《Master of the island》 The beginning The beginning Our story begins with a 26-year-old man named Mike, living a life most young men his age could only dream of. He serves as a fighter pilot in the military, has a loving wife named Tracy, and a young son, Jake. Together, they reside in a spacious and serene home. Mike spends his free time with his family, occasionally visiting his parents, or hanging out with his closest friend and lifelong companion, Jonathan, who works aboard a naval warship. His life was idyllic and peaceful¡ªuntil one fateful day. Mike was summoned for a reconnaissance mission, tasked with patrolling a remote area of the ocean. The region had been under investigation due to mysterious disappearances. Unlike his usual missions, this patrol was different. Mike wasn¡¯t just searching for any lost ship; he was searching for the very warship on which his dearest friend Jonathan served. Flying over the ominous waters, Mike¡¯s heart raced. He scanned the waves with an intensity fueled by dread. The thought of finding the shipwrecked remains¡ªand with them, the lifeless body of his friend¡ªgnawed at his resolve. As a soldier, Mike had long since accepted the harsh reality of losing comrades. But Jonathan? Jonathan¡¯s death would be unbearable. The further Mike ventured into the region, the heavier his unease grew. The waters seemed unnatural, the air charged with an unseen energy. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a violent storm engulfed him. Thunder roared, lightning clawed at the heavens, and the winds howled like a chorus of despair. It was as if the storm had materialized from thin air¡ªor worse, as if he had been lured into its grasp. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Mike wrestled with the controls, his fighter jet battered by the relentless tempest. And then, through the blinding flashes of lightning, he saw it. A massive, shadowy form loomed within the heart of the storm. Its dark body emitted faint, eerie green glows, and its eyes¡ªtwo enormous, radiant orbs¡ªpierced through the chaos like burning suns. Before Mike could comprehend what he was witnessing, a bolt of lightning struck his jet, sending it spiraling out of control. Alarms blared, but the sound was drowned out by the monstrous figure opening its colossal maw. The gaping void made Mike¡¯s jet, a marvel of human engineering, look like nothing more than a sparrow before a whale. In an instant, the creature swallowed the aircraft whole, its jaws snapping shut with an echoing finality. Darkness enveloped Mike as the world he knew disappeared. As his consciousness faded, Mike¡¯s thoughts spiraled into despair. Is this the end? Is this how I die? He clung to fragments of his life¡ªhis wife, his child, his parents. I didn¡¯t even get to say goodbye. And Jonathan¡­ Where is Jonathan? Questions burned through his mind as his strength ebbed away. Yet amidst his anguish, one thought loomed above all others: What was that thing? Then, just as his final moments of clarity slipped away, a strange calm overcame him. His mind emptied, his body felt weightless, and the swirling storm of thoughts vanished into silence. Mike succumbed to the abyss, his fate now intertwined with the unknown End of chapter one The island Mike opened his eyes, blinking against the dim light filtering into the cockpit. His heart pounded as his senses sharpened. He was sitting in his plane, but something felt wrong¡ªterribly wrong. The craft wasn¡¯t in the air; it was grounded. Solid ground. His breath quickened. Where am I? The memories came rushing back like a tidal wave: the storm, the chaos, and¡­ the creature. He froze as the realization hit him¡ªI was inside that thing¡¯s mouth. How could I possibly be here? His hands trembled as he ran them over the control panel, his thoughts spiraling. Is this real? Am I alive, or is this some hallucination before death? The unfamiliar surroundings outside the plane didn¡¯t help. Everything looked surreal, like a scene from a dream¡ªor a nightmare. His mind raced with questions: What is this place? Is it safe? Should I leave the plane or stay put? Will rescue come? His jaw clenched as a wave of determination swept through him. He couldn¡¯t sit there drowning in doubts. He had to know if he was alive, if this was real. I need to get out of the plane and see for myself. With a deep breath, Mike reached for the cockpit door, ready to confront the unknown. The air hit Mike¡¯s face like a warm slap as he stepped out of the plane. His boots crunched against the ground, confirming the solid reality of it. He inhaled deeply, the earthy scent of the place filling his lungs. Relief flooded his body¡ªI¡¯m alive. For a moment, he closed his eyes, grateful to have escaped the jaws of death. Opening them, he scanned his surroundings. The island was stunning, almost paradisiacal. Thick, lush trees towered around him, their leaves dancing In a soft breeze. The air was alive with the calls of birds and the rustle of unseen animals. The sunlight painted everything in golden hues, but something was off. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. He tilted his head upward, narrowing his eyes. The sky. It wasn¡¯t normal. Despite the bright light and heat, there was no sun. Instead, golden rays seemed to pour down in thin, shimmering threads from an unseen source. Stranger still, the sky wasn¡¯t blue but a bluish-green, as if he were beneath the surface of a vast ocean. A chill ran down his spine. What kind of place is this? He shook his head, refusing to let the unease take over. He was alive, and that was what mattered¡ªfor now. He turned his gaze back to the plane, his curiosity mounting. Something about it seemed¡­ strange. Mike approached the damaged aircraft, his eyes drawn to an unusual sight. Parts of the plane¡¯s surface shimmered under the strange light, coated in a translucent, solid material. His fingers brushed against it¡ªit was smooth, cold, and unyielding. He frowned, questions flooding his mind. What is this? Where did it come from? As he scanned the plane, his thoughts wandered back to the storm. Could this have saved me? Protected me from destruction? He didn¡¯t know whether to feel grateful or unsettled. Shaking off his unease, Mike decided to explore further. He walked cautiously through the dense foliage, his boots crunching against the soft earth. The island, once serene, began revealing its secrets. On the shoreline, his breath caught. There, scattered along the beach, were massive wrecks¡ªsubmarines, planes, and ships, their hulking forms coated in the same strange material. The sight was haunting. Among them were enormous sea creatures, their lifeless bodies frozen under the transparent substance. Mike stood frozen, staring at the surreal scene. His mind spiraled. How did they get here? Why are they all on the shore? What is this material that covers them? His heart raced as a more pressing question surfaced: Am I really the only one here? Mike¡¯s thoughts churned as he continued walking along the shore. Each step felt heavier than the last, the weight of his questions pressing down on him. The wreckage, the creatures, the translucent material¡ªit all felt impossibly wrong, as if he were caught in a waking nightmare. He thought of his wife and son, their faces flashing in his mind. I have to survive. I have to get back to them. That hope, fragile as it was, kept him moving forward. Then, he saw it. Amidst the chaos of debris and destruction, something stood out¡ªa small structure pieced together from wreckage. His heart skipped a beat. It was a hut, barely standing, but unmistakably man-made. Adrenaline surged through him. I¡¯m not alone. His hands tightened into fists, equal parts hope and fear flooding his body. Whoever had built that hut was¡ªor had been¡ªon this island. With cautious steps, Mike