Drift Of The Multiverse: [Marvel] [Resident Evil] [DC] [Bleach] [DB]

In the Sea of Calm, sailing wasn't much different from navigating a tranquil lake. Even on the rare occasions when storms arose, the winds and waves were never particularly severe.

In such conditions, Ethan had been able to prioritize agility and speed over stability. Back then, if his sailing skills had been lacking, he could have simply chosen a more extreme sail configuration to maximize performance.

But if a ship like that were to enter these waters now, destruction would be inevitable.

Perhaps this was why so many adventurers underestimated the dangers of the Sea of Storms. Many had attempted to cross it in their original vessels, ignorant of the perils that lay ahead. It was no surprise that so few had succeeded.

Ethan, however, had the knowledge and experience from his past life, giving him a better understanding of the risks. That was why he had made thorough preparations before bringing his new ship into these waters. And now, reality was proving that his caution had been the right choice.

A ship of several thousand tons wouldn't be easily tossed by the waves. The fully stocked ballast and the ship's stabilization system ensured that the Goddess of Dawn remained steady. As long as Ethan made the right decisions and avoided the most treacherous areas, he could navigate through the storm safely.

"You get what you pay for."

For an hour, he kept his eyes locked on the holographic projection of the Goddess of Dawn. The moment any part of the ship sustained damage, the system would alert him, allowing him to react immediately.

Despite the relentless storm and the towering waves, the Goddess of Dawn remained unscathed, pressing forward without issue.

"Looks like I'll need to invest in even more upgrades once I have the funds."

After more than an hour, Ethan had fully adapted to the turbulent conditions. He now expertly guided the Goddess of Dawn, maneuvering smoothly from one wave crest to the next.

By doing so, he not only ensured a steady course but also minimized the impact of crashing waves on the hull. If the ship dipped too low, a powerful wave could slam against the deck or worse, submerge the vessel entirely, leaving it at the mercy of the sea.

At the very start, Ethan had made this mistake. Fortunately, his ship was sturdy, and the wave hadn't been too large, so he had escaped any real danger.

From that point on, he avoided low-lying paths and instead aimed for the peaks, using the force of the waves to propel the ship forward faster.

In the process, his sailing skills improved rapidly. He quickly became adept at navigating the violent waters, adjusting course instinctively. After two hours, the overwhelming sense of danger had faded, replaced by a calm focus.

Standing at the wheel, he analyzed the waves ahead, making quick judgments to ensure a smoother and faster passage.

His right hand hovered over the holographic console. While he could control the ship entirely with his mind, making gestures helped him concentrate. It reminded him of mages and warriors who, despite being able to cast spells with sheer willpower, still used elaborate hand movements, it was a way to focus their intent.

The fact that he could spare the thought to reflect on such things meant that the storm no longer rattled him. He even took a moment to observe the surroundings beyond his ship.

According to guild records and adventurer accounts, the path he was currently taking was the safest route through the Sea of Storms. While still treacherous, the storms and waves here were far less severe than in other regions.

But in the surrounding waters, things were different.

Beyond his chosen path, the storms were far more violent, and the crashing waves were accompanied by something far more terrifying, lightning.

Bolts of electricity regularly struck the ocean surface, and even a glancing hit would mean instant death.

From a distance, through the dense sheets of rain, Ethan could feel the overwhelming energy radiating from the lightning strikes. Against such raw, natural power, even his strongest magical shield would be meaningless. It wouldn't last a second before shattering.

"Good thing I chose the safest route and didn't blindly rush in."

Time blurred as the storm raged on. Without a watch or any timekeeping device, Ethan could only rely on his instincts to estimate how long he had been sailing. But after hours in the storm, even that sense began to dull.

All he could see was rain and waves, stretching endlessly in every direction. Though the worst of the storm was behind him, he couldn't afford to make a single mistake. He had to remain vigilant until he saw something—anything—that signaled an end to this ordeal.

Then, ahead in the distance, he caught a faint glimmer of light.

At the same time, he noticed something else, the waves were growing smaller.

"Am I about to break through?"

His instincts were right. The sea gradually calmed, the relentless downpour eased, and visibility improved. The further he sailed, the clearer the sky became. In the distance, he could even see a stretch of brilliant blue.

At this speed, he would be free of the storm sooner than expected.

