Beck devoted himself wholeheartedly to creating the Seraphim, with a spacious cabin allocated exclusively for him.
In the original work, Seraphim like Hawkeye replaced the Seven Warlords of the Sea. In this world, the Seraphim under his command would far surpass those in the original, both in numbers and combat power.
Ye Yu had already made it clear: for those Chosen Ones who had died, if anyone had blood samples in storage, they could send them over, and the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew would offer treasures in exchange.
As for pirate crews like Wang Quanshi's, they were naturally expected to deliver the blood voluntarily, without receiving any benefits in return.
This left them furious and humiliated, but helpless.
Though they didn't understand the purpose of collecting blood, they had no choice but to comply.
Ye Yu looked forward to it—Seraphim versions of Wang Quanshi, Yang Luo, Song Ling, and others, counterparts to Seraphim Kaido, Seraphim Rocks, and Seraphim Big Mom in the pirate world. Of course, the original work never featured Seraphim of such formidable figures, but in this world, he would possess them.
Thus, the future combat strength of the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew would be even more formidable.
With that, they continued their voyage.
The journey of the Dominant Feather Pirate Crew was not without obstacles. Several days later, their path forward was blocked by an eerie stretch of sea.
It wasn't a storm or a horde of Sea Beasts, but an impenetrable, blood-like mist of black and red. This mist covered dozens of nautical miles, exuding an unsettling allure and ominous aura.
At the edges of the mist, faintly distorted lights and whispers, barely audible yet deeply unsettling, could be glimpsed.
"Captain! An Unknown Realm has been spotted ahead!" The lookout's voice carried a barely perceptible tremor. "We've confirmed it's a Solo Realm, difficulty level: Black-Red."
Xia Ling, Zhang Tian, and the others gathered at the bow, staring at the eerie wall of black and red mist, their brows furrowed. They could sense the powerful mental interference emanating from the mist, as if it could directly stir the deepest desires and distractions within their hearts.
"A Solo Realm… Do we have to clear it to proceed?" Xia Ling attempted to touch the edge of the mist with her freezing ability, but the Cold Energy was instantly swallowed, leaving the mist undisturbed.
Ye Yu stepped to the bow, extending his powerful Observation Haki to probe the mist's interior. Yet, it was like throwing clay into the sea—only chaotic, restless, and primal waves of temptation echoed back.
"Mental interference of the seductive kind…" Ye Yu's eyes narrowed slightly, but the corner of his lips curled with interest. "Interesting."
"Captain, it's too dangerous! We've never heard of such a realm before! The difficulty is extreme—Black is already hard enough, but this is bordering on Red!" Zhang Tian tugged at the corner of Ye Yu's cloak, her voice laced with worry.
"It's fine. After all, so much has changed, and I've grown stronger too." Ye Yu patted the back of her hand gently, his tone calm yet brimming with unshakable confidence.
"Since it's a Solo Realm, I'll handle it myself. You all stay here and guard the ship until I return."
"Ye Yu!" Xia Ling couldn't hold back either, her eyes filled with concern. Realms targeting the mind and desires were a hundred times more perilous than pure physical confrontations.
Ye Yu turned back, giving them a reassuring look. His gaze was as deep as the ocean, tempered by countless trials into an unyielding will of steel.
Without another word, he leaped forward like an arrow released from its bow, actively shooting into that black-and-red Mystic Realm.
——
Upon entering, all sounds from the outside world instantly vanished, replaced by an eerie silence.
The scene before him suddenly opened up, but it wasn't the perilous battlefield he had imagined. Instead, it was the interior of a lavish palace bathed in dim, ambiguous hues of pink and purple.
The air was scorching, thick with an intoxicating fragrance that could erode one's willpower. Soft whispers, as if capable of seeping into the marrow of one's bones, echoed all around.
Succubus Realm.
These two words branded themselves into Ye Yu's perception like a searing mark. This was a labyrinth of desire, a crucible for the will.
"Giggle…" A crisp yet seductive laugh rang out.
The light and shadows in front of Ye Yu twisted, and a slender figure slowly materialized.
The moment he saw who it was, Ye Yu's expression turned utterly strange.
Standing before him was none other than Zhang Tian!
But this "Zhang Tian" was nothing like the shy, introverted girl with pure eyes from reality. The one before him wore a nearly transparent black gauze that clung to her breathtaking curves, her fair skin faintly visible beneath. Her eyes shimmered with allure, her red lips parting as she spoke in a voice laced with soul-stealing enchantment:
"Brother Yu… I've waited so long for you… It's just the two of us here… Tian Tian missed you so much…"
As she spoke, she swayed her hips, enveloped in a fragrant breeze, and moved to press herself against him.
Ye Yu: "…"
Ye Yu's lips twitched, his expression shifting from strange to exasperated. This Illusion… had some effort put into it, but not enough. Far from being tempted, he actually found it a little… cringey?
Seeing Ye Yu remain unmoved, "Zhang Tian" intensified her gaze, her movements growing bolder as her delicate hand reached for his chest.
Ye Yu sighed and casually waved his hand as if shooing away a fly. An invisible force surged forth.
"Pop!"
The "Zhang Tian" before him distorted like a burst soap bubble, vanishing instantly, leaving behind only a resentful shriek and a few wisps of pink mist.
"Tch, this is the level of the Illusion?" Ye Yu scoffed and strode forward.
Yet, after only a few steps, the air ahead twisted once more. This time, it was Xia Ling who appeared!
This "Xia Ling" was also dressed in scandalously little, her ice-blue hair cascading loosely, but her gaze burned with an older-sister-like aggression.
She reclined lazily on an ornate divan, ice crystals dancing at her fingertips—yet they radiated scorching heat.
"Little Yu… come to sister… It's too dangerous out there, let sister… 'protect' you properly…"
Her voice carried a husky, languid tone, each word like a feather teasing the heartstrings.
Ye Yu paused, his gaze turning momentarily complicated as he observed this "Xia Ling" with her drastically altered demeanor. It seemed the Illusion could latch onto figures important to its target and twist them into embodiments of desire.
"If Xia Ling knew her image was being tarnished like this…" Ye Yu shook his head, his eyes regaining clarity as a hint of coldness surfaced. "Begone. A fake will always be a fake."
With a single thought, his formidable willpower manifested like an invisible barrier, shattering the seductive Illusion into nothingness. The ice crystals and alluring phantom dispersed into the air.
Having cleared two levels in succession, Ye Yu's steps grew steadier. He knew this Mystic Realm wouldn't be so simple. Sure enough, when he reached the depths of the palace and stood before a massive throne made of pink crystal, the most shocking scene unfolded.
Upon the throne, a figure slowly rose.
It was Lin Muxue!
This "Lin Muxue" was dressed in an S/M-style outfit composed of black feathers and dark golden chains, accentuating her stunning figure to perfection. Gone was her usual cold and aloof expression—instead, her face bore a complex mix of humiliation, unwillingness, and desire-twisted emotions. She descended the throne step by step, each movement swaying with grace yet carrying an eerie weight.
Ye Yu frowned slightly. "What kind of trick is this now?"