approached the hut, his breath catching in his throat. What he would find there could change everything. End of chapter 2 Max the sailor After spotting the cabin, Mike rushed toward it, overjoyed by the possibility of finding human life on the island. Three days had passed with nothing but animals, plants, and debris. As he ran, questions flooded his mind: Could whoever is inside know anything about this vast island? How to escape it? Where is it located? His heartbeat quickened with the promise of discovery, each step bringing him closer to the truth. But with every step, a nagging thought persisted¡ªWhat if they¡¯re hostile? The tension in his chest tightened as he approached the door, and without hesitation, he shoved It open. A musty smell hit him like a wall. The air was thick with dust, and the dim light filtering through the cracks barely illuminated the room. Cobwebs clung to the ceiling like a veil, their threads swaying with every small breeze. Mike¡¯s pulse raced as he stepped inside, the floor creaking beneath him. The silence was suffocating, broken only by the sound of his own breathing. His eyes adjusted, and then¡ªhis blood ran cold. In the corner of the room sat a skeleton, its bony fingers curled around something. Its hollow eye sockets seemed to stare directly at him, an eerie accusation in its vacant gaze. For a moment, panic surged through Mike, urging him to run, to turn and escape. But something held him in place¡ªa sense of responsibility. This was a person once, someone lost to time, and he couldn¡¯t just leave them here. A tremor ran through him as he stepped closer, each footfall echoing in the stillness. The silence seemed to press in, heavy and expectant. Was the skeleton going to¡­ move? He froze, waiting for the bones to shift, for something to happen. But nothing did. Mike exhaled shakily, forcing himself to approach the body. He gently pried the items from its skeletal grasp¡ªa pen, and an old, weathered book. The bones creaked in his hands, but they didn¡¯t stir. His heart pounded in his chest as a sense of unease crept over him. He looked at the skeleton one last time, a sense of guilt sweeping over him. With careful reverence, he carried the remains outside and buried it near the cabin. Back inside, the book weighed heavily in his hands. The leather cover was cracked with age, and the edges of the pages were frayed. He opened it, and on the first page, the words seemed to leap out at him: ¡°The Memoir of Sailor Max.¡± His hands trembled as he began reading. ¡°My name is Max, a sailor aboard an exploration ship. Our mission was to discover new islands to establish colonies for our nation. But fate had other plans. A fierce storm engulfed us, and the sea turned hostile. The mast broke, the sails shredded, and we were tossed around like leaves in the wind.¡± Mike paused. His mind raced. What kind of storm could do this? His gaze flickered around the room, the cabin now feeling more like a tomb than a shelter. How long ago did this happen? What year is it? Could this have been decades ago? Longer? Shaking off the unsettling thought, he continued reading. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. ¡°We drifted, powerless, waiting for death. Then, through the chaos, a massive shadow emerged¡ªa being of immense size and unimaginable terror. Its form was indistinct, but its presence was suffocating. It swallowed the ship whole, and I believed we had perished. But I woke up here, on this strange island where light exists without a sun, and silence hangs heavy in the air.¡± The words made Mike¡¯s skin crawl. He glanced nervously at the walls, the room suddenly feeling smaller, darker. Could the island be hiding something more sinister? Was this the same shadow¡ªthe same terrifying force¡ªthat had brought him here? ¡°For weeks, we wandered, thinking the island was deserted. Then we found them¡ªthe natives. They were unlike anything we¡¯d encountered. Their language was foreign, their customs peculiar, yet they welcomed us with open arms. They provided food, shelter, and warmth, as if we were long-lost kin.¡± Mike¡¯s heart flickered with a sliver of hope. Could these people still be out there? Could they help me escape? ¡°But their generosity came with unspoken rules. They refused to discuss the island, its secrets, or any means of escape. All they spoke of was their ¡®Master,¡¯ the being who saved them from invaders. Mentioning leaving the island made them furious, so we stopped asking and adapted to life among them, pretending to be content.¡± The tone of Max¡¯s writing grew darker, and Mike¡¯s stomach tightened with foreboding. ¡°Months passed, and though we lived as one of them, something always felt¡­ off. One night, while wandering the village, I ventured into the forest to relieve myself. That¡¯s when I heard them¡ªvoices whispering in the dark. A group of natives stood in a circle, their faces illuminated by a dim, eerie light. ¡®The villagers forget the Master¡¯s blessings. They must worship him. The outsiders are ungrateful¡ªthey wish to leave. They must pay the price.¡¯ I stepped back, horrified, and snapped a twig beneath my foot. Their heads whipped toward me. I ran, heart pounding, but it was too late. By morning, I was accused of conspiring against their leader. My crewmates¡ªthe very men I trusted¡ªbelieved their lies. The betrayal in their eyes cut deeper than any blade.¡± Mike¡¯s grip on the book tightened. He could almost feel Max¡¯s pain, the betrayal seeping through the pages. A fire of empathy burned in his chest for the sailor, alone and condemned. ¡°They exiled me, leaving me to rot alone. This cabin became my prison. The years passed, and illness claimed what little strength I had left. My only solace was the hope that someone, anyone, would come looking for me. Now, as death takes me, I leave this warning: To whoever finds this journal¡ªseek the village, live among the natives, but tread carefully. Do not ask to leave. Do not defy their Master. Learn from my mistakes. The location of the village is¡­¡± The writing stopped abruptly, the ink trailing off the page, unfinished. Mike stared at the incomplete sentence. The words burned in his mind. What happened to Max? Why couldn¡¯t he finish his warning? He closed the book slowly, his mind reeling. A sense of responsibility pressed down on him. Max had tried to warn him, and now Mike was the one left to uncover the truth. With a deep breath, Mike walked toward the broken window. The air outside was heavy, thick with an unsettling stillness. If Max could find them, I can too, he thought, his voice barely a whisper. The silence of the Island seemed to close in around him, but he refused to let it consume him. He packed the journal into his bag and stepped outside, his heart pounding with determination. Somewhere out there was a village, a tribe, and perhaps, answers. The Master¡ªthis mysterious being that had claimed Max and his crew¡ªwas still out there, lurking in the shadows. And Mike was determined to find him. The darkness of the unknown stretched before him, but for the first time since landing on the island, Mike felt a spark of purpose. He would find the village. He would find the Master. And he would uncover the truth, no matter the cost. End of chapter three Surprise Mike began preparing for his journey, going to search for the tribe that Max wrote about. He gathered fruits and vegetables he found and started looking for fresh water to drink. However, he couldn¡¯t find any, so he resorted to collecting seawater, boiling it to evaporate, then condensing the steam to obtain fresh water for his journey. As he watched the water boiling, Mike noticed a beam of light filtering through the trees of the forest, indicating an open space. He carefully stood up and began to move toward the light, believing he had found the tribe he was going to search for . However, as he got closer, he realized that the open space wasn¡¯t the tribe¡ªit was a ship, the one belonging to his friend Jonathan. Mike rushed to the ship, calling out Jonathan¡¯s name loudly in his excitement and joy. He boarded the ship and began searching through every room, still shouting, ¡°Jonathan, where are you?