MMORPG: Birth of the World's Luckiest Player

Chapter 516: Running Across the Open Sea

The luxury vessel maintained its top speed for another hour, steadily leaving every other ship farther and farther behind. Under the envious and bewildered gazes of the players they had passed, Marcus and his group continued sailing northeast without slowing down.

Following the route marked on Silas the Wanderer’s map, Marcus carefully guided the ship around eight dangerous regions infested with monsters above level fifty. The voyage was anything but straightforward, and they frequently adjusted course to avoid entering hostile waters. After nearly five hours of careful navigation, they finally reached an isolated stretch of ocean.

Standing on the upper deck, Marcus slowly swept his gaze across the horizon.

There was nothing.

The endless sea blended seamlessly into the endless sky, forming a single expanse of brilliant blue. There were no passing ships, no circling seabirds, not even a distant island to break the scenery. Only drifting clouds and the gentle sea breeze accompanied them.

It was obvious that the route Silas had left behind wasn’t simply a shortcut. It was a hidden passage known to almost no one.

Ordinary players would never be able to travel this way. The route wove through countless monster territories that completely blocked access to the deeper sea. Three of those regions alone were inhabited by level eighty monsters, and their territories were both enormous and difficult to navigate. At the current stage of the game, no player possessed the strength to force their way through.

Even if someone miraculously managed to make it this far, the real danger still lay ahead. Another two hours along the route brought them close to two more monster territories, this time populated by creatures around level ninety. Anyone foolish enough to wander into those waters without knowing the safe path would be wiped out almost immediately.

That was precisely why this area remained untouched. Not only ordinary players, but even the Dragon Dynasty’s naval fleets, veteran sailors, and experienced fishermen avoided these waters completely. It was a sea of death, mysterious and unforgiving, where a single wrong turn meant certain destruction.

Without Silas’s map guiding the way, Marcus was fairly certain they would have been forced to turn back long ago.

Fortunately, the stretch of ocean they currently occupied was peaceful. The sea was calm, the water crystal clear, and there wasn’t a dangerous monster in sight.

Freed from the tension of navigating through deadly waters, everyone gradually relaxed and began enjoying the spectacular scenery.

Amber leaned against the ship’s railing, her eyes sparkling as she gazed across the endless ocean. "Marcus," she called happily, "the sea is so beautiful. It looks like an endless sheet of blue crystal."

Marcus smiled as he looked out over the water himself. "It really does."

This was his first time sailing across Dominion’s open ocean as well. Standing there, surrounded by nothing but sea and sky, he couldn’t help appreciating how breathtaking the world felt. There was a kind of grandeur that simply couldn’t be experienced on land.

Of course, according to the game’s travel time, reaching Sea Lion’s Tomb would still take more than three full days. As beautiful as the view was, staring at endless blue water for that long would probably become monotonous eventually.

Still, that was a problem for future Marcus. A playful grin spread across his face.

"Anyone want to go for a swim?" he called. "We’ve got calm water, no monsters around, and we’re in no rush. Might as well enjoy it."

"Yes!" The response came almost instantly. They had clearly been hoping someone would suggest it.

One after another, the women switched into equipment better suited for movement before diving gracefully over the side of the ship. Their bodies traced elegant arcs through the air before disappearing beneath the clear blue water like a group of playful mermaids.

Marcus laughed and jumped in after them.

The moment he entered the water, he was once again impressed by Dominion’s incredible realism. Or rather, its incredible lack of realism where convenience was concerned.

Although they were completely submerged, neither their clothes nor their equipment became wet. Breathing underwater felt perfectly natural, as though the game simply ignored the concept entirely. Aside from the blue world surrounding them, it felt no different from walking on land. They could swim freely in every direction, stop wherever they pleased, or even fight beneath the waves without any difficulty.

The only drawback was the ocean debuff. Every player gradually lost movement speed, attack power, and defense while underwater, beginning with a three percent reduction that increased the longer they remained submerged and the deeper they descended. Fortunately, the penalties were almost impossible to notice unless combat actually broke out.

Marcus, however, was completely unaffected. The Fish-Walk passive granted by the Prismatic Water Core ignored every one of those restrictions. His movement, combat ability, and mobility remained at one hundred percent no matter where he was. He could stroll along the ocean floor as naturally as walking through a city street, sprint beneath the sea, or even stand and run across the surface of the water itself.

That last ability was simply too fun to ignore.

Before long, Marcus spotted a lone Sea Dog, a harmless level thirty creature notorious for pestering fishermen and travelers. With a thought, he burst upward, his feet landing on the ocean’s surface without sinking in the slightest.

Running across the waves as though they were solid ground, he closed the distance in moments. One slash, and the Sea Dog vanished instantly.

Marcus couldn’t help grinning. ’Nice.’ "Blackie."

His mount materialized beneath him in a flash. "Let’s go!"

Blackie immediately charged forward, its powerful hooves pounding across the ocean as if galloping over an endless grassy plain. Spray burst into the air behind them while mount and rider raced alongside the luxury vessel at full speed.

The sight was so unbelievable that everyone aboard stopped to watch.

Normally, mounts suffered the same movement penalties as players whenever they entered the water, but Fish-Walk extended its effects to Marcus’s summoned companions as well. Blackie, originally a mount suited for land and air, could now move effortlessly across the sea without losing any of its speed.

Watching Marcus race over the waves, Jade’s eyes lit up with excitement. "Marcus!" She waved both arms enthusiastically. "Come get me! I want to run on the water too!"

Marcus laughed. "Hold on tight." He guided Blackie back toward the ship, leaned over as they passed alongside the deck, and effortlessly lifted Jade onto the saddle in front of him.

The girl immediately burst into delighted laughter. "Faster!"

"As you wish." Blackie accelerated once more, carrying the two of them racing across the glittering ocean while Jade’s cheerful laughter echoed over the waves.

Nearby, Amber and Chloe had summoned their own mounts, Amethyst and Snowy. Although neither possessed Fish-Walk, both were capable of flying at low altitude, allowing them to skim just above the water’s surface. Watching the four mounts dart across the sea made it feel less like a dangerous expedition and more like an afternoon outing.

Nearly an hour passed before the luxury vessel approached the next dangerous region marked on Silas’s map. Reluctantly, everyone climbed back aboard. The peaceful stretch of ocean was ending, and it was time to continue following the carefully planned route through monster territory.

Once everyone had dried off, they retrieved fishing rods from the ship’s storage and lined up along the railings. Since they would be traveling for days anyway, they decided they might as well catch dinner themselves and grill whatever they landed.

Lily looked especially excited. With a bright smile, she produced her Mythic Artifact, the South Sea Jade Rod, and proudly prepared to put her Advanced Angler skill to good use.

The instant the fishing line touched the water, the jade-green rod released a soft emerald glow that quietly spread across its surface.

Marcus glanced at it, then at the calm sea below. A strange feeling suddenly crept into his mind. A Mythic fishing rod, combined with an Advanced Angler... he sincerely hoped Lily didn’t end up hooking something far more terrifying than tonight’s dinner.