Extraordinary Voyage - Chapter 297 - 294 "Exiled Prisoner" and "Oath Knight

Chapter 297: Chapter 294 “Exiled Prisoner” and “Oath Knight

Puchi!

Instead of the imagined flesh and blood, the exposed abdominal cavity revealed an indescribable black gelatinous mass.

Those who mingle in the sea and are not cautious often do not live long.

Upon witnessing such a bizarre scene, the leading Heimer realized something was wrong:

“This is bad! Retreat quickly!”

Roar—!

A terrifying creature seemed to be hidden within the gelatinous mass, constantly tumbling as it burst out of the witch’s abdomen.

Once it hit the ground, it had transformed into a tall man wielding a butcher knife, gliding weightlessly towards the Pirate Officers who were retreating upon sensing danger.

Especially those pirates who were slower to evade due to the witch’s curse.

“Die… die… die…”

Even though his entire body was made of black, eerie gelatinous liquid, you could still vaguely see the once handsome features of the man’s face.

However, now he was entirely pitch black, his face twisted, with eyes like two burning coals spewing endless hatred and fury!

Just like a life-taking evil ghost that had just crawled out from the Hell Abyss!

Sss—

“Ugh…”

The butcher knife slashed across the chest of a Pirate Officer whose senses were stripped away; there was no visible damage to the flesh nor any blood gushing, but a gray-white scar slowly spread across his body.

The Pirate Officer, who was half a step into the veteran level, groaned and collapsed.

Trait: Spirit Cutting!

Though externally intact, the soul of anyone struck by the blade has had a portion cut away. Even the devout follower of a True God shouldn’t dream of ascending to heaven after death.

The essence of this evil ghost had clearly approached the immortal evil spirit! Strictly speaking, it wasn’t any lesser than the “Killing Ghost” who once ravaged New Inn Port.

“Hmph!”

Seeing such an unexpected bizarre entity suddenly appear, Hawkins snorted coldly, intending to personally take action to forcefully extinguish it.

However, he found that the strange “evil spirit” had already retreated to the side of the dying witch after killing three Pirate Officers.

For normal Curse School wizards, the risk of losing control is high, and many often die from the backlash of “Core Curses,” especially in a crippled or dying state, being devoured by the “curses” eating away their souls is not uncommon.

However, it was clearly an exception for the witch here.

A man and a ghost gazed at each other “affectionately.”

“Dana, you’re so beautiful!”

“Linde, I’m sorry!”

Though they were a pair of “eating” and “being eaten” doomed lovers, regardless of the reversal of identities, it seemed that past feelings had never changed.

For the “witch” Dana, the deeper the past love, the more painful it was now, and the greater the pain, the stronger the power, which was the original reason she almost annihilated a large species with a single blow.

For the “evil spirit” Linde, even in this situation, there was no resentment towards his girlfriend. It can only be said that the joy of the devoted is beyond the understanding of outsiders.

However, no matter how unforgettable their stories were in the past, it has all ended now.

Fwoosh—!

The ghostly blue flame arose, and the evil spirit and the witch finally embraced each other and vanished into the air.

Throughout, the witch had an unfathomable enigmatic smile on her face, whether she was satisfied or unsatisfied with this experience of death…

Subsequently.

Without the companion, the “Golem Knight” could not last long either.

Outnumbered, its armor continuously damaged under the claws of a group of “Thorny-backed Crocodile Lizards,” losing mobility gradually, then seized by the lightning-fast tentacles of a “Large Species: Spiral Brain Coral” and brought into its maw filled with sharp teeth.

Crunch… crunch…

The terrifying biting force of the maw was not inferior to that of a hydraulic press.

The origin of sea monsters in the Black Sea is wide-ranging.

All marine life can be turned into sea monsters under the great power of the “Mother of Sea Monsters” Echet.

The “Spiral Brain Coral,” originally a large polyp rock coral, is no different. However, unlike ordinary coral polyps that live in colonies, it is a singular, circular coral with a brilliant exterior.

It harbors symbiont zooxanthellae similar to other corals and survives through photosynthesis in a symbiotic relationship but can also actively prey on small marine life with countless lightning-fast tentacles.

Now transformed into a large sea monster, the “Golem Knight,” standing at three meters tall, was merely a snack to it.

Uh… not an easily digestible snack.

Facing no hope of escape, Heffman also had the pride of a wizard, never accepting the fate of becoming sea monster excrement, and unhesitatingly detonated his Steam Furnace.

Kaboom—!

After the great noise, dust settled.

….

Crash! Crash!…

Muddy water surged from the large hole once again, and this time no one jumped out to obstruct the Sea Monsters’ “construction work.”

Even though they were interrupted several times, losing a “Earthquake Two-headed Turtle” by one and a half heads and a “Earth Belly Snake Lizard” by one head, the regrouping did not greatly affect the scheduled “work period.”

