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Ethan didn't dwell on his decision for long. He chose to convert all his remaining materials into potions, boosting his mental strength in one go.

A significant increase in mental power would directly enhance his overall abilities. With the number of magic items he had created, each relying on his spiritual energy to function, his current reserves weren't enough for prolonged combat. While none of them consumed an overwhelming amount of energy individually, using them together placed a strain on him. Increasing his mental reserves would allow him to maintain his combat effectiveness for longer.

Since he couldn't sleep anyway, Ethan left his bedroom and headed to his workshop.

In this newly built Goddess of Dawn, his captain's quarters connected to both a private bedroom and a dedicated workshop, occupying most of the deck's space. Given that he was the only one on board, there was no need to leave extra room unused. It was far better to repurpose the space for various functions.

Having ample space also made long voyages more comfortable. Now that he had established a solid foundation, he had no intention of returning to the days of sleeping on a cramped deck, exposed to the elements without even a proper roof over his head.

When possible, he preferred comfort. A well-organized and spacious environment helped maintain a good mood, which in turn improved his work efficiency.

In his workshop, Ethan quickly concocted a small vial of his newly improved potion.

The formula was simple but effective, with no side effects. Just one dose would significantly enhance his mental strength.

Since he had previously relied on cigarettes infused with this potion, his body had already adapted to its properties. His mental power had thoroughly analyzed its effects, meaning he wouldn't suffer from instability or mental contamination from the sudden surge in strength.

"I wonder if this will grant me any resistance to viruses?"

Through magical refinement, Ethan had preserved all the potion's beneficial effects. In addition to boosting his mental strength, it would also provide minor improvements to his physical condition, such as slightly extending his natural growth period, increasing his stamina, and strengthening his resistance to diseases.

He wasn't sure how effective this resistance would be. Weaker viruses would likely have little effect on him, making him far less prone to illness than the average person.

Tossing the potion back, Ethan noted the slightly sweet taste.

"Too bad I don't have enough materials to make more. If I did, I'd keep a few extra bottles in my belt. They'd be useful for quick recovery after exhausting my energy in battle."

Feeling the potion take effect, Ethan left the workshop and settled into the captain's room, flipping through a book at his desk.

The night passed in quiet solitude.

As the sun slowly rose, illuminating the cabin with warm light, Ethan felt the lingering effects of the potion fade. The book in his hands remained open, but it hadn't distracted him in the slightest.

Though his physical fitness was still within the limits of a normal human, his growing mental strength was starting to influence his body. Even without sleep, he could maintain his usual energy levels. However, this didn't mean he was at peak condition, while he could function without rest, he still needed sleep to fully recover and perform at his best.

"It's a shame my physical endurance isn't keeping up."

Right now, he could sustain himself without sleep, but it wasn't a true replacement for rest. If he wanted to take things further, he needed to find a way to enhance his physical strength.

Mages had explored various methods for strengthening their bodies.

Some used magic to alter themselves, achieving a balance between physical and spiritual power. Others relied on astral projection, allowing their consciousness to remain active and study new knowledge while their bodies rested. The most extreme examples were those who abandoned their physical forms altogether, becoming elemental beings or undead creatures like liches, freeing themselves from the limitations of mortality.

Among these paths, Ethan only found the first option appealing. However, there was no universal method for magical body enhancement. Most mages developed their own techniques based on personal circumstances, making it difficult to learn from others.

On top of that, this kind of magic was often kept secret. Since it directly affected one's core abilities, revealing too much could expose vulnerabilities. No mage would willingly share their method, and Ethan had no way of acquiring such knowledge.

His own magical foundation came primarily from the Ancient One and Merlin.

The Ancient One used mystical energy to extend her lifespan and enhance her body, a method Ethan understood but found unsuitable for his own path.

As for Merlin… his talent was so overwhelming that he had never needed to worry about physical limitations in the first place.

Stepping onto the deck, Ethan stretched, did a few light exercises, then lifted the anchor and raised the sails.

With no fixed destination, he guided the Goddess of Dawn forward, choosing a random direction.

