Chapter 29 - The Ghost(5) - The Man of the Sea

Atlat Mania.

The first he had heard of it was from Ren a few days ago. It was a sort of sickness that came after a deathly encounter on the sea, the ultimate climax of the ocean's allure.

Most sailors that survived a maritime disaster fell victim to its grip, succumbing to an overwhelming obsession with Kathuk. They would find themselves compelled to wander the sea for years, even decades, unable to resist the irresistible pull. And when the craving became unbearable, they would take their lives just for a glimpse of Kathuk's visage.

"What nonsense? I have no Atlat Mania. It's merely a myth," Captain Havoc scoffed.

Reve shook his head. "But you do, Captain. Deep down, you must already know it. You have become such a crazed fanatic of the false god."

One of the crew interjected, "Captain, this has gone on for too long. Should we kill him?"

Captain Havoc waved off the suggestion. "It's fine. He's only here for questions. He didn't kill the others. Lower your guns. Despite his irritating mouth, there is no reason to make him feel threatened."

Reve smiled as he watched the crew drop their guns. However, they still held dangerous glints in their eyes, watching Reve's every move.

Reve bravely shortened the distance between him and Captain Havoc. He stopped as his eyes focused on something on the ground, a twinkle in his eyes as his mind raced.

Putting it off his mind, Reve turned to Captain Havoc and said, "So, you acknowledge you have Atlat Mania?"

Captain Havoc's reply carried a touch of resignation, "I'm n foool. I can sense when I have been cursed. Nevertheless, the curse poses no threat to others. I am not endangering this voyage."

"After my retirement, I ventured into the sailor's business and faced a string of ill-fated events that eventually led to a ship invasion during one of my early voyages. It was during my brief encounter with death that I caught a glimpse of Kathuk's shadow."

"I knew immediately I was cursed, but I couldn't deny its magnificence. He is perfection, captivating like the melodies of the ocean. I yearned to get closer to him, but it was not to be."

Reve frowned. "Wasn't it said that Tryphon has never encountered any mishaps before?"

Captain Havoc sighed. "I wasn't always captaining Tryphon. Before that, there were other ships, and they all met with disaster. This ocean is treacherous. It's called the Devil's Strait for a reason. Without his blessing—without Atlat Mania, I would have perished a long time ago."

Reve mused. "Atlat Mania…"

Was that the missing piece?

Perhaps the god Kathuk was responsible for Tryphon's unprecedented success. Initially, Reve suspected there was more to it, but the captain's explanation seemed solid and plausible.

Reve curiously asked, "At the time of the Atlat Mania, what caused the ship's invasion?"

"Wild akhluts. My crew slaughtered them all. Yet, I was the lone survivor amidst that bloodbath," Captain Havoc's voice softened as scenes from the event played in his mind.

"Akhluts?" Reve's expression was that of total confusion.

The creatures called akhluts were unfamiliar to him. 'Another gap in my knowledge. My limited understanding of New Earth keeps putting me at a disadvantage.'

As someone who always favored preparations, this put a bad taste in his mouth. He made a silent decision to visit a library or some place of knowledge when he had time.

'Anyway, I need to wrap this up.'

Reve gazed at Captain Havoc, saying, "You are affiliated with the Ghost, aren't you?"

Refusing to respond, Captain Havoc rose from his chair. His large frame loomed closer to Reve, emanating a chilling aura as the battle scars became more pronounced.

"Is that your choice?" Captain Havoc grimly asked.

Reve's eyes carried a solemn gaze. "I see. I have my answer."

Without warning, he swiftly ducked to evade a devastating blow thrown at him. Reacting swiftly, one of the crew members aimed his gun at Reve. However, Reve withdrew a dagger and flung it at the crew member's head, extinguishing his life in an instant.

He jumped into the air as a torrent of bullets grazed his skin. As he descended, his gaze fixated on a momentarily bewildered Captain Havoc. With precision, Reve delivered a powerful kick to the captain's neck, sending him hurtling through a group of his own men, knocking down ten of them in the process.

Suddenly, the surrounding crew members closed in, unleashing a barrage of bullets from every direction. Even [Morai] couldn't save him this time.

