Chapter 402 - 386: Shell Ship

Chapter 402: Chapter 386: Shell Ship

According to the scattered records in ancient texts, the Star Realm was not the universe or starry sky as commonly understood, but a silver void connecting innumerable planes—the primordial tapestry underlying the structure of reality.

There, the constraints of direction and gravity did not exist, nor did time flow in any mundane sense.

Thought itself was the vessel for navigation; a single, powerful intent was enough to propel a traveler across that boundless silver void, speeding onward past the shimmering halos of distant planes.

Legend told of the scattered remains of Deities, lost kingdoms, and wonders left by ancient faiths, yet it also concealed indescribable dangers.

For example, the astral whales that fed on the emotions and memories of travelers, or even more bizarre and unfathomable entities.

For the vast majority of mortals, it was a mysterious dimension that could only be glimpsed in the instant the soul left the body.

And the Shell Ship was one of the very few legendary creations that could carry physical entities and safely cross this sea of thought.

If one could ride it to Aiselon, it would indeed be far swifter and more reliable than any mortal vessel.

Therefore, Roland did not refuse Duraga’s proposal, merely posing a practical question.

"Duraga, do you know how to operate a Shell Ship?"

"Of course!"

The Gray Dwarf leader confidently patted the Iron Glove on his right hand.

"My friend, you must understand that our people have a dark, thousand-year history of being enslaved by the Heartstealers. Though those years were filled with suffering..."

A look mixing resentment and sorrow flashed in his eyes, but it quickly gave way to resolve.

"But beyond the suffering, we also learned a great deal of the knowledge and methods of those Otherworld scumbags. Naturally, how to operate a Shell Ship was part of that."

Perhaps invigorated by knowing the Shell Ship’s exact location, the Gray Dwarf leader was in high spirits. Even his eyes, usually full of resentment and fury, now seemed to possess a certain clarity.

"Once we find the Shell Ship, you can leave the rest to me. You don’t need to worry about a thing!"

Seeing Duraga’s confidence, Roland set aside his doubts for the moment and nodded before asking another question.

"The Dwarves of the Rock Kingdom will soon learn of what’s happened here. How do you plan to handle their retaliation?"

This wasn’t an unfounded worry.

Despite the outbreak of Stone Speech Syndrome sealing off some of the mine shafts, the Dwarves considered ore their lifeblood. They would never stand by and let Stone Furnace Castle, one of the Kingdom’s most important mining fortresses, be occupied by outsiders for long.

"Hmph! Those ’Du Ga’ Dwarves are nothing more than toothless cubs now. Nothing to be afraid of!"

"’Du Ga’ Dwarves?"

"In our ancient tongue, ’Du Ga’ means ’liars’ and ’oathbreakers.’ It’s how we refer to our kin on the surface."

Duraga’s tone was filled with undisguised contempt.

Seeing how confident he was about the situation, Roland didn’t press the matter.

After getting Bronson and the others settled, Roland wasted no time. He took on the role of a temporary guide, helping Duraga and his Gray Dwarves locate the Shell Ship’s buried location.

Ordinarily, the Shell Ship should have been buried at an incredible depth due to intense tectonic shifts long ago. According to the Heartstealer, it might even be near the planet’s core, which should have made it almost impossible to find.

However, when Roland provided a detailed description and a precise location based on the Heartstealer’s testimony, Duraga seemed to have it all under control.

He swiftly gathered several hundred Gray Dwarves and decisively ordered them to begin excavating.

With the CLANG of pickaxes echoing through the mine shafts, a wide and sturdy tunnel began to take shape in just half a day. It continued to advance steadily into the depths of the earth.

As the excavation progressed, the surrounding rock formations began to change. The once-cold stone walls grew scorching hot, and the acrid smell of sulfur permeated the air.

Deeper in the tunnel, the rock began to emit a dark red glow, the intense heat causing the air to shimmer.

Finally, with one powerful blow, the rock wall ahead collapsed with a ROAR, revealing a slow-flowing river of scorching Magma below.

A wide, subterranean river of Magma spanned the end of the passage. Its orange-red glow illuminated the entire cavern, making it look like the inside of a Forging Furnace.

"A few of you, go scout ahead."

After sending a few of his elite men ahead, Duraga turned to Roland, who was eyeing the Magma with a grim expression, and let out a gruff laugh.

"Relax, old friend. We Gray Dwarves have lived deep within the earth for generations. We’re well accustomed to dealing with this Magma."

As he spoke, he pressed a wineskin into Roland’s hand.

"Have a drink. ’Magma Blood’ will help you resist the searing heat."

Roland watched the slowly flowing river of Magma below. After confirming it wasn’t about to surge, he breathed a small sigh of relief, then took the wineskin and had a sip.

As the searing liquid slid down his throat, the discomfort from the intense heat vanished completely.

To pass the time, the two of them started chatting, and the topic inevitably turned to "Stone Speech Syndrome."

"Speaking of which... why do Surface Dwarves turn into Gray Dwarves after being infected with ’Stone Speech Syndrome’?"

