《Crimson Tides: The Dart Poison》 01. Ships Cabin Startled awake, his ocean-blue eyes opened wide, disoriented by his surroundings. All he could see were wooden materials, from the walls to the furniture¡ªand he seemed to be inside a spacious room filled with tons of ale. ¡°What the heck,¡± he mumbled. ¡°Where am I?¡± He noticed his outfit, which looked outdated, with tears in several places on his white shirt. His brown trousers didn¡¯t seem to be in much better condition either. He grew increasingly anxious, not even knowing what had happened to him. His mind tried to remember, but he couldn¡¯t recall anything useful except his own name, Xu Haoran. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make any sense! I shouldn¡¯t be here!¡± Light from outside seeped in, filtering through the cracks in the walls. Spiders seemed to be enjoying their life here, as their webs covered every corner. Heck, even Haoran thought he was in an abandoned tavern. He forced himself to stand up, though for some reason, he felt incredibly tired. His legs felt weak, to the point where he had to lean on a large barrel beside him. However, as he moved forward, a burning sensation washed over his stomach. ¡°Shit! It hurts!¡± he wailed, clutching his abdomen, unable to hold back the urge to vomit. Black liquid spilled from his mouth, splattering onto the dirty floor. It wasn¡¯t ale or coffee, but rather something else entirely. The density, the color, and the way it pooled all pointed to a poisonous substance. ¡°I didn¡¯t do this to myself, right?¡± His eyes remained locked on the fluid. ¡°Or did I?¡± His mind was flooded with countless possibilities, growing heavier as he tried to piece together what had happened. Unable to find an answer, Xu Haoran forced himself to leave the room. However, his balance was somehow unsteady. It wasn¡¯t because he was still fragile, but rather because the environment itself seemed to be moving. Faintly, he also heard the sound of water splashing around him. ¡°That sound¡­ does that mean this is¡­¡± He turned his head, searching for a small gap in the wall to peer through. When his eyes landed on a small hole near the corner of the room, he didn¡¯t waste any time checking it. He tried to adjust, positioning his right eye to see while keeping the other shut. ¡°This is ridiculous,¡± he murmured in shock as he saw an ocean stretching across the horizon. ¡°How did I end up in a ship¡¯s cabin?¡± Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. Xu Haoran turned, spotting a door with iron fittings. ¡°There must be someone else here!¡± He pulled the lever, but it was locked¡ªthe worst scenario he had expected. He was trapped here. ¡°Fuck!¡± he roared, his anxiety rising. ¡°Please, can anyone outside hear me?¡± No one answered, but Xu Haoran kept his determination. ¡°Help me out of here! Whoever you are!¡± After many attempts, he finally heard a voice¡ªa whisper at first, but it soon turned into a scream. ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Xu Haoran panicked, swallowing hard. He wanted to respond but hesitated. Who knows what he had been through? Revealing his name could make things worse. He had to be extra cautious. ¡°I-I don¡¯t remember who I am or what happened. When I woke up, I was already in here!¡± he answered. ¡°Please, free me!¡± He heard several voices discussing, until one man finally replied, ¡°Back away from the door! Don¡¯t do anything stupid, or we¡¯ll kill you on sight!¡± Xu Haoran complied, unable to afford risking his life with a foolish action. For now, all he could do was go with the flow. The handlers moved swiftly as the door unlocked, and with a single kick, it swung open wide, revealing a crowd armed with weapons. Some of them wielded scimitars, while others carried curved swords like shamshirs. But the most unusual sight was the burst of flame¡ªfloating right above the woman¡¯s hand. It dissipated as soon as she clenched her fist. ¡°Is that magic?¡± Xu Haoran thought, awestruck, as he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender, signaling that he wouldn¡¯t resist. A muscular man, tall and broad, with scars on his arms, examined Xu Haoran with a serious expression. He looked menacing, removing the cigarette from his mouth and exhaling smoke into the air as he stepped forward. ¡°Who the fuck are you?¡± he said, his voice hoarse and intimidating. ¡°And what are you doing here? Speak!¡± Startled, Xu Haoran stammered, ¡°I-I don''t know, I swear! The last thing I remember is¡­ falling asleep at the harbor, and then when I woke up, I was already in here!¡± Xu Haoran added a little lie to make his story more believable, but the man still wasn¡¯t convinced. ¡°Tie him up and bring him to the deck. The captain will decide whether he¡¯ll be killed there or tossed into the ocean. Do it fast!