And indeed, before he even had time to process it, the Goddess of Dawn burst through the final veil of rain, emerging into clear skies.

Ethan blinked in surprise.

"I'm… out?"

Turning back, he saw the storm raging just a few meters behind him, its dark clouds swirling ominously. Yet, where he stood, everything was bright and clear.

Looking up, he saw a sharp divide in the sky, half a stormy abyss, half a pristine expanse of blue. The contrast was almost surreal.

For a long moment, he simply stared at the sight, letting the ship drift forward on its own.

Only when the strain in his neck became unbearable did he snap out of his daze. Stretching to ease the tension, he steered the Goddess of Dawn toward a calmer part of the sea and dropped anchor.

The console's diagnostics confirmed that the Goddess of Dawn hadn't sustained any significant damage. However, this only accounted for major structural issues, anything severe enough to require urgent repairs.

Minor wear and tear, especially in the cargo hold, wouldn't be detected by the system. That was something Ethan had to check manually.

One of the downsides of having a larger ship was the maintenance. While magic stone technology made operating and sailing the vessel manageable, routine inspections still required time and effort. By the time he finished checking everything, the sun had already set without him noticing.

"So that's how my first day in these new waters ends, completely occupied by ship maintenance."

After taking a shower and changing into dry clothes, Ethan finally allowed himself to relax. However, he quickly realized something, the ship was too big. At night, with only himself aboard, the vast, empty space around him felt somewhat eerie.

Not that he was the type to turn on every light just to ease his discomfort. Even if the unease lingered, he wouldn't waste resources on something so trivial. With his wealth depleted, every bit of energy and supply mattered.

The night was quiet, save for the rhythmic crashing of waves. Even in calm weather, the waters here were noticeably rougher than those in the Sea of Calm. This was no longer the peaceful, lake-like environment he had grown used to. At any moment, he could encounter a storm just as fierce as the one he had recently crossed.

Ethan had already considered this possibility. He had prepared himself for it long before setting sail.

"I need a plan."

With his supplies nearly exhausted, Ethan had to decide on his next course of action. Should he seek out the central island of this sea first? Or would it be wiser to locate a floating island and replenish his resources before venturing further?

"I don't really have a choice, do I?"

Given his current situation, finding a floating island to restock was the only logical decision. Fortunately, the storm hadn't damaged the ship. After a full inspection, the only losses he found were minor, some wooden barrels had cracked during the rough waves, causing a small amount of water loss.

For Ethan, this was practically nothing. A few fruits and food supplies had gotten damp, but they were still edible. He planned to consume those first to prevent waste. The ship itself, including its rigging and hull, remained in pristine condition. The Goddess of Dawn was just as seaworthy as when it had first left the shipyard.

"Floating island it is."

Taking out his island pointer, Ethan adjusted it to search for floating islands. The device was designed to work across different regions, after passing through the Sea of Storms, it had automatically recalibrated to locate islands in these new waters. He still didn't fully understand how it worked, but one thing was certain: the guild had significant influence in this sea as well.

"I always knew the guild's reach was vast, but just how far does it extend?"

Lying in his cabin, Ethan decided to forgo his usual nighttime training. His body and mind were still recovering from the strain of navigating the storm, and forcing himself to practice in this condition would be counterproductive.

Still, despite his exhaustion, he couldn't sleep.

Perhaps it was the excitement of arriving in a new sea.

Sitting up, he grabbed some snacks from his storage and pulled out the Book of Inheritance. While eating, he casually flipped through the recorded knowledge, reviewing things he had studied before.

His supply of cigarettes had run out a while ago, and he hadn't found the time to make more. Aside from the inconvenience of crafting them on the island, he had also intended to shift that work to his personal workshop once the new ship was complete.

Now, with a fully equipped workshop onboard, he could make as many as he wanted at any time. However, there was a problem, his mental strength had grown significantly since he first started using them. The cigarettes he had made before were no longer effective.

"Looks like it's time to retire the old formula and create something better."

At present, he lacked high-quality ingredients, so his only option was to increase the dosage of the existing materials to enhance their effects.

The easiest way to do this was by turning them into potions. He had two main approaches:

A slow, long-term enhancement, which would gradually increase his mental strength over time.

A high-impact, one-time boost, which would temporarily push his abilities beyond their limits, but with diminishing returns after repeated use.

***

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