As soon as the words were spoken, the curse of the "Mother of Sea Monsters" had already been triggered.

Sizzle sizzle sizzle...

The flesh on Hawkins's body began to squirm constantly, as if it were transforming into some massive foreign limb, especially the eight whiskers under his jaw, which turned into real octopus tentacles wrapping around his own neck.

Under the curse of the demigod "Mother of Sea Monsters," the powerful Exiled Prisoner, who was invincible just moments ago, was no different from an ordinary person.

Although his face was already turning red, Hawkins was still laughing, opening his throat and shouting as if he were roaring:

"You disgusting worms are the traitors! Great Black Sea Goddess Hipponeo, your favored one welcomes your return here!"

When the Black Sea Goddess ruled the ocean, the so-called "Mother of Sea Monsters," who had not yet become a demigod, of course, could only be a subject under her domain, until Hipponeo was sealed three hundred years ago, which gave Echet the chance to rise.

Strictly defined, the new king reigning over this sea is considered a traitor to the old king!

Just as the words were spoken, around them, no, should be said wherever the eye could see, the waves in the Black Sea instantly calmed, and the sea became smoother than a mirror.

One second, two seconds, three seconds....

Suddenly, everyone who could see the ocean felt a chilling sensation on their backs.

Clack clack clack... clack clack clack...

Aiven could clearly hear the sound of teeth chattering from the people around him in fear, but even he at this moment was not much better off than the others.

Because from this high vantage point with a good view, he could clearly see the phenomena on the sea surface.

In the depths of the waters of this sea, a gigantic eye had silently opened, and everyone could perceive the coldness and ruthlessness deep within the dark blue pupil, with a storm seemingly brewing within!

How big was the eye? Endless...

This completely shattered human perceptions. What kind of creature would possess such an eye? And the goddess Hawkins called out to? Hipponeo?

"Clack clack... the tributary of destiny will eventually meet the mainstream, clack clack... the pupil of the storm opens in the billows of the Black Sea, the heart will determine the belonging of the crown!"

Turning back, Milan was forcibly suppressing his chattering teeth, barely managing to speak these words.

A flash of insight in his mind, Aiven also recalled these words.

Milan had once mentioned before they went to the military department to report, it was said to be a warning passed down by the "Prophetic School" to its members, and it was a prophecy personally made by the "Eye of All-Seeing"!

Before this scene unfolded, it was impossible to interpret, no matter how hard they tried, but in this situation, it was easily matched with its counterpart.

"Then whose heart? Whose crown? The Pirate King, some king, or...."

Without making Aiven and the others wait long, Hawkins had already given the answer.

Plop——

The sapphire in his hand fell into the water, even Tien Kute, who was near, couldn't stop him in time, or perhaps after that gigantic eye appeared, he no longer had the ability to stop it.

"Damn it!"

At this moment, Tien Kute realized who the new master Hawkins, the traitor to the goddess, had surrendered to, and his face was ashen as if frosted, watching helplessly as the Black Sea's "Heart of the Ocean" fell into the sea.

Then, as if it were a fake, it melted away in the blink of an eye, more precisely, it was absorbed and digested by something under the water.

The Extraordinary Peak Tier 4 powerhouse, the Sea God's Son "Shepherd of Tide" Tien Kute closed his eyes powerlessly.

"It's over!"

Could the greatest enemy of the goddess, the "Sea Witch" Hipponeo, really be unsealed today, right before the devoted follower of the goddess?

The initial intention of many long-term plans to obtain the Heart of the Ocean was to permanently halt the revival of the "Sea Witch" and then enhance the goddess's own power, was it not?

After so many efforts and even sending himself as the last insurance measure, he was still forced to watch as the opportunity was dressed up for someone else?

Who would have thought that Hawkins had already pledged allegiance to the goddess's enemy long ago. No, maybe he had cooperated with the "Brotherhood" from the beginning just for today?

However... maybe there's still a chance for our side!

The "Sea Witch" has been sealed for three hundred years.

Though such a short time may mean little to a god, for mortals, it's several generations of worldly change, how many still remember the once Black Sea Goddess Hipponeo today?

Even the "Tempest Church," where the struggling remnants of the Black Sea Goddess used to be, was leveled with his own contribution!

Without enough faith as an anchor, not only would it greatly delay her pace to free herself, but it would also leave her power in a prolonged low period.

If the revival of the Sea Witch is postponed long enough, the goddess, noticing something amiss, could arrive in time and directly harvest the Sea Witch!

At the moment the gemstone entered the water, the phantom of that giant eye beneath the sea had already completely vanished.

In its place,

The leaden clouds in the sky began to spread ring by ring centered over this sea area, like a gigantic vortex appearing in the sky.

Splash splash splash....

The waves in the sea surged again, rising and falling, as if some colossus under another dimension of the water's surface was struggling fiercely.

