Chapter 256

Chapter 256: Spice Route

Though the Narwhal’s space was more generous than standard Arrow Fish Skyships, two weeks still felt endless in the boundless Sea of Clouds.

On ordinary trade routes, one might come across other travelers or dock at floating islands to unwind—sipping the Sea of Clouds’ signature sparkling wine in taverns, catching up on windborne gossip, or hearing about the latest star gladiators from the Sky Arena.

But given Victoria’s precarious situation, even after Midi repelled her brothers, the cautious young merchant refused to lower her guard. She avoided island stops entirely, choosing a secluded, rarely traveled route.

Only Captain Domon’s "Bait" skyship and one surviving "guard" vessel accompanied the Narwhal.

A guest of Midi’s status couldn’t be neglected. Old steward Lund devised various amusements, while Victoria herself repeatedly invited Midi to her study for tea.

Yet Midi declined every offer—not from arrogance or fear of seduction, but because what truly called to him aboard this vessel wasn’t "connections" or "factions," but pure power.

Beyond its cargo of refined whale spices, the Narwhal carried rare materials. Among them lay Midi’s true prize—

Radiance of Light.

These weren’t the low-grade powders traded by hundredth-floor gladiators in the Sky Arena, but fingernail-sized crystalline chunks glittering like raw diamonds.

Though Victoria had meant to trade these across the Sea of Clouds, Midi claimed them without ceremony. Considering he’d saved her life, this tribute seemed only fair.

At dawn, sunlight through Midi’s cabin window made the Radiance of Light shimmer like fallen stars. The energy within was so potent that even an Awakened One of Extraordinary Awakening needed days to refine a single fragment.

With each absorption, Midi felt his dense White Crystal magic expand, gaining faint luminescence.

"Level 52 equivalent… or should I say estimated level 52?"

Midi exhaled after refining another chunk, cycling his White Crystal magic and the Dragon Sealing Sword through his body.

The odd phrasing stemmed from how Extraordinary Awakening differed from normal leveling. For regular practitioners, advancement was straightforward—accumulate power through battle, potions, or epiphanies until breaking through physical limits. This linear progression purified magic and strengthened the body.

Midi remembered climbing those tiers in his past life. Now stronger in body and magic purity, his growth followed different rules—not steps on a ladder, but something deeper.

However, there was no process of power accumulation or breakthrough.

The absorption and refinement of Radiance of Light only caused the glowing patterns on Midi’s Dragon Sealing Sword to grow more complex.

These patterns now covered one-tenth of the blade’s surface, resembling naturally carved engravings.

When it reached this point, Midi distinctly felt his power undergo a qualitative transformation.

Yet this change seemed entirely rooted in the patterns themselves rather than building upon his original foundation.

It wasn’t linear progression, but rather parallel growth – like a massive tree requiring ten roots for support. Through continuous refinement of Radiance of Light, Midi had finally established one such root.

To make the tree truly stand, all ten roots needed completion. Only when the Dragon Sealing Sword’s blade became fully covered with these patterns would his real "level-up" occur. What strength would he attain then? Level 60 equivalence? Or higher?

Feeling this surging power, Midi smiled faintly. This profound fulfillment, absent in his past life, was hard-won through current struggles. Only relentless effort could maintain this advantage in competitive Arad.

Power couldn’t be gained overnight. Even with extraordinary opportunities, proper digestion time remained essential. Storing remaining Radiance of Light in the sealed box, Midi decided to consolidate his gains rather than push further refinement.

Suddenly, urgent alarm bells sounded – three long rings followed by one short. No enemies would appear now, and Victoria’s brothers wouldn’t seek trouble. Only one possibility remained.

The Storms had come.

Midi rushed outside, black hair whipping in the strong winds. At the Sea of Clouds’ edge, the endless Black Tempest loomed with thunderous rumblings. The Narwhal wasn’t being attacked – it was charging toward the storm like a moth plunging into Black Flames.

By the captain’s station stood Victoria Rothschild, transformed from Rothschild Guild’s delicate heiress into a leather-clad sky warrior. Old Steward Lund manned the helm calmly, unfazed by the approaching tempest.

"Ready to enter?" Midi asked.

"Not the Spice Route yet," Victoria replied bluntly. "I won’t proceed with outsiders present."

The "outsiders" meant the two ships accompanying Narwhal – Victoria’s escort vessel and Captain Domon’s Bait.

"Order their withdrawal. True navigation begins now," Victoria commanded.

Old Steward Lund activated magical communications. Both Arrow Fish class Skyships slowed to disengage – their thin armor and lift-dependent designs made Stormy Region traversal impossible.

Only Rothschild Guild’s sixty-five-meter Tiger Shark and Narwhal could brave this maelstrom. As the smaller ships turned away, Narwhal’s engines roared to full power. With faint tremors, the massive Skyship plunged into the Black Tempest like its namesake beast.