Stuck in an Island with Twelve Beautiful Women
Chapter 706 - 708

Jude was the last to climb the rope, his fingers gripping tightly as he pulled himself onto the new ship's deck. The second his feet touched the wood, he turned back, watching as the monstrous creature in the water writhed in rage. The beast let out another deafening shriek, its massive body twisting as it prepared to launch itself toward them once more.

Before it could, a volley of harpoons shot from the ship, striking the creature's hide with deadly precision. The beast roared in pain, but it wasn't retreating, it was adapting. Its wounds, though deep, didn't seem to slow it down. If anything, the attacks only served to enrage it further.

A figure stepped forward, his dark cloak billowing in the wind as he raised a hand toward the creature. His presence alone commanded attention, and Jude found himself momentarily transfixed. The man's voice rang out, laced with an authority that sent shivers down Jude's spine. "Begone, beast. You do not belong in these waters."

At first, nothing happened. The creature thrashed, its many eyes glowing with fury. Then, without warning, the ocean beneath it churned with unnatural force. A ripple of energy spread outward, distorting the very air around them. The monstrous being let out a final, agonized shriek before its form began to dissolve, its massive body breaking apart like mist in the wind.

Jude could hardly believe what he was seeing. The creature that had tormented them for what felt like an eternity was vanishing, its presence erased from existence in mere moments. The ocean calmed, the storm dissipating, and for the first time in what felt like an eternity, silence fell upon the sea.

He turned toward the cloaked man, heart still racing. "What… what did you do?"

The man lowered his hand, his gaze sharp as it settled on Jude. "I did what needed to be done."

Mira stepped forward, wary. "Who are you?"

The man regarded her for a moment before answering. "You may call me Vaelin."

Jude exchanged glances with Mira and Nefertari, but none of them spoke. Vaelin's presence was unsettling, though not outright hostile. He carried himself with an air of control, a quiet strength that suggested he had seen and endured far more than any of them could comprehend.

Eldara, still catching her breath, finally broke the silence. "That… thing. It's gone. Just like that?"

Vaelin turned his gaze toward her, his expression unreadable. "It was not of this world. It did not belong here."

Jude clenched his fists. "Then what was it? We nearly died fighting that thing. It wasn't just some mindless beast."

Vaelin studied him for a moment before nodding slightly. "You are right. It was not mindless. It was drawn to something, or someone, on your ship." His eyes flickered toward Jude with an intensity that made his stomach tighten. "And I believe you already know why."

A heavy silence settled between them. Jude swallowed hard, his mind racing. He had felt something strange ever since they first encountered the creature. The way it had fixated on him, the way it had reacted to his presence, it hadn't been coincidence. It had been searching for something. Searching for him.

Mira shifted uneasily. "If that's true, then what do we do now? That thing might be gone, but who's to say more won't come?"

Vaelin's gaze remained steady. "You will come with us."

Jude frowned. "And why should we trust you?"

A flicker of amusement crossed Vaelin's face. "You are free to leave if you wish. But I suspect you already know that your journey does not end here."

Jude exhaled sharply, glancing at Mira, Nefertari, and Eldara. None of them spoke, but he could see the unspoken agreement in their eyes. They had barely survived this encounter. Walking away now, pretending they could simply return to whatever semblance of normalcy remained, was that even an option?

He turned back to Vaelin. "Fine. But we're not following blindly. If we're coming with you, we want answers."

Vaelin inclined his head. "Then answers you shall have."

The ship moved forward once more, gliding smoothly across the now-tranquil waters. The fog had lifted, revealing a sky painted with the soft hues of dawn. Jude felt the tension in his chest ease, if only slightly. The battle was over. For now.

But deep down, he knew this was only the beginning.

The sea stretched endlessly before them, a vast expanse of shifting blues and grays that seemed almost peaceful in the wake of the battle. The ship cut through the water with an eerie silence, carried by winds that felt unnatural, steady, deliberate, as if guided by an unseen force. Jude stood near the railing, staring at the horizon, his mind still reeling from everything that had transpired. The creature, the battle, Vaelin's sudden appearance and the way he had simply erased the monstrosity as if it were nothing… None of it made sense. But one thing was clear: Vaelin knew more than he was letting on.

Behind him, Mira sat cross-legged on the deck, bandaging a deep cut along her forearm. She winced slightly as she tightened the cloth but didn't complain. Nefertari stood nearby, sharpening her blade with slow, methodical movements, her face unreadable as always. Eldara, despite her exhaustion, was pacing restlessly, her fingers twitching as if she were fighting the urge to summon magic again. The encounter had left them all shaken, though none of them would admit it aloud.

Vaelin stood at the ship's bow, his dark cloak billowing slightly in the wind. He had barely spoken since their brief exchange after the battle, but Jude could feel his presence like a weight pressing against his skin. There was something about him, something dangerous, something ancient. And despite the fact that he had saved them, Jude couldn't shake the feeling that they had just traded one threat for another.

He finally pushed away from the railing and approached him. "You said that thing was looking for me. What did you mean by that?"

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