At the navy ship that was docked on the northeast side of the New North.
“Bring the transmitter!” The navy captain barked orders as he entered the captain’s quarters.
His subordinates nodded, and soon they returned with the transmitter in hand.
The transmitter was quickly handed to the captain, who wasted no time connecting it to the ship’s communication system.
After pressing the start button, a holographic screen appeared above the transmitter.
The transmitter worked like a player’s chat box, allowing the navy ships to communicate with their bases in real-time without having to bother to send pigeons with letters tied to their legs.
The navy captain didn’t waste any time and sent a message to their base, filling out the mission report and including the meeting with the Black Heart Pirates and Ambrose.
After he finished sending the message, the navy captain sat down and opened the drawer, from where he took out a small glass cup and poured himself a drink to calm his nerves.
“Why aren’t they in Pirate Battleground?” The navy captain murmured as he massaged his temples. “It doesn’t make any sense. Is there something here that Pirate Battleground doesn’t have?”
Ding, ding—he saw that he received a quick response from the base.
“Hmm, they are telling us to return, whew.” The navy captain heaved a sigh of relief.
If he was told to engage with the Black Heart Pirates, he might’ve just deserted his post and fled.
Ding, ding—then another message appeared.
“Hmm?” The navy captain slowly read the message and frowned. “A distress signal was activated on Borneo Island. The whole town is destroyed? They assume it’s the doings of Mars…”
He inhaled a cold breath.
“That fucking monster…” The navy captain clenched his fist, frustrated at his lack of strength.
There was a time when he wished to defeat all pirates and bring them to justice, but when he finally finished his training and entered Dark Waters, he realized just how powerless he was.
“They’ll probably leave this matter to the inquisitors. They have been eyeing the doings of the Black Heart Pirates for quite some time.” The navy captain stood up, about to go order the crew to start their return journey to their base.
‘I wonder if the Black Demon has truly joined them, and if Reinhardt is in alliance with Mars now… Whatever the case, that pirate crew just became much more dangerous.’
…
Ambrose, Damian, and Henri returned to the Black Heart that was bobbing up and down in the water.
Once they walked up the gangplank and arrived on the deck, they noticed that Apollo, Leon, and Zero were the first ones there. 𝚘𝒱𝐞xt.𝑐𝑶𝚖
They greeted each other and sat on the deck to wait for Mars’ return.
As the time ticked, other crew members returned—some drunk while others looked refreshed, and some wore smiles.
It looked like having some time off from their capture was exactly what they needed to rejuvenate and come back with renewed energy.
It didn’t take long for the final figure to walk up the gangplank and arrive at the deck.
Mars looked at each one with the same cold look and grin.
“Apollo.” He said coldly and looked at the curly, blond-haired man.
“Here.” Apollo stood up and handed him the photograph.
“…” Mars looked at the faded photograph without emotion and pocketed it. “Good. Let’s set sail.”
“Where’re we going?”
“We’ll return to the Pirate Battleground.” Mars said coldly and glanced at the silver-haired man. “Leon, you’re the helmsman; get us there as quickly as possible.”
“Ok.” Leon stood up with an emotionless gaze and told Apollo to help him reel in the anchor.
After the anchor was reeled in, Leon and Apollo went to the helm to steer the ship away from the New North.
As the ship crashed through the waves across the foggy sea, they started their voyage to infamous Pirate Battleground.
After Mars returned to his quarters with the faded photograph, Ambrose walked to Damian, who was gazing out at the sea.
“What is a Pirate Battleground?” Ambrose asked, as he was really curious about Dark Waters and its places.
He had watched several streams of players navigating through Dark Waters, but they hadn’t really gone far.
The Pirate Battleground might be the furthest place a player had ever gone to when the ship had finally reached it.
“Like the name suggests, it’s a battleground for pirates for the supremacy of the sea.” Damian said. “Pirates are the rules of that part of the Dark Waters—navy and inquisitors have no place there.”
