Above The Sky
Chapter 373 - 373 345 Unusual Movements of the South Sea Fleet 33

373: Chapter 345 Unusual Movements of the South Sea Fleet (3/3) 373: Chapter 345 Unusual Movements of the South Sea Fleet (3/3) Rustle rustle—

The sound of surging waves arose within Crystal Lake.

For a moment, one could see a massive amount of metallic minerals stacked at the bottom of Crystal Lake, skeletons infused with metal, and unknown creations from the old civilization, beginning to converge in the direction of Shasha under an invisible magnetic force.

“Woo woo!!”

Moving its body, Shasha did not concern itself with the metals naturally converging towards it but twisted its body violently instead.

Amidst this vigorous twisting, one could vaguely see, with the crisp sounds of cracking, its outer shell began to shatter, fall off, and slowly shed…

Then, beneath the old layer of skin, a new body emerged, shining more brightly with a silver metallic luster!

Crack!

After shedding its skin, Shasha’s size had not increased much, but Ian knew that it had undergone a fundamental transformation.

It had evolved from an Ironclad Shark, which could only passively seek out iron ore for sustenance, to an Iron Armor Shark, capable of actively attracting metals and seeking out high-quality ore veins and even precious metal deposits!

And with each shedding and maturing, Shasha’s body would become tougher and tougher, until it was comparable to the finest alloys.

Plus, with the blessing of Origin Quality…

it was not impossible for it to become comparable to Morien Steel or even Fine Gold Alloy!

—Joyful!

Ian could even sense Shasha’s emotions more clearly at that moment.

Though it was only a fragment of emotion sensed through Spirit Energy, there was no doubt that Shasha’s thoughts and emotions had become clearer.

“So that’s the difference between Magical Beasts and Humans,” Ian thought, grasping something new.

He somewhat understood that the advancement of Magical Beasts was essentially the gradual consolidation of their own soul and wisdom.

The essence of their life had mostly transformed during their growth, and what remained was only needing ‘wisdom’ to provide a catalyst for a smooth completion.

Like today, Shasha was only a step away from being a true Iron Armor Shark, but an invisible lock prevented it from entering the threshold, and the key was wisdom.

Only someone like Ian or a moment of inspiration from the creature itself could facilitate the breakthrough.

But Humans were different—they were born with wisdom, yet the essence of their life was mundane.

Although made powerful through genetic modification, without Magic Potion, they could not possess extraordinary Sublimation Power.

The shedding was now completely finished, and the current Shasha no longer had the look of a Magical Beast with a predominantly dark silver appearance, resembling an armored giant shark.

It seemed like a metal-built alloy warship through and through!

“Whoa!

(I’m hungry!)”

Having completed the transformation, the famished Shasha did not immediately begin to feed but lifted its head and circled the water around Ian, who had been watching its advancement: “Woo woo woo!

(Praise me!)”

“You’re amazing, truly amazing, Shasha is the best Iron Armor Shark!”

Ian laughed, reached out his hand, and petted Shasha’s head, making it extremely happy: “Go ahead and eat.

There are four bottles of Seraph Silver solution and one bottle of Gold solution on the shore.

After you finish your main meal, I’ll give you those to replenish your body!”

“Woo woo!!

(Moved!)”

Shasha swam even more joyfully now.

After frolicking, Shasha indulged in devouring the metallic creations and iron bones that had converged around it.

It had just finished its advancement and urgently needed nutrients and various essential elements.

To become a full-fledged Second Energy Level being, it would need a few more days to develop.

However, even now, its strength had vastly improved compared to before.

Not to mention that, visible to the naked eye, Ian could see that the silvery skin on the surface of Shasha’s body began to be covered by a fine crystalline metal structure.

Arcs of electricity flickered, assisting in molding the metal armor pieces into shape.

And magnetic attraction was another method used by the Iron Armor Shark to fix armor onto its body, more closely fitted than flesh and blood.

This made Ian even more certain that the Ironclad Shark’s advancement required lightning attributes.

Rather, as an artificial creature, the evolution of the Ironclad Shark— or ‘upgrading its version’— inherently needed human assistance to unlock various stimuli.

After more than a thousand years, many of the restrictions on the growth of Ironclad Sharks had been lifted, but only chance occurrences such as being attacked by a Thunderhunter Jellyfish or struck by lightning could provide the necessary electrical stimulation.

No wonder there were legends of Ironclad Sharks charging into storms— not because they were brave and impetuous by nature, but because they instinctively craved thunderbolts.

Ian believed many must have discovered this ‘secret,’ but there would be few, like himself, who had used the Aurora Titan Potion on an Ironclad Shark.

“Seeing how healthy Shasha looks, the Magic Potion clearly has no issues, I should also prepare one for Scott… and tell him to exercise properly so he won’t embarrass himself by failing to take the Magic Potion.”

While Shasha feasted, Ian administered a precious metal solution, instantly exciting and gratifying the shark even more.

“Oh oh, oh oh!

(Boss, awesome!)”

With enhanced wisdom, Shasha could sense that Ian’s strength far surpassed its own as the evolved Iron Armor Shark…

even by a lot!

And it wasn’t just about strength.

It was about victory, confidence, and wisdom, that made it admire the young boy in front of it, just as it had always admired that aged presence.

“Stop buttering me up.”

Ian couldn’t help but laugh, as it was always so enjoyable to be with Shasha.

He stroked its smoother outer skin and then instructed, “After you’ve completely evolved and stabilized the Iron Armor Shark form, remember to help me find a Magical Beast called ‘Dismal Nether Jellyfish’— you’ll definitely find it faster than I can.”

“Capture the largest one and bring it back to me.

Remember not to damage it too much; I have use for it.”

Shasha promptly agreed, “Oh!

(Got it!)”

For an Aurora Steel Armor Shark that had advanced to the Second Energy Level, there probably wasn’t a being in the entire Southern Sea that could defeat it, as long as it grew to its Complete Form.

Without a Second Energy Level Knight in Armor Suit, even the South Sea Fleet would be terrified to face it.

Ian believed in its promise, then recalled another matter, “Right, the Heavy Abyss Iron Sword is here as well.”

He asked Shasha for the location of the Longsword and then found his Side Sword at the bottom of the lake.

Ian already possessed the materials ‘Seraph Silver’ and ‘Fine Gold’ for strengthening the Heavy Abyss Iron Sword.

They were not abundant, but they were enough to give it a complete makeover.

Although the Morien Steel was transformed into Aether Crystals and fused into his left arm, too much of a good thing could be harmful; the base material of the Heavy Abyss Iron Sword was excellent and didn’t need a mishmash of rare materials.

“I’ll take it back first, and when Master Gossay’s tools they promised me arrive, I’ll begin the enhancement.”

Ian nodded slightly—he was about to become a Knight and leave Harrison Port, and just relying on the Galewind Longsword and the weapon given by the Viscount would not be enough to deal with the Second-Level Magical Beasts he intended to hunt in the future.

As he pondered the enhancement plan for the Heavy Abyss Iron Sword, suddenly,

A series of extremely faint hums came to Ian’s ears.

“Hmm?”

With his keen perception, Ian furrowed his brows and looked up.

Outside Crystal Lake was the Southern Sea, and the Source Quality Fluctuation he had just sensed…

while he was not very familiar with it, he had often heard it in recent days.

“Is it the Shipborne Alchemy Furnace— the South Sea Fleet of the Nineteenth Legion?”

With a puzzled expression, Ian wondered, “What are they doing here?”