Chapter 30 - The Ordained Path

Chapter 30 - The Ordained Path

Reve ceased struggling and fixated his gaze on Captain Havoc. "What happens now? Are you going to kill me?"

"No, Reve. I have a better use for you." Captain Havoc glanced at the holographic panel displaying the time. "Would you believe it? I'm running late."

"Running late for what?" Reve furrowed his brows as he questioned.

The captain chuckled. "For my guests, of course. I am yet to welcome them. I'm certain they will be thrilled to see you and the other passengers."

With a swift motion, Captain Havoc concealed the conch within his pocket and made his way toward the towering microphone, ensuring everything was ready and in order.

Puzzled by the captain's words, Reve went into deep thought. 'Guests? On the sea?'

No sane human would arrange a meeting in the Devil's Strait. Perhaps it was even borderline genius to conduct nefarious activities here since it was in the eye of the storm. After all, the Devil's Strait lay beyond the watchful gaze of New Order's surveillance.

'However, he mentioned preparing me for them. If he is truly the Ghost, did he abduct the others for his so-called guests?'

No, that seemed too far-fetched.

Reve raised his voice as he asked, "Who are these guests? Why do they need me? Why did you kill those two, but spare me?!"

Captain Havoc let out a weary sigh. "All will be revealed in due time. For now, sit tight. I wouldn't want to harm such a rare commodity."

Approaching the microphone stand, the captain cleared his throat and spoke in a smooth voice, "Good afternoon, my beloved passengers. It is with great sadness that I announce our journey has come to an end. If I'm being honest, I never anticipated losing this many passengers before reaching this transformative phase of our journey. Alas, we encountered some unforeseen mishaps along the way, leading us to this very moment."

"Going forward, there will–" Captain Havoc paused, taking in deep breaths. His expression revealed a mix of regret and remorse.

"-there is no going forward. This is where everything ends. This is where you carve your graves, not by my hands, but by the hands of nature. Know this, I take no pleasure in what's to come. It is not my desire, but the ordained path I must take to enliven."

Captain Havoc coughed into his handkerchief as a dark spot of blood stained the white cloth. "Enough rambling. I have prayed to Kathuk for your survival. It is now up to you. I have faced death many times and escaped. It is only fair you are given the chance to do the same. This is my final farewell."

In an instant, Captain Havoc switched off the microphone and tucked the wheelhouse remote into his pocket.

Reve trailed off with his word. He spoke out loud, each word deepening the shocked expression on his face. "That's it. This entire ship is a sacrificial offering for your so-called guest! They are not humans; they are monsters. And I bet you never survived the Akhluts' invasion. They spared you."

He now understood.

The reason Captain Havoc killed the previous intruders was because they weren't anything out of the ordinary. Killing them wouldn't make a difference.

But Reve wasn't like the others. He would make the perfect sacrifice alongside the unsuspecting passengers.

A sacrifice to the akhluts. But why?

'Gods be damned. The passengers are like mere lambs waiting to be slaughtered. Captain Havoc must have struck a deal with the akhluts for his survival and a means to regain his powers. But, is that even possible?'

Reve gazed at Captain Havoc meaningfully. "How do the akhluts plan to restore your power? Once the lost chill consumes you, it clings until death."

A chuckle escaped the captain's lips. "Do you know most supernatural races do not experience the lost chill? I have met a fair share of witches at the winding end of their lifespan, still deeply attuned to the supernatural. I have seen werewolves fight the lost chill, literally. And dark elves? Oh, don't even get me started on them. Humans stood no chance from the start."

Captain Havoc's eyes gleamed with a cruel intensity. "That's why, to regain my powers, I have to become more than human."

Reve was stunned. "What are you saying? Did the akhluts promise to make you one of them?"

"I will leave that to your imagination. Farewell, genius. I'm tempted to ask for your name, but then again, that would only increase the weight of the guilt I bear." He remarked as he made his way towards the door.

As he cranked open the large door, he warned his crew. "No matter what, remain here and you will be safe. Do not let him escape. I will come for him later."

After saying all that, he left the wheelhouse, heading for the dock.

Reve was left submerged in a whirlpool of unanswered questions.

He shook his head, attempting to dismiss the piling mysteries. But even his firm will proved futile.

'Whatever, I can't do anything from here. I have heard enough.' Reve internally murmured with a hint of frustration.

He knew, at this point, it was time to rendezvous with Ren and Calen. Together, they might find a way out of this nonsense.

'Time to go, huh?'

Reve internally chuckled as his senses scanned the wheelhouse. Even though he couldn't move his body, his mind remained fully active.

He could sense everything in the vicinity. A testament to just how powerful his senses were. Oftentimes, they were detrimental to his well-being.

After one more scan, Reve confirmed that Captain Havoc did indeed leave. He wasn't playing another trick.

'Fifteen men. Five on the left. Six on the right, close to the door. And four just ahead.'

'This will be easy.' Reve smiled.

Everything that had occurred to this point had just been mind games between the captain and him. Each vying to undermine the other and achieve their respective objective.

Reve's original aim in this pseudo mission was to uncover the truth about the Ghost. For that purpose, losing was not important to him.

He grinned. 'Hehe, I bet the captain didn't think I could get out.'

It was true the captain's multi-layered trap caught him unaware. It was also true there was no escaping the gravity chamber.

But that only applied to regular humans!

Reve's gaze fell upon his gleaming dagger resting on the ground, and a mischievous twinkle sparkled in his eye. With sheer focus of mind, the dagger levitated into the air, emitting a faint whistle as it cut through the silence.

The guards were caught off guard.

"What the fuck? Who is doing this?" One guard exclaimed in bewilderment.

But it was too late for them. The dagger swiftly sliced through their throats, leaving them gasping for breath as crimson rivers cascaded onto the ground. The floor transformed into a macabre pool of blood.

Reve's smile grew wider. 'Even if they knew it was me, they can't do anything. The gravity chamber is both my prison and my shield.'

He focused his senses on the metal plate above. 'The thing about modern technology is that telekinesis can still affect them. But if it's a mystical artifact, well, then it's a whole 'nother situation.'