¡± Wide-eyed, Xu Haoran froze, his heart nearly stopping at that moment. But he knew he couldn¡¯t fight back. He let himself be bound and was forced to climb the stairs. Unlike what he had imagined, the crew here wasn¡¯t small in number. Xu Haoran was met with hostile glares from the crew, and some even shouted to throw him to the sea monsters. He realized he wasn¡¯t in his world anymore¡ªhe was sure of it. After all, magic and monsters couldn¡¯t possibly exist on Earth. The bright sunlight blinded him as he stepped out of the cabin. The salty scent of the ocean filled his nose, and a strong wind whipped against the ship¡¯s massive sails. If he looked closely at the flags around him, he noticed a symbol of a snake and a compass. ¡°Move to the center, damn it!¡± A crew member kicked Xu Haoran, causing him to stumble as he was pushed forward until they reached their destination. He was forced to kneel when the muscular man reappeared on the upper deck. He seemed to be speaking to someone else up there, and Xu Haoran could see who it was¡ªa blonde woman in a red dress that accentuated her voluptuous curves. A belt rested on her shoulder and around her wide waist, holding a rapier with a rose-shaped hilt. Her indifferent, cold eyes gazed down directly at Xu Haoran. ¡°So this is the boy,¡± she said in a deep voice. ¡°Let¡¯s take a good look at him.¡± 02. Blessed Power The captain descended the stairs as her steps measured and calm¡ªenough to send a shiver down Xu Haoran''s spine. Despite her mature, beautiful face, that facade couldn''t conceal the malicious aura radiating from her expression. Almost everyone''s attention was fixed on Xu Haoran. He was surrounded, becoming the focal point of this spectacle. He took a deep breath, fully aware of the tense situation he was in. One wrong move, and it would all be over for him. He needed to tread carefully to find the best way to save his life. The boots came to a halt in front of Xu Haoran. She wore fishnet stockings, and he examined her from bottom to top. She crossed her arms, her piercing eyes locking onto his that could freeze even the bravest soul in terror. ¡°You look young and innocent to me,¡± she said. ¡°Brent has told me a bit about what happened. Is it true?¡± Without hesitation, Xu Haoran knitted his brows and nodded. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s all true.¡± ¡°Search him!¡± she commanded. The members began searching him, eager to find something suspicious. They went through his shirt, his trousers, and everything seemed normal¡ªuntil one of them checked his left pocket. ¡°Wait, what is this?¡± the member exclaimed, pulling out a letter. ¡°There¡¯s writing inside.¡± Xu Haoran¡¯s heart sank. Since when did he write a letter? Either he was being set up as a scapegoat, or someone had framed him. Whatever it was, he knew nothing good would come of it. The woman took the evidence, unfolded it, and read its contents. A slight smile formed on her face as she said, ¡°A treasure hunter¡¯s vision doesn¡¯t align with ours. You don¡¯t care about freedom; all you think about is coins. Well, in that case, there¡¯s no room for you here.¡± ¡°Toss him into the ocean.¡± As soon as she gave the order, the barbarous members dragged him, accompanied by the sound of cheers and shouts from all directions. ¡°Wait! Please, I haven¡¯t done anything wrong! I could be your servant!¡± Xu Haoran pleaded, but his voice was drowned out by the chaos of the crowd. ¡°Shut the fuck up, bilge rat!¡± a man shrieked. ¡°Cut his tongue so he doesn¡¯t talk so much!¡± another crew member chimed in. Xu Haoran was overwhelmed with dread. He couldn¡¯t escape his doom. The vast, deep ocean sounded terrifying enough, let alone the various monsters lurking beneath its surface. He had to convince them that he wasn¡¯t a threat and could be useful to them. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. On the other hand, delicate legs came to a halt before the upper deck fences. She looked disheveled, not even bothering to tidy her black, curled hair. Her tight black outfit emphasized her slender figure, but her rear stood out as she leaned forward. ¡°What was that?¡± she mumbled, curious as she noticed the commotion. ¡°It¡¯s still morning, and those bastards are at it again.¡± She opened her lips wide, taking a deep inhalation, and then exhaled until her eyes moistened. ¡°What a hassle.¡± ¡°I beg you! I can do chores! Let me join your adventure!¡± Xu Haoran stood alone on the wooden plank, the deep water swirling beneath him. ¡°Think we don¡¯t know what you¡¯re after? You rats just want to steal money from us!