Deep within the Astral Realm.
Dark liquid metal hovers amidst the vast and quiet starry sky.
It transforms into a streamlined black vessel, navigating through the Astral Realm along the undulating waves of space.
Once, Shiayar envied those Legendary powerful pros who could escape into the Astral Realm at the first sign of trouble.
This is also why such Legendary powerful pros are incredibly hard to perish... The dimensional depth of the Astral Realm is far broader than that of the Main Material Plane, making it difficult to catch them once they find an opportunity to flee.
To complete a chase in the Astral Realm, one must possess power that surpasses the opponent by an entire rank—
Back then, Guderian Borgia survived for a long time by hiding in the Astral Realm.
But times have changed.
Shiayar, who once coveted the privileges of Legendary powerful pros, has now become such a privileged individual himself.
...
"According to the feedback from the locating spell, the 'Nautilus' has reached the depths of the Endless Ocean Domain within the projection of the Main Material Plane."
"It is precisely locating the Lost Island according to the permanent coordinates you provided, master."
Inside the streamlined vessel, Jayee's projection hovers beside the control panel, flapping her illusory fairy wings and reporting to Shiayar in a charming and delightful voice.
Shiayar glanced at Jayee's projection: "Why are you using Su Lun's voice this time, Jayee?"
"After all, we've been navigating through the Astral Realm's dimension for a month, and I was worried you'd feel lonely and forget mommy."
Jayee flapped her wings and responded with a cheeky smile.
This submarine, formed from invincible metal and navigating deep within the Astral Realm, was Shiayar's mode of transportation for the past month—the 'Dimensional Submersible Type III'.
Specially designed for the Astral Realm and Sub-dimensions, Shiayar named this submersible "Nautilus".
Utilizing the "Metal Genesis" and "Colossal Armament" skills, and according to principles similar to creating the mecha "Black Knight", Shiayar transformed a large amount of invincible metal to form the Nautilus' Jayee, who naturally became the Nautilus' ship maiden.
As for the direction of this Astral Realm submarine—
It was to the coordinates provided by the giant gold dragon, the last refuge of the advanced Elf Tribe, the location of the "Lost Island".
"Roar—"
A juvenile evil dragon's roar echoed in his ears.
Shiayar turned to see Ye floating behind him, displeasedly flapping his slender dragon wings.
Thin strands of dark shadows dispersed from around him, forming a shadowy hand that tugged at Shiayar's sleeve.
"Alright, alright."
"I shouldn't have been distracted while making grilled fish for you."
Shiayar extinguished Amaterasu's black flames and flipped the grilled fish in his hand.
He sprinkled some seasoning on it and then handed it to Ye's eager shadow.
The Little Black Night Dragon grabbed the grilled fish with its shadow, took a small bite, and instantly widened its crimson Gold dragon eyes.
It flapped its wings, landed on Shiayar's shoulder, and started feasting joyfully.
"What a master of grilled fish I am!"
Watching Ye's satisfied expression, Shiayar suppressed the impulse to throw his hands up in triumph.
As a man skilled both in the drawing-room and the kitchen, grilled fish was his signature dish.
Back in the Echo of History of the Ancient Dukedom Azure Garden, he could win the favor of young Silvia with just a grilled fish.
And now, even a Fabled Species ancient dragon couldn't resist his grilled fish.
He reached out and patted the Little Black Night Dragon's head on his shoulder.
The graceful young dragon didn't resist but instead closed its eyes in enjoyment.
After all, the bond between Shiayar and Ye wasn't a master-servant contract, but an equal one—
Without a high level of closeness, it could lead to situations where the dragon couldn't follow commands in battle or even betray at crucial moments.
Therefore, for the past month, Shiayar had been diligently using various delicious foods to increase the Little Black Night Dragon's intimacy.
Striving to achieve a bond even stronger than a master-servant contract.
And now, it seemed that this month of intimacy-building hadn't been in vain, as Ye had grown quite trusting of him.
Bringing him one step closer to his dream of becoming a Dragon Knight.
However, compared to his other Pet Beasts, Shiayar found Ye's possessiveness surprisingly strong.
Just like how Gold Coins were of no use to ancient dragons, yet they relentlessly collected them, guarding them jealously without the slightest generosity—
The Little Black Night Dragon was also particularly possessive of Shiayar, unwilling to share him with other Pet Beasts at all.
For instance, when Shiayar was distracted and conversed with Jayee while making grilled fish for Ye, Ye expressed its displeasure with its shadow.
At bedtime, it liked to snuggle in Shiayar's arms, letting him hug it to sleep, and it used its shadow manipulation Authority to set up an Autonomous Defense to keep other Pet Beasts away.
This made Crimson, who was accustomed to being cuddled by Shiayar at night, feel rather aggrieved, with its originally vibrant astral spirit body Dumpling dimmed, having to settle for a spot atop Shiayar's head to sleep.
...
Beside, on the sofa inside the Nautilus.
The little white ferret lounged lazily, meticulously grooming its fur with its small paws, and couldn't help but let out a big yawn as it watched the scene before it.
Alright, alright, it's another classic newbie team-joining welfare segment, isn't it?
As Shiayar's original Pet Beast, Silver had gone from initially rejecting this kind of newbie entry benefit, to later envying and resenting it, and finally to being indifferent to it.
You could say it had grown used to it.
Moreover, the strong rise of Ennie during those ten years in the Garden of Eden also indicated one thing—
The glory of this descending attribute is destined to be fleeting and momentary.
Don't be fooled by how you, as the newly joined Pet Beast, enjoy a lion's share of affection now.
But with our master's rate of growth, there will always be newer, racially innately talented, and more favored descending-type Pet Beasts joining the team, replacing your position.
Only my childhood companion attribute remains eternally unchanged and irreplaceable.
Blame it on the fact that you weren't born in the snowy fields of Ceylon.
Silver flicked its tail and buried its little head into the white fur.
Struggle, fight, fuss, and envy.
As time flows and the waves disperse...
Only this white ferret remains the ultimate answer to the master's cuddle spot.
...
Rumble—
As the alchemical Array operated, Jayee's projection atop the control panel emitted a bright glow as well.
The Nautilus's speed in the Astral Realm began to gradually decrease.
Finally, it came to a complete halt.
Ultimately, coming to a zero point.
"The coordinate feedback from the reef-shaped Array indicates that the Nautilus has now reached the outer edge of the Lost Island in the Endless Ocean Domain, corresponding to the Main Material Plane coordinates."
"Hmm."
"Let's initiate the dimensional leap back to the Main Material Plane."
Accompanied by Shiayar's order, countless illusory cracks suddenly appeared in the dim void of the Astral Realm as the Nautilus began its jump back to the Main Material Plane.
In the midst of the brilliant light emitted by the Nautilus, the originally dark astral void suddenly revealed countless illusory fissures.
Through the cracks, the silhouette of another world could be faintly seen.
A vast and silent, boundless ocean.
At the center of that endless expanse of water.
Stood an ancient tree, spreading out from the crown, shrouding the entire island in the Curtain of Eternal Night.
"The Lost Island inhabited by the advanced Elf Tribe."
Shiayar could not help but whisper as he gazed at the scene of the gigantic island enveloped in the Curtain of Eternal Night.
"I just wonder—"
"What teacher must look like now."
Accompanied by Shiayar's command, the Nautilus transformed into a stream of light, vanishing into the illusory spatial rift.