Ashes Of Deep Sea
Chapter 480 - Chapter 480 Chapter 481 Deeper into the Deep Sea

Chapter 480: Chapter 481: Deeper into the Deep Sea Chapter 480: Chapter 481: Deeper into the Deep Sea In that instant, an odd and chaotic perception abruptly melded with Duncan’s consciousness, just as the previous “Spirit Realm Walks” had done. He felt his “perspective” suddenly split into two, and a brand-new body shell became the new “extremity” through which he perceived the world–yet… it felt unlike before.

The new “perspective” was full of restless light streams like interference, with light and shadow alternating as if scanning lines diffuse through the water. He saw the “Primordial Land” enshrouded by darkness in the distance, as well as countless humanoid objects floating around the land; at the same time, he saw that inconspicuous submersible–it hovered above the deep-sea floating island at an angled position, pale light extended from its front end and dispersed bit by bit in the seawater.

All of this was surrounded by indeterminate light and shadow. Even where the submersible’s searchlight could not reach, he could “see” glimmers and outlines–this was a completely new perspective.

Through the porthole, in the depths of the deep sea, the body that had suddenly started moving slowly raised its arms, touching its own face, which lacked features.

Of course, Duncan didn’t feel his own eyes–he had just taken over this body that possessed no such organs. In fact, this body didn’t even have properly formed hands or feet; the bald tips of the limbs touched the smooth face, conveying a coarse and sluggish strange touch.

But suddenly, Duncan had a feeling… Following this sensation, he controlled his new body, stretching out both arms to press firmly on the body’s “face.”

The pitch-black, flat face began to wriggle, and within seconds, the front of the face differentiated and formed two eyes.

The field of vision suddenly became much clearer.

Duncan awkwardly controlled this “rough draft” of a body, slowly swimming to the front of the submersible, inspecting the interior with newly grown eyes.

He found himself face-to-face with his own reflection, a novel yet eerie sensation.

Inside the submersible, Agatha couldn’t help but let out a belated cry of surprise, “Ah!”

She then finally reacted, abruptly turning her head to look at Duncan, who stood in front of the control console, “You… really frightened me a bit.”

“You should learn to adapt,” Duncan said from inside the submersible, paying attention to the machinery while not turning back, “The people around me are always somewhat startled.”

Agatha was still shaken, her body taut as her “gaze” swept rapidly several times between Duncan and that “human figure” outside the cabin, with only one thought in her mind–

It made sense for people to fear Captain Duncan; his casual action was far too sinister and terrifying in this endless deep sea.

But after hesitating for a long time, she dared not voice her thoughts, awkwardly changing the subject instead, “…What are you planning to do next?”

“This temporary body can see in the dark; I will continue to inspect the situation ahead,” Duncan said casually, already starting to manipulate a series of levers and cranks on the control console. Accompanying his movements, a strained noise of struggle emanated from the submersible’s engine room once more, “As for here… we need to ascend a bit. This machine can’t hold out much longer; it can’t stay at the limit depth indefinitely.”

Amid the low roar of the ballast tanks grudgingly discharging water, the submersible began to ascend slowly, but Agatha still involuntarily watched outside the porthole, observing the “human figure” gradually receding in the light.

A wisp of faint firelight suddenly appeared in the water; the body carrying Captain Duncan’s will waved toward her, then turned and, accompanied by the floating Spectral Flame, slowly sank into the depths.

The cold, the darkness, the solitude, the silence.

Duncan’s consciousness gradually adapted within this peculiar temporary body, maneuvering the body to turn around, to swim forward through the darkness, ever drawing closer to the “Frost Mainland” floating in the deep sea.

The submersible’s lights had receded; darkness once again dominated this part of the deep sea. However, the faint, green Spectral Flames slowly spread through the water, and with the body’s unique perceptual abilities, Duncan could always discern his surroundings and the direction of progress.

Around him floated countless humanoid figures in the chilling sea water.

Like a bizarre gathering, rough “human” forms congregated from every direction, close and far, motionless and blind, yet swaying slightly with the currents. The only one with eyes was moving through this silent and strange “crowd.”

Duncan did his best to avoid contact with the “human forms” that floated near him, but inevitably brushed closely past them.

Passing by them, he couldn’t help but entertain strange and terrifying thoughts–as if there were countless eyes, countless souls awaiting awakening, curiously sizing up this uninvited guest, perhaps even ready to reach out to him at any moment.

But in the end, nothing happened.

Those silent forms were just that–silent, without heart or soul, like hollow puppets built of mud.

Duncan passed through these empty shells and arrived at a cliff at the edge of the “Deep Sea Floating Island.”

He stopped, observing the terrain before him.

