Chapter 31: The Warship Sets Sail

With a splash and a resounding "swish," WaWa dove into the water, retracting its tentacles. Before Ian stood a small Galleon ship.

This was a single-deck, three-masted Galleon, measuring 23.2 meters in length and 6.1 meters wide, with a draft of 2.9 meters and a weight of 150 tons. Except for the missing sails atop its masts, it looked like a slightly modified version of a traditional Galleon ship.

Of course, this was only WaWa's temporary form, crafted to remain inconspicuous. As Ian grew stronger, WaWa would undoubtedly evolve into a formidable steel battleship.

The Galleon design dominated the Miracle Sea, optimized for speed and stability by lowering the forecastle and aftcastle into the hull. Its decks were layered, with the lower decks designated for cargo and the upper decks for crew quarters. Cannons lined the sides of each deck, with heavy artillery on the lower decks and lighter cannons above. Quick-firing guns often occupied the forecastle and aftcastle for pursuit or retreat.

Ian leaped onto the deck, brimming with excitement as he inspected his new warship.

At first glance, WaWa still resembled a small Galleon, featuring two main decks and elevated forecastle and aftcastle structures. The main deck was an open area, flanked by spaces for mounting cannons, and served as the hub for daily activities. Below the deck, the ship's hull was divided into compartments for crew accommodations, dining, and cargo storage. The captain's quarters were perched atop the aftcastle, which also boasted a panoramic observation platform.

But these were just WaWa's external features.

Inside the captain's quarters, Ian pushed lightly against an unassuming wall. A hidden door materialized and opened, revealing a spacious, brightly lit interior—20 meters square with a ceiling height of three meters. The space was entirely bare, illuminated by soft, non-glare light emanating from the ceiling. This was WaWa's unique magical domain, anchored to its body and capable of growing alongside it until maturity.

Ian could freely modify this space, dividing it into rooms or adjusting layouts, though its total size was fixed. Waving his hand, Ian made the walls and ceiling vanish, immersing himself in a projection of the surrounding ocean. It felt like standing on the open sea—he could see the waves and hear the howling wind, though there was no actual breeze or salty scent.

Ian was thoroughly impressed. He quickly planned out the space, instructing WaWa to create rooms for resting, bathing, alchemy, and storage, with adjustments to be made as needed.

Stepping back outside, Ian examined WaWa's rudder, propeller, and wave-cutting plates. Although they seemed functional, Ian wasn't an expert. He knew WaWa would need to refine these features over time, adapting to real-world navigation.

Interestingly, WaWa had no need for a helm. As a living warship, it could respond to Ian's commands and steer itself with unparalleled precision. With its rapid learning ability, WaWa would soon outmatch even the best helmsman.

Under Ian's spiritual guidance, the propeller spun furiously, churning up waves and propelling the ship swiftly into the deep ocean. Standing atop the aftcastle's observation platform, Ian felt the rush of wind against his face and the boundless freedom of the sea.

Though lacking instruments to measure speed, Ian sensed that WaWa was moving faster than 10 knots, even against the wind and without sails—a remarkable feat compared to most sailboats, which struggled to exceed 10 knots even under optimal conditions.

WaWa's speed wasn't its only advantage. Its body was tough and heavily armored, with a sleek, silver-gray hull angled at 20 degrees to deflect cannon fire. Over time, its tentacles would gradually harden into durable components like anchors, propellers, and rudder blades, all of which could regenerate if damaged.

Apart from its slightly heavy hull and limited cargo capacity, WaWa was nearly flawless in Ian's eyes.

The warship, shrouded in darkness like a ghost ship, made a stealthy round trip before anchoring quietly beneath the cliffs. Ian disembarked, his excitement brimming. His plans for sea exploration could finally begin.

WaWa remained in its warship form, stationed at the shoreline. Its growing size made it unsuitable for free movement, and its transformation into a permanent ship form was inevitable as its tentacles continued to recede.

The next morning, Ian emerged from meditation to find Myrta pacing along the cliff edge, his excitement evident despite the heavy dark circles under his eyes.

Myrta had spent the night reflecting on his encounter. As fear subsided, exhilaration took its place. Realizing that Mr. Tryst's ship was a living magical creature filled him with both awe and anticipation. Journeying with such a powerful ship and captain was a dream come true, the ultimate survival ticket in the treacherous Miracle Sea.

Ian led the anxious Myrta down a hidden path to WaWa, urging him to foster a good relationship with their extraordinary ship. Ian then departed for the Alchemist Guild.

Now that he had a warship, he needed firepower.

A ship that could only run but not fight wasn't Ian's style. He dreamed of equipping WaWa with alchemical cannons, even if just one or two. With WaWa's sturdy hull, it might just withstand the force of alchemical artillery.

As for a gunner? Ian didn't have one. But he did have a living rope capable of reloading. Long-range attacks and unmatched speed—kite tactics were practically made for WaWa.