Runeterra: I actually know a little bit about everything

Just as Nautilus's large hand was about to grab Zuo Chi's legs, the rock spikes that rose from various parts of the seabed also arrived in front of Nautilus!

"Puff puff!"

A series of muffled thuds rang out, and the grayish-white light membrane covering Nautilus's body was instantly pierced, the sharp rock spikes binding him tightly to the center of the sea.

Zuo Chi glanced down at Nautilus, then quickly rose to the surface and swam toward a piece of a small boat fragment.

Reaching the surface, Zuo Chi, without holding back at all, grabbed a large piece of the ship's hull and paddled forward with all his might.

Before leaving, Zuo Chi made sure to thoroughly search his entire body.

After searching around, he found a half-eaten piece of jerky inside his clothes and threw it into the sea.

"We don't have any gold coins, let's treat Dahai to some dried meat."

The moment Zuo Chi recognized Nautilus, he understood why he had been pulled into the sea.

Now that they've finally escaped the water, they naturally have to make up for the tithes they owed.

However, Zuo Chi definitely won't have any Golden Sea Monster Coins; he'll have to use that half-eaten meat as a substitute.

Zuo Chi had some understanding of Nautilus's experiences.

Nautilus was once arguably the most capable salvager in Bilgewater, always managing to retrieve countless treasures from the depths of the Bilgewater sea.

One day, a foreign captain hired Nautilus to retrieve treasure for him in a certain sea area. In order to ensure the smooth progress of the retrieval, the captain also prepared an extremely heavy and sturdy diving suit for him.

However, just as Nautilus put on his diving armor and was slowly lowered to the surface by his companions using iron chains, he was horrified to discover that this foreign captain had not paid a tithe to the sea before setting sail!

And so, just as Nautilus was being sent into the deep sea, cyan tentacles wrapped around his body, seemingly trying to drag him down into the abyss below!

Nautilus struggled violently, gripping the iron chain tightly in his hand, for it was his only connection to the surface of the sea.

However, just when Nautilus was about to break free from the tentacles' restraints, the chains in his hands snapped!

To avoid being caught in the crossfire, his companion cut off his only hope of survival.

He could only wear the heavy armor and be slowly pulled into the deep sea by those tentacles, watching the shadow of the large ship disappear from his sight.

Since then, the port of Piraeus has lost a top-notch salvage operator named Nautilus, and the deep sea of ​​Piraeus has gained a terrifying legend named Nautilus!

The shadow that Nautilus has become will punish everyone who has not paid a tithe to the sea with the enormous anchor in his hand.

If even one-tenth is not paid, the seas will boil and the mountains will shake!

This statement has become a consensus in the hearts of almost every Bilgewater resident.

At this moment, Zuo Chi truly experienced this terrifying legend firsthand.

As for why one should pay tithes, Zuo Chi has a different understanding than others.

Bilgewater is arguably the most concentrated place of faith in all of Runeterra, because there is only one god here!

Every Bilgewater person dedicates their most sincere faith to the terrifying demigod who exists in the depths of the Bilgewater sea.

Nagakaporos, the goddess who represents life, growth, and eternal movement!

Nagakapolus strictly controls all faiths in the entire port of Piraeus.

That is why she is so powerful, even ranking among the strongest demigods in the entire Runeterra!

Tithes were one of the means by which Nagakapolus controlled the faith in Piraeus!

Throwing golden sea monster coins into the sea is not actually paying taxes to the ocean, but rather offering faith to Nagakapolos!

Nautilus was Na's most devout and dutiful follower, responsible for overseeing whether passing ships paid their tithes.

Of course, this is just Zuo Chi's deduction based on his understanding of Nautilus's background story from his previous life, and whether it is actually true or not is unknown.

Having finally shaken off Nautilus's entanglement, Zuo Chi was finally able to move forward safely.

What Zuo Chi didn't know was that shortly after he left that sea area, turquoise tentacles slowly rose from the seabed, clinging to the rock spikes he had summoned, and gradually approaching Nautilus.

Immediately afterwards, these blue tentacles exerted a little force, and the rock spikes shattered instantly. At this moment, the light in Nautilus's eyes shone brightly once again!

Having broken free from the shackles of the rock spikes, Nautilus gently stroked the tentacles with his large hand, glanced up at the sea, and then transformed into a shadow, sinking into the abyss.

On the sea, after Nautilus's entanglement, the already evening sky grew even darker.

