The ground vibrated again. Shaking their tent.
"Something bad is coming." Serenade muttered in pale face. "Is that..."
Before anyone could respond, a monumental force struck the protective array from outside. It buckled. Groaned. And then exploded inwards in a shower of arcane sparks and splintered wood.
A massive, gnarled fist smashed through their defensive perimeter. It was even larger than a carriage. Roots as thick as Spark's body followed. Tearing through their tent. Crushing the bed.
"The Trent!" Lilith snarled. Her handgun was already up. "How?"
"Damn it!" Spark swore. "It's tracking us."
The colossal Evil Trent moved with a horrifying, uncharacteristic speed. It had somehow tracked them. Its slow, relentless advance had paid off.
Perhaps the herbicide poison had left a lingering magical signature. A scent trail that even it could follow. Or perhaps, its rage was so potent. It simply knew where its tormentors had gone. Whatever the reason, it was here. And it was furious.
"Run!" Spark roared. His mind was racing. There was no point of fighting this thing. They were not its opponents. Especially with the non-combatants present. He had to do the same thing he did during the encounter with the Venomous Tyrannosaur.
His hand moved to his Spatial Belt without hesitation. Yanking out a thick, leather-bound book. The Slave Grimoire.
"Into the Grimoire. Now!" His shouted the command. And quickly activated the grimoire.
Magic flared. Followed by a series of quick pops. One by one, his women disappeared. Dissolving into motes of light. Quickly converging on the open pages of the Grimoire.
Lilith. Ivy. Melody. Serenade. And Scarlett. All of them were now hid on the pages of the Slave Grimoire.
The Trent bellowed. A sound that ripped through the jungle. A massive vine, thick and thorny, swept through the tent. Pulverizing the chairs and tables. Leaving a swathe of destruction.
Spark didn't hesitate. He was alone now. Unburdened. Facing a rampaging Tier-7 monster. His face was grim. But his eyes held no fear. Only cold calculation. He had made his choice.
He sprinted out. Not to fight. But to flee. He burst from the ruined camp. Dodging another vine that tore a trench in the earth where he had stood moments before.
His body transformed into his Draconic Werelion form as he ran. His powerful legs cracked the ground. Launching him in a desperate, lung-burning dash. Across the complicated jungle.
He moved like a humanoid predator. Leaping over fallen logs. Scrambling up vine-choked inclines. Dodging a great number of slithering thorny vines.
His movements a brutal and frantic parkour. The Trent's roars echoed behind him. A constant, terrifying reminder of its relentless pursuit. Its slow but unwavering charge never stopped.
He could feel the ground shaking with its colossal strides. Hear the splintering of trees. As it ripped through the jungle in its pursuit.
He ran. Toward their original landing point. The hidden cove. The location of the legendary galleon, Saint Zephirea. It was their only way out.
He would not stop. Not for a second. Until he was aboard. This island had given them much. But it was too dangerous to stay here now. He was done with its glory. He just needed to leave safely.
...
Finally. After long, tiring escape, Spark burst from the jungle's edge. Onto the desolate, hidden cove where the ghost ship waited.
He didn't slow down. He climbed and launched himself over the railing. Landing hard on the deck. The phantom ship gave a faint groan. As if acknowledging his desperate arrival.
Behind him, the Trent's roar echoed from the jungle. A sound of frustrated, ancient rage. It was still coming. But it was too slow.
Spark didn't look back. He didn't bother checking the damage to his former campsite. He didn't lament the lost protective array. The ruined tents.
He quickly moved to the stern and reached the massive steering wheel. The moment his skin made contact, a surge of raw energy coursed through him.
The Saint Zephirea hummed. A low, resonant thrumming that vibrated through the deck. Then, the world cracked and shattered. Like a broken glass.
A visual and tactile disintegration. He was gone. The Ancient Island of Glory, with its wealth and its wrath... disappeared into nothing.
...
The world reformed around Spark. The ghost ship was no longer on the cove of the Ancient Island. It was on the familiar expanse of the open sea.
Salt spray coated his face. The roar of the frustrated Trent was gone. Replaced by the gentle lapping of waves against the ship's hull.
He stood on the deck of the Saint Zephirea. But it was different. The ghost ship was much older and creepier. With more broken parts and barnacles.
And, although it was still solid enough, it shimmered. Its physical form gradually became transparent. The ghostly timbers was fading. The ethereal rigging blurred against the sky.
