Chapter 3: The Alchemist

eir stability. This particular faction didn't have many standout strengths, but their reliability was second to none. As long as one didn't make any reckless moves, it was nearly impossible for things to go out of control. This trait was also one of the main reasons why Ian's father had chosen this path for him.

However, this particular aspect of his alchemical training was in no way related to the "Whispers of the Wind" characteristic. In fact, it couldn't have been further from it.

Normally, when an alchemist infused a piece of equipment with the essence of the "Whispers of the Wind"—an essence tied to secrecy and subtlety—it would result in chaos. The infusion would act like a drop of water in hot oil, causing a violent reaction that could potentially tear apart their spiritual essence and even lead to a complete breakdown. But right now, Ian's spiritual essence showed no sign of disturbance. On the contrary, the "Whispers of the Wind" essence within the card seemed to be slowly growing stronger, not weaker.

'Wait... does this mean that I can use these cards to access the powers of other extraordinary sequences in the future?' Ian thought, his mind racing with possibilities.

It was a scene that completely defied Ian's understanding, and he couldn't help but start to overthink. The message the Fate card had conveyed was vague at best, and it seemed that from now on, it would all be up to him to explore further.

Time to leave.

Ian opened his eyes and quickly assessed the situation around him. His recent experience in the spiritual world felt like a dream, and though it seemed like a long time had passed, in reality, only moments had gone by.

The water in the ship's hold had risen up to his ankles, and the groans of the injured had grown faint. The panic-stricken passengers huddled together, taking cover in the far corners of the ship away from the gaping hole in the hull. The area near the door was the most crowded, with several people clustered around Ian.

'The cannon fire seems to be weakening,' Ian thought as he peered through the ship's hole.

A pirate ship, its black flag adorned with a skull and a massive blood-red handprint, was drawing closer. At this rate, the two ships would soon be within twenty meters of each other. Ian noticed that ropes had already been thrown, and the two ships were rapidly closing the distance.

The ship they were on was a Galen-class three-mast vessel, with several cannons on each side. Based on the cannonballs that had just hit, they appeared to be 12-pounders.

While the ship barely met the minimum requirements for a level 6 vessel in terms of cannon size and firepower, Ian could tell from the modifications and makeshift repairs that it wasn't quite up to par with a true level 6.

Ian was no stranger to naval warfare, and even with a quick glance, he had gathered a fair bit of information.

The Calvin family owned a sailing warship as well, a legitimate level 4 vessel from the Podria Kingdom.

'It's going to be a boarding battle!'

In the age of sail, warships were mostly wooden, and unless explosive shells were involved, it often took hours of bombardment to sink an enemy ship. Victory was usually decided by boarding actions. Of course, pirates weren't keen on risking too much of their loot either.

Ian continued to survey his surroundings, thinking about their current situation. This wasn't just any merchant ship—it was most likely a slave ship.

During the Age of Exploration, labor shortages were rampant across the seas. Ports needed workers, plantations and estates needed servants, and pirates, armed merchant ships, and slave traders alike would often acquire slaves to serve on their ships. The sources of slaves varied: captured pirates, impoverished civilians, indigenous people, and even adventurers who had lost everything and sold themselves into slavery.

The lucky few were always the exception.

At this moment, Ian sensed two distinct spiritual fluctuations. One was close, likely an extraordinary being from the merchant ship, while the other was faint but steadily drawing nearer—a likely extraordinary presence aboard the pirate ship.

It was possible that there were other hidden extraordinary beings as well.

Spiritual fluctuations were hard to conceal during battle, and based on the intensity, both appeared to be low-tier extraordinary beings.

'I should be able to handle this. Besides, if it gets too tough, I can always run,' Ian reasoned.

The Calvin family had been unable to secure a mature extraordinary sequence for Ian, so he had only recently stepped into this realm.

His current status was as follows:

Alchemist: An Order-aligned extraordinary sequence, a practitioner of witchcraft.

Core Ability: Primordial Tree: A life tree that grows from the body as its foundation. Through meditation and resonance, it can enhance or restore spiritual energy and mana.

Ability: Life Barrier: The Primordial Tree integrates life, spirituality, and mana, creating a powerful spiritual world where the three elements enhance each other.

Ability: Alchemical Philosophy: Mastery over one's body, spirit, and mana, maintaining spiritual stability and clarity while preventing corruption or confusion.

Ability: Resourcefulness: An acute, detailed spiritual perception that allows one to sense the properties of matter.

Ability: Precision: The precise control of matter or energy projection, with pinpoint accuracy.

Witchcraft: Alchemical Circle I: The foundational alchemical circle used in the seven core alchemical processes.

Witchcraft: Reactive Protection: A shield triggered by spiritual energy and mana, activated upon attack, providing protection while slowly consuming mana.

With four abilities and two witchcraft skills, none of which were combat-oriented, it was clear that the Alchemist was not a class designed for battle. But perhaps that was why the Calvin family had chosen it for him—it wasn't a class that would draw too much attention.

Alchemists typically fell into two factions: the Tree of Knowledge and the Primordial Tree.

The Tree of Knowledge was a "reverse-growing tree," where alchemists believed that spirituality was divine, with the spirit at the core, nourished by the body and mana. This faction's practitioners were skilled in potion-making and high-level transmutations. They were the mainstream in the alchemical world, holding the banner of alchemy. However, their overwhelming spirituality made it difficult to control, and their pursuit of knowledge often led to temptation and corruption, resulting in the risk of spiritual collapse.

The Primordial Tree, on the other hand, was a "positive-growing tree" that anchored the spirit in the body and the world, maintaining spiritual stability and balance. This faction was known for its ability to craft magical equipment and was often chosen by nobles. Their strength lay in their stability and longevity, with some combat ability, but they didn't have the overwhelming advantages of the Tree of Knowledge.

'Maybe the Tree of Knowledge faction would suit me better,' Ian thought, considering the spiritual world's protective curtain of fate and the strange cards. 'I'm not afraid of losing control.'

Just then, a loud bang interrupted his thoughts. The door to the cabin was violently shaken, and several people near the entrance were thrown back.

"Everyone near the door, move aside!" someone shouted.

The people quickly scattered, and moments later, there was another bang as the door was struck again.

The door flew open, slamming into the side wall with a crash, and a flash of light along with hurried footsteps entered the cabin.

Clang—metal objects were thrown onto the floor.

"Anyone who doesn't want to die, pick up a weapon and go fight the pirates! Outside, it's the Blood Hand Pirates—they never leave survivors!"

"The captain has promised that if we defeat the pirates, everyone who participates will be granted their freedom!"

"You'll even get to share in the spoils of war!"

A man wielding a curved sword shouted urgently.