Chapter 54: Angel... Descends

In the darkness and mist, Gune swiftly surveyed the area about 100 meters from the outer side of the massive sea-reef wall.

Gune wanted to confirm whether the giant sea reef of Shadow Isle truly encircled the center.

After about ten minutes, Gune saw the starting point marker he had made.

"It really does encircle the core," Gune thought to himself as he stopped at the starting point.

"That's good, at least it keeps them from entering and seeing things they shouldn't."

"One look at that terrifying creation and you'd die."

When Gune returned to the shore where the beach met the coconut trees,

he saw a lively camp set up near a beached ship on the sand. The group had already begun pitching several tents.

At first, when they landed on the island, everyone was still afraid.

After all, it was the legendary Isle of Death, notorious for a long time.

Even grandmasters and numerous high-rank experts had fallen here.

But after landing without any unusual incidents, and with Gune guarding them,

they gradually felt at ease. Now, they were casually and naturally setting up camp.

Shadow Isle was not small.

Over the centuries, a great number of corpses had been left here.

Just looting these corpses would take several days.

Moreover, there were many shipwrecks, which also held considerable wealth.

If they were thorough, even half a month might not be enough to finish looting.

Thus, setting up camp was necessary.

Seeing Gune return, the three first mates immediately approached.

"How is it, Captain?"

They all knew Gune had gone to survey the extent of the dangerous area deep in the island.

"After confirmation, the huge black stone wall, thirty to fifty meters high, encircles the island's core. That way, when you collect the corpses, you won't accidentally enter the danger zone."

"But even so, be careful. Staring at that huge black reef-like wall for too long will cause nausea, dizziness, and vomiting—the longer you look, the worse it gets."

"That's how I felt, and you might feel it even more severely."

"Tell everyone that if they see the huge black stone wall while collecting corpses, they must not approach further and should retreat. Otherwise, who knows what terrible things might happen."

"Mm, understood."

All three nodded solemnly.

No one with a sound mind would casually approach that eerie, mysterious area.

If someone harbored sinister intentions and went to their death, there was nothing they could do.

Looking at the camp being set up, Gune gradually felt relieved.

Here, with thick mist and darkness, as long as they didn't make a big commotion, it would remain a safe area for a long time.

After a moment's thought, Gune lowered his voice and spoke slowly.

"You three, assign people to handle the resource collection here. There's plenty of wealth."

"I have some things to take care of over the next few days."

The three nodded slightly, not asking what Gune was going to do.

After all, some matters were not for them to meddle in.

"Understood, Captain. Leave things here to us. The infamous reputation of Shadow Isle should be enough to keep those yasha mermen from approaching recklessly," said Jason Howell in a low voice.

After giving some instructions,

under the gaze of the three, Gune stepped alone into the thick mist and vanished into the depths of darkness.

...

Night Reef Island.

As a mermaid-inhabited island,

its lighting was not from candles or oil lamps like in the human world,

but from luminous plants used as lighting tools.

Although these luminous plants were not as bright as candles or oil lamps,

when there were many of them, the entire area would be bathed in colorful luminescence.

At this moment, looking across the living area of the yasha mermen on Night Reef Island, aside from the paths, every place with potted plants was filled with these luminous plants.

The entire living area was dazzling and colorful, like a deep-sea palace.

At the edge of the colorful luminous plants, in the dark grass,

Gune, in his invisible state, lurked silently.

Gune had come to Night Reef Island now, not to assassinate the great elder of the yasha mermen,

but to conduct a preliminary reconnaissance.

The great elder of the yasha mermen was not easy to kill, and taking his corpse afterward would be even harder.

Gune had come to assess the feasibility of the plan; if it wasn't viable, he wouldn't force it.

After some observation, Gune slowly withdrew his gaze and retreated deeper into the darkness.

"The yasha mermen's stronghold has many luminous plants, and in some key passage areas, there are very concealed detection formations and restrictions for invisibility."

"Clearly, the yasha mermen are well aware that invisible beings love to sneak into places to steal things."

"With my invisibility scroll, there's no way I can sneak in."

By now, Gune had formed an understanding of the yasha mermen's stronghold.

Sneaking in was basically impossible.

"It seems..." Gune thought to himself.

"I'll have to wait until the great elder's sacrificial ascension to make a move."

"I'll hide in this misty darkness for a few days and cultivate. I haven't absorbed the inheritance from my Holy Shadow Rune yet," Gune murmured.

Just as Gune was about to leave, footsteps sounded from the dark path.

"Probably a patrol."

A six-man patrol team emerged from the dark mist.

"...Wiped out an entire ship of pirates again. That angel is terrifyingly fierce."

Voices came from within the yasha merman squad.

"No kidding. That angel's rank is rising fast—reportedly already at the fourth rank. Even most high-rank supernaturals are no match."

"After all, it can fly, and with six wings, the aerial advantage makes it quite formidable."

Hidden in the darkness, Gune heard every word clearly.

"Six-winged angel?"

Gune pondered their words.

He had naturally heard the rumors of a six-winged angel at sea.

It was said that last winter,

somewhere deep in the ocean, a six-winged angel had suddenly appeared. This angel specialized in slaying evil pirates and malevolent spirits.

It had never attacked ordinary merchant ships.

However, the angel had killed pirates disguised as supernatural sailors on merchant ships.

The six-winged angel seemed able to perceive some kind of 'evil.'

Moreover, it was a female angel,

which made the topic highly popular.

When Gune was in Harutov Harbor, he often heard people mention this six-winged angel.

It was said that many pirate kings wanted to capture her.

"Before, this six-winged angel was only at the second rank. Now she's at the fourth?"

"That's a very fast ascension rate."

"Could it be because she's been slaying ocean undead, demon lords, and demon leaders that she's advanced so quickly?"

Hidden in the dark grass, Gune mused.

"Do you think that super spellcaster called Captain Jack could beat the six-winged angel?" This remark caught Gune's attention.

"Hard to say. The angel can fly, and that super spellcaster has long-range spell attack capabilities."

"Plus, I hear he has many powerful treasures, and his physical toughness rivals that of a knight."

"If they really fought, I feel the angel might be at a disadvantage."

"Not necessarily. The angel is already at the fourth rank, and under the holy light, she's constantly in a state of recovery."

"How do you know that super spellcaster doesn't have recovery abilities and means?"

"That super spellcaster can't be good at everything..."

"What if his physical strength and flesh recovery are even stronger than the angel's?"

"..."

As they talked, the two yasha mermen started arguing, neither willing to concede.

In truth, no race lacks such argumentative individuals.