"Stone Speech Syndrome?"

Duraga scoffed and shook his head.

"That’s just a fantasy born of ignorance. For thousands of years, the Gray Dwarf bloodline has lain dormant within every Dwarf. It never truly vanished."

He raised his right hand. The Iron Glove gleamed with a dark metallic luster in the red glow of the Magma.

"As for me, it was through a twist of fate that I happened to awaken part of my Gray Dwarf bloodline, which led me to find this..."

Duraga gently stroked the ancient Runes on the glove, his voice low.

"This is a Sacred Artifact of the Deity our people serve, Durag the Soul Forger. When I broke its seal, the dormant bloodline began to awaken among my brethren."

"So, you are a Divine Favored One?"

Roland pressed.

"Divine Favored One? That’s what you humans call it."

A proud grin spread across Duraga’s face.

"Among us Gray Dwarves, it’s called the ’Melting Choice’."

The light of the Magma reflected on his resolute face, casting dancing Shadows.

Roland gazed at the Iron Glove, which seemed to be fused with Duraga’s very flesh, and asked curiously.

"You just said you awakened your Gray Dwarf bloodline by chance?"

"That’s right."

Duraga gave a self-deprecating nod.

"You may not believe it, but before my Awakening, I was a fairly renowned Master Forger among the Surface Dwarves. But with the mine shafts closed, I had nothing to do all day and grew restless."

"One day, while wandering the streets, I happened to meet a human Alchemist."

"An Alchemist?"

"Mhm..."

Duraga stroked his chin, recalling.

"The man claimed he could concoct a Potion capable of awakening one’s Bloodline Power."

"At the time I scoffed at it, so I bought a bottle and drank it, wanting to expose the fraud. Who knew..."

The Gray Dwarf leader spread his hands, displaying his rock-like, grayish-white skin.

"That fellow’s Potion actually worked."

At this, Duraga shook his head lightly, a complex look in his eyes.

"Perhaps... it was fate."

"Wait... you’re talking about a Potion that can awaken Bloodline Power?"

Roland’s expression suddenly turned odd as he asked tentatively.

"That Alchemist’s name... it wouldn’t be... Danny, would it?"

"How did you know?"

Seeing the undisguised surprise on Duraga’s face, Roland raised a hand to rub the bridge of his nose.

’This is really...’

Back in the Golden Valley Kingdom, it was thanks to this very Alchemist’s Potion that he had successfully integrated the [Giant Dragon Bloodline] and become a [Dragon Descendant].

He had tried to recruit the man afterward, but due to the unstable situation in the Golden Valley Kingdom, he had to ask the Alchemist to wait for him in the River Domain.

But then everything happened...

Civil war, the Abyss invasion, rampaging Demons...

He had been dragged into one conflict after another.

By the time things settled down, he had completely forgotten about the Alchemist.

’How did Danny end up in the Rock Kingdom? Maybe... it’s because the River Domain and the Golden Valley Kingdom were at war back then.’

Recalling Danny’s wrinkled, perpetually troubled face, a wry smile touched Roland’s lips.

"So, Duraga, that Alchemist named Danny... where is he now?"

"So that weirdo, Danny, is a friend of yours..."

Although Roland hadn’t said it outright, Duraga guessed as much from his expression.

The Gray Dwarf leader let out a booming laugh and clapped Roland hard on the shoulder.

"Haha! Old friend, it seems you’ve helped me again!"

"Don’t worry, that oddball is in a safe place in Stone Furnace Castle right now. Once we find the Shell Ship, I’ll take you to see him."

"You have my thanks."

As the two were talking, the Gray Dwarves who had been sent to scout ahead returned safely.

After confirming the path forward, the party resumed their excavation.

In the sunless underground passages, the concept of time grew hazy.

But as the excavation went deeper, Roland’s Spiritual Energy-fueled Perception of the Shell Ship grew increasingly clear. This growing anticipation drove everyone to press on tirelessly.

During this time, aside from occasionally having to interrogate the Heartstealer and provide directions, Roland mostly had no specific duties.

So, he decided to focus his energy on improving his own strength.

As the excavation continued, the tunnel began to wind its way down toward the center of the earth.

The common ores in the rock walls gradually gave way to Nightlight Crystals that flickered with a faint, blue-violet glow. The acrid smell of sulfur was replaced by a crisp, cool air with a metallic tang.

They passed through forests of giant crystals. These prismatic formations had grown silently in the deep for millions of years, emitting a cold light bright enough to illuminate the path forward.

Between the Crystals, pale ferns spread tenaciously through the crevices in the rock, their fine spores floating like motes of dust in the pale light.

An unknown amount of time passed—perhaps days, perhaps months—before the passage ahead suddenly opened up.

A vast underground cavern opened up before them.

The cavern’s ceiling was covered with glittering Crystal Clusters, like an inverted starry sky.

And in the center of the cavern, the vast, twisted outline of something was faintly visible, half-buried in the rock.

Its surface was covered in an unnatural, chitinous material, like the carapace of some great creature. In the subterranean gloom, it glittered with faint points of light.