Once back aboard The Abyss, Jacob retreated to his quarters, his mind teeming with the potential of his newfound powers. He carefully placed the maps from the cartographer on his desk, but his thoughts kept straying to the small chest of treasure they had brought back from the temple. Among the glittering gold coins, jeweled artifacts, and ancient trinkets, one item in particular caught his eye—a simple, weathered coin, unremarkable except for its age.
As if sensing his thoughts, the system's voice resonated in his mind, calm and instructive.
[Begin with the coin,] the system advised. [It will serve as an ideal vessel for the Soul Bind process, particularly given your affinity with the Curse of Misfortune.]
Jacob picked up the coin, feeling its worn, cool surface against his palm. The system had explained that Soul Bind would allow him to infuse an object with the essence of a soul, creating a cursed item linked directly to him. The nature of the curse was influenced by his own abilities—in this case, the Curse of Misfortune, which he had already begun to master. The curse's effects would depend on the object and the strength of the soul bound to it. But there was more to it—each cursed item would draw on Jacob's mental reserves, limiting his capacity to use other abilities.
"Explain the process," Jacob murmured, his voice barely audible as he focused on the coin.
[To create a cursed object,] the system began, [you must first select a soul. The stronger the soul, the more powerful the curse. Given your connection to the Curse of Misfortune, the coin you hold will bring misfortune to any who possess or spend it. Should that misfortune lead to death, a portion of the soul's energy will return to you, further increasing your power.]
Jacob felt a thrill of anticipation as the system continued its instructions. The idea of creating an object that could spread chaos and death, all while secretly feeding his power, was intoxicating. But the system's next words gave him pause.
[Be aware,] the system cautioned, [each cursed object you create will place a burden on your mental reserves. This burden reduces your capacity to use active abilities, such as cursing others with misfortune. As your mental strength increases, so too will your ability to create and manage multiple cursed items. However, overextending yourself could leave you vulnerable, unable to wield your powers effectively.]
Jacob's mind raced as he considered the implications. The more cursed objects he created, the more he would be able to grow his power base, but at the cost of weakening his immediate ability to defend himself or exert influence through direct curses. He would need to strike a careful balance, ensuring that each item served a purpose and justified the mental toll it exacted.
"Understood," Jacob said, steeling himself for the task ahead.
[Focus on the coin,] the system instructed. [Call forth the soul of one of the recently deceased—someone whose life was taken by your hand or by your command. The soul will bind to the coin, imbuing it with the Curse of Misfortune.]
Jacob closed his eyes, concentrating on the feel of the coin in his hand. He thought back to the skirmish with the rival crew, recalling the pirate whose life he had ended with a swift, calculated strike. The man's face flickered in his mind, a brief image of defiance and fear before the final blow had taken his life.
Slowly, Jacob felt a strange pull, as if something deep within him was reaching out, drawing on the remnants of the soul that had not yet fully passed on. The air around him grew colder, and the coin in his hand seemed to vibrate with a low, almost imperceptible hum.
Then, with a sudden surge of energy, the soul connected to the coin. Jacob felt the dark power flow through him and into the object, solidifying the bond.
[The curse is complete,] the system intoned. [The coin will now bring misfortune to those who possess or spend it. Each time this misfortune results in a death, a portion of the soul's energy will return to you, increasing your power. The system will track the number of souls absorbed in this manner. Current tally: 0.]
Jacob opened his eyes, staring down at the cursed coin in his hand. It looked no different than before, but he could feel the malevolent energy radiating from it, a dark promise of the chaos it would bring. The coin was a weapon, subtle and insidious, capable of spreading its curse to anyone unfortunate enough to come into contact with it.
A thought crossed Jacob's mind, and he couldn't help but wonder. "Could I bind other powers to objects as well?" he asked, his curiosity piqued by the possibilities.
