I Have 10,000 SSS Rank Villains In My System Space - Chapter 311

Chapter 311: Entering Royal Sea
Ten days later

After ten relentless days at sea and five of them spent crossing the treacherous Wild Sea that separated the Second Sea from the First Razeal and his team finally arrived.

The Royal Sea.

Razeal stood at the edge of a broad, coral-paved platform, his gaze fixed on the sprawling city before him. Towers of pearl-white stone and shimmering blue crystal rose from the ocean floor, connected by wide bridges and flowing current-ways. Bioluminescent lights glowed softly along streets and buildings, while schools of small, colorful fish drifted lazily through open spaces like living decorations.

The place looked very alive.

Atlantians of every kind moved through the city merchants calling out from ornate shops, nobles gliding past in elegant attire. Laughter echoed faintly through the water, mixed with very energy of excitement filling every single person. Everything looked rich, orderly, and almost unreal in its prosperity.

Razeal let out a quiet breath.

“Hm… so this is the Royal Sea?” he said, his voice low, more thoughtful than impressed.

To him, it didn’t feel like just another sea he had been through. It felt like a different world altogether.

“Yeah…” Neptunia replied beside him. “This is the Royal Sea.”

Her voice was noticeably flat.

Razeal turned his head slightly, finally paying closer attention to her. Neptunia walked with her shoulders slumped, her usual sharp posture gone. Her eyes, normally filled with energy, looked dullbalmost tired. She didn’t even bother glancing around at the city she usually speaks with excitement and all.

“What happened to you?” Razeal asked. “You were in such a hurry to get here. You couldn’t stop talking about it before. And now you look like someone just stole your soul.”

Neptunia paused for half a second, then shook her head.

“It’s nothing,” she said shortly and continued walking, clearly not interested in explaining.

Razeal frowned slightly but didn’t press immediately. Instead, his gaze shifted to Maria, who was walking on the other side of him with her arms crossed. Her expression was the same sharp, tsundere scowl she always wore, but there was a hint of annoyance beneath it.

“She’s been like this for the whole week,” Maria said. “I tried asking. Multiple times. She didn’t tell me anything either.”

Razeal raised an eyebrow. “Did something happen between you two?”

Maria clicked her tongue and looked away. “No. And even if it did, she wouldn’t tell me.”

Razeal didn’t said anything. If Neptunia didn’t want to talk, forcing her would be stupid.

“Fine,” he muttered. “If you don’t want to talk, I won’t dig.”

With that, he turned his attention back to the city and more importantly, to himself.

The Wild Sea had been… profitable.

Dangerous, yes. Exhausting, definitely.. Like literally took ten days. But also rewarding in a way that made the risk almost feel worth it.

As they walked deeper into the Royal Sea’s outer district, Razeal called up his Mana stat.

Mana (MP): SS-Rank 35.73 Billion / 100 Billion

Yeah he’s Rich now.

On the way here, he encountered many high-ranking monsters. He killed them all and absorbed their monster cores, gaining an extreme amount of mana and blood points in the process. Now, he can finally use his dark mana.

That means his shadow abilities are fully accessible, along with dark spells and forbidden knowledge he learned from the Book of Eventual Evil. The problem is, he now has too many abilities. So many, in fact, that he doesn’t know which ones he should focus on.

There are five main paths in front of him:

Killing Intent skill tree

Shadow abilities

Flow-related abilities

Dark spells from the Book of Eventual Evil

Vampire Progenitor abilities

Each path is powerful in its own way, and all of them are tempting.

The Killing Intent skill tree, for example, makes him stronger the more he kills. It also grants several additional effects:

1. Killing Body: Physical stats scale with confirmed kills.

2. Killing Perception:

Intent Sense: Detects all hostile presences and identifies the direction of threats.

Fear Resistance: Complete immunity to fear and suppression effects.

3. Killing Intent

Enhances bloodlust and allows the projection of killing illusions.

4. Killing Aura: An aura of pure bloodlust.

It amplifies strength, speed, and endurance, wrapping the body in reinforced aura armor while empowering weapons with lethal force.

5. Killing Transformation: The ability to become whatever one kills. Gender, race, form, age, structure none of it matters. The transformation is absolute.

So far, these were the abilities he had come into possession of.

And yet… none of them truly felt overwhelming.

They weren’t weak far from it but they didn’t grant the kind of immediate, crushing power he had expected. He didn’t know what effects might unlock in the future, but as things stood now, they felt merely adequate. Mediocre, from his perspective.

The killing-based growth path, for example, was undeniably powerful in theory. Becoming stronger with every kill was a terrifying concept. But the reality was harsher. The stronger he became, the stronger his prey would need to be. Each step forward demanded exponentially greater effort. Progress would slow, grind, and eventually crawl. Leveling up was already difficult relying on this path alone would take an unreasonable amount of time.

