The pair of chains given to Ada was both an experiment for Ethan and a warm-up for crafting future equipment.
He had always been considering forging his own versions of Saint Cloths. In fact, simply crafting armor with the same appearance wasn't difficult. Even plate armor with considerable thickness that retained the flexibility of regular clothing wasn't an insurmountable challenge for the current Ethan.
The real challenge was replicating the various abilities attached to them. Even if they couldn't be perfectly duplicated, the equipment still needed to have a significant amplification effect to be considered functional.
Otherwise, it would be nothing more than decoration—or perhaps a large-scale action figure?
Ethan's current situation was much better than before, but that didn't mean he could afford to waste large amounts of resources and energy creating decorative items. Just like the Nebula Chain this time—he only began working on it after evaluating its practicality.
Ada's combination with the rope gun had left a deep impression on him. In the current situation, Ethan wasn't planning to give Ada another rope gun. The Nebula Chain could do everything the rope gun could and offered additional functions. More importantly, worn as a bracelet on the wrist, it was both aesthetic and inconspicuous.
However, Ada still couldn't fully utilize the chains. The enhancement serum she had taken could continuously improve her physical fitness, but using the chains required an additional energy source. Relying solely on the energy stored within the item itself wasn't enough to unlock its full potential.
Ada currently didn't have time to learn new knowledge. She needed constant training to improve her mastery of strength.
Logan was in the same situation.
After completing his new enhancement serum, Logan also used this time to undergo his own transformation. He now faced the same issue Ethan once had.
He didn't spar with Loki, but chose to practice with Ethan to improve control over his power.
At the same time, Ethan used his sparring sessions with Logan to refine his own control.
Sparring with Loki helped him exert his full potential. Sparring with Logan helped him refine how to restrain and direct that strength. In these sessions, Ethan had to control the power output to avoid knocking Logan out with a single blow. Otherwise, the training would be pointless.
Furthermore, as Logan's control increased, Ethan had to keep adjusting his strength accordingly, ensuring the right amount of force at the right moment. If he misjudged, it wasn't a big deal—he'd just get poked by Logan's metal claws.
Logan had intended to fight using only his fists, but the claws had become instinctual. When overly excited or exerting full force, he found it difficult to prevent them from extending. Sometimes, he would throw a punch and the claws would pop out mid-strike. If Ethan didn't react in time, he would end up with a few new holes.
This made their training sessions bloodier than before. Annette even forbade Sherry from watching when she had nothing else to do. Fortunately, Laura, who was close in age, kept Sherry company, so she didn't get too bored even if she wasn't watching the sparring.
Especially since the newcomers weren't even allowed to move freely on deck. They could only take turns going up at night, when it was completely dark and they wouldn't be spotted by the other ships traveling alongside them.
This kind of life wasn't much different from being in confinement. Fortunately, everyone had something to do. Even Sherry had begun receiving various forms of education like Laura. With Annette, a top-tier scientist, now on board, they finally had someone suitable to teach higher-level knowledge.
After sailing like this for some time, Annette's body returned to its peak condition. She now felt better than ever and could stay in the lab researching for seventy-two hours straight without needing rest.
Annette was also a woman, and she cared about her appearance. Being able to restore her youthful state made her quite happy. If not for her daughter Sherry, she would have even wanted to revert to her eighteen-year-old self.
Ada's learning speed was incredibly fast. Before the Goddess of Dawn reached the central island, she had completed all her enhancements. Her physical fitness had officially surpassed ordinary human limits. With her rich combat experience and tactical agility, she could even hold her own against Logan in a head-on fight for a while.
As for facing Ethan and Loki? That was still out of the question. Those two mages had too many tricks. Against them, her tactics were ineffective.
However, as Logan's physical abilities grew and his control improved, Ada's duration in battle decreased noticeably.
The gap in physical strength was clear. Unless Ada underwent another round of enhancements, the disparity couldn't be bridged with technique alone.
Sherry continued living a healthy and happy life. Aside from the boredom from months at sea, she had no complaints.
Selene, on the other hand, was steadily improving her strength. As a vampire, she didn't need any additional help at the moment. Her path was long, and it would be a while before she encountered obstacles.
As for Loki, the second prince of Asgard, his strength had increased dramatically. Ethan noticed that Loki was now able to use the power of the Casket of Ancient Winters with ease. Even when using it, he no longer needed to transform into his Frost Giant form to withstand the cold. At most, his face turned a little pale and his eyes emitted a faint red glow.
"You've taken another step toward mastering this energy."
Loki nodded, clearly satisfied with the progress.
"That bottle of serum you gave me had an amazing effect."
The G-Virus was known for its uncontrollable mutation. While called "uncontrollable," the mutation actually followed a certain trajectory.
For example, William in the original plot initially showed signs of evolution after being infected. His strength and defense increased significantly. His appearance changed—he grew taller, bulkier, and developed extra limbs.
However, because of constant injuries and the extreme mutation speed of the G-Virus, William had to keep replenishing energy to maintain the mutation. During this time, he absorbed zombies, Lickers, and other infected creatures, and his evolution veered off course.
Later, William increasingly resembled a grotesque monster, and his body took on the traits of what he had absorbed. This indicated that the G-Virus mutations were heavily influenced by external stimuli, especially the nature of the "energy" consumed.
When Ethan improved the virus, he focused on this exact point. He adjusted and refined the process to avoid indiscriminately amplifying all traits. Instead, the enhancements would selectively strengthen characteristics that were beneficial to the user.
So, after using the serum, the user's body would be optimized—similar to how Diana's body had been transformed by divine power. While gaining divinity, Ethan also became more attuned to lightning.
In Loki's case, his affinity with frost was greatly enhanced, and his resistance to frost abilities increased significantly. As a result, his control over frost energy had also improved, and he had begun to convert this power into a personal strength source.
"I have to warn you. If you keep improving, you'll face two choices."
"What choices?"
"Either retain your Frost Giant traits... or completely abandon them."
Loki was quite different from typical Frost Giants. Even now, he wasn't sure what his true appearance was. Odin's magic was powerful and mysterious. It might have fundamentally altered his bloodline. He now seemed more like an Asgardian who could transform into a Frost Giant.
He once thought he would remain this way forever—only discovering his true form upon death, when Odin's magic would finally fade.
So, had he truly become an Asgardian, merely retaining a Frost Giant form? Or was he still a miniature Frost Giant, merely cloaked in a magical disguise?
On that day, he believed the truth would be revealed.
What he didn't expect was that Ethan would give him the ability to choose. He had never imagined that the young mage who had only mildly intrigued him back then would reach this level.
"You mean I can fix my appearance permanently?"
"After improving this serum, it can now complete a true evolution. That evolution is comprehensive—including appearance."
Loki was silent for a while, then answered with firm resolve.
"I am the Prince of Asgard."
Ethan nodded, understanding his decision. Then he added a suggestion: "Avoid transforming into that form for now. Once the enhancement fully stabilizes, you'll no longer be able to change back. However, the abilities of a Frost Giant will be fully integrated into your true form."
Loki smiled, gazing at the sea in the distance, as though he hadn't heard Ethan's words. But Ethan knew he had taken everything in.
And just as Loki fully stabilized the effects of the serum, the Goddess of Dawn finally arrived at the central island.
At this point, the fleet no longer stayed together. Each ship separated to find its own dock and tend to its own matters.
The few people who had been confined to the cabins could finally come out to see the sun and take in what this world was truly like.
"It looks like Earth's 16th century in terms of civilization," Annette commented after glancing at the ships docked at the pier and the buildings in the distance. "If not for those magical stone technologies…"
(To be continued.)
***
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