Magic Farm 121

Chapter 121: The Deep-Sea Behemoth, the Golden Dragon

“I really ought to thank you for taking out half of those troublesome teams for me.”

That familiar voice sounded in his ear once again.

It was the “Abyss of the Deep Sea” team—the one that had boasted so brazenly before the match.

He hadn’t joined in the earlier “siege” against Qi Yu and his teammate, and the water magic just now seemed to have left them unaffected as well.

What caught Qi Yu’s attention was that his own sea beast was able to reach its current speed only because he’d used wind magic to accelerate it. Yet, the sea beast carrying their team was keeping pace effortlessly, not lagging behind in the slightest.

The man with dark golden eyes looked at them. “No matter which of you is that person, the strength you’ve shown deserves respect.”

“Remember your opponent. I hail from the Phantom Spirit Sea, District 321.”

His teammate beside him tilted his head back to look at the sky, clearly embarrassed by his companion’s posturing.

“Hello, I’m from the Moa Ruins, District 108.”

Since their opponents had introduced themselves, Dan Xingyu didn’t hide, either. “Golden Sand Desert, District 88.”

Qi Yu, in truth, didn’t quite understand this ritual. Since they were opponents, wasn’t it enough just to defeat them?

Did knowing the other’s origins somehow allow either side to die with a bit more dignity?

Perhaps this was just a custom of Blue Star.

Trying to fit in, he followed suit. “Star Forest, District 01.”

Immediately, the two opponents’ gazes fell upon him.

The player from the Phantom Spirit Sea curled his lips into a cold smile. “Very well. I’ll deal with that group of nuisances behind us first, and then we’ll see which of us comes out on top.”

He didn’t wait for Qi Yu’s response, but turned away on his own, actually heading back toward the teams behind them, moving in the opposite direction.

Dan Xingyu was stunned. “How come there are so many show-offs in a single competition?”

He finished speaking and realized Qi Yu was looking at him.

Dan Xingyu: ?

Qi Yu asked, “Should we keep going?”

Given his own temperament, if the strongest-looking opponent had bizarrely turned back on his own, he’d have immediately ramped up the wind magic, put more distance between them, and charged ahead.

But he sensed Dan Xingyu wouldn’t like that.

Dan Xingyu was his teammate, so he should consult his opinion.

Sure enough, Dan Xingyu immediately said, “Go? Of course not. Just now, while we were fighting that group, he was watching from the sidelines. Now, let’s find ourselves a good vantage point and watch the show!”

“Let me see for myself what makes this Phantom Spirit Sea fellow so arrogant!”

【‘So Many Show-Offs’】

【That look from the guy in the cloak—killed me.】

【Alright, alright, let’s make it exciting. Love to watch this.】

【The teams behind: ‘Nuisances’? You mean us?】

Since his good friend wanted to watch, Qi Yu chose to stay with him.

He used Nature’s Whisper magic to give his sea beast a subtle signal, letting it come to a stop. He quietly fed it a mouthful of mana in thanks.

They watched as the player who claimed to be from the Phantom Spirit Sea, riding his sea beast, blocked the path of the teams chasing from behind.

Their conversation hadn’t been overheard by the players behind, so when they saw him heading back, the player at the front of the group called out curiously:

“Did something happen up ahead? Why are you coming back?”

“Nothing much. I just want a fair fight with the God of Games’ team, and I don’t want you lot getting in the way.”

The players behind: ???

“What the hell?”

“Another one with a hero complex?”

The Phantom Spirit Sea player replied coldly, “Of course, I don’t have much time to waste on you. I’ll use just one move. If you’re not eliminated, then behave yourselves and watch my match with the God of Games’ team in peace.”

Under everyone’s gaze, his dark golden eyes narrowed into vertical pupils, and scales crept across nearly half his face. His hair began to grow, lengthening until it nearly reached his calves, and its color deepened to the same dark blue as the sea’s surface.

The sea, which had just calmed, began to churn once more.

“What the hell is this now?”

“Bloodline power? How is it that in a survival game, there are people who aren’t even human anymore?”

The barrage of comments was just as startled by the transformation:

【What the heck is this? A mermaid? A sea demon? A shark-man? Or something else?】

【This show-off guy actually seems to have some skill. No wonder he’s so arrogant.】

Having just suffered a setback, the players weren’t about to be careless a second time.

In an instant, all sorts of lights flashed.

Some donned full-body equipment, some summoned weapons into their hands, and one player let out a furious roar, his body forcibly stretching half a meter taller, transforming into a “giant.”

The Phantom Spirit Sea player tilted his head back, emitting a piercing whistle from his mouth—one no human could possibly perceive.

The turbulence on the sea grew more violent, until finally—€€€€—a fish head bristling with bone spurs broke the surface, instantly skewering a sea beast!

“What the hell is that thing?”

Everyone saw the monstrous creature, its body seemingly made entirely of bone, that had pierced a sea beast. This was no normal living thing!

With the appearance of this bone beast, a two-headed black sea serpent, a red giant turtle dripping black venom from its shell…

All manner of bizarre sea monsters emerged, charging into the crowd.

