Mulock gazed at the dawn slowly emerging over the sea. The early sunlight shone upon his skin, yet instead of warmth, what he felt was a creeping cold gradually invading his body. The farther he drifted from the mainland, the stronger the authority of Oxxhurael became. His senses slowly lost their autonomy and returned to the imprisonment of the god.

  Pain stabbed into the pirate’s eyes. Mulock swiftly transformed into a red parrot. Fine, threadlike strands of mana extended from its body, connecting to a prepared puppet. The motionless puppet opened its eyes—Captain Mulock had returned, ready once more for a perilous voyage. However, this time was different from all the others. Deep down, Mulock was genuinely pleased. No longer was he surrounded by deranged, pathological pirates he had hired with money from The Freak Show. He had truly gained “companions.”

  The destination they were heading toward was far more dangerous than Fallen Island by many orders of magnitude. It was the “Mobile Prison,” a place that confined the most powerful entities of Veynar—beings capable of annihilating and slaughtering any race they encountered.

  The prison drifted without a destination, forever shrouded in a veil of mist. This mist was not a natural phenomenon, but the product of magic. Any intruder who entered it would become lost, trapped until the very end of their lifespan.

  Mulock entered a filthy, reeking chamber. The stench of damp rot mixed with the odor of decaying corpses, thick in the air. Slime and mucus coated every surface; massive insect nests clung to the walls and ceiling.

  “What a revolting place.” Mulock frowned. Even though he could not smell anything, the sight alone made him “sense” the filth. The sticky mucus clung to the soles of his boots, making movement difficult. He stepped carefully to avoid slipping into the viscous mess. He did not want the puppet to be stained—his stock of replacements was running low.

  Deep in the corner of the room stood a glass vial of translucent golden color, like amber. Inside was an exquisite insect: a moth with its wings spread wide, filled with strange patterns. The markings resembled a pair of eyes staring straight ahead.

  Its beauty stood in stark contrast to the disgusting filth of the chamber. It was like a point of light rising within endless darkness. Mulock gently stroked the glass vial that contained the moth. It was the ticket that would lead him directly to the “Mobile Prison.” These moths were extremely rare—only a few remained in the entire world. They were relics of the Vodo, eccentric recluses living in Eversand.

  “Moon-moths despise light. When light touches their bodies, instinct drives them to seek their way back to the black mist where they were born. The ‘eyes’ on their wings always gaze in one direction—toward the Mobile Prison.”

  —Unknown Writer

  “This insect alone is worth a thousand gold.”

  Mulock smiled smugly. He did not regret spending a fortune to recruit Mep. His goal had never been the disgusting old woman’s abilities. Just seeing her every day was enough to ruin his appetite.

  The Vodo were madmen. They used their own bodies as nests and nourishment for insects in exchange for the power to command them. Old Mep was even more extreme—she treated the insects as if they were her own children. Once, someone accidentally crushed one of the “children” she cherished. The next day, the unlucky man’s corpse was bloated and writhing with maggots.

  Leaving the room with the glass vial in hand, Mulock met Shelley’s curious gaze. He had no intention of explaining anything—that was simply his nature. He coldly brushed past her, but suddenly something flashed through his mind. His steps slowed, and the pirate froze in place. After a long moment, he turned back and stared deeply at Shelley, raising the glass vial before her and pointing at the beautiful black moth inside.

  “That is a guiding black moth. I don’t know its exact name, but it will serve as a compass to our next destination.”

  Having said that, Mulock hurried off, unaware that his action had left Shelley stunned. She had not even asked him anything.

  “He is changing. As his ‘Shadow,’ I can feel it.”

  Rowling drifted in the air, appearing behind Shelley without warning, startling her badly. She looked at Mulock’s retreating back and smiled, whispering into Shelley’s ear:

  “He used to be alone. But that is no longer the case now—at least for the moment.”

  ...

  Thane led the last surviving members of SiverFang back to Seabloom Academy. They had fulfilled their mission and deserved a better place to live. Rin and Teddy were the most important seedlings for the tribe’s future—if properly nurtured, SiverFang would rise again one day. Ullar lay sprawled atop the carriage. Though crippled, she was in high spirits. Her gaze drifted toward Infernic in the distance—that place would forever be their home. One day, they would return and once more rule the territory their ancestors had built.

