Henry, now a member of the Fire Pirates, found himself lost in thought. Joining the crew had been a sudden decision, one driven more by impulse than careful planning. Now that he was here, he wasn't sure what to do next.
He considered his options. Perhaps he could earn their trust by working alongside them and eventually obtain melarium as a reward. Or… he could simply steal it when the opportunity arose. The thought lingered in his mind as he stared out at the endless sea.
Suddenly, a sharp voice broke the silence.
"He's here!"
The shout came from the lookout.
At once, all eyes turned toward the direction he pointed. At first, there was nothing—only the vast stretch of the sea, swaying gently under the breeze. But as Henry narrowed his gaze, peering through the mist, something emerged.
A massive tentacle.
It rose slowly from the depths, its surface dark and glistening. For a moment, the entire ship fell silent.
Then chaos erupted.
Men rushed across the deck as orders were shouted. The man in charge barked commands, directing the crew to steer away from the creature. The ship shifted course, its engines groaning as it fought against the water.
Even from a distance, the sheer presence of the beast was enough to instill fear in everyone aboard. Henry felt it too—a weight pressing against his chest, as if the sea itself had turned hostile.
After what felt like an eternity, the ship finally moved far enough away. The tentacle disappeared beneath the waves, leaving behind only the unsettling calm.
The new recruits stood frozen, their earlier excitement replaced with doubt. Quiet whispers spread among them as they began to question their decision to join the pirates.
As they spoke among themselves, the same man who had told the earlier story stepped forward.
"That," he said, "was no ordinary creature."
The recruits turned toward him.
"It belongs to a young one… a baby of the Kraken."
A murmur spread across the group.
"The Kraken," he continued, "is the largest beast known to man. What you saw was only its offspring. The pirates avoid that region for a reason. It is the last of its kind."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle.
"We came close on purpose. So that you would understand what kind of sea you have chosen."
Silence followed.
As the ship sailed further, nearing the borders of the sea controlled by the Fire Pirates, something unusual appeared in the distance.
A ship.
It was unlike any other. Dark, massive, and eerily still, it seemed to drift without purpose. A strange presence surrounded it, as if the sea itself feared to touch it.
The storyteller stiffened at the sight of it. Slowly, he stood up, his expression turning serious—almost respectful.
"Do you know what that is?" one of the recruits asked.
The man did not take his eyes off the ship.
"That… is a legend."
He took a deep breath before continuing.
"The Sea of Arath is vast and unforgiving. Most ships that sail these waters fall under the control of the three great pirate crews. But there is one exception."
He pointed toward the dark vessel.
"Dr. Deloom."
The name alone seemed to carry weight.
"He is a man unlike any other. Some say he walks the same path as the great voyager who once conquered the seas. Others believe he may even be his son, searching for his father's final legacy."
The recruits listened in silence.
"No one knows the truth," he said. "But one thing is certain—because of him, even the Kraken remains within its domain. And the three great pirate crews… they avoid unnecessary war."
He lowered his voice.
"Because they fear him."
Silence followed.
As the tension slowly faded, the old storyteller began to speak again. One story led to another, and soon he was recounting tales of lost islands, cursed ships, and battles against creatures that lurked beneath the waves. His voice carried across the deck, steady and captivating.
One by one, the pirates stopped their work.
Even the most hardened among them found themselves listening. Some leaned against the railings, others sat upon crates, while a few simply stood still, their eyes fixed on the old man. For a brief moment, the ship felt less like a vessel of danger and more like a gathering of wanderers bound by the same sea.
After many such stories—each more majestic and unbelievable than the last—the silence was broken once more.
"We have arrived!"
The lookout's voice rang across the ship.
All attention shifted forward.
There it was.
Rising from the horizon stood one of the great islands of the Sea of Arath—the Land of Fire. Its towering cliffs glowed faintly under the light, and plumes of smoke curled into the sky, hinting at the volcanic heart within. The air itself seemed heavier, warmer, as if the island carried a presence of its own.
Henry stepped forward slightly, his eyes fixed on the land ahead.
Somewhere on that island lay melarium.
But as he stood there, watching the island grow larger with every passing moment, a quiet realization settled within him.
He had drifted farther from his original path than he had ever intended.
And yet… there was no turning back now.