Heroes Return

A series of exclamations came from the mouths of the people.

The enormous serpentine creature lay silently in the Fantasy Sea, its body seemingly splitting the entire sea in two.

"I never thought I'd see this thing again..." Lin Jie's joints throbbed with pain when he saw the giant beast again.

"This...this...this..." Of course, Thirteen also recognized the huge creature.

Not only Lin Jie and Thirteen, but many people on the ship recognized the creature the moment they saw its body and scales...

Chapter nine

Everyone who witnessed this scene couldn't help but think of the same giant beast.

"World Serpent!"

The creature that became humanity's nightmare seven years ago, the terrifying creature that Zero killed and whose body was thrown into the Fantasy Sea, one of Loki's three children.

"Yurmgunt".

"Alright, now we have good news and bad news." The admiral said, looking at the enormous figure, "The good news is that the monster was killed by Zero seven years ago. The bad news is that we've actually entered the Fantasy Sea."

When the passengers returned to the banquet hall, the admiral relayed the two pieces of news to them. However, many passengers had already guessed their location upon seeing the enormous figure. After all, the people on this cruise ship were all of considerable status, and they weren't fools.

Seven years ago, the World Serpent brought the world to the brink of destruction, but it was ultimately killed by Zero. Zero then threw its body into the Fantasy Sea.

"Everyone can rest assured, we have long since signed a peace treaty with the sea people. I believe that as long as we find the sea people, they will lead us out of the Fantasy Sea." The admiral said to everyone, "Now that we have confirmed that we have been dragged into the Fantasy Sea for unknown reasons, I think what we need to do next is to find the sea people."

……

Following the admiral's instructions, the Future's course was changed once again.

"What a hassle! I never thought we'd end up here..." Lin Jie sighed in the cabin. "I never imagined I'd have to confront my dark past in the end."

"Dark history?" Thirteen looked at Lin Jie in confusion: "Are you talking about the war against the sea race? Didn't we defeat the sea race that invaded the land and sign a peace treaty with them? It's a glorious thing, how can you call it dark history?"

“You weren’t involved, so you have no idea what happened.” Lin Jie said to Thirteen and the incompetent master who was standing to the side with an attentive expression, “Do you know what caused that war back then?”

"Isn't it because the sea creatures want to rule the land?" Thirteen asked curiously.

"That's what they say, but it's not entirely true..." Lin Jie said, "The real cause is pollution. Although the sea creatures are different from us humans, they are also intelligent and civilized races. I only learned this after I later ventured into the Fantasy Sea and met many simple and honest sea creature civilians."

Several notorious, heavily polluting industries at the time established production facilities at sea.

“I do know about this,” Thirteen said. “I heard that many giant sea monsters were caused by that pollution back then… Could it be that the sea creatures were also affected by that pollution?”

"Pretty much. I only found out after I actually arrived at the Fantasy Sea that the pollution had flowed into the Fantasy Sea through the entrance. At that time, it not only killed many sea creatures, but also affected the lives of a large number of sea creatures."

"So the sea creatures attacked?"

"No, the sea creatures had a beloved prince who advocated peaceful negotiations with humans... But he and his men first negotiated with the floating factories, demanding that the capitalists of those industries cease production and pollution. However, the capitalists disagreed and killed all the sea creatures who had come with them, including the prince. In fact, in the eyes of those capitalists, these sea creatures were just mutated villagers from some small island."

Thirteen fell silent after hearing Lin Jie's words.

“Zero didn’t know any of this at the time, so he could fight the sea creatures with peace of mind, right?” Lin Jie said with a self-deprecating smile. “No one knew these inside stories, including me. Those industrial giants kept the secret very well, and their greed also became the seeds of hatred. Giant waves submerged many coastal cities, and countless sea creatures began to attack the land.”

“But those sea creatures killed many innocent people,” Thirteen said.

"That's the most ironic thing." Lin Jie seemed to recall many unpleasant memories as he took out a bottle of beer, took a big gulp, and said, "Originally, I was a victim, but I became a perpetrator because of hatred. It wasn't until Zero defeated the Sea King that some of the humans stormed into the Fantasy Sea. That's when I learned the truth. But the most ironic thing is that the heavy industry company at the center of the whole thing was still alive and well until the sea monsters attacked humans, and the heavy industry company's pollution crimes were exposed."

“Even if they were victims, they killed many innocent people.” Thirteen said to Lin Jie, “Your battles with the sea tribes can’t really be considered a dark history, since there was only fighting back then.”

"But we also killed a lot of innocent people." Lin Jie took a sip of beer and said, "After the Sea King was defeated by Zero, didn't a lot of people invade the Fantasy Sea? Heh, what those people did was no better than what the Sea Clan did. Burning, killing, and looting, they did everything they were supposed to do, and they were also killing innocent people."

