As everyone anxiously waited, time continued to pass.
No matter how worried they were, they could not change their situation.
The ship continued to slowly sink.
Seeing this scene, they all fell silent.
It was not that no one was nervous; it was just that as Sorcerers, they were able to control their emotions. As such, no one loudly shouted or did other things to humiliate themselves.
As Sorcerers, they were all able to stay rational, so they all knew that crying out was useless. Instead, it would attract the attention of the Merfolk, making things more dangerous for them.
By now, they had already decided what they were going to do.
"The puppets are already ready. Once we give the order, they will jump down to create an opportunity for us. Also, has everyone memorized the map of the surrounding islands?"
The Apprentice responsible for this ship spoke, a complicated expression on his face.
He was the Apprentice responsible for this ship, and his main job was to navigate and steer the ship.
However, it seemed that their journey would be ending here.
Those who sailed on the ocean might be buried in the ocean.
Everyone here was prepared for that.
On the deck, the black-robed puppets held knives and slashed themselves a few times.
Their blood flowed out onto the deck and then down into the ocean, dying the surrounding water red.
As if attracted by the blood, the surrounding Merfolk were sent into a frenzy.
These black-robed puppets were the ship's crew.
Apart from having a Sorcerer to control the ship, a ship also needed crew to manage other things.
This was the role of the puppets.
They were refined by Sorcerers from ordinary people and had no sense of self. They had faint magic power auras and would attract those Merfolk.
When the ship had completely submerged, the Apprentices would scatter like they had discussed.
When that time came, the Merfolk below and around them would definitely come after them.
They could distract some of the Merfolk with the puppets so that the Sorcerers would have less pressure escaping.
At the end of the day, every bit counted.
Even if they did not give the command to do this, the puppets would just stay within the ship and drown in the ocean.
Rather than wasting them, it was better to let them show some more value before they died.
After all, the situation was already like this.
As time went on, hazy figures could continuously be seen flashing beneath the ship.
The ship continued to sink, and it looked like it would be submerged soon.
"It's about time."
Standing on the ship, the black-robed Apprentice in charge looked around and gave the order.
As he spoke, everyone else's expressions became grim and got ready.
Everyone knew that a race of life and death was about to begin.
Those who lost would all die.
As the black-robed Apprentice spoke, a few Apprentices began to chant.
Chen Heng looked ahead.
Standing on the deck, the puppets started to go through changes as their magic power aura became denser.
This made them have much more presence, and they even seemed more noticeable than many of the Apprentices.
Sensing this dense magic power aura, as well as the blood, the Merfolk started to go berserk.
They would occasionally pop out of the water and reveal their savage heads.
Only now did Chen Heng have time to observe what these Merfolk looked like.
The ordinary Merfolk were the same as the Merfolk nobles from the waist down: All of them had fish tails. However, their top half looked incredibly savage and did not look like humans at all.
According to some records, the Merfolk noble bloodline had a standard.
Apart from some rare cases, most of the Merfolk nobles' upper bodies looked like those of humans. The denser their bloodline, the more they would look like humans.
For example, that Merfolk Priest from before, apart from having some scales on his face, there was not much difference between him and an ordinary human.
The ordinary Merfolk all looked quite terrifying, as if they would eat people. Of course, in actuality, they indeed did like to eat people; they especially liked to eat those with powerful lifeforce and magic power auras.
For example, the Apprentices on this ship were their favorite food.
Ahead, the black-robed Apprentices continued to act.
After raising the puppets' magic power aura to the maximum, they gave the order and ten or so puppets jumped out simultaneously, madly swimming in different directions.
Soon, blood began to spread in the water.
The instant that the puppets hit the water, the waiting Merfolk leapt up and began to bite.
"Go!"
Seeing this, the black-robed Apprentice in charge did not hesitate and shouted before diving off and swimming in another direction.
Before jumping, he gave Chen Heng a look.
Chen Heng naturally understood his meaning and also jumped off.
As for the others, they did not hesitate either and also dove into the water.
Blood continued to spread in the water.
Among the Apprentices, not everyone was a good swimmer.
The Apprentices who did not know how to swim and did not have useful magic skills were the first to fall.
The Merfolk bit at them, biting large holes in their bodies.
The Apprentices struggled and shouted in the water, but it was useless.
If they were on the deck, they would at least be able to fight the Merfolk, but in the water, they could not retaliate.
Hearing the howls and cries, the other Apprentices did not show any signs of turning back at all. They continued to head forwards, swimming with all their might.
If they had the choice, they would want to become fish so they could freely swim and shake off these savage Merfolk.
Apprentices continuously died, but some people were able to break free and rush ahead.
"I've shaken them off for now…"
Following the black-robed Apprentice's side, Chen Heng headed forwards with all his strength as he sensed the situation behind him.
He could sense large amounts of ill-intent from behind him, occasionally drawing closer.
From what he could sense, the Merfolk were incredibly fast. They had passed through an incredibly large distance in just a short period of time and were right behind them.
However, what was strange was that despite being so fast, they did not rush up and maintained a steady speed, and they were left behind by Chen Heng and the Third Rank Apprentice.
"The Merfolk are waiting for us to run out of strength…"
As Chen Heng continued to swim and sense the situation behind him, he thought to himself.
Evidently, the Merfolk knew that the two Third Rank Apprentices were not easy to deal with.
If they rushed over now, they would face the desperate retaliation of these two Third Rank Apprentices.
When that time came, even if they could eat these two Third Rank Apprentices, they would suffer great losses.
As such, the Merfolk decided to stay far behind them and attack after they had run out of strength.
This meant that Chen Heng and the Third Rank Apprentice had to reach an island before they ran out of strength, or else they would be devoured by these Merfolk.
