Chapter 71: The Island of Death

There are lands that should not appear on maps. Places that, beyond their geography, represent a rupture in the logic of the world. Spaces where life itself seems to have forgotten how to breathe… and time becomes a perpetual whisper among the bones of what once was human.
No one arrives on an island like this without carrying something inside: guilt, vengeance, despair… broken dreams or promises made to the dead. You do not step on its sand expecting to return unchanged. You do not look at its horizon without something in you cracking.
And yet, there are those who press on — not out of ignorance, but out of conviction. Because there are battles that cannot be postponed. Because some demons — literal or symbolic — can only be confronted in the hell you choose.
The Island of Death is not just a cursed place. It is a trial. A question with no answer that every visitor must answer with his soul.
And today… several names have written their fate upon its shores.

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The fog was beginning to thin, just enough to reveal the silhouette of a coastline that did not seem to belong to this world: dark rocks, trees twisted as if trying to tear themselves free of the soil, and a sea so black it reflected the sky like a broken mirror.
“Shun, we’re arriving,” Drake announced from the bow, his cloak lifted by the wind as if it wished to warn them, too.
“How surprising,” Shun said, arms crossed. “The voyage has been less perilous than I expected.”
Drake did not smile. “The hard part isn’t getting here… it’s leaving.”

Ares frowned. “What do you mean?”
“This island…” Drake lowered his voice as though saying its name aloud might summon it — “is full of monsters and beings I’ve never seen in my life. It’s as if—”
“If they were brought up from the very same hell, right?” Shun interrupted without changing his tone.
Drake looked at him, surprised. “Yes… how do you know?”
“I followed the records of that expedition closely,” Shun replied, walking to the rail. “It was the greatest pirate expedition in history. The most feared of the Caribbean united to capture something… something so valuable that 99% of their fleet was annihilated. They were looking for the Chalice of Eternal Life.”
“Is such a thing really possible?” Joan of Arc asked, her voice laced with skepticism and fear.
“Who knows?” Shun murmured. “No one has ever obtained it… which is why it remains a legend.”

Drake nodded slowly. “For years we tracked clues in the archives of the Twelve Families. Everything pointed to this place. But when we arrived… gold didn’t greet us — creatures did. Beasts that slaughtered our men without mercy. Only the captains survived. Mary and I wanted to flee, but Olivier insisted on staying. He said leaving empty-handed would betray the memory of the dead.”
“And yet… here you are,” Shun replied, turning to face him. “Empty-handed.”
Drake clenched his teeth. “Yes… because what we faced was not a monster. It was a demon. A real demon. Its name was… Mammon.”

Edén’s face tensed at once. “That name…”
Shun turned to him. “Do you know it?”
Edén nodded, his voice breaking with a dark memory. “You could say I do. In Santay… I heard someone fighting a demon by that name. I can still feel its presence… its red eyes… its golden horns. It was as if the world stopped around it.”
“Whoever it is,” Shun said with a half-smile, “I’ll beat it up.”
Joan let out a small laugh. “Only you would come up with that nonsense.”
Drake looked at him gravely. “I know how strong you are, but believe me… that being can’t be defeated even by a god.”
“Relax,” Shun replied, unfazed. “After all, I’m only a mere human.”

“Seems it’s time to disembark,” Ares said, gazing toward the shore.
In the distance, a gigantic black ship lay like a corpse on the sand, its hull covered in impossible markings. The air smelled of salt, iron… and death.
“Captain,” Joan called, pointing out the enemy vessel.
“I know…” Shun narrowed his eyes. “You don’t have to tell me.”

A dark fog cloaked the shoreline like a living mantle. Even the sun seemed weaker over that place.
“I think this fellow will be more trouble than I expected,” Shun added dryly. Then he turned to his group, his voice regaining its usual strength.
“Joan. Ares. That idiot Yosa and you will go together. Sweep the entire coast and that ship. If you find any of Blackbeard’s men… do not kill them. We need answers.”
“Yes, Captain,” Joan replied firmly, drawing her sword.