Raising his left hand in a defensive gesture, Reve formed a hand sign and erected a telekinetic shield.

This was one of his proudest innovations. However, it had its limitations.

As the bullets ricocheted against the telekinetic barrier, a searing pain tore through Reve's flesh. Glancing down, he discovered a deep chunk of his flesh torn away by a ray bullet.

'Fuckery! How could I forget that?!'

The telekinetic shield only provided protection against physical objects, rendering it ineffective against metaphysical objects like the energy-infused ray bullets of rayguns.

Luckily, he was able to avoid a headshot, but more bullets poured into his skin and he couldn't help but slowly distance himself from the torrent of guns.

With agile legs, Reve hurled a nearby table across the room, creating a momentary distraction that allowed him to reach the door.

However, as he swung it open, he was met with the shocking sight of ten men stationed just beyond. Without hesitation, they blasted him back into the room with their rayguns!

Reve reactively shielded himself with his left arm. He gasped for breath as multiple wounds marred his limbs, blood flowing profusely.

"This was a trap all along," Reve realized.

His eyes shifted to the far corner of the wheelhouse and he uttered, "That's how you killed those two."

In truth, the moment he stepped foot into the wheelhouse, he noticed the lifeless bodies tucked away in the far corner. It was the reason he adamantly pushed Captain Havoc to the edge, because he sensed there was something foul going on. However, it appears he had pushed too far.

Captain Havoc appeared behind his crew, gripping a large conch in his hand.

He spoke with a mixture of admiration and envy, "I knew there will always be someone like you. Youngsters who are full of adventures. Brave and careless. Although I must admit, you are not like those two. Your skills are superb. You fight like a seasoned veteran. I envy you. When I was your age, I couldn't even come close to your level."

"But I have to kill you because it is the only way for me to become whole again. I know deep down you understand my reasoning."

Without hesitation, he blew into the conch, and the haunting melodies of the sea filled the air. Yet, in a shocking turn of events, Reve appeared immune to the mesmerizing tunes, unlike the rest who fell under its enchantment.

Captain Havoc furrowed his brows. "You blocked your ears?"

Reve's lips curled into a smile. "Just a simple precaution. You can never tell who the Ghost is, can you?"

He became more convinced that Captain Havoc was the Ghost. The conch in his hand might just be his way of capturing, but to what end?

The more he delved into the captain's persona, the clearer it became that his objective extended beyond mere capture or slaughter of passengers. There seemed to be a complex purpose woven into the fabric of this unsettling scheme.

Suddenly, an epiphany shattered Reve's thoughts, and his smile widened.

Reve took a wild guess. "You want your abilities back. That's what this is all about, isn't it?"

Captain Havoc produced a remote in his hands and began pressing buttons. A series of mechanical sounds resonated through the wheelhouse. The crew gathered around their captain.

Sensing the imminent danger, Reve began taking a step back. "I know about the trap. It's not going to work."

When he first entered the wheelhouse, he had felt the presence of a concealed metal plate just beneath the floorboard in the middle section of the room. He wasn't sure what it was, but his instincts warned him never to venture into that part of the room.

That was why he still didn't take his chances to confront the captain after the song affected everyone but them.

"It's a decoy." Captain Havoc shockingly revealed.

Reve's eyes widened as he glanced upwards, noticing another metal plate securely latched onto the ceiling directly above his position.

"Damn!" He cursed under his breath as he rushed to the door, but the trap machine activated instantly.

A powerful gravitational force emanated from the metal plate, pulling Reve towards the ceiling. Around the metal plate, a circular dome materialized, enclosing the smaller portion of the room.

Reve tried moving, but not even his muscles budged. The gravitational force appeared to bore a greater pressure than he could endure. It tore into him, and he couldn't even wince in pain.

Captain Havoc raised his hand and reached out, his fingers grazing the surface of the encasing dome.

A chilling smile formed on his face. "Those two noticed my ship had deviated from its course and ventured in, questioning to no end. You came in, arrogantly thinking you could unravel my secrets. You placed too much faith in your intellect. But that does nothing in the face of true experience and ambition."