Shrouded Seascape

On the vast expanse of Cat Island, Julio leisurely strolled down Footbug Avenue. As he walked, he silently took in the tightly packed rows of shops lining the street.

The electric lights from the storefronts illuminated the entire road, leaving not even a spot in the darkness. The whole street was packed, accompanied by a cacophony of sounds that filled the air. Pushing and shoveling, the islanders went about with their activities.

A massive longhorn beetle lumbered past him, its sturdy back laden with bundles of goods.

Seeing the sacks loaded with edible centipedes on the longhorn beetle, Julio reached out and tapped the beetle's hardened shell.

The corners of his lips curled up into a satisfied smile. The damage caused by the death light years ago was finally subsiding and Cat Island had now returned to half of its vitality of its prime. The once silent streets were now bustling with life again.

Julio couldn't help but feel pride welling up in him at the foresight of his decisions.

Back when the governors were deciding how to split the Fhtagn's land and resources in the Eastern Seas, he had chosen not to fight with the others over those assets. Instead, he made the bold move to absorb the displaced population that Anna had discarded into Cat Island.

True, the islands in the Eastern Seas were rich in resources, but they were far deep in the region. Even if he were to send his own son to be a proxy governor, his son would eventually have his own thoughts about the island and that would inevitably lead to rebellion.

Instead of taking that risk, it would be a wiser decision to grab a surviving population, rebuild Cat Island's workforce and mirror Hope Island's industrialization.

To Julio, the future didn't hinge on the number of islands or the amount of resources. The core of tomorrow was the advancement of technology.

As Julio continued his stroll, his eyes wandered onto a young man standing outside a paint shop. He had a peculiar mechanical contraption on his back and was choosing purple snails.

Julio instantly recognized that the young man was from Hope Island. It was a distinctive trait on them due to an ongoing trend on Hope Island. They would adorn themselves with mechanical trinkets, using them as accessories. The more advanced the design, the better.

With his finger clad in fingerless gloves, the young man rummaged through the snail crate. He swiftly picked out a handful of snails and casually tossed them into a nearby turtle-shell basin.

The shopkeeper raised a hefty iron mallet and brought it down in one smooth, deliberate motion. The snails in the turtle-shell basin splattered into a deep purple paste. He then scooped the substance into an iron tin and handed it over to the young man.

The snails were one of Cat Island's most coveted exports. The purple hue was the purest purple that ever existed. A single gram of this pigment was worth as much as gold, earning it the nickname "Gold Purple" among the seafarers who sought it.

"Hey, friend, since you've come all this way, would you like some shallow algae green too?" the shopkeeper asked with a radiant smile on his face. He held up a plump, emerald-green caterpillar roughly the size of a forearm and gently squeezed it to reveal the creature's bright green innards.

"No need. We've already figured out how to synthesize this color back on Hope Island. Once we manage to synthesize gold purple, I wouldn't have to come to Cat Island for supplies again."

The young man then added, "Oh my Sparkle Goddess, there're so many bugs on this island. Just last night, a hand-sized monstrosity crawled into my boot while I was sleeping.

"And don't even get me started on those parasitic vermin that would burrow into the skin. Honestly, out of all of the Subterranean Sea, Hope Island is still the best."

Julio's brow furrowed slightly and his face darkened. He let out a cold scoff before turning sharply and headed toward the elevated land where his residence was located.

As much as he hated to admit it, the young man's words were right. When it came to technology, Cat Island lagged woefully behind Hope Island.

He had to leverage Cat Island's superior population numbers and start to build academies and also a relic research institute. Only then could he close the gap with Hope Island and hopefully, eventually overtake them in this technological race.

His boots thudded heavily against the roof as he ascended the path to the high plateau. With one last glance over his shoulder, he surveyed the vibrant glow of Cat Island's bustling streets beneath the pitch-black dome of night.

Julio turned and walked toward his massive palace.

In the vast expanse of the stone palace, Julio's footsteps echoed along the hallways. The maids and guards respectfully bowed as he walked past them and headed into his private chambers of the rear palace.

Back in his hundred-square-meter bedroom, Julio was all alone. He approached the right wall and gripped one of the murals with practiced ease. He turned it to reveal a two-meter-tall stone statue hidden behind the wall.

It was a humanoid statue and the womanly figure was wrapped in black bandages. A motionless cat lied in her arms. It was a statue of 005.

Julio knelt on one knee before the stone statue and began to murmur a low prayer, his voice barely audible.

"Do you truly believe in her? Because it doesn't seem like she will respond to your prayers," a soft female voice suddenly broke the silence.

Every single fibre of muscle in Julio tensed up. Cracks splintered across the walls and floor as shards of stone flew toward the source of the voice.

A faint chime of ringing bells sounded and shadows erupted from every corner, surging toward the intruder as well.

Julio held nothing back against an enemy who had stumbled on his secret. He activated the ability of every single relic he had assimilated to annihilate the intruder.

Yet, the surroundings fell into a silence almost within a second. The walls and floors repaired themselves, the fragments returning to where they belonged. Even the swirling shadows had vanished.

Julio froze in shock. Neither the assimilated relics or his abilities that he had acquired through other means had any response. Someone had entirely severed the connection between him and his powers.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Don't be so rash as to act," Sparkle commented as she walked out of the shadows. Her eyes glimmered with a hint of curiosity as her gaze roved over the murals on the walls.

"You are… Charles' daughter?" Julio was in disbelief as he stared at Sparkles' trademark fluorescent green, cross-shaped pupils.

Sparkle's strength was too terrifying. Even he, a Level 15 powerhouse in the Subterranean Sea, couldn't even move a single inch in her presence.

As the image of a young Sparkle, who barely reached his thigh, flashed through his mind, Julio couldn't help but feel a profound sense of helplessness welling up in him.

Sparkle turned her gaze back onto Julio. "I don't want to fight. I just came here to chat. I don't have many people I know, and even fewer whom I share common topics with."

Despite the absurd reason, Julio found himself nodding in agreement. After all, what other choice did he have?

Soon, the various signature specialties of Cat Island were brought to the table to accommodate the mysterious woman.

"Where's your father now?" Julio asked, his voice laced with bitterness as he poured Sparkle a cup of liquor.

Sparkle picked up the cup and was about to take a sip when she saw the squirming, little winged insects within. She placed the cup down without taking a sip and answered, "He's gone. Don't worry; he's not going to return to claim your territory. Dad's now considering far more significant matters."

Julio offered no response and the silence stretched into a thick and awkward tension that blanketed the room.

All along, he had always been in a high position of power and he found himself unable to communicate with the woman in front of him.

Taking a large gulp from his cup, Julio studied Sparkle's delicate face. He hesitated for a brief moment before asking, "Are you troubled by something?"

Sparkle instinctively shook her head, but then nodded slightly.

"Do you have anything that troubles you?" Sparkle suddenly returned the question to Julio, catching the latter off guard.

"Yes. I can't find a suitable successor. All of them are really useless. Sometimes, I wonder how they will survive once I pass on."

Julio then lifted the cup to his lips, tilted his head back and took another sip. Regardless of Sparkle's motive, he decided to sound her out through some small talk first.

"My father used to love drinking as well. Whenever he was troubled, he'd drink until he passed out. But he doesn't drink anymore. Alcohol no longer has any effects on him."

Staring at the formidable woman before him, Julio commented in a low voice, "Charles…he must be incredibly strong now."

"Yes. Very. His strength compared to mine is similar to my strength compared to yours."