We agreed to set sail, so you'd become the ruler of the deep sea?

Chapter 320 Overall Qualities Soar! Preparations Before Departure!

In the arena, the intense heat emanating from Xiange's body increased.

It's as if this place has been transformed into a giant furnace.

The Black Swan and the Diamond Princess became "weapons" forged and tempered in this crucible.

Wisps of dark red light began to emerge from the air and gradually seeped into the hulls of the two ships.

next moment.

The surprised voices of Xiao Hei and Xiao Xing echoed in Xia En's mind.

【Master, what is this?】

[So comfortable...]

This is Xiao Hei's reaction as it awakens from its deep sleep.

[I feel a force... well, it's surging up!]

the other side.

Xiao Xing also showed a rare hint of enjoyment.

[Captain... so warm... so cozy...]

My body... has become clean...

Shane: "..."

Don't use such language that could easily cause misunderstandings!

However, Xia En also knew that Xiao Xing didn't mean anything strange; she was just stating the facts.

At this moment, stimulated by the [Forging Technique], a viscous, pitch-black substance gradually seeped out from the decks and hulls of the [Diamond Star] and the [Black Swan].

This black, sticky substance has a pungent, foul odor and looks extremely disgusting.

It looks like grime that has been left uncleaned for years, or like impurities forced out of certain materials.

Seeing this, Xia En suddenly realized what was happening.

The essence of the so-called "Forging Technique" is actually to force out the bad things from an item using the unique "Furnace Secret Power".

Just like a blacksmith using a sledgehammer to continuously hammer and forge a weapon, it removes impurities and makes the original material denser, even changing its properties.

The underlying principles are the same.

If applied to a person, it would be similar to the "marrow cleansing" in martial arts novels.

It removes all the dirt and impurities accumulated in the past from the body.

Just like the human body is bound to have many hidden injuries and dirt.

No matter how much Shane cherishes the Black Swan, there will inevitably be corners that cannot be cleaned.

Although the damage to the two ships has healed on the surface, some minor inconsistencies or weaknesses inevitably remain deeper within the hulls.

One or two isolated "hidden injuries" are actually not a big deal.

However, as such injuries accumulate, they will inevitably affect the control of the ship.

It's like a tiny bit of jamming when gears mesh, which reduces the efficiency of a ship's operation.

Meanwhile, under the effect of the [Forging Technique], these minor internal injuries were also healing rapidly.

Thanks to his talent for "Communicating with the Soul of the Ship," Shane quickly gained a deep understanding of what Xiao Hei and Xiao Xing felt.

A tingling, numb sensation came from the depths of my soul, accompanied by a slight soreness and itchiness, like a deep massage.

At first, I wasn't used to it, but I quickly got into the swing of things and felt incredibly comfortable.

And it was during this process.

Shaen noticed that the final obstacle to the reinforcement of the two ships had also been silently eliminated.

As if by natural order, the ship's reinforcement was completely completed.

[Enhancement complete!]

[Black Swan (+8)!]

【Diamond Star (+3)!】

Seemingly to verify Shane's feeling, a few lines of text flashed on the panel.

Moreover, compared to the previous trend of increasing numbers one by one.

With this upgrade, the Black Swan went from +3 to +8, while the Diamond Star was upgraded to +5!
It's likely that the reason is that the materials Xia En used this time were too large and precious, exceeding the limit for a single enhancement.

Or rather, the effect of this enhancement is roughly equivalent to five of the previous enhancements, which is why this notification appears.

at the same time.

Under the effect of the [Captain's Majesty] talent, a vast and boundless power began to wash over Shane's body like a tidal wave.

The surge was so fierce that thunderous sounds echoed within Xia En's body, surging like waves on a boundless sea.

If the daily flow of secret energy is like ordinary ocean waves...

This time, the mysterious power surging from the darkness was like a tsunami!
Fortunately, Xia En's body had undergone countless trials and tribulations, far exceeding the capabilities of ordinary people.

Otherwise, just receiving the baptism of this secret power might cause one to explode and die.

