章節 105: Rains of Sorrow
The weather had cleared a fair amount after my intervention. I didn't know what type of people it took to summon a storm for one ship. But I knew it wasn't good.
Pirates is the sign the divination gave me. But it also showed an island off to the east of us. And that island is what intrigued me. It was shaped like a dragons head. The mouth opening into the ocean was more dangerous than it seemed.
After asking Amanda (The captain) about it I came to understand why few ships went close to it.
Sea dragons Island was what it was called. The entire island was surrounded by cliffs with only one beach. The beach was positioned in the back of the bay area that looked like a dragons mouth. And in between its cliff faced jaws sat large maelstroms. The swirling maelstroms would pull down any ship. The twisting water would smash them against the coral and bays rocky floor. Shredding them into oblivion while dragging the remains in toward the shore. Many a ship had been dragged through that place. And not one ship or creature had left unscathed.
My eyes scanned the map as I began to think.
(Did I intervene too soon? Could we have caught them off guard if I had left it alone? How do I change this situation?)
I tapped the map table lightly as I thought. The sound echoing through the room like a slow metronome. Eventually Amanda let out a sigh.
"I 'ave no plans to die here and having a godling makes things easier. Since you broke the storm I would 'ave a proposal to soothe your mind." She said leaning forward against her desk.
I looked gave her a sideways look. Hopeful as my tapping came to a stop. "Let me guess. You want me to annihilate those idiots on the island." I said with a slightly raised eyebrow.
She shrugged and sat back with her hands going behind her head in a relaxed fashion.
"It is well within your powers to do so. And they technically made an attempt on a gods life after all."
I let out a light chuckle as I rubbed my jaw.
"Well... I've already intervened I guess I should play the part. But what is in it for me?" I said as I turned to her. "I have already acted on the behalf of all the people on this vessel. So I think something for me would be in order." I said as I sat in a chair across from her.
Amanda seemed to realize I wasn't the type to just help anybody anymore. It took a price to make something worth a gods time and effort. I was on the vessel as were my friends so I saved it from the storm. But any more required something on their part.
She let out a sigh as she came to a conclusion. "We are currently still under threat so I will have to make some exceptions. Normally sailors are under the patron Goddess Vara due to us constantly being under her care on the seas. But I am willing to become your follower for 5 years following this. If that is satisfactory I am willing to do the ceremony after the task is complete."
(A follower huh? How do I even make someone my follower?) I thought.
I heard a ding and Sin reacted.
/You need a drop of their blood and a sworn oath for follower effect to be enabled. One drop per year as stated. Normally a follower only needs to go to said gods temple for initiation. But in this case one must improvise./ Sin echoed through my head.
I nodded my understanding and thought for a moment. "What would I get from you being my follower? What could you possibly give me?" I said as she stood up.
"I have almost no equal among mankind when it comes to seafaring. I would trade under your banner and be a symbol of why people should follow you. This alone is normally enough for any God to take a follower." Amanda said.
I nodded in understanding as I thought about it. In the future I would indeed need more followers and believers if godhood was really to be attained. I turned from my thoughts to answer her.
"Very well. I will accept this payment." I said as I walked out the cabin. Before closing the door I turned to look at Amanda.
"Let Kyle know I'll be back by morning." I said as I opened my wings and with a great gust of air I rushed into the sky.
The clouds were a calm white against the blue sky. The sun was already setting as I rushed through the winds. The wind felt free, playful, and fast. The waves rushed in a blur below as I rocketed toward the island.
My plan was simple. I wouldn't use my true form. This was to train myself. In truth I had alot of skills I never used. And many I hadn't used in a while. So to be honest I was a bit rusty. And I wanted to shake that rust off.
Soon the night came. But not before i saw the island in the distance. Its rocky cliffs looked as though a god had carved this place from the waters. Salt lines could be seen on its rocky walls and seagulls could be seen in spotting its face with their nests.
I rose higher into the sky till I looked like nothing but a speck to those below. The island inside the cliffs was a stark contrast to its outside. A single fortress sat in the dead middle of a dense jungle. The trees were green and lush. The waves past the violent maelstroms were calm and peaceful. I stared a little taking in the beauty of it.
I had to admit. These pirates had excellent taste. The Islands cliff walls were a perfect defense against the sea. And the forest would offer food and shelter. This was a perfect place to set up a base.
I descended on the island as the moon rose. It's stark white contrasted the black night sky. Storm clouds could be seen rolling in the distance towards me. They roiled and rumbled as little sparks danced inside.
I smirked a little remembering as a child I had had a fear of thunder. Now it seemed like mere childs play.
