Chapter 93: Chapter 93: Hunter of Night
"If only I possessed that level of strength," Eren mused, "I wouldn\'t have to worry about taking down a mere Sea Dragon."
Reflecting on his past accomplishments, Eren remembered his encounter with a Poison Dragon. However, he understood that the circumstances were quite different.
The Poison Dragon was already weakened when he faced it, giving him an advantage. Furthermore, the nature of a Poison Dragon was distinct from that of a Sea Dragon, particularly one that resided in the vastness of the sea.
While a Poison Dragon relied solely on its physical strength and poisonous abilities, a Sea Dragon had the advantage of utilizing the power of the ocean itself.
Unlike the lonely nature of the Poison Dragon, the Sea Dragon could easily gather in groups, which made them a more formidable force.
The map Eren had access to only revealed the locations of the Sea Dragons\' habitats, with no indication of their actual numbers.
A Sea Dragon was dangerous in itself, but if they were in groups, it could only be described as tragic.
"I don\'t think facing a Sea Dragon in a proper battle would be a wise decision."
He had exhausted the Pendant of Strength. Other than Xiu Ying, the only thing that could help him was the Phoenix and the last remaining Unseal Talisman.
The last time he used it, he had almost died from pain. There were too many flaws in this talisman. Under the effects, he could not differentiate between enemies or friends either.
If the time had not run out, he might have killed Xiu Ying, only to regret it forever. Another problem was that he only had two minutes.
Fortunately, he had managed to eliminate all the heroes within the given two minutes. But if he failed to defeat the Sea Dragons within the time limit, it would be akin to serving himself on a platter.
He had not forgotten the effects of his previous experience with the talisman. If possible, he wished to avoid using it until he fully recovered Ren\'s memories and understood the underlying conditions.
"Perhaps a bit of practice is in order," he pondered aloud.
Before engaging in battle with the boss, he wanted to gauge the strength of the minions to gain a rough estimate. After all, they lacked experience fighting in the Ocean.
With his Level Up system, he believed this to be a wise decision. It could also provide an opportunity for him to further enhance his abilities.
\'If I can strengthen my body, perhaps the pain caused by the Unseal Talisman would be more bearable.\'
He looked through the map, and found an island that was at a good enough distance from the Sea Dragon habitat while also not being too far.
....
In the middle of the Blood Ocean, an abandoned island stood tall.
Surrounded by crimson waters that were filled with the scent of blood, the island still managed to have a flourishing ecosystem.
More than half the island was covered in forest, and the remaining half was covered in grass. However, just like the often, the grass was also different.
The grass did not have the natural green color. Instead, the island grass was pitch black. The trees stood tall, but their blood red leaves rustled in the wind, creating an eerie yet mesmerizing sight.
Despite its haunting appearance, the island was beginning with herbs, plants and flowers that could not be found anywhere else.
As the sun set on the horizon, casting an eerie glow on the desolate island, a magnificent Phoenix descended from the heavens.
Its wings, ablaze with vibrant hues of red, orange, and gold, created a mesmerizing sight against the darkening sky.
With graceful movements, the Phoenix landed on the island\'s barren shores. The sound of waves lapping gently against the rocks seemed to create a beautiful melody.
Eren landed on the barren rocks beneath him. This time, he was not looking at the bloody ocean from the sky. He was right in front of it.
If he was to reach out his hand, he could even touch the bloody water of the ocean. Being cautious, he decided against touching the water, at least when he could not see clearly.
He could only see the rough silhouette of the ocean, thanks to the moon hanging high in the night sky, casting a silvery glow over the scene.
"Just how much blood did the Celestial Dragon have?" he jokingly asked.
From this close, he was able to experience the scent of the ocean. And it was truly that familiar and disgusting scent of blood.
"Let\'s find a place to rest. We will start hunting in the morning," Eren told Xiu Ying as he turned towards the forest.
Just as he had taken a few steps, he stopped. Xiu Ying only saw him looking at an empty space.
She had noticed him doing something similar in the past. She did not understand what he was doing, but she remained next to him.
Meanwhile, Eren was going through the description of every option.
[Option 1: The Hunter of the Night.
Become the Hunter of the Night and kill Sea Serpents before morning.
Reward: Pendant of Poison]
[Option 2: The Hunter of the Day.
Become the Hunter of the Day, and kill two Sea Serpents before the sunset tomorrow.
Reward: Spirit Summoning Pendant]
[Option 3: The Commander.
Become a commander, and command the ones under you to hunt a Sea Dragon before sunset tomorrow.
Reward: Thread of Fate]
[Option 4: The Planner.
Don\'t do anything until you are certain of success. Plan for your next course of action.
Reward: Coin of Decision]
"Plan change. I will hunt tonight," he turned back towards the ocean of blood.