Chapter 12: Light-Erasing Island
On the deck of the Doom Number, a black energy surged within the ship's hull, the power stored in the vessel's keel.
To make the Doom Number stronger, there was no longer any need to have it devour sea beasts or the like.
Simply releasing the special energy stored in its keel was sufficient—essentially, gradually lifting the seal that the Demon Sea had placed on the Doom Number.
During the Strongest Contender Battle, when Su Xiao first became the captain of the Doom Number, the special energy within the ship was nearly withered. This time, however, it was the complete opposite, having reached a satisfactory level. It seemed that during the period when Su Xiao had sold the Doom Number, the buyer had done quite a bit on the Demon Sea.
Previously, Su Xiao had sold the Doom Number to a Worker merchant, who then resold it. The next buyer was an Eighth Rank Contractor. After obtaining the Doom Number, he came to the Demon Sea with hopes of making a fortune—and then he perished.
After arriving at the Demon Sea, this unlucky fellow was most likely cursed by it. As an Eighth Rank Contractor, upon being cursed, his first instinct was to find a way to break it.
To be fair, the method this scapegoat chose was quite correct: he had the Doom Number devour a large number of sea beasts and ships to strengthen it to its peak state.
The stronger the Doom Number, the higher its resistance to the curse, buying the scapegoat more time to find a way to lift it.
What happened during that time is unknown, but the result was that the scapegoat died from the Demon Sea's curse. The Doom Number was crushed to the seabed and sealed in the process.
Under normal circumstances, while being sealed, the special energy inside the Doom Number would gradually be drained, eventually turning it into a small or medium-sized two-masted ship.
But the sealing hadn't lasted long before Su Xiao arrived at the Demon Sea and freed the Doom Number from the seabed. This meant the special energy stored within the Doom Number was at a state of overflow. As long as the triple seal was lifted, the Doom Number could reach its strongest form.
Black energy surged from the deck beneath Su Xiao's feet, enveloping him in an instant.
[Prompt: You are about to undergo the Doom Number's judgment. If you fail this judgment, you will lose your status as captain of the Doom Number and will be attacked or devoured by the ship.]
[Soul Strength Judgment in progress...]
[Judgment successful.]
The black energy around Su Xiao dissipated, and the Doom Number's appearance began to change. The pitch-black hull absorbed the special energy, causing the wooden planks on both sides of the ship to creak. Areas that had been somewhat dilapidated gradually restored, all the planks becoming thicker and stronger.
This process lasted nearly two hours before stopping. Looking at the Doom Number now, it was completely different from before. It had become a four-masted ship, with a hull length of 49.7 meters, a displacement of 930 tons, and a draft of 7.6 meters.
Among four-masted ships, the Doom Number wasn't considered large, as it was renowned for its speed and aggression.
[Doom Number]
Owner: Su Xiao
Specifications: Four-masted ship
Second Stage Seal: Not lifted (This seal has a total of three stages.)
Specifications: Hull length 49.7 meters, displacement 930 tons, draft 7.6 meters, maximum hull width...
Health Points: 68,000 points (increased by 20,500 points)
Defense: 179 points (increased by 12 points)
Durability: 268/320 points (When durability falls below 100 points, sailing speed decreases. When durability falls below 25 points, sailing becomes impossible.)
Base Bonus: Sailing speed increased by 175% (increased by 35%).
Crew Count: 350 (Cursed People)
Ability 1: Ship Hunter (Passive)...
Ability 2: Underwater Navigation (Passive): The Doom Number can submerge underwater, with sailing speed reduced by 18% (reduced by 2%).
Ability 3: Annihilation Cannon (Active): The Doom Number's main cannon can bombard any target within a 75° forward arc, dealing 6,000 base damage + 2,700 dark attribute damage (If the target is a ship, damage is increased by 4.7 to 6.5 times).
Prompt: Reload time is 20 seconds.
Prompt: Annihilation Cannon (Active) requires special shells. Remaining shells: 0.
Prompt: These shells are made using a unique craft of the Demon Sea and can be replenished at 'Light-Erasing Island.'
Prompt: To reach 'Light-Erasing Island,' light the lantern and hang it at the ship's bow. During the Doom Number's journey to 'Light-Erasing Island,' any attack will cause severe damage to the ship.
Ability 4: This ability is sealed.
