
Today, traces of the Sea Race are rarely seen on Moon Pincer Peninsula, and this is the reason.
…
Time rapidly passed, and before one knew it, more than twenty days had gone by.
That day, the opportunity to obtain Aqua Alva, as mentioned by Randall, had arrived, and Ivan arrived early in the morning at the task hall.
“You?”
“Yes, it’s me, I’ve come to participate in this task as well,” Ivan greeted Wolban from the Hunting Team, who, by coincidence, was also on the same mission list.
It was only then that Wolban realized the other’s presence was no less than his own, “It seems we can fight side by side once again.”
“Please advise me more in the secret realm.”
After the previous incident, the two had turned from foes to friends. Ivan responded and observed his teammates, totaling eight members, including himself.
He also spotted someone he had met briefly before, who had just arrived. It was the often-discussed Wayne, known for his 5th Class talent.
Wayne was quite well-known, and many people recognized him, but none showed a pleasant face upon seeing him.
The reason was simple: Wayne was infamously known as the ‘team killer.’ It was noted that no mission involving him was devoid of casualties, while he himself always survived unscathed. In the current team, that meant there was a one in seven chance of death, which hardly pleased anyone.
“Hello, everyone. I am Wayne Steele, I’ve only been with the academy for a little more than half a year. I certainly can’t compare to everyone present in terms of experience, so please take care of me.” Perhaps sensing the tension, Wayne introduced himself in a familiar manner.
He also carelessly displayed his aura, already at the limit of a 3rd Class apprentice, showing considerable strength.
He possessed both talent and family backing, which was not surprising for someone at his level.
Then, unexpectedly, he noticed Ivan standing to one side.
“Yo, I misspoke. There is another classmate here. I know you, a friend of Carmel, what’s your name again?”
“Ivan Marichardon.”
In the face of the somewhat boisterous Wayne, Ivan simply reported his name.
Wayne continued, “Carmel mentioned that you have some talent, and it seems he was right. I like talented young men. Perhaps we could become friends. Then, if you and Carmel are friends and Carmel and I are friends, it would be perfect.”
This person might be a bit crazy.
Facing a somewhat crazy socialite, Ivan did not know what to say, so he chose to remain silent.
Ivan had thought Wayne’s arrogance might displease others, but no one stepped out to blame or mock him.
He then realized that it made sense, as Wayne possessed a 5th Class talent, with an 80% initial probability of being promoted to a sorcerer. It wouldn’t be long before this kind of person became an official sorcerer, and it was foolish to offend someone like that.
The awkward moment did not last long; the leading sorcerer appeared.
There were two sorcerers in total, one bald sorcerer, Gunther, and the other was Bernardson.
Ivan suddenly became curious about Bernardson’s role in the academy, as he always seemed to be the representative.
“Let’s depart.”
Leaving the academy, the group reached the harbor of Windy Bay City and boarded a small sea vessel.
The sea vessel sailed through the waves, heading towards the inner side of Flash Vortex Bay, aiming for a location not far from the mouth of the Rainbow Tide River.
“Azure sea and blue sky, no difference,” Ivan went to the stern deck and gazed at the infinite ocean before him.
This was his fourth time sailing the sea. The scenery was unchanged, but his perspective was quite different, probably due to a difference in strength.
After looking for a while, he turned and walked towards the cabin, only to discover someone coming out of the room at the stern. The person was bulky, and at first glance, appeared unfamiliar, but upon a closer look, Ivan recognized him as the captain of the guard from Flying Fish Port during his journey to Moon Pincer Peninsula.
“Captain Caleb?”
“Ivan, you’re here too,” Caleb looked somewhat embarrassed as he regarded him.
It had only been a little over half a year, and Caleb, originally burly, had ballooned up.
“What happened to you—”
“You know, my body was modified, and now a small problem has occurred—I’m quite busy at the moment, let’s talk another time.” Caleb, now averse to meeting acquaintances, quickly walked away.
Caleb was the only Great Knight Ivan knew. He had once said that his Combat Energy traits were ‘massive strength’ and ‘endurance’, though these were obtained through bodily modifications done by a sorcerer.
Ivan thought of his mentor’s warning; his mentor was right, body modification had serious drawbacks.
The path of a Great Knight is long and arduous indeed.
The ship had been speeding along not far from the coastline. The journey was smooth, encountering neither strange sea creatures blocking the way nor storms and huge waves. By the evening of the next day, they arrived at another city — Eolian Song City.
Eolian Song City was under the jurisdiction of the Lierre Songster Sanctuary.
As the ship slowly entered the bay where the port of Eolian Song City was located, those on deck noticed that the sea surface was somewhat noisy.