¡± But there was no response. He continued to search the entire ship, but there was no sign of anyone. Exhausted and disheartened, Mike¡¯s thoughts scattered as he tried to comprehend the absence of the crew. He climbed to the top of the ship and called out as loudly as he could, ¡°Where are you, Jonathan? Everyone, where are you?¡± But again, there was no answer. Despite this, he refused to give up and decided to change his plan¡ªhe would search for the crew instead. He was certain they were on the island with him and still alive after he found the open and empty supply room, confirming that the crew had left In search of signs of human life on the island and a way out. The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Mike returned to the hut, now determined to find the crew and escape the island. His previous plan to seek help from the tribe faded in the wake of his overwhelming joy at having found evidence of Jonathan¡¯s location. He began to pack his things, taking enough food and water for the journey. Before leaving, he visited Max¡¯s grave and said, ¡°Thank you for the warning. I won¡¯t make the same mistake, I promise¡­ Goodbye.¡± Entering the hut one last time to grab his notebook and pen in case he needed them for the journey, Mike didn¡¯t know what awaited him. As he reached for the notebook, a venomous spider climbed up his arm and bit him. Mike screamed in agony and panic, trying to compose himself and act quickly, but it was too late. The venom took effect, and he lost consciousness. It felt like the end for Mike, the end of a journey that had barely begun. It was his worst nightmare come true¡ªdeath, something he feared deeply. But then something miraculous happened. Mike awoke in another hut, with a man and a woman standing beside him. Before he could speak, the man said, ¡°You¡¯re finally awake.¡± In a weak voice, Mike asked, ¡°Where am I? Who are you?¡± The man smiled and said, ¡°I¡¯m Roger, the island¡¯s doctor, and this is my wife, Shia. You¡¯re in the village of the Tiva tribe, the inhabitants of this island.¡± End of chapter 4 An Unexpected fate An Unexpected Fate Mike was stunned by his surroundings. He looked at Roger, who was grinding herbs methodically, and asked, ¡°How did I end up here?¡± Roger glanced at him briefly before returning to his work. ¡°You didn¡¯t come to us. We found you two days ago,¡± he said calmly. ¡°We were roaming the forest, searching for others who might have been brought to the island. That¡¯s when we heard you shouting, calling out for someone. ¡°At first, we couldn¡¯t find you, but later, we heard a terrified scream coming from another part of the forest. We rushed toward the sound and found you unconscious in a small hut. We carried you back here to the village to treat you. Honestly, we thought you had been attacked and were calling for help, but when we found you in the hut, we were somewhat relieved. By the way, what¡¯s your name? And where are you from?¡± Mike hesitated for a moment before replying, ¡°My name is Mike. I¡¯m not from here. I woke up on this island, and I have no idea how I got here. But tell me, Roger, why would a poisonous spider bite be better than being attacked?¡± Roger paused, his expression thoughtful. He handed Mike the ground herbs mixed with water and said, ¡°Drink this. As for how you got here, you¡¯re like us¡ªbrought here by what the locals call the Master, or the King of this island. As for your other question, you¡¯ll understand in time. Any more questions?¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Mike drank the concoction, wincing at its bitter taste, and asked, ¡°Like you? Were you brought here too, Roger? Are there many others like us?¡± Roger chuckled lightly. ¡°You¡¯re full of questions, young man. Yes, I was brought here with my crew thirty years ago. I used to be a ship¡¯s doctor. And yes, there are many others on this island. The tribe searches daily for newcomers, believing that those brought here are guests of their Master. For now, you¡¯re the latest arrival, after the crew of the ship where you were shouting.¡± Mike¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He interrupted Roger, his excitement barely contained. ¡°The crew of that ship¡ªare they here? Are they in the village?¡± Roger smiled knowingly. ¡°You¡¯ll see soon enough¡­¡± Suddenly, a man burst into the tent, his voice urgent. ¡°Doctor, is Mike all right?¡± Roger nodded reassuringly. ¡°Yes, he¡¯s fine.¡± Mike turned to look at the newcomer, his eyes widening in disbelief. ¡°Jonathan? Is that you? It¡¯s really you, Jonathan!¡± His voice trembled with relief. ¡°I thought I¡¯d have to deliver the news of your death to Jessica, your wife. This is incredible¡ªI can¡¯t believe you¡¯re alive!¡± Jonathan laughed heartily. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t die here, you fool. There¡¯s too much left for me to do!¡± Mike smiled, the tension in his chest easing. ¡°It seems so. You¡¯re right, Jonathan¡ªyou won¡¯t die here.¡± End of chapter 5 Bad news Jonathan sat beside Mike, who was still bedridden, suffering from the effects of the poisoning. Mike noticed that Jonathan was wearing a strange robe, unusual in both shape and color. Curious, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s this robe? And why are you wearing it?¡± Jonathan replied calmly, ¡°It¡¯s the clothing of the tribe. They give it to every newcomer to wear so they don¡¯t feel out of place among them. But let¡¯s not dwell on that now. How did *you* end up here?¡± Mike began recounting his story from the beginning: how he had heard about the ship¡¯s disappearance, how the military base had summoned him to lead a search mission, and how he had encountered the terrifying storm and that monstrous creature. After finishing his tale, he turned to Jonathan and asked, ¡°And you? How did you get here?¡± Jonathan answered, ¡°You know I was the first mate on the ship that was delivering supplies to a naval base in the ocean. But there was a malfunction in the navigation system, and we veered off course. Suddenly, we found ourselves in the middle of a violent thunderstorm. As we struggled to navigate through it, that massive entity appeared in the darkness¡­ something we¡¯d never seen before. We couldn¡¯t make out its features¡ªit was just a shadowy, terrifying presence. While we stood there, paralyzed and unable to think or move, the creature lunged at the ship and swallowed us whole. When we woke up, we were here, on this strange island. The darkness was so thick we couldn¡¯t even see our hands in front of our faces. We thought we were still inside the belly of that beast, but when dawn broke, we realized we were on solid ground. After that, we assessed the damage and found that the captain was the only casualty¡ªhe died after hitting his head on the ship¡¯s control panel during the storm.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Mike listened intently, then laughed bitterly. ¡°Seems like I came to rescue you, and now we both need someone to rescue us! When we get back, the base commander is going to yell at us until he loses his voice.¡± Jonathan chuckled. ¡°Damn you, you¡¯re right. That old man¡¯s going to kill us with his shouting.¡± The two laughed until they were out of breath. Then Mike asked seriously, ¡°What happened to Thomas, the son of the Chief of Staff? I thought he was on your ship. I know they wouldn¡¯t have sent their best pilot on a reconnaissance mission unless someone as important as Thomas was missing.