Beep!
[Initialization: 5 days remaining]
Beep!
[Saturation: 65%]
The young captain was in the galleon's hold. In the absence of a captain's cabin, Talon and young Simon had turned that part of the ship into an office.
Several corals were spread across the wooden walls, bringing a deep blue bioluminescent glow.
Ivory and all sorts of plunder they had managed to gather from that hellish sea were scattered around like trophies.Right in front of the cell where the former sailor had been placed at the beginning of the second stage, there was a table made from crates.
A lantern fought against the navy blue glow, casting an orange light.And the young captain?
He was transcribing several papers with his translator.But one large map drew even more of his attention.
A massive whirlpool formed something close to a black hole on the yellowed papers and, most terrifyingly, a large iris in the center. The letters were familiar, and soon the notification sound reached the young captain's ears.
Beep!
[Eye of the Underworld]
[Southeast Region; Between the Whale Graveyard and the Sea of Coral Sharks]
[The crossing was swift, despite the demonic currents. But what made everyone think we were going to die was the hell pouring out of that iris. Armies of undead climbed up the hull of the ship and we had to fight with all our strength not to join the fallen. Next time, we'll use the currents to our advantage.]
"Underworld... I can't deny this damned gentleman was quite literal with his naming, or maybe this is the translator's fault?", Talon muttered quietly and continued his notes.
A tangle of sheets was set aside, and later Simon would organize everything and turn it into a map in the most widely spoken language on Earth.
Soon, Talon climbed the stairs out of the hold.
The lower deck was a mess, but the crew's sleeping nets were well organized.Sunlight fell on the dirty, greasy hair of the young captain as he reached the upper deck.
The twins were arguing, no less energetic than always.The ship had undergone some repairs. Several of those corals were scattered along the mast and sails.
It was smarter to use nature to light the night than waste animal oil on lamps.Many crates had been dismantled to patch up the small galleon, and Simon had even managed to fix the helm. But the sails still bore the marks of battle, with many slashes all over.
Still, judging by the speed with which the galleon cut through the sea, it wasn't enough to dull its ferocity.
"Good morning, captain!", the twins said in unison as soon as they saw Talon's sharp green eyes.
"Good morning, boys. Any sign of any beast?" Talon was starting to get concerned. Ever since they left the Sea of Corals, as the crew had begun calling it for short,Not a single beast had attacked them.
All the [Saturation] they had was from the meat of the giant sea lion, and it had already run out. Plus, after the second day, it was only providing 5%. A terrible sign, since his crew was nearing 80% and the anxiety was eating them alive.
"No, captain."
"Not even an ant in sight!"
"How the hell would there be an ant in the middle of the sea, you fat idiot??!"
"Let go of my haaaair!"
And the two twins started fighting again.
This was a normal sight, and the whole crew had gotten used to the brothers' demonstrations of affection.
Talon made his way up the stairs to the upper level where the helm was.
The old man was doing much better; the scar still crossed his bare chest, and he seemed proud of it.The nerd held the helm and struggled to clean his glasses with their cracked lenses.
"They're still gonna kill each other...", the old man commented with a faint smile.
"Maybe, but not before we get out of this hellhole," Simon replied, not realizing the old man was talking to his captain.
"I agree with Simon." The voice of Talon, somehow stronger and more commanding now, startled the navigator, who nearly turned the helm all the way to port.
"Did you get any clue about where we're headed?" asked the old man.
"Sure, apparently to the eye of hell where creatures from the underworld rise up to tear our souls apart." The young captain said it with a slight sarcasm, and it took several seconds for the two crew members to realize he wasn't joking.
"Holy shit... so no fresh meat then." Talon almost burst into laughter at the old sailor's comment.
There were still 5 days left until the end, but the fear of dying minutes from the goal tormented everyone. And apparently, in the middle of the infernal madness, not even a piece of the birds that had attacked the ship had remained. The crew didn't even want to talk about the battle, it seemed to have been traumatic enough.
A shadow began to block the sunlight and the whole crew looked up.Black clouds were approaching, or rather, the ship had reached a pure storm region.
White and blue lightning split the sky, the sound of thunder followed, and the currents grew wild.
"Move, men! The calm before the storm is over!", the young captain shouted, trying to speak louder than the thunder.
The sea turned dark blue, and thick white foam formed around the galleon's hull. The static made the twins' hair stand on end; everything there seemed electrified.
"We are entering the Eye of the Underworld. Creatures will invade the ship shortly and everyone must fight with their lives. Do not underestimate the enemy! Prepare the sails, prepare the cannons, prepare your weapons! Men! Hell has arrived!"
The young captain's speech rang out, and the whole crew sprang into action.The cannons were set up on all four corners around the helm.
If anything attacked the navigator, the old man would send them straight back to hell.The twins would provide support from above the sails. Blowguns and some long-range weapons were in their hands. The Sea of Corals had strengthened the crew immensely.
At last, Talon would stand at the center of the deck.
Alone.
He would be the bait, the one to hold off the entire invasion.
And for a few seconds, his eyes showed a brief green glow.And with a smile on his face, he said:
"Now! It's starting."