Even though Xia En withstood the onslaught of the secret power, he still felt unusually "overfed" despite his physique.

This shows how generous the gifts bestowed by this mysterious power are.

Immediately, the bones, muscles, nerves, and so on in Xia En's body all entered an active state, greedily absorbing this enormous secret power.

And in this process, it continues to grow and become stronger and more resilient.

A sense of abundant power permeated almost every corner of Xia En's body.

on the panel.

[Overall Qualifications: 17.5 → 18...]

[18→20……]

[20→23……]

This number kept fluctuating and increasing, eventually settling at—

[Overall Quality: 25!]

next moment.

Xia En opened his eyes, a glint of shrewdness flashing in them.

In that instant, his entire demeanor changed abruptly, as if he had transformed from a quiet and handsome young man into a terrifying beast in human skin.

If someone with less strength stood next to him, they would probably be so frightened that their mind would go blank.

This was not something Xia En did intentionally; it was simply because his power had suddenly surged and he hadn't been able to properly conceal his aura.

"Phew...this feeling..."

Xia En let out a long breath, his face full of excitement.

This feeling of being filled with power within my body is truly wonderful.

Shane even felt that he might be able to carry the entire Black Swan in battle.

Of course, it was just an idea; he had no intention of putting it into practice.

The improvement in the values ​​on the panel also surprised and delighted Shane.

The increase of 7.5% is even greater than the gains from breaking through to the fifth level!

This is clearly the power of "pay-to-win"!

The materials Xia En purchased during this period almost emptied his savings.

Aside from the materials used to construct the rituals, all the remaining materials were used to strengthen the ships.

It would be abnormal if such a large sum of money wasn't spent and didn't make a splash!

"It wasn't a waste of money..."

Xia En sighed softly, feeling that it was excellent value for money.

Money can be spent again, but if you lose your life, you lose everything.

Using money and merit to acquire ready-made strength to face the impending "second world-ending flood" is definitely a profitable deal.

Soon, Joey and the others also noticed the change in Shane's aura.

"Captain, you've gotten even stronger!" Joey's eyes were full of admiration.

However, having spent so much time with Xia En, she had long since discovered...

It seems that Captain Shane's strength increases significantly every time the Black Swan is upgraded and strengthened?

"Perhaps... this is the bond between the captain and the Black Swan?"

at the same time.

The [Forging Fire] spell that String Song cast on the [Black Swan] and [Diamond Star] is also nearing its end.

Both ships were oozing a lot of dark, viscous liquid and emitting a strong stench.

"Master, I smell terrible! Give me a bath right now!"

The clean-loving Xiao Hei couldn't help but complain to Xia En in his mind.

I feel like I've gotten dirty...

Even Xiao Xing, who had a gloomy personality, showed a similar attitude and muttered to herself.

I feel sticky all over...it's so uncomfortable...

While this kind of "marrow cleansing" is very enjoyable, the aftermath is quite troublesome.

Fortunately, Shane has Miss Joey, who is skilled in many spells, by his side.

With just a glance from Shane, Joey understood immediately and gently tapped the two ships with his staff.

[A storm is coming!]

A gentle sea breeze, carrying raindrops, blew in from the sky.

Then, the raindrops became increasingly dense, constantly washing over the hulls of the Black Swan and Diamond Star, flushing the filth into the sea.

Due to Joey's own characteristics, this spell even carries a certain sacredness.

—Just like the divine spell cast by the Storm Priest.

It naturally possesses the properties of purification and cleansing.

Thus, after being cleansed by the storm, the two ships were cleaned again.

After being cleaned of dirt, the Diamond Princess and Black Swan ships have been completely transformed.

Not only has the overall size of the ship increased slightly, but its internal structure has also undergone significant changes.

The deck was clean and tidy, so smooth that it seemed to reflect a person's face.

The windows were bright and clear, and all the previous grime had disappeared.

The wooden planks on the ship's walls still exude a fresh, vibrant scent.

It's as if... these two ships were only recently built!

"Wow, the Black Swan has become so clean and beautiful!"

