"Destined Death" wasn't a particularly powerful bomb. Its blast wasn't strong enough to collapse the fissure, but it was more than enough to awaken the hundreds of Bloodthirsty Moths resting inside.
In an instant!
Piercing shrieks rose and fell in waves. Hundreds of Bloodthirsty Moths screeched in unison, a high-frequency sound that made Shi Ming's eardrums ring!
HISS! HISS! HISS!
They poured out of the fissure in a dense swarm, like a volcanic eruption. Instinct drove them to flee the unstable, smoke-filled area, yet at the same time, their incredibly keen sense of smell told them that new prey had appeared on the island.
The scent of fresh blood and flesh!!!
...
「On the west side of the island.」
Scarface led the Captain and his men to a treacherous spot. The terrain was steep, difficult to climb, and overgrown with dense shrubbery.
"Are you sure the nest is up there?"
The Captain's expression was grim. This lowly slave had been leading them around like dogs on a leash, wandering the western side of the island for nearly half an hour without reaching their destination.
"I'm sure, Captain!"
Beads of cold sweat had already formed on Scarface's forehead.
"You climb up first."
"Yes..."
Suddenly, BOOM! The Captain heard a muffled yet distinct explosion in the distance.
His expression changed drastically.
After so many years at sea, how could he not recognize the sound of an exploding bomb?
According to their plan for this expedition, no other explosives were supposed to be involved, save for the single small bomb issued to the second exploration team.
'Did the exploration team set off the bomb, or has another power landed on the island?'
He hadn't received any warning from the Wandering Ship.
"Get up there, fast! Find that nest!"
The Captain was a decisive man. He knew this was no time for indecision. The priority was to find their target and deal with it quickly.
'Whatever's happened, I'll deal with it later!'
...
A swarm of Bloodthirsty Moths poured from the fissure like a plague of locusts, using their keen sense of smell to hunt for prey across the island.
Shi Ming hid silently in a hole beneath the fissure, not making a single sound. Through a gap in his camouflage, he could see the giant Fierce Moths beating their wings in the air just above, a dense cloud that gradually thinned as they flew into the distance.
'Good thing I have this mimicry dust Baldy gave me. It's enough to fool these Bloodthirsty Moths!'
After waiting in the hole for several minutes, Shi Ming saw that the Bloodthirsty Moths outside were mostly gone. He tightened his grip on his saber and cautiously emerged.
A light haze of smoke and dust still shrouded the fissure, and the strong smell of gunpowder lingered in the air.
A few Bloodthirsty Moths still circled overhead, but they paid Shi Ming no mind. The mimicry dust was effective for thirty minutes, and it was still active.
He walked to the edge of the fissure and peered down.
Aside from the densely packed cocoons hanging from the walls and the worms still writhing in the crimson Blood Pool below, all the vicious Bloodthirsty Moths had been roused and had fled the gunpowder-choked fissure.
'I hope the Captain and his men enjoy this little gift.'
Without further hesitation, Shi Ming gripped his saber and leaped into the fissure.
SPLASH!
The worms had no way to attack. Even if they sensed this foreign presence, they were helpless. Besides, the mimicry dust was still in effect—they even gathered around him affectionately, trying to rub against his skin.
Shi Ming didn't kill them, wanting to avoid any complications.
He quickly dove deeper into the blood.
The moment his skin touched the Blood Pool, he felt something subtle within the crimson liquid seeping into his body, affecting his skin, his muscles, and even the very essence of his being.
At the same time, the red marking on his right arm began to emit a faint glow and grow hot to the touch.
The thick, once-affectionate worms now scattered as if they had seen a natural predator. In the vast, bloody pool, Shi Ming was left completely alone.
Shi Ming had never experienced an Awakening before.
But at this moment, his body was undeniably changing. It felt as if the crimson liquid had activated every cell within him, and they were slowly beginning to awaken.
He kept diving deeper. As he descended, he felt the surrounding energy grow more concentrated, and the marking on his right arm burned hotter and hotter.
In regular water, he could hold his breath for about three minutes.
But now, he no longer needed to breathe!
Like a fish in water, his skin absorbed the power from the blood, which also supplied him with oxygen.
Slowly, he reached the very bottom of the Blood Pool.
It was the area where the energy was most concentrated.
Shi Ming's entire body trembled. His vision was a sea of red, with visibility near zero. Yet he could clearly sense a powerful object pulsing nearby, luring every cell in his body toward it.
He followed the sensation and reached out with his right hand.
THUMP—
THUMP—
It felt like a strange artery, pulsing with the rhythm of a beating heart.
Shi Ming closed his eyes, savoring the bizarre sensation.
It was a feeling unlike any he had ever experienced before—
scorching heat, pain, exhilaration, stimulation, revival, and eruption...
...
...
...
SPLOOSH...
Blood splashed everywhere. Shi Ming burst out from the Blood Pool beneath the fissure, sending out crimson ripples.
HUFF...
As he breathed the outside air again, he felt an unprecedented sense of relief. He could clearly feel that his body was different, as if it had cast off all its former burdens. His very soul was soaring.
'The Captain said that pre-Awakening and post-Awakening are two completely different things.'
'Now I see he was right.'
Without needing any leverage, he leaped lightly out of the fissure, leaving a crimson trail behind him like a red cape.
'Is this what it's like to Awaken?'
'I feel terrifyingly strong!'
'While I was Awakening in the blood, I lost track of time. Judging by the sun's angle, it's only been about fifteen minutes.'
He was just about to look inward and examine his changes, to see what kind of abilities he had Awakened,
when the familiar system text appeared before his eyes once more.
[Beep.]
[Congratulations. You have successfully Awakened and completed the Novice Mission: Awakening.]
[Reward granted: Novice Supply Pack x1]
[Congratulations! As your awakened bloodline originates from the rare exotic beast, the Black Tortoise, you have received an additional S-rank reward: "Gold-grade Wandering Ship Key"!]
[Rewards have been placed in the System inventory. Host may retrieve them at any time.]
After reading the system prompts, Shi Ming's eyes lit up. He immediately opened his system inventory. Sure enough, in one corner lay a sparkling key and a square package.
Shi Ming ignored the Novice Supply Pack and focused his attention on the key, which looked like it was made of solid Gold!
'This is an S-rank reward!'
'It looks completely out of the ordinary!'
[Wandering Ship Key - Gold-grade.]
[Every Wandering Ship has its own master and cannot set sail without them. The Wandering Ship Key, however, can be used to brute-force the control system, allowing you to become its new master! (Note: The Gold-grade key is only effective on Gold-grade or lower Wandering Ships and has only three uses.)]
...