MTLNOVEL Chapter 108: Corpse-Eating Fish
The River of Blood is the first of the three great rivers of the Northern Frontier. It stretches for more than ten thousand kilometers, from the southern tip to the northern border, and crosses the three kingdoms before emptying into the ocean.
From above, its zigzag course resembles a red scar running through the entire region.
Its thick red waters flow violently. Strong currents and waves make it difficult to navigate, and its dangerous reputation is well-founded.
Unique creatures live inside: six-legged crocodiles, blood crocodiles, Devilfish, corpse-eating fish, and other forms of wildlife, making the river a place where very few dare to cross.
At that moment, a small sailing ship with two tall masts and tightly taut triangular sails was plowing through the raging waves. Its dark, sturdy hull rose and fell to the rhythm of the raging sea.
On both sides, two figures contemplated the landscape. One was a young man with an ordinary face, black eyes, and a mask of coins covering his mouth. His dark hair fell over a black Taoist robe. Next to him stood another young man of supernatural beauty, with gem-like blue eyes and silvery hair that absorbed the light, dressed in the same robe.
They were Kael Medici and Michel Abraham.
After the battle on Kiran Mountain, with the fall of the Medici Clan, they escaped from the blockade and came down from the mountain, walking for several days until they found this small merchant ship.
Without any means of transportation, the two would be caught by infiltrators from the Lion Kingdom and the Holy Empire. Therefore, Kael decided to navigate the most dangerous river.
Many tributaries of the River of Blood flowed through Kiran Mountain. In addition, some merchant ships took this route to avoid the most dangerous stretches of the river, where the risk of the ship being destroyed was greater.
The small sailboat navigated through one of the tributaries of the main river, and as it flowed with the current, its speed was naturally extremely fast.
"It's been over a week, and there's still no sign of those pursuers," Kael muttered, staring at the blood-red water and glancing behind him.
As the main conspirator behind the fall of the Medici Clan and for having used infiltrators from two kingdoms as pawns, it was quite obvious that they would want him eliminated. Furthermore, they would have a much faster method of transportation.
So, after a week had passed, Kael felt more confident and opened his status window.
Kael Medici
Title: Strayed Demon.
Talent: SSS.
Mana Core: Awakened.
Rank: 8
Knight Rank: 8 Stars
Magician: 2nd Circle
Traits: Refinement (A), Swordsmanship (A), Melee (S), Tamer (C)...
Strength: 95 +
Endurance: 93 +
Agility: 92 +
Vitality: 110 +
Mana Capacity: 97%
Stat points: 0
All my stats have increased by 10. Is it because I leveled up?
Kael assumed that this was the reason for the increase, because starting from rank 8, as you level up, your body gradually becomes stronger. And when you reach a certain point, your body undergoes a qualitative change, both in strength and power.
His gaze shifted to Michel, and he frowned slightly. Michel was a rank 7, and there was no way he could bind him to be his guardian until their next destination.
He didn't trust him, and the same was true for Michel. They were simply together because of the current situation.
The furious waves of the river bombarded his ears. Michel glanced at Kael, who was deep in thought.
He let out a small laugh. "Are you so worried about this? If those guys don't follow, we'll just have to fight. Besides, it would be interesting to fight in the River of Blood."
Kael ignored him and looked into the distance.
After another week of sailing, they came upon Mount Dubhu, where a nobleman had recently established his territory.
According to his memories, a magical inheritance is hidden in that territory. The magical inheritance was left by a 5th Circle Magician who belonged to the Tower of Babel that marked an entire era.
I have not personally been to that inheritance and have only heard about it. And in my past life, it was rumored that several conditions had to be met to claim it.
Kael pushed his thoughts aside when he heard footsteps approaching. He looked up just as an old man appeared in the doorway.
"Young nobles, the captain asked me to call you," said the man as he held onto the frame to keep from falling, staggering from the violent shaking of the ship.
Both followed the old man to the bridge. There, the captain was waiting for them: a middle-aged man with black hair streaked with silver, a pipe hanging from the corner of his mouth. In front of him, a rough wooden table held a bronze compass and a mana sphere that pulsed with a faint light.
Exhaling a puff of smoke, he raised his head to look directly at them.