Spark wasted no time. He reached into his Technomind Space. A small, intricately bound book materialized in his massive hand. The Sky Grimoire.
He flung it to the sea. The book spun. Growing in size. Absurdly unfolding itself. Within seconds, it had transformed. Coalescing into the sleek, familiar lines of his sky sloop. Its polished hull gleamed. Its sails neatly furled.
The Sky Grimoire bobbed on the water beside the fading ghost ship. Spark launched himself across the diminishing gap. He landed with a heavy thud on the sloop's deck.
The moment his boots touched his own vessel, the Saint Zephirea gave a final, faint shimmer. Then, it was gone. Vanished without a trace. Leaving only the endless blue of the ocean and the sky. And his Sky Grimoire, floating serenely.
Spark took a deep breath. The taste of salt and victory in his mouth. He was back. And he had the treasure.
He pulled the Slave Grimoire from its holster. With a mental command, five distinct surges of magical energy emanated from the book.
Lilith materialized first. Her Arcane Handgun appeared in her hand as a reflex. Before vanishing back into her pocket as she saw the surrounding.
Ivy popped into existence afterward. Beside her. Small and meticulous. Looking around with bright, observant eyes.
Melody and Serenade appeared almost simultaneously. Their dark-brown hair was catching the sunlight. Each was carrying their magical lutes with an unconscious grace.
Finally, Scarlett shimmered into view. Her dark-red hair was a striking contrast to her pale skin.
"Master!" Lilith said. A hint of playful relief was in her tone. "We made it out."
"Naturally." Spark stated. And then, he quickly moved into business. "Scarlett, bring out the goods."
Scarlett didn't hesitate. "Yes, Master!" She plunged a hand into her Spatial Bag. Something that seemed far too small to contain anything substantial. However, her hand soon reappeared. Clutching three objects that shouldn't actually fit her small bag.
The first was an unlit brass lantern. Intricately carved with decorative runes. The second was a rolled-up silk flag. Deep crimson with gold embroidery. Tied with a simple silver cord. The third was a fist-sized orb. Glowing with a soft, orange light that pulsed faintly.
Spark reached out. Retrieving his [Appraisal Goggles] from Scarlett. He had lent them to her for the heist. Now, he needed it back.
He slid them onto his face. The specialized lenses glowed softly as they were activated. He took the lantern first.
The lenses of the goggles glowed brighter. Data flowed directly into his mind.
[Object: Lantern of Freedom]
[Type: Light Source (Miscellaneous Tool)]
[Quality: Epic]
[Characteristics: Self-Restoration]
[Characteristics: Negative Effect Immunity]
[Characteristics: Purification Light]
It was an epic lantern. Its light basically dissipated all unwanted bonds. When activated, it radiated an aura that grants immunity to all negative status effects (e.g., curses, poisons, fear, mind control, paralysis, other de-buffs). Effective for the user and all allies within a 50-meter radius. Each activation worked for an hour.
"Immunity to all negative effects." Spark mused aloud. With a deep satisfaction in his voice. "That's a game-changer."
This would make his team untouchable by curses and poisons in many scenarios. No more worrying about crippling de-buffs or mental assaults.
Next, he picked up the rolled flag. The silk felt ancient and powerful in his hands.
[Object: Flag of Victory]
[Type: Banner (Miscellaneous Tool)]
[Quality: Legendary (incomplete)]
[Characteristics: Self-Restoration]
[Characteristics: Positive Effect Enhancement]
[Characteristics: Blessing of Victory]
It was actually a legendary lantern. But, an incomplete one. It was missing the pole. Using a normal wooden pole was still possible to activate it. But it would be much worse compared to using the original one.
When planted firmly into the ground, it would generate an aura that doubles all positive status effects (e.g., buffs, healing, strength enchantments, speed boosts) for the user and all allies within a 100-meter radius. The effect would persist as long as the flag remains planted.
A slow, calculating grin spread across Spark's face. "Doubles positive effects." He repeated. Envisioning the possibilities.
A healing spell would become twice as potent. A strength buff would turn his already formidable power into something truly monstrous. This flag wasn't for subtle skirmishes. But it was for decisive, large scale battles.
Finally, he held the glowing orb. He knew this one. He had seen it. He had used it. He didn't need to use {Goggle Appraisal] for this.
It was a [Glory Orb]. A thing that was supposed to be an extremely rare consumable item. Upon consumption, it immediately elevated all growth curves of the user. Directly to the highest possible point within the users' current power stage.