Chapter 10: Gamontein
While Linley and his group traveled through the Misty Sea aboard the metallic lifeform, the Second Leader of Blade Island, Daiman, had already arrived alone at an unnamed canyon deep beneath the Misty Sea.
"Hmph, if my big brother hadn't died, I wouldn't know where the Commander lives. How could I let you get a share of this great merit!"
Daiman stared at the canyon before him, resentment burning in his heart.
With that, Daiman transformed into a blur and easily slipped into the nameless canyon. Strange seabed plants grew thickly within, and occasionally some sea beasts emerged from them, but Daiman paid them no mind.
A moment later—
Daiman arrived at the entrance of a cave deep within the canyon. Two guards stood outside.
"Halt!" one of the guards immediately shouted.
Daiman smiled faintly. "Oh, you don't recognize me?" As he spoke, he stepped closer. The two guards finally chuckled. One said with a grin, "So it's Lord Daiman, the Second Leader of Blade Island." Though they spoke politely, it was clear they didn't hold him in high regard.
Their own strength was unremarkable, but their master was formidable.
"Go report to your master. I need to see him—urgent business!" Daiman said gravely.
The two exchanged glances.
"Seems like it might be serious. You go report first."
One guard said, "Wait here. I'll inform my master." He entered the cave. After a while, he emerged. "Lord Daiman, my master invites you in. Follow me!"
Daiman sneered inwardly. "Hmph, just because he's stronger!"
The cave was vast inside, lavishly decorated. Soon, Daiman entered a great hall. Carvings adorned the walls, depicting what seemed to be an ancient tale. Daiman knew well: "Hmph, isn't this just Gamontein's boastful stories? So what if he went to the Abyss? Arrogant!"
Despite his thoughts, Daiman felt a twinge of envy.
"Daiman. Where's your brother, Akatz?" A cold voice came from above.
On the throne at the hall's head sat a green-haired man with fish scales covering his forehead, wearing a cyan robe embroidered with gold edges. His eyes glowed green, and his lips were purple, giving him an eerie aura.
"Big brother... he's dead!" Daiman said sorrowfully.
"Akatz is dead?" The green-haired man shot to his feet in shock. "How is that possible? Your brother was a Six Star Demon, trained in the Water Elemental Laws, with the highest defense among us. Who could break through it?"
"A black-haired man named Lemyu Bornson!" Even mentioning Lemyu made Daiman's heart race.
That day, the black-haired man had transformed into endless lightning in the sky, like a raging storm over the Misty Sea. With a single slash, he killed his brother.
"Lemyu Bornson?" The green-haired man on the throne frowned. "I've never heard of him. What does he practice?"
"The Lightning Laws," Daiman answered without hesitation. "On my Blade Island, he turned his entire body into endless lightning, just like the Misty Sea's storm, forming a massive lightning vortex above us. Terrifying!"
"Such an expert exists."
The green-haired man furrowed his brow. "I'll have to report this to the Commander."
He then looked at Daiman. "Daiman, did you come to me just for this?" He had already decided—no matter what, he wouldn't oppose Lemyu Bornson. Someone who could kill Akatz with one strike was too dangerous.
"Lord Gamontein!" Daiman's face lit up with a smile. "I'm here to bring you good news."
"Speak," Gamontein said.
"Though I've never met the Commander, I've heard from my brother that he's always collecting exceptionally talented divine beasts or geniuses with soul mutations!" Daiman grinned.
"Hmm, that's true," Gamontein nodded indifferently.
"This time, though Blade Island was attacked, on my escape, I encountered a genius with a soul mutation in the Misty Sea!" Daiman said eagerly. "An absolute genius—I saw him fuse Dark and Light divine power with my own eyes!"
"What!"
Gamontein shot to his feet in shock.
Soul mutations were extremely rare. Such geniuses would become terrifying in the future.
For example, a soul mutation expert who reached the Highgod level could increase the power of their attacks tenfold just by fusing two different divine powers! Even using that fused power with a single profound mystery would make them ten times stronger than normal.
Moreover... only soul mutation experts could fuse profound mysteries from different elemental laws.
Like Lirymons, who ultimately fused the profound mysteries of Destruction and Fire.
Fusing two profound mysteries from different laws was even more powerful than fusing two from the same law!
For instance, if Linley's Earth Pulse could fuse with the Dimensional Attack from the Wind Elemental Laws, the resulting power would rival fusing three profound mysteries from a single law!
If combined with the tenfold boost from fusing two divine powers...
A soul mutation expert only needed to fuse two profound mysteries from different laws to match a Seven Star Demon.
Ordinary Highgods typically needed to fuse four profound mysteries to reach that level!
"Where is this person?" Gamontein demanded.
Daiman shrugged helplessly. "I didn't have the strength to bring him here."
Gamontein's face darkened. He sneered, "So even you, a Five Star Demon, couldn't bring him back. That means this soul mutation expert has already reached the Highgod level, and probably fused some profound mysteries too. What, you want me to go die?"
Gamontein knew his own strength. As a Six Star Demon, he excelled in offense, but against a soul mutation expert—especially one who had fully developed—he had no confidence.
Soul mutation experts were monstrous.
Fusing two different divine powers boosted ordinary profound mysteries tenfold. Fusing three powers increased it a hundredfold. Fusing four... and so on.
