Ethan focused all his attention on the outfit Cleo was wearing, carefully observing every detail, and still found many differences.
"The breastplate, shoulder pads, armguards, and greaves, judging by their structure, are more like a set of light armor. The lining isn't a form-fitting tights design, but rather ordinary clothing worn underneath and covered by the armor parts."
After watching for a while, Ethan formed a general assessment in his mind.
"It seems the assassin's equipment was more advanced."
He still hadn't fully figured out what material the assassin's gear was made of. Based on its texture and some surface details, it seemed to be some kind of composite material.
This made him feel a little speechless. If it were something created by Tony, composite materials wouldn't be unusual at all. But in this world… was the craftsmanship level really that advanced? Or had he simply not yet seen the true technological capabilities of this world?
He couldn't find an answer for now. He had stored that set of equipment a long time ago and occasionally took it out to study. He already understood many of the finer details, so he could now accurately judge that Cleo's set, though somewhat similar, was a more "basic" version.
"Maybe this is standard personal gear for adventurers in this world."
Ethan hadn't interacted with many adventurers yet. The only relatively high-level one he had met was Brent. He fought Brent once, but Brent hadn't shown his full strength. Ethan didn't know whether Brent also had similar equipment.
However, based on Cleo, it was highly likely that Brent did have something similar. Perhaps his gear was the same as Cleo's, or maybe even slightly better, but it definitely wasn't as good as the set Ethan had in hand.
"The assassin's gear was more focused on stealth. I wonder what capabilities Cleo's set has?"
What he could confirm was that this kind of light armor-like gear could generate a protective energy layer. The assassin's version, optimized for stealth, had a weaker energy layer that Ethan could easily penetrate. Cleo's version likely wasn't as fragile, probably designed to withstand frontal assaults.
"Considering that Cleo is the captain of a ship, there's a high chance he would be targeted during battle. That may be the reason."
Ethan didn't keep this assessment to himself. He directly explained his observations to Logan and Diana, so they would understand the potential capabilities of the other party's equipment and avoid being caught off guard during a confrontation.
"That kind of thing really exists?"
Looking back at the console on the Goddess of Dawn, it wasn't too surprising that such armor existed. Compared to the various magic stone-based devices on the ship, purely combat-oriented equipment was easier to grasp.
"Sounds good. I should get a set if I get the chance."
Logan was quite interested in such gear. Although he had a self-healing factor and wasn't afraid of taking hits, no one enjoyed being wounded. It still hurt. Naturally, it was better not to get injured at all.
"I have a set, but it leans toward stealth. I guess it wouldn't interest you much."
He had kept that set of assassin gear to study its structure and principles, hoping to reproduce it in the future. Now it seemed likely to be part of a mass-produced line. He began considering equipping all his partners with similar gear, which would greatly boost their combat effectiveness.
"Why do you have such a set?"
"From an assassin who tried to kill me."
Logan didn't care why someone tried to assassinate Ethan, but Diana was curious. It also helped her understand how dangerous this world could be.
"You'd kill someone over something that simple?"
"This kind of thing doesn't just happen in this world. It's the same in many worlds."
Diana's worldview still needed time to develop. At that moment, everyone's attention shifted to Cleo. As he steadily advanced into the island's interior, he suddenly stopped. His condition didn't look good.
"The energy in his armor is fluctuating violently."
This didn't require Ethan's mental powers to detect. Anyone with eyes could see the ripples flashing across Cleo's body. Diana, with her enhanced vision, could see Cleo struggling, as though trapped by something.
Although they couldn't see his expression clearly, everyone could tell Cleo was in trouble.
"Should I go?"
"I'll go. Diana, you're our hidden trump card right now. It's not the time to reveal your strength."
Ethan had already met Cleo. Revealing a portion of his strength would let the other party know not to mess with him. If Cleo harbored any ill intentions, the uncertainty about Diana's abilities could act as a deterrent.
If Diana revealed her strength too early and the opponent decided to act, they would be left without a hidden card. So, unless necessary, it was best if Diana didn't act.
Putting on his magic suit, Ethan first took out the Book of Inheritance, preparing to cast a protective shield. He knew that as soon as he entered the island, he would be attacked by that mysterious force.
His extended flame wings released a powerful airflow, slowly lifting Ethan into the air. He aimed and flew straight toward Cleo.
This time, he didn't activate his shield immediately. He wanted to test how fast the mysterious power reacted. Would it attack within a certain range, or only target specific individuals? What was the energy transfer speed? The reaction time? Could it be evaded? These all needed to be tested.
The result was clear. Not long after takeoff, Ethan sensed a large amount of energy gathering toward him. However, it couldn't threaten him for now. His suit had energy protection, and in his current form, he was agile. He began trying to avoid the energy attacks with speed.
"When a target enters the attack range, the opponent must mobilize energy to pursue after a dodge. You're not automatically hit just by entering the area. This proves that the energy isn't unlimited, and high-intensity energy can't cover the entire island."
The situation wasn't too bad. This information would help in future explorations. Also, he was fast enough. This time window was enough for him to fly to Cleo, grab him, then draw a graceful arc in the sky and fly back toward the sea.
Thanks to Ethan's rescue, Cleo, who had been trapped by the mysterious power, suddenly felt his body lighten. By the time he came back to his senses, he had been lifted into the air. The armor on his body protected him from the airflow, allowing him to look up and see who had saved him. Unfortunately, Ethan was wearing a hood during flight, so Cleo couldn't see his face due to the hidden magic.
Ethan brought Cleo down to the deck of the Eternal. Because of the intense airflow and heat from the wings, the entire deck had been cleared. The crew of the Eternal had retreated to the edges to avoid the flames.
Ethan hadn't come to show off. He put away his flame wings the moment he landed, transforming them back into a normal cloak. He also pulled back his hood, revealing his face. Only then did Cleo realize that it was Ethan, the captain of the Goddess of Dawn, who had saved him.
"Thank you very much for your help, Captain Ethan."
"You're welcome."
Ethan's strength surprised Cleo, but he didn't dwell on it. Instead, he expressed hope that Ethan could help retrieve his crew.
"I know this request may be abrupt, but I'm willing to offer payment in return."
It was hard to say whether Ethan was being sincere, and Cleo didn't know what the cost would be. But for Ethan, saving one person or saving ten was the same. It wasn't difficult. Besides, if he refused, the positive relationship between the two parties might take a sudden turn.
"It's fine, no need for anything. Wait here, I'll bring them back soon."
The massive flame wings unfurled again. The crew of the Eternal was shocked by this magical ability. Cleo was also amazed that Ethan's plain-looking cloak had such power. It was the first time he had seen magic stone equipment capable of flight.
The key was the flight speed. It was incredible.
Cleo could easily tell that with Ethan's flight speed, no ship could escape pursuit from the captain of the Goddess of Dawn. Once targeted, they would either be completely wiped out, or they'd have no chance to realize the situation and turn back.
His first mate Bob also saw this. When Ethan flew off to rescue the crew, Bob approached Cleo and reminded him, "It's best to stay on good terms with this man. Becoming his enemy would be a very unwise decision."
"I know."
Even without Bob's reminder, Cleo didn't want to be enemies with Ethan. He didn't like making enemies unnecessarily. Bob knew that too, so he didn't say more.
That was exactly how it played out. After Ethan rescued several crew members who had fallen into illusions and returned them to the Eternal, Cleo became even more enthusiastic. He promised not to compete with Ethan for any items on the island and even offered to help Ethan obtain the island's resources to the best of his ability.
(To be continued.)