However, as they kept delving deeper, the witchcraft traps embedded in the rock wall became more plentiful.

Sparks and vicious curses would trigger from time to time, but these were trivial to the massive Sea Monsters.

According to intelligence gathered by the “inside man,” the granite layer thickness of the first layer was 15 meters with a floor height of 3 meters, and the second layer’s thickness was 8 meters with the same floor height of 3 meters.

As long as they break through the second rock layer, remove the last nail guarding the door of the third-layer vault, the entire vault will open its doors to the Pirate King.

Boom——!

Soon, after eroding the second layer to its limit, it collapsed, revealing the second vault 29 meters deep underground.

Looking at that deep hole, Hawkins did not hastily command the Sea Monsters to continue digging.

On the contrary, he had all the Sea Monsters and crew retreat, leaving only himself standing at the edge of the pit, waiting patiently with interest for something.

Thanks to the successful execution of the plan, they had plenty of time.

Especially for the last opponent, Hawkins didn’t mind being extra patient.

Furthermore, this was someone whom even the ruthless and unscrupulous Pirate King couldn’t help but respect.

Hawkins didn’t have to wait long.

Step.. Step.. Step..

The sound of steel boots crushing stone came from the entrance.

A tall Knight donning shimmering alchemy armor and a fiery red mantle stood at the bottom of the pit, making eye contact with Hawkins above.

Sparkle sizzle…

The underground dimness couldn’t hinder the gaze of the two powerful Extraordinaries, as if electricity crackled between their eyes!

The Great Knight Graces Calvin, also known as “Oath Knight” and “Knight’s Light,” hailed from the Calvin Duchy, a small nation bordering the Hilus Kingdom.

His noble lineage was apparent from his surname, and he was even once the second successor to the position of Grand Duke!

Though the small nation had only eight cities compared to continental powers, becoming its ruler still offered supreme secular authority!

Yet Graces, possessing more virtue, learning, ability, and Knight ranking than his brother Sakri, adhered to Knightly morals for the smooth transition of power in the Duchy and the peace of its people.

Upon coming of age, he publicly declared that he would not vie for the Grand Duke position against his brother.

After the passing of their father, Sakri cautiously ascended to the seat of Calvin Grand Duke, realizing his outstanding brother harbored no ulterior motives.

After granting Graces several nominal rewards, their relations became distant, no – respectful yet aloof.

However, with the expansion of Hilus’s terrestrial territory up to the Duchy of Calvin, they faced a new problem.

Surrender or death?

Though possessing no quality harbors, mineral resources, or fertile lands for cultivation, the poor and weak Duchy wasn’t disdained by Philip II, driven to fulfill his imperial dreams by aggressive expansionism.

Outsiders didn’t know how the subsequent story unfolded, but it became known that the influential “Netherlands Bank Group” in Hilus generously intervened.

They secured a promise from King Hilus Philip II that Sakri Calvin would remain ruler, preventing military obliteration.

In exchange, Graces Calvin, the Grand Duke’s only brother and one of the Duchy’s few Great Knights, became a Guardian for the Netherlands Bank Group’s headquarters for… a lifetime!

However, the story did not end here.

On the night Graces departed with the Bank Group’s men, his brother and current Calvin Grand Duke disgracefully died following a celebration feast featuring famous courtesans.

Without leaving any heirs, the Duchy fell into chaos and surrendered to the re-mobilized Hilus forces within a week.

The temporary peace Graces exchanged his lifelong freedom for became a laughingstock, and after being evaluated by several True Gods’ bishop-level Holy Professionals, Sakri Calvin’s death showed no external factors.

This manner of death further trampled upon Graces’ great sacrifice into mud.

It was laughably worthless!

Considering this, even the Bank Group no longer enforced Graces’ commitment.

Yet Graces chose not to break his oath, instead self-exiling, guarding solitude, loneliness, and his sword, refusing marriage, children, and wealth… Silently becoming the longest-serving vault Guardian.

The title “Oath Knight” and “Knight’s Light” spread widely across the continent.

If given enough time, he could complete the Tier 4 transformation to become a Titled Knight, drawing power from the “name,” possibly even joining the ranks of Peak Knights!

Most importantly, unlike the Wizards who entered rigorous Witchcraft Contracts, Graces Calvin signed no agreements with the Bank Group.

He was bound only by his own heart!

From Hawkins’ standpoint, what he respected wasn’t Graces’ “laughable” sacrificial spirit but his willingness to bear the heavy shackles for an oath, carrying steadfast determination alone!

This was a recognition of a path, even… one totally contrary to the “Exiled Prisoner”!

“Ah hahaha….”

Looking at the tall and gallant Knight, Hawkins burst into mad laughter, asking, before he became a Tier 4 “Lawless,” was there anything better for sacrifice than this “Oath Knight” whose path turned left?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by AiKurou