¡± The bearded man pointed his sword at Xu Haoran, intending to force him to the edge. ¡°Just throw him in now!¡± A laugh echoed among the crew. ¡°There¡¯s not much entertainment these days.¡± ¡°Captain Silica, am I late for the show?¡± the black-haired woman asked as she walked toward her leader, who was leaning on the side of the deck. ¡°Miranda, we should check all the cabins, especially the basement of the ship, before we set foot off the island,¡± Silica said, holding up the letter between her fingers. ¡°Who knows what could happen if it¡¯s our enemies?¡± The woman named Miranda furrowed her brow and examined the crumpled paper. ¡°Treasure hunter?¡± she murmured, taking a closer look at the figure in question. ¡°There¡¯s news that a lot of them have snuck onto the ship for a free ride,¡± Silica explained further, though her eyes weakened, half-lidded. ¡°Those who aren¡¯t blessed shall not venture into the ocean.¡± ¡°Hold on, I think I¡¯ve seen him before!¡± Miranda stepped forward, leaving Silica bewildered. ¡°Everyone, back off!¡± Her commanding voice silenced the commotion, creating a path for Miranda to walk through. Xu Haoran¡¯s reaction mirrored theirs¡ªconfusion, but his was laced with fear. ¡°Vice Captain?¡± said the bald crew member with tattoos on his chest, clearly surprised. Miranda fell silent, still examining Xu Haoran¡¯s appearance. She felt a sense of familiarity with his face, but she couldn¡¯t quite place it. His brownish-black hair and blue eyes triggered something deep in her memories. ¡°Is that you¡­ Sinbad?¡± she whispered, her voice trembling and fragile. Everyone was stunned. Captain Silica, the brute men, and even Xu Haoran himself couldn¡¯t believe what they were hearing. At that moment, for some reason, Xu Haoran suddenly experienced a sharp headache. His ears began ringing, the sound growing louder and louder until he had to cover them with his hands. Xu Haoran was instantly flooded with a torrent of memories from his new self¡ªeverything from the beginning of his life to how he ended up here. The overwhelming rush of remembrance rendered him unconscious, but before everything faded, he caught a glimpse of the vice captain reaching out to catch him. [Congratulations! You have been blessed with Dart Poison Power!] In the complete darkness, Xu Haoran heard a voice, but he couldn¡¯t locate its source. [You bear the name of Sinbad, an assassin class specializing in dealing damage. Hunt sea monsters, hone your skills, and work alongside a team to become stronger.] ¡°What does this mean?¡± Xu Haoran felt disoriented, completely unable to comprehend what the voice was saying. [You are now level 1 and have unlocked the Dart Poison skill. Here are the details: Skill: Dart Poison Description: Launches a poison dart at the target, dealing 20 damage over time for 10 seconds. Can stack up to 5 times. Cooldown: 5 seconds Energy Cost: 10] [Welcome to the world of Marravelle, where the once beautiful and calm ocean has turned evil and dangerous.] 03. Sea Monster Those eyes opened, reflecting the light from the lantern on the nightstand beside him. He was lying on a single bed, covered with a white blanket, with several others arranged side by side. The room was quite spacious and much quieter than the one in the basement. But his attention was drawn back to the voice he had heard in his mind earlier. The Dart Poison Power¡ªhe still doubted its truth, even though he knew dreams sometimes could be real. After all, transmigrating into the world of Marravelle was already something that defied logic. ¡°Oh, this is a surprise,¡± a woman dressed in leather entered the room. What set her apart from others was her hat, which looked larger, like something a wizard would wear. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to wake up so soon.¡± Xu Haoran tried to sit up, but his mind was still weighed down by the flood of information. ¡°Am I still on the ship?¡± ¡°Of course you are, addled!¡± she replied while busying herself at a table cluttered with ingredients. ¡°No one questions the vice captain¡¯s decisions. You two seemed to know each other.¡± Through faint memories, Xu Haoran, now as Sinbad, began to recall the connection between him and her¡ªa relationship that had been severed due to his own foolishness. ¡°We were friends back then,¡± he murmured, laden with regret. ¡°That¡¯s all.¡± ¡°I figured. It¡¯s a rare sight to see Miranda care about someone else besides Captain Silica,¡± the woman responded, though her attention remained focused on her craft. ¡°She even convinced the rest of us that you¡¯re not a treasure hunter, but rather, one of us.