A sailing ship rose and fell upon the boundless sea. It passed through an unbroken expanse of dark, dense fog before docking at a narrow harbor.
A marionette hung from the ceiling. One by one, its strings snapped, and it dropped to the floor with a clatter.
It climbed mechanically to its feet. Its square wooden mouth opened and closed as a flat, emotionless voice emerged.
"Guests. We have arrived at Dragon Island. Please follow me."
The puppet carried a lantern in one hand. A bright yellow flame sprang to life inside it, and the puppet led the guests off the ship step by step and onto Dragon Island.
The moment they reached the harbor, the puppet suddenly caught fire. Within seconds, it had burned to ash.
The pale mist dispersed in the breeze, revealing a beautiful woman in a short uniform skirt gliding gracefully toward them.
The guests turned to stare at her in curiosity, but their expressions quickly changed. They hurriedly averted their gazes, and some even covered their eyes.
Instead of hair, writhing snakes swayed atop the beauty's head, every one of them flicking its forked tongue. And beneath her short skirt, there were no legs—only a twisting serpent's tail.
A medusa!
These strange and beautiful creatures could petrify anyone who met their eyes. No wonder the guests were scrambling to look away.
Barrett narrowed his eyes and rested a hand on the sword at his waist, every muscle tense. At the slightest sign of trouble, he would spring forward and cut off the medusa's head.
Franco gripped his staff, gazing at the medusa's stunning face with an eager expression.
EeDechi had no fear of the medusa's petrification ability. She activated her Innate Talent and looked directly at the medusa.
The medusa's Justice Value was 124. That put EeDechi considerably more at ease.
"There is no need to be afraid, honored guests." The medusa's red lips parted, and a soft, ethereal voice drifted from them. "My name is Fura. The mages of Dragon Island altered me, and I can no longer petrify anyone. You may follow me without fear."
Only then did the guests relax. They stole cautious glances at Fura, and after confirming that nothing was wrong, followed her into a luxurious hall within the harbor.
Barrett stamped lightly on the sandalwood floor and whispered to EeDechi, "This island doesn't feel firmly grounded."
EeDechi nodded. "I feel it too. Something isn't right."
The Dragon Island auction soon began. All sorts of rare treasures were brought onto the stage, including such fantastical things as "lifespan," "youth," and "love."
"Lifespan" was a gold-inlaid magical hourglass that could extend its user's life.
"Youth" was even more miraculous. It came in the form of a jar of blue-green ointment capable of making its user younger—possibly even restoring them to adolescence.
"Love" was a cloth doll covered in runes and giving off the heavy scent of blood.
Its user could make a wish upon it, after which the doll would transform into the lover of their dreams. Aside from lacking a soul, it had everything a person could ask for, and it would remain eternally faithful to its owner.
There were many more wondrous items besides these. Franco, an experienced mage, frowned slightly. A great many of them looked like products of forbidden black magic.
EeDechi had little interest in any of them. What she cared about was the technology used to build skyships. That lost art from the era of the Eight Greed Kings might now exist only on Dragon Island.
The three adventurers, along with Kilua and Cheeko—four people and one cat in all—asked around until they found the elite mage Longfellow Campbell.
Longfellow Campbell's hair was silver-white as snow, and his face was covered in deep, sharply etched wrinkles.
He adjusted the crystal monocle over one eye and listened to EeDechi explain why they had come.
"I must confess, honored guests, your purpose surprises me. Unfortunately, I, too, am unable to build a skyship."
EeDechi was immediately disappointed, but Longfellow Campbell continued.
"The only place where skyships can still be built is Dragon Island."
"But aren't we already on Dragon Island?" Barrett asked in confusion.
A mysterious smile appeared on the old mage's face.
"Only those who wish to buy may come here. Only those who have something worth selling may set foot on the true Dragon Island. So, what do you have to sell?
"Dragon Island has no need of money. Unless you can offer something that would astonish the world, your lives and bones will have to serve as payment. That is the principle of Equivalent Exchange."
Barrett thought for a moment, rummaged through his spatial ring, and pulled out a pair of silver underwear.
"Will this do?"
Longfellow Campbell was an expert in item appraisal. The old mage was about to give a disdainful smile when his eyes abruptly widened until they nearly popped from their sockets.
With his appraisal skills, he immediately realized that this was no ordinary underwear.
What Barrett held in his hand was none other than the underwear of Sebas Tian, a level 100 warrior of the Great Tomb of Nazarick!
Longfellow Campbell took a deep breath, seemingly about to sniff the garment. Then he nodded solemnly.
"I will consult the elders."
Before long, a decision was reached. EeDechi's group—four people and one cat—would be permitted to spend a short time on Dragon Island.
The auction soon ended. The guests left the harbor still wanting more, boarded the sailing ship, and returned to the City Alliance.
EeDechi, Barrett, Franco, Kilua, and Cheeko remained behind, waiting to see what would happen next.
The ground began to tremble, and the buildings shook. Then, without warning, the land rose into the sky.
Startled, EeDechi rushed to the shore. Before her eyes, the entire landmass lifted clear of the sea and soared upward!
So this was not a small island in the ocean at all.
It was a flying harbor!
The harbor climbed higher and higher, drifting among wisps of white cloud. Beneath it stretched an endless blue sea, while above lay the vast open sky. Bright sunlight poured down, and a gentle breeze swept past, leaving them exhilarated.
From deep within the distant clouds came a long, drawn-out dragon's roar.
The flying harbor pressed onward and plunged into an enormous bank of clouds.
It burst through the other side, trailing long wisps of mist behind it. EeDechi stared ahead, stunned by the sight before her.
An unimaginably enormous ancient dragon soared above the endless sea of clouds, its vast wings beating slowly and blotting out the sky.
The dragon was huge.
Absurdly huge.
The flying harbor looked like a leaf drifting beside a giant eagle.
Compared to the dragon, EeDechi and the others were no larger than ants.
The harbor flew onward, drawing ever closer to the ancient dragon.
Soon, they saw land upon its towering back—trees, houses, windmills, mage towers, fields, pastures...
It was practically a small town!
Barrett gazed at the colossal dragon and sighed in amazement.
"So Dragon Island really is a dragon."
The harbor slowly descended into a gap in the land on the dragon's back, fitting neatly into place and becoming part of the town.
EeDechi stepped onto the ground and stamped her foot a few times. It felt firm and solid beneath her feet, giving no hint that they were soaring through the open sky above an endless sea of clouds.