It was fast at first, yes but unsustainable in the long run.

Not an ideal option.

Then there were the shadow abilities.

These were different.

Clean. Efficient. Deadly.

Shadow manipulation was versatile perfect for combat, assassination, movement, control. And now that his mana reserves had crossed into SS-Rank, the cost was no longer prohibitive. He could finally fight using shadows without worrying about burning himself dry after a few techniques.

It suited him.

Silent. Precise whenever he needed.

This path had immediate value.

Then came Flow-related abilities.

Raw power.

Pure destruction.

Abilities that didn’t negotiate or hesitate only erased. Flow techniques weren’t subtle. They were overwhelming, often unstable, and difficult to control. One mistake could tear his own body apart along with the enemy.

They were powerful.

But risky.

And Razeal didn’t like power that depended on luck or perfect conditions. He preferred certainty… No matter how better or perfection he can get on to use it . But it will always stay risky..

Next was the Book of Eventual Evil.

The book wasn’t weak. If anything, it was terrifying. It contained even spells capable of harming gods which Razeal was very very intrested in. Rituals, Necromancy, Curses, Concepts that just very overpowered but requires deep evil thoughts.

The problem wasn’t quality.

It was excess.

Every time he opened it, thousands of spells unfolded before him. Each one demanded focus, understanding, practice. He couldn’t specialize. Couldn’t settle on one direction. His mind scattered every time, pulled in too many directions at once.

And in combat, hesitation was bad.

He knew himself well enough to admit it if he relied too heavily on the book, he’d lose clarity. Too many options meant slower decisions. Complexity for the sake of power was still a weakness.

He would use the book.

But it wouldn’t be his foundation.

That left one final path.

The one he had been circling back to again and again.

Vampire Progenitor abilities.

Razeal’s expression didn’t change, but something inside him shifted quiet satisfaction, cold approval.

Pseudo-immortality.

A body that refused to die.

Strength that surpassed mortal limits. Hearing that pierced silence. Senses that caught things before they happened. Endless stamina. Blood manipulation.

All of it was powerful.

But none of it was what truly interested him.

It was this.

The ability to create vampires.

To turn anyone.. anyone at all into a vampire under his lineage. To overwrite their race. Their limits. Their mortality. And more importantly

To bind them absolutely.

No rebellion.

No betrayal.

No hesitation.

As a progenitor, his will was law. Even if they wanted to disobey him, they couldn’t.

Razeal slowed his steps slightly, eyes unfocused as he imagined it.

An army.

Not mindless fodder like in Necromancy but strong intelect people. Individuals who were already powerful, made even stronger. Undead bodies that didn’t tire, didn’t fear death, didn’t break under pressure… And definitely not stupid.. Well atleast not all.

Strength multiplied.

And unlike alliances or contracts, loyalty was guaranteed.

For the first time in a long while, something close to a smile formed within him.

This wasn’t just power.

This was infrastructure.

No matter how strong a single person became, they were still one person. He had learned that lesson long ago. Influence, reach, control those required others.

And now, he could have them.

On his terms.

Without risk, Without trust.. He liked that.

A lot actually

Still… he hadn’t acted on it yet.

Razeal exhaled softly.

He needed to be careful. Turning someone into a vampire wasn’t something to do casually. Whoever he chose would shape everything that followed. Their strength, their usefulness it all mattered.

He hadn’t decided who would be first.

Yet.

For now, he would observe.. Look for someone worty enough.. Well atleast for first time.. Afterall who knows what kind of effects it might have.. Afterall in fictions.. This is very important thing.

For now, looking over everything he possessed his skills, his power, his options Razeal didn’t feel lacking in the slightest. If anything, he felt… complete. There was nothing he urgently needed, no desperate hunger for more strength clawing at his mind. What he had was enough. More than enough, really.

Enough to play the games he had already planned.

The thought settled quietly in his mind as he walked, hands relaxed at his sides, steps unhurried. He followed behind Neptunia, who led the group through the crowded streets of the Royal Sea. His gaze remained forward, but his thoughts drifted elsewhere, stacking over one another in calm, controlled layers.

Around him, the world moved.

Neptunia walked ahead, her posture straight but strangely subdued, shoulders slightly tense las if carrying a weight she refused to speak about. She didn’t turn back or comment on the city, didn’t even react to the vibrancy surrounding them. She simply walked.

Behind her was Razeal, lost in his thoughts.

And then Maria walking at his side, close enough that their shoulders nearly brushed with every step. Her arms were crossed, her expression sharp, eyes flicking around with habitual alertness. She looked irritated not by the crowd, not by the city, but by the simple fact that she was here.

