The Erratum

Considering the nature of the Prophet of Perfection and the Great Leviathan Fracture, there were several noticeable similarities.

But it couldn’t be confirmed directly.

It was merely a hunch that Cetas had.

No.. It couldn’t be. Why would a Profane Deity disguise themself as a Great Leviathan?

It was weird.

The Prophet of Perfection’s goals are weird.

Nevertheless, he continued to read the book and study about several Leviathans that are located in the seas. The book contained a lot of detailed accounts regarding those that roam near the continents, however, it still wouldn’t account for the Leviathans that are hidden in the depths.

For example, the three Leviathans that they’ve just encountered were unknown ones that have not been logged yet.

If Reid knew about them then he would share information regarding their Zeal and their weaknesses.

But alas, he couldn’t.

So, until sunset Cetas read and studied.

There were multiple Leviathans that piqued his interests other than the 5 Great Leviathans. Some of which are a miniscule red droplet that would form an entire sea of algae. An anglerfish that would only appear at night, utilizing Metaphysical Zeal to entice its prey, a shark with great speeds, often too fast for the seawater to react with its volume, and so much more!

They were all terrifying in their own right, especially that shark Leviathan hailed as Bullet.

If they ever encounter it, how would Skadi even catch up to it?

After Cetas finished the book, he looked to his side and found Elishia still sleeping.

He lingered in the center of the deck for a while, resting his mind and processing what he had just read.

Just then, Reid came over to them and called on to Cetas.

"Hey, wake Elishia up. Skadi is calling for us.."

Cetas looked to Jones, and then to Elishia.

He gave the auburn-haired girl a light tap on the shoulder.

"Elishia, wake up.."

Upon contacting her shoulder, Elishia shuddered and leaned over to the right.

"Mmm, not yet."

Reid saw this and rubbed his sinus.

But after a few seconds, Elishia suddenly jolted up!

"I’m awake! What time is it?!"

Noticing the sun setting in the distance, Elishia stood up and held her face with her two hands, "Oh no no no! I need to make dinner!"

She ran over to the direction of the kitchen, however, Reid stopped her with his right hand.

"Hold on, Skadi is looking for all of us. Head to the helm first before cooking.."

Elishia’s body repulsed but then she let out a deep breath.

"Alright.. I almost panicked there, haha!"

With that said, she headed towards the helm, leaving Reid and Cetas alone.

"That girl.. When fresh out of sleep, she always panics." Reid shook his head, "Anyways let’s go Cetas."

Cetas nodded. He stood up and walked beside him.

Reid, who held a cold expression, looked over to Cetas every once in a while.

It was as if he wanted to say something.

Cetas noticed his constant eye-darting, so he got curious.

"What’s the matter?"

"Oh, nothing." His voice distant and flat, "It’s just you finished the book, I believe?"

"This? Yes I finished it all."

Reid went silent for a second.

Maintaining his aloof nature, he asked in an indifferent tone, "So, how was it?"

Cetas gathered his thoughts for a second.

"It was good, I learned a lot of things especially from the 5 Great Leviathans. You know, I actually have a theory.."

Reid kept his ears open to listen.

"The Great Leviathan Fracture, doesn’t its strengths and Zeal match that of the Prophet of Perfection?"

Reid’s eyebrows sharpened, "What makes you say that?"

"The power to propagate, control numerous Leviathans as if they were unified, and hosting the most number of Leviathans out of all the Depths?"

"Hmm. I don’t really know what the Prophet of Perfection is like, so I can’t consider that theory.."

The two ascended the steps up to the helm.

Reid looked as if he were in contemplation, thinking about the theories that Cetas had opened.

"I might be wrong, it’s just my feeling that’s all."

A moment later, they arrived near the helm, where the crewmembers had already gathered.

All except for Galkan, who had just only exited the deck below.

As he went up the helm, he held two metal cases in both of his hands.

One was of copper coloration and the other was silver.

"Wow! You finished already?" Elishia asked with a surprised tone.

"Yes, and it took me all day!"

Cetas studied that bulky man’s face. Galkan was sweaty, his beard was disheveled, and there were chars of black and several metals across his face.

But most importantly, his eyes were disappointed, looking as if he had just failed.

