"Send the report through encrypted channels as soon as we get out of the Devil's Triangle."
Cosmoti's firm tone left no room for hesitation as he spoke to his first mate, Palmer, prompting him to rush towards the communication devices installed on the Ghostship.
As he watched the delicate-looking man disappear into the ship, the Sea King sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
This could be worse than what Lepaie is dealing with…
His slim pocketwatch hung from his waist, pulling moisture from the air to form shimmering bubbles that drifted lazily around him.
"Eh? You thirsty or something?"
Laughing at his own joke, he ran his rough fingers over the pocketwatch, tracing each groove with care.
"It feels like yesterday that you chose me as your wielder… and now we are going back to where it all began."
Orion smiled to himself, then exhaled deeply, hardening his expression before heading to the deck.
A pale mist seeped through the vessel's crevices, swirling and spinning around him as he walked down the empty hallways.
"Hmm… I can sense Lepaie in these waters, but it seems like some pesky critter is clinging to him. How unlucky."
Beyond the green-sailed Ghostship, the water lay eerily still, a silent pathway allowing passage from one side of the world to the other.
Not a single creature stirred, yet unease settled over the crew as they watched their captain emerge to address them, a grim look fixed on his face.
Cosmoti rarely wore a serious expression, his optimism and positivity oddly paired with the ominous title of King of Curses.
So when they saw his stern face, everyone listened wholeheartedly, setting aside their fear of the Devil's Triangle.
"As you might have guessed, something happened in Sea Fallen this afternoon, and Lord Quinn went to handle it."
After that, he paused, scanning the crew for any sign of confusion or surprise.
Finding none, he nodded slightly and continued his speech.
"We, on the contrary, won't return to the Sea of Curses today, and we won't be assisting with the Sea Fallen situation either."
Murmurs of intrigue rose among the crew, but Palmer quickly silenced them with a simple snap of his fingers.
"By order of the Oceanic Association, we must conduct the yearly inspection of Deity's Descent, effective immediately."
With those words, the crew's hushed murmurs swelled into full-throated shouts of anger and disapproval, not towards their captain but aimed at the Association itself.
One of the chefs in the back shouted over the crowd of unruly sailors, voicing his concerns.
"Captain! The Sea of Polar Storms is not somewhere we planned to go, and we don't have the supplies for it!"
Hit by a wave of complaints, the Sea King raised his hand, calm as ever, and the noise died down at once.
"I understand your concerns," he said evenly. "However, your wonderful First Mate, Palmer White, will be happy to answer them all for you~"
Cosmoti's lips curled into a playful smile as he turned to the black-haired man beside him.
In an instant, the vice-captain's face paled, and he began to stammer.
"W-Wait a sec–"
He was promptly cut off as the mob erupted again, bombarding him with questions and demands.
"Are we being paid for this?!"
"What weapons should we prepare?!"
"What's for dinner??!"
With each question, Palmer squirmed more, glaring daggers at the departing betrayer known as Orion Cosmoti.
Heh… Sorry, but there is something I need to check before we arrive.
Chuckling under his breath, he checked his pocket watch before slipping into the empty captain's cabin.
"Now, where did I put… Ah, there it is."
He reached out and pulled a small green book from a nearby shelf before propping it open on a desk and sitting down to read.
"Let's see…"
His rough fingers flipped through the pages in search of a specific entry, stopping at a detailed account of the island's creation.
Legends state that one thousand years ago, a light brighter than the sun shone across the world, described by the ancients as a god sent from heaven.
The creature crashed onto a rocky island, where it died instantly for unknown reasons; however, archaeological records tell of sword marks scarring the stone, as if a fight had taken place on the island.
Nothing else is recorded about the site, except that unusual structures appeared two centuries after the incident.
Cosmoti licked his finger and turned the page; however, he was left surprised when there was only an article on the flora that existed within the Sea of Polar Storms.
"That's all? This must be what Twynam meant when he said it was a useless endeavor to dive into the history of the island, but still…"
He groaned while shutting the thin book with one hand and standing up.
