Chapter 89 – Tracking and Life
Main World-Arkavia
The sky was clear, not a cloud in sight. The moist scent of the ocean lingered in the air, and a single deep breath felt cleansing to the soul.
White seabirds circled endlessly above the ship—Midsummer—refusing to leave its wake. Below, the waters of the Poison Dragon Sea were a deep, crystalline blue. Schools of dark fish drifted beneath the hull, accompanied by brown sea turtles, strands of green seaweed, brilliantly spotted fish, and countless other marine creatures.
"They say the Poison Dragon Sea used to be emerald green," Charles said idly, showing off knowledge he'd picked up from books. "The Poison Dragon Pluto slept in the depths, and every year on the first day of autumn it would awaken and swallow every ship sailing above it. That season was a total navigation ban."
Most locals knew the tale well, but Connie—being from the Shavin Empire—clearly didn't.
"Then why is the sea blue now?" she asked.
"Who knows," Charles replied, gazing out at the endless water. "Maybe Pluto got killed."
He frowned slightly. "So… how much longer until we arrive?"
"I don't know," Connie said, blinking playfully. "Father Zachary said it's a moving island. Maybe tomorrow, maybe the day after, maybe we'll spot it any minute."
"Didn't he tell you the same thing half a month ago?"
"He did," Connie nodded. "But it's kind of nice, isn't it? Like a vacation. I've never seen the ocean before."
"For someone who doesn't get seasick, I suppose it's not too bad," Charles said, sighing softly.
His frustration wasn't about the ship.
Three days after Zachary and Connie visited, Charles had been forced to drop everything and follow them out onto this boundless sea. Their goal: to find the elusive Phoenix Gallorin, whose whereabouts were completely unknown.
By all logic, Charles shouldn't have been involved at all. Even as an "interested party," his strength was negligible. Finding the man wouldn't make him any more useful.
But Zachary hadn't brought him along for combat.
He needed Charles's hair.
Every few days, Zachary would pluck a few strands, mutter under his breath, and then redirect the ship—east one day, west the next—as if triangulating a destination.
"You touched the notebook," Zachary had explained. "The notebook belonged to your aunt. And your aunt had contact with someone on that island."
"So you can locate an island just from my hair?" Charles had asked.
"Everything in this world follows causality."
The explanation had made Charles feel like he'd wandered into a cultivation novel—except the man speaking was a blond, blue-eyed Westerner.
If only it really were a cultivation world, Charles mused. Flying swords and carefree freedom would beat this any day.
…Though maybe not if it turned into one of those brutal, dog-eat-dog realms.
Just as boredom threatened to win completely, an irritated shout broke the calm.
"Orange! Get back here!"
Charles looked up to see Connie standing with her hands on her hips, glaring at a pony-sized creature perched on the railing, peering curiously into the sea.
Yes.
A pony.
Its coat was snow-white, its body small but well-proportioned. Flame-like fur burned around its hooves as it moved.
Charles couldn't help but think Connie's background must be extraordinary. Not only was she stronger than him despite being a novice, but who casually raised a unicorn?
Because yes—while it looked like a pony, its true nature was unmistakable.
[Mars Mountains Unicorn Star Foal – Astral Entity – Not Mountable]
Turning his gaze to Connie, more information surfaced.
[Connie Veria – Shavin Empire – Age: 18–21]
[Prefers bright colors; dislikes gray and black]
[Holds mild goodwill toward you]
[Thorn Church – Second Ring]
Since Eye of Reality evolved from Eye of True Sight, it began revealing things Charles didn't always understand. He knew of the Mars Mountains—on the border between Dulin and the Highland Kingdom—and remembered that "Unicorn Star" was another name for unicorns. But astral entity was entirely new to him.
Watching the little creature wobble back to Connie's side, Charles studied it closely but found nothing physically unusual.
He changed the subject.
"So… what exactly is a Ring?"
The red-nosed mayor had once force-fed him some basics about power systems, but mostly from his own faction's perspective. Church-specific knowledge had been off-limits.
Apparently, this wasn't secret information.
"The Rings are our steps of growth," Connie said simply.
Charles knew that much—but the details were still unclear, so he let her continue.
"Each Ring is a step closer to the Lord. There are nine Rings in total. Ascend all of them, and you reach Heaven."
Ascension?
Charles recalled the red-nosed old man mentioning something about thirteen steps of flame. It sounded similar.
He couldn't help picturing a long-bearded old man with nine glowing halos expanding outward like signal antennas.
"Does each Ring bring a qualitative leap in power?" he asked.
"Yes—but power isn't the most important part," Connie said seriously. "Every time you advance, your entire being changes."
"Your life level?" Charles ventured.
"You already know?" she asked, surprised.
"You just said it."
Her face flushed slightly. "Right. Well… for example, Bishop Ferrigi of Dulin. If you ever meet her, you'll understand immediately."
"What about her?"
"She has wings."
"…Actual wings?"
"Yes. She chose the Angel Path. When she reaches the final Ring, she'll become a true angel."
"And you?"
"I chose the Pegasus Path. I'm weaker in direct combat, but much faster—especially for travel and escape." She sighed softly. "Honestly, it wasn't my choice."
So at the end… you become a horse?
Charles silently digested this revelation.
It seemed that power systems here split into two main paths: one resembling traditional "professions," and the other—far more dominant—involved transforming one's very nature.
Each elevation of life brought deeper resonance with the world and greater authority over power—but also consequences. Benefits like racial abilities, and drawbacks like altered appearance or personality.
"How many paths are there?"
"No one knows," Connie replied. "However many sacred species exist in Heaven—there are that many paths."
"So Thorn Angels, Moonshadow Cats, Dream Fairies… they all started as humans?"
"Yes."
"And they can't have children afterward?"
She shook her head. "Once you choose a path, you give up that right."
Charles found the idea oddly acceptable.
"And the requirements for advancement?"
"Contribution points?" she said uncertainly.
That explained a lot.
"So no need for stronger bodies or greater spirituality beforehand?"
"No. Human limits are fixed after adulthood. Strength and spirituality cap out. Advancement comes after entering a Ring, not before."
"So theoretically, someone could become a top-tier expert overnight?"
"No," Connie said seriously. "Rapid advancement can cause spiritual collapse."
That was another unfamiliar term—but judging by her expression, she didn't fully understand it either.
"What about gradual advancement from childhood?"
"Impossible. You must be an adult."
"Why?"
"Immature spirituality risks losing oneself completely—becoming a true non-human."
She smiled warmly at him.
"So you're not late at all. You just came of age, didn't you?"