¡± Jonathan fell silent for a moment, then said softly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to tell you this, but Thomas is dead.¡± Mike was stunned. ¡°When? Where? How?¡± Jonathan replied, ¡°A few days after we arrived, he was bitten by a venomous snake. He was bedridden in the ship¡¯s infirmary, but we couldn¡¯t save him. After three days, he succumbed to the poison.¡± Mike¡¯s face darkened. ¡°This is bad. You, me, and the entire crew¡ªespecially you¡ªare going to be in serious trouble because of this.¡± A heavy silence fell over them as the weight of the news sank in. Finally, Mike broke the silence, saying, ¡°But let¡¯s not think about that now. If we don¡¯t find a way out of here, we¡¯ll be joining him sooner or later.¡± Jonathan nodded. ¡°You¡¯re right. Let¡¯s focus on what we can do now. Here, put on these clothes and get ready. We¡¯re preparing a welcome ceremony for you.¡± Mike raised an eyebrow. ¡°A welcome ceremony? For me?¡± Jonathan smiled. ¡°Yes. The tribe celebrates every newcomer who arrives on the island. They believe we¡¯re guests of their ¡®Master,¡¯ and this is their way of honoring his visitors. Come on, get up and get ready. The tribal chief, Manu, will explain everything you need to know during the ceremony.¡± End of Chapter Six A Critical Conversation After Mike¡¯s conversation with Jonathan, he put on the clothes Jonathan had given him and prepared for the party. He left the tent and wandered around the village, observing the old huts and the simple people, whose lives seemed rooted in a primitive way of living. He roamed aimlessly, as though lost, unable to process everything happening around him. After a while, he returned to his tent and stayed there until evening, when torches were lit and the party began around the campfire. When Mike stepped out of his tent, the villagers welcomed him warmly, greeting and cheering for him without pause. He sat In front of the tribe¡¯s leader, Manu, and greeted him respectfully. Manu reciprocated the gesture, then stood and said: ¡°More than two centuries ago, invaders repeatedly came to our island, plundering its resources and abducting our people. Our ancestors were powerless to resist, and the situation seemed hopeless¡ªon the brink of our tribe¡¯s extinction. But one day, something happened that changed our fate and saved us from annihilation. The Master appeared, shielding the island and placing a magical barrier around it with his immense power, hiding it from the invaders¡¯ eyes. Since then, we have lived in peace. We are deeply grateful to the Master for saving us, and we show our appreciation and love for him by celebrating and welcoming his honored guest, Mike.¡± The crowd cheered enthusiastically for the Master¡¯s guest and began approaching Mike to greet him and introduce themselves. They seemed like ordinary people but bore unique appearances: some had reddish or dark skin tones, while their clothing varied. Some wore animal hides, and others draped brightly colored fabrics around their bodies. As Mike met them one by one, his attention was drawn to a figure with a large, muscular build. It was Ismir, the strongest warrior in the village, who had been with Roger when they found Mike. Mike thanked Ismir for helping him that day. The party continued through the night, with people dancing, singing in an unfamiliar language, and drinking until dawn. When it finally ended, Mike returned to his tent and fell into a deep sleep for the first time since arriving on the island. He didn¡¯t wake until Manu summoned him to his tent. Curious about the reason for the call, Mike entered Manu¡¯s tent, greeted him, and sat down. Manu looked at him with eyes filled with hope and asked, ¡°Do you remember how you arrived on this island or the path you took to get here?¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Mike replied, ¡°No, unfortunately, I don¡¯t remember. I woke up on the island¡¯s shore after being swallowed by what you call the Master. But why do you ask?¡± Manu sighed with sadness and frustration, thanked Mike, and dismissed him. Sensing that Manu was hiding something serious, Mike insisted on knowing the truth. Eventually, Manu relented and summoned some of the warriors, including Ismir and Dr. Roger. He told them, ¡°Follow me.¡± Though confused, Mike followed them without hesitation. They walked a long distance through the forest until exhaustion hit them, and they finally reached a barren, desolate land devoid of plants or animals. Mike was taken aback, as this area was entirely different from the rest of the vibrant island. Mike asked Manu, ¡°Why is this land like this? What¡¯s going on here?¡± Manu replied, ¡°What you see now is the result of the Master¡¯s actions. While we are grateful for his protection, the magical barrier came at a cost. The Master took away the sun and the rain. The island has survived on the light that seeps through the barrier and the underground water, but that water is running out, and the island is dying slowly. If we stay here, we will perish with it. That¡¯s why we¡¯ve decided to leave the island, and I asked you about your arrival, hoping you might know a way out.¡± Mike wondered about the true nature of this magical barrier and whether magic itself could be real. However, he stopped questioning and said to Manu, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll solve this problem. The island is home to skilled warriors, explorers, and resourceful people. If you want to leave, we¡¯ll find a way out. You helped me, and now it¡¯s my turn to repay the favor.¡± Manu didn¡¯t fully understand what scientists or explorers were, but he grasped Mike¡¯s determination to help the tribe escape and save them from destruction. Mike returned to the camp and asked Jonathan and Roger to gather everyone who had arrived on the island in one place. It didn¡¯t take long for the group to assemble. Standing among them, Mike said: ¡°We need to leave this island. We can¡¯t remain at the mercy of this Master. If we want to leave, we must work together to create a plan for our escape. Do you all agree?¡± No one hesitated to agree, and everyone acknowledged the urgency of leaving. They began to plan and divided themselves into groups: an exploration team led by Mike and Jonathan would investigate the magical barrier and search for an escape route, while other groups would focus on building boats and gathering resources for the journey. And so, their journey toward freedom began, fraught with mysterious challenges and an uncertain fate. End of chapter 7 The Plan After the teams were divided, everyone began assessing their current situation. They gathered in a large open area in the middle of the island, showing signs of exhaustion and anxiety. They started evaluating the available resources: fuel, vehicles, food, and even the available manpower. The goal was clear¡ªto devise a plan for survival and escape from this mysterious place. The group consisted of a strange mix of characters: Mike, the soldier who had always relied on his strength and intellect, Jonathan, the calm explorer with sharp eyes that caught the smallest details, along with Roger, the doctor, a mature man who bore the burden of keeping everyone alive, and their leader, Manu, the man who seemed to harbor deep secrets about the island. In addition to them, there were the island¡¯s inhabitants, accustomed to its harsh life, and the newcomers who were still in shock from their presence here. Suggestions began to flow among the attendees. Mike stood first and threw out the idea of escaping using the planes on the island. ¡°We have some planes here. If we fix them, we can use them to escape,¡± Mike said confidently, but Roger quickly interrupted, saying, ¡°That¡¯s impossible. The planes are completely broken, and none of us has the necessary expertise to fix them.