Even if he wished to deal with the pirates, Krune couldn't leave the baby alone. Without it having protection, it could be killed mid-fight. After all, the pirates had impressive mobility in the water. Observing their actions, he determined that they weren't even swimming through the water.
There was a mysterious force that generated currents around their bodies, propelling them forward. But thanks to the light he emitted, and due to the high-tension battle, Krune's attention span was magnified.
He immediately noticed that the Motor Fishes also moved in the same manner, thinking to himself, 'So, all of them have a passive ability related to the Motor Fishes? Hmmm...they're only worth 7 Godly Points in the Checkpoint Turtle, while I had to spend 20 Godly Points to buy Underwater Breathing. So, did they figure out a method like what I did with the Monster Geckos?'
"What the heck? It's freezing all of a sudden!" The pirates cursed all of a sudden as they retreated into the water, using the warmth from the water to shield themselves from the cold. The source was Krune, who activated his cold blood and transmitted the freezing effect through his Neon Radiance.
Of course, its effect wasn't that intense as he had directed it everywhere. Not only that, but since the ocean waters were warm, as long as the pirates jumped into it, they would be okay. Besides, Krune couldn't freeze up part of the ocean. Even if he had recovered his cultivation base, it would be a difficult feat, not to mention now.
He quickly retracted the freezing effect and deactivated his Neon Radiance, relying on Sonic Radar as he began to breathe rapidly in quick sessions using his mouth. Through this, he emitted weak sounds that allowed him to perceive the entire surroundings.
Krune then pulled out a fishing rod and slapped it out, causing the hook to plunge into the nose of a jumping pirate. He then tugged it with all his strength, causing the pirate to scream as part of his nose was torn off.
He continued to scream while moving within the ocean. Upon seeing that they had a greater advantage due to their mobility in water, Krune took out the fishing rods, using them to hook his foes. Upon seeing his adaptability to the situation, Gajor frowned.
'This guy is good, but how come I don't remember seeing his name on the top hundred rankings?' Gajor thought as he called out, "Heuk, can you sense any weakness in him?"
"I can't find any," Heuk observed Krune's fighting style as he responded. "He seems too attuned to a defensive battle as if he lived with shields all his life. Then again, this guy isn't normal, boss."
"I feel the same." Gajor nodded. "Well, let's probe his strength first before making any other moves. It is a loss, but most of them are disposable anyway. Might as well put them to good use."
As his subordinate, Heuk nodded and instructed his men. Gajor then gazed at Krune, watching the other party flash a smile his way before turning off his Neon Radiance. For a moment, Gajor felt like his heart would leap out of his chest, sensing danger from Krune. 'Very few are able to make me feel this way. This guy is definitely a monster.'
'But!' He smiled. 'If you were still a cultivator, it might have been a different issue. Sadly, you're just a mortal. Your stamina is limited. You will tire out soon enough and won't be able to rely on any passive abilities. But on my side, those pirates are just disposable pawns. Once I weaken you enough, I can easily finish you off.'
But just when he chuckled, one of Gajor's passive abilities activated, warning him of another incoming danger. This was a danger-sensing ability that he managed to obtain after spending three months chasing after a certain fish. Only after he had obtained it was he able to roam around as a pirate and manage to survive up till now. Everything was because of the danger-sensing passive ability he had obtained.
At the moment he sensed the danger, Gajor commanded Heuk immediately, "Retreat!"
Heuk, too, was privy of the danger-sensing passive ability his boss possessed. So without asking any questions, he shouted for them to retreat, confusing the pirates for a moment before they hurried off to retreat.
And right at this moment, a figure swam through the water at breakneck speeds before slashing the cage with a motor fish, severing it from the pirate construct. Gajor jumped forth with his sword and slashed with all his might as the entity within lightly parried his attack before making another slash on the second Motor Fish cage, severing it as well from the pirate construct.
The blade that severed it emitted intense heat even though its texture resembled a coral. Upon seeing the signature blade, Gajor hurried his men while shouting, "Damn, it's the Seamstress! Retreat! Retreat!"
