The Duke and Vivian had already taken up their weapons, keeping an eye on the situation outside, ready to fight at any moment.
They both remained in the room, realizing that going out to investigate out of curiosity would not be a wise choice at this time.
On the deck, Captain Blake stood gravely at the ship’s bow, observing the surrounding sea where constant splashing sounds indicated a large number of creatures rapidly approaching.
Several sailors carried large chunks of cured beef and a barrel of wine to the deck.
Blake instructed the sailors to throw everything overboard, then spoke in standard Morian Language, "Honored Sea Race, these are gifts for you. We mean no disturbance and will leave this sea region soon."
He watched the sea intently, hoping for a response.
Without a reply, daring to sail was risky; if a Sea Race member was hurt by his ship, leaving would be impossible.
Captain Blake, having roamed the seas for many years, had encountered several such situations.
Before each voyage, he’d conduct a sacrificial ritual, and there was a statue at the ship’s bow, depicting a goddess of the Sea Race.
Usually, the Sea Race wouldn’t trouble anyone upon seeing this statue, but today, mysteriously, many surrounded the ship.
Captain Blake didn’t wait for a response; instead, a water-formed arrow shot toward him.
Being a Great Knight Realm strongman, Blake reacted instantly, dodging it.
Unfortunately, the sailors next to him weren’t so lucky, as a water arrow pierced one’s head.
Soon, countless water arrows shot from below, attacking those on deck, who either rolled or defended themselves with weapons.
Duke listened carefully to the commotion outside from inside the cabin.
He realized the deck was under attack; more crucially, he heard crawling sounds from around the ship, something was climbing aboard.
On the deck, Captain Blake calmly directed the crew in defense and counter-attack.
Odd-looking Sea Race members climbed onto the bow, wielding swords, harpoons, and engaging in close combat with sailors.
The shapes varied, some with snake bodies and lizard heads, others with double feet, four arms, and fins on their backs.
The surface of most Sea Race creatures had slimy membranes allowing faster, less resistant swimming.
Upon boarding, they quickly turned to massacre.
Though the sailors practiced the Breathing Technique, their strength was not great, mostly mid-level or upper-level Knight Attendants, a few were Knight Level.
However, Sea Race members were at least Knight Level, with many possessing Great Knight Level strength.
Captain Blake, while fighting, also watched the sea surface, where magical flashes could be seen.
He shouted below deck, "Everyone come help! If the ship sinks, none can escape!"
As captain, Blake knew well the ship’s people, aware many were formidable.
Relying solely on him and the crew wouldn’t solve the crisis; he needed the passengers’ help.
All were on the same ship; none could remain unaffected.
Duke and Vivian exchanged glances, opening the door but staying put, waiting to see what happened.
Most people on the deck’s lower level did the same, not venturing out rashly.
They weren’t foolish; not knowing the situation outside, going out recklessly might lead to death.
Sometime later, Duke noticed a door opening at the corridor’s end, the black-robed man seen earlier at the dining hall emerged.
As he passed Duke’s room, he said, "You Wizard Apprentices who haven’t mastered Meditation Technique shouldn’t go out and waste your lives; stay in the room."
"Thank you for the reminder, sir." Duke quickly replied, respectfully thanking him.
Duke knew something of the Wizard path; becoming a Wizard required practicing Meditation Technique.
The man, knowing Duke’s and Vivian’s situation at a glance, was evidently a Wizard practicing Meditation Technique, deserving basic respect.
"I am Reagan..." the black-robed man’s voice drifted from afar.
Reagan stepped onto the deck, surveying the scene; blood covered it, bodies of sailors and Sea Race creatures lay around.
A Sea Race member, not knowing better, charged at Reagan wielding a long blade.
Unhurriedly, Reagan produced a test tube with purple liquid from his robe and uncorked it while chanting strange syllables, dizzying to hear.
As the purple liquid dripped, small rubber-like figures formed.
The purple rubber figures lacked facial features, standing at 60-70 cm tall, gelatin-like, transparent bodies.
Every drop transformed into such a figure.
In moments, over twenty purple figures had populated the deck.
As the Sea Race member charged forward, several purple figures grabbed its limbs and head, tearing it apart easily, blood spraying everywhere.
The purple figures, seemingly following Reagan’s command, began to deal with Sea Race members boarding the deck.
Even Great Knight Level Sea Race members were defenseless against the purple figures.
Their weapons were ineffectual; the figures’ bodies were highly elastic, immune to ordinary attacks.
Moreover, their immense strength easily overwhelmed Sea Race members, driving them back.
"Roar!" A grating scream emitted from the sea, followed by indecipherable angry language.
Reagan stepped onward, rising higher with each step, as if an invisible staircase lay ahead.
He reached outside the ship, flanked by several floating purple figures.
Reagan addressed the sea in Morian Language, "This ship is under West Coast protection; do you wish to initiate war with West Coast again?"
Silence followed on the sea; moments later, a fish-tailed human Sea Race member surfaced, a water column beneath lifting her to Reagan’s height.
The Sea Race was female, with distinct female traits, key parts covered by shells.
Her face conformed strikingly to human aesthetics, deep blue eyes.
"Someone on this ship ate a Beauty Shell; we can cease the attack, but you must hand over the one who consumed the Beauty Shell," the Sea Race surprisingly spoke in Morian Language.