Chapter 43: The Law Destroyer's 'Visit'
The Doom Number floated steadily on the sea surface. In this windless sea area, there was no need to drop anchor at all, and no pirate ships would come to the nearby waters.
The Ancient God had chosen the isolated island a few nautical miles away precisely because of the climate in this sea area. Ordinary ships, even if they reached the vicinity, would immediately turn around. In this world without diesel engines, windless seas were forbidden zones.
Su Xiao sat cross-legged on the deck, meditating. He was waiting for dawn. It was already three in the morning, and in another three to four hours, he could consider landing on the island.
Time passed a bit slowly during the wait. Bubu Wang was already bored enough to roll around on the deck. Fortunately, it was only a few hours. Su Xiao ended one meditation session as the sky gradually brightened.
The Doom Number was towed by Amu, sailing toward the isolated island a few nautical miles away. When there was still about one nautical mile left to the island, Su Xiao dropped the Doom Number's anchor, leaving Beini alone to watch the ship.
Crack, crack, crack~
Cold air rose from the sea surface. Amu froze a sheet of ice. He and Bubu Wang each held an ice oar, paddling forward.
Ten minutes later, the ice sheet used as a small boat melted on the sandy beach. The sky had brightened, but the dark clouds shrouding the isolated island made it appear very gloomy.
Su Xiao walked at the front, Bubu Wang following behind him. Baha landed on Amu's shoulder, and together with Amu, they brought up the rear.
Just as they passed through the sandy beach area, strange insect chirps reached Su Xiao's ears. A damp, cool sensation appeared on his face. He wiped the water droplets from his face and looked up at the sky. It was going to rain.
The air was slightly cool. Su Xiao walked through the mangrove forest. The ground beneath his feet was somewhat soft. This was a swampy area. If he wasn't careful, he might step into the mud.
The mangrove forest didn't cover a large area. After advancing about half a kilometer, the air became humid, and the smell of decaying vegetation drifted into his nostrils.
Su Xiao, who was advancing, stopped. A presence appeared ahead. It wasn't the presence of a living person. This feeling... it was like some kind of remnant of consciousness.
Su Xiao walked out of the mangrove forest. A shallow water area appeared ahead. The scene matched what he had seen before. Crossing this shallow water area, there was an abandoned hall, and the Ancient God was there.
"Ah~ Another one has found their way here."
A hollow voice sounded. Following the source of the sound, Su Xiao saw a small wooden boat parked by the shore. At the bow sat a figure in tattered black robes.
"Get on the boat. This is all I can do."
The black-robed figure slowly stood up. He came to the stern, bent over, and reached one hand toward the water surface. An arm, reduced to nothing but withered bones, emerged from his sleeve and plunged into the water.
A pale white long pole was pulled out from the mud at the bottom. It looked like stone, or perhaps bone.
The black-robed figure stood silently at the stern. Under the hood, which had many holes, the outline of a skull was faintly visible.
This was not a living person, nor a follower of the Ancient God. He was a failure, one who could only refuse to accept failure. So he guided everyone who arrived here.
The black-robed figure's obsession was so strong that even the Ancient God on the isolated island couldn't detect his existence. He had no noble birth, just a farmer. Both of his loved ones were taken by the Ancient God. He was too sorrowful, so sorrowful that his soul resonated with his bones. His skin, flesh, blood, and organs sloughed away, but the anger in his heart kept him from falling.
He had no legendary tales for the world to praise, no great achievements. He put on black robes, not wanting his appearance to frighten others, and then silently found the Ancient God who had killed his wife and daughter, calmly losing the battle.
After that, he even forgot his wife and daughter's smiling faces, as well as his own name. From then on, he had nothing. No, that wasn't quite accurate. He still had a small wooden boat, able to guide everyone who arrived here.
Su Xiao looked at the black-robed figure for a moment, then came to the shore and leaped onto the small wooden boat. Bubu Wang and Amu followed closely behind.
The black-robed figure thrust the long pole into the mud at the bottom, and the small wooden boat drifted forward. He did not tell his past story. It was too sorrowful, so... he had forgotten.
Amid the splashing of water, the small wooden boat reached the other end of the shallow water area. After stopping, the black-robed figure sat at the stern.
"May you... return alive."
"..."
Su Xiao didn't speak. He surveyed the scene ahead. This was a withered mangrove forest. The ground was covered in black dead leaves. Everything was withering. This scene, once again, matched what he had seen before.
Jumping off the boat, Su Xiao walked toward the dead wood forest ahead. Bubu Wang sneaked along behind him. The surrounding scene reminded this guy of some bad memories.
In the Wizard World, when Bubu Wang was scouting the terrain of Herlu City, he accidentally entered the Misty Graveyard, encountered a group of wraiths, scared him so much he almost pissed himself, and he ran away as fast as he could.
The atmosphere of this dead wood forest was somewhat similar to the Misty Graveyard. Thin mist shrouded the dead trees.
Raindrops fell from the sky. As soon as Su Xiao entered the dead wood forest, he felt a presence lock onto him. The Ancient God living here had discovered him.
Sensing this, Su Xiao quickened his pace. After advancing about a kilometer, an abandoned hall appeared ahead. Under the cover of the thin mist, it was dark and cold.
This damn place, used for a horror movie... no, no one would dare to come here to film a horror movie. After all, the evil ghosts in horror movies were too sweet compared to an Ancient God.
Su Xiao arrived in front of the main hall's doors. He placed one hand on the sword hilt at his waist.
Several slashing marks swept across. The nearly five-meter-tall double doors shattered. The moment the doors broke, a pitch-black beam of light blasted out from inside, so fast there was no chance to dodge.
A crystal layer climbed onto Su Xiao's left hand. Cyan Steel Shadow energy surged in his hand as he grabbed the incoming black beam.
Pah, la, la, la...
Pale blue electric arcs flickered. The black beam was quickly devoured and extinguished, dissipating after a few seconds.
Su Xiao clenched his left fist. The crystal layer on his palm and forearm shattered. He stepped forward into the hall ahead.
This place was about a thousand square meters in size. The stone slabs on the floor were pitted and corroded by time. On both sides of the hall stood a row of black stone statues, each one lifelike. Or rather, these weren't stone statues at all, but people who had once resisted the Ancient God.
As soon as he entered the hall, Su Xiao saw the stone throne at the innermost part. Darkness shrouded the surroundings, and he could only faintly make out a figure sitting on it.
The Ancient God on the throne leaned forward slightly, clearly looking down at Su Xiao.
Obviously, this Ancient God was the type who didn't talk much but was ruthless. Ancient Gods were ugly, but none of them were weak, and each one was tougher than the last.
Su Xiao didn't speak. If this weren't an Ancient God who really liked to stir up trouble, he wouldn't have come looking for it. The time invested versus the reward wasn't worth it.
Ancient God + Corrupting Followers + Attempting to Plunge This World into Endless Darkness, these factors added up basically made it an Evil God. And [Divine Judgment] could grow by killing Evil Gods.