Upon seeing this, Joey couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, "It looks brand new!"

Feiya stared intently at the Diamond Starship beside her, unable to look away for a moment.

In fact, the Diamond Princess has always been very beautiful.

It's just that after becoming a ghost ship and having drifted for so long, the hull inevitably shows some signs of damage and aging.

Now, after the dust and scars of the past have been wiped away, this former "Noah's Ark" has revealed its true magnificent form.

On the ship's hull, now free of lead dust, are clearly and elegantly painted patterns.

The white sails swayed gently in the sea breeze.

Bathed in sunlight, the deck and windows gleamed, their exquisite, classically beautiful designs shining through the eyes of all.

As strong as a diamond.

And as dazzling as the stars.

This is the beautiful wish that the name "Diamond Star" embodies!
[This...is it me?]

In the reflection on the sea, Xiaoxing seemed to see her own appearance clearly and was surprised.

She had grown accustomed to that gloomy, drab, ghost-ship-like self, and seeing this glamorous appearance all of a sudden felt somewhat strange.

It's like Cinderella turning into a princess overnight.

Yes, this is you.

Shaen comforted the Diamond Star in his heart: "From now on, you will only be more dazzling and more beautiful than this!"

[Really...really?]

Xia En solemnly declared, "I swear in the name of Xia En!"

Inspired by him, Xiaoxing began to look forward to that kind of future.

After appeasing the eccentric Ship Soul, Xia En's lips twitched slightly.

"But then again, isn't this effect... a bit too exaggerated?"

To be honest, not only the other crew members, but even he was shocked by it.

At this moment, both ships were so new that they felt somewhat unfamiliar to him, as if they had been restored to factory settings.

In reality, all of these ships are significantly improved compared to when they were first built.

Especially the Black Swan.

It's worth noting that the Black Swan was originally just a small to medium-sized three-masted sailing ship, but now it has grown into a large ship comparable to the Diamond Star.

Thinking of this, Xia En couldn't help but feel a little gratified.

It's like your own child has finally grown up and can stand on their own.

Of course, Xia En didn't forget the biggest contributor to this enhancement.

He turned around and said, "Xiange, thank you for your hard work this time."

The String Song has now descended from its height and returned to the audience.

As soon as it landed on the ground, the little dragon collapsed, its breath weak and panting heavily, seemingly unwilling to even move.

It was obvious that the [Forging] spell on the two ships had been extremely taxing on String Song, leaving her exhausted.

With a weak and listless expression, Xian Ge cast a mimicry spell, transforming back into the appearance of a little girl.

In this state, her face was extremely pale and covered in cold sweat, which made Xia En feel a little sorry for her.

Moreover, even after all this, Xiange puffed out her little chest and said with a hint of pride.

"Hmph, I told you I could handle it, right?"

"I, the mighty Bronze Dragon, String Song Maya, always keep my word!"

This time, Xia En didn't suppress her arrogance. Instead, he gently patted her head and sincerely praised her.

"Yes, yes, yes, Xiange is the best."

"hey-hey……"

After receiving the praise, Xiange grinned, but her body involuntarily leaned to the side.

Xia En reacted quickly and helped her up.

"String Song!?"

Upon seeing this, Joey's expression changed drastically, and she quickly asked, "What's wrong with her?"

After observing her carefully for a moment, Xia En breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Don't worry, she's just too tired."

The little girl fell asleep peacefully in his arms, her breathing steady, though she kept muttering things like "Bronze Dragon is the best in the world" and "I'm just that powerful."

Xia En was left speechless, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

She wouldn't fall asleep until I praised her, and she even said those things in her dreams. Isn't that a bit too much of an obsession?

Afterwards, Shane and the others spent some time cleaning up the traces left near the port.

This allowed the Diamond Star to once again hide in the shadow of the Black Swan.

Following that, Shane let the crew do their own thing and enjoy their last moments on [Liuli Island].

He himself went to the Federal Library to bid farewell to the librarian, Jane Vivian.

He has achieved most of his goals on [Liuli Island], it's time to set off on his journey!

(End of this chapter)