Ashes Of Deep Sea

Chapter 5: Collision

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

As the vast shadow was about to run over them, everyone on the White Oak had witnessed a sight that would etch into their heads for the rest of their lives.

It was an ancient yet majestic three-masted warship. In an age where steam-powered ships were the norm, the old full-rigged ship that emerged from the thick fog looked as if it had come out of an oil painting from a century ago. Its masts stood tall, its board was dragged, and its black wooden exterior was burning in green flame as if it was death itself. The huge illusion-looking and fiery sails flapped in nothingness. Even on the terrifying vast ocean, such a scene would only appear in the most horrifying shipwreck myths.

“We’re running into it!”

Some of the crew members yelled. These men lived their entire lives on the water and were known for their courage and roughness. However, even they screamed in terror and ran to look for places to hide on the deck when they saw the sight of such a vast ship. Some grabbed onto things that were secured onto the White Oak, and some even gave up and ducked with the ship still rocked back and forth by the thrashing waves. They were also known to be atheists, but they were all praying to the Wind Goddess Gemora or the Lord of Death Bartok at that time.

The gods’ powers could only reach so far in the vast ocean, but only those two main gods could view all of the humans equally.

However, not all of the members had lost their calm. The first mate was the first to direct his attention to his captain, whom he trusted the most. He was well aware of the dangers that lurked around on the vast ocean and that the experienced captain was the key to deciding the fate of the ship and the entire crew. Laurence had navigated the sea for 30 years. Although the captain, who was past his fifties, was not as strong as he used to be, the experience he had attained through surviving on the ocean could still be the lifeline everyone needed.

Clearly, the warship that had emerged from the thick fog did not journey in the real world. It looked more like something that would come from the Spirit World or somewhere even “deeper.” If the ship was a natural phenomenon, they might be able to combat it with something supernatural.

Old captains who had wandered through the vast ocean for a long time had a few encounters with supernatural phenomena, at the very least.

However, the first mate only saw shock and fear on his captain’s face.

The old captain held the helm but wasn’t moving at all. He did not notice that the vast masted ship’s shadow already shrouded the White Oak. He only stared at the ship that was about to collide with them with his frozen expression. In the end, he finally managed to squeeze a couple of words out of his mouth, yet, his voice was even colder than the cold sea wind. “I-it’s the Lost Home…”

“C-captain?” The first mate was shocked by the words that had entered his ears. Just like everyone else who made a living on the ocean, he had heard about the same ship from crew members who were older, more experienced, and more superstitious. “What did you say the ship is? Isn’t that…”

“It’s the Lost Home!”

It was as if Captain Laurence had not heard his first mate’s voice. He only grabbed the helm of the White Oak firmly as if he was ready to roar at something. The moment his sentence ended, the towering Lost Home finally came in contact with the bow of the White Oak.

Almost every screamed in terror.

However, the impact that would shake the entire ship did not occur as they had thought. The vast ship burning in green flame was like a colossal illusion and passed through the White Oak deck as if a projector had formed it. The crew could clearly see the thick exterior, the dark cabin, the dimly lit hallway, the burning keel, and the Lost Home pillars. The sailors widened their eyes in terror as they watched themselves enter the ghost ship and have the burning green flame swoop past them like a fiery net.

Just like his crew, Laurence stared at the flame approaching him. But, before that happened, he saw his first mate go through the flame. The first mate’s body became a half-transparent spirit-like entity under the effect of the flame. The bones under the spirit body were burning like a fresh log. He then looked at the priest by the prayer table and saw the flame on him juggling between burning brightly and almost dying out. It was as if the god watching over the priest was using its remaining power to protect him from being swallowed by the Lost Home.

The flame then finally touched Laurence. Just like everyone else, his body changed as well. A sense of tiredness, obedience, and fear swept through his body. The Ocean Protection Charm that he had kept on him reacted right away. A sensation of heat and coldness suddenly appeared on his body to help keep him sane, and in the midst of that, he “walked” past the Lost Home’s cabin and hallways.

The dark and depressed-looking cabin swapped past him. Then, past the burning old wooden pillars wrapped by rotting ropes and surrounded by barnacles, he saw a huge storeroom. Inside it lay strange things that should be buried deep in the ocean. He then arrived at a fancy-looking cabin, and on the table in the middle of the room sat a wooden goat head.

The goat head slowly turned around and coldly looked into Laurence’s eyes.

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Laurence used all his strength to raise his head, finally seeing the person commanding the ship. Next to the classic helm stood a man dressed in a black captain coat. His tall figure made him look like a majestic yet terrifying man who ruled one’s nightmare. That same man controlled the ghostly flame that surrounded the ship, and it seemed like the sea deep into the Spirit World was under his command.

Laurence gave up and shut his eyes. He knew that he was now part of the Lost Home and that the nightmarish captain of the ghost ship needed a few sacrifices to satisfy his endless void and solitude.

However, the next second, he gathered all his wits to open his eyes. It felt like he had gathered all the courage and insanity for the next few seconds. He recalled all the knowledge he had gained from the records he had read and legends he had heard and used his most sincere and calmest attitude to look at the terrifying captain of the Lost Home.

“You don’t have to take everyone with you! I’ll submit to you, so, please, let my crew live!”

The tall figure did not reply. Instead, he turned to look coldly at the captain of the White Oak. There was a hint of curiosity in his eyes as if he was wondering why an insignificant mortal captain would dare to bargain with him.

Laurence finally could not hold himself back and yelled, “They still have families to take care of!”

The figure standing on the Lost Home finally reacted to that. He glared at Laurence and said something. However, at the same time, a sound howl swooshed past them. In the midst of that, Laurence could faintly hear something from the captain of the Lost Home, but he couldn’t make out a single word.

The response from the Lost Home was lost in the howling sea wind.

“My apologies, but the wind is too big! I can’t hear what you’ve just said!”

The next second, a loud commotion could be heard. Among the sound of the wind and the waves, he could hear the cheers of his sailors. He turned a little and saw the green flame subsiding while the remaining phantom of the ship slowly disappeared into thin air.

Laurence gasped at that. He then quickly noticed that his hands, surrounded by the green flame from before, had returned to normal. Even the rest on the bridge with him had regained their standard bodies. The faithful priest was leaning on the prayer table while gasping for air. He continued muttering the Wind Goddess Gemora’s holy name while the eerie black and purple smoke from the incense slowly dispersed. The smoke that rose from the bronze incense cauldron was now pure white.

It took Laurence a long time for his quick breath to calm down. He then looked around as if he was suspicious of something and couldn’t believe that the nightmare had ended. He was then interrupted by his first mate’s exclamation. “Captain! The ship! The Lost Home has left!”

Laurence was a little dumbfounded. After a few seconds, he found himself mumbling. “H-he let us live?”

The first mate did not hear what his captain had said. “Captain? What did you say?”

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“That Captain Duncan…” Laurence instinctively continued to mumble, but he quickly clasped his mouth with his hand as if he had mentioned a taboo word. He promptly raised his head to look at his first mate and ordered, “Hurry up and make a roll call! Check and see if everyone is still onboard!”

The first mate immediately nodded. However, just as he was about to leave, Laurence stopped him.

“Also, check if anyone has boarded our ship…”

The first mate was stunned for a second and quickly realized what his captain had meant. A hint of fear appeared in his eyes, and he took a deep breath. He ran out onto the deck as he prayed to the Wind Goddess.

The bell rang throughout the White Oak, still voyaging in the Spirit World.