Chapter 54: The Key
Dealing with this kind of extraordinary item with the trait of "being alive" can be either extremely troublesome or surprisingly simple, if you can find its limitations and restrict its movements, then you've already won more than half the battle. After all, it isn't a true living creature in the strict sense.
And with the Pure White Eye's ability to analyze, Enber was undoubtedly an expert in this field.
With that in mind, Enber stopped wrestling head-on with the armored figure gripping the greatsword. Instead, he used the water-controlling ability of the "Sea Breeze Hat" to continuously create turbulent currents, pushing the armor toward the hull of the sunken ship.
Although the ship looked as though it had rested in silence for many years, what Enber saw through the Pure White Eye was a structure covered everywhere in arcane traps and powerful mystical seals. If touched recklessly, the consequences would be nothing short of disastrous.
The "living" greatsword clearly understood this as well. It forced the armor to swim with all its strength, trying to stay away from the spell inscriptions on the ship's surface. But under the relentless pressure of the surging currents, its resistance was limited.
Finally, when it was about to collide with the hull, the armor suddenly exerted all its strength and hurled the greatsword away. At the same moment, the already-rusted armor collapsed abruptly, turning into fine dust that dissolved into the seawater.
Enber didn't bother paying attention to what happened to the armor. At the instant the greatsword was thrown, he used the current to propel himself to its rear flank and grabbed the hilt.
The moment he touched it, Enber felt his palm being assimilated by a strange metal. If he didn't let go immediately, he could already foresee himself turning entirely into metal, becoming a new suit of armor controlled by the blade.
Fortunately, Enber had already deduced the danger during his analysis. Without hesitation, he activated the Pure White Eye again. The suppression coming from the level of authority instantly severed the assimilation. He could even faintly sense a trace of fear rising from within the sword.
If only I were a sequence 6: Polymath right now, capable of simulating a bit of the Death Pathway's power… maybe I could 'communicate' with it properly? Enber suddenly recalled Klein's bizarre "dialogues" with Creeping Hunger in the original work, and he couldn't help thinking of referencing it in the future.
At that moment, whether it was from enduring the pressure of a higher authority or from being frightened by Enber's unfriendly grin, the dazzlingly radiant sword abruptly dimmed, its glow collapsing into dull rust-stained darkness.
"Living things like this really do know when to be cowards… shame they aren't that smart."
Enber chuckled softly, tore a sleeve from his clothes, and wrapped the sword before closing the Pure White Eye.
The wrapping itself did little, but what the sword truly feared was the Pure White Eye. It didn't know and lacked the intelligence to deduce that Enber couldn't maintain high-level suppression for long. So after he closed it, the sword didn't immediately retaliate.
Seeing the blade temporarily "behaving," Enber finally relaxed—though only slightly. If it hadn't cooperated, he would've had no choice but to grit his teeth and throw it directly onto the ship's spell inscriptions, letting it die on its own.
Holding the sleeve-wrapped greatsword, Enber let the currents push him down onto the deck of the sunken ship. This was the spot where the armor had stood earlier—also the only area in the entire vessel that was free of traps and seals under the Pure White Eye's observation.
"If I'm not mistaken, this part of the deck originally had seals too… but they were destroyed. And the one who broke them was this sword—or rather, the previous form of this sword: a descendant of the giants."
Enber studied the marks along the deck, slipping into deduction:
"The giant-blooded person mentioned in Miss Gwen's notes must have come here and attempted to break the seals. But because he lacked sufficient strength, the spells triggered by the remaining inscriptions killed him instantly. The extraordinary characteristics he left behind gradually corroded and evolved over the ages, turning into this 'sword-shaped' sealed object. And his corpse… most likely became that armor."
"As for his belongings, they were probably scattered in the cave, eaten by beasts, which explains why there were so many extraordinary creatures inside."
"And considering that downward-winding passage… there's a good chance the link between the two caves was created by that 'Dragon-Eyed Giant Python.'"
His thoughts flowed. Enber once again looked toward the sunken ship. He didn't know what was hidden within the cabin, but with so many layers of protection, it could not be anything simple.
"A pity I can't obtain it…"
Enber sighed inwardly.
According to his deduction, the giant-blooded man who died here should have been a Sequence 6 "Dawn Paladin," yet was killed instantly by the ship's traps. As a Sequence 8, even with the Pure White Eye's analysis, he lacked the ability to break these seals. Not to mention the strong possibility of demigod-level forces being present within the cabin.
