99: A fake is still a fake.

There was no stench of a corpse.

There wasn't even a hint of the sea's briny smell.

The moment the giant coffin slid open, a faint scent of sandalwood drifted out.

From the pitch-black abyss, a slender, pale hand gripped the edge of the coffin.

Immediately after.

A man wearing a black tailcoat and a Windsor knot slowly sat up.

When the moonlight illuminated his face.

A chorus of sharp gasps echoed across the deck.

"Cap... Captain?!"

Zhao Mengmeng's eyes widened as she looked back and forth between Chen Du and that man.

They looked too similar.

No, it was practically copy-pasted!

Those cold eyes, the high bridge of the nose... even that faint, ambiguous smile at the corner of his mouth was a perfect replica.

The only difference was—

The Chen Du on their side had tattered clothes and was covered in bloodstains and paint, looking like an Asura that had just crawled out of hell.

Whereas that man was elegant, neat, and meticulous—a spitting image of a Prince of the Night stepped out of a fairy tale.

"Good evening, beautiful ladies."

The "imposter" stood up and elegantly straightened his collar.

His voice was deep and magnetic, possessing a magic that made one's bones feel numb.

"You've all worked hard through the bumps along this journey."

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am the true Captain of this ship, and your only master."

"As for that one..."

He extended a finger, pointing contemptuously at Chen Du.

"Is nothing more than a thief who took advantage of my slumber to steal my identity and power."

As the words fell.

An invisible psychic wave swept across the area.

The sensation was like someone gently stroking one's cerebral cortex.

"So... so handsome..."

Zhou Qian's eyes began to glaze over, and her body involuntarily leaned forward.

She was even drooling.

"So he's the real Captain? That look in his eyes... is so gentle. I really want him to hold me..."

Even An Nuonuo shook her head, her gaze becoming dull.

She felt like the big brother in the tailcoat had a nice milky scent that made her want to nuzzle against him.

"Don't listen to him!"

Li Yaozhi suddenly bit the tip of her tongue.

The metallic taste of blood snapped her back to her senses.

"This is a charm! He's brainwashing you! Wake up!"

She shouted with a raspy voice, trying to wake everyone up.

Xia Mo's reaction was more direct.

She was a woman of few words and decisive action.

With a cold snort, the sword name suddenly left its sheath.

Several icicles carrying extreme freezing energy shot toward the "imposter."

Snap!

The "imposter" didn't even blink.

He just casually raised his hand.

Those icicles, strong enough to pierce through steel plates, halted in front of his palm.

Then, they were crushed into powder by an invisible force.

"Is this how you treat your master? How naughty!"

The "imposter" sighed, a hint of disappointment showing in his eyes.

"Heh!"

Chen Du leaned against the railing and chuckled, lighting another cigarette.

He looked at the monster that resembled him more than he did himself, his gaze like he was watching a circus monkey.

"Imitating me?"

He casually blew out a smoke ring.

"The face is quite similar, but this temperament... you're far off."

"Also, don't use that face to make such greasy expressions. It makes me sick."

The "imposter's" expression darkened, and a corner of his elegance crumbled.

"Apologies! You only get to live until now!"

He made his move.

Shockingly, he could also manipulate shadows!

Countless pitch-black tentacles spread out from the giant coffin beneath his feet, swarming toward Chen Du.

"He even copied the ability?" Xia Lai exclaimed.

This was literally a live version of the True and False Monkey King!

Facing the overwhelming attack, Chen Du didn't dodge.

He just flicked away his cigarette butt.

Then, his figure abruptly vanished.

This was the absolute dominance of the King of Shadows in the night.

As long as there were shadows, it was his home field.

The next second.

Chen Du emerged directly from the shadow behind the "imposter"!

Without any fancy movements.

A plain and simple punch smashed heavily into that handsome-to-perfection face.

"You want to be the King of Shadows too?"

The "imposter" was sent staggering back a few steps, half of his face caved in.

He let out a roar, and the black shadows beneath his feet transformed into dozens of sharp blades, stabbing straight at Chen Du's throat!

"Using my power to kill me?"

Chen Du remained where he was.

The moment those shadow blades touched the tip of his nose, they suddenly began to tremble.

As if they had met their ancestor, they stopped dead in mid-air.

Then, they actually turned their edges around and prostrated themselves submissively at Chen Du's feet.

"You... how is this possible?!"

The "imposter" was slammed against the coffin lid by that punch.

He discovered in horror that his own shadow... had defected!

No, it wasn't just a defection.

All the surrounding shadows were rejecting him, squeezing him, as if he were an anomaly that shouldn't exist.

Chen Du stood there, his golden pupils spinning wildly, like a god looking down upon an ant.

Although the energy of both seemed to come from the same source, Chen Du possessed the authority of the shadow's origin.

That was a high-level suppression granted by the sacrifice notebook.

"Had enough fun?"

Chen Du reached out and clenched his fist.

"Then show me your true form!"

Puchi! Puchi!

Countless thin needles condensed from pure shadow stabbed out from the "imposter's" own shadow, piercing his body in reverse.

"Aaaaaah!"

The scream was no longer that magnetic male voice.

Instead, it turned into a piercing shriek, like nails scratching a blackboard.

Under the horrified gazes of the girls.

The handsome man began to melt.

His skin fell off like wax, revealing a rotting, black-water-oozing sludge body beneath.

It turned out the so-called perfect Captain was just a lump of sludge.

"Blegh..."

The few girls who had just been swooning over this monster were now clutching their chests and vomiting uncontrollably.

The thought of almost being held by this lump of sludge made the nausea double.

"In you go!"

Chen Du stepped on the lump of sludge.

In his mind, the sacrifice notebook was already impatient.

A dark red light erupted.

The massive suction created a vortex.

The giant coffin, along with the sludge monster, was forcibly swallowed by this power.

The sound of crunchy chewing echoed in Chen Du's mind, making him feel a bit hungry.

[Detected a lurking and cunning elite monster—Shadow Demon! Prefers living in dark, damp, and cramped spaces.]

[Sacrifice successful!]

[Sacrifice: High-tier Mimic Shadow (Elite Grade).]

[Evaluation: Soft and chewy texture, slightly greasy!]

[Obtained Reward: Deep Sea Sunken Silver x30.]

[Obtained Special Building Blueprint: resting room of the dead.]

[Note: The resting room of the dead can restore the residents' SAN values and provide an absolutely comfortable sleeping environment.]

[Required Materials: Deep Sea Sunken Silver x15, life essence x30, Gloomy Bloodwood x10.]

"Good stuff!"

Chen Du's eyes lit up, and he casually handed the blueprint to Xia Lai.

This was exactly what the team lacked most right now.

These girls were mentally strained every day; if they didn't relax soon, they would all go crazy sooner or later.

The storm subsided.

The red moon vanished behind the clouds.

The sea surface regained its calm.

The deck was a mess, but everyone's gaze had changed.

They looked at the man standing at the bow, tattered but exuding an overbearing aura.

Chen Du shook the water droplets from his hair and turned around.

His gaze swept over the mountain of bloodwood.

"Second Sister, don't just stand there."

"Dismantle all these coffin boards."

Chen Du stepped on the pile of Gloomy Bloodwood that was still oozing blood, his golden pupils shining brightly.

"Since this world wants to put us in coffins, then I will step on these coffins and sit higher than anyone else."

He looked at Xia Lai, a wild and arrogant smile curling on his lips:

"Use this bloodwood to build me a throne at the bow."

"I want all the ghosts and monsters in this Sea of Despair to see who is the master here."