[Speculative,] the system responded. [As your power grows and you gain new abilities, it may be possible to bind other curses or effects to objects, depending on the nature of those abilities and the objects chosen. The stronger your connection to the ability, the more potent the resulting curse. However, each binding will increase the strain on your mental reserves.]
Jacob nodded thoughtfully, weighing the risks against the potential rewards. If he could create multiple cursed objects, each with a different power or effect, he could spread his influence far beyond what he could achieve through direct action alone. But he would need to use this power carefully, strategically, ensuring that each cursed object served a specific purpose.
For now, the cursed coin would remain hidden, its true nature known only to him. He would wait for the right moment to introduce it into the world, perhaps as payment to an unsuspecting foe or a tool to manipulate events from the shadows. But the knowledge that he could create such objects—and that he could directly benefit from the chaos they caused—filled him with a sense of anticipation.
With the coin secured, Jacob turned his attention to the maps laid out on his desk. His pulse quickened as he unfurled the first scroll, revealing a chart of the seas that, at first glance, seemed unfamiliar. He scanned it quickly, his eyes darting across the parchment, searching for anything recognizable.
He moved on to the next map, and then the next, each one bringing a wave of both dread and hope. Some depicted islands that looked alien to him, their names strange and unpronounceable. Others showed coastlines and sea routes, but nothing that matched the charts he knew from his previous life.
His heart began to race as he unfurled yet another map, his fingers trembling with both fear and anticipation. As his eyes roved over the details, something caught his attention—a faint outline, a shape that sparked a flicker of recognition deep within him. He leaned in closer, his breath hitching in his throat.
It was a map of a coastline, but not just any coastline. It was rough, crudely drawn, and different from the neat, precise maps he was used to, but there was something unmistakable about it. A curve of land, the placement of islands off the coast—it was familiar, almost painfully so.
Jacob's heart pounded as he traced the lines with a finger, lightly stroking the ancient parchment. The implications of what he was seeing began to settle over him like a heavy fog. This was Earth—his Earth, or at least a version of it. The map wasn't exact, but the features were close enough, matching the geography of a world he had thought he might never see again.
The realization hit him like a tidal wave, leaving him momentarily breathless. He was still on Earth. As his eyes traced the contours of the familiar yet distant coastline, recognition dawned.
His gaze sharpened as he noticed something faint, almost imperceptible, on the aged parchment. There, barely visible and nearly lost to time, was the name "Hispaniola," etched in faded ink. The confirmation sent a shiver down his spine. He remembered seeing this coastline once or twice on maps in his old life, and now here it was, staring back at him from a relic of this strange world. It was the northern coast of Hispaniola, a name that echoed with the weight of history—the very heart of the Caribbean, where so many tales of piracy had begun.
But this wasn't the Earth he remembered. It was different, older perhaps, or altered in ways he couldn't yet understand. The maps showed lands that had never existed in his time, or perhaps they were lands that had been lost to history.
As he sat there, staring at the map, his fingers still tracing the familiar yet foreign coastline, a deep sense of unease settled over him. He was on Earth, yes, but it wasn't the Earth he knew. What did that mean? How had he come to be here? And, more importantly, how could he use this knowledge to his advantage?
The system's voice, always lurking in the background, offered no answers this time. This was a revelation Jacob had to process on his own.
For a long while, he sat in silence, lost in thought, the map spread out before him like a lifeline to his past. Finally, he rolled up the map with deliberate care and placed it aside, his mind churning with the possibilities.
He was on Earth, or some version of it. That was a start, but it was far from the end. There was so much more to learn, so much more to uncover. And as the night deepened, Jacob knew one thing for sure: he was ready for whatever came next.
The cursed coin, the maps, the growing influence aboard The Abyss—all of it would come together, piece by piece, as he built his power base and prepared for the challenges that lay ahead.
The future was uncertain, but with this new knowledge, Jacob felt more prepared than ever. He was on Earth, yes, but this was his world now, and he would carve out his place in it, no matter the cost.