Above The Sky
Chapter 293 - 293 278 The Shark's Mouth Opens Wide 13

293: 278 Chapter The Shark’s Mouth Opens Wide (1/3) 293: 278 Chapter The Shark’s Mouth Opens Wide (1/3) The conversation had two sides, and actually, Yisen Gard found his situation to be rather calm.

Having received Ian’s hint, Yisen Gard decisively sought reinforcements but never anticipated that Ian had simply wanted him to leave to facilitate a covert exchange of information with Patrick.

Upon returning to his team, he immediately consulted with Master Gossay on strategies for dealing with his uncle.

A Second Tier Powerhouse, even without the ability to use symbiotic gear, was a threat to everyone—but if the team really needed to block him, they could, so there was no need for panic.

After all, even though Master Gossay’s strength had declined, he still had some backup methods, and with an alchemical cannon in the team, defending a narrow area was not an issue.

On the other hand, the pirates had just finished off insects and Ape Beasts and now had to face their former boss, which they might consider too much of a routine job… but they were also used to the boss defaulting on payments or trying to get rid of them, so it made no difference to them.

Afterward, the two summoned the team and dispatched scouts to observe the situation ahead.

Instead of staying in the mural passage, Yisen Gard chose an easily defended and difficult-to-attack narrow side passage to set up defenses and the alchemical cannon, preparing for his uncle’s forthcoming assault.

Compared to Yisen Gard’s trepidation, Master Gossay was full of confidence in Ian.

Indeed, he did not believe Ian could defeat Patrick, but neither did he believe Patrick could do much to Ian.

The clash between the two would surely last for a while, and if Ian wanted to leave, Patrick definitely couldn’t keep him there.

As an older generation who had once witnessed the First Knight in combat, Master Gossay had such confidence in Hiliard’s disciple.

However, the intel broguth back by the scouts left the prepared group rather perplexed.

They had indeed seen traces of battle but also found evidence in the sacrificial ground of a Great Magical Beast passing through… The two people who were previously fighting seemed to have been taken away by that Great Magical Beast.

It might not be that they were taken away, but that they had chosen to change the battlefield.

No matter what, they had lost the opportunity to track Ian and Patrick’s whereabouts.

To guard against the possible rush of the Great Magical Beast, Yisen Gard had no choice but to lead the entire team to a cave with two exits, one large and one small, for rest and regrouping.

This cave had extremely hard rock layers and a central underground lake that looked expansive but was actually quite shallow.

If the giant creature wanted to enter through the large entrance to attack, it would be severely restricted, while the group could retreat through the small exit.

However, after waiting for half a day, they did not encounter any anticipated attacks.

There were many pure white Eyeless Blindfish in the underground lake, which were quite hard to the touch.

Upon inspection, their surfaces had a thin enamel-like calcium shell resembling fish-shaped jade pendants.

Master Gossay identified that these blind fish were closely related to the commonly seen ‘Stone Armored Fish’ in the Southern Sea, and the enamel-like scales on their surface were very similar to those of Ironbone Swordfish.

As everyone was starving, they immediately started a fire to cook the blind fish once they confirmed they were non-toxic—there were many more than expected, sufficient to feed the entire team.

After removing the rocky shells, the flesh of the blind fish was very chewy.

Once roasted, each bite had a springy texture, and though tasteless at first, it led to a very distinct sweet aftertaste after prolonged chewing.

After having their fill, only Yisen Gard was not quite used to eating this ‘real food’ and thus took a Stamina Potion instead.

“Without Ian, we will find it hard to locate the road leading outside,” the blond youth spoke to his mentor at one side of the temporary camp, looking rather urgent.

“And no matter how strong Ian is, it’s improbable that he would truly defeat my uncle—we must find him quickly and join forces to have a chance of defeating Uncle!”

His conjecture was not wrong, even Ian himself would not deny that Patrick was not an opponent one could easily overcome.

“You’re being a bit hasty, Yisen,” Master Gossay said, stroking his beard thoughtfully.

“Ian came to these ruins for a purpose, one that he does not want us to know…

Or rather, he doesn’t want those of us whom he ‘cannot control’ to know.”

“My boy, I know you’re worried about Ian’s safety, but have you considered that being with us might actually endanger him more as he has to take care of so many people’s safety?” the old man lifted his head, patted the puzzled youth on the head, and spoke with a smile, “Based on my guess…

if he wishes, Ian can find us at any moment.

The reverse is not true.”

“He’s the kind of person who likes to keep the initiative in his own hands.

If you really want to help him, you don’t need to look for excuses that benefit the team, just ensure your own safety,” Master Gossay continued.

Master Gossay’s confidence in Ian stemmed from Hiliard.

He trusted that Hiliard must have been aware of the circumstances of the South Sea Relic Cluster, thus believed Ian was aware as well, which could explain why Ian had always chosen the right paths thus far.

That was definitely not just a matter of luck…

It must have been data left by the Former Emperor and the First Knight.

