"Leo, what do we do next?" Axel can't help but ask.

"We prepare for the nightfall..." Leo grimly replied as he looked at the sun slowly setting down to the west.

"I don't really know whether we can survive for the next day, but let's do what we can!" Leo encourages as he turned to look at the important parts of the Twin Horn Shark laying on the corner, "Let's use the teeth to replace those sticks, and let's improve the toughness of the boat using the scales and the fins."

"Okay!" Everyone nodded in unison.

"Also, let's stay in this place tonight!" Leo almost forgot to inform everyone. With how dangerous the ocean was during the night, and with how tired they were already, he decided that it's much better for them to stay put and rest to recover energy.

"But we are wasting time!" Axel quickly disagreed.

"I also agree with Axel!" Murgan supported.

They were only given more than 24 hours and definitely less than 36 hours of time to arrive at the Blue Fin Kingdom and ask for reinforcement. Any more than that and Lu Ming would become successful. So, they can't afford to waste time just to rest.

Naturally, Leo also realized that, but if ever they also fall into a dangerous situation, then Lu Ming's plan would likewise be successful.

So...

"Okay! But, we will be moving slowly, we can't afford to attract many more Magical Beast Sharks to our boat!" Leo could only helplessly agree.

After that, everyone quickly began to work on improving the boat's defense.

Leo also ordered the Water Elemental to start eliminating those nearby Magical Beast Sharks to eliminate more possible threats.

It was already a very clear fact for everyone that Magical Beast has similar traits with Humans. So, those remaining alive Magical Beast Sharks who had witnessed Humans in this boat would obviously spread the information that what they had just assumed as a mere floating tree is actually a boat, hence attracting more Magical Beast Sharks to attack them.

To be more exact, he was eliminating those witnesses.

Finally, nightfall arrived.

Everyone could barely see their surroundings, and they also can't use any lights on the top of the boat, since that would obviously reveal them. Of course, they still used some lights, but only inside the cabin's floor to lighten up the inside of the boat.

The only thing that guides the boat and sends constant warnings at this moment was only Leo's Water Elemental, hence they were able to avoid dangers after dangers.

Moreover, they were now moving slow, seemingly acting exactly like a floating tree in the eyes of Magical Beast Sharks.

"Leo, go rest for a bit. You've just gone through a fight against a 1 Star Magical Beast!" Axel suggested the moment he returned back on the top deck.

Actually, everyone has already assigned themselves different shifts in order for them to rest and recover energy.

However, Leo insisted that he will not take a rest. Saying that it's fine since he is used to doing something like this.

To be honest, he was indeed very used to staying up for a long period of time. His very best record was even 3 days straight without sleeping while under extreme pressure.

It had happened back when he was sent by his Master Olivia in her Labyrinth. In that place, all sorts of dangers just silently lurk around everywhere. If ever he let down his guard, such as casually sleeping somewhere random, he would definitely lose his life. Hence, on the very first night, he can't afford himself to sleep, since he might forever be sleeping.

"I need to stay on guard." Leo calmly replied back.

"I insist!" Axel didn't give up his persuasion.

"Believe me, I'm already used to this kind of situation!" Leo shook his head, still refusing Axel's kind gesture.

"Ayst..." Axel scratched his head helplessly as he decided to just sit down on Leo's side, "I have one very big question, would you mind if I asked?"

"I don't mind," Leo replied. It was much better to talk with someone than to just stare at the dark ocean in front of him. Although he was on guard duty, it was obviously his Water Elemental instead that is doing the job.

"Okay! So, how come you're so different compared to us? It's like you've already gone through things similar to this multiple times. You're just at the same age as us too, so how?"

"You should already know right that I'm the Lord of Heart city?" Leo began.

"Yes! But that still doesn't explain why you're so different compared to us. You might not know this, but we had also undergone hard training while still young, yet it seems to be nothing compared to you!"

Leo can't help but to let out a chuckle as he replied, "Have you ever tried combining all together being trained through ruthless ways in order to become strong, fighting different people to protect your family's territory, managing a city, investigating some suspicion people, suffering from losing your entire family, trying your best to keep on living every single day, for 10 years straight? If you can do all of that, then I will not be surprised if you also become someone like me!"