On the sea surface, which reflected shimmering waves, Zuo Chi lay on a wooden plank, paddling forward with his arms.

As he paddled forward, Zuo Chi kept a close eye out for any fishing boats heading out to sea from Piraeus.

Zuo Chi's ascension power was not yet complete, so he was still unable to fly like Aatrox and other ascended beings.

Releasing the power of ascension to travel across the sea for an extended period of time is quite energy-consuming.

Therefore, if you want to cross this vast ocean, you still need to take a boat.

However, Zuo Chi has not seen a single ship on the sea since the afternoon.

Not only were there no ships, but not even a single seabird or marine animal was seen!

These unusual phenomena made Zuo Chi's heart pound.

He carefully observed everything around him, trying to glean some clues from the slightest hints.

However, Zuo Chi was dismayed to find that there was nothing around him except for the boundless sea!

It seems that all the living have vanished at this moment!

After searching in vain, Zuo Chi had no choice but to continue paddling forward on the plank.

Time passed little by little, and before we knew it, night had completely fallen.

"Woooooo~~~"

Whether it was an illusion or something else, a series of wails suddenly rang out from Zuo Chi!

Zuo Chi quickly turned his head and looked around.

The power of ascension granted Zuo Chi exceptional eyesight, allowing him to see everything around him clearly.

Just as Zuo Chi looked directly behind him, his entire face fell.

"No way, do I have to be this unlucky?!"

At this moment, Zuo Chi finally understood why there was not a single living creature in this sea area.

Before that thing, any living creature would probably be instantly corrupted into a ghoul that only knows how to kill.

Without any further hesitation, Zuo Chi unleashed his ascending power, grabbed the plank beneath him, and, with his feet firmly planted on the sea surface, sprinted forward like a madman.

Not long after Zuo Chi's figure disappeared from the spot, a bluish-gray mist slowly covered the place where he had just been.

The fog originated in the southeast of Bilgewater and spread northwards.

The wailing sounds that Zuo Chi just heard came from within this black mist.

Meanwhile, inside the port of Bilgewater, the sounds of gongs and drums resounded.

"The Soul-Eating Night is here! Those who don't want to die, hide now!"

Chapter 25 The Shadow of War! A fleeting glimpse of a blue tentacle!

Zuo Chi, clutching a plank, raced forward swiftly across the sea off Bilgewater.

Every time he stepped onto the sea, a golden ripple would spread out from the toes of his feet.

Under the reaction force of the ascension, he was able to walk on water for a short period of time.

Right behind Zuo Chi, the overwhelming black mist was rapidly approaching him, and the howls of the undead within the mist had become incredibly clear.

Zuo Chi never imagined that he could be this unlucky!

First, they encountered Nautilus, one of the four great horror legends of Piraeus, which was bad enough.

Having just escaped from Nautilus's anchor, they surfaced and immediately encountered the monthly Soul-Eating Night!

The so-called Night of the Souls is a day each month when a thick black fog begins to spread uncontrollably from the Shadow Isles in the southeasternmost corner of Runeterra, spreading throughout the entire Runeterra.

Within this vast expanse of black mist lie countless undead from the Shadow Isles!

These undead armies were previously unable to leave the Shadow Isles, as they required the black mist as a vessel to move freely.

On the night of the Soul Erosion, the black mist will break away from the Shadow Isles and rush to every part of Runeterra!

Wherever the black mist reaches, the spirits within it will frantically devour and assimilate all living beings.

As the closest place to the Shadow Isles, Bilgewater is almost always the primary target of the Night Erosion.

Zuo Chi said, "That's why there aren't any ships out to sea off Bilgewater today. It turns out it's because everyone knows that the Soul Eater will be attacking tonight."

He alone, drifting aimlessly on the sea in a tattered little boat, completely unaware of the arrival of Soul Eater Night.

Zuo Chi continued to speed across the sea, pouring all the ascending power within him into the seawater beneath his feet.

However, the sea off Bilgewater is so vast, and the speed at which the Soul Eater spreads is so terrifying.

This meant that even though Zuo Chi had gone all out, the howling of the undead behind him was getting closer and closer, and he still couldn't see the harbor of Bilgewater!

"Tread! Tread! Tread!"

Whether it was Zuo Chi's imagination or something else, he felt that the howling of the undead behind him seemed to be mixed with the clattering of horses' hooves.

Moreover, these clapping sounds were getting closer and closer to him, just like the black fog that filled the sky!