“Old man, you take Mr. Vampire and the idiot into the forest,” Shun ordered, pointing his thumb at Tiresias, Edén, and Alexbold. “Search every corner—don’t let anyone slip away.”
“Understood,” Tiresias nodded, tightening his grip on his staff with a resolute look.
“And what about you?” Ares asked, arms crossed with distrust.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Shun replied with a sly grin. “I’m going to have a little fun.”
“Be careful,” Ares warned dryly.
“I’ll try not to kill them…” the captain murmured as he vanished in a flash of energy.

Drake, still aboard the ship, turned to Ares. “And what about me?”
“Captain Drake,” Ares said solemnly, “we’re counting on you for the return trip.”
Drake sighed. “Fine…”
“Believe me,” Ares added, locking eyes with the pirate, “this is no longer a matter for humans. If Shun has stepped in, it means things are far worse than we thought. And if we lose our helmsman… how the hell do we get back?”
“I’ll be waiting. Don’t take too long,” Drake said seriously, watching as the mist began to swallow the ship.

The forest interior was a maze of damp shadows and hostile vegetation. Each step sank among rotting roots, and the air carried a metallic scent, as if the earth itself were bleeding.
“That idiot… he just wants to have fun,” Edén grumbled, ducking under a low branch.
“He’s always been like that since I met him,” Alexbold said with a scowl. “He doesn’t care who he puts at risk as long as it entertains him.”
Tiresias let out a soft chuckle. “How ironic…”
“What’s ironic?” Edén asked, pausing for a moment.
“I thought I was the only blind one here,” Tiresias replied calmly, “but it seems you two are as well.”
Alexbold raised a brow. “What are you talking about?”
“Words can lie. Actions cannot. Sometimes it takes a trained eye to see beyond the obvious… and understand what they truly mean.”
“Sorry, but you lost me there,” Edén admitted.
“Wait!” Alexbold interrupted suddenly, crouching low.
“What is it?” Edén whispered.
“They’re close!”

They hid among the foliage, barely breathing. In the distance, staggered figures moved through the mist. They were no longer ordinary pirates. Not anymore.
“What the hell is going on on this island?” Edén muttered, crouched behind a trunk.

One of the creatures sprang from the shadows, leaping at them from behind. But before it could reach anyone, Tiresias’s staff struck it down with a precise blow.
“Well, well…” the old man murmured. “Seems you forgot to watch your backs.”

The monster recoiled, emitting an inhuman roar. The echo of its cry rang like an alarm through the whole forest.
“Shit…” Edén cursed as more figures emerged between the trees, surrounding them.
“What do we do?” he asked, retreating.
“What do you mean?” Alexbold replied, his eyes turning crimson. “Isn’t it obvious? We kill them.”
“But—”
“Unfortunately, he’s right,” Tiresias intervened. “They… are no longer human.”

Edén clenched his fists. “Damn it…”

Alexbold had already unfurled his blood tentacles when Edén’s voice stopped him.
“Stop!”

The vampire looked at him, confused. “What?”
“Old man… please… let Alexbold leave,” Edén begged, looking at Tiresias with resolve.
“We don’t have time for foolishness,” the elder replied, though his tone wavered.
“Please…”

Alexbold stared at him in disbelief. “What nonsense are you planning?”
“I won’t let you stain your hands,” Edén said. “I told you. Go find Blackbeard. I know you’ll do the right thing… hero.”

Tiresias sighed, understanding. “Prepare yourself, we’ll open a path for you.”
“Huh? I thought Shun—”
“If your friend trusts you that much,” Tiresias interrupted, “there must be a reason. I hope whatever price I pay for disobeying is worth it.”

Alexbold nodded. “Thank you… Edén. Old man.”

A wave of dark energy began to emanate from Edén, wrapping his body in a sinister halo. The cursed pirates pressed forward without restraint.
“Now!” Tiresias shouted.

Edén and the old man hurled themselves into the fight like a whirlwind. Darkness and fire tore through the forest while Alexbold ran at full speed, leaving the screams and blood behind.

In a shadowed corner of the island heavy footsteps resounded.
A colossal figure walked among malformed corpses, blood dripping from his axe.
Blackbeard held in his hand the severed head of one of his own men. His empty eyes showed no emotion.
“Wait a little longer…” he murmured, as if speaking to a ghost. “Soon, Hana. Soon.”