  The Badge from the beginning had only been a manifestation of the Nightmare Pages. The real one was certainly still in Exius’s hands. Thane was excited—he now had yet another reason to return and meet his teacher. Or rather, Exitus himself wanted to see Thane again. The pages had helped Thane far too much on his journey, and as someone who had lived through countless nightmares, Thane knew there was no such thing as a free feast. Exitus undoubtedly had a plan that required Thane’s assistance.

  Thane trained every day to become stronger. He could vaguely sense that he was on the verge of comprehending his own Ultimate Skill. With his body’s affinity to the fire element, it would certainly be a skill related to flames. Time waited for no one—he needed to hurry back to participate in the entrance competition for the Great Will Academy.

  “The Cerberus actually made way for us.”

  Teddy was excited, his eyes shining with admiration for the young chieftain. Thane had passed the trial and gained a portion of Terror’s power. The ferocious Cerberus were now as docile as adorable puppies, bowing their heads in submission before the “Challenger.”

  With no danger from these savage creatures, they no longer needed to take the long route through the Vayle Valley. They could return directly to Hesmor through Infernic’s hidden trail.

  “They are not afraid of me. What they fear is Terror’s power.”

  Thane shook his head. He was never arrogant enough to believe he truly commanded them. Cerberus were a ferocious species—even when facing enemies far stronger than themselves, they would fight until their final breath.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  After a long journey, they finally saw the deep blue Emerald River in the distance. The barren land cracked by lava and flame gradually gave way to lush riverside fields. The Emerald River shimmered beneath the evening glow, bustling with passing adventurers.

  A ferryman seemed to notice something unusual. His gaze toward Thane’s group was filled with suspicion. He had seen them emerge from the forbidden region. He did not think they were merely lucky—surviving the shortcut was proof of strength. Yet their party was strange: a crippled old woman, a group of children, and a small wolf. How could such a group have crossed that fiery hell?

  “They must be carrying some kind of treasure.”

  Greed welled up in the ferryman’s heart. Anything that could let them safely pass through Infernic had to be a powerful artifact. If he obtained it, his life might turn a new page. He suppressed his rapid breathing and approached Thane’s group with his friendliest smile.

  “Greetings, honored guests. You wish to cross the river, yes? Today is your lucky day—we’re offering a discount. Would you be interested?”

  “Wow! A discount, Sister Rin. We’re so lucky!”

  Teddy was delighted. His mood had relaxed since leaving the gloomy dungeon of Siver Town. The vigilance forged by hardship gradually loosened. Even Rin and the other children smiled without the slightest suspicion. It was a bad sign. Thane shook his head helplessly and glanced at Ullar—only to see the old woman’s eyes half-closed as she gave a faint nod.

  “At least someone still senses the problem.”

  Thane sighed. They were still just innocent children. Perhaps this was a rare opportunity to teach them once again how the world truly worked.

  The boat drifted slowly along the beautiful river. The water was so clear that small fish could be seen darting beneath the surface. Rin rested her chin on her hand, quietly watching. The serene scenery and the girl’s distinctive beauty made the ferryman stare, unable to look away. He had seen countless gaudily painted women, but never a beauty so thorned and peculiar. The crisscrossing scars on her body, the cold eyes, the stern brows—an unsettling yet perfect blend that made Rin strangely alluring. The ferryman licked his lips. He felt incredibly fortunate. Not only would he obtain treasure, he would also gain a beautiful slave.

  When the boat reached midstream, the other ferries faded from view. The ferryman happily began executing his mad plan. From his pocket, he took out a vial of fragrant magical potion—the kind hunters used to capture cunning Goa. Even a small dose could put those monsters into a deathlike sleep. He dripped a few drops into each cup of water and carried them over to his “guests.”

  “You’ve all worked so hard. You must have endured a difficult journey. I have some fresh spring water—please allow me to offer it to you for refreshment.”

  Faced with the ferryman’s kindly, harmless expression, the children gathered around, chirping their thanks. The sweet fragrance from the cups was like a stimulant, making them salivate. Even Rin felt curious—she had likely never tasted such fragrant water in her life. She reached for a cup, about to drink, when Thane stopped her.

  The boy’s gaze was eerily calm. He did not stop Teddy and the other children. Teddy was a clever child—he would understand everything once he woke up. Moreover, Thane did not want the children to witness what was about to happen.

  Thane’s action startled the ferryman inwardly. He wondered where he had exposed a flaw. This face and attitude had deceived countless fools before. It didn’t matter—it was just a group of children. Everything was still under his control.

