"Of course, I remember," Ryan affirmed, his eyes reflecting the surreal glow of the moonlight.
Under the celestial shimmer, a floating fluorescence formed several layers of intertwined light blue halos in front of the girl, casting a gorgeous and magnificent aura. "The Golden Age began with the birth of the Golden Tree, and the [Golden Rules] it wove and created," she recounted with a tone of awe.
"But do you know where the Golden Tree is?" she queried, not really expecting an answer from Ryan.
Before he could even attempt to reply, Freni continued leisurely, "It resides in the deepest part of the sea, where its roots intertwine with the boundless ocean. Its canopy stretches across the heavens."
"Legend has it that reaching the Golden Tree in the ocean's depths grants one the secret of the 'Long Stairs to the Gods'," she explained. "Even those who don't venture that far can still find rare treasures and potion ingredients that are unavailable on land."
"My goal is to reach the deepest part of the sea, so our course heading due south should suffice."
Ryan sighed deeply, moved by the tale and the quest it outlined.
At that moment, Freni shifted the conversation, her gaze piercing into Ryan. "Mr. Ryan, speaking of which, the 'bloody mark' on your body expires in five days."
"Yes," Ryan acknowledged solemnly.
The mark was a constant torment, underscored by a countdown accurate to the second, displayed in a glaring bright red font.
"In the time we have left, we must be exceedingly vigilant. There are more seeking the 'bloody son' than you might imagine."
"So, make the necessary preparations today. Take the Pirate Potion early tomorrow. Although it's merely the first step in our discipline, it provides a measure of resistance."
With those words, Freni turned and walked away, her figure merging with the shadows. Cecilia followed silently, her presence barely noticed.
It wasn't until their silhouettes had vanished into the night that Ryan allowed himself a moment of reflection.
"Taking on the profession..." he muttered, a trace of bitterness in his voice.
He longed to share with Freni the true dangers inherent in their potion path, but a profound dread always seized him at the thought, a foreboding feeling that uttering such secrets could unleash something catastrophic.
Dreadful possibilities haunted him.
This dark foreboding was enough to keep Ryan silent about the full extent of his fears. However, Freni's words rang with a haunting clarity.
The menace of the "bloody mark" lingered like a thorn in his side. If the peril it heralded truly materialized, his ability to counter it was negligible. A heavy sigh escaped him as he contemplated the gravity of his situation.
"Huh..."
With a deep, steadying breath, Ryan resolved that any further revelations would have to wait until after tonight's daring "experiment" with the clone voyage.
After his conversation with Freni, Ryan felt no desire to continue wandering the deck. He returned to his cabin, took up his long sword, and began to train with earnest determination.
[Learning skills] like Storm Swordsmanship demanded relentless self-discipline. Despite having achieved a level of "mastery," Ryan knew he could not afford to become complacent.
In the merciless arena of life and death, it might just be such minute disparities in skill that dictated the thin line between survival and demise.
Time slipped by unnoticed, marked only by the sweat of his exertion.
As twilight deepened, the brass hands of the clock on the wall crept to the "0" mark.
Ryan ceased his practice and sheathed his long sword. Once his breathing steadied, he couldn't resist collapsing onto the wooden bed, clutching the [Low-level Rare Item: The Ring of Black Eclipse] in his left hand and the "Pirate Potion" in his right, and closed his eyes.
"Journey, commence!"
...
As the sensation of weightlessness faded and the darkness before his eyes lifted, Ryan slowly opened his eyes.
What greeted him were the expansive sea and towering vegetation that had become so familiar to him.
A faint smile played at the corners of his mouth. He wasn't sure exactly when he had arrived at this destination. Despite the impending battle, it was during these moments of travel that Ryan felt a profound sense of peace.
The bright sunlight bathed him but seemed to pass right through, unable to truly touch him, when on the "raft," he wasn't fully in the "traveling place," caught in a peculiar limbo between being and non-being.