¡± She poured the bluish fluid into a tube. ¡°I don¡¯t know what happened between you and her, but I can tell she trusts you,¡± she said, rising from her chair and approaching Xu Haoran. ¡°Given how much she asked me to heal you.¡± Xu Haoran furrowed his brows, confused. ¡°Heal?¡± ¡°You almost fell into the ocean if it weren¡¯t because Miranda,¡± she stopped by the bedside, handing him the mixture. ¡°As the alchemist of this crew, I did what I had to do to check your condition afterward.¡± The concoction¡¯s smell was so foul that it made Xu Haoran nauseous before he even drank it. ¡°What is this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the Elixir of Poison Resistance,¡± she explained. ¡°Our hypothesis is that you were poisoned while in the basement, so I had to heal you to cleanse it. Although it might require further treatment.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the captain after you feel better,¡± she smiled, her demeanor calm and comforting. This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Xu Haoran felt flustered by her attractiveness, so he turned his attention to the drink. She had dark-toned skin that shimmered under the light, wearing a black fabric with a deep neckline that revealed her d¨¦colletage. Despite his doubts, he took a sip of the thick fluid, grimacing and coughing afterward. ¡°The taste is awful!¡± he commented. Chuckling softly, the alchemist reassured him, ¡°The taste is worth it for your health.¡± Xu Haoran didn¡¯t want to trouble someone who was helping him, so he mustered the courage to finish the mixture in a few gulps. His tongue felt numb, and his stomach wasn¡¯t faring much better. ¡°Oh, you didn¡¯t have to finish it all at once, but never mind,¡± she remarked, suddenly causing the man to freeze with wide eyes. ¡°You could¡¯ve said that earlier,¡± Xu Haoran murmured, still in shock. ¡°Well, the concoction will take effect in about ten minutes, so get some rest,¡± she said, standing up to leave, but Xu Haoran¡¯s voice halted her in her tracks. ¡°Wait, can I know your name?¡± he asked, fixing his gaze on her hazel eyes. ¡°Irene,¡± she introduced herself. ¡°Hope we can collaborate, Sinbad.¡± He fell silent for a moment, realizing this was his new reality. Xu Haoran existed on Earth, but in the realm of Marravelle, there was Sinbad. The two were separate, and while he was here, Xu Haoran had to live as his new self¡ªSinbad. It was a new chapter, a clean slate. ¡°Take me to the captain,¡± he uttered. ¡°And I will tell her everything I know.¡± At the same time, shouts erupted from outside the room. The commotion sounded restless, prompting Irene and Sinbad to step out and investigate what was happening. The night made everything around the ship almost invisible, but the crew seemed to be preparing for defense. Some were already stationed behind cannons, while others drew their swords. ¡°Shoot!¡± Brent commanded from above the sail after using a telescope, pointing toward the right side of the ship. Six cannons fired their payloads, targeting something in the darkness. When Sinbad took a closer look, he understood their unease. There was another ship in the mist with a bizarre design. Almost all the shots missed, but two cannons managed to strike their target with ease, engulfing it in blazing flames that consumed everything. The crew cheered, celebrating their victory, but it all felt too quick and effortless. Captain Silica, standing on the upper deck, scrutinized the situation. Something seemed suspicious as she noticed the waves¡ªthey were moving unusually fast toward the ship, and several more were following behind. ¡°Look at the water, Brent!¡± Silica shouted, and the muscular man obeyed. To their shock, the waves turned out to be enemies swimming at an incredible speed. No human could move like that without equipment¡ªthey leaped like dolphins, eventually landing on the ship¡¯s deck and attacking with their lethal iron-like claws. ¡°Sea monsters!¡± the crew shrieked in panic as they realized their comrades were being killed. The monsters roared, their heads resembling catfish but with fins on the sides of their ears, slashing at any humans in sight. The crew didn¡¯t stand idly by as they launched counterattacks, but their efforts had little effect. The monsters dodged them all. The agonized screams of the dying crew were torture to the ears. Then, one of the creatures turned its gaze toward Sinbad and Irene, its eyes filled with a predatory hunger. Sinbad didn¡¯t know what to do and he couldn¡¯t even move. Not wasting a moment, the beast leaped toward them with its mouth wide open, revealing rows of sharp teeth. Sinbad had to act, and he didn¡¯t have much time to think. Death was staring him right in the face.