  The potion gradually took effect. Teddy and the other children grew drowsy and soon fell unconscious. Only then did Rin realize what was happening. In a surge of fury, she drew her dagger and lunged at the ferryman, who screamed in terror.

  Her speed and strength were far beyond his imagination. The ferryman struggled in despair, but after each clash, the tendons in his wrists and ankles were severed one by one. The girl’s technique made him realize there was no treasure at all—this group had crossed the forbidden region through their own strength.

  A wave of regret surged through the cruel ferryman’s mind, but there was no such thing as a medicine for regret in life.

  “Please spare me! I only coveted your money! I still have an old mother and a young child waiting for me at home. I swear I’ll never do this again, I swear! Please!”

  He fumbled in his pocket and took out a photograph of himself with a cute little girl with braided hair and a kind, hunched old woman. Perhaps what he said was true—perhaps he had done everything for his family. The ferryman sobbed, clasping his hands as he knelt and begged the girl for mercy.

  Rin hesitated. She studied the innocent child with braided hair in the photograph. The girl’s smile was so bright, so lovely. Perhaps she should spare his life. His daughter was truly innocent. How would she live without her father’s protection?

  Thane ignored the ferryman’s pleading. He slowly walked to the side of the boat and peered into the water below.

  “Rin, come here. Look down there—the water is so clear, you can see many things.”

  Rin was startled, unsure of Thane’s intention. In such a moment, she had no heart to admire the scenery. But Thane was the chieftain—she could not disobey. Following the direction of his finger, Rin’s eyes widened in disbelief. Horror flashed across her face before turning into seething fury. At last, she understood what Thane meant.

  At the bottom of the river lay dozens—hundreds—of bleached skeletons. Judging by their clothing, they were all adventurers.

  “Will you really spare him?” Thane cast a disdainful glance at the ferryman. He did not intend to interfere with Rin’s next choice. He left only that single sentence and slowly walked back to rest.

  Rin trembled. She stood before the first truly difficult choice of her life. Ever since she lived with Ullar, they had always been the weak ones—those forced to flee, with no choices of their own. But now that Rin was the stronger one, her decision would become a verdict over the fate of others.

  The braided-haired child was innocent. The old mother was innocent. But… were those who lay forever at the bottom of the river not innocent as well?

  Rin made her choice. The ferryman’s screams fell abruptly silent.

  Only then did Thane approach and pat her on the shoulder in comfort. He was very satisfied with her decision.

  “You are Ullar—the next priestess of SiverFang. You bear an extremely heavy responsibility. Always remember that we live in a cruel world. Those who smile at us are sometimes the most dangerous and ruthless enemies. And toward enemies, there is no need for mercy—unless you want to end up like the bones lying at the bottom of the river.”

  Rin glanced at the sleeping children and at Ullar, who was smiling. She knew they had long understood everything. This lesson was meant for herself. Gritting her teeth, Rin slashed a deep cut across her left arm with her dagger. When the wound healed, the scar would forever remind her of this day.

  …

  At the same time, in the slums of DarkCry, inside a small, shabby hut, a frail old woman lay curled up on her sickbed. Her eyes were sunken deep into their sockets, her body emaciated to skin and bone. Suddenly, she began to tremble violently, curling up as she coughed out mouthfuls of blood. It was as if she sensed an ill omen, her gaze drifting anxiously toward the Emerald River in the distance.

  The old woman’s coughing woke a cute little girl with braided hair who had been dozing beside her. The girl jolted awake and quickly wiped the blood from the old woman’s mouth with a cloth, comforting her softly.

  “Grandma, hang in there. Dad will be back soon. He’ll bring medicine. You’ll get better, just like me.”

  “I know. I’ll try. My granddaughter is so good, so sweet.”

  The old woman gently stroked the girl’s head, then suddenly burst into tears. Tears rolled down her gaunt, haggard face. She cried as though she already knew something terrible had happened to her son. Perhaps it was a mother’s intuition—she knew her son would never return to this home again. But more than anything, she feared what awaited her little granddaughter in the days to come. She knew how cruel and merciless this world was.

  “My dear… I saved two pieces of candy. Let’s eat them together.”

  “Candy? Then we should save them for when Dad comes back so we can eat together! Dad loves sweets too…” The girl hopped happily. She was truly a filial child, always thinking of her father. After all, her father and grandmother were the only family she had in this world.

  The old woman coughed softly, forcing a tender smile. Yet deep within her eyes lay a vast, sorrowful sea.

  “It’s all right. Don’t worry. I’ve already saved some for your father. We… will meet again very soon.”