Their pirate construct quickly sped away as the remaining two Motor Fishes worked harder. While they were escaping, the heated blade flashed a couple of times, severing some of the boats from the construct.
The pirates on those boats quickly jumped from the boats, carrying with them the items they had pillaged. They climbed aboard the other intact boats and watched as the construct sped up, throwing off the entity that was chasing after them.
After all, with two Motor Fishes, they were capable of moving at speeds beyond an individual was capable of, despite relying on related passive abilities. Thus, the entity called the Seamstress was no longer able to give chase.
Once they had disappeared far away, a figure surfaced, slightly exhausted. Sporting a look like she was in her late twenties, the lady's blue hair was highlighted by the Neon Radiance she emitted at a weak intensity.
She then swam through the water before pulling the couple of boats she had severed, attaching them to the two Motor Fish cages. She then climbed aboard them before slowly paddling towards Krune. She then spoke when they were nearby, asking, "Are you okay?"
"Yes," Krune replied while carrying the baby, using his healing effect to heal it. When he had set it aside while fighting, its condition had worsened. With that, he had to heal it further so that it wouldn't die.
Unfortunately, despite having wrapped it in the leather blanket, its body was getting colder. The moment she noticed the baby's condition, the Seamstress moved closer until her boat touched him. She then extended her hand, touching the baby's forehead before frowning. "The baby is losing its body heat."
"I'm already healing him. Do you have a better solution?" Krune inquired, not wary of the other party. He heard Gajor's shout as they tried to escape. He addressed the lady as the Seamstress. Surprisingly, that was a name even he had heard about.
After all, when they were traveling towards the Four Sectors' Border Region, Cultivator had informed him of some of the interesting people he met. Since he was the type of person to only care about nature and almost never about people, when he called someone interesting, they were bound to be unique individuals.
With that, he had described the Seamstress as a mad woman that still followed the ideals she had when she was a five-year-old. In order to instill peace upon the land, she went around using her Spiritual Incarnation to convert all the bandits and other notorious figures into selfless individuals who wished to bring peace to the world.
She instilled in them a sense of innocence while granting them power, subtly changing their mindset to make them better individuals. Even though bringing peace in the God Realm was impossible, she was making an effort through her own strength.
Thus, she had accumulated considerable fame because of that. Surprisingly, the number of followers she had was staggering, almost enough to rival the armies of a couple of cities combined. That much power in the hands of an individual that wasn't even an immortal was an astounding feat.
On top of that, she was a smart lady, capable of scheming when necessary. But despite everything, she stubbornly wished to uphold the ideals she had as a child and strived forth accordingly. As the one who said this was Cultivator, Krune wasn't averse towards the lady before him.
And since Cultivator had also shown him her appearance, he could recognize her. 'But, she looks very young now. As a cultivator, she seemed to be in her sixties, but now, she looks like she's only in her twenties.'
"I can help," the Seamstress said, retracting her hand lightly as she could feel the essence of the ocean in the blue light Krune emitted. She then focused as her hand emitted a gentle heat, selectively wrapping around the baby.
The heat was warm, soon instilling some vigor in the baby. Simultaneously, Krune's healing effect instilled more and more vitality in the baby. Soon, the baby began to make crying sounds. The moment they heard it, Krune and the Seamstress beamed at each other with a smile. The baby had survived.
"Is he your son?" the Seamstress looked around, trying to find the mother of the child. Judging by his age, she wondered if the mother had delivered him while in the Sub-Realm.
"No, she gave him to me before dying." Krune pointed towards a floating figure on the other side of his boat. "For some reason, those pirates had been chasing after her."
Following his gaze, the Seamstress noticed the stabbed figure of a woman floating on the ocean water. The water currents caused her body to hit Krune's boat every once in a while. The moment she noticed the vicious manner in which he was stabbed, the Seamstress fumed in anger.
Nevertheless, she quickly controlled herself, taking deep breaths as she calmed down before performing a prayer to the lady. "May your vitality flow into the ocean and birth new life."
She then turned around, cupping her fists to Krune as she told him, "Then, I'll take my leave."
Saying so, she just turned around, intending to command the Motor Fishes when suddenly, Krune raised his hand, asking her, "Please wait."