Chapter 4: The Pirate Attack

Pushing open the cargo door, Goriss stepped outside. The sunlight reflecting off the sea immediately intensified the feeling of dizziness. Grasping the railing, Goriss couldn't help but retch.

Goris did not answer his question, but coldly snorted: "I will say it again, leave this ship immediately"

After three days of travel, Goriss and Adai finally entered the territory of the Varyag Province. Along the way, Adai encountered many things he had never seen before. Although Goriss was quite impatient with his numerous questions, he still answered them one by one

Goris scrutinized the figure through the black mist. This person was similar in attire, also cloaked in a large black cape that concealed his entire body. He was tall, and beneath the cape, a robust physique could be faintly discerned. However, Goris distinctly sensed that this individual lacked any magical elemental fluctuations, indicating he was not a magician; his cloak seemed merely a means to conceal his identity.

Teacher, teacher, I did it!" A-Dai exclaimed excitedly

Goris paid no attention to the fleeing pirates; his gaze was directed towards the third deck of the passenger ship, the very location of his own room, and that precisely controlled fireball

The man in black was well aware that if he allowed Goriss to fully unleash his magic, he would stand no chance against him. As soon as Goriss grasped his staff, he launched a second attack. Countless strands of dark light poured out from beneath the cloak, transforming into a massive net of light that enveloped Goriss.

"Don't be nervous, how could I dare to confront Master Goris?" A dark figure flashed out from the pirate ship and gracefully landed in front of Goris

Teacher, are we really going to ride in a horse-drawn carriage

At that moment, the monk had already walked up to them. He glanced down at A-Dai, then looked at Ge Li Si, smiled kindly, nodded slightly, and entered the inn

What to eat? Let me think... After a few days of working on the boat, Goris has not been eating well or sleeping soundly, and he indeed needs to replenish his strength. However, he did not notice that Ah Dai's attitude towards him seemed to have become much more presumptuous, and he did not pay it any mind

The foolishly honest reply was: "I think that person is a bad guy. The bad guy is fighting with the teacher, so of course I will help you. Didn't you say that fireballs also have a certain level of attack power?"

The fool asked: "Teacher, he is smiling at us, and his smile is so gentle. Why is he smiling?"

Goris followed the direction of Adai's finger and saw a tall man approaching the inn. The man was dressed in a white robe, with a golden hexagonal symbol at the center of his chest. His long golden hair cascaded over his shoulders, and an aura of sanctity emanated from him. Goris felt a chill in his heart, for this man was a monk of the Holy See, and the monk was also his own guest star. Goris practiced magic primarily based on the dark element, supplemented by the fire element, while the monk's light magic, blessed by the high priests of the Holy See, contained a powerful divine essence. Thus, they were the last people Goris wished to see.

Goris was taken aback; the voice seemed to come from all directions, making it impossible for him to discern the location of the speaker. This was a grave concern for a mage who was not skilled in close combat. What surprised him the most was that the newcomer actually knew his identity. He hurriedly began to chant a spell, and a layer of black mist emanated from his body, completely enveloping the area within three feet.

"The people on the ship listened, we are pirates, quickly hand over all your valuables, otherwise, do not blame us for the bloodthirsty weapons in our hands." The rough shouts from outside indicated that the pirates had already begun their actions. Goris knew that the pirates were not easy to deal with; even if they handed over the money, the other party might not spare the lives on board. After all, no group of pirates would wish to be besieged by the fleet of the Heavenly Gold Empire, and the best way to keep a secret was to turn everyone who had seen them into corpses. Goris understood that the pirates were not easy to negotiate with; even if they surrendered the money, the other party might not spare the lives on board. After all, no group of pirates would wish to be besieged by the fleet of the Heavenly Gold Empire, and the best way to keep a secret was to turn everyone who had seen them into corpses. Shipwrecking was their usual practice, both convenient and time-saving. Goris thought to himself: it seems that I have no choice but to take action; swimming and reading books was simply impossible for me.