¡± Next, another suggestion came from one of the tribe members: ¡°What about the ships? The island is surrounded by water, and ships would be the best option.¡± The idea seemed reasonable and sparked hope in some, especially since there were ship and submarine mechanics among the group. Voices of approval grew louder, and everyone began planning to carry out this suggestion. However, suddenly, Manu, the leader, cut through the enthusiasm with his mysterious words: ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my friends, but the ships will not leave the island. We tried sailing before. There is a barrier of the Master¡¯s magic surrounding the island. Any ship that tries to leave is prevented from progressing.¡± A heavy silence fell among the group, as if the words had added weight to the air around them. Shock and doubt appeared on their faces. What is this barrier that stops them? And is what Manu says about magic true? They decided to verify the matter for themselves. A small boat was prepared for this dangerous task. Jonathan, due to his exploration experience, and Jones, a former submarine captain with deep knowledge of the oceans, along with two tribe members to help with rowing, were chosen. This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. The boat quietly set off through the waters surrounding the island. The waves seemed calm, but they carried an eerie sensation, as though they hid secrets beneath their shiny surface. Each stroke of the oar seemed to open a door to an unknown and frightening realm. After hours of rowing, the boat approached a point that seemed ordinary to the naked eye. Suddenly, the boat struck something invisible, as if they had collided with a glass wall. Everyone was confused, and Jones began examining the area with trembling fingers. He felt a cold, unnaturally transparent wall surrounding the island. But the real horror appeared when they looked through the barrier. Behind this wall, there were strange creatures slowly swimming. They were just regular fish, but the shock and panic they were in made them appear as nightmarish creatures, like beings straight out of human nightmares. Their eyes were empty black, and their bodies were thin but carried hidden power. Jonathan felt a shiver run through his body, unsure whether it was due to the cold or the fear. What made it even more terrifying was the sudden realization that they were not on a floating island in the sea, but completely underwater. The transparent barrier was nothing but a wall separating them from the pressure and depths of the ocean. How could they survive in a place like this? They returned to the boat in shock. Their faces were pale, as though life had been drained from them. Upon their return, they conveyed the news to everyone, and the result was catastrophic. The hope that had lit their minds was shattered, and everyone sank into complete despair. It was hard to comprehend that they were trapped in a giant cage, with no obvious way to escape. Despite this, not everyone was giving up. Jones, with his strong personality and long experience, rose from the midst of despair. "It might be impossible to leave by plane or ship, but there is another way.¡± Mike mocked him, saying, ¡°Are you talking about submarines? How are we going to pass the barrier surrounding the island?¡± Jones responded calmly and confidently, ¡°Because I know the ocean well. There¡¯s a good chance that there are caves or tunnels underwater. The creature that created the barrier must be using them to transport its prey. The strong currents on the eastern side are a clear indication of that. All we need is an exploration submarine.¡± A strange silence followed, but this time it wasn¡¯t a despairing silence¡ªit was charged with hope and fear. Everyone wondered: Could Jones be right? Could this plan be the way to survival, or the beginning of facing even deeper terror? End of Chapter Eight Success No one was certain whether Jones¡¯ words came from experience or arrogance, but all they knew was that his words were their last thread of hope¡ªthis was their only remaining solution. So, the technical team, responsible for maintaining and preparing the escape vessels, began preparing a small exploration submarine for Jones and his crew to investigate the rumored cave. Days passed painfully slowly as everyone waited for the mission to begin, eager to know their fate. Was there truly an exit, or would they remain trapped on the island for the rest of their lives? After several weeks, the submarine was finally ready without any issues. It was transported to the water, and the moment everyone had been waiting for had arrived¡ªthe moment of truth. Soon, the exploration mission would begin. The wait was finally over as the crew boarded the submarine while everyone on the shore watched anxiously, waiting to learn whether escape was possible or if they were doomed to perish with the island. The crew entered the submarine, sealed the hatch, and began their descent. The villagers stood in awe, witnessing a working submarine for the first time. They gathered along the shore, watching intently, while the technical and exploration teams was searching for missing submarine parts that would be needed for the evacuation. Underwater, Jones and his crew began their search for the cave he had predicted. Everyone knew it would be an extremely difficult mission. Hours passed as they followed water currents and scanned the perimeter of the transparent dome surrounding the island. Finally, after hours of anxiety and doubt, they found the cave they had been searching for. The submarine entered the cave, and the crew¡¯s excitement was palpable¡ªat last, a clear opportunity to escape this island. The cave was massive and intricately structured, seemingly designed to prevent water levels on the island from rising. Jones ordered the crew to venture deeper. Despite the cave¡¯s complex passages, they eventually reached a perfectly straight tunnel¡ªno twists, no turns¡ªclear evidence that this section had been carved out by a creature. Their journey didn¡¯t take long. After some time, the submarine reached the end of the tunnel. And for the first time in two hundred years, something emerged from that island¡ªa small submarine carrying five crew members. The sight was a defining moment for everyone on the island. At last, a clear beacon of hope. A visible light at the end of the tunnel. Jones ordered the crew to surface and verify their location before returning to the island. As they surfaced, Jones opened the hatch and took in his first breath of fresh air in years. For the first time in so long, he stood directly under the sun, holding an old notebook Mike had given him. He began writing down the island¡¯s coordinates and the escape route. Once he finished, he returned inside and ordered them to dive back. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. But then¡ªgreed took hold of the crew. ¡°Why go back?¡± one of them questioned. ¡°Why not escape now? We¡¯re out! What reason do we have to return? We might never get another chance to be here again.¡± Jones was stunned. Then fury took over. He reached into his jacket, pulled out a gun, and, with fire in his eyes, roared, ¡°Have you lost your minds?! Do you want me¡ªCaptain Jones¡ªto abandon a mission entrusted to me? I¡¯d rather die than do that! I failed once when I was brought to that island. I will never fail again. I will never run away again. Do you hear me? I will not flee! I will not abandon those people on the island! If you¡¯re done spouting nonsense, turn this submarine around now¡ªbefore I send it back with your corpses!