But no matter how the waves rose, they maintained a maximum height of 4 meters, unable to break through!

Moreover, the sea level slowly rose, wave after wave of black seawater began to flow back up the "Leiden River" through the estuary.

Although the waves weren't large, they moved faster than the previous tsunami.

In a short time, they had already flowed through every city in the "Leiden River Valley."

"It has come!"

Seeing these waves surging upstream.

A few months in advance, the elite pirates stationed in the twenty-something cities within the "Leiden River Valley" exchanged glances, drew their daggers without hesitation, and each severed the little finger of their left hand.

Crack—

The blood, a vibrant red with a hint of eerie black light, dripped into the waves, seemingly staining the sea a black-red hue.

Afterward, they devoutly knelt on the shore, simultaneously chanting the holy name "Hipponeo!"

Though.

Three hundred years later, few along the Black Sea coast still remember its significance.

In fact, it was once the initiation ritual of the "Tempest Church" under the Black Sea Goddess, severing the left little finger symbolized cutting off the past, repaying the sins humans once committed against the Goddess!

Of course, if careful planning for so long was merely for such a small scene, it would be underestimating the Pirate King.

Before this group of hundreds to nearly a thousand elite pirates settled in the "Leiden River Valley," each person had a curse cast upon them.

After months of lurking, eating, drinking, living, and breathing together with local residents, to some extent, they've formed a mystical connection with the land and river.

They could also use this connection to employ certain mysterious spells that might not be potent but certainly useful.

Soon.

Among the survivors, who mostly concentrated on higher ground after surviving a tsunami, someone gazed at the surging mystical waves and involuntarily spoke:

"Hip..po..neo.."

Then more people began to speak.

Even in cities with weak defensive forces, where the small species deployed by Hawkins to disrupt the garrison were still rampant, they didn't affect them.

Meanwhile, in cities upstream of the "Leiden River," untouched by the tsunami.

Besides executing similar actions, the elite pirates spread countless notes throughout the streets and alleys and drew numerous graffiti on the walls amidst chaos.

Every medium carried a curse induced by their blood, compelling anyone who saw it to automatically recite the name, whether literate or illiterate.

Soon, the city was filled with calls of "Hip..po..neo.."

Then this scene began spreading like a virus, with the entire "Leiden River Valley" resonating with a single voice.

The emotions accompanying the call were diverse, ranging from admiration, fear, hatred...but all intense emotions served one purpose, providing Hipponeo the best anchor in the present world!

Even in Nisk City, where the tsunami destroyed more than half the city at the estuary, it was no different.

By now, survivors who escaped unscathed due to sheltering in the Cathedral had begun spontaneous actions, searching for survivors and supplies amidst the city's ruins.

Among them, former whaling ship First Mate Fisher and the degenerate gambler Pipps, being limited acquaintances on this land, had to support each other even after experiencing exceedingly terrible events together.

They were the first to notice anomalies when the sea began to change.

And unlike others, they had personally felt the irresistible power of this Goddess before!

"Hip..po..neo.."

Gazing at the surging tide, Fisher seemed to glimpse the true visage of the God, his perpetually gloomy expression vanished, and even a glow appeared to slowly emanate from him.

Moreover, besides that holy name, he saw something else amidst the waves.

"Extraordinary Profession: Tempest Priest (Holy Professional).

Prerequisite: At least three years of sailing experience.

Ritual: 1. Sever the left little finger, atone to the God in human form...."

In an instant.

Some strange mystical knowledge flooded into mortal spirituality through mysterious links, though he didn't understand what an Extraordinary was or the consequences of such actions.

But he knew, if he did this, the God would likely be pleased...

At that moment, Fisher's status resembled Stockholm Syndrome, though he lost everything due to the Goddess's curse in the Atreid Sea, which should cause him to resent Hipponeo.

Yet now he was transformed into infinite admiration for Her great power, shifting from one extreme to another.

Beside him, the degenerate gambler Pipps was already kneeling to the Black Sea, devoutly chanting Hipponeo's holy name like the others!

Without hesitation, or perhaps with eagerness, Fisher, red-eyed, picked up a sharp fragment of a collapsed building beside him, rushed to the shore rapidly, standing on the reef.

Crack!

He harshly knocked off the little finger of his left hand.

Drip... drip...

Though he seemed not to perceive any pain, instead feeling immense satisfaction.

Kneeling, he let his blood drip into the waves, chanting Black Sea Goddess's holy name as if transcending into ecstasy: "Hip..po..neo.."

More devout than anyone else!

The blood dripped, and the ritual seemed to finally reach a critical point due to this unexpected transformation from unbeliever to devout follower.

Ca—!

A quiet yet ocean-wide echo of a lock falling reverberated.

In the Black Sea, the tempest surged abruptly, roaring loudly!

In another abyssal world beneath the sea, an indescribably great figure finally broke free from three centuries of confinement, slowly ascending back to the Material World!

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