Goris coldly remarked: "You overestimate yourself. Do you think that little fireball of yours can help me? If that man in black is at his best, your mental strength will surely be shattered by him, and you will become useless, a fool. You idiot, in the future, you must act according to your capabilities. The opponent's power is clearly several levels above yours; using magic will only lead to a quicker death"

The night is beautiful tonight, with a bright moon and sparse stars. Walking along the road, it does not feel very dark. Goriss suddenly asked, "Adai, why did you use a fireball to attack that man in black during the day?"

The sound of dinging continued to ring out, and the large ship shook violently. Goriss, who was standing, hurriedly leaned against the wall to steady himself. He knew that it was likely pirates come to plunder. The sound just now was indeed from the grappling hooks catching the hull. The chaotic noises from outside grew louder, increasing Goriss's agitation. The earlier tremor had intensified his nausea, and the acid in his stomach surged upward, making the feeling of seasickness unbearable.

Goris noncommittally responded with a sound, pointing to an inn ahead and said, "Let us stay there"

The fool did not understand why the teacher was angry, sitting on the bed in a daze and not daring to make a sound

"Go back to your room. Hurry up," Goriss shouted sternly.

Until he sat in the carriage, Ah Dai still could not believe that he could actually enjoy the privilege of riding in a carriage. The thick, soft cushion made him feel completely comfortable, and he excitedly looked around. Once in the carriage, he unconsciously thought of the girl, wondering how she was doing now. That old woman should treat her well, right

As the two were about to enter the inn, Ah Dui suddenly exclaimed, "Master, look, that person is so strange! Why are they dressed like that?"

Goris instinctively said: "Pirates are people who steal things; they sometimes also kill."

As Goris hesitated between negotiating with the other party or continuing to fight, a not very large fireball suddenly appeared in the sky. The fireball transformed into a graceful arc, heading towards the man in black. The man in black was taken aback, still not fully recovered from the previous collision. He could only draw forth a streak of dark light to meet the fireball.

Oh. "Ado replied, sitting aside and reflecting on the fire spell that Goriss had just taught him. The fire spell is different from the fireball spell; although the fireball spell has a stronger attack power, its area of effect is quite small. In contrast, while the fire spell has slightly weaker attack power and the incantation is relatively longer, its area of effect is significantly larger

Recalling the dark-clad man from earlier, Goriss couldn't help but say: "That guy today was a Dark Demon, and a skilled one at that. They possess a natural ability to resist dark magic, and even my Black Flame failed to unleash its true power due to the opposing attributes. These Dark Demons are inherently vicious; if it weren't for the taboo surrounding his identity, I would have killed him long ago. Remember this: if you ever encounter a creature with green skin and spikes on its hands, run as far away as you can, understand? Remember this: if you ever encounter a creature with green skin and spikes on its hands, run as far away as you can, understand? Huh, why am I telling you all this?" Goriss felt a slight headache; after spending a few days with this foolish young man, he seemed to have changed somewhat.

The recent situation caused Goriss to break out in a cold sweat; had he been any slower, he would likely have been disemboweled by his opponent. The attack ignited a fire of anger within him. With a swift motion, Goriss tore through the void, creating a subtle rift in the sky, from which emerged a black staff measuring only one foot in length. The material of the staff was indiscernible, neither metal nor wood, and at its tip was a red gem with a diameter of merely one centimeter. Goriss grasped the staff and began to chant incantations.

Goris quickly walked back to the third deck. As he expected, Ah Dai's frail body had collapsed on the ground. He approached and lifted Ah Dai's body, channeling his internal magical energy to examine him. In truth, he already knew without checking that Ah Dai had been injured by the backlash of magic. The black-clad man was highly skilled, and how could Ah Dai, who had only studied magic for three days, possibly contend with him? Although the fireball spell had been cast, since Ah Dai controlled it with his own mental energy, the moment the fireball was shattered, his mind also suffered a violent shock. The black-clad man was indeed powerful, and how could Ah Dai, who had only studied magic for three days, withstand him? Although the fireball spell had been released, due to Ah Dai's mental control, when the fireball was destroyed, his spirit was severely shaken. Naturally, without the ability to protect himself, Ah Dai was knocked unconscious by the backlash. Fortunately, at that moment, the black-clad man was not in his best condition; otherwise, Ah Dai could have faced the possibility of mental disarray.

