As evening approached, Sharon recovered from her state of mental exhaustion. By now, the ship had sailed far from the archipelago. The sunset's glow spilled across the sea, shimmering with a golden hue, as if a layer of actual gold had been spread over these wealthy waters.
Their vessel had entered the prosperous sea area marked on the map. Magic was abundant here; the seabed held dense crystals formed from condensed magic, along with a vast array of flora and fauna that thrived because of it.
As for why this place possessed such enduring and bountiful vitality, it remained a mystery. However, almost everyone could vaguely guess the reason—it was undoubtedly the result of God's remains.
Knowing that the journey ahead would be fraught with hardships and dangers, the group decided to prepare some fresh ingredients in this relatively calm sea, alongside the large quantity of fish they had easily caught during the interval.
Everyone gathered on the deck, watching the sun set quietly until the final line of light on the horizon gradually vanished. Darkness spread from the skyline, and the starlight began to twinkle. The moon, round and full, hung in the heavens, serving as a gentle decoration for the night sky.
The banquet preparations progressed quickly. Almost everyone except Li Yue participated. It was only when everything was nearly finished that they suddenly seemed to remember the girl who hadn't been with them for very long.
"Knock, knock." Having finished cooking, Mende walked slowly down the corridor, carrying the aroma of ingredients. He knocked on Li Yue's door. It was silent inside for a moment before a slight stir was finally heard.
"We've prepared a banquet. If you've recovered, come and join us for dinner," he called out through the door. There was another small commotion inside before a faint voice responded to him. He nodded and walked away.
Why does that voice feel so clear, as if it were transmitted directly into my head...? Forget it, I'm probably just lightheaded from work. I need to rest properly. It's time for me to face that piece of God's remains as well.
Inside the dim room, a blood-red gelatinous substance covered the entire floor. A girl with disheveled white hair sat kneeling in the middle of it. She slowly opened her eyes and let out a long breath. Trembling, she stood up, clutching her throbbing head as she walked slowly to the bedside.
Her shaking hand pulled open a drawer, revealing neatly stacked letters. She sat on the edge of the bed and began to reread them one by one.
She took out the recording from her ring—a projection, a special letter, and a music box. Listening to the melodious tune of the violin, she flipped through the pages one after another.
The corners of her eyes were covered in dark gold scales, and her gaze was a blank void, within which grey-white vertical pupils were faintly visible, as if something were missing from them.
The blood-red tide slowly began to recede back into her body. Her skin was covered in blood-red cracks, and her hands and arms transitioned from blood-red to the fair color of skin, looking as if they had been soaked in blood.
"Guh... ugh... ah... haha..." Painful yet clear murmurs echoed in the room. The paper in her hands was pulled until it nearly tore; she seemed to be suppressing a powerful urge to shred everything to pieces.
"Hiss... hiss... hahaha..."
She took a long breath and exhaled. The blood-red tide slowly returned to her body, seeping into the cracks on her skin. Her body trembled violently. The scales at the corners of her eyes gradually vanished, most of the cracks on her body disappeared, and her hands, which had turned into blood-claws, slowly regained their original form.
She appeared to have calmed down. She placed the items back where they belonged, took off her divine raiment, and changed into light, simple clothes that hid most of the abnormalities on her body.
Indistinct noise still rang in her ears, and her five senses gradually returned to her. This felt very much like a rejection phenomenon from God's remains, but she knew the truth: it was simply that they were becoming stronger. They had accepted her and were merging into her body. As she slowly adapted, the intense emotions and power were almost more than she could bear.
All she could perceive was the aura of the God's remains on Mende and the flesh inside the captain's quarters. She temporarily retracted this powerful perception, allowing her mind to find peace again as she felt the nature around her.
Her appearance gradually reverted from that of a demigod, though a few traces remained—such as sharp fangs and the blood-colored patterns on the backs of her hands and chest. They seemed to spread along her blood vessels, yet followed a specific, mysterious order.
She pushed open the door, adjusting her breathing and state of mind. The world, which had looked blood-red to her eyes, gradually returned to normal. The aura she emitted, which felt like the passage of death itself, was also reined in.
Restraining these abilities had become easier for her now. Of course, if she were to release them without reservation, the power they contained would be incomparable to what she had before.
She quietly appeared at a corner of the banquet and picked up some roasted meat, eating it in silence. The meat was well-seasoned, covered in various spices. At first, she couldn't taste anything, but as she chewed slowly, the intense flavor eventually began to spread through her mouth.
"Is Miss Li Yue here?" Sharon, holding a small piece of roasted meat, nudged Mende with her elbow.
"I don't know..."
"Isn't she right over there?" Blan said indistinctly. He had bumped into Li Yue while getting food. He felt that the murderous intent and aura of death around her had largely vanished; she felt calm and peaceful now. However, he had a strange intuition that made him hesitant to approach her.
"Oh, her aura has become so much more restrained." Sharon blinked. Beside her, Mende had already walked over, looking as if he had something on his mind and had reached a decision.
"Miss Li Yue."
"Do you plan to absorb that piece of God's remains?" Li Yue said suddenly. Her lifeless eyes glanced at Mende, and the blood-red cracks on her neck quickly caught his attention.
"What happened to you?"
"It's nothing. The connection between them and me has simply deepened," Li Yue said flatly. "It's just a bit unstable right now."
"What... part is this?"
"The mind... the soul, or something like that. Or perhaps you could call it the will, or an accompaniment. I don't know how to describe it."
"A vital part, and it's complete..."
"You don't need to hesitate. I'm a special case. I've resonated with the God's remains, and now both sides are just adapting to each other." Li Yue swallowed the food in her mouth.
"As long as it's not a vital part, you should just treat God's remains as an object. Don't take it too much to heart."
"Ah... I understand."
Li Yue nodded. She spoke very casually, but in reality, the mutual adaptation placed immense pressure on her body. Her physical strength was struggling to keep up with the intensity of these God's remains.
If the day truly came when she was completely whole, would they lead her to godhood? Only, when that time came, she didn't know if that "Death" would return, or if she would simply become that "Death."
Thinking about it now, she surprisingly didn't feel a trace of panic or unease. That was what worried Li Yue the most.
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