Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1486 - 510: Origin of the Black Mist (Part 3)

Positioned a few meters directly before Egil, at the very heart of the praying witch array, sat a crystal coffin. Within this vessel rested a rare mermaid, possessing the upper torso of a human female and the lower half of a fish.

Her features were breathtaking, her eyes remained shut, and her high chest was shielded by a pair of decorative shells. The shimmering silver scales of her tail cast a soft radiance, a sight so captivating it beckoned onlookers to draw closer.

This was the prize the Sea God Sect had expended immense effort to obtain: a vessel suitable for the descent of the Nether Sea Goddess. She was a princess from an ancient, extinct race of mermaids, recovered from a long-lost ruin.

A few moments passed.

The mermaid's long lashes within the crystal coffin began to flicker. Shortly after, she opened eyes of deep azure and rose slowly, speaking:

"My servant Egil, have you summoned me because the location of the human Rein has been discovered?"

"Indeed, great Nether Sea Goddess..." Egil replied, bowing instantly as he began his rapid report.

"Excellent. What is the status of Jorgandman’s recovery?" Nether Sea Goddess Hela inquired as she stepped out of the crystal coffin. As she moved, her shimmering fish tail began a startling transformation into the pale, slender legs of a human woman.

"To answer the Goddess, restoration is at approximately seventy percent. Currently, the sect's believers are working without rest."

"That is enough! This time, I shall settle accounts with that arrogant human boy Rein and the Dragon's kin simultaneously."

During her previous attempt, Nether Sea Goddess Hela had manifested via a projection. Following the failure of that mission, she had returned to the Sea God Sect to provide the coordinates of sealed sites and ruins before withdrawing her divine power.

After a period of searching, the Sea God Sect had successfully located and unsealed an ancient Sea Clan ruin along with a containment site.

From the ancient Sea Clan ruin, they retrieved the corpse of Princess Niruela. Her body, preserved perfectly within the crystal coffin and saturated with Water Essence, showed no decay despite the passing eons, making it a premier vessel for Hela's descent.

Meanwhile, the sealed location yielded a legendary marine Fierce Beast of great notoriety. Comparable in power to the Ice Sea Giant Demon Gazrian, this was the Leviathan Giant Whale, Jorgandman.

It was currently situated in a submerged volcanic cavern several kilometers away.

This massive, indigo-colored unicorn whale, spanning over two hundred meters in length, was being fed energy by a group of Sea God Sect Evil Sorcerers.

Five High Rank Evil Sorcerers from the Sea God Sect were positioned in a pentagram, the witch array beneath them glowing with an eerie blue light. Utilizing Water Essence—a blue, gelatinous substance that shifted form constantly—they channeled brilliant blue rays into the whale.

More than a dozen similar witch arrays were stationed around the massive form of the unicorn whale.

Nourished by these beams, Jorgandman emitted a low, rumbling sound like distant thunder, clearly relishing the process.

Due to the length of its imprisonment, its strength could not return instantly upon being freed. The Sea God Sect was employing this method to accelerate its recovery.

However, this process demanded a massive quantity of Water Essence and the focused efforts of many Intermediate Evil Sorcerers within the sect.

There was a strategic reason for prioritizing the revival of the Leviathan Giant Whale Jorgandman.

Following the disaster of the Ice Sea Giant Demon incident, the Sea God Sect became aware of the Empire Delegation’s journey to the Federation. To oppose the powerful airship fleets of the Empire and Federation, Jorgandman—with its devastating 'Surge' and 'Whale Spring Spurt' abilities—was the perfect countermeasure.

While the Sea God Sect originally intended to provoke the Empire by raiding Federation coastlines, the Zaral uprising resulted in the leak of vital intel.

The Empire Delegation was scheduled to depart the Zetaya waters and return to the Dragan Empire this very day.

Consequently, the strategy was altered to an ambush on the Empire’s fleet during their voyage home!

...

A few hours later.

High in the sky, inside a lavish suite aboard the flagship of the Empire’s airship fleet.

Rein, having just finalized his advancement to Elf Tannery, was reviewing his system logs:

[Ding! Promotion Successful!]

[Advancement to Elf Tannery is complete! Strength +2, Agility +4! Acquired Elf Tannery Core Skill: Elemental Leather Making lv1]

[Elemental Leather Making lv1 (Active): During the crafting of leather armor, you can tap into mysterious energy particles to bolster the process, marginally improving the success rate of leather armor production.]

...

Rein could have finished his Elf Tannery transition before the Delegation reached Westin, but a request from Trena had caused a delay.

"Elemental Leather Making?" Rein mused, feeling a sense of satisfaction.

Suddenly, a shrill airship alarm cut through the air before he could finish his review.