The once imposing pirates left in a dejected manner, and after a ripple on the shimmering sea surface, it returned to its original tranquility

Although Goriss's voice was rough, it lacked the indifference of the past and instead carried a hint of concern. Ah Dui did not move, locking eyes with Goriss, the old and the young gazing at each other for a long time. After a while, Goriss realized his lapse in composure, grabbed Ah Dui, and shoved him into the room, saying, "Do not come out." With that, he headed towards the noisy lower level.

The man in black felt a chill in his heart. Although the power of the fireball just now was not great, the fire elements contained within it were quite balanced, reminiscent of the energy emitted by a monk. He dared not oppose the Church, and besides, he was already struggling to deal with Goriss. If there were another monk present, it would be even more troublesome. It was better to escape. He shouted, "We are leaving!" and was the first to jump back onto the pirate ship. However, he was unaware that those capable of casting such balanced and harmonious magic were not limited to monks; there was also the possibility of a novice who had just begun to learn magic.

The fool asked, "Teacher, what does 'pirate' really mean?"

Goris frowned; although he was not afraid of pirates, he still did not wish to confront them while feeling unwell. He hoped that the sailors on the passenger ship would be able to handle the situation.

Goris frowned and said, "Why do you have so many questions? Be quiet. Go memorize your spell."

"Great Mage, thank you, thank you for saving everyone on the ship." The captain ran to Goriss's side, expressing heartfelt gratitude.

Before descending, Goriss had already cast wind magic on himself, so he was certainly not intimidated by the brutish man before him. With a slight contraction of his body, he had already floated back to a distance of three feet. With a thunderous crash, the spiked club in the brutish man's hand was deeply embedded into the wooden deck.

With a soft pop, the fireball shattered, scattering a few sparks onto the black-clad figure's cloak, instantly burning small holes in it. Under the sunlight, a faint green glow flickered through the cloak.

The spear accurately struck Goriss's body, but the man in black was taken aback, for he clearly felt that he had not grasped a physical entity. In astonishment, he exclaimed: "What a fine shadow technique"

This group of pirates is clearly a gang of habitual offenders, each possessing considerable skills. They have already pulled the passenger ship alongside their own vessel, and dozens of pirates have jumped onto the passenger ship, brandishing their weapons and shouting incessantly. The captain of the passenger ship has gathered the sailors in the forward hold of the large ship, with more than twenty sailors mostly displaying expressions of panic.

The next morning, Gelis felt that his physical condition had improved significantly, and Adai also seemed to be in much better spirits, as if the psychological trauma from yesterday had already healed. The resilience of children is indeed remarkable

"Go, Black Flame of Soul Refinement." A plume of black fire erupted from Goriss's staff, rushing towards the pirates.

The pirates exchanged glances, all waiting for their leader to speak. The one-eyed pirate scrutinized Goriss, his heart racing. It had been a long time since this group of pirates had reaped any rewards, and now that they had finally caught a big fish, how could they easily let it go? However, the person before them seemed to be a wizard of considerable rank, and he was well aware of the terror that wizards could instill. "Sir, are you a wizard?" he asked tentatively.

Ah Dou scratched his head; the term "pirate" did not leave a profound impression in his mind. When faced with something he did not understand, he decided to return to his room to consult Goriss. For him, the world was as fascinating as the books, and he wanted to learn about everything he encountered, even if he could not remember it.

