Unchosen Champion

A new type of ship waited for Coop in the port of Ghost Reef. The phantom clipper, designed to maximize speed instead of transporting cargo, promised a swift voyage. It was one of the many alternate designs that had been created to fill out the Tempest Fleet, meant to fulfill specialized missions that would cause other configurations to operate at a disadvantage.

Compared to the heavy cannon laden vessels, the clipper had a sleeker design, with just as many sails as the heavier warships, but trading the physical reinforcement for a streamlined hull and angled masts. Compared to the smaller corvettes, the clipper was significantly larger and more fit for exploring the deep sea and the distant reaches away from safer coastlines. It sacrificed storage space and firepower, but if it lived up to its design, it would make up for what it lacked with excessive speed and stability.

The Tempest Fleet had diversified its ships over time, working through the issues that came with ever expanding influence and increased responsibility by incorporating specialized vessels into the navy. This clipper was one such solution, designed for breaking the barriers created by open oceans filled with what were essentially sea monsters. The curving lines made it seem like a racing boat, unhappy with being constrained by ropes, and eager to set off.

The crew didn’t need to delay their launch for long. Coop was at the dock before the breakfast rush within the fort was over, right on time according to his appointed schedule. He had successfully timed his last handful of grinds so that he could still wash up, get a full night’s rest, and eat an enormous meal before leaving, just with twenty five more class levels and five more Slayer titles than when he left the Coral Forest as the end of the second phase of his re leveling plan. Even when he was on leave, he couldn’t help but grind out more levels. It was basically a sickness.

Coop hopped onboard, excited for some more adventures that would inevitably lead to more rewards. The ship would carry him to a prearranged starting point beyond where Coop had explored during his previous adventures abroad. The phantom captain and his mostly human crew knew their exact destination even better than he did, so once he was settled in they set off, throwing coiled ropes and unleashing their impatient ship to the eager ocean winds.

They were heading toward the edge of extended Lighthouse territory, past the limits that had been thoroughly explored by himself and other residents. The boat ride would be an extension of the little break after the mana well before Coop started what he expected to be a challenging trip. He anticipated the challenges he would uncover in foreign lands, so he meant to use the voyage as a sort of mental reset. He propped himself against the prow rail, watching as the waves split against the hull, and relaxed.

Unlike the multi decked galleons that plowed through the ocean with raw power, the clipper essentially skipped across the surface. The lighter weight kept it buoyant while individual crew members used their skills to guide wind into each of the sails at the direction of their phantom captain. The crest of each wave splashed past Coop as the hull sliced the water, but the ship flew across the troughs, planing across the surface and establishing a completely smooth ride, even as they entered the deeper waters of the Caribbean Sea.

As the wind whipped through his hair, Coop checked his status, envisioning how it would change in the coming days. He fully expected his levels to slow down overall, but his stat gains had the potential to increase, or at least remain impressive. Slayer titles were extremely potent in that sense, plus his profession levels would steadily improve as he hunted more normal-ranked monsters, providing a second avenue of gains. The extra boosts would combine to add progression beyond just class levels.

If he wasn’t worried about reaching level 500 specifically, he wouldn’t even pay attention to his class level, but the race was still on, despite his obvious advantage.

[Status]

HP - 62247/62247

MP - 240990/240990