The sun, blazing high above, cast a stark contrast to the golden hues of the continent where Ryan's true self resided.
Remaining unhurried on the "raft," Ryan lowered his head to behold the [Black Eclipse Ring] and the "Pirate Potion" nestled in his palm. A broad grin spread across his face.
He had gambled correctly.
If you are a spiritual being, you can indeed journey alongside him!
This revelation was pivotal, it meant that any potent spiritual equipment or rare artifacts he acquired in the future could accompany him, vastly enhancing his explorations of the "traveled places."
What's more, he wouldn't need to expend spiritual points to transport items from his main form into the "travel place"! This was particularly delightful news to Ryan, whose resources were "running dry."
"Huh..."
Drawing in a deep breath to quell the surge of elation, Ryan focused his attention on the "Pirate Potion."
As he concentrated, gray text materialized:
[Pirate Potion: Essential for advancement to the first level of [Pirate]. Consumption grants "Path Profession - Pirate (First Level)." Prerequisites: Physical fitness at 1.5 (Note: 1 is the average for an adult male), mastery in a specific weapon skill, beginner-level navigation skills. Ingesting without meeting these prerequisites may result in severe, unpredictable consequences.]
[Upon ingestion, during the spiritual elevation and professional initiation, you will be targeted by an unknown force. Progression to the seventh level will result in assimilation. (This targeting does not occur in the "traveling place" far from the Golden Continent)]
Reviewing the cautionary note, Ryan confirmed the phrase "cannot be locked" thrice, his heart swelling with a triumphant glee that he couldn't contain, erupting into laughter.
"My hypothesis was spot-on!"
"There are no side effects when taking the potion in the realms we journey to!"
The initial rush of excitement gradually subsided, allowing Ryan a moment of reflection. He then considered the implications of the traveling clone's use of potions for spiritual elevation and professional initiation, the feedback effect from the clone to the main body was merely one-fifth. This realization tempered his joy with a note of caution but did not dampen his adventurous spirit.
This realization, that the [First-Level Pirate] abilities, once mastered by the traveling clone, would only manifest one-fifth of their potency in the main body, posed a significant limitation.
"Um... Explaining this career relativity to Freni would be rather complicated, wouldn't it? It's so challenging to describe why the effect is so diminished!" Ryan mused, a hint of frustration lacing his voice. But then, a spark of ingenuity struck him. "Perhaps, if I could enhance the professional capabilities of the traveling clone fivefold, I might overcome this limitation."
His gaze drifted to the [Spirituality] metric displayed as "0" on the panel, sparking a flurry of thoughts. After a contemplative pause, he resolved to administer the "Pirate Potion" to the traveling clone.
Regardless, he was determined not to rely on such potions fraught with "endless troubles."
"Shortcomings in professional ability effects are just that, shortcomings. They're not entirely absent, are they?" Ryan reasoned, trying to find solace in the fact that despite these weaknesses, he wasn't utterly devoid of capability.
Moreover, his role aboard the [Black Rose] as a "weak" navigator, alongside the formidable Freni and Cecilia, provided some comfort. Initially, the idea of being the lesser among them made Ryan bristle, but he had grown to appreciate, even relish, the support.
"It's curious how people adapt..." Ryan reflected with a wry smile, acknowledging his own shift in perspective.
Decided, he hesitated no longer.
The traveling clone unscrewed the cap of the "Pirate Potion," tipped his head back, and downed the contents in one swift gulp.
Ten seconds later, a sensation unlike any other coursed through Ryan's body.
He felt as though he were soaring upward, climbing higher and higher until he brushed against a dazzling brilliance!
It was the sublime elevation of life and spirit, a potent affirmation of his very existence.
In the boundless ocean of spirituality, he etched his indelible mark.
Time seemed to stand still until, finally, gray text materialized before Ryan's eyes.
[Taking the "Pirate Potion", physical fitness and weapon skills meet the standards...]
[Path Profession - Pirate (First Level), officially inaugurated!]