97 A Treasure Hun

"Jax watch the area and alert me if anything comes," I said before settling in for the night.

"AYE AYE, CAPTAIN," said Jax as he wandered off into the woods.

"TIME TO GET SOME BOOTY."

~~~

In an inconspicuous cave on the island lied a chaotic demon with burn scars running across his entire body.

"It looks like someone took out that monster earlier today. I can finally get away," said the demon as he got up.

"Luckily for me, I hid when that thing attacked our encampment. I barely made it away with my life," said the demon as he placed more salve on his scar filled body. He had taken the brunt of the monsters acid spray before making his escape, he'd been holing up in this cave since then trying to recover.

"Time to sneak out in the middle of the night, while whoever killed that thing is sleeping. I've got to get off this god-forsaken island."

The demon exited his cave and cautiously crept through the jungle island.

*Wushhh Wushhh*

'Why's the wind so high tonight?' thought the demon.

The demon ignored the strange wind and continued to creep along to his escape plan. He planned to make it off this island; he was finally free of the captain and crew who oppressed him. Most of them had dived into the chasm or died to the breaching worm.

It had been a hard life for him ever since he had spawned as a demon within this world. He was only a high-Knight, in his previous world they considered this a strong realm. He was able to commit many atrocities in his life. No one could stop him from doing what he pleased.

Eventually, the Kingdom caught him and hung him for his crimes. After death, he spawned as a chaotic demon within the Langsen Rift.

Spawning within the Abyss, was the worst thing that had ever happened to him. Strong depraved individuals more sadistic than even he was in life surrounded him. He had no choice but to become a Baron's crewman to not be devoured by those savages. At least while he was in the crew, the only people that oppressed him were his crewmates.

He had worked like a dog for the Barnacles as a deckhand.

'I know I was a sinner in life, but this wasn't the afterlife I had in mind. This place is pure torture. A cage of death. Only the strong have any say when they spawn here,' thought the demon.

'Maybe I should see if I can grab the captain's treasure left behind. Though to get that I would have to get past the one who defeated that worm.'

'This might be my only chance to hit it big. I could live off that treasure for years.'

Greed clouded the demon's better judgment. His mind was affected by the cold air permeating the island tonight. He would make his attempt on the treasures. He knew a second hideaway where the captain kept excellent stuff besides the main camp.

'Stay silent, that's it. No one will find me,' thought the demon as he crept towards the captain's treasure.

*Wushhh Wushhh*

'What's with that damned wind?' thought the demon again. He had been on this island several months and never had seen winds this high. It was out of the ordinary.

Something wasn't right, but he put it to the back of his head. The treasure was all he cared about right now.

The demon finally made it to the captain's buried treasure spot. The land was undisturbed; he had hit the jackpot. He had to quickly dig it out!

Normally there wasn't a chance in hell he'd steal the captain's treasure, but considering the captain was lost in that chasm, he would take the risk. He planned to be long gone before the captain could make heads or tails on who swiped the treasure.

The demon began shoveling fast, with no regard to the noise he was making.

After 30 minutes of hard digging, he finally hit the buried treasure.

"I found it!" said the demon when he dragged out the treasure chest.

*Wushhh Wushhh*

"There's that wind again, I got to get the hell out of here," said the demon as he looked around and starts dragging the treasure chest to shore.

"NEW BOOTY," said a deep malefic voice in the darkness.

"The booty is mine, it belongs to me!" said the demon as he brought his weapon on guard and continued faster towards the shoreline.

"WE CAN DO THIS THE EASY WAY OR THE HARD WAY," said the malefic voice as more cold wild descended around the area.

"The booty is mine it belongs to me, you can not take my booty!" said the demon as he increased his guard on the treasure trying to find the voice. Greed had taken over the mind of the poor demon.

"YOU'RE CHOOSING THE HARD WAY," said the malefic voice.

*Wushhh Wushhh*

A frosty cold front descended on the demon.

"The booty is yours," said the demon as he tossed the chest to the ground and began running after feeling the chilly air. Fear had struck his heart, overpowering his greed. Whoever was speaking was behind that ominous cold he'd been feeling all night.

He had no plans to tussle with someone who could affect the atmosphere. Whoever was after his booty could have it. He would get the hell off this island!

"GIVE ME THAT BOOTY," said the malefic voice.

"You can have it it's back there," said the demon pointing to where he dropped the chest as he increased his speed beelining for the shore.

"I SEE IT BACK THERE," said the malefic voice that continued to draw closer to him.

'It's going to catch me soon. Whatever this is doesn't care about the treasure! He said he wanted booty, why isn't he taking it,' thought the demon as he attempted to escape.

Unfortunately for the demon, Jax was after a special kind of booty tonight. And he wasn't swift enough in his escape. He tripped on some undergrowth while looking behind his shoulder trying to flee. A massive torrent of water nearly drowned him after he fell.

"GIMME THAT BOOTY," said the malefic voice.

"I don't have any booty, I dropped the treasure chest back there! Please, sir, we can talk about this. I'll give you whatever you want." said the demon as terror was gripping his heart.

"I WANT SOME BOOTY!" said the malefic voice.

A massive claw came out of the darkness, grasping the demon, and pinning him to the ground on his stomach.

'Is this how it all ends?' thought the demon.

He looked over his shoulder while pinned to the ground unable to escape the claws grasp. What he saw would stay burned into his memory forever. A massive tuxedoed ghost with a ball and chain connected to its leg ripped off its clothes as it drew closer to him.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH," screamed the demon as he became scarred for life from the ghost's descent.

That was the last thing his psyche would let him remember of that horrible night. All he could recall was soon after the ghost's descent he lost a precious treasure, and it wasn't the captains.

~~~

I woke up the next morning refreshed. My right arm felt a lot better. Jax seemed to have had a good night. He was all smiles, as was I. There was a new treasure chest in the middle of the camp with a passed out pirate tied up next to it. My ghostly warden had reeled in an excellent catch on his night watch.

"I told you there'd be plenty of booty for you Jax," I said looking over Jax's spoils.

"BOOTY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN TREASURE," said Jax, looking down on the treasure chest he had brought and disappearing in his ball \u0026 chain.

Looking through the chest, I found a map of the cavern below. I would need to interrogate this pirate to get a better understanding of the situation. It seems the pirates didn't just encounter that tremor worm by coincidence.

They probably had attempted to explore whatever lay in that cavern. I would need to be on my guard while heading down.

There may still be some pirates that survived within the cavern. Tremor worms were probably the least of my worries. Other foul monsters could also inhabit that cavern. It was ok, this young lord would squeeze all the secrets from this pirate soon.