Or perhaps he was only tired.

Is he unsatisfied?

Still his voice remained loud and cheery.

"I’m sure you all know why I gathered you here now.. In order to prevent the misunderstanding last time, I think it’d be proper for all of us to see the new Zeal Weapons developed. It is also so we all know the capabilities and weaknesses that it possesses."

She stared at Galkan and Jones.

"We do this together, okay?"

The two nodded and gulped.

"Good. Now, let’s see what you have made, Galkan.."

The bulky man smiled, holding a prideful expression. He brought down the copper case to the floor, holding the one with silver coloration first.

"This is the Zeal Weapon made from the Zeal Essence of that titanic Leviathan. I’ve named it Howl, derived from its properties."

He opened the case and revealed a small silver stick with a flat edge on one side and a circular-rounded edge on the other.

"Captain, can I request for your winds to gather the sound near this Zeal Weapon?"

"Sure thing.."

The winds gathered around Howl. Although formless, they reduced the noise that would be coming from within.

Galkan held the stick with his right hand.

"Alright.. I will now inject my Zeal into Howl."

But then, nothing happened. Still, Galkan remained confident.

"Now, put the veil of sound just around the ship, so that no noise will attract any Leviathans near us."

Skadi flicked her hand and the winds parted around Howl. But along with it, a loud screeching noise enveloped the veil.

It rang in the ears of the crew, making them stunned for a second.

It sounded like a heavy screech made by a large man when his vocal cords have been pushed to its extent.

Skadi made her hands form into a fist, and suddenly, the noise was gone.

Galkan stopped activating Howl and put it back into the silver case.

"As you have noticed, this Zeal Weapon is capable of creating loud noises that can inflict some effects. Among these are, paralyzation for 1 second, dizziness, nausea, and even induced vomiting."

"If exposed to the sound for more than 10 seconds, then a Zealot may feel fluctuations in their Zeal."

Galkan shook his head.

"It may be useful for its effects, but the catch is.. It can even affect the user. Thus, if one didn’t have anything that can control sound, then this Zeal Weapon would be useless in their hands."

The red-haired man looked to Elishia.

"I believe this will not help you in any way, Elishia. Perhaps, the Captain..?"

Skadi immediately shook her head, "I don’t want it."

"Alright then, let me showcase the next one."

Galkan brought down the silver case, now grabbing the copper case on the floor.

He opened and revealed a knife with a copper spiraled blade that resembled a tentacle. Galkan held it in his right hand, showcasing the Zeal weapon in a 360 degree motion.

"I named this one, Cyclone. As evident in its name, the spiraled blade can inflict the properties of the Leviathan that caused the whirlpool. Upon contact, its blade can quickly rotate, drilling whoever it strikes."

The crew was enticed.

"Captain, please help me in holding this with the winds."

Galkan brought out a thick square-shaped bar of pure metal.

Skadi used the winds to carry the bar of metal and held it firm in its place.

"Alright. Let me demonstrate.."

Galkan inhaled deeply then, retracted his arm holding Cyclone. However, he didn’t swiftly strike the metal bar. Rather, he simply tapped it with the tip of the spiraled blade.

Simultaneously, the blade of Cyclone rotated rapidly. It formed sparks in the metal, and when Galkan pushed it forward, it melted through the bar with ease.

After the demonstration, the square metal bar had a gaping hole in the middle.

"Quite potent." Reid commented.

"Yes," Galkan said as he placed the knife back in the copper case, "As you can see, Cyclone is made for close-ranged battles, which, in itself, is already hard due to the fact that many of our enemies are leagues larger than us. Therefore, making a small hole in the Leviathan, wouldn’t make too much of a difference."

He once again looked at Elishia.

"So, I wouldn’t recommend this for you, Elishia.. I deeply apologize since I couldn-"

"Can I still have that, anyways?"

All of the crewmembers looked at her.

"You said it only works upon contact right? Does it work when the side of the blade hits something?"

Galkan looked confused, "Technically, yes, but like I said, it would be far too risky to use in combat."

Elishia waved her hand and smiled, "Oh, I’m not gonna use it for combat.."

"...?"

The crew looked perplexed.

"It’d be a great peeler for vegetables!"

Cetas’ face became blank.

What?