The City of Blacksteel Pt.1

The beach stretched out before me, a surreal beauty that I hadn't expected to find in a place like this. The water was impossibly clear, the waves gently lapping at the shore with a soft, rhythmic pulse. The moonlight, or whatever was masquerading as moonlight down here, cast a silvery glow over everything, making the sand sparkle like tiny diamonds. The trees swayed slightly in the cool breeze, their branches reaching out as if welcoming me. I could hear the distant calls of strange animals—creatures I couldn't recognize—echoing across the water.

"Is this still underground?" I muttered to myself, glancing up at the cave ceiling far above. It was hard to tell where the sky ended and the stone ceiling began.

The scene before me was so breathtaking, so otherworldly. "Why is it so beautiful?" I whispered, almost forgetting where I was and how I had gotten here.

The peacefulness of the moment was abruptly interrupted by the ogre. It was still lying on the beach, its massive form relaxed in deep sleep. But before I could make sense of anything, the ogre suddenly vanished, leaving only faint traces of magic hanging in the air.

"He teleported back," I realized, the pieces slowly clicking together. That's why I ended up here. The magic must have dragged me along, bringing me to this strange place.

I stood on the beach for a while, unsure of what to do next. The place was beautiful, but it wasn't safe. I needed to figure out my next move. As I walked along the shoreline, lost in thought, something caught my eye in the distance.

A ship.

It was approaching the beach, its sails billowing in the wind. From afar, it looked like a pirate ship, with a flag hoisted high on the mast. The flag had a cartoonish skull and crossbones, its grin wide and menacing. The ship itself had an odd design, almost like something from a wild adventure story—a giant lion's head carved at the front, its expression fierce and playful at the same time.

"That ship... it looks familiar," I muttered. But I couldn't place it. It looked like something out of a story I once read or saw, yet the details were different.

As the ship drew closer, the crew began to unboard. My eyes widened as I watched them—faces that I vaguely recognized but couldn't quite place. One of them, a tall man with a straw hat and an infectious grin, was shouting orders to the others. Another, a fierce swordsman with three swords strapped to his waist, stood off to the side, surveying the beach with sharp eyes. He looked... dangerous.

I had the sudden urge to sneak closer, to figure out more about this strange crew. Maybe I could parasitize one of them, get closer to the action. My first target? The swordsman. But as soon as I got near him, a chill ran down my spine. His aura was... terrifying. Too risky. No way was I getting close to him.

Instead, I set my sights on a smaller figure, what seemed to be the mascot of the group—a small, cute animal-like creature with green and white fur. Its wide eyes and goofy hat made it seem far less threatening than the others.

"Perfect," I thought.

But as I moved closer, something seemed off. The mascot was different from what I imagined—green instead of brown, its fur patterned in strange swirls. Was this some sort of alternate version? Was I in a different universe? It had to be.

I slid into the mascot's body with ease. To my surprise, the little creature didn't even seem to notice. Perfect. Inside, I could hear the crew chatting, planning their next move. It sounded like they were heading to a nearby town, something big. I grinned to myself, settling in for the ride.

A sudden notification popped up in my mind. I'd gained a new skill.

[Smile]

"Great," I muttered sarcastically, rolling my eyes. Not exactly what I was hoping for.

Over the next week, I stayed hidden in the mascot's body as the crew made their way toward the city. It wasn't a boring journey, to say the least. They fought off sea monsters, camped on the beach, and even took turns cooking and bathing in the sea. It was almost peaceful in a chaotic, pirate-y sort of way. But the destination was what interested me the most.

Finally, after what felt like days of travel, we arrived. The entrance to the city was breathtaking—an enormous cave pathway that opened up into a massive, sprawling open space. Five different paths led into the city from all corners, each carved out of stone and illuminated by flickering lamps that lined the walls.

The city itself was unlike anything I had ever seen. It had a punk-steam vibe—pipes, gears, and machinery sticking out from almost every building. Towers rose up high into the cave ceiling, steam billowing from vents, the sound of churning engines echoing in the air. People bustled about, dressed in strange, vibrant clothing, moving from one mechanical contraption to the next.

"This place is incredible," I muttered to myself, almost forgetting where I was.

Satisfied with the journey, I slipped out of the mascot's body just before they docked at the city. I quickly thanked the crew in my own way and disappeared into the shadows, leaving them none the wiser.

I had found my way into the city—and now, the real adventure could begin.