Reluctantly glancing at the ship one last time, Enber didn't linger. He turned and swam back to the cave. He had always been very clear about dangers far beyond his limits—never the type to act recklessly.
Returning to the cavern pool, Enber climbed ashore and briefly explained what had happened below to xio and Miss Gwen.
Miss Gwen reacted little, simply treating it as an adventure tale as she didn't have the ability to dive that deep anyway.
Xio, however, frowned in concern.
"Enber, that sword is extremely dangerous. You must find a proper way to seal it!"
She didn't know Enber had a high-authority trump card, so she remained highly cautious.
"Don't worry. I already have a method. I'll carry it for now. Once we're back at Damir port and I have the materials, I'll hold a ritual to seal it."
Enber gestured simply and explained.
Miss Gwen glanced at the sleeve-wrapped greatsword and, thinking it might be the relic of the notebook's previous owner, couldn't help feeling curious.
"Mr. Enber, since it's still 'alive,' have you given it a name?"
Enber looked at her with mild surprise, then smiled. "It likes watching the sunrise. So let's call it… the Sword of Dawn."
…
'Name: Sword of Dawn.
Danger Level: "2", Dangerous. Must be used carefully and sparingly. Long-term handling only possible under the Pure White Eye's suppression.
Sealing Method: Must be placed in a non-living container, and a ritual invoking the powers of Death or Darkness is required to lock it down.
Description: Appears as a rust-stained greatsword. When its activity increases, the blade emits radiant light.
Derived from the extraordinary characteristics of a deceased "Dawn Paladin," it possesses the trait of being alive.
Analysis Result: Any contact will gradually assimilate the user into controllable armor. If separated before full metalization, recovery is possible; once completely metalized, the transformation is irreversible, turning the user into its puppet.
This item can be utilized. But after usage, it must be bathed in morning sunlight the next day. The blade is extremely sharp and sturdy; each strike can purify evil. Once per day, it can actively unleash a Storm of Light, sweeping the surroundings, destroying flesh, extinguishing resentful souls, and severely injuring evil spirits. It can also form weightless full-body armor on the surface of the wielder (possible only under the suppression of the Pure White Eye, otherwise assimilation will occur).'
This was the analysis report compiled by Enber with Pure White Eye.
…
At dawn on July 9, Enber and the others left the small island. Soon after they set sail, the gold-sheened Golden Dream arrived at the location where Enber and company had explored.
"Blazing" Danitz, "Bow-Tie" Jodeson, and other pirates with bounties in the thousands jumped off the deck one after another, gathering near the cave behind the rocky hill.
Behind them stood "Vice Admiral Iceberg," Edwina Edwards. Her shoulder seemed injured, wrapped in bandages covered in mysterious patterns.
"Captain, someone has clearly been here already. We should head back… You are still injured." Danitz examined the cave entrance and couldn't help suggesting.
"That thing is still down there." Edwina closed her eyes to sense, her tone firm, leaving others to give up on persuading her to return.
Since the captain insisted, the others stopped trying to dissuade her. They soon reached the pool at the cave's deepest point. After examining the traces left by Enber's group, Edwina led Danitz and Jodeson underwater with movement talismans, where they found the sunken ship.
The arcane traps that had been extremely troublesome for Enber were nothing difficult for Edwina. After a brief analysis, she dismantled most of the deck and hull seals with secret techniques, opening the cabin door.
Yet she stopped right there, Because inside the cabin were having level inscriptions. At least at the level of demigod.
Facing such power, even the "Vice Admiral Iceberg" wouldn't dare act rashly without preparation.
But from this point, they could finally see what lay inside.
Danitz craned his neck and looked a little closely....
It was a massive black-iron key.
A massive black-iron key that had soaked in seawater for years yet showed no sign of rust.
…
Tingen
On the morning of July 9, Klein, resting at home, paced back and forth as though pondering something.
His footsteps made no sound. He walked in circles again and again, until finally he exhaled a long breath, excitement gradually rising on his face.
Then he recited softly:
"The Fool who does not belong to this era,
The mysterious ruler above the gray fog,
The king of yellow and black who weilds Good luck..."
"I'm not sure whether performing ritual magic with these three sentences will work—but at least it won't draw attention from other beings, nor will it place Justice or the Hanged Man in danger…"
(End of Chapter)