The man in black was taken aback; he had not expected that Goriss was capable of such power, unleashing a fusion of dark and fire elements in such abundance. Although he was not afraid, his subordinates would be doomed if they were even slightly touched by it. With this thought, he could no longer afford to conceal his strength. He shouted, "Hell shines bright." The dark light surged forth with even greater intensity, rising from below to meet the oncoming force, as his fighting spirit swelled, the dark light flickering with a hint of malevolence.

O fire element that fills the heavens and the earth! Please grant me the power of combustion. In my name, by your strength, appear, O searing flame. As the incantation was chanted, a small flame appeared in Ah Dui's hand, gently swaying, and the surrounding temperature immediately rose significantly

The black flame of Goriss's soul refining collided abruptly with the hellish brilliance of the black-clad figures, and after a series of popping sounds, a large hole was melted into the deck before them

The man in black raised his hand, and the pirates immediately fell silent. He said to Goriss, "Master Goriss, we have no quarrel with each other, so why must you provoke me? How about this: once we have plundered this place, we will sink the ship. You can board our vessel and go wherever you wish; we guarantee to take you there. What do you say?"

After having dinner, Gelis and Adai returned to their room and had a wonderful sleep

Goris extended his right hand, his five fingers slightly trembling, and a faint blue powder scattered out, accurately landing on the barbarian's wolf-toothed club

The man in black stepped forward and said, "Since the master is so persistent, we brothers deserve an explanation." As he spoke, his body darted towards Goriss like lightning, his cloak billowing, and several streaks of dark light shot towards Goriss. The speed was astonishing, almost breathtaking. The dark protection that Goriss had just emitted seemed to have no effect on slowing down his opponent, as the dark light swiftly reached for Goriss's main body.

The captain and the crew were clearly intimidated by the imposing strike of the sword, and none of them dared to speak up any longer

Goris was taken aback, sitting up in bed, and said: "What did you say? The pirates have come."

Ah Dou said happily: "Thank you, teacher, I understand now. In the future, if I encounter someone with green skin and sharp spikes on their hands, I will run away"

Upon disembarking, the captain expressed his heartfelt gratitude and personally escorted Goris and A-Dai off the ship, refunding Goris for their travel expenses. Goris, disinterested in further discussion, accepted the refund. He then entered the city of Fez with A-Dai. This place was already far from the extreme northern regions; although it was nighttime, it was considerably warmer than Nino City.

Goris placed Adai's body back on the bed; what Adai needed most now was rest. As he looked at the silly face before him, a strange emotion involuntarily arose in his heart

The one-eyed pirate laughed heartily, "Profit? How much profit can you possibly have? Don't try to pull that on me. Just stay here honestly and mind your own business. Who knows, if the gentlemen are in a good mood, they might spare your lives. But if you try to play any tricks, don't blame me for being ruthless. " As he spoke, he suddenly swung the curved knife towards the ship's side. A flash of light appeared, and with a loud bang, a crack instantly opened up in the ship's side. Goriss felt a stir in his heart; this pirate leader was no weakling! What had seemed like a simple strike just now contained the aura of a master. The blade had not even touched the ship's side, yet it had caused considerable damage. A flash of light appeared, and with a loud bang, a crack instantly opened up in the ship's side. Goriss felt a stir in his heart; this pirate leader was no weakling! What had seemed like a simple strike just now contained the aura of a master. The blade had not even touched the ship's side, yet it had caused considerable damage.

Ah Dou stretched lazily, still not fully recovered from the mental trauma of the day, feeling very fatigued. No matter how many spells he chanted, the fireball had not reappeared. "Teacher, where are we going now?"

Goris did not use the Shadow Spell; due to the speed of the man in black, he was given no time to recite the incantation. What he had just thrown was a self-made Shadow Scroll, which could unleash its magical power in the shortest possible time. This Shadow Scroll is one of Goris's life-saving treasures. Goris's main body had already floated three zhang away.

Oh, I see. A-Dai continued to diligently recite the magic spells. After a while, the attendant returned and informed them that the carriage was ready.

