Chapter 476: 476. Phantom Blackwood in Dragon Boat
Tyler, now cloaked in the guise of Phantom Blackwood, walked with steady steps through the bustling halls of the Dragon Boat. At his side trailed two figures: the ever-proud Dragon Princess Zuzia, who wore her disguise like a nuisance she longed to cast off, and Myrtle, her anxious yet loyal attendant.
Everywhere they went, heads turned.
Not because of beauty— though Zuzia’s faintly veiled dragonic aura always commanded attention— nor because of Myrtle’s elegance. It was Tyler. The mask, the black suit, and more than anything, the oppressive pressure rolling off him like a storm about to break. His aura was quiet, yet too heavy, too dangerous, like an abyss with no end.
The guides, those eager hawkers who had rushed every group at the entrance, fell silent and retreated the instant they sensed him. Not a single one dared approach.
Tyler ignored the attention and strode forward with purpose. He had no interest in the hawkers, no desire to linger in the ornamental attractions of the lower floors, atleast as Phantom Blackwood. He had come for a task: the registration of Zuzia’s island under the protection of the Dragon Boat.
The three of them advanced toward the great transport platforms that connected the floors. Stairs wound upward for those who preferred the long path; shimmering teleportation arrays waited for the wealthy or impatient. But Tyler chose the elevation platforms— broad disks of luminous stone that lifted passengers gently upward, providing sweeping views of the ship’s vast interior as they rose.
Zuzia leaned lazily on the railing, looking down at the bustling market floors below, while Myrtle kept glancing uneasily around. Tyler stood motionless, hands behind his back, as if surveying an army camp rather than a ship.
When they reached the fifth floor, the atmosphere changed immediately.
The lower decks had been cacophonies of hawking voices, laughter, the smell of roasted fish, and the chatter of cultivators bargaining or boasting. But the fifth floor was quieter, heavier.
The entire level was constructed of cedar wood polished to a golden sheen, fragrant with a warm scent that eased the nerves yet carried an undertone of authority. Even the walls and vaulted ceiling gleamed with cedar’s luster, and intricate arrays were carved subtly into the wood grain, reinforcing the structure while humming faintly with power.
Cultivation chambers lined the corridors, their doors glowing faintly to indicate occupancy. Practitioners moved with more restraint here. Though the floor bustled with traffic, it lacked the chaotic crush of the lower decks. Everyone seemed sharper, more cautious. After all, this was where news and intelligence traded.
"Myrtle," Tyler’s voice emerged deep and distorted from the Phantom Mask, commanding without effort. "Find out where the registration office is."
The feathered girl stiffened, her pride stung. "I am not your subordinate," she snapped, folding her arms. "Don’t order me around."
Before Tyler could reply, Zuzia smirked. "Do as your mate says."
Myrtle’s feathered coat ruffled instantly. "He is not my mate," she muttered, glaring sidelong at Tyler. Yet her defiance faltered under Zuzia’s expectant gaze. With a sigh, she turned on her heel and walked off, grumbling all the way.
Tyler said nothing, only watching her go.
Zuzia chuckled softly. "She listens, even while she protests. You should just push her down even if she protest."
Tyler didn’t answer. He had no interest in Zuzia’s teasing, atleast not as Phantom Blackwood.
A short while later, Myrtle returned.Then her eyes caught on a disturbance nearby.
A crowd had formed ahead, voices buzzing.
At the center stood a broad-shouldered Dragonian guard, scaled arms crossed as he barked at someone. On the ground beside him sat another Dragonian, clutching a broken arm and groaning pitifully.
"I wonder which fools are stupid enough to pick a fight with a Guard on the Dragon Boat," Myrtle snickered. But the smirk froze on her lips the moment her eyes landed on the scene—her Princess... and that damned pirate.
Myrtle frowned at the absurdity until realization struck. The princess herself was at the center of the conflict, standing proudly with her tail twitching in irritation.
Myrtle’s face twitched , "Princess—?! That’s—"
Before she could finish, the crowd parted enough for her to see clearly. Zuzia was indeed standing there, arms crossed, glaring down at the guard like a queen insulted.
"He was emitting killing intent," Zuzia said loudly, pointing at the Dragonian on the ground. Her expression was one of feigned innocence, though her eyes sparkled with mischief. "So I instantly kicked – ... well, accidentally kicked him."