“It’s lively; we’ve come at just the right time.”
At that moment, a group of shark-like sea beasts appeared in the bay. Their dorsal fins gleamed like razor blades as they chased the chaotic merchant ships.
Eolian Song City was larger than Windy Bay City. It was close to the Rainbow Tide River, the main waterway on Moon Pincer Peninsula, frequented by numerous ships.
At the docks, several small wooden boats were launched, chasing the frenzied sea beasts; these boats were manned by apprentices from the Lierre Songster Sanctuary, so there was no need for those from Mongna Ant Land Cottage to intervene.
Ivan and the others were happy to watch from the sidelines.
As the small boats approached, the sea beasts in the bay met their doom, turned one by one into blocks of ice by the apprentices.
On one of the boats, Ivan spotted a familiar figure with green hair; her deft spellcasting revealed she had grown significantly stronger.
Ivan activated a Secret Technique Seal and sent a message.
The battle at sea ended quickly, and the port gradually returned to calm. The ship from Mongna Ant Land Cottage moved toward the dock. They would spend the night in Eolian Song City, meeting with people from other academies of the Flash Vortex Alliance before heading together to that special secret realm.
“Boss, I’m stepping out for a bit and will be back later.”
“It’s my turn to treat you guys, I’ll get you roasted sea shark, plenty to go around and fill you up.”
“Get lost, as if you need to treat us. Pearney saw someone she knows, maybe a lover from Mongna Ant Land Cottage, giggle giggle giggle.”
“If you don’t come back tonight, remember to let us know.”
Amidst her companions’ teasing, Pearney walked briskly out of the dock and, a few minutes later, entered a restaurant and skillfully booked a private room.
Soon after, there was a knock on the door of the private room, which then opened and a person walked in.
Their eyes met and held for several seconds.
“What, don’t recognize me?”
“Ivan, you seem to be doing quite well.”
Pearney took a deep breath, settling the astonishment in her heart.
Given what she had anticipated, with Toyennes’s affair and the curse power affecting him, things shouldn’t be going so well for him. Yet, the reality was quite the opposite.
The instant she had tested him just now, she felt a profound oppressive force from him, even half a notch stronger than the team leader — a fact that shocked her.
“You’re doing well too, already a 3rd Class apprentice.” As she was observing him, Ivan was also taking her in. She had become a 3rd Class apprentice, with a spiritual power that must have surpassed ten graduated degrees.
Ivan wasn’t mocking her; at a normal training pace, she should indeed be at that level, indicating that all was going well for her.
Pearney pouted, “Not as good as you, now you see, being a potion maker is advantageous.”
Just as Ivan was about to say something, there was another knock at the door.
“Did you invite someone else?”
“Don’t make a fuss; aren’t you supposed to eat at a restaurant?”
Indeed, the door was pushed open by the restaurant’s waitstaff, only after Pearney responded.
Soon, the table was laden with dishes, both meat and vegetarian. The meat dishes included roasted magicalized beast ribs and meatball soup; the vegetarian fare consisted of various vegetables and fruits, the staple being sweet sauce bread, immediately filling the room with a delicious aroma.
Unapologetically, Pearney grabbed the food with her hands and began eating, urging Ivan not to just watch.
“Been busy all day, suddenly called to support at the port, I was already hungry.”
“There are nutrition potions.”
“Nutrition potions only fill you up, they don’t satisfy hunger, it’s not the same.”
Ivan looked across the table in a daze. This lady’s rude manners were nothing like the person he knew back at Flying Fish Port. Had she been led astray by someone, or had something happened that he was unaware of?
“Pearney, the curse power hasn’t caused you any strange effects, has it?”
“Nope, I’ve already had someone seal it for me. Speaking of which, it’s a bit strange, maybe because the seal has loosened. Last month, the curse power increased slightly, lasting several days, but it’s no big deal. How about you? How are things on your end?”
“Increase?” The one who spoke didn’t care, but the listener was concerned. Ivan looked at her intently, “Are you sure?”
“Don’t you trust me, or do you not trust my senses?” Pearney glanced at him, then lowered her head to focus on her food.
“I’ll tell you something, I haven’t sensed an increase in curse power recently, not even a bit.” Ivan ignored her displeasure, his expression serious, “Moreover, our academy’s sorcerer has confirmed that Toyennes hasn’t died. It’s very likely he survived by using a magic pet’s body.”
Hearing this, Pearney suddenly jerked her head up, her eyes wide, a piece of magicalized beast meat still in her mouth. She unconsciously opened her mouth, and the piece of meat rolled off the table without her noticing.