Capítulo 5: Chapter 5: Interlacing

Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The massive shadow bore down, and every person aboard the White Oak saw the moment that would engrave itself into their memories for a lifetime.

It was an ancient and majestic three-masted warship—in an age where steamships were no longer a rarity, the sail-driven vessel that emerged from the thick fog appeared as if it had stepped right out of a century-old oil painting. Its masts towered, its hulls steep, and its dark timber shell burned with ghostly green fires. Vast sails billowed from the void, on which roaring visions and layers of fierce flames condensed—a sight so terrifying that even amid the vast Endless Sea, it could only belong in the most dreadful sea disaster legends.

"We're going to collide!!!"

A crew member screamed out, known for their bravery and roughness, they couldn't help but lose their composure in the face of such an enormous entity. They shouted and ran, some trying to find cover on deck, others clinging to anything that might secure them, and still, others dropped to their knees amidst the swaying and the surging waves, praying with unprecedented devotion and chanting the names of the Storm Goddess Gomona or The Master of Death Bartok.

In the vast Endless Sea, the blessing of the gods had faded, but only the power of these two true gods still equally watched over all their children.

However, not all crew members lost their cool. The first mate immediately looked to the captain he trusted most. He knew that navigating the perilous Endless Sea was fraught with danger, and the experienced captain was always key to determining the fate of the entire ship. Captain Lawrence had been at sea for over thirty years, and though the captain, now over fifty, might not be as strong as in his younger years, his survival experience on these vast waters might still secure a sliver of hope for everyone.

The vessel that emerged from the dense fog clearly was not a normal ship sailing the real world but seemed more like something that had emerged from the Spirit Realm or "deeper." If it was a sort of Transcendent apparition, then perhaps it could be countered with some Transcendent power.

Old captains sailing the Endless Sea often had some experience dealing with Transcendent apparitions.

However, the first mate saw only fear and shock on the captain's face.

The old captain was motionless, gripping the wheel as though he hadn't noticed the entire ship was already engulfed in shadow. He stared dead ahead at the crushing shadow of the vessel, his facial muscles tensed as if carved from stone. He finally squeezed a few words through his teeth, colder than the winds above the Chill Sea: "...It's the Homeloss..."

"Captain?!" The first mate was startled by the name that drifted into his ear, like every person earning a living on the Endless Sea, he too had heard this name from many older, more experienced, and more superstitious crew members, "What did you say? That…"

"Homeloss!!!"

Captain Lawrence, as if he hadn't heard the first mate's voice, just gripped the wheel of the White Oak as though he were about to roar at something. Nearly at the same moment his words fell, the towering hull of Homeloss finally reached the bow of the White Oak.

Almost every sailor started screaming.

Yet, the expected earth-shattering collision did not occur—the giant ship ablaze with green flames seemed like a grand-scale illusion, sweeping across the White Oak's deck with whistling flame apparitions, the thick hull, creepy cabins, dimly lit corridors, and flaming keels and pillars... The sailors widened their horrified eyes, watching helplessly as they crashed into the illusion of the Ghost Ship, and the burning green flames swept by them like a net of fire.

Lawrence also watched wide-eyed as the fiery blaze whistled toward himself, but before that, he first saw the fiery blaze sweep over the first mate in front of him—his body abruptly turned into a ghostly Spiritual Body within the illusory flames, his bones burning like firewood. He also saw the priest by the prayer altar, the flames on him flickering, as if the deity behind him was still trying to protect him from being devoured by Homeloss with a meager blessing.

Then the flames burned onto Lawrence himself, as he saw his body undergoing the same transformation, while an intense feeling of weariness, compliance, and fear filled his entire body. The Ocean Amulet hidden on him started to work, a feeling of scorching heat and soothing coolness alternately preserving his sanity; within what sanity remained, he "passed through" the cabins and corridors of Homeloss.

The dismal, oppressive cabins burst forth and then whooshed away, ancient wooden columns wrapped in decaying ropes and barnacles blazed with green fire, he saw a massive cargo hold, where various eerie objects that should have been buried deep in the ocean lay quietly. He then saw a luxurious cabin, where a wooden goat's head was placed in the center of the table.

The goat's head turned, its eyes indifferently fixed on Lawrence's.

At last, Lawrence exerted all his strength to lift his head, and he saw the figure steering the wheel—next to the classical helm, a tall figure clad in a black navigator's uniform appeared as a nightmarish sovereign, terrifying and imposing. This figure dominated all the ghostly flames, and even the deep sea of the Spirit Realm seemed to cower before his majesty as a rift tore open behind him.

Lawrence resignedly closed his eyes—he knew that he was now a part of the Homeloss, and that the nightmarish captain required some sacrifices to satisfy his unending emptiness and solitude.

But the next second, he forced his eyes open with all the courage he could muster, feeling as if all the bravery and madness of his life converged in those few seconds. He recalled the knowledge he had gained from books and legends and gazed as calmly and honestly as possible at the terrifying captain standing aboard the Homeloss.

"You don't need to take everyone—take me, leave my crew behind."

However, the tall figure did not respond, only casting a cold glance his way, a hint of curiosity in those eyes—as if wondering why a mere mortal captain dared to bargain with him.

Lawrence could no longer contain himself and let out a roar, "They all have families!!"

The figure standing on the Homeloss finally reacted, staring in Lawrence's direction as if saying something, but a loud whooshing sound rose from the side, and amidst the noise, Lawrence could only vaguely hear some movement, yet could not make out a single word.

The response from the Homeloss dissipated in the swirling sound of the waves—

"What did you say?! The wind is too loud; I can't hear you!!"

The next second, a huge clamor invaded Lawrence's ears, mixed with the sounds of wind, waves, and the shouts of the sailors outside; from the corner of his eye, he saw green flames quickly fading, and the last lingering phantom of the Homeloss vanished from the air like mist.

Lawrence took a deep breath, and then noticed that his hands, which should have been burnt by the green flames, had reverted to normal. Everyone else in the cockpit had also transformed back into their bodily forms, including the devout priest who was panting heavily beside the prayer stand, continuously chanting the sacred name of Storm Goddess Gomona, while the ominous purple-black smoke in the incense burner gradually dispersed, rising from the brass cover as pure white smoke.

It took Lawrence a while to steady his breath, then he looked around bewilderingly, as if unable to believe that the nightmare had ended, until the voice of the first mate came from beside him, "Captain! The ship—Homeloss has left!"

Lawrence was momentarily dazed, taking a few seconds before muttering to himself, "...He actually let us go?"

The first mate didn't catch it clearly, "Captain? What did you say?"

"That Captain Duncan..." Lawrence mumbled subconsciously, but then, as if he had accidentally invoked a taboo word, he slapped himself, then suddenly looked up at the first mate, "Roll call the entire ship, quick! See who's missing from the crew!"

The first mate immediately nodded and was about to leave when Lawrence swiftly stopped him again, "Also check if there are any extra people on board!"

The first mate paused, then realized what was meant, fear and suspicion flashing in his eyes. He took a deep breath, silently recited the Storm Goddess's name, and quickly ran to the deck outside.

Still sailing in the spiritual state, the sound of the assembly bell aboard the White Oak rang out like a death knell.

(There will theoretically be more at noon~~)

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