¡± His threat was real, and his anger undeniable. The sheer intensity of his words struck fear into the crew. Without hesitation, they obeyed, steering the submarine back toward the island. Meanwhile, on the shore, time dragged on. Hours passed, and doubt began to creep into the hearts of those waiting. Had the crew found the cave? Had they abandoned them? What was stopping them from escaping? Suspicion spread like wildfire among the crowd. The longer the wait, the stronger the uncertainty. Then suddenly, the water stirred. The submarine emerged, slowly breaking through the surface, dissolving the doubts that had filled everyone¡¯s hearts. Relief washed over them as they realized¡ªthey had not been betrayed. As the submarine docked, Jones stepped out, announcing, ¡°Captain Jones, at your service! The exploration team is pleased to report that the search for an escape route has been a resounding success! All that remains is to prepare the submarines, and we will be free!¡± Eyes sparkled with excitement, and the crowd erupted in cheers. ¡°Thank you, exploration team! We survived because of your efforts! We¡¯re sorry for doubting your integrity!¡± Jones replied firmly, ¡°Don¡¯t thank me yet. Save it for when we leave. For now, I have some information about the Island¡¯s surroundings that you need to hear.¡± The crowd followed him eagerly, their hearts filled with hope. Finally, it was time to say goodbye to this cursed island. But hope quickly turned to shock and rage. When they reached the technical and exploration teams, they found them wounded¡ªseverely injured, lying on the ground. Panic erupted as everyone rushed to them. ¡°What happened?!¡± someone cried. One of the injured men gasped, ¡°They attacked us¡­ they stole parts of the submarines. We won¡¯t be able to operate them without those parts. We¡¯re¡­ we¡¯re so sorry¡­ we couldn¡¯t stop them¡­¡± Jones clenched his fists. ¡°No, we¡¯re the ones who should be sorry¡­ for leaving you unprotected.¡± Then he snapped, ¡°Stop apologizing! Let¡¯s get you treated first.¡± Mike turned to Chief Manu, his expression grim. ¡°Who attacked them? And why?¡± The chief¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Follow me to my tent¡­ I will tell you everything there.¡± End of chapter 9 The Enemy The tribe members began working quickly to move the wounded to the medical tent, while the warrior Esmir, accompanied by a group of fighters, went to follow the footprints they had found at the site of the attack, hoping to uncover the enemy¡¯s location. Meanwhile, Mike and his companions sat inside the chief''s tent, where Chief Mano sat in front of them, surrounded by an atmosphere of seriousness. Mano began speaking in a calm voice, but with the weight of time behind it: ¡°The truth is, there are two reasons we greet visitors with such warmth. The first is to show respect and appreciation to the lord, but the second¡­ is because of a visitor we wronged terribly in the past.¡± A silence filled the room for a moment before he continued in a more serious tone: ¡°A long time ago, that visitor tried to warn us of a conspiracy being secretly plotted by a group of tribe members. This group worshiped the lord, not as a powerful being, but as a supreme god. They were planning to assassinate the chief at the time and install his son, who was one of their followers, as the new leader. It wasn¡¯t out of loyalty to him, but a desire to control the tribe and spread their beliefs by force.¡± Mano looked at Mike and the others before continuing: ¡°That man, that visitor who tried to warn our ancestors, discovered this plan before it could be executed and tried to alert them. But he was met only with accusations of treason and ingratitude. They considered him nothing more than an outsider trying to stir up trouble among the tribe members. I wasn¡¯t there, of course, but I don¡¯t blame our ancestors for their position, even though they were wrong. It¡¯s hard for anyone to trust a stranger over their own kin. They should have investigated his words, but unfortunately, they did not.¡± He paused for a moment before adding with bitterness: ¡°In the end, that man was banished from the tribe, and nothing was heard of him after that. His name was¡­ Max Jackson.¡± Exchanges of glances took place before Mano spoke again, his voice calm yet filled with obvious regret: ¡°Five years later, our ancestors learned that Max was right. One dark night, all the torches in the village suddenly went out, plunging the area into darkness. Some warriors sensed that something was wrong and made their way to the chief¡¯s tent with torches. When they arrived¡­ they found themselves facing a group of armed men who were about to kill the chief, hidden in the darkness.¡± Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. He took a deep breath before continuing: ¡°But the warriors hesitated for no moment. A fierce battle broke out inside the tent, but it didn¡¯t last long, as the guards managed to control the situation and capture the attackers. During the investigation, everything was revealed¡­ the group Max had warned us about, and five years had passed since his exile.¡± Mano lifted his gaze to Mike and said firmly: ¡°When their plan failed, they had no choice but to flee. They gathered their followers and disappeared into an unknown part of the island. From that day on, they began launching sporadic attacks, either on our village or anyone who arrived on the island. They began seeing us as their enemies¡­ and we, too, consider them our enemies.¡± A silence followed for a moment, before Mike interrupted with an important question: ¡°How did they know that if they stole parts of the submarines, they wouldn¡¯t work?¡± Roger sighed as if the answer was heavy on him, then said: ¡°I remember when I told you we thought you had been attacked? And you asked me who could attack you on this island? Well, these extremists no longer see newcomers to the island as guests of the lord, but as sacrifices to be offered. They kidnap visitors, extract information from them that is useful to them, especially regarding ways to escape the island. Then they completely sabotage them, making it impossible to leave the island.¡± Mike shivered and said in a low voice: ¡°That¡¯s horrifying¡­ Do you mean they kidnapped someone who worked on a submarine and forced him to reveal how to disable it?¡± Roger nodded slowly and said: ¡°Exactly. They believe that the monster is a god, and they see any attempt to leave the island as an act of rebellion against its sacred will. Therefore, they are willing to use any means, and any sacrifice, to prevent anyone from leaving.¡± Jonathan struck the ground angrily and said: ¡°So¡­ does that mean we won¡¯t be able to retrieve those parts?¡± Roger responded seriously: ¡°Not easily.¡± Jonathan frowned and asked: ¡°I don¡¯t understand. What do you mean by that?¡± Jones sighed deeply and answered: ¡°This means we¡¯re going to enter into a war to retrieve the stolen parts and escape the island. It won¡¯t be simple. We¡¯ll have to fight.¡± Mano nodded and said: ¡°You¡¯re right, but there¡¯s a big problem: we don¡¯t know the location of their village, nor where they¡¯re hiding the stolen parts.¡± At that moment, Esmir rushed into the tent, panting from exhaustion, and said quickly: ¡°Sorry to interrupt, but we tracked the enemy! We found their village¡¯s location, and we know where they¡¯re hiding the stolen parts!¡± Everyone¡¯s eyes widened as Esmir continued with enthusiasm: ¡°The enemy¡¯s village is located in the northern part of the island. They threw the parts they took into a cave in the middle of the village. I hope this information is useful to you.¡± Jones couldn¡¯t hide a slight smile as he said: ¡°This isn¡¯t just information¡­ this is the start of our plan for an attack.