After Mr. Chef Zoro had diligently completed his barbecue duties, he elegantly bowed to the two of them and then disappeared on the spot.
Cyril couldn't help but sigh in his heart: Mr. Zoro is truly an indispensable treasure for home and travel!
His gaze then turned to the tantalizing and piping hot grilled octopus, and he felt that his luxurious dinner from before had been completely digested.
This grilled octopus was so fragrant that he could eat ten in one breath!
Brian noticed Cyril's eager expression as he looked at the food, and a slight smile crept onto his lips, giving him a thoroughly delighted appearance.
He leisurely said, "Go ahead."
Cyril hesitated for a moment, glancing at the very few mini octopuses on the plate. He asked, "Isn't Mr. Scott eating with us?"
When he saw the firm shake of the other's head, he stopped being polite and obediently accepted the grilled octopus that Mr. Scott handed to him.
These mini grilled octopuses were probably the epitome of "the essence in a condensed form." The flesh was firm, delicious, succulent, and incredibly tasty.
It was the best octopus Cyril had ever tasted!
If there had to be a downside, it was that there was too little!
Cyril felt that he had already exercised great restraint by savoring it slowly, but he still devoured the mini grilled octopus in just two or three bites.
He licked his lips, reluctantly looking at the empty plate.
Brian saw Cyril finish the grilled octopus and then casually said, "Hmm, it seems I forgot that we should have let Zoro prepare the octopus after restoring its original form."
His magnetic voice carried a hint of playfulness.
"Imagine what would happen if this octopus were to expand inside little Cyril's stomach? Would he blame me for forgetting about it?"
Brian wore a somewhat distressed expression.
Cyril's smile froze upon hearing this.
Although he knew that the other party was most likely joking, he felt as if the delicious octopus he had just eaten had suddenly become heavy in his stomach, as if it were gradually inflating.
However, Cyril soon felt a warm and comforting sensation spreading from his stomach to his limbs.
It was like being back in Mr. Scott's magical bath, soaking in the comfortable warmth, which relaxed his body and improved his spirits.
At the same time, Cyril heard the system's voice filled with surprise: "Tsk tsk tsk! Truly a giant deep-sea octopus! It's delicious and nutritious! Indeed, dietary supplements are the way to go!"
Cyril chuckled, remembering the famous quote from the author of the "Strange Creature Cooking Manual" on the book's title page. He looked at the screen displaying his body data:
- Name: Cyril Lawrence
- Age: 15
- Stamina: 15
- Strength: 15
- Mental Power: 35
- Magic Power: 20
- Achievement: Octopus Hunter
The system's somewhat mocking commentary was ignored by Cyril as he marveled at the significant improvements in his various attributes.
He had only eaten a mini octopus, but his physical qualities had taken a big step forward!
Such fantastic grilled octopus, and he could still have several more!
By now, the large bubble had slowly risen back to the surface of the sea, and the seawater gradually surrounded it, licking at the bubble.
The bright moon still hung high in the sky, shining brilliantly.
The large bubble continued to rise.
It left the sea and approached the rapidly advancing Blackship cruise liner.
Then, with a slight sway, it bounced in a graceful arc and landed lightly on the ship's deck.
The moment it touched the deck, the large bubble burst into countless tiny splashes, disappearing in an instant.
It made one feel as if everything that had happened before was just a phantasmagoria, much like a giant bubble.
"Well, it's time to go back to sleep. Goodnight," Brian said softly, leaning down to whisper in Cyril's ear.
His tone was gentle, like soothing a three-and-a-half-year-old child, filled with intoxicating affection.
But the next sentence from Mr. Wizard immediately exposed his true nature: "Have a good dream of being blown up by the big octopus in your belly."
Cyril's brow twitched.
Did that even count as a blessing? Probably not, right?
Before Cyril could say anything to Mr. Scott, the space in front of him suddenly distorted, and the man disappeared without a trace.
Cyril helplessly touched the rose necklace around his neck. He had wanted to ask Mr. Scott how to get the little snake, Greene, out of the necklace!
Guess he'd have to wait until their next meeting.
Perhaps truly influenced by Mr. Scott's "wish," Cyril had an intense battle with the giant octopus in his dream.
His shrinking spell was erratic, causing the giant octopus to alternate between inflating and deflating like a balloon.
However, Cyril eventually managed to obtain the mini octopus and grill it to perfection.
