Chapter 256: Ryun

Chapter 256: Ryun

Troubled Waters

Ryun leaned over the railing on top of the center part of the ship. The Kraken Slayer, was a very unique ship, at least from what Ryun had seen. It was made out of metal, in many ways it resembled a modern ship, or perhaps things that Ryun had seen in movies back on Earth. A super advanced warship that looked intimidating and powerful. It was massive, with a large crew, enough so that Ryuns sense could barely count them all.

Its appearance didnt surprise him that much. He had been expecting something like this for a while. The Infinite Realm was far less primitive than it appeared on the first glance. Formations, arrays, powers that could shape stone and wood were common. Every commodity that Earth used to have, could be found in the Infinite Realm. It was in many ways more modern than Earth ever was. And it was still developing, the core philosophies of this world were far different than Earth. Everything was about taking and controlling territories. It was why people-built fortresses, why cities had walls. The only way to really take land was to gain control of the Interface.

He had seen a lot of modern looking things, though that word didnt really appeal to Ryun. Everything in Infinite Realm built on what the nine races had done in the past. They just used new tools and played in a world with different rules. They had to rediscover the rules, to build things from different building blocks.

The ship itself looked menacing, the turrets or rather what appeared to be turrets, were on both sides of the ship. Three at the front, and three at the back. Ryun didnt know what they did, but to his eyes every part of this ship seemed to be made out of the same type of Essence. It was strange. There were traces of other kinds of Essence, but He had some suspicions about what the vessel could be.

They were surging across the waves, faster than he expected. Almost four dozen ships were sailing all around them. None of them were as large as the Kraken Slayer, and he had seen many different types. A few looked like old Roman ships, with some modifications if he wasnt mistaken. He didnt know anything really about sailing and boats other than what he had learned through the media, and those memories were old. But there were also some unique looking ships. It was inconvenient in the sense that he couldnt go to up to the Void Plane and cycle. Which was annoying. He did have a bit of Void Essence in crystals, but he preferred to use Essence from the plane itself. He had done his Evolved Inspiration, and had cycled a bit, not enough if he was being honest. Especially with the way that his core now worked. He could overdraw and increase the amount that his core could hold.

Though, he had already increased his Qi capacity by a large margin. He would need to get into a really prolonged encounter in order for him to drain all of his Qi. In the end, there was no need for that just yet. And he did want to get as much as he could from each stage.

He turned his eyes to the night sky. There was no crest around the moon, as no one ruled this territory. But he did know that it was a territory, every part of the Infinite Realm was. He was curious as to how someone would own and get something out of a territory that was only water though. Still, it was a passing curiosity. The ships around them were all running dark, there was no light on them at all. Apparently, there were some monsters that were drawn to it. They had been on the water for a bit over a day already and had been attacked by some strange flying monsters a few hours before night turn. Apparently, there was an island nearby the place where they passed that they nested on. They hadnt really been an issue, a few of the ships on their outer formation had dealt with them easily enough.

With his senses, he could tell that most of the crew was resting or in some cases sleeping. The ship did something to muddle his senses, but it didnt stop them completely. Erdania and Selia were in their quarters, talking softly, they had an item or something that completely shut his sense out so he couldnt tell what they were talking about. Him overhearing what they were talking about during their trip had to be the reason for their precaution. Or perhaps it wasnt targeted at him at all, but at the other crew members. Zach and his partner were on the other side of the ship from Ryun, as far away as they could get. They hadnt even exchanged any words. Ryun understood and respected that. Despite the fact that their last encounter went well, how it went, that was a far different situation. Perhaps after a few days they might exchange more than a look, and if not, Ryun would respect that.

From among the other members of their team he hadnt spoken with anyone either. From his senses and context, he knew that Selia and Erdania were familiar with two of them, and that the third was somehow in a coffin. But those things didnt interest Ryun that much. What was intriguing to him, was one of the three team members, Vryull Klaar. The man was a cthul and wore an all-black robe that covered most of his body. Ryun had sensed something strange about him when he first met him. Now, he was certain that the mans body was somehow connected to the Void Essence. It was a strange sensation, unlike anything that he had felt before. He didnt spend a lot of time near Classers, as this man obviously was. He could feel no Qi from him, instead it was something similar to the Void Plane. He had been near other Classers, but he had never felt something like that from them. Perhaps it was his familiarity with the Void that made that possible, he didnt know.