Goris continued to chant incantations, grasping something from the spatial rift and scattering it. Countless phantoms of Goris appeared in the sky, causing the attacks of the dark-clad figures to lose their precise targets. The vast majority of the phantoms vanished under the onslaught, yet none struck the true form of Goris

Goris said irritably: "What is there to be excited about? It's just a basic fire magic. Don't forget the incantation. Practice it a few more times, and when you do, don't recite the last word of the incantation. For such low-level magic, as long as the incantation is incomplete, it can be stopped at any time. With your meager magical power, if you use it a few more times, you'll faint again."

Goris said coldly, "Am I supposed to repeat it a third time?"

Goris thought to himself: Do you take me for a fool? Once I board your ship, I am at your mercy. I won't be that foolish. "No need to trouble yourselves, I will say it again, leave this ship immediately"

The pirate leader's expression changed sharply as he looked in the direction of the voice. He saw Goriss leisurely descending the stairs. He thought to himself, could it be that he was so unfortunate as to encounter a wizard? He shouted, "Everyone, stop!" The other pirates clearly noticed their leader's hesitation and gathered around him, their hundreds of gazes simultaneously focused on Goriss.

Goris's body swayed slightly. At the moment the opponent unleashed their final move, he had already confirmed their identity and understood why his dark guardian had no effect on them; the opponent could also use fighting spirit due to their identity. However, he did not shout it out, as he knew that identity was the greatest taboo for the man in black. Once he spoke it, the opponent would undoubtedly pursue him relentlessly, and no life would survive on the ship. If he were in optimal condition, Goris would certainly not fear the opponent, but he had been troubled by seasickness for the past few days, leaving him significantly weakened. In a life-and-death struggle, although the chances of victory were somewhat greater, he would inevitably suffer severe injuries. Yet, he did not shout it out, for he was acutely aware that identity was the greatest taboo for the man in black. Once he spoke it, the opponent would undoubtedly pursue him relentlessly, and no life would survive on the ship. If he were in optimal condition, Goris would certainly not fear the opponent, but he had been troubled by seasickness for the past few days, leaving him significantly weakened. In a life-and-death struggle, although the chances of victory were somewhat greater, he would inevitably suffer severe injuries.

Goris extended his right hand and softly recited a few incantations. The black flames that had melted the wooden table in front of Uncle Li reappeared in his palm. Under the sunlight, the black flames looked particularly eerie, startling the pirate captain, who stared at Goris in a daze

Although it was just a passing encounter, the sacred aura emanating from the monk still made Goriss feel quite uncomfortable. He snorted and said, "That guy is a monk from the Holy See, probably a low-level or mid-level priest. Let's go, aren't you hungry?"

Before the lone-eyed pirate could speak, a burly pirate could no longer contain himself. He stepped forward, brandishing the spiked club in his hand, and said: "You old fool, I see you are tired of living." Gripping the massive spiked club, which weighed at least fifty pounds, he swung it down towards Goriss.

The sound of a puff echoed, startling the brute. The wolf-toothed club in his hand suddenly grew hot, causing him to instinctively release his grip. To his astonishment, he discovered that the finely forged iron club was gradually melting, transforming into black molten iron, from which an unpleasant odor emanated. The brute stepped back in terror, pointing at Goriss and stammering, "Who... who exactly are you?"

Goris glanced at him and said, "Don't let others bother me." With that, he turned his head and walked towards the top deck of the passenger ship, ignoring everything. That five-centimeter fireball was all too familiar to him.

The pirate captain stepped forward a few paces, forcefully pulling the brute back, and politely said to Goriss: "Sir, you must be an alchemist. I am honored to meet you"

The fool nodded foolishly and said: "Oh, so magic also has its limitations!"

The cyan powder that Goriss just scattered is his own concocted molten gold powder, which can almost melt any metal

After listening to the foolish words of A-Dai on https://mhetushucom.com, a strange warmth rose in Goris's heart. Is he concerned about me? Goris thought to himself. How long has it been since I felt cared for? Goris shook his head in annoyance, grabbed A-Dai, and threw him onto the bed, saying, "Be quiet."

