Title : The Hell of the Ocean
The sun hung high above, but a strange chill gripped the air. After their encounter on the mysterious island, the crew had restocked their boat with food and water, ready to continue the cursed journey. Yet, the battle between Rook and Leoard haunted his minds—especially Rook, who could still feel the raw power that surged through him when he wielded the ancient katana. It was as if the weapon had awakened something dormant inside him.
Tyson, meanwhile, stared blankly at the endless horizon, heart weighed down by thoughts of Zara. He hadn't heard from the hospital in days. With no signal and no electronics functioning in the middle of the ocean, he was powerless to check on her condition. The silence gnawed at him.
Lyra, having exhausted tirelessly on the island, lay fast asleep below deck, her body drained of energy. With her resting, the responsibility of steering the boat fell to Dr. Eliah and Aria. But neither had the slightest clue about navigation.
They drifted off course—unknowingly steering toward the worst possible route: the cursed part of the ocean where ancient sea monsters were rumored to dwell. The waters were darker here, colder. The sky above began to shift, thick clouds blotting out the sun. The wind, once calm and steady, grew sharp and biting.
Lyra's eyes snapped open. A shiver ran down her spine. She rushed to the deck, the wind whipping her hair.
"Something's wrong…" she muttered, then yelled, "Ariah! Where's the map and compass?!"
Aria, startled, pulled them from a satchel. Lyra snatched them, her eyes darting between the compass needle and the map. Her expression drained of color.
"No, no, no…" she whispered. "We're heading straight into the Hell of the Ocean!"
She spun to face the others. "EVERYONE, LISTEN! TURN BACK—NOW!"
But it was too late.
A massive thud echoed behind them. The sea quaked. A shadow rose from the waters—a towering sea monster, with glowing red eyes and a tail that could crush mountains. It slammed the ocean surface, sending tidal shockwaves that cracked the old wooden boat. Planks split. Water poured in.
"The boat's breaking apart!" Rook shouted. "We have to grab whatever food and supplies we can—NOW!"
They scrambled in chaos as icy waves crashed against the sides. Thunder cracked overhead. Rain poured like knives. The boat was sinking. The sea was swallowing them.
And then—BOOM—a monstrous wave slammed into the side of the vessel, lifting it from the water and hurling it toward the cliffs. The shattered boat crashed against jagged rocks, landing in the mouth of a dark, black cave.
Silence.
Tyson groaned, his head pounding. He looked around. Debris was everywhere. Rook lay beside him, slowly regaining consciousness.
"Aria?" Tyson coughed.
She was nearby, trying to sit up—her leg twisted unnaturally. Broken. Dr. Eliah crawled over, her face pale with panic. "My medkit… it's gone. I can't set this properly without it."
Lyra pulled herself up, bruised but alert. "We need shelter. This cave… it's the only option."
But she and Rook exchanged a glance. They knew. This was no ordinary cave. This was the rumored nest of sea monsters.
"We're not going in without our weapons," Lyra said firmly.
Rook nodded. "Katana first. Then we move."
The darkness of the cave loomed before them, echoing with the distant growls of things that shouldn't exist. And yet, it was the only way forward.
After some time, the team decided they had no choice but to search for their weapons and supplies. If they were to survive, they would need to be fully equipped. Thankfully, luck was on their side—for now. Dr. Eliah managed to find her medical bag lodged between jagged rocks near the cave entrance, still intact. Rook spotted his ancient katana partially buried under ocean debris, its blade glowing faintly. But their food supplies and forest water were gone—either lost at sea or consumed by the rising tide.
Tyson sighed heavily, his arms aching from carrying Aria. "We can't stay outside. This cave… it's the only cover we've got," he said.
Dr. Eliah quickly tended to Aria's broken leg, using bandages and a makeshift splint carved from driftwood. Though Aria was in pain, she gritted her teeth and nodded. She couldn't walk, so Tyson carefully lifted her onto his back again.
They moved slowly into the dark cave. Lyra looked restless, helpless even—without her gun and bullets, she felt naked and vulnerable. The silence of the cave was haunting, but far more disturbing were the red glowing eyes watching them from the shadows. The creatures hiding there didn't attack. They stayed back, eyeing Rook's blade with unease. It wasn't just any sword—it held power they seemed to fear.
As the group paused to rest, Tyson noticed something—a faint glow far ahead. It wasn't moonlight or sunlight… it was firelight. Torches. Someone—or something—was deeper inside. Curiosity and instinct drove him forward.
"Stay here," he said. "I'll check it out."
Carrying Aria, Tyson ventured deeper into the tunnel toward the flickering flames. But the moment they moved away from the group, the protection of Rook's sword was no longer with them. The shadows stirred. Monsters emerged. Aria screamed.
But the cave was soundproof—her voice didn't carry. Neither inside nor out. Tyson was on his own.
The monsters charged.
Fear surged through him. But then, just like that night, the visions returned—the old man in white robes, the ocean of blood, the glowing sigil on his palm.
And then a monster leapt.
Tyson reacted on instinct. One punch.
That was all it took.
The creature was thrown across the cave, its body twisted and lifeless.
Tyson stood frozen, staring at his own hands.
Aria's eyes widened in horror and awe. "Tyson… what was that?"
The other monsters saw what happened. Fear flickered in their red eyes. And one by one—they fled.
Still shaken, Tyson continued forward, and just a few steps ahead, he saw it—a massive gate, carved into the black stone. Ancient symbols were etched across it, glowing dimly with an eerie blue light. It was sealed shut, with no ordinary lock—this gate needed a special key.
He turned back.
Later, the group gathered near the gate, exhausted and confused. They set up a small camp in the cave. One by one, they fell asleep—everyone except Tyson and Rook, who kept watch with weapons ready in case of a monster attack.
Tyson couldn't sleep. His mind kept going back to the gate.
"What's behind it?" he whispered. "A path to safety? Or more danger? Maybe even answers…"
He looked at his hands once more, still shaken by the strength he'd unleashed.
To be continued...