“I don’t think they don’t even mind, as pirates killing each other is good for them. All the islands there are occupied by pirates. There are countless treasures and hidden secrets at the bottom of the sea and on those islands.
“There are over a thousand sunken ships, easily, with each holding unimaginable treasures. That’s why the strongest pirate crews are there, eagerly searching for their next big score.”
“You’ve been there often?” Ambrose asked.
“We came from there,” Damian said. “Before Borneo Island, we were in Pirate Battleground. It was a treacherous place, but we managed to find some incredible treasures. Well, of course, Mars kept them all.
“We risked our lives there almost daily, and yet we got nothing in return, except to keep our lives.”
“Sounds indeed dangerous…” Ambrose whispered. ‘If I find any treasures, I ain’t giving them to Mars. I can hide them easily in my inventory. Others don’t have that luxury…’
Near the tall mast, Loki looked thoughtful with a deep frown.
“Loki, sup~” Henri called out to him, shaking him off his thoughts.
“Hmm…” Loki hummed and turned to face Henri. “Mars, for some reason, really wanted the photograph of his brother.”
“So?” Henri raised his eyebrow. “I suppose he wanted something to remind himself of his deceased brother.”
“Does he look like a sentamental person to you?” Loki chuckled. “Also, the coffin was really rough and made of cheap wood. It looked like his brother was just thrown into the coffin and into the hole without any care.”
“And?” Henri wondered what he was trying to say.
“It means Mars doesn’t care about his brother. If I had to guess, he killed his own brother. It wouldn’t be surprising. That’s why, I think why he wanted the photograph.”
“Well?” Henri raised his eyebrow, and near them, Apollo and Jake turned to look at Loki with curiosity.
“I think he is preparing for a magic spell.” Loki crossed his arms. “I remembered every spell in the Magic Book of the Ancient Wizards, and I think I know what he is planning to do.”
“What is it?” Apollo joined the conversation and asked out of curiosity.
Ambrose and Damian also turned over to look at Loki, and while steering the helm, Leon perked up his ears.
“If I have to guess, it would be Talent Increasing Spell.” Loki said. “Mars has poor talent for magic—very poor, but with that spell, it would increase his talent by tenfold.”
“What does the spell need?” Henri asked.
“Mars would have to forget his far past, and that causes every person in the past to forget all memories of him. It means that everyone in his childhood would forget about his existence.
“However, everyone in the past eight or nine years would still remember him and his existence.
“For the spell, he needs an item that reminds him of his past—that’s why the photograph.”
“Does he need anything else?”
Loki rummaged through his memories and nodded. “He needs the heart of a Nymn Tree, the blood of a Sea Serpent and the lock of a unicorn’s mane.”
“Those are some rare things,” Apollo said.
“Mars already has the blood of a Sea Serpent and the lock of a unicorn’s mane.” Suddenly, Leon spoke from the helm. “Remember the treasure we plundered a while back?”
“Right…” Apollo whispered and turned serious. “He will only need the heart of a Nymn Tree, and I am sure that is the reason why we will go to Pirate Battleground. I assume the fate he received from Ambrose and people from Borneo Island now guides him towards the heart!”
“Loki, just how powerful will he become with increased talent?” Ambrose asked with a serious look.
“His talent is very poor at the moment.” Loki crossed his arms. “He is only capable of doing some very basic spells. If his talent increases tenfold, I am frightened by the possibilities.”
‘We can’t let that happen.’ Ambrose walked over to Loki and signaled everyone to move closer.
Leon left the helm and walked to them with his arms crossed.
Soon, even Zero and Ors moved to circle Loki; they were all looking at Ambrose.
“We can’t allow him to become stronger.” Ambrose said with a serious tone. “When we find the heart of the Nymn Tree, we have to destroy it!”
“Mars will kill the one who destroys the heart.” Apollo said with a grave look.
“Then we have to ensure he doesn’t find out who did it.” Ambrose said and looked at each one, all having different reactions. “Mars isn’t allowed to become stronger. We cannot let him gain more power.”