"....."

After hearing Leo's answer, Axel doesn't know what to reply. It was just too shocking for him to accept. Basing on what Leo had just said, he had gone through all of that despite being a mere 8 years old kid until he became 18 years old, tirelessly and constantly. That sounded so impossible. But how can he explain Leo's capability, then? Ever since they meet each other in the cave till this moment, he had seen with his very own eyes just how capable Leo was. And he can describe it in just two words, Absolutely Terrifying!

If Leo was already able to do something like that while still being 19 years old, then how much more when he became an adult, right?

"Anyways, who's turn is it to keep watch?" Leo quickly changed the topic.

"Me, Aiden, and Ehtelyn for the lookout on top of the boat, and Melthy for guarding teacher Homer's room." Axel answer.

Leo simply nodded his head as he turned to look at the ocean.

At this moment, a lot of Magical Beast Sharks could easily be spotted swimming around the boat.

These Magical Beast Sharks were obviously the new batch, and they are now trying to satisfy their curiosity about the floating tree.

The longer he looked at them, the more he felt terror deep in his mind.

He isn't really the type of guy that easily felt fear. In fact, he doesn't even fear dying at all. But, dying while feeling helpless, he just doesn't prefer to die while feeling such kind of emotion.

Also, Cassandra and the others' lives totally depend on his shoulder right now, and also everyone else, especially since teacher Homer is still trying to recover from his serious injuries right now, hence all the responsibilities have been forcefully been put onto his shoulder.

"Just how did I arrive in this situation?" Leo can't help but ponder the sane question he had asked himself last time once again.

Leo heaved a heavy sigh to express his helplessness as he stood up from the wooden floor and went to the bow of the ship to look closely at the swimming Magical Beast Sharks.

"How about you guys just do me a favor and pave a way for us to safely travel?" Leo impossibly suggested in his mind.

The situation right now was definitely next to impossible to handle. Simply put, it's a hopeless situation.

Magical Beast Sharks surrounds them, any kind of mistakes would absolutely lead them to their deaths. And with their deaths, it would then lead to all of the 1st year students' lives, deemed those teachers sacrifices for nothing, and Lu Ming's plan becoming successful. Afterwards, the Silver Kingdom would be the next thing at sake, which means Butler Xiao and the others back in Heart city might also die.

Their situation would have been alright if only there was no time limit, but unfortunately, there was. And what's even worse, there is not even an exact time limit, just either a day or maybe more than that if the teachers can successfully interrupt Lu Ming's ceremony in making the Leviathan his Beast Companion.

The responsibility is just too heavy for him to handle. It feels like his shoulder just isn't strong enough yet to carry this kind of weight.

*Slap

Leo suddenly slaps himself as he thought to himself, "Why am I even thinking like a weakling? Have I ever given up before just because the situation is hopeless? I didn't even give up back when my Master Olivia was ruthlessly training me, not to mention this kind of situation."

"I need to think of a plan to solve this sh*tty situation!"

Quickly, Leo began carefully looking at all the Magical Beast Sharks, looked at the surrounding, thought about the resources he can use, and lastly just what kind of plan is possible with all of this.

"Magical Beast Sharks is swimming around the boat out of curiosity, and they will definitely kill us if they ever discovered us. But what if..."

Leo finally thought of an idea.

Magical Beast Sharks are swimming around because of curiosity, but what if he throws another curiosity inducing things in front of them? Like, for example, a Water Elemental!

Moreover, what if it's a Water Elemental carrying a 1 Star Magical Beast meat?

If that was still not enough, then why not order his Water Elemental to attack these Magical Beast Sharks, then give the Water Elemental some pieces of 1 Star Magical Beast meat, and then lure them far away from the boat?

With his capability right now, his Elementals can still stay alive as long as they are within 100 meters away from him, any more than that, and they will vanish.

100 meters distance is definitely enough to allow them to smoothly travel for a few hundreds of meters, right?

Repeat that step many times and they will definitely be able to have a smooth journey!

Leo quickly tried to cover his mouth to stop himself from laughing as he quickly went to the back of the boat.

"Leo, where are you going?" Axel curiously asked the moment he saw Leo running to the back of the boat.

"Bathroom break!" Leo replied.