However, the more divine powers one cultivated, the lower the chance of a successful soul mutation. For example, someone with three divine powers attempting a mutation would almost certainly die in the process. Since the Abyss's formation, soul mutation experts had been extremely rare.
Almost all successful mutations involved only two divine powers. Like Olivia—when he underwent his mutation, he was unconscious for months.
Those with three divine powers? In countless years, only one had succeeded in the Abyss.
As for four divine powers mutating? Never, across all planes.
Normally, when people mentioned soul mutation experts, they meant those with two different divine powers.
Linley, with his Earth, Wind, and Fire divine powers, would almost certainly die if he attempted a mutation. After all, in the Abyss's long history, only one such genius had ever succeeded.
"Daiman, controlling such a powerful soul mutation expert isn't easy," Gamontein sneered.
"No, that soul mutation expert is only at the Demigod level," Daiman said quickly.
"Demigod level?" Gamontein was overjoyed.
The weaker they were, the easier to control.
"Hmm?" Gamontein frowned. "If he's only a Demigod, why didn't you bring him?"
Daiman explained, "Lord Gamontein, that soul mutation expert is a Demigod, but... he's traveling with a group that has two experts."
"Experts? How strong?" Gamontein pressed.
"One practices the Dark Laws. I estimate he's at the Five Star Demon level, close to Six Star. In my view, he excels at speed, assassination, and hiding his aura," Daiman said dismissively.
Gamontein smiled faintly. Even an ordinary Six Star Demon didn't worry him.
"And the other?" Gamontein pressed.
Daiman looked awkward. "As for the other, I didn't detect him clearly. He might be hiding among them. As for his strength... I can't say."
"Hmm?" Gamontein frowned. "Describe the situation in detail."
Daiman recounted everything. After listening, Gamontein nodded slightly. "Hundreds of Demigod-level attacks only shook that Blackstone Castle? Its defense isn't that high. And its coverage is limited... I'd estimate it's at most a Six Star Demon."
Gamontein had already deduced that the opponent posed little threat.
"That Blackstone Castle—I could break it with one sword strike," Gamontein said with a faint smile.
Daiman suggested, "Sir, maybe we should report to the Commander first... just to be safe."
"A mere Six Star Demon requires the Commander's personal attention?" Gamontein sneered. "This is enough for me." He was confident. Trained in the Wind Elemental Laws, his greatest strengths were attack and escape!
Even against a Seven Star Demon, he could flee.
In battle, one must plan for defeat before victory—only then could problems be avoided.
"Do you know where that group is?" Gamontein looked at him.
Daiman smiled slightly. "Don't worry, sir. I've already made arrangements. Besides, it's been less than half a month. Even if something went wrong, finding them would be easy. After all... this is our territory."
"Good." Gamontein nodded in satisfaction. "Don't worry. When I present that soul mutation expert to the Commander, I'll mention your contribution."
"Thank you, sir," Daiman said quickly.
But inwardly, Daiman was bitter. If he could have met the Commander himself, would he have told Gamontein? If he had the strength to capture Olivia, he wouldn't have handed over the credit.
---
Sitting at the bow of the ship.
"Boss, why have you been staring at the sea lately?" Bebe asked curiously.
Linley smiled, first casting a divine domain to block sound, then said, "Bebe, I've been feeling that the Blackstone Prison still has issues. I know the answer lies in this sea... Water flows freely, ever-changing. My Blackstone Prison is too rigid. Though it can twist and reform, it consumes divine power. It can't easily deflect external force."
Bebe stared at Linley, wide-eyed.
"What are you staring at?" Linley laughed.
"Boss, didn't you say you've already fused three profound mysteries?" Bebe pressed.
A few days ago, Linley had watched the sea all night and had a sudden insight, perfectly fusing the three profound mysteries of Earth Element, Earth Pulse, and Gravity Space. The Blackstone Prison's power had increased severalfold. Now, even against a Six Star Demon, Linley was confident.
"So what if I've fused them?"
Linley sighed. "The Blackstone Prison is still imperfect. If I could comprehend the Life Force profound mystery of the Earth Laws and fuse it with the other three, the prison's power would increase even more. Then, it would be self-sustaining—even a Seven Star Demon would struggle to break it."
"But fusing four profound mysteries is too hard. And Life Force is probably the most unique profound mystery in the Earth Laws."
The Earth bore all things with virtue, containing the power of nurturing.
Linley knew some of Life Force's peculiarities, but... he had never been able to grasp its essence.
"Boss, don't be too greedy," Bebe pouted. "You've already fused three profound mysteries."
Linley smiled. It wasn't about greed—he simply pursued perfection, constantly striving to improve.
"Hmm?" Suddenly, Linley's eyes widened. "Below!"
"Boom!" The rapidly moving metallic lifeform exploded once more. Everyone inside floated in midair, bewildered. The bearded Betz roared angrily, "Damn it, that was my metallic lifeform!"
Linley stared warily at the sea surface.
"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"
Two figures burst from the water, leaping into the air. One was a cold, green-haired man in a cyan robe embroidered with gold, fish scales on his forehead. Beside him stood an old acquaintance—Daiman, the Second Leader of Blade Island.