I descended onto the island in the dark. The shadows wrapped around me without a word from me. As they did I heard the whispers in the trees. Not from men or beasts. But the souls of those who had died here.
"Another newcomer to join us in death. How fun." A bored and sarcastic voice echoed.
"Shush Malcolm! Even this one might make it." A older feminine voice croaked.
I raised an eyebrow as whispers from others joined in. Some saying things like "he is doomed" while others said things like "give him a chance."
I walked slowly through the woods as they whispered and echoed through the trees. It only took a little while before it actually got on my nerves.
"Oh will you all shut up!" I growled.
Immediately the voices quieted.
"How can I even think with all of you arguing through the winds? And my chances are far higher than any of you will believe." I said as I spotted a shadow of a person by a tree.
"Like you! You have been here so long you've turned into a shade. Not a ghost or spirit! A damned shade!"
The shade recoiled in response as I began to here astonished whispers again.
"He can see us? How long has it been? Perhaps he can help?" I heard in the breeze. I rolled my eyes and continued.
And just like that more and more shades began to make their way out of the shadows as I walked. They followed me like a murky mud colored tide as I strode through the forest.
Meanwhile I say I walked but in reality I was using a sub skill I had never used before.The shadow walker skillset I got from the T-Rex a while back. I was able to teleport between shadows. It was fun to do really. But it opened my eyes to something I had never thought of before.
When I used the skill I would enter the shadows and enter a type of upside down realm. It was a reflection of our world. But it was colorless, bland, and had no sound. It was a dreary world devoid of life.
The world was black and the shadows were white. So when I came up from a white shadow I would enter another not far from me.
And that made things fun. The shades continued whispering among themselves as I went but they never left my side. A hoard had accumulated behind me. Numbering in the hundreds. It seemed like many people actually made it to this island and by the things these guys were saying. The pirates killed them all.
So when I arrived close to the mansion I turned to look at them all. Looking over them I felt a twinge of sadness. The sheer number was frightening for how many people had turned into shades. Shades were things that took years to condense. They were normally cold, destructive, and vengeful. These before me could not be much different.
I entered into my thoughts as I strategized how to go about things. I could use them. And getting their revenge would satisfy most into leaving for the afterlife. I turned to the mansion. "But how?" I whispered.
It was then that I saw someone carry out a bucket and dump it on the ground behind he mansion before hurrying back inside. The smell of iron reached my nose. (Blood?) I thought. And then it hit me like a lightning bolt.
I raised a hand and pointed at the blood. "Vengeful spirits fill the blood and become my puppet of destruction." I said as my hand glowed an ominous red color. Many of the shades shuddered before roaring madly and jumping into the blood pool.
I could tell the blood wasn't human from the smell. But it would do nonetheless. Several small humanoid forms came from the puddle.The liquid being mixed with some with mud.
"Go." I said pointing at the door the servant came through. They turned and I hear snarling as they ran and slammed into the door. Splattering into it before the blood seeped beneath it in a gory and disturbing manner. I heard a scream as the door opened again. And this time a human hand met my eyes.
Laying lifeless on the ground. It didnt disturb me at all. I had seen more death than most could have nightmares of. I walked through the door to find a small battle inside.
A bell was ringing. Its sound echoed throughout the air like a warning. Pirates battled blobs of blood desperate to survive. But failing miserably. The blood overtook them quickly as more shades joined in. Blood filled the halls from deep cuts and dismembered corpses as I walked. So there was plenty of material for shades to make blood puppets.
The only ones left alone were the few chained women and children within the room. Ragged and their eyes lifeless I broke their chains and ordered a few puppets to carry them outside.
Meanwhile I had a monster to kill.
I opened my hand and the shades responded showing me what they saw. One was in front of a door made of stone. The face of it engraved with a skull. I knew how cliche it was but I assumed this to be the boss room.
I smirked as I went to where my puppet was. And just as I arrived I saw it shaking. Not in exhilaration or rage. But fear. I know every spirit that i use. Every one. I know their stories as I use them. I suppose because of my death scroll. But i knew hers particularly.
She was the madam who owned this place. Marguerite De Howl. A normal merchant woman who had loved one man. A pirate. And one day when he came home she had died. Depressed and angry he decided to lay waste to the islands inhabitants and never return.
With exception of their son. Ivan if I recalled. And this was all his doing. He had poisoned his mother. To get her fortune for some great thing he wanted. Another doll (girl) for him to toy with.
Her fear some might not understand. But she didnt want to see what her son had truly become.
I placed a gentle hand on her bloody shoulder.
"It's okay Marguerite. I can take it from here." I said. She looked toward me with that blank face and nodded. Her body dried and crumbled to dust. "Thank You." I heard her whisper.
And then I kicked down that assholes door.
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