Shrouded Seascape

Chapter 619: Gain

"Argh... these texts are really giving me a headache, even though they've been translated," Charles commented, his brows knitted together as he threw the documents in his hand onto the table.

The papers recorded magic inscriptions of the Western Seas. Their so-called spells were of an entirely different field that he had never dabbled in. The strange, worm-like script on the papers was similar to the patterns seen in their magical formations.

Putting aside the matter of one's innate magical aptitude, a deep and comprehensive understanding of this strange script was a fundamental requirement for learning magic.

Simply put, their magic involved channeling magic in the surroundings into their bodies and then activating the spells through this peculiar script. That was the summary of the so-called magic of the Western Seas.

According to them, in ancient times, there were mages who were even more powerful than Julio. However, Charles expressed skepticism of the claim and felt that it was more of a boasting rather than the truth.

The reason was that the Western Seas had been struggling over the past decades while the other sea regions had been expanding.

In the face of gunpowder and firearms, the mages were clearly outmatched.

The only value of their magic was that their powers could be passed on.

However, technological advancements could be passed on to the next generation as well and were more powerful than magic.

The main criterion Charles used to evaluate the worth of something was whether it would be valuable for exploration. And evidently, these magical teachings seemed to be of no help to him.

"Charles, don't dismiss it so quickly," Anna interjected Charles' train of thought. "Their magic still has its uses. Look, they even have alchemy. And I'm talking about true alchemy, where they can transmute actual gold."

Anna's eyes sparkled with interest as she scanned the documents. She seemed genuinely fascinated by the contents.

"And what use is there for gold right now? Are we going to use it to barter with the Divinities and ask them to sell the darkness back to us?" Charles asked, his tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.

"It might not be useful for surface exploration, but material transformation could be incredibly beneficial for our developing industries. Don't forget; gold is not just a currency; it's an industrial material as well. The microchip in your smartphone contains gold, but there are no gold mines in the seascape," Anna explained.

"Time... We don't have time..." Charles lamented as he glanced at the piles of documents on the table.

Of course, Charles knew the potential brilliance that could arise from the collision of a magical system with an industrial one. Perhaps, it could even spark a so-called magical-tech revolution.

"Is there something you need, Charles?" a voice that sounded like a middle-aged man rang in Charles' ears.

"We need to consolidate everything we have and gather them all to see how we can enhance the strength of the explorers. Everyone else has given their information. We're missing yours."

Paiper's mouthparts twitched slightly before it spat out a blob of red, pulsating chunk of flesh wrapped in a transparent, slimy membrane onto the ground. The mass wasn't dead; it was still moving.

"This is a blessing from a Divinity. However, such a blessing is highly unstable and requires us to personally assist in the infusion."

Before Charles could respond, Anna interrupted. "You guys actually possess a Divinity's corpse, and you are just giving us this meager piece to dismiss us?"

Paiper turned its mouthpart toward the visibly upset Anna. "How much do you think an ordinary human can absorb from it? This power is very peculiar. If the infused power is greater than the user themselves, the power will take over the user."

Charles stared intently at the writhing mass on the ground. "So... this so-called blessing of a Divinity is a chunk of flesh from the Divinity's corpse? And we are supposed to eat it?"

"No, this is a specially cultivated medium under the Divinity's aura. Through it, you can harness traces of the Divinity's power. If an ordinary human consumes the flesh of a Divinity directly, they will face only one outcome: death."

Charles carefully scrutinized the lump of mass squirming like a maggot on the ground. "Then what happens when a human consumes this?"

"First and foremost, they will never die again."

"What?!" Charles stared at Paiper in shock.

"Don't misunderstand," Paiper began. "I meant that the body will never die, not the consciousness. Upon accepting this power, the body's vitality will be maintained for eternity.

"Sickness, hunger, pain—all those can still affect you, but they won't be able to destroy the body. The moment you die, the body will continue to exist independently of you."

"So does that mean, if I consume this thing, my body essentially gains immortality? This doesn't sound like a great deal. Since this is a drawback, then what are the benefits? What do I stand to gain in exchange for such a hefty price?"

"You'll be able to harness a Divinity's power more effectively. For example, the relics and those that you've fused into your body will no longer be external to you. They will become an intrinsic part of your being."