It was a test of endurance.
Thinking to there, Chen Heng inwardly let out a sigh of relief.
It had to be said that even though this was the Merfolk's way of dealing with them, it let the two of them breathe for a while.
If the Merfolk did not care about casualties and just charged up, even though Chen Heng and the Third Rank Apprentice would be able to take down quite a few of them, they would definitely die.
This at least gave them an opportunity and some faint hope.
Moreover, Chen Heng was quite confident in his strength and endurance.
Even though he had not brought everything he had with him, he had brought many things.
The magic tool that Charlie had given him was on him right now.
Apart from this, he had also created some magic items, such as a large number of magic power crystals.
If things came to it, he could use the magic power crystals to recharge his own magic power.
In terms of endurance, Chen Heng was not afraid at all.
However, he did not know how the others would be.
Thinking to there, Chen Heng looked ahead.
There, the black-robed Sorcerer was still desperately rushing forwards.
He also had many magic items; after all, as a Third Rank Apprentice, he had decent assets.
Apart from this, he was also quite good at swimming and moving quite quickly.
Because of how strong their bodies were, their speed completely surpassed that of other Apprentices, and they were quickly heading forwards.
Time gradually passed, and their strength began to wane.
The Merfolk remained the same distance behind them, not too close but not too far away either, as if they were still waiting for them to run out of strength.
However, Chen Heng could sense from their mental energy ripples that they were starting to become frustrated.
It was as if they were about to run out of patience and act against them.
"How much longer?" Chen Heng looked at the black-robed Apprentice as he asked.
"We're nearly there!" the black-robed Apprentice said breathlessly, sounding quite tired.
In actuality, it was not just him—even Chen Heng felt somewhat tired by now as well.
Chen Heng was not only a Third Rank Apprentice but also a Knight, and even he felt the fatigue building up right now.
If it wasn't for the fact that he had magic items to support him, he might have fallen by now.
According to the black-robed Sorcerer, they were very close and would be able to arrive in about an hour.
Chen Heng nodded and turned and looked behind him.
The Merfolk looked incredibly agitated and looked like they would soon act against them.
Chen Heng could feel it.
Before they escaped from danger, they would most likely have to face a true challenge.
That challenge was most likely coming very soon.
Chen Heng thought to himself as he followed the black-robed Apprentice and continued to speed onwards.
Just like the black-robed Apprentice had said, soon, an island appeared on the horizon.
It was a very small island, but there was much vegetation on it; it did not look too bad.
As long as they could get on this island, the Merfolk would not be able to do much to them.
However, by now, the Merfolk's patience had reached its end.
The Merfolk charged up one by one as they roared.
It seemed that it was finally time to fight.
Chen Heng was not surprised at all and directly waved his hand.
Mental Intimidation burst out, covering the nearby Merfolk and causing them to become dazed.
Instantly, a portion of the Merfolk pursuing them stopped.
However, soon, even more Merfolk charged over.
Their numbers were incredibly dense and they were simply innumerable.
Behind these ordinary Merfolk, the Merfolk Priest from before could occasionally be seen. His body gave off a powerful magic power aura as if he was about to attack at any moment.
"Damnit!"
Seeing this, Chen Heng's face was ashen as he looked at the black-robed Apprentice, "What do we do now?"
"Keep charging!" the black-robed Apprentice replied.
Faint magic power aura condensed around his body as if he was about to cast a powerful magic skill.
"Stall for some time for me!" he roared as his expression became somewhat savage.
"Alright," Chen Heng did not have time to say anything else as he began to exchange blows with the Merfolk who had caught up to them.
He was very strong, but in this environment, it was very difficult for him to use his strength.
Soon, he was covered with wounds as blood flowed out.
Sensing the blood from a Third Rank Apprentice, the Merfolk became excited and madly rushed at him.
"Are you done yet?" Chen Heng unleashed another Mental Intimidation as he yelled out.
"I'm done," the black-robed Apprentice's voice sounded out incredibly calmly and somewhat coldly.
A massive wave of energy rushed over and gathered elemental particles, forming a magic skill.
As Chen Heng watched in disbelief, the magic skill hit him and pushed him right into the group of Merfolk.
Now that they were distracted by Chen Heng, the Merfolk all stopped and there were less and less of them pursuing the black-robed Apprentice.
Seeing this, the black-robed Apprentice's expression was cold.
"Don't blame me…"
He headed onwards as he thought to himself with a cold smile, "Blame yourself for being too young and too naïve…"
Behind him, Chen Heng's cries continuously sounded out, but he was completely fine.
This was how things were in the world of Sorcerers—it was incredibly cold and merciless, and taking advantage of each other was the norm.
From how he saw it, this was not a big deal at all.
Following this, the black-robed Apprentice continued onwards, wanting to get onto shore while the Merfolk were distracted with Chen Heng.
As he continued to move, the island became closer and closer.
Soon, it seemed like he would be able to escape the Merfolk and survive.
Sensing this, he could not help but feel delighted.
However, at this moment, he suddenly felt that something was off.
In his mind, his mental energy madly shook as a sense of crisis welled up in his mind.
"Wait!"
Soon, he noticed what was wrong and his mind became clear.
The scenery around him became clear.
He was still heading forwards with all his strength, but he had completely deviated at some point.
He was not heading towards the island but towards the bloodthirsty Merfolk.
He had completely changed direction and was voluntarily heading towards the Merfolk.
"How is this possible?"
He was dumbfounded and thought to himself, "My mind…"
At that moment, he realized what had happened.
In that moment, his mind had been befuddled to the point that he had changed direction and headed towards the Merfolk.
