The Great Sea Map and Approaching Extreme Cold

The Nightmare Star dragged the Iron Will out of the buffer zone.

Just as they broke through the boundary of the storm sea, the sky suddenly brightened, and the trio saw the long-lost sunlight.

Soon, the system issued an announcement:

[You have exited the storm sea.][Navigation Announcement: All players have now left the storm sea. The speed of the black fog has decreased to 10 knots. The Great Sea Map is now open. You can now check your coordinates on the map.][With the number of Tier 3 ships exceeding 10,000, the Extreme Winter Sea is now expanding. Please stay warm!]

Lucas Hall immediately checked the log and found a new page. It was a crude maritime map, recording only the paths players had traveled and the conditions of the surrounding sea. Unexplored areas remained covered in a brownish fog of war.

Since the Nightmare Star had its own small map, its recorded range was broader, covering up to 150 nautical miles around it.

The Great Sea Map had three main functions:

Player Coordinates: Players could now know their position, making it easier to meet up. However, what happened during these meetings was up to them. Lucas preferred to avoid encounters whenever possible—there were no laws at sea, and intentions were hard to read.

Sea Names and Boundaries: Though the map had a fog of war, the names of major sea regions were still visible. For example, the sea behind them was the Storm Sea, while the one ahead was the Extreme Winter Sea. The boundaries were not straight lines but jagged, resembling land tectonic plates. The Extreme Winter Sea was expanding downward.

Black Fog Boundary: The map displayed the black fog's edge, allowing players to monitor its distance and avoid being unexpectedly engulfed.

Lucas opened the chat channel to observe player reactions and gather information:

"Damn, no wonder it's so cold—I'm near the Extreme Winter Sea!" said the captain of the Swift Wind. Lucas could see the name because they were friends.

"How fast is your ship, man?""How cold is it? Give me a heads-up!""My speed's 100 knots. I'm at the edge of the Extreme Winter Sea, and the temperature's between 0-2°C. It's definitely below freezing further in!""100 knots? That's twice my speed. Is yours a special ship?""We need to collect enough cold-weather supplies.""Stock up on food—make sure it's long-lasting. DM me if you're selling!""Anyone want cotton coats? 100 cloth per coat, with color options. Just making a small profit!"

[Item: Cold-Resistant Cotton Coat][Type: Treasure][Quality: Ordinary][Description: Provides excellent warmth, but be careful not to get it wet!]

"100 cloth? You're robbing us!""80 cloth, final offer!""Screw you! You're not the only seller!""Selling down jackets—better than cotton coats. Good-quality gear, 120 cloth!"

[Item: Warm Down Jacket][Type: Treasure][Quality: Good][Description: Who can resist the warmth of a down jacket in winter?]

After browsing, Lucas concluded that cold-weather clothing was essential. When temperatures dropped to -10°C or even lower, pirate clothes would be no better than being naked! Only cotton coats or down jackets could prevent freezing to death.

Seraphina's witch outfit had some cold resistance, but it looked too thin—probably equivalent to thermal underwear. Lucas decided he needed to buy at least four coats or jackets once prices stabilized, keeping a spare set just in case.

He headed to the stern. The Iron Will was just behind them. Now that it was safe from the black fog, there was no need to keep towing it.

Captain David Yates seemed to have the same thought—they bumped into each other.

"Lucas, I like you. How about joining my Steel Brotherhood?" David asked.

"Steel Brotherhood?" Lucas repeated, confused.

"Haha, I've already recruited a few underlings and plan to meet up with them," David explained.

Lucas immediately understood. David was forming a player organization. While there was no official guild system, players could still form groups on their own. With the new coordinate system, meeting up was easier.

However, Lucas had no intention of joining any faction and politely declined.

"Sorry, I'm used to being a free spirit and don't want to join a group for now," Lucas said.

"Alright! If you ever need my help, just call me—I'll have your back!" David said heartily.

Escaping the storm had put him in a great mood. And David wasn't bluffing—the Iron Will had the strength to back up his words. No wonder so many players sought his protection.

But the Iron Will was slow—too slow. Lucas imagined a flotilla of small boats dragging the massive ship. Not strange, just... very strange.

David tossed a small piece of meat to Lucas. "Catch!"

"What's this?" Lucas asked, delighted after seeing the information:

[Item: Giant Bobbit Worm][Description: A Bobbit Worm mutated by abyssal corruption. It has grown to over 100 meters long, moves swiftly underwater, and has highly developed hearing.]

"This is a gift to celebrate our cooperation! It's not very useful to me. The more you draw, the crappier the rewards get," David laughed.

Lucas guessed David had earned his 1,000 steel by hunting monsters and using the gacha machine. Fishing alone, even with help, wouldn't have yielded that much steel.

"Thanks!" Lucas said, accepting it without hesitation.

The two smiled at each other and parted ways. The Nightmare Star, with its 60-knot speed, soon left the Iron Will far behind.

David stood at the bow, watching the Nightmare Star disappear over the horizon. "Nightmare… Nightmare Star. Did their ships merge?" he muttered.

David had identified Lucas—he was the one who found a way out when the giant worm first appeared. One of David's underlings had escaped thanks to Lucas's tip and had added him as a friend.

Because of that, David changed his mind and gave Lucas the meat to strengthen their relationship.

Meanwhile, Lucas stood before the monster gacha machine, feeling a little excited. He had two pieces of giant Bobbit Worm meat—one from the Iron Will and one from the Nightmare Star's deck.

He could draw twice!

He washed his face with fresh water to make sure he looked pale enough, then fed the first piece of meat into the machine. The octopus tentacles flickered, but no golden light appeared. Two ordinary gacha balls popped out.

Disappointed at first, Lucas soon changed his mind when he picked one up.

"Yes! First try!"

It was a rare item—a ship upgrade!

[Item: Giant Bobbit Worm's Head][Type: Ship Equipment (Relic)][Quality: Rare][Description: Can be mounted on the bow to increase durability and ramming power. Its sharp mandibles can cut through enemies and reduce sea creature attacks. However, it may also provoke more terrifying monsters…]

Lucas hesitated. The equipment was powerful but came with risks—drawing fearsome creatures.

But he quickly decided to install it. If he was afraid to use this, he'd fear future gear even more. The benefits outweighed the risks, or relics wouldn't exist.

He reached for the second gacha ball.