Ex rank talent Awakening: 100\% Dodge rate-Chapter 168 - : THE ADVENTURE BEGINS
BACK TO EUNICE AND JASON
"You know I would go. There's no stopping me, I'm sure you know that," Eunice said, squeezing Jason's hand softly. "Besides, I need to be there to put a stop to your nonsense. I still don't understand how booze is necessary for this voyage," she added, giving him a judging look.
"Don't ask me, ask Pythagoras. He said something about only crazy men creating spectacular inventions, and other gibberish," Jason replied, clearly confused by the words coming out of his mouth.
Eunice couldn't help but giggle, imagining how Pythagoras would go on and on about the "importance" of having booze on board.
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"Water filtrator check, food check, everyone's belongings check, means of entertainment check... wait, booze? Where's the booze?!" Pythagoras shouted, searching the entire ship in a panic. "Where's the booze?! This can't be happening! Without booze, we're all going to die at sea. We need booze!" He grabbed Jayden and began shaking him violently.
"Calm down, Pythagoras, the booze is in the storage," Alice said, her calm voice soothing his frenzied state.
"Phew, without that, there's no way I'm going with you guys," Pythagoras grumbled, earning laughter from everyone around him.
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"This is it," Daniel said, standing at the helm with absolute seriousness. "The beginning of fulfilling our curiosity and adventure. No matter what happens, we stick together like friends and family. If you're scared, you can go back now. We don't know what we might encounter along the way, but you must know that no form of disagreement will be tolerated during our voyage."
"It seems we're all on board for this," he continued, his tone lightening again. "Well then, let's depart!" He said with a cheerful grin, and the rest of the group cheered in agreement.
The ship created by Hephaestus, with the help of his master, was far more advanced than anything their time had seen. It was powered by delicate steam engines, with the ballast system practical and efficient. Pythagoras had been instrumental in perfecting that aspect. The ship was large enough to accommodate the hundred friends who shared the same dream of this voyage. Most of the work aboard was left to those knowledgeable in science and engineering, with Fortu and Derrick overseeing the maintenance of the ship's engines, while Pythagoras plotted their course, ensuring they didn't end up lost at sea.
The remaining sixty helped with the daily necessities and took care of the ship's upkeep when needed.
What began as a dream shared by twenty-four friends quickly grew to include a hundred, all determined to pursue the same goal.
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Five Years Later
It had been five years since the expedition began. They had visited many places and learned much about the lands and people they encountered. Some had grown tired and decided to settle in the places they discovered, while others joined them, drawn to the group's mission. Pythagoras, Hephaestus, Justin, Daniel, and the other scientific minds had learned invaluable lessons on their journey, meeting people with ideas so radical they would never have imagined them. Using these newfound insights, they upgraded the ship, improving its safety and efficiency. They were able to reduce the labor needed to sail and further ensure the ship's stability.
The group had traveled a significant distance, though only thirty out of the original hundred remained. Of those, the twenty-four original friends were still aboard. The remaining crew consisted of foreigners who had joined along the way.
In a moment of joy, Justin and Eunice had a child—the first born aboard the ship, sparking celebrations among everyone.
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A Sudden Crisis
"What is going on, Pythagoras?! Why is the engine failing?!" Daniel screamed, panic rising in his voice. The ship was being drawn toward a mysterious point, as though caught in the pull of an unknown force. The anchors, already dropped to berth the ship, couldn't hold them in place.
"I don't know!" Pythagoras replied, his voice thick with fear. "For some reason, the ship is being pulled by some unknown phenomenon. I don't know how to stop it!"
"Hephaestus, do you have any idea what's going on?!" Eunice asked, worry creeping into her tone. She hugged her two-year-old baby tightly, the dread of losing her child to the sea filling her heart.
"It will be fine," Iris reassured Eunice, gently squeezing her hand. "This isn't the first time something like this has happened. I'm sure they'll solve it, just like they've always solved everything else." Her words put Eunice's mind at ease, and she felt a sense of relief wash over her. From across the deck, Jason gave Iris a grateful smile, thankful that she could soothe Eunice's fear. He knew he had to focus on solving the problem himself, but it was comforting to see someone else helping in such a crucial moment.
"Tunde, try steering the wheel the other direction!" Hephaestus shouted, frustration in his voice. Tunde attempted to turn the wheel, but to his dismay, it wouldn't budge.
"It's not working!" Tunde shouted back, the storm continuing to brew ominously around them.
The women, including Eunice and Iris, were evacuated to the safety of the cabin as the storm intensified. Outside, the men fought to keep the sails intact as heavy rain drenched them.
Sabbah, a foreigner who had joined them recently, opened the hatch cover and climbed to the outer deck. "The ballast system is failing!" he shouted above the roar of the storm. "And with a storm like this, we need all the stability we can get!"
The others' faces turned ashen as they realized the gravity of the situation.
"This is it," Daniel muttered, the light leaving his eyes. "This is where our expedition ends. I was really looking forward to traveling around the world."
The mood on board was somber. They had all come to terms with the fact that they might not survive this storm.
"Raise the anchors!" Austin, one of the original twenty-four, suggested. "Whatever is pulling the ship, let's follow it. At least we'll satisfy our curiosity before we die. We won't survive this storm, not with a failed ballast and sails. So let's see what's causing this phenomenon, even if it's the last thing we do."
