Chapter 710: Oddity Is The Norm Here

Chapter 710: Oddity Is The Norm Here

This novel is translated and hosted on bcatranslation

Beneath the gaze of all present, the vessel, shrouded in spectral flames resembling a fiery beacon, surged directly toward the jagged cliffs. Yet, contrary to expectations, there was no explosion or loud crash.

As it neared the cliffs, the ship appeared to dissolve. The once-solid deck, hull, and keel instantaneously turned to liquid, akin to mud, flowing down and silently splattering against the rocky face. It was less of a crash and more of a glob of mud splashing against the cliffside. Then, the ship seemed to be absorbed by the island, vanishing entirely into the clustered, sharp stone formations.

The spirit flames that had been fiercely alight on the ship moments before now formed a vast, eerie ring of fire along the island’s cliff, with ghostly green flames blooming like ripples along the shore. After a short pause, these flames spilled into the sea, setting the foggy surface ablaze and gradually spreading before the allied fleet.

The event was abrupt, and the church fleet seemed not yet to grasp what had transpired. Onboard the Vanished, Nina exclaimed with wide eyes, “Did that ship just ‘self-destruct’?!”

Lucretia, in disbelief, questioned, “Papa, did that ship just defy your command?”

Duncan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he frowned deeply, confirming in his mind the faint “sense” that the ship had transmitted to him just before its collision. After a while, he spoke thoughtfully, “No... it wasn’t out of control.”

“Not out of control?” Lucretia was confused, “Then why did it suddenly crash into the cliff?”

Duncan explained slowly, “I commanded it to ‘return home’—and so it did. I had always assumed a ship’s ‘home’ was the port where it usually docks. But for that ship... its ‘home’ must be the island itself.”

While Lucretia pondered Duncan’s words, Vanna, Morris, and others who had witnessed the Frost incident began to understand. Morris frowned suddenly, “Do you mean, that ship was...”

With a grave expression, Duncan clarified, “That ship was constructed using the ‘material’ from the island, at least in part.”

The loss of the “guide ship” was unexpected, but it didn’t significantly impact the allied fleet—they had already pinpointed the Holy Island’s location, and the route was recorded on the sea chart. Now, with the ethereal green spirit flames still quietly burning on the sea and helping to dissipate the fog, the Bright Star soon discovered the entrance to the “fjord” that Ai had spotted from above.

Despite some unexpected events, the expedition to investigate the “Holy Island” by the deep sea and the Death Church’s clerics was set to continue as planned. the Tide and the Resolved, two modest-sized landing boats were swiftly dispatched and neared the Vanished. Each boat was laden with eleven marines and one cleric, all poised and awaiting Duncan’s strategic deployment.

“Vanna, Morris, Alice, you’re with me,” Duncan declared, his eyes scanning his crew on the deck, swiftly pinpointing the most suited members for the task. His attention then shifted to Shirley, who seemed to be making herself as inconspicuous as possible, “Shirley, you’re coming too.”

“I’m not adept at exploration, nor do I have the old man’s experience...”

“I understand, but we require Dog’s capabilities,” Duncan interjected Shirley’s protest without missing a beat, “Dog’s a shadow demon, exceptional in detection and tracking. His skills will prove invaluable on this ‘Holy Island’.”

Shirley’s face took on a complex look as she silently acknowledged her primary role as Dog’s partner.

However, Duncan remained indifferent to the subtle shift in Shirley’s demeanor. Having finalized his ashore team, he gestured to the others, “The rest of you, stay onboard. This place is unsettling. Report immediately if anything unusual happens on the ship or the surrounding waters.”

“Aren’t you including me in the team?” Lucretia stepped forward, unable to conceal her eagerness, “I’m well-versed in frontier territories, and I’ve explored numerous mysterious islands...”

She turned towards the captain and noticed that he, too, seemed troubled, his gaze fixed intently into the fog. The two steam-powered boats trailing them from the Tide and the Resolved seemed to have also perceived something amiss as they began to decelerate.

The once consistent echo within the fjord now diminished significantly.

Vanna cocked her head slightly, straining her ears in an attempt to isolate the sounds. She spoke softly, her voice barely above a whisper, “Do you hear that?”

Shirley, previously oblivious to any unusual occurrences, sensed the shift in the atmosphere. She anxiously twisted around, her voice laced with apprehension, “Hear... What did you detect?”

In that moment, a faint, sinister sound cut through the stillness — the unmistakable metallic groan of chains moving in the shadows. Ever vigilant, Dog slowly lifted his head and announced with a grave tone, “There’s the sound of a fourth boat... hidden within the fog, trailing us.”

Shirley’s expression shifted subtly as she dropped her voice to a whisper, “What in the world is that?”

Duncan remained silent, but his raised hand was a clear signal to press on.

The mechanical hum of the propellers filled the air once again, blending with the splashing of water against the hulls. This time, even Shirley couldn’t ignore the unsettling presence of the “fourth boat.” The sounds were crisper and closer — a low rumble akin to a steam engine but more profound, accompanied by the unmistakable noise of a bow cutting through the water.

Her eyes widened as she frantically scanned the fog for the source. Yet, all she found was a disorienting cacophony of sounds echoing off the fjord walls, the buzzing and rumbling making it impossible to pinpoint the direction.

But one thing was certain — a fourth boat was cloaked in the fog, lurking perilously close, sometimes feeling as though it was merely an arm’s length away.

Morris, who had been quiet, suddenly focused his gaze on the mist-covered water. He drew a peculiar, lens-like device from his coat and peered through it towards the source of the disturbance.

Through the lens, a shadowy figure loomed, resembling an indistinct and ghostly boat.

But in an instant, the phantom shape was enveloped in a ghastly green glow — ethereal flames that flickered and danced around it before vanishing as swiftly as they had appeared.

Simultaneously, the ominous sound of the fourth boat ceased.

Alice, intrigued by the brief flare of ghostly light, turned to Duncan with a questioning look. “Captain, what was that?”

“I’m not certain,” Duncan replied, his face a mask of contemplation. “Perhaps something in the fog is trying to mimic us, or it might be a trick of the light, an illusion wrought by this strange place... Regardless, it’s not a significant concern. After all, encountering the bizarre is just another day for us in the borders.”

Alice nodded, her expression one of understanding. She then turned her gaze back to the waters ahead.

“Ah, we’ve arrived.”

As her voice faded, the hazy silhouette of the port emerged from the mist, gradually solidifying into a clear view.

The three small boats had finally reached the shore.