Location: Beneath the Deadmen's Vane – Anchor Depths
The Whispering Harpoon trembled under Ankit's hand. For a second, the world dimmed. The sound of creaking wood, the lapping tide, even the call of gulls—all gone.
System Sync Triggered…
Relic Interface Opening...
Ankit's breath slowed.
[Vision Triggered – Bound Memory]
He saw chains, rusted and thick, tied around a massive stone gate, submerged deep below. Whispers echoed in a forgotten tongue. A procession of ghostly sailors—led by a pale woman with no eyes—chanted as they drove the Harpoon into the gate's keystone.
A name burned into Ankit's mind:
"Oureval – The Sleeper Below."
And then—
—a flash of his own face, screaming underwater, drowning in ink and teeth.
Back to Reality
Ankit yanked his hand away.
The Harpoon still pulsed faintly, like a heart that refused to die.
Shanks was already beside him. "You saw something."
Ankit, jaw clenched, nodded. "Something old. Sealed. I think this harpoon… it's part of a lock. A key."
Mace whistled from the deck above. "So what now? We take it?"
Shanks shook his head. "No. That thing's cursed. Pulling it out might open the wrong door."
Instead, he carved a symbol from the Harpoon's shaft into a notebook and marked the shipwreck's location on their sea chart.
"We sail. West."
Location: Captain's Cabin – Late Night
Ankit sat cross-legged, two swords beside him, trying to steady his breathing.
He wasn't panicking. But the vision lingered like fog on the brain. He'd died in it. Drowned. And he'd felt it.
[System Whisper: Fear Response Logged – Memory Deepening Skill Adaptation...]
Combat Trait Evolving...
Dual Sword Style now attuned to "Disorientation Recovery"
Passive: Reflex Echo unlocked (minor boosts to counterattacks after being staggered)
He closed the panel with a sigh.
The system was helping—but not without cost.
And still… he hadn't told anyone about it.
Not Shanks.
Not Mace.
He wasn't ready. Not until he understood it himself.
Location: On Deck – The Next Morning
Fog lifted with the sun. The Red Blade cut through clearer waters now, but the mood was still heavy.
Mace leaned on the railing. "That was the ugliest place I've sailed through."
Shanks nodded. "That was just the beginning."
He turned to Ankit. "We're heading for Tide's Maw. Old forge-town at the edge of the West Line. If the Harpoon is part of a key... maybe they forged it."
"Tide's Maw?" Mace spat overboard. "Place is filled with mercenaries and monster parts. Even Marines avoid it."
"Exactly," Shanks said. "That's where Benn was last seen."
Ankit's brow lifted. "Your old friend?"
Shanks nodded, a quiet glint in his eyes. "Smartest man I've met. Might already know about all this."
Location Change: Open Sea – One Week Later
The ship neared Tide's Maw. Black cliffs surrounded the island, and forges glowed even in daylight. Enormous chimneys belched smoke into the sky, and monstrous bones—some hundreds of feet long—were stacked like scaffolding around the port.
They docked at the Iron Docks, their ship drawing stares. The Red Blade was unmistakable.
As they stepped onto the pier, they were approached by a gang of bruisers.
"Red-Haired Shanks," the biggest one said, cracking his knuckles. "Haven't seen you in years."
"You won't see me again if you stay out of the way," Shanks said.
That should have been enough.
But one of them reached for Ankit's sword.
Ankit didn't hesitate.
[Fight Location: Tide's Maw – Iron Docks Skirmish]
The first blow was clean—a slash that grazed Ankit's shoulder as he dodged. He pivoted, letting the force carry him backward, then lunged, both blades whistling. One aimed low, one high.
CLANG!
He struck the thug's hammer sideways, spun, and sliced across the ribs with the off-hand.
Shanks moved like a red flash—elbowing one man in the jaw and knocking him unconscious before the blade even left the scabbard.
Mace fired warning shots at the last two, who bolted.
Ankit stood tall, breathing hard, blood on his sleeve.
But he wasn't smiling.
Because he'd felt how close he'd been to losing his rhythm. Still not fast enough. Still not perfect.
Shanks noticed the look.
"You're improving," he said.
Ankit nodded silently.
Location: Forge Tavern – "The Boiling Blade"
Inside, the heat was thick, and the smell of soot and blood hung in the air.
They asked for Benn Beckman.
The bartender didn't speak.
But someone behind them did.
"Red Hair," came a calm, low voice. "Took you long enough."
They turned.
A man in a dark vest leaned in the corner, long rifle on his back, cigarette in hand. Hair pulled back, sharp grey eyes.
Benn Beckman.
Shanks smiled. "Still smoking that same brand, I see."
"I'd quit if the world made sense," Benn said. Then looked at Ankit. "This the new one?"
"He is," Shanks said. "And we've got questions."
[SYSTEM PANEL – USER: ANKIT]
Status: Stable. Slight internal bruising (left shoulder).
World Integration Sync: 10.6%
Skill Proficiency Updated:
Dual Sword Style – Lv. 3
Efficiency Rating: 59%
Flow Reading: ★★☆☆☆
Off-Hand Coordination: 74%
Passive: Reflex Echo
Unlock Progress toward "Blade Split Echo": 14%
New Entry: Known Relics
Whispering Harpoon (Located)
Bone Gate (Vision only – Unknown Location)
Oureval (Designated Title: The Sleeper Below)
Forge Pathway: Tide's Maw – Investigating Origin
End of Chapter 14 – The Gate Beneath the Grave
Next: Chapter 15 – "Benn Beckman and the Forges of Maw"