Chapter 187: Subjugation and Experimentation
Eight days flew by since the battle against the Shark Sea Lord. On the following day, Elton and company relocated to a much larger island. Instead of escaping as originally planned, they chose to stay behind—calling it "experimental training."
This island was inhabited by a humanoid race called the Umankans, who at first glance looked human. Their main differences lay in the elastic quality of their skin and their eyes, which opened and closed sideways instead of up and down.
When Elton and his group arrived in one of the Umankans' largest towns, their presence stirred unease. They were even deemed a threat at first, and clashes broke out. After several back-and-forth battles, however, the surrounding residents, as well as the city-region leaders, grudgingly recognized them.
Christy, using her Kokon Tengan, quietly traced the faint presence of at least one Mortal Shedding Realm expert hidden among the Umankans, perhaps even two.
On the far side of the island lived another race: orc-like beings with demonic beast bloodlines. Ancient enemies of the Umankans, they had been locked in cycles of war for centuries. Yet both sides refrained from going all out, restrained by the looming pressure of three nearby Sea Kingdoms that also despised each other, creating a tense five-way deadlock.
At first, Elton and his companions felt only headaches at the news. But as time passed, their involvement with the Umankans gave them excuses to train and test their abilities.
Elton continued experimenting with combining the Royal Elven Magic sealing with his Sword Skill. Christy advanced in her Kokon Tengan. Shayleaf deepened her grasp of Royal Elven nature magic and vampiric arts, guided by Elton's insights and Christy's observations. Tongsheng too grew under Shayleaf's guidance. Though she had less grounding in demon arts compared to her nature magics, Christy used her Kokon Tengan to imprint fragments of magical demon formulas into Tongsheng. She had stolen them from the dead Mortal Lord demon whose spiritual eyes evolved her Aka Boshi no Tengan.
Even Shayleaf's three familiars grew quickly, cultivating relentlessly. Prawna hovered on the brink of Gold tier, deliberately suppressing her breakthrough to stabilize her foundations. Corvin, Cromlan, and Prawna absorbed lessons from their leaders, focusing on meridian mastery and ki/magic control. None of them could match Elton's monstrous cultivation path, nor Christy's perfect meridian synchronization to her Aka Boshi no Tengan, but they were carving paths of their own.
Far off the island's coast, a half-man, half-shark hovered in the waters. Dread weighed on his face as his gaze turned toward a smaller island nearby, one clearly formed from trees. From this distance, he could see groups of intelligent creatures stationed there—sea folk like himself, humanoids, even orc-blooded beings. He trembled at the sight.
"…What's happened? Who are those outsiders the Umankans brought? Why have none of the other nations acted yet…?"
"Looks like we've found another one." A voice drifted up behind him.
The shark-man shrieked and dove below the surface. "Spare me!"
"No can do. Time to join the ranks, little friend."
—Eternal Dawn Sealing Sword—
Like a streaking carp, Elton dove from his Blue Heavenly Star Destroyer into the waves. A sword-shaped branch slashed cleanly through the water, striking the shark-man and sealing his strength instantly.
Not long after, Elton dropped the unconscious captive on Shayleaf's tree-island, where several dozens of prisoners were already gathered: shark-men and women, sea folk of other kinds, the orc-like race, and a few other humanoid species. Their expressions ranged from anger and despair to bitterness and exhaustion. Yet among them, a few wore hopeful, almost relieved smiles.
"Milord, you've returned!" a deep voice called out. A shark-beast stepped forward proudly. "I punished the fools who tried to trespass. They weren't worthy of your sealing, and the Heavenly-Eyed Madam dealt with them earlier!"
The new captive froze when he saw the speaker. "S-Sea Lord Gwarola… the rumors were true… you fell…"
"S-S-Shut your mouth!" Gwarola barked, his voice trembling. "I didn't fall! I chose to serve Milord, as should you!"
Elton chuckled. "I'm glad you're still lively, Gwarola. Despite our rough start, you've been a great help. I've learned much from you."
"Haha… yes, Milord. Just call me Gwarola. You beat me fair and square, so of course I'll serve sincerely." His smile was forced, but he hid it well. He pitied the others—compared to them, his situation was far better. What truly terrified him, however, wasn't particularly just Elton, but the Heavenly-Eyed woman who had bound their very spirits.
"If you insist, Gwarola," Elton nodded. "Well then, I'll return to the main island."
With that, he shot back into the skies. Gwarola's smile fell into a bitter grimace. For the hundredth time, he cursed the day he was lured to that distant island eight days ago. Shackled once again, forced into servitude. Yet unlike most of the broken prisoners, he and a handful of others had bent early, pledging loyalty. That gave them relative freedomand maybe even survival.
He sighed, then returned to cultivation.
Back on the main island, Elchris chirped gleefully as Elton descended.
"You're back, Gege." Christy greeted him with a dazzling smile that nearly stole his breath—until her words ruined the moment. "Another war is about to break out. We shouldn't miss it."
"Brother Elly!" Shayleaf exclaimed, her face glowing. "I think I've reached another breakthrough! I finally understand more of what Great Elder and Master meant about our cultivation paths being limited only by imagination and insight."
"Haha, exactly," Elton replied warmly. "Our skills evolve from what our predecessors left behind."
"Ah, Master Elton, welcome back." Tongsheng approached with a bow. "One of the governors' emissaries will arrive soon with details on the coming war."
Here's the corrected version of that part of the scene, aligned with what you originally gave me but polished just enough for flow:
"Understood, Tongsheng. Then let's make preparations to gather more slaves," Christy said with a glint in her eyes.
"Eh… calling them slaves is a bit…" Elton smiled wryly, not knowing what to say to convince her otherwise.
"Hmph! It's their own fault. They kept showing up before us," Christy replied with an annoyed expression. "At first, we were only defending ourselves, trying not to get too involved. But besides the Umankans, those other fools provoked us over and over. In the end, it only fueled our growth and gave us more chances to experiment." She shrugged her shoulders casually.
"Sister Chrissy is right!" Shayleaf chimed in. "Those orc-looking people are especially disgusting! The way they lustfully attacked us, they reminded me of that disgusting race from the Rudell region." Her face twisted in disgust as she spat out the words.
Elton could only shake his head as they prepared to greet the emissary.