What else could it be but a dark history? If killing innocent and kind people isn't a dark history, then what is? It wasn't a just battle at all, and Zero probably knows that himself. That's why he threw the World Serpent's corpse into the Fantasy Sea as compensation, but many people who shouldn't have died are already dead.

It's ironic that after arriving at the Fantasy Sea, I realized that the perpetrator was actually the victim, and the victim was also the perpetrator.

"Is this why you don't want to tell your sister what you did in the past?" Thirteen asked.

"I'm not going to brag about such a dishonorable battle," Lin Jie said.

"No wonder you're so strong," Thirteen said at this moment. "You really are someone who has experienced real battles."

"Back then, if you didn't know how to protect yourself, you were doomed."

“Amitabha, since you have already understood the essence of things and have not flaunted your achievements like the other participants, it is already clear that you have a compassionate heart.” Master Wuneng said to Lin Jie, “If you have time, you can come to Guanggun Temple. Perhaps my junior brother, Monk Wuyu, can help you resolve your inner conflicts and attain Buddhahood sooner.”

"Get lost! You yourself haven't become a Buddha, yet you're telling me to become one."

“Everyone has their own paradise. The Western Paradise may not be suitable for this humble monk, but the paradise in this human world is very suitable for him. Therefore, this humble monk will naturally not seek to become a Buddha.” Master Wuneng said, “Moreover, the Buddha is in everyone’s heart and in all things. In this humble monk’s view, practicing in the mortal world is practicing Buddhism.”

"Master, please speak like a human being."

"Alright, so many beautiful women are waiting for me to preach to them, how could I possibly abandon them and go straight to the Western Paradise?"

"Master is indeed a disgrace to Buddhism," Lin Jie said with a sigh, looking at the incompetent master.

"This humble monk simply has a different method of cultivation," Master Wuneng said. "Moreover, true wisdom is inherently present in the human realm, so this humble monk naturally chooses to cultivate in the human realm."

"Master, are you really a Buddhist disciple?" Lin Jie asked Master Wuneng, puzzled. "I remember you monks all say that the Buddha has great wisdom, but you actually say that great wisdom exists in the human world."

“Indeed,” Master Wuneng said. “The story of one of our Buddhist ancestors proves this point. Before he became a Buddha, he made a bold statement, but even after becoming a Buddha and gaining great wisdom, he still failed to fulfill his promise. However, hundreds of years later, humanity fulfilled his promise. It is a pity that he perished in the great calamity of the end times. Otherwise, he would surely have experienced the world like this humble monk.”

"Like you, going around preaching to girls?" Lin Jie looked at Master Wuneng: "Your senior wasn't a former excavator operator, was he? What grand pronouncements did he make? He didn't even achieve Buddhahood?"

“He said, ‘I want this sky to no longer obscure my vision, this earth to no longer bury my heart, all living beings to understand my will, and all Buddhas to vanish like smoke!’ Master Wuneng said, ‘In the end, he himself became a Buddha. However, humanity has fulfilled his four sentences.’”

"How did you manage to do it?" Thirteen asked, curious after hearing this boast.

"Humans invented astronomical telescopes, excavators, internet broadcasters, and the theory of evolution," the Incompetent Master said. "Especially the theory of evolution; the moment it appeared, the catastrophe of the end times began..."

"I don't even know how to refute you."

"Speaking of which, Master, what exactly is this calamity of the end times that you've been talking about?" Thirteen looked at the Incompetent Master: "Will even the so-called Buddha be killed in the calamity of the end times?"

Just as Thirteen asked the question, the identity cards of the three people on the ship simultaneously rang.

The above are the latest messages from the Admiral.

"I hope I can come to the captain's cabin for a moment."

"Let's go see. I reckon this admiral has something to discuss with us," Thirteen said. "And he probably wants to see more than just the three of us."

……

Inside the captain's cabin, Thirteen's words were proven true. When Lin Jie and his companions arrived, the cabin was already quite crowded, with many people present, including bodyguards and passengers who clearly knew how to fight. Not only Lin Jie and his group, but also Mr. Swain was among those who had come to the captain's cabin.

"Kuhoo, what a coincidence!" Alice then pulled little Delis into the captain's cabin.

When Alice and Delis entered, many people in the room looked at them with strange eyes.

“Miss Alice, everyone here is a combat-capable passenger,” Swain said to Alice. “A delicate and lovely girl like you doesn’t really need to participate in this kind of gathering. Don’t worry, I’ll always be there to protect you as your knight.”

“Kuhu, so it really is Mr. Swain.” Alice smiled and said to Swain, “If there’s any trouble, you’d better protect me and my sister.”

"Rest assured, this is a knight's duty."

chapter Ten

"Now that everyone is here, I'll get straight to the point," the admiral said to the people in the captain's cabin. "Everyone here is a passenger with combat capabilities on board, and I hope to receive your assistance on the journey ahead."