Outside of the cabin, he could still hear the grumbling sailors hounding Palmer for answers; however, most had returned to their positions, preparing for arrival.
"It's two thirty in the morning, so it should only be another thirty until we arrive…"
A loud explosion in front of the Ghostship interrupted him, nearly knocking him over where he stood.
The shouts of the crew rang out, warning of a massive kraken that rose from the depths, attempting to capsize the vessel.
"It's a stealthy one… Must be around 8-9 magnitude for me not to sense it immediately."
And with those words, he pushed the door open, facing the creature head-on.
"What ugly filth."
Malice was soaked in his tone as he emitted bloodlust that made even Palmer wary.
Inside his robes, Cosmoti revealed a hidden blade adorned with emeralds and sapphires that glowed in the presence of the Ghostship.
In an untraceable blur, his body vanished from the deck instead appearing above the massive tentacled creature, where he clashed with such force that shockwaves could be felt kilometers away.
"Wrenched monster, your corpse will repay me for this pointless mission…"
…
At the same time, in the shadows of a large pillar, two figures emerged, each holding a metallic staff engraved with runes and markings.
"Do you know how this island received its name, Esme?"
The shorter of the two was a white-haired little girl with bright blue eyes that glistened in the light as if they were two tiny ponds reflecting the moon.
She spoke joyfully while laughing quietly, holding her staff closely in case something tried to steal it.
"Of course I do, Mister Goat~"
Her tone was, as usual, playful as she danced around the horned man whom she had in circles, nearly tripping on the tiles that seemed to twinkle as if they were the stars themselves.
"Long ago, some random god was killed here, causing the island to get the name, Deity's Descent~"
She spun the staff while speaking, keeping her eyes on the black-haired man who strolled to the center of the small island.
In its entirety, it was a little less than a glorified rock in the middle of the icy sea; however, the ancient structures built into the stone have been the subject of study by many researchers for as far back as four centuries.
"Not only did you forget the most integral part of this island, but you've also changed my name again…"
As he spoke in a deflated tone, he raised his hand to the sky, summoning a thunderbolt of pure black lightning that struck each of the ten obsidian pillars that rose high into the night sky.
Esme stopped for a moment, observing the scene before raising her brows in realization and speaking quickly.
"I remember now! This place is a seal for one of the Ten Great Ones!~"
She squealed in excitement, jumping up and down to the dismay of the horned man, who scoffed inwardly about her playful attitude.
"Correct…"
He let out a sigh as his brow twitched slightly in confusion.
"Hmm? A development in Sea Fallen?"
As he spoke, from inside the shadows that pulsated in his presence, he pulled a small envelope whose seal had been punctured, revealing a parchment written in bloodied ink.
"At exactly eight o'clock in the region of Sea Fallen, escape measure 'Vortex of Tears' was used."
Reading the words carefully, the horned man's expression darkened with a hint of displeasure, revealing itself in the form of a scowl.
"It seems an Admiral or a Commodore has compromised Sea Fallen."
His tongue clicked back and forth as Esme paused her jive, standing still and staring at the unhappy man ahead of her.
Cold wind blew past the two figures, deepening the growing silence as flurries of snow began to fall from the heavens, covering the grave like an echo of their common origin.
"Then we just have to hurry up here, then~"
She let out a tiny laugh while centering herself in the middle of all the black pillars, watching the summoned lightning dance around, waiting for someone to awaken it.
"Perhaps you are correct, Ms. Blair; however, I felt an unusual presence within Adam's mind only a handful of minutes ago…"
He stopped as a thought wedged its way inside his head, leaving dread in place of his usual calm demeanor.
"She wouldn't have tried to interact with…"
Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding!
The screeching of an object tied around his waist exploded through the silent space, making Esme jump a little out of fright before it ceased its noise.
"Oh! That means someone is coming from the World Between~!"
She revealed a devilish smile towards the horned man, who, while slightly concerned, returned in kind, speaking quietly.
"It is time to begin the ritual."