But from between the lines, Aiven could tell that Anita was also at a loss against Earl Wright, who gradually seized the highest power in Ilya.

Even for a Great Knight, there are limits.

Subduing a group of small pirates, killing a few of the enemy's lackeys, heavily damaging the White Egret Commerce Association's sea trade almost to extinction was her limit.

Given the opponent's current status, after some slight struggles, they merely reflagged their merchant ships under other entities, and Anita's actions almost came to a halt.

After all, she wasn't truly a bloodthirsty killer who would harm innocents.

For forces at this level, perhaps the deterrent of a Great Knight is not as impactful as a large-scale economic war.

Therefore, Aiven thought it was better to proceed with his initial plan: using the Kingdom platform to amass power and accumulate influence, at the critical moment of internal strife in Ilya, he could deliver a heavy blow, toppling Wright from his roots into the abyss.

At this moment.

The research topic he initiated was the new series of witchcraft, Activated Beast Hide, which could quickly enhance the strength of his crew.

Wearing the "Beast Hide" and becoming the "Skin-Wearing People" immediately grants a certain level of physical enhancement, currently one of the easiest witchcraft to form combat power in Aiven's hand.

Almost every day out at sea, Aiven conducted several experiments and felt that his theoretical knowledge was quite prepared.

Rolling up his sleeves, he slowly began cutting.

Slsh——

The blade infused with Magic Spiritual Light easily peeled off the shark's skin without causing any excess damage, barely any bleeding.

During this time, having practiced on dozens of large fish species, Aiven's technique had become quite skilled.

During the process, Aiven kept chanting Curses rich with Life Force.

The layer of shark skin started wriggling incessantly, seemingly like he wasn't peeling off a layer of skin but a life form with a unique life shape!

While peeling off the shark's skin, information about it flowed through his mind.

This was a horn shark commonly found throughout the Black Sea, not a Demonized Creature, just an ordinary shark. Named for the hard spine on its back, it primarily feeds on marine mammals, fish, and carrion.

The shark's skeleton is entirely cartilaginous, lighter than a normal skeleton and lacking a swim bladder, instead enriched with oils in the liver which can supplement the crew's additional nutrition.

Bony fish possess bone scales, whereas cartilaginous fish like sharks have dermal denticles, mainly composed of enamel, dentine chamber, pulp chamber, similar to the type of teeth.

From an evolutionary perspective, sharks continuously growing teeth are essentially heteromorphic scales.

Rip——

The final piece of skin connecting the head was peeled away, with the body on the ground giving a shudder before falling silent.

But the shark skin seemed to have completely transformed into an aberrant creature, despite being held by Aiven it kept struggling and wriggling.

Yet as Aiven kept chanting the Curses, the Spiritual Light emitting from the shark skin grew stronger, while its struggles gradually weakened.

The shape started mutating and expanding from a shark form, acquiring some human features, like growing arms and legs, resembling both a shark skin and a piece of clothing.

After a minute of struggle in Aiven's hand, it finally settled down.

This signified Aiven's first Activated Beast Hide was thoroughly completed!

At this point the appearance of the shark skin didn't change much; internally it was indeed red, but the touch was cool and soft, somewhat like a rubber-like texture.

Gently shaking this miraculous Witchcraft Creature, Aiven's gaze swept over the surrounding crew.

"What do you think? Is there any volunteer who would like to try it?"

As the words were spoken.

"Captain sir! I'd like to try it!"

"Sir! Let me do it!"

Two young men stepped out simultaneously.

Both were veterans from the "Conch" era, among the four New Recruits who first joined Aiven.

One was Fleck, whom Aiven believed had aptitude only slightly below Gary and akin to Vid the Sailor, the other was Baldwin who was kidnapped by pirates on the island where the Rock Golem "Mountain Giant" transformed.

However, after some thought.

Aiven chose Baldwin, who had relatively mediocre aptitude instead of the more gifted Fleck.

This Witchcraft Creature was meant for those needing external assistance. If it were given to Fleck, who has the potential to become an Official Knight, it wouldn't demonstrate the Activated Beast Hide's capability and might affect Fleck's future development.

"Baldwin, you do it!"

Fleck saluted without any dissatisfaction with Aiven's decision, turning back into the lineup.

The other resolute young soldier, upon hearing his name, was delighted:

"Yes, Sir Captain!"

Stepping up to Aiven's side, he accepted the Witchcraft Creature that appeared somewhat eerie, unrelated to any righteous path.

"Wear it directly on yourself, and activate it with your thoughts. If you're worried about not being focused enough, you can shout it out. The activation phrase is 'Invincible in Battle'!"

Baldwin knew his talent was average, though his efforts were similar, yet in less than two years the gap with the more gifted Fleck grew seemingly insurmountable.

But whenever he remembered the shame of being captured by the enemy and his promise to the Captain, "Turn the shame into a driving force, gain the power to shield himself and comrades from such ordeals."

Though he wouldn't say it aloud, he always felt a sense of urgency and mission inside, not wanting to fall too far behind Fleck.

Taking a deep breath, he draped the shark skin over himself.

Then possibly feeling a bit embarrassed, he softly murmured:

"Invincible in Battle!"

As if flipping an invisible switch, the Activated Beast Hide immediately wriggled to cover Baldwin's entire body; head, chest, abdomen, and limbs were all wrapped in gray shark skin embossed with dense dermal denticles.

After a few breaths.

Baldwin's image utterly transformed, his head sharp and smooth like a shark's, his height slightly increased by half a head, and his whole body muscles swelled outlining sharply defined lines.

A deep-colored spine protruded from his back, both elbows featured structures similar to shark fins; were it not for the human face emerging from the "shark" mouth, he'd hardly be distinguished from an aberrant large shark.

However.

As for combat power, not to mention, purely in terms of looks, it was simply... hideous!!!

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