Her words earned murmurs from the crowd.
Myrtle froze. But when she saw the man on the ground clutching his broken arm, her loyalty flared. Without hesitation, she glared daggers at him. "If Princess says he was hostile, then he was hostile. Who would dare release killing intent in this place? He’s lucky she didn’t kill him outright."
Even she is ready to kill him.
The standing guard sneered. "Hah! As the rumors say, the so-called ’self-proclaimed Dragon Princess’ is reckless to the bone. Even if you murdered his mother, no sane person would dare release killing intent here. Stop making excuses. You will come with us quietly, and your powers will be sealed until this is resolved."
Zuzia bristled, wings twitching, ready to lunge forward.
But before she could, Tyler placed hand on her shoulder and stepped past her.
Myrtle exhaled in relief. For once, she thought, the masked pirate would act rationally and defuse the situation.
But She was wrong.
The guard’s sentence ended with the crunch of Tyler’s fist smashing into his jaw. The man staggered, scales cracking. Tyler didn’t pause. Grabbing the guard by his thick tail, he swung him left and right across the cedar floor.
The wood shuddered but did not break; the Dragon Boat was too well-fortified for such damage. But the guard’s body did not share the same resilience.
Gasps erupted in the crowd.
"Capture them!" shouted the Dragonian with the broken arm, his voice shrill with pain.
Tyler turned his masked gaze upon him, then calmly stepped on his fractured arm. The man’s scream tore through the chamber, high and raw.
The other guards reacted at last, raising their spears. The tips glowed as energy gathered, beams of condensed power humming dangerously.
Tension snapped through the air.
And then Tyler spoke.
"Are you just going to keep watching?" His voice, distorted by the Phantom Mask, carried a resonance that shook listeners to their bones. It was deep, abyssal, more a rumble than a voice— like something from beyond mortality.
The guards froze, they looked around in confusion. Their fingers trembled on their weapons.
Before anyone could decide what to do, another voice entered.
"Such a massive divine sense," the newcomer observed mildly. "You are a loose immortal too, I take it?"
Heads turned.
A man had appeared silently among them. He looked like nothing more than an ordinary farmer: plain robe, sandals worn thin, hair tied carelessly. But wolf-blue ears twitched atop his head, and his calm eyes held a depth that silenced the entire hall.
None had noticed his arrival. Yet the instant the guards saw him, they dropped to their knees.
"Master Azure!" they chorused, trembling.
The air shifted.
Azure smiled gently, as though greeting guests to his home. "Welcome," he said. "I am Azure, master of this Dragon Boat. All who work here answer to me."
The onlookers bowed deeply. Even those unaffiliated instinctively lowered their heads.
This was the master of the Dragon Boat. Everyone present knew what that meant: an existence at the Loose Immortal Realm, a being whose casual whim could determine the fate of thousands. Though he emitted no aura, his presence was undeniable.
Tyler released his grip on the two Dragonian guards, letting them crumple to the ground like discarded sacks. "You saw it yourself," he said evenly. "These men deliberately provoked us."
Azure’s wolf ears twitched. His eyes moved to the cowering Dragonions. His voice remained calm, almost sympathetic. "Yes. They are not what they appear. Likely spies from another Dragon Boat. Since they targeted the Dragon Princess, I would wager they hail from the Red Dragon Boat."
The two Dragonions stiffened, panic flashing in their eyes.
"Red Dragon Boat?" Tyler asked, his tone flat.
Azure inclined his head. "A matter best discussed over tea, not in the middle of a crowded chamber. If you would join me?"
Tyler gave a short nod. Zuzia smirked, clearly entertained, while Myrtle followed reluctantly, still shaken by the spectacle.
As the group walked away with Azure, the two Dragonions remained behind. They tried to silently leave, but before they could even take a step, their eyes dulled, their bodies slackening. Life drained from them as swiftly as a candle snuffed by wind.
The guards simply cleaned them up afterwards.
The crowd dispersed quickly, as though nothing had happened.
There is a rule that no one is allowed to kill in the Dragon Boat. But that doesn’t apply to the Master of the Ship. Tyler and girls also didn’t care what happened to them.
On the Dragon Boat, some matters were simply... cleaned up.