Ability 5: This ability is sealed. This is the ultimate ability.
The Doom Number had nearly 70,000 health points. Compared to some Eighth Rank Lord or Overlord creatures, this wasn't high, but its defense and durability were impressive.
The ship's hull defense was slightly stronger than most Holy Spirit-grade shields, with a maximum durability of 320 points.
Against a four-masted ship of the same class, even if the enemy's main cannon reached Immortal-grade quality, the Doom Number could withstand at least 4 to 6 shots. As for side cannons, it could endure over a dozen without issue.
In contrast, the Doom Number had only one main cannon. Against living targets, its damage wasn't extraordinary, but when hitting an enemy ship, the damage multiplied several times due to energy erosion.
To replenish the Doom Number's special shells, one had to go to Light-Erasing Island. This didn't require sailing; simply hanging a lantern at the ship's bow sufficed.
"Baha, go to the captain's cabin and get the lantern."
"Got it."
Baha flew into the captain's cabin and soon retrieved a lantern shaped like a skull. After lighting the blackened wick inside, a dark red flame flickered to life.
The lantern was hung at the Doom Number's bow. Black mist surged from both sides of the hull, spreading upward and eventually shrouding the surrounding hundred meters of sea.
Su Xiao looked around. It had been a clear day moments ago, but now everything was pitch black. Ahead, a black smoke vortex several dozen meters wide slowly rotated.
Clink, clink, clink...
Dozens of chains shot out from the vortex, all embedding into the front of the Doom Number's hull without causing damage, as if merging into the ship.
The chains tightened, and the Doom Number was suddenly accelerated to an extreme speed.
"Woof!"
The black smoke, chains, and Doom Number all vanished from the sea. Bubu Wang spun through the air before splashing into the water.
He had been napping on the roof of the captain's cabin and was thrown off when the Doom Number was pulled away.
Bubu Wang poked his head out of the sea, paddling with a very authentic doggy paddle. He looked around and saw only an endless ocean, staring in bewilderment.
Meanwhile, on the Doom Number's deck, everything was dark. Su Xiao gripped the ship's railing as the Doom Number sailed through the darkness at an incredible speed.
With a splash, the Doom Number crashed into the sea, sending dark water high into the air. Light-Erasing Island had arrived.
A blood moon hung diagonally in the sky, only its upper half intact. The lower half was shattered, with jagged fractures still visible.
The sky was pitch black, as if it could extinguish all light. Su Xiao looked ahead and saw an island, over ninety percent of which was shrouded in black mist.
This black mist wasn't worth exploring. The cursed people enslaved by the Doom Number slumbered here. They weren't born from nothing; they usually resided on Light-Erasing Island. When the Doom Number's captain needed them, the ship would summon a few undead to the bottom hold.
If an enemy reached Light-Erasing Island, within the Demon Sea world, no matter how strong they were, they would die here. There were too many cursed people.
Dragging an enemy to Light-Erasing Island wasn't a good choice. During the journey, the Doom Number became very fragile.
If a fight broke out on the Doom Number during this phase, there was over a 95% chance the ship would be destroyed, preventing it from reaching Light-Erasing Island.
Aside from the black mist area, Light-Erasing Island had a small dock. Behind the dock were several wooden huts of varying sizes, two of which had lanterns hanging by their doors.
After docking the Doom Number at the pier, Su Xiao jumped off the ship, followed by Baha. Amu and Beini stayed to guard the ship, while Bubu Wang would rejoin them later.
Stepping onto the wooden dock, the wide planks beneath Su Xiao's feet groaned under the strain. When this dock was built was unknown. Light-Erasing Island was located in an independent medium-sized alternate space.
Caw, caw, caw...
A few crows were startled into flight. They weren't afraid of Su Xiao and circled above him. These crows were also enslaved by the Doom Number, existing between life and death.
Two huts had lanterns hanging by their doors, one large and one small. Su Xiao stopped in front of the large hut and pushed open the door, which was covered in black stains.
With a creak, the door swung open. Inside wasn't dark; a lamp burning whale oil hung from the ceiling, though strangely, the flame emitted no heat.
A mostly decayed wooden counter stretched across the far end of the room. Behind it sat a small old man in tattered clothes, his lower face illuminated by the dim firelight. The old man was smirking.
After a bout of sinister laughter, the small old man behind the counter spoke:
"My dear friend, long time no see."