He wanted to broach it with the man, but he was unsure how to even begin that conversation. Fortunately, it seemed like he wouldnt even need to. The man was heading his way.

Ryun remained in place and waited, as the man walked out on the deck and headed in his direction. The cthul came to a stop next to him and looked out in silence.

Ryun stood patiently, intending not to be the one to speak first.

We were not properly introduced, the man said. I am Vryull Klaar.

Ryun glanced in his direction. Ryun Nacht.

The cthul looked at him for a long moment, and then spoke again. You are a Void Cultivator.

I am, Ryun said.

And yet you are not a crafter, the man said. Most Void users are.

Ryun tilted his head, then shrugged. Never tried my hand at that, and I am the only Void Cultivator that I know. I have no reference for what others use it for.

The mans eyes narrowed at Ryun.

Combat Void users are rare, both Classers and Cultivators.

Really? Why? Ryun asked.

It is difficult to master that power effectively. It is one of the most purely destructive powers in the world. Most that try to go down that path end up doing more damage than they intended, or they end up killing themselves.

Ryun could see that. Void was highly destructive, he had found things that were resistant to its effects, but nothing was ever fully immune. Though he didnt quite understand how the Class powers even worked. You are a Void user too, Ryun commented.

That Ryun understood perfectly. Gaining power was always a goal. It was what living in the Infinite Realm was all about, at least in Ryuns opinion. Power did not always need to be destructive. Crafting, information, and many other different things were power too. People just needed to find a way to leverage the power that they had in order to gain more of it.

Ryun relied on his strength, on his capability for Cultivation. It was what he knew to do, and he did it well. And yes, his main reason for coming on this trip was in order to find Nayra, but he also came because he sought power. Fighting monsters from the dome would grant him that. It would push him to greater heights. He had taken the last three years slow, improving himself as much as he could. Devising ways to utilize his power that he hadnt thought about before. He was satisfied with what he had accomplished. He had learned a lot about himself. For one, he would never be a great martial artist, he was decent, but he relied on his overwhelming stats more often than not. And he wasnt conflicted about that, it was an advantage that he had, it would be foolish of him not to use it.

He hadnt been able to change his |Sword Art|, but he hoped that combat might change that. He had always been able to grow more while in direct conflict. When he was fighting for his life, when he was killing.

What about you? Vryull asked. Why are you here?

You know Selia and Erdania? Ryun asked in turn.

We are allies in a way. Weve worked together before, yes.

I am here because of them Ryun paused. He didnt wish to reveal anything about their perk, though many that had seen what they had done had probably inferred something about it, but there was no need in explicitly revealing everything. They asked, and weve already fought the monsters from the Dome before. But I also have my own business in the Empire, which made coming an easy decision.

Vryull raised his brow. How could you have gotten involved with the Third Iteration? Most people dont even know of their existence, and you are from the Seventh Iteration.

Theyve taken something from me, Ryun said. I intend on retrieving it.

The cthul seemed like he was about to ask something, but then changed his mind.

Well, I hope that you succeed, Vryull said.

As do I, Ryun said.

Thank you for this conversation, it is rare for me to be able to speak with people who use Void as the main component of their build, Vryull told him.

Of course, Ryun added. When you are free again, I would love it if we could speak more on the topic. I am attempting to get a better grasp on what Void is.

The man inclined his head and turned to leave.

The ship suddenly lurched, and light pierced the night as the ships turrets opened fire. At the corner of his sense, Ryun detected a fast-moving shape heading straight for the formation of ships.

Ryun turned his eyes in that direction, but he could see nothing through the haze that so much fire power from the ships created. His sense, however, told him that a massive shape was heading toward them, larger even than the Kraken Slayer.

A sea monster, Vryull said. Looks like a Serpent of the Depths.

Should we help? Ryun asked.

Vryull shook his head. One alone is not a threat to the fleet; we should let them handle it.

Then, suddenly he felt several things happen at once.

Battle RoarRyun felt his stats increase.

And then he detected a dozen more serpents heading in their direction.

Now, Vryull said. We should get ready to help.