"Kuhuhu! Does this mean the journey ahead isn't safe?" Alice smiled at the Admiral. "So, where does our danger come from?"

"I don't know, it could be sea creatures, or it could be other marine life," the admiral said. "So for the safety of this voyage, and also for our own protection, I hope everyone can do their part."

"This is absurd!" said a man in a suit. "When you asked us for help, shouldn't you have explained why you were so sure you would be attacked? The sea creatures signed a peace treaty a long time ago. The friction between us and them hasn't escalated to the point where they would attack a cruise ship that has strayed into the Fantasy Sea, has it? If we just find the sea creatures' diplomat, they should be able to send us out of the Fantasy Sea, right?"

But why are you so sure we'll be attacked? Or have you done something that might anger the sea creatures? If so, we can simply hand you over; there's still no reason to fight, right?

"You're right, shouldn't you explain to us what's going on?"

Others chimed in.

"I knew you'd ask that." The admiral said, gesturing to the future beside him.

The future immediately brought up an image, which showed a crystal-clear object that looked like scales.

"What is this?" the man in black asked the admiral.

"This is a scale!" the admiral said to everyone present. "This is a dragon's reverse scale."

The moment he uttered those words, the expressions of most people in the captain's cabin changed.

"You mean a dragon?" Swain asked the admiral. "If it were a dragon, you wouldn't be so wary of it, would you?"

“Kuhuhu, I think the reverse scale you’re talking about, Admiral, must be from the legendary dragon in Area C.” Alice looked at the Admiral and said, “Admiral, you actually dared to take this thing out to sea, Kuhuhu, I really underestimated your courage.”

"The dragon of Sector C?" Swain looked at the others in the room with some confusion.

“Amitabha, there is a significant difference between the dragons in Zone C and Zone M,” Master Wuneng said, stepping forward. “If the dragons in Zone M can be considered powerful magical beasts, then the dragons in Zone C are actually deities. In Zone C, the dragon is the sea god. It has been recorded since ancient times that dragons have scales that cannot be touched, and those who touch them will die.”

“That’s right,” the admiral nodded and said.

"You mean you're sailing the seas carrying a taboo from a sea god?" The man in the black suit looked at the admiral with some surprise.

Not only was he surprised, but everyone present was shocked by this astonishing situation.

"You're transporting such dangerous goods and you're even soliciting passengers?" the man in the black suit said to the admiral. "Do you know that this could very well bring disaster to the passengers? And do you know the consequences you'll face if anything happens to any of those passengers?"

“I know, but we have to do it.” The admiral said to everyone, “This piece of land has been targeted by a terrorist organization lurking in the world, and it is very likely to be intercepted halfway, so my friend asked me to deliver this piece of land to the M district.”

"Then why did you allow so many passengers to board the ship?"

"Because this is the only way I can appear natural." The admiral said to everyone present, "You have no idea what would happen if this 'Reverse Scale' fell into the hands of that organization. This 'Reverse Scale' contains a peculiar power, which, if used properly, can create a terrifying super army. In fact, my friend's transport decoy lost contact the day before yesterday."

"Kuhuhu, so you're saying you were accepting guests normally to avoid suspicion of secretly transporting this 'rebel'? How interesting, Kuhuhu. Since it's a confidential matter, why are you revealing it to us now?"

"Because I need your help," the admiral said to those present. "We left the waters of Sector C yesterday, which means we have left the waters under the jurisdiction of the Dragon God. But on the same day we left, we entered the territory of the sea creatures. In my opinion, this is no coincidence at all."

"You mean you've been discovered?" the man in the black suit asked.

“Yes, and it’s clear that the one who discovered this wasn’t human,” the admiral said. “We entered the Fantasy Sea without any warning, and the sea creatures have a strange connection with the sea gods of various seas.”

"Even if you say that, why should we help you?" Swain jumped out and asked, "Are we supposed to fight the sea creatures or that dragon god for you and that scale?"

"In fact, that's the only way," the admiral said. "Dragons have scales, and those who touch them die. It's clear now that those who intend to attack the Future are not human. Do you think the Dragon God will let you, who are on the same ship as me, go? Even if they aren't the Dragon God's subordinates, the sea creatures won't let you go either. Since they're attacking the ship, there's no reason for them to leave any survivors to send back to the World Alliance, right?"

"Kuhuhu, there's something else I don't understand," Alice jumped in and asked, "If you need everyone's help in the battle, why was I, a delicate and frail girl, also invited?"

"Miss Alice, you're not joking, are you?" The admiral's expression was slightly different at this moment. "Besides, even if I didn't invite you, you would have found out soon enough, wouldn't you?"

As soon as the admiral finished speaking, Future, who was beside him, placed a chip the size of a grain of rice into Alice's hand.

"Kuhuhu, we've been discovered." Alice put away the chip in her hand.