But just as he was about to take a bite, the octopus transformed into Mr. Scott's handsome face, startling him. He hastily swallowed it without savoring it properly.
The next morning, when Cyril woke up, he first looked at his perfectly normal belly and breathed a sigh of relief.
He then made up his mind that he wouldn't eat octopus again in the short term!
Not even octopus in sauce!
The days on the cruise ship afterward were quite uneventful. Cyril spent most of his time in his room reading and enjoying sumptuous meals.
Occasionally, he would go for a walk on the cruise ship's deck, listening to the unique sound of the sea waves and experiencing the tranquility of the ocean.
Three days later, they finally arrived at their destination - Whalefall Island.
It was a very sunny and beautiful afternoon.
The sky was high and vast, with fluffy white clouds floating in the blue sky.
The expansive sea was dotted with small white waves.
Cyril had just finished lunch and was taking a walk on the deck to aid digestion when he heard someone in the distance shout, "Look! Over there!"
The voice was filled with excitement.
Soon after, there was a surprised uproar from the crowd.
Cyril couldn't help but follow their gaze and widen his eyes.
At the end of his line of sight, a solitary island floated on the deep sea.
Without a doubt, that was Whalefall Island, and anyone who saw it would have no doubts.
Because the shape of the island was extremely unusual, it didn't quite look like an island from a distance. Instead, it resembled the skeleton of a giant whale.
The Blackship cruise liner, unlike regular oil tankers, moved very fast and soon glided far away from the sea surface.
The cruise liner drew closer to Whalefall Island.
Then, Cyril was shocked to see hundreds of towering, pale pillars on Whalefall Island, reaching high into the sky, creating a spectacular and majestic sight.
They appeared to be the sturdy spine of a giant whale.
Each bone on the massive skeleton was as tall as a small mountain peak, as if they were relics left behind by the gods in a moment of neglect, and their pallor was dazzling.
Suddenly, Cyril's vision went black, and his sight disappeared.
When his vision cleared again, the scene in front of him had changed.
There was no Whalefall Island in his field of vision, no Blackship, and not even a clear blue sky.
The sky was covered by thick, dark clouds that seemed to lower menacingly over the sea.
Continuous thunderclaps resounded, as if they were exploding right next to his ears, sending shivers down his spine.
The sea roiled with enormous waves, each one larger than the last.
The earth-shattering power of it all was terrifying.
Golden lightning bolts shot from the dense black clouds and struck the sea's surface.
Who was undergoing a tribulation here?
Cyril found that he couldn't move his body at all, not even shift his gaze. He could only stare fixedly ahead.
Then, an indescribably massive whale fell from the sky at an incredible speed and plunged into the sea.
A deafening "boom!" echoed as the impact between the giant whale and the seawater seemed capable of changing the course of the world.
Witnessing this scene, Cyril felt a shiver run deep into his soul.
However, instead of sinking into the depths of the sea, the colossal whale continued to float on the surface of the water for some unknown reason.
As the whale falls, life awakens.
Countless marine creatures, including blind eels and sharks, came from afar, lured by the scent of blood.
Thousands of marine creatures eagerly gnawed on the massive whale's carcass.
Days turned into years.
In the long passage of time, these marine creatures eventually decomposed the unimaginably large whale's corpse, leaving behind only the pale skeleton.
Cyril blinked.
His upper and lower eyelashes gently brushed against each other, quickly parting again.
When he opened his eyes the next moment, he was back on the deck of the Blackship cruise liner.
The surrounding noise, as if someone had hit the "play" button, resumed.
Whalefall Island, not far away, lay peacefully on the sea surface, and the tall bones, eroded by the sea over the years, bore the marks of time.
There were also numerous seabirds, like tiny black dots, folding their wings and resting on the bones.
Cyril looked at the newcomers not far away.
He saw that they, too, had the dazed look of someone who had just been pulled into the "Whalefall" retrogression from beyond.
Everyone stood in place without moving, quietly watching as the Blackship cruise liner gradually approached Whalefall Island.
Whalefall Island was now within sight, and they could see the bustling port.
Dozens of massive brass steamships were docked here.
There were also ships coming and going, and the ships' horns hummed.
The crowds at the port were constantly bustling with activity.
Several beautiful seagulls glided over the blue waters.
The Blackship cruise liner slowly docked at the shore.
They had arrived at Whalefall Island!