Behind them walked Levy and Aurora.

Hand in hand, Whispering.

Smiling.

Levy barely resembled the man he had been when Razeal rescued him. The pale, half-dead look was gone, replaced by healthy color and a quiet glow that hadn’t existed before. His body looked stronger, steadier, nourished not just by food, but by something deeper. There was an unmistakable light on his face, the kind that only appeared when someone had finally found what they’d been missing.

Aurora leaned close to him, her pink eyes bright with curiosity and affection, completely absorbed in him and him alone. The world around them might as well not have existed.

Their whispers never stopped. Not during the journey through the Wild Sea. Not during the final crossing. And certainly not now.

“Husband,” Aurora said softly, her voice carrying a playful warmth as she tilted her head, eyes sparkling. “Was it your ability that made that yellow-skinned Atlantian attack his own people? The boon you told me about?”

Levy nodded, rubbing the back of his head a little sheepishly. “Yeah… that was me. I finally awakened it.”

Her eyes widened even more, filled with surprise. “So you did!”

“But,” he added quickly, glancing at her, “it’s really nothing compared to yours. I mean.. yours is just… I don’t even know how to describe it.”

Aurora lifted her chin proudly, like a swan preening. “Hehehe. Of course. But yours is cool too.” Then her expression shifted, brows knitting slightly as she remembered something. “But wait. Didn’t you say it was sealed? That you didn’t know how to unlock it? Then how did you?”

Levy scratched his nose, looking embarrassed. “Remember when I said I was weak because I didn’t have a girlfriend?”

Aurora blinked.

“Well… now I do.” He patted his chest, right over his heart. “So yeah.”

She puffed her cheeks immediately. “It’s not girlfriend,” she corrected, poking him lightly. “It’s wife.”

Levy nodded back hurrydly. “Right. Wife.”

They continued bickering like that, voices low, playful, intimate two people completely wrapped up in their own world. They walked close, fingers intertwined, moving with the easy rhythm of people who didn’t need to think about each other to stay in step.

Maria’s eye twitched.

“So annoying,” she muttered under her breath, just loud enough for herself. Her mouth tightened as she glanced back at them, clearly restraining an urge to do something violent. “Absolutely sickening.”

She looked away sharply, shaking her head as if trying to physically rid herself of their presence. Childish. Both of them. Disgustingly childish. And yet… she said nothing more.

Her gaze shifted forward again, landing on Razeal.

The irritation that had been simmering finally found its outlet.

“So,” she said, breaking the silence abruptly, “are you ever going to tell us what’s so important about the Ocean’s Black? Or are we just wandering around blindly because you felt like it?”

Razeal didn’t answer.

Maria frowned, glancing sideways at him. “What? Is there some treasure there?” Her lips curled slightly. “Or maybe a dangerous weapon you plan to use to destroy the world or something?”

Still nothing.

She clicked her tongue. “You’re really annoying when you do this, you know that?”

Razeal finally turned his head, his gaze settling on her calm, unreadable, utterly uninterested.

“How many times are you going to ask me the same thing?” he said flatly. “Don’t you get tired?”

“And why can’t you just tell me?” Maria snapped, her irritation finally spilling over. “It’s not like the world is going to end if you open your mouth.”

Her voice cut sharply through the air, drawing a few curious glances from nearby Atlantians.

Razeal didn’t even look at her.

He simply shook his head once, slow and dismissive, as if the question wasn’t worth the effort of a reply. His expression remained blank, his gaze fixed forward, completely uninterested in continuing the exchange.

Maria clenched her jaw, clearly wanting to say more, but before she could push it further, something else caught all of their attention.

The crowd ahead of them suddenly grew dense.

Razeal slowed his steps, eyes narrowing slightly as he observed the scene unfolding in front of them. Atlantians were packed together shoulder to shoulder, far more than what the already busy streets should normally hold.. Not that he knows but he was definitely curious as their movements had slowed, many standing still, others craning their necks to look over heads, murmurs rippling through the air like restless tides.

“What’s going on there?” Razeal asked, his tone filled with curiousity as he scanned the crowd.

Before anyone else could answer, Neptunia spoke.

“They’re staring at the strongest and only Mythical-ranked relic in the entire sea,” she said quietly.

Her voice was flat, almost lifeless, as if even explaining something so monumental required effort she didn’t have. She didn’t look back at them, didn’t try to sell the importance of her words. She just stated the fact and kept walking forward.

Razeal raised an eyebrow at that.

“Mythical-ranked relic?” he repeated, genuine surprise flickering through his eyes.

That caught Maria’s attention as well.