【What the hell are these things? Is this a live-action tokusatsu show now?】

【No wonder this is the top-ranked arena. If I were in there, I’d have died a hundred times already.】

【So what’s his class, exactly? Ocean summoner? Monster summoner?】

【No wonder it’s a survival game. At the start, I thought the sea looked so beautiful—who’d have guessed there were so many monsters lurking beneath.】

Even Dan Xingyu was a little surprised. “No wonder he’s so arrogant—he really does have something up his sleeve.”

He didn’t hear Qi Yu reply.

From what he knew of Qi Yu, though he was taciturn, he would almost always respond when spoken to.

He turned his head to look, and saw Qi Yu’s expression was cold, his gaze fixed on the scene ahead, lost in thought.

The smile faded from Dan Xingyu’s face as well. “What’s wrong?”

He sensed that Qi Yu was unhappy, though his face had always been calm.

But Dan Xingyu could just tell.

He thought perhaps Qi Yu had noticed something unusual.

In fact, he hadn’t. Qi Yu had simply been reminded of something very old from his memories.

He’d only been in the survival game for a month, and life had been so comfortable and fulfilling that he’d nearly forgotten all those days.

He’d thought he’d never remember them again.

Yet these grotesque sea monsters had finally awakened, from the depths of his memory, the image of those mutated beasts from the apocalypse, warped by pollution.

Disgust.

That player—whoever’s bloodline he’d awakened—really did keep his word. After summoning the monsters, he left them to it.

He urged his sea beast forward, and when he saw Qi Yu and Dan Xingyu waiting not far ahead, he nodded in satisfaction. “Now, it’s our turn to see who’s stronger.”

Dan Xingyu raised his eyebrows. “You’re going to use those monsters against us too? Friendly reminder: if that’s all you’ve got, it won’t be enough to take us down!”

“Those small fry are just for clearing out the rabble,” the Phantom Spirit Sea player replied coldly. “Your opponent is this.”

The surrounding sea began to quake, the disturbance far more intense than before.

Scanning downward with his mental power, Qi Yu suddenly shouted, “Dan Xingyu!”

He barely had time to call out his teammate’s name in warning. He didn’t even have a chance to use magic to communicate with his sea beast—silver light flashed in his eyes as he took direct control of its body.

With remarkable agility, the sea beast darted through the waves, and in a split second, leapt high into the air.

A thick tentacle shot out from the water, slamming down hard on the spot where they’d just been.

【Holy… crap!】

【That’s one huge squid! You couldn’t fit that thing in a single pot!】

The enormous shadow lurking beneath the sea gradually rose to the surface.

The sight was so shocking that even the players still fighting the sea monsters behind were stunned.

“What the hell is this now?”

“With a body that size, we’d need an Ultraman to take it down!”

“What the hell are these monsters?”

The Phantom Spirit Sea player declared arrogantly, “The deep-sea behemoth, Lamors—legendary mount of the Sea Demon King. Now, it’s my beast companion.”

Dan Xingyu said, “So your current form is a sea demon?”

“You’re lying.” The soft, indifferent voice drifted into everyone’s ears.

Silver light still lingered in Qi Yu’s eyes.

“This creature’s mind is a complete void, its consciousness still in slumber. You’ve only forcibly awakened an empty shell.”

Qi Yu exposed him mercilessly. “Just a flashy trick to scare people.”

The sea demon player’s face darkened, but he sneered, “Good. No wonder you’re the opponent I’ve set my sights on. Even if it’s just a trick, it’s more than enough to deal with you.”

Qi Yu turned to his teammate. “Controlling such a massive shell—he won’t last long.”

The optimal strategy was to stall for time.

Unexpectedly, from the moment they’d met, the ever-spirited Dan Xingyu now wore a wry smile.

He pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed. “I know dragging things out is best, but right now, I’m afraid we can’t do that.”

He leaned close to Qi Yu’s ear, whispering a complaint. “I was planning to give you a big surprise when we got back.”

Qi Yu: ?

He was puzzled. “What?”

【??? What are you two whispering about? Is there something the noble fans of this livestream can’t hear? I just sent you both a bunch of little stars!】

【Are they discussing tactics? But why keep it from us? It’s not like we can jump through the screen and tell that giant squid their plan.】

Dan Xingyu spread his hands, helpless. “Honestly, I didn’t want to reveal it here, but this unexpected big guy seems to have pissed off my little friend.”

【What little friend? What’s Second God talking about?】

【What do you mean, don’t be cryptic—wait, what the—!】

“Roar!” A long, resonant cry suddenly echoed through the air.

The players fighting the sea monsters were startled, but the monsters seemed even more terrified.

Some froze on the spot, trembling, while others lost the will to fight entirely, ignoring the sea demon’s commands and diving straight into the deep sea.

Qi Yu looked up, following the source of the roar.

A golden figure, more brilliant and dazzling than the sun itself, crashed straight into his field of vision.

A body of graceful, flowing lines, dazzling golden scales gleaming in the light.

Qi Yu’s eyes seemed to be dyed by that golden radiance—buling—sparkling with brilliance.

What a beautiful beast.

Sensing that every gaze below was fixed on it, the little dragon, aglow with sunlight and gold, flapped its wings in pride, arched its slender neck, and let out another resounding roar.

【Is that… a dragon?】

【Damn, Second God, you really went all out this time!】

【What do you mean, ‘kid’? Show some respect to my foster father! Father! Can I pet our crown prince just once?】