"In a week, we will reach Mount Dubhu, the territory of Baron Aiden Blander. That is your destination. But listen carefully: the next leg of the journey will not be easy. Do not let your guard down, especially at night."
Michel crossed his arms calmly.
"Why should we be careful at night?"
The captain took a deep breath, remained silent for a few seconds, and then slowly exhaled the smoke.
"This river, they say, is not like other rivers. It was formed from the blood of a defeated god, vanquished by the Ancient Sun God in times long forgotten. That is why, when night falls, that blood still pulses. The fallen, those who died in the name of that lost god, rise. They murmur, dragging their bodies through the mist, still calling out to their lord."
He paused, his gaze hard.
"It's best that you don't leave your rooms, no matter what noise you hear. Unless, of course, you want to meet the fallen followers of that forgotten deity."
Michel was not surprised by the story. He had heard it when he went to the Academy to receive training and form bonds with other nobles.
A few minutes later, they left the bridge after the captain gave them several instructions for the next leg of the journey.
When they stepped out onto the deck, the first thing they saw was a group of people chatting among themselves. Some were laughing, others were simply resting after the long journey. The children, their eyes shining with excitement, looked at the River of Blood as if it were a marvel.
After so many days locked up, they could finally move around freely.
Most of the girls, however, couldn't take their eyes off Michel, who smiled at them gently and charmingly. It was easy for him to win people over. As the future leader of the Abraham family, he had been raised to do so.
One of the girls, fascinated by Kael's long black hair with a slight sheen, like a night sprinkled with stars, approached him curiously. Her eyes were large and clear, full of innocence.
"Why are you covering your face? Are you hurt?" she asked, pointing to his mask.
Kael looked at her for a moment. The mask of coins jingled softly as he turned his head.
"I'm not hurt," he replied calmly. "So don't worry.
Snap!
A sudden, sharp sound shook the entire boat.
The girl next to Kael clung tightly to the railing, closing her eyes in fear. The atmosphere changed immediately.
A man emerged from the lower hold, pale.
"Something's wrong!" he shouted. "We're sinking... and at an alarming rate!"
Hearing this, the captain immediately rushed out of his cabin. His face was tense.
"Damn it! We've hit a rock!"
The river flowed fast, violently, uncontrollably. The hull of the boat, already weakened, began to fill with water rapidly. The lower compartments flooded without pause.
The deck, which minutes before had been filled with laughter and voices, was transformed into chaos. Screams, running, desperation.
Night was falling, and everyone knew what that meant.
They had heard the stories about this river.
And none of them wanted to find out if they were true.
The boat creaked as the water continued to pour in. Some passengers tried to grab buckets, others screamed for help, or simply fell to their knees, paralyzed by fear.
And then...
Splaaash.
Something emerged from the water with a sharp squeak. A winged figure shot through the air in a flash of white.
A fish.
But not a normal one.
Its body was made entirely of bone: elongated spines, sharp jaws, and hollow eyes that glowed with a whitish light. It had membranous wings similar to those of a bat, and it flew at great speed.
"W-what is that...?" someone managed to stammer.
There was no time for more.
Crack.
The first fish embedded itself in a sailor's chest. The creature pierced him as if he were paper. His body fell lifeless, and the fish continued flying, covered in blood.
And it wasn't alone.
Dozens of those things emerged from the river as if they had been waiting for nightfall. They jumped onto the boat, screeching with a hollow sound. Some crashed into the sails, others descended onto the wood.
A child was swept through the air. A woman fell to the ground as two fish passed through her.
The sky, barely darkened, was already turning red.
Kael stood in the middle of the disaster.
His eyes calmly observed the chaos.
One of the fish flew straight toward him.
Crack!
In one swift motion, his arm swung around and smashed the fish's head against the railing. The bony skull shattered instantly, falling like a stone.
Another came from a blind angle.
Kael spun around, his sword already in his hand.
Slash!
He cut off the creature's wings with a clean stroke. It fell to the ground, screaming, before being crushed by his expressionless foot.
"What the hell are those things?!" shouted the captain, bleeding from his arm.
Kael looked down at one of the dead creatures. He still had bits of flesh on his teeth.
"They're Corpse-eating Fish."