Chapter 8.

Captain Shadows of Death.

The journey to find Morgana and discover the source of the poison had become an urgent and dangerous mission. The crew of The Shadow of Thunder sailed with determination, guided by the map that the healer had provided them.

The first route on the map was known as the Two-Colored Route, a sea passage where two seas met but did not mix. The difference in the hue of the waters was obvious: one side was crystal clear and blue, while the other was as black as darkness itself.

There it is, Iris said, pointing to the distinctive line in the water. It is the Two-Colored Route. We must be vigilant.

Marcus, though weakened by the poison, remained on the deck, watching carefully. Morgana could be anywhere in this passage. Stay alert and prepare for the worst.

The crew adjusted the sails and guns, aware that the battle could begin at any moment. The contrast between the two seas was impressive and somewhat disturbing. As they sailed, the tension in the air increased.

Suddenly, a group of stealthy sailors emerged from the dark waters, camouflaged by the blackness of the sea. They had arrived undetected, moving with disturbing agility and silence. Before the crew of The Shadow of Thunder could react, enemy sailors boarded and attacked with a letal precision.

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¡Ambush! Jax shouted, drawing his sword and trying to repel the attack. Chaos broke out on the deck as sailors from both sides engaged in a fierce fight.

Erebus, known as the Shadow of Death, appeared among his men with a cruel smile. Marcus, it seems your days of glory are over.

Marcus, weakened by the poison, realized he was in no condition to face Erebus directly. Iris, take the crew and hold out. I must hide for now.

With Jax's help, Marcus retreated to one of his ship's secret cabins, hiding from the sight of the enemies. He knew he must conserve his strength for the crucial moment of the ritual.

Meanwhile, on deck, Iris fought with all her might against the invaders. The enemy sailors were relentless, and the battle grew increasingly bloody. But despite their bravery, the crew of The Shadow of Thunder found themselves at a disadvantage.

Erebus, not finding Marcus, cast one last look of contempt before ordering his men to retreat. Marcus, you can hide, but you cannot escape. I will return for you.

With a sinister laugh, Erebus and his sailors disappeared as quickly as they could. As quickly as they had arrived, leaving the crew of The Shadow of Thunder wounded and vulnerable.

Iris, covered in blood and exhausted because one of Erebus' sailors had subdued her in one of the corridors and had violently and sexually abused her with one of his wooden legs until her insides bled and hurt, watched as the invaders retreated. She knew that it had been a Pyrrhic victory, and that the real battle was yet to come. With a heavy heart, she headed to the secret cabin where Marcus was.

Captain, she said with a trembling voice. We have repelled the attack, but almost all of our men are seriously injured. Erebus is more dangerous than we imagined.

Marcus, his face pale with pain, nodded. We cannot give up, Iris. We must find Morgana and complete the ritual before the next full moon. Only then we can stop Erebus and save our crew.

As the storm slowly calmed, the tension in the air was still palpable. The echoes of the battle resonated in the minds of all who had participated, and they knew that the conflict was far from over, but despite the adversity, the determination of Marcus and his crew did not waver.

They were ready to face any obstacle in order to survive and protect their honor at sea and this encounter with the captain of The Lament of the Damned had been very mild compared to those captains who lay asleep in the depths of the sea after their deadly encounter.