That evening, the passenger ship, having experienced the turmoil of pirates, finally arrived successfully at its destination—the port city of Fes in the Hill Province. The Varyag Province, where Goriss resides, borders the Hill Province, and it takes approximately three days to travel from Fes to the Varyag Province

Goris knew it was time for him to take action; this group of pirates did not regard him at all. What he feared the most was that they would sink the ship. The amplification magic of the wind carried his voice far and wide, "Stop right there." His deep voice was clearly heard by everyone on both the pirate ship and the passenger ship.

Goris coughed twice, forcing himself to suppress the feeling of dizziness, and said to the pirate leader: "Leave this ship immediately"

"Teacher, teacher, a big ship has arrived outside, and many people are shouting something about pirates, pirates. What does 'pirate' mean?" As he ran back to the room, A-Dai, still unsteady on his feet, excitedly asked.

"Captain." All the pirates simultaneously bowed respectfully to the one who had just arrived

Although Goris's magic was powerful, he was, after all, an alchemist. He did not expect that the opponent would dare to attack even in the presence of his dark flames. Startled, and in a moment of danger, he could no longer hide his abilities and quickly took out an object from his bosom and threw it out.

This gentleman, we are willing to hand over all the profits from this operation to you, please spare the small boat, I assure you I will not report this, how about it? The captain, clearly aware of the pirates' impending actions, said in a servile manner

Goris instinctively replied: "Find a place to rest for the night, and tomorrow take a carriage back to my place. Hmm? Didn't I tell you not to ask too many questions?"

A one-eyed pirate is negotiating with the captain, leading more than ten people. Goriss has cast a wind-based amplification spell, making the conversation between the captain and the pirate clearly audible.

The one-eyed pirate shouted at his subordinates, "You lot, move a bit faster. Once we finish this job, we can go back to drink and feast." The other pirates immediately echoed his call, and the cabins on the first deck had mostly been opened. The passengers were dragged onto the deck while the pirates carried out their plundering. If a passenger resisted even slightly, they would immediately be met with a flurry of punches and kicks. In an instant, panic spread among the crowd, and some passengers had already voluntarily offered their valuables to the pirates in hopes of securing a moment of safety. The cabins on the first deck had mostly been opened, and the passengers were dragged onto the deck while the pirates carried out their plundering. If a passenger resisted even slightly, they would immediately be met with a flurry of punches and kicks. In an instant, panic spread among the crowd, and some passengers had already voluntarily offered their valuables to the pirates in hopes of securing a moment of safety.

I am so hungry! Teacher, what are we having to eat today

After listening to Goriss's explanation, Ah Dai breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile, "Then I'm not afraid, I don't have anything for them to steal. Ah! Teacher, you must be careful, the gold coins and purple coins on you might attract their attention; it would be better to hide them first. Where should we hide them?" As he spoke, Ah Dai was looking around the cabin for a concealed spot.

A fool stood there in a daze, murmuring without speaking. After he woke up, he felt that his mind seemed to be clearer; he still remembered everything that had happened before. Goriss was right beside him, watching over him. Upon seeing him awake, his frown relaxed considerably. He noticed that this teacher seemed to have a more human side, appearing much friendlier, and he no longer felt so afraid.

Goris opened the door, called for a servant, threw him a silver coin, and instructed him to hire a carriage

At the moment when the pirate leader was at a loss, a deep voice resounded, "Who dares to obstruct my path to wealth? It turns out to be the renowned fire sorcerer, Goriss!"

A fool said: "It is a large black ship, and their sails are adorned with skulls. Someone on our ship shouted 'pirates,' but I don't know if that's true."

A pair of small hands appeared behind Goris, gently patting him. Goris immediately felt much more comfortable. After exhaling his last breath, he turned his head and saw A-Dai looking at him anxiously.