The moonlight fell on the dark shore, casting a bright line on the foamy waves that stretched to infinity. The rocky shore was far from the village, and because it was filled with pristine, untouched scenery, few people went there.
Coconut trees lay beside the shore, and the dense vegetation, like a green veil, hid the secrets of the forest from everyone's eyes. The sound of waves crashing against the rocks near the shore continued incessantly, and the cool sea breeze caressed the soul.
A few miles away, a thick gray mist floated on the sea. Although it was quiet and calm, small and large boats were sometimes seen in it. Boats just as quiet and calm, wandering in the territory of the mist.
Many legends surrounded that area. A cursed sea that, by crossing it, you would reach a new world. However, no one had ever returned from that route to confirm or deny this, and no one ventured towards those deadly waters anymore.
However, there was one person who was interested in these waters. These waters could provide a good escape route from the naval fire zone, and besides this, there was another reason.
The pirate king had a broad-shouldered body, and his muscles, toned from working at sea, were visible through his half-open shirt. He had strange tattoos on his body. Talismans that helped him survive, and some of those tattoos were purely decorative.
He had a short beard and a bony face. He ran his long fingers through his disheveled hair and sighed as he looked at the cursed sea.
His footprints on the soft sand of the shore were erased by the first wave.
"Many years have passed, and after all this time, I finally managed to discover some things about that sea."
Then he glanced at the dense forest beside him and muttered, "If there is another world besides this cursed hell, could I experience a better life there?"
The illusion of reaching a better life had led him to commit acts that burned thousands of lives. He remembered the pleading cries, the spilled blood, the gasping breaths, the sunken ships. Smirking, he shook his head:
"No, for me, there is no such thing as a better life…"
This was a question he asked himself: why was life at odds with human desires?
How much hardship did one have to endure for everything to end? Where was the starting point of redemption?
He drew his dagger.
"Maybe…"
But he immediately regretted it. The moonlight reflected off the cold blade of the dagger, illuminating his cheek like a luminous wound.
Perhaps life was worthless, but this worthless life was all he had. It was like living in an abandoned hut that was neither a shield against the cold nor suitable for escaping the unbearable heat.
Life was no different from this hut. It gave the illusion of four walls and then threw a thousand kinds of calamities at you. Despite all the complaints, you couldn't just leave this hut; the hardships of the hut might drive you to the brink, but these known hardships were a thousand times better than the unknown dangers waiting outside the hut.
Book of Dao Ma / Chapter Two / On Power
The essence of power is emptiness; it is a mirage that embodies dreams, a deceiver that makes corruption seem good, and is used only for the outcome of will.
Once a sage said: "The price of power is heavy, it takes humanity and creates ruin."
However, fleeing from it is weakness, and seeking it is ignorance. It is formless and takes any form; the strongest of it is will, and the weakest is the crown that sits on the head.
Power is a beautiful lady that creates ugliness, in dark hearts, it becomes a wicked hag, and in bright hearts, a frail maiden. But in any form, it tends towards ruin, and its weakness is human will. The reins of power are called will, held by the most honorable people. Everything is power, and nothing is power.
A noble person finds power within themselves, and a wicked person searches for it in the darkness.
But ultimately, what is power?
The answer is simple.
Power is the soul…
Gradually, the darkness of the night faded, and the azure blue of the sea became visible. The shadow of the waves danced on the shallow seabed, and the brightness of the sky showed itself. A golden wave appeared from beyond the horizon, and the shadow of the bent trees fell on the rippling sands.
The pirate king lay on the sand, looking at the blue rock at the far right end of the shore, and examined the tree growing on its steep slope.
Morning had arrived. He had spent the entire night on the remote shore. This was the "freedom" of pirates, wandering in deserted islands and untouched shores.
"After a long night, I finally have to go back. Phew… I wish every night was this peaceful…"
But he didn't know what might have happened in the village during a peaceful night.
Cyrus entered the treasury. A room with tall black walls, located like a dungeon in a basement. Many treasures and hoards were found there, and there were also rare handwritten books. On the wall, a leather map was hung, showing each corner of the world he was in.
Cyrus looked at the 12 obscure points on the map.
Those areas had no information and were only marked with the letter (M). Cyrus followed the continents and islands until he found an island in the western corner of the continent.
"So, I'm here now…"
Then he searched for the palace of the Lord of Memories but found no sign of it. There were four large continents on this map, two of which were separated by a strait. The other two continents were as far apart as a sea and were also far from these two continents.
Seven towers were depicted on the map in different locations. They were magical towers, each inhabited by a great wizard.
Cyrus found a manuscript on the table next to the map:
"According to ancient books, there were five continents in this world, but one of them was destroyed during a great war. There is no information available about the twelve misty places; there are many legends, but none have been proven. However, there is a hypothesis that where the seven seas meet, and the calm waters boil, lies the remaining land of the destroyed continent, which is the dwelling place of the Lord of this world. That place is called the true realm of the (Forgotten Throne). It is where all the creatures of the world are judged and return to their roots."
Cyrus looked at the map again.
"Could it be one of these twelve misty territories?"
Cyrus immediately dismissed this. He had been in one of these territories and had even flown over it. There was nothing in those islands except a strange aura.
"I don't think searching these islands will get me anywhere. If there was a war, there are probably curses from that era left in these islands… Going there isn't rational…"
Cyrus had no interest in coins and gold. He searched the treasury a bit more; suddenly, something caught his attention.
"Oh, this is a… ??"