¡± End of Chapter Ten The Attack Plan Esmir provided them with the exact location of the enemy and the cave that contained the stolen parts. He explained all the possible routes to reach the other village. After hours of receiving this information, Jones gathered enough details and began formulating his attack plan. It was as follows: "We¡¯ll arm ourselves with the weapons available in this village and any firearms we can find¡ªwe won¡¯t hold anything back. Then, we¡¯ll head to the enemy¡¯s village and strike them while they¡¯re off guard from all directions. We won¡¯t show any mercy, and we¡¯ll make them pay for what they did to our repair team. While they¡¯re busy fighting us, another squad, which will have been prepared in advance and stayed out of the battle, will move towards the cave to retrieve the parts." Jones then asked, "Any objections?" No one present showed any form of disagreement. Jones continued, "Alright, if we all agree on the plan, I will now divide the warriors into five groups. The groups are as follows: one will attack from the east, another from the west, one from the south, and the last from the north. Simply put, we will attack from all directions. As for the fifth group, Mike will lead them. They¡¯ll carve their way through the enemy ranks and enter the cave to retrieve the parts, then exit the cave." He paused for a moment before adding, "But there¡¯s only one flaw in this plan: if we want to end this battle, we must defeat them to succeed. And we don¡¯t know how long that will take because we don¡¯t know their numbers, their weapons, or even if we can defeat them at all." Mike spoke up, "I have an idea!" Jones asked, "What is it?" Mike replied, "It might sound childish, but it will work." Jonathan interjected, "How?" You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Mike explained, "The people of this island believe in magic, right? They thought that dome was magic created by a monster, isn¡¯t that true?" Jones nodded, "Yes, they believe in magic¡ªstrongly." Mike continued, "Maybe if they saw someone else using magic, they¡¯d be scared and the enemies might surrender or flee." Jones, looking incredulous, said, "Have you lost your mind?! Where would we find someone who can use magic? Magic is just a myth." Mike, turning to Jonathan, said, "I think the soldiers who were on your ship have grenades, don¡¯t they?" Jonathan responded, "Yes, but how will that help us?" Mike smiled, "My plan is simple. First, I want those soldiers in my team. Second, after we complete the mission assigned to me, I¡¯ll give you a signal. After that, you all need to flee the battlefield as if you¡¯re terrified of me. Then, I¡¯ll start speaking as if I¡¯m casting a spell to summon the wrath of the skies. That¡¯s when the soldiers will throw the grenades into the air. Of course, the islanders have never seen grenades before, and they¡¯ll actually believe I summoned the wrath of the skies. That should terrify them and force them to surrender. What do you think?" Jones sighed, "You really are a child. But I can¡¯t deny it¡¯s an effective plan. After all, the people of this island believe in magic, and strongly at that." Jones continued, "Now let¡¯s review our plan. It seems to have three stages: First: Arming ourselves, surrounding the enemy, and weakening them. Second: Clearing a path to the cave and retrieving the parts after weakening the enemy. Third: Scaring the enemy and forcing them to surrender with our fake magic." Jonathan laughed, "Sounds like a perfect plan." Jones shot back, "Cut the nonsense and get your team ready. We¡¯re attacking at dawn." Indeed, everyone began preparing for the first stage. They wore their armor, carried their weapons, and moved under the cover of night towards the destined battlefield where everything would be decided¡ªwhether they¡¯d leave the island or remain trapped. Finally, they reached a spot near the enemy¡¯s location. Each group took their positions, waiting for daylight, which would signal the start of the attack. Long moments of complete silence and anticipation followed. Even though only a few minutes had passed since they took their positions, the tension in the air made the minutes feel like hours. At last, the first ray of light appeared, cutting through the silence and tension, marking the spark that would ignite the battle. End of Chapter Eleven What will happen to our heroes? And who will emerge victorious? The Final Battle The first rays of daylight appeared, announcing the dawn of a new day, and thus the attack teams were given permission to begin executing the first phase of the agreed plan, which was to besiege and weaken the enemy forces. Moments after the break of dawn, the ground of the enemy village trembled from the charge of our heroes¡¯ forces, who surrounded the village and began clashing with the guards who were ambushed. Time passed quickly, and within just a few minutes of the skirmish¡¯s start, reports came in of the attacking forces reaching the rest of the villagers, causing the villagers to gather and prepare for resistance. The battle began to intensify, and after only ten minutes of fighting, heavy losses were suffered on both sides. Despite the losses, our heroes¡¯ resolve remained unshaken, and the first phase of the plan, which aimed to weaken the enemy, was completed. The second phase then commenced, where soldiers carrying explosives took their positions in hidden areas around the village. At the same time, the retrieval team, led by Mike and Jonathan, advanced to enter the cave and recover the stolen parts. After a fierce battle and a sweeping clash with the enemy forces, the team finally reached the cave¡¯s entrance, with only the retrieval of the stolen parts left to accomplish. The team entered the cave, which was enormous and unbearably hot, like an oven. The cave branched into several passages, resembling a maze, but despite this, all the passages led downward into the depths of the island. The team decided to split into three groups: one led by Mike, another by Jonathan, and the third by one of the scientists who had been with them on the ship, named Dante. They agreed to meet back at the entrance after completing their tasks. If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. The first group, led by Mike, entered a passage that sloped sharply downward. They faced great difficulty descending due to the steep incline, but after much effort, they reached the end of the passage, where they found some of the stolen parts, as well as several bodies that had been sacrificed in the cave. They tried to ignore the bodies, as the battle above required their full attention, and Mike and his team began carrying the parts they had found and heading to the meeting point. The group with Jonathan chose an easier passage, with a moderate slope downward. Upon reaching the end, they found that it contained most of the missing parts. Jonathan and his team began collecting the parts and transporting them to the meeting point. As for the last group, led by Dante, they entered a passage with some twists and several small caves. At the end of the passage, they found a few of the missing parts. However, Dante also noticed a small hole in the cave wall emitting a mysterious green light. He asked the members of his team to take the parts and head out ahead of him, stating that he would join them after investigating the source of the light. Dante entered the hole to investigate the source of the light, while the rest of the team made their way to the entrance to meet with the other two groups. After a short time, the three groups reunited at the cave entrance, where Mike inquired about Dante. One of the team members who had been with Dante answered: ¡°He told us to go ahead and to inform you to begin phase three. He said he would check something and then join us.¡± Mike replied: ¡°Then let him do as he wishes. In the end, he did his part. But now, let¡¯s proceed with the execution of phase three of our plan.