Ethan didn't need to follow a specific course. He simply sailed in the opposite direction of the Sea of Storms while keeping an eye on his island pointer. If it detected an island, great. If not, he would adjust his course and continue exploring.

The next few days passed uneventfully, and Ethan settled into a steady routine.

Each morning, he started with some light exercise before conducting a quick inspection of the ship. Then, he would lift the anchor and set sail. While navigating, he took the opportunity to read, study, and refine his knowledge. Occasionally, when the mood struck, he would fish to improve his meals or tinker with his equipment, familiarizing himself with its practical applications.

As he continued testing his gear, he noticed that his recent boost in mental power had significantly changed how his equipment functioned.

Previously, his spiritual energy had only been just enough to activate his magical items, but he had never been able to use them at full power. It had felt almost pointless, like wielding weapons that weren't performing at their peak.

Now, things were different.

Take his water-element wrist guards, for example. Before, activating them required intense concentration, and the process of summoning water was sluggish. In battle, the delay was frustrating, he was always half a step behind.

Now, a single thought was enough. The water element responded instantly, gathering at his hands and shifting fluidly into different forms whether for attack or defense.

Similarly, his enchanted cloak had been difficult to manage in combat. Flying while controlling other magical tools had strained his focus. Now, he could use his staff to launch spells mid-flight without compromising his stability.

"If I had known the effect would be this good, I would have turned everything into a potion and just drank it."

But thinking about it more carefully, he realized that if he had taken the potion too soon, before his body had adapted, he might have encountered unforeseen problems. Sudden, drastic increases in spiritual power weren't always easy to absorb.

"It might have worked, but it would have been inefficient."

After all, this potion had been refined through multiple iterations, with most of the side effects removed. While it wouldn't have harmed him, he still would have needed time to adjust. In the end, both methods would have taken roughly the same amount of time to reach this point.

Still, this experience served as a reminder, he would need to be more careful when experimenting with future potions to enhance his mental strength.

He already had several potential substances in mind, all of which could be acquired in large quantities. Given his current situation, he decided to stick with his existing method:

Start with low-potency potions to help his mind gradually adapt.

Once stable, use high-impact potions to achieve a major breakthrough.

This approach was both safer and more efficient in the long run.

With nothing else to do, he found himself idly wondering. Which material will I get my hands on first?

Just as he was lost in thought, something on the horizon caught his eye.

A small dot.

Narrowing his gaze, he focused on it. Was that… a boat?

Frowning, Ethan reached for his binoculars and peered through them.

It wasn't just a boat, it was an escape craft. There were three people aboard, and one of them was waving frantically, clearly trying to signal for help.

Shifting his gaze beyond them, Ethan scanned the surrounding waters.

He didn't see anything out of the ordinary at first, but as he continued searching, he spotted scattered pieces of wooden debris floating nearby.

"Shipwreck survivors?"

Adjusting the Goddess of Dawn's course, Ethan turned toward the stranded boat.

He wasn't the type to ignore people in distress. His morals were still intact, and he had no qualms about offering aid when needed. Of course, if any of them tried to take advantage of his kindness, he had more than enough ways to make them regret it.

As he approached, he carefully controlled his speed. Two years of sailing had given him plenty of experience—he wasn't about to make rookie mistakes like overshooting the stop or failing to slow down in time.

Bringing the Goddess of Dawn to a smooth halt, he positioned it at a safe distance. Close enough for them to reach, but not so close that the ship's wake would capsize their already unstable craft.

After securing the vessel, Ethan stepped to the side and lowered the rope ladder.

The three survivors quickly paddled over, then climbed up one by one.

"Saved!"

The first man aboard didn't celebrate. Instead, he immediately turned back and helped the others climb up.

That small gesture caught Ethan's attention.

Once all three were safely on deck, they collapsed in exhaustion. The first man, however, forced himself to stand and formally thanked Ethan.

"Thank you for saving us," he said, still catching his breath. "I'm Philip, first mate of the Advance. These two are our observer, Stephen, and our combat captain, Sean."

Ethan nodded. "Welcome aboard the Goddess of Dawn. I'm Captain Ethan."

***

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