And the purpose that the other party didn’t want them to know, might just be the mission inherited by Ian’s Bloodline.

Of course, the reality was not such, but the outcome was surprisingly fitting.

It was at this moment that a commotion arose from the outer perimeter of the team.

“Wait, everyone, get up!

Look at these fish!”

The explorers and pirates, upon hearing the warning from the guards ahead, all ceased their rest and looked in the direction of the alert, only to witness an incredible sight.

Suddenly, a swarm of uninvited, densely packed black strange fish surged through the waterways into the underground lake that had originally been filled with numerous white Eyeless Blindfish.

Their massive numbers resembled a military force.

These strange fish had long protrusions on their heads, like metallic spears, and facing the intruders, the white Eyeless Blindfish also immediately began to form formations and clashed with the swarm of black strange fish.

Do not be fooled by the fact that these white Eyeless Blindfish didn’t create much of a ripple when captured before.

After all, whether they were explorers or pirates, they were seasoned hands who had lived at sea for years, having caught fish several times more ferocious than these, so naturally, they were without fear.

But if faced with other members of their species, these white Eyeless Blindfish were surprisingly strong.

When they formed their fish formations, star-like white luminescence lit up from the enamel-like shells of the school of fish, making their scales even harder.

The black horned fish did not back down either; after forming their own formations, the metallic horns on their heads also shone with a halo of Origin Quality.

For a time, fish formations of both black and white lit up with luminescence, turning the dim cavern’s small underground lake into a dazzling Milky Way, with countless stars in motion.

In the midst of this breathtaking spectacle, the two large schools of fish engaged in a ferocious battle, as if no one else was present.

Everyone, including Yisen Gard and Master Gossay, held their breath, observing this unimaginable scene—two schools of fish that, by forming formations, could temporarily utilize the Origin Quality within their bodies to collide with each other.

Sometimes the black horned fish pierced the scales of the white Eyeless Blindfish, and at other times, the white Eyeless Blindfish shattered the scales of the black horned fish.

Blood filled the lake, the pale yellow blood of the fish pervading the originally clear underground lake, emitting a rich iron-like scent.

And it was at this time that some sharp-eyed individuals noticed the fish schools were undergoing a transformation.

Within the schools, certain robust, large fish began to gradually turn a greyish-white color, intermingled with black and white, after consuming the flesh of their opponents.

Their original shells also began to fall off, revealing an odd Flesh and Blood shimmering with speckles of luminescence underneath.

These large fish were protected in the very center of the formations, and when their transformation concluded, what appeared to be crystal-clear, luminescent Flesh and Blood hardened completely, turning into a layer of metallic coating that emitted a silver glow—the Silver Scale Lancefish, which looked as if they were cast from some high-quality alloy, had greatly increased in both hardness and strength.

Whether it was the black side or the white, what ultimately emerged from their transformations were identical, giant metal fish with a single silver horn.

“These are Magical Beasts!”

An Elf Pirate exclaimed, “Although not all are Magical Beasts, the Fish King among these Silver Scale Lancefish is definitely capable of reaching the First Power Level—it looks a lot like the Silver Scale Lancefish, but it’s more primitive and a fair bit larger than the ordinary ones…”

“Is this a Labyrinth Species?” Yisen Gard also felt it was quite extraordinary.

He had realized that the fish schools of both black and white were fundamentally a differentiation of one type of fish, each possessing different abilities, none complete on its own.

Only by mutually consuming each other’s Flesh and Blood could they promote the awakening of their once-dormant Bloodlines, eventually transforming into the Silver Scale Lancefish they witnessed.

Perhaps, the Silver Scale Lancefish were descendants of these Silver Scale large fish, only that over the long passage of time, one branch mutated and no longer needed to devour each other’s Flesh and Blood to Awaken their Bloodline.

However, absent the process of complete transformation, their body size would be smaller than these Silver Scale large fish.

The black and white fish formations had already significantly thinned out.

Under the standoff of the transformed Silver Scale large fish, the black fish swarm reluctantly withdrew—they had not taken over this underground lake and could only continue to allow the white fish school to occupy this prime breeding ground.

“Nature’s competition is truly cruel.”

The golden-haired youth had intended to express such sentiment.

His heart was actually somewhat despondent because the scene of his own kind fighting and devouring each other reminded him of the internal strife between his family and the Imperial Nobility…

but soon, such gloomy thoughts dispersed.

Because a familiar voice rose at the entrance of the cave.

“Eh?

Silver Scale fish?

There’s even food delivered to the doorstep.”

The voice sounded quite surprised, as it instructed, “Shasha, go eat quickly, these fish are a great nourishment for you.”

“After eating these fish, not only will your injuries recover, but they will also greatly aid your advancement to the Second Power Level.”

With that, accompanied by a very excited ‘whoa whoa!’ a massive shadow shimmering with silver light quickly rushed from the waterway!