The following days on The Black Queen passed with a growing sense of urgency. Two months had gone by since the trio joined the crew, and every moment brought them closer to the confrontation with the hundred-thousand-year-old Evil Spirit Orca King and its horde. When the Madam finally announced that they would soon be entering the beast's habitat, a tense silence gripped the ship.
Liu Erlong and Dugu Xin had spent most of their time cultivating. Both had achieved rank 78 surprisingly fast. Bei had also been cultivating, but he remained stuck at level 70. He was sure his real level was higher since he had been stuck at rank 70 for more than a year, he just needed a new spirit ring to break through.
Bei had his sights set on the Evil Spirit Orca King, if it truly was the same beast Tang San encountered in the original novel. The creature's "Evil" energy resonated perfectly with his Poison Devouring Spider Emperor. Bei remembered that these Evil Spirit Beasts consumed other spirit beasts to evolve and grow faster. The similarities between the beast's devouring nature and his own spirit made him want its spririt ring even more.
He also remembered there was still the Dark Devilgod Tiger, but that was a thought for the future.
The Madam laid out the plan for the confrontation. Her 8th ability, "Ice Turtle Field," would freeze the surrounding sea, creating a battlefield where they could fight without being at the mercy of the water. However, half of the crew would need to stay back to protect her, as maintaining the field would immobilize her. Liu Erlong and Dugu Xin were tasked with keeping the 100,000-year-old Evil Spirit Orca King occupied, while the rest of the crew and Bei handled the other orcas before joining the fight against the king.
"It's a simple plan," Bei thought, "but so many things could go wrong." He doubted Liu Erlong and Dugu Xin could hold their own against the Orca King for long, but they assured him they had a hidden card up their sleeves. He had no other choice but to trust them.
Bei was the best at fighting against a large number of enemies, anyway. His Devouring Domain would be key for the battle; the more enemies there were, the stronger Bei would be during the battle as he absorbed their power.
Two days later, the ship's tension was obvious. The crew moved with nervous energy, and the oppressive silence of the open sea weighed heavily on everyone. The first orca appeared on the horizon, followed by more. The ship's camouflage allowed them to slip unnoticed into the heart of the beasts' territory, but it wouldn't deceive the Orca King for long.
The sailors grew visibly uneasy, their morale sinking. Bei stepped forward, his voice cutting through the quiet.
"Hey! Are you afraid, you meatheads?"
Every head turned to him, bristling at his tone. Before they could protest, he continued.
"That's okay. You should be afraid." His lips curled into a challenging grin. "But don't you dare chicken out now. If you're scared, use that fucking fear to keep you and your crew alive!"
A murmur of agreement rippled through the crowd, growing louder as he added, "We'll be eating orca meat by the end of the day!"
The crew erupted into cheers and their spirits reignited. The sailors busied themselves preparing for the battle, their energy transformed from dread to determination.
As the final preparations were made, the Madam, Liu Erlong, and Dugu Xin approached Bei.
"Nice speech, kid," Dugu Xin said, clapping him on the shoulder.
The Madam nodded. "Not bad, indeed."
She gazed at the sea, her face hardening. "This is the place. Any further, and we'll lose the element of surprise." Turning to the group, she asked, "Are you ready?"
"As ready as we'll ever be," Liu Erlong replied.
The Madam smiled faintly. "That will have to do." She began walking to the bow of the ship.
Bei glanced at the endless sea and sky, then at Liu Erlong and Dugu Xin. With a smirk, he said, "Isn't it a perfect day to die?"
Dugu Xin raised an eyebrow. "I'm really concerned about your mental health, Bei."
They all chuckled, their laughter a brief reprieve from the tension. The Madam's voice brought them back to reality.
"You know I'm not one for motivational speeches," she said, standing tall at the bow. "So I'll keep it simple. Don't you dare die on me. You hear me?!"
The crew roared back, "We hear you, Captain!"
Satisfied, she nodded. "Good. In that case, the battle starts now."
With that, the Madam leapt from the ship, releasing her Spirit Soul and spirit rings. Her eighth ring shone black as she shouted, "Ice Turtle Field!" The air chilled instantly, the sea around them freezing solid as the Madam landed gracefully on the newly formed ice.
The battle had begun.