¡± End of chapter 12 Shock The team and the recovered parts remained at the cave entrance while Mike climbed a nearby rock alone, raising his hands high to signal the start of the final phase. His companions stopped fighting, pretending to be terrified, and began shouting: ¡°Don¡¯t do it, Mike! Don¡¯t summon the wrath of the heavens!¡± Mike muttered incomprehensible words, then shouted in a commanding voice: ¡°I summon you, O Wrath of the Heavens, to grant me victory over my enemies! Answer me and defeat them!¡± At that moment, the soldiers began throwing grenades randomly into the air. One explosion followed another, freezing the enemy forces in place, stunned and overtaken by fear. They were convinced that Mike had indeed summoned a supernatural force¡ªthat they were truly facing a sorcerer. Their confidence shattered instantly, and they fell to their knees, surrendering and pleading: ¡°Forgive us, O great sorcerer! Have mercy on us!¡± With that, the three phases of the submarine parts retrieval plan were complete: deceiving the enemy, paralyzing them, and forcing their surrender. The battle ended with victory for the Tifa tribe and its allies. But this was not just about recovering stolen parts¡ªit was also about crushing an enemy that no longer posed a threat. The villagers erupted in cheers, celebrating their triumph. But their joy did not last long¡­ Dante emerged from the cave, drenched in sweat, his face pale as if he had seen a ghost. He didn¡¯t utter a word; instead, he immediately turned his gaze to the captured enemy leader. Without hesitation, he charged at him like a madman, striking him furiously while screaming in terror: ¡°You¡¯ve dug all our graves, you idiot! We were supposed to be in the submarines by now, escaping from here! But because of you, you¡¯ve given them more time to wipe us out! Your stupidity has doomed us all!¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Mike and Jonathan quickly intervened, pulling Dante away from the prisoner with force, staring at him in concern. Mike demanded sharply, ¡°What the hell is going on? Why are you so terrified?¡± Dante struggled to catch his breath, then spoke in a trembling voice: ¡°When I was in the cave, I saw a strange green light seeping from one of the holes. I told the others to take the submarine parts we found and head to the rendezvous point. Then, I entered the hole myself. The passage was narrow, but it led me to a vast chamber, unbearably hot, filled with oval-shaped rocks that glowed with a shimmering green light. They were embedded in the ground with a transparent substance, and the walls were coated with the same material, allowing the light to pass through in a breathtaking spectacle¡ªas if I were standing inside a giant, radiant crystal.¡± He paused for a moment, then continued, his voice growing more fearful: ¡°I was mesmerized by the strange beauty of it¡­ until I noticed something moving inside the rocks. At first, I thought it was just a trick of the light, but when I got closer and examined them closely¡­ that stunning sight turned into a living nightmare. Those weren¡¯t rocks. They were¡­¡± He swallowed hard, then whispered in a barely audible voice: ¡°Eggs. The eggs of that cursed creature. The cave is filled with thousands of them¡ªthe very creature that brought us here¡­ and we¡­ we are going to be their food!" End of chapter 13 Chaos Everyone was shocked by what they had heard, and they began to question Dante¡¯s mental state. Perhaps he had started to ramble due to the heat of the cave or the presence of some kind of steam causing delirium that seeped deep into the cave. The pulse of their hearts quickened, and their steps grew more urgent toward the cave openings, hoping that his words were nothing more than fleeting delirium. They expressed their hope that Dante¡¯s words were merely fantasies and illusions. The few steps they took toward the entrance of the cave, which separated them from uncovering the truth and distinguishing reality from illusion, felt like an endless march. But, despite the heavy atmosphere and the time that seemed to stand still, they reached the cave entrance and entered, trying to find answers. They then found themselves rushing through the cave¡¯s passages, following the strange green light. The closer they got to the light¡¯s source, the more they felt that this was just a nightmare or a hallucination. Eventually, they reached a chamber filled with rocks glowing green, exactly as Dante had described. All their hopes were focused on the absence of eggs, wishing these were just rocks. Their hearts raced, and all that was in their minds was: ¡°Please, let this be a hallucination.¡± But those hopes and that phrase began to fade quickly from their minds, shattered and replaced by despair when they saw an enormous quantity of eggs stretching out before them as far as the eye could see. Inside those eggs was a miniature version of that monster. Despair began to consume them, and their options vanished as the scene shifted to a collective aversion to the cave. Everyone was in a state of hysteria¡ªscreaming, panicking, and terrified. At this terrifying moment, the enemy leader stood up and called out with pride and arrogance in his voice: ¡°Why? Why are you running, you fools? What can you do in front of the master? You are mere beggars in the face of the master¡¯s might. This is your reward for defying him. These are all your mistakes. There is no escape for you now; the master¡¯s children will feast on your sins.¡± He began to laugh maniacally. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Anger overtook Mike, and his mind could no longer keep up with what was happening around him, or perhaps it was hard for him to believe this reality. His voice rose as he screamed angrily at the enemy: ¡°Are your minds empty? Are you that foolish? This creature can¡¯t save you from here! You will die here too, you idiots. That monster doesn¡¯t see you as his subjects. You are just food for his children. This is why you were brought here. This is why we were brought here¡ªto be nothing more than a meal for his children.¡± Mike couldn¡¯t hide his anger and frustration, and his shouting became more intense and violent: ¡°I didn¡¯t intend to say this, but this will be our grave. All of this is because of you, you damn failure. Your attack on the submarine maintenance team ruined our plan to escape, and now they can¡¯t continue their work. They need at least a month to recover from their serious injuries and start over. When will the eggs hatch? And what will happen after that? Will we even have enough time to return to the village?¡± The enemy leader laughed again, but this time mockingly: ¡°If that¡¯s what the master wants, so be it.¡± Mike charged forward and began to throw punches in anger at the enemy leader, shouting: ¡°How can you be so numb, you fool?¡± ¡°Now, after hope has returned to me, knowing I can see my son and wife again¡­ you stole him from me, and you stole my will to live as well. But even in this state, I won¡¯t betray the people I promised to get off this island. Even though I¡¯ve lost all hope, I will not fail again, even if it means I have to fix those submarines myself. We will all get off this island, even if it means walking over my dead body.¡± Jonathan tried to calm Mike with his wisdom, placing a hand on his shoulder and saying: ¡°Nothing good will come from this panic. Let¡¯s return to the village and come up with a new plan. Stop this wailing, you¡¯re just making things worse. We need to use our remaining time to come up with a new strategy to solve this crisis.¡± Mike replied, trying to gather himself and calm down: ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m sorry for the panic. We can¡¯t stand by now. Retreating is no longer an option. Let¡¯s go back to the village immediately and come up with a new plan. This panic won¡¯t help us. It¡¯s time to act and find a solution to our problem.¡± End of Chapter Fourteen