Razeal and Maria instinctively moved forward, slipping through the crowd, while the rest of the group followed close behind. As far as Razeal knew, even Sea Lords possessed anything Legendary rank and that was already very strong. Mythical was the absolute highest borderline of relicas.. Like it should be heighest power right? And its displayed in public?

Common sense alone told him something was off.

Hundreds of Atlantians surrounded the focal point, their expressions ranging from reverence to longing, awe to quiet frustration. Some stood with clasped hands, others whispered among themselves, while a few stared in complete silence, as if afraid to blink.

After pushing through the last line of bodies, they finally reached the front.

Razeal’s eyes landed on it.

A massive slab of dark stone rose from the ground like a natural altar, its surface scarred by time and salt. Embedded within it standing perfectly upright was a trident.

Gold.

Not merely gilded, but forged with an unmistakable brilliance, its surface reflecting light even in the underwater hues of the Royal Sea. The craftsmanship was flawless, every curve deliberate, every edge sharp. Ancient runes were etched along the shaft, faintly glowing, though not aggressively so more like a quiet acknowledgment of power rather than a display.

It looked… grand.

Imposing.

Yet strangely still.

“Yeah,” Neptunia said, finally stopping beside them, her eyes resting on the trident without emotion. “That’s the Trident of the Sea.”

Razeal stared at it, his senses instinctively probing deeper.

Nothing.

No overwhelming pressure. No crushing aura. No instinctive sense of danger or temptation. It looked expensive, regal, and powerful but it didn’t feel like something mythical should.

“If someone can hold it,” Neptunia continued, her voice calm but heavy, “they become the King of all seas. It grants the authority and power to rule the ocean. The strongest existence beneath the waves.”

Maria’s gaze remained fixed on the trident, her expression unreadable.

Razeal rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“This is fake, right?” he asked bluntly.

The words landed like a stone tossed into still water.

Neptunia turned her head sharply toward him, a rare flicker of offense flashing across her otherwise dulled expression.

“It’s not,” she said firmly. “This is the real Trident of the Sea.”

Razeal looked back at the trident, then around at the crowd.

“Then why is it just… sitting here?” he asked, genuinely puzzled. “Shouldn’t something like this be locked away? Guarded? Or in the king’s hands? This looks more like public decoration than a divine relic or whatever.”

A few Atlantians nearby stiffened.

Whispers rose again, sharper this time. Several pairs of eyes turned toward Razeal, expressions tinged with disapproval. Some shook their heads subtly, others openly frowned, clearly offended by his casual dismissal.

Neptunia didn’t raise her voice, but there was a weight to her words when she spoke again.

“It may look like decoration to you,” she said slowly, “but it’s placed here for a reason.”

She took a breath, her gaze softening slightly as it lingered on the trident.

“The current King of the Sea placed it here himself. Seventy years ago.”

Maria glanced at her. “Seventy.. He’s quite old huh?”

Neptunia nodded. “For the last seventy years, it has remained exactly where it is now.”

Razeal’s interest deepened.

“The Trident of the Sea,” Neptunia continued, “can only be lifted by someone worthy of it. That is the law bound to it. No matter how strong someone is, if they are unworthy, it won’t move.”

She gestured subtly toward the stone.

“So it was placed here to find a worthy successor.”

The murmurs around them grew quieter as Atlantians listened, many clearly familiar with the story but still respectful of its retelling.

“And it also serves another purpose,” Neptunia said. “The king placed it here to consolidate his rule.”

She turned her head slightly, meeting Razeals gaze for a moment.

“By showing the world he isn’t afraid,” she said. “Afraid of being challenged. Afraid of losing power.”

Her eyes drifted back to the trident.

“He openly invited anyone who doubts his right to rule to come here and judge for themselves. If someone believes they are more worthy, they are free to try.”

“That’s why he’s respected,” Neptunia replied. “A king who doesn’t cling to his throne. Who gives everyone an equal chance at the same power he holds.”

The Atlantians standing around them nodded in agreement, pride evident on their faces. To them, the trident was more than a weapon or a relica it was a direct symbol of the dignity and honor their king embodied. The absolute ruler of all seas. Several of them cast faintly sarcastic, almost pitying glances at Razeal, as if his earlier doubts only revealed his ignorance.

Maria, standing beside Razeal, looked genuinely surprised as Neptunia finished explaining. Her eyes drifted back to the trident, studying it with new interest. That’s actually a clever move, she thought. A ruler who invites challenge instead of fearing it. Whether the trident was truly Mythical-ranked or not, she couldn’t say for sure but the idea behind it was clearly effective. The respect in the eyes of every Atlantian gathered there was unmistakable.

Neptunia suddenly turned her head and looked at Razeal, a faint spark of curiosity finally breaking through her otherwise dulled expression.

“Wanna go check it out?” she asked quietly.

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