This should be the southeast coast of “Frost.” Above this in the surface world, there would be docks, warehouses, and customs offices near the coast, a pretty little church standing on the cliffs, with cold-resistant trees planted along the small path leading to the church, evergreen in winter.

Yet here, on this rugged coastline, there were only bald rocks, emitting a dark and odd sheen, like an uncolored crude model.

Duncan raised his head, looking toward the center of the deep-sea floating island.

In the interplay of darkness and dim light, he could vaguely discern some colossal structure there, resembling a mountain peak, or a massive column piercing through the island.

It reminded him of the scene Martha had shown him earlier–

Just before their minds dissipated into the ocean, they cast a glance toward the Dark Abyss, and the collective impression formed in their terror was of a huge pillar, puncturing through a vast entity floating in the deep sea.

Now, it seemed that the vast entity presented in that illusion was the Frost “Primordial Blueprint” before his eyes. But what about the massive column piercing through the island? Was it The Saint “invading” the real world? Or… perhaps a so-called fake?

Duncan pondered briefly before rising and swimming toward the “pillar.” But he stopped after a short distance, feeling somewhat frustrated.

It was too far, a distance that required crossing half the City-State.

A mirage that kills a horse–especially in the cumbersome depths of the sea.

Even though this body was unaffected by the heavy pressure of the deep sea, making his way there would indeed be a time-consuming and laborious task.

Duncan thought about it and gradually an idea emerged.

He hesitated for a few seconds before slowly raising one arm in the water with a try-it-and-see attitude, and lightly waved it.

A pale green Spectral Flame spread with his movement and in the blink of an eye converged into a spinning gateway. As the gateway opened, a skeletal bird wreathed in blazing flames rushed out and buzzed loudly around Duncan,

“Who’s calling the fleet! Teleport successful! Teleport successful! Open the door, delivery’s here!”

Duncan stared, eyes wide with astonishment.

Ai Yi flapped its wings next to him, as agile and lithe in the deep sea, burdened with millions of tons of water, as it would be dancing in the sky, and its unique, synthesized-sounding shrill female voice buzzed incessantly, as clear as if it could directly burrow into someone’s brain.

The deep-sea environment seemed as if it didn’t exist for Ai Yi!

Duncan had only summoned Ai Yi out of curiosity to see if it could be of any use; after all, the pigeon’s “teleportation” ability had demonstrated its incredible utility on numerous occasions. But this was the deep sea, unlike anything on the surface, and he was already prepared to instantaneously teleport it back to the ship if Ai Yi couldn’t adapt. Yet what was happening now… completely exceeded his expectations.

He watched dumbfounded as the pigeon flew around him as though it were in the air, blustering and blaring, looking like a projection unaffected by its surroundings as it weaved through the water. It took him a long moment to snap out of it and reach out to intercept the bird.

Obediently, Ai Yi landed on Duncan’s arm, tilting its head curiously, “What’s up what’s up what’s up?”

Duncan tried to speak but suddenly realized his Spiritual Body seemed to lack a mouth, and even if he had one, he wasn’t sure how to speak in the deep sea. So he concentrated, attempting to transmit his thoughts to the pigeon spirit–

“Here in the deep sea, do you feel any discomfort?”

He watched Ai Yi’s eyes, wondering if it understood him, waiting for its response.

Ai Yi tilted its head again.

“GG, you’re surfing too!” The bird suddenly flapped its wings excitedly, with flickers of pale green flame falling from its bone wings, “Tianyi 3G, so fast, Tianyi 3G, so fast!”

Duncan’s eyes shifted slightly, as he listened thoughtfully to the bird spirit’s babble for a long time without a word.

Until Ai Yi quieted down on its own and pecked curiously at his arm, “App not responding?”

Duncan then snapped out of his reverie, his thoughts quickly returning to the matter at hand.

There was serious work to be done.

He looked up once again at the distant murky darkness, focusing his mind once more, attempting to convey his command to the pigeon spirit beside him–

“Take me to that place.”

“Command received! Command received!” Ai Yi quickly responded, as excited as ever, flapping its wings, causing the flaming blaze to whirl and ascend around, “Mission guaranteed!”

(Book recommendation time, a book with a funny title right from the start, titled “The Loyal and Good Cao Mengde of the Great Han.” I figured I had to take a look just because of the name. Below is the author’s own recommendation blurb:

Cao Cao swore that he would fulfill the last wishes of Xuande, his noble brother. It doesn’t matter if Zhuge Liang isn’t involved, after all, he’s a chancellor, and I’m a chancellor too. Taking on this task, even as a Loyal and Good man of the Great Han, is my last commitment to the Han dynasty.)