CH 12 : ᕙ[White Crost Island]ᕗ
"The calm never means safety—not in a world like this."
The fog had finally lifted, but it left behind a strange silence… a silence that clung to my skin like frost and settled in my lungs like poison. After the chaos of the Blue Ocean, the battles with sea beasts, fog demons, and whispering illusions, I finally saw something—land. Sharp, jagged, and bathed in pale light that almost didn't feel real.
A small island loomed in the distance, like a bone jutting from the ocean's mouth.
> [New Location Discovered: White Crost Island – Sea-Based Formation]
[No Hostile Threats Detected]
[Mana Beasts Present – Risk: Low | Hostility: 12%]
[Strategic Zone: "Calm Zone" Identified]
I stared at the notification blinking in front of me, wind whipping my silver-white hair across my face. My crimson eyes narrowed. A calm zone? After all I've been through, I almost didn't trust the words.
"Nyx," I called out.
The dark-furred beast beside me stretched lazily, two tails flicking as he stood. He looked more relaxed than usual, but I wasn't fooled—he was always ready.
"We're docking," I said. "Let's see what this island's really hiding."
The island was quiet. Too quiet.
When I stepped off the ship and onto the coral-strewn shore, I expected resistance. A lurking predator, maybe a cursed mist or a corrupted tide. But all I felt was… mana. A lot of it. Buzzing in the ground like a pulse, soft and constant.
Mana beasts—fox-like creatures with glowing tails—watched from a distance. They didn't approach. They didn't flee. They just... observed.
I wandered inland, my boots crunching softly through moss-coated stone. The whole place felt suspended in time, like someone had pressed pause on the world.
> [System Buff Activated: Calm Zone Effect]
HP Regeneration +20%
MP Recovery Boost +35%
Strategic Planning Interface: UNLOCKED
Hostile Activity Blocked for: 71h 49m
"Finally," I breathed, dropping to sit in a half-collapsed ruin. "A damn break."
Nyx sniffed the air and gave a soft growl. "Nothing too dangerous here. Feels like a pocket of the old world."
"Old world?"
"Before demons ruled the sea. Before the Yama King's blood soaked the oceans."
He always had a flair for the dramatic.
Still, I took the opportunity. We made camp at the top of a ridge overlooking the shore. The ship needed repairs, my body needed rest, and my mind… well, it had been burning ever since I killed the Whale Demon.
I pulled up my system menu.
[Status – Sylvia Plath]
HP: 63%
MP: 89%
Stamina: 70%
Corruption: Stable
Title Effects: "Daughter of the Demon King", "Voidborn Survivor"
[Inventory]
Void Sword – Durability: 72%
Health Elixirs: 6
Core Stone Shards: 2
System Elixir: 1
Yama Fruit – 1 use left
Veil Earrings (Bound)
Black Flame Needle (Cursed – Sealed)
Fragments: Yamak x3 (Complete)
Demon Map: Oceanic Path – [UPDATING]
> [New Item Added: White Crost Island Memory Fragment – (1/5)]
My eyes narrowed.
"A memory fragment?" I whispered aloud. "The system's logging something here."
This place wasn't empty. It was hiding. Waiting.
That night, I awoke to whispers.
They weren't loud. Just threads of sound dancing through the wind. Familiar and terrifying at the same time.
> "…She waits beneath… Crooked stars above… betrayal below…"
I sat upright, my hand already on my Void Sword.
"Nyx," I called out quietly. He was already beside me, alert.
"You heard it too?" I asked.
He nodded. "Beneath the island."
I looked toward the shoreline, where moonlight kissed the reefs.
> [Subterranean Signature Detected – Sealed Entry: 'Key of Crost' Required]
[Access: Denied]
Something was under this island. Sealed. Hidden. Watching.
But right now… I needed rest. I needed strength. I couldn't open every forbidden door I found. Not yet.
System Update – End of Day One: White Crost Island
> [HP Regeneration +5% | MP Recovery +8%]
[Strategic Calm: 70h 12m Remaining]
[New Objectives Available – Would you like to scan for hidden mana nodes?]
I dismissed the alert for now. I stared up at the dark sky, stars glittering like blood gems, and whispered:
"Let me catch my breath, just for a while…"
Because I knew the moment I left this island… the Dark Ocean would be waiting.
The second day on White Crost began with a distant roar—low, like thunder caught underwater. I sat up immediately, instinct kicking in before sleep even left my bones.
> [System Notice: Local Seismic Activity Detected – Depth Unstable]
[Subsurface Mana Surge: Critical Levels Detected]
"Perfect," I muttered, already pulling on my boots.
Nyx was pacing the edge of the ridge, hackles raised. "The calm's breaking. Something's stirring underground."
"And I'm guessing we don't get a choice about whether to deal with it."
> [New Objective Unlocked: Investigate the Tremors Below White Crost Island]
[Reward: Unknown]
[Warning: The Seal remains incomplete. Accessing may trigger hostile resonance.]
I gritted my teeth and opened my inventory.
One Health Elixir used.
My system shimmered with power—HP, MP, Agility spiked for the next few hours. I could feel it, like lightning crackling in my blood.
Time to move.
We descended into the heart of the island. The mana beasts gave us a wide berth, even the curious ones from yesterday. The deeper we went, the colder the air got—despite the warm ocean breeze outside.
Eventually, we found it.
A cave, hidden behind a jagged outcropping and a thick wall of twisted vines. Nyx burned the path clear with a flicker of abyssal fire. Beyond it, the cave pulsed—like a heartbeat.
> [You Have Discovered: Crost Core Nexus]
[Sealed Gate Detected: Requires 1 Crost Keystone – NOT ACQUIRED]
"Damn." I stepped forward, placing my hand against the stone.
A cold surge ripped through my arm. Visions. Screams.
I saw a city—once thriving, now drowned. A king with no face. A girl who looked like me, holding a sword of pure starlight… and something else. A void. A hole in reality itself.
> [Memory Fragment Activated – 2/5 Recovered]
[New Passive Acquired: Crost Intuition – Traps & Ambush Detection Increased by 15%]
My breath hitched.
"What the hell is this place?"
Suddenly, the ground quaked. A tremor ripped through the chamber and the seal glowed red.
> [Warning – Hostile Entity Awakened]
[Initiating Emergency Protocol]
From the shadows, it emerged.
Long limbs like coral branches, eyes glowing like magma under glass, teeth curved inward. It didn't crawl—it flowed, like liquid nightmare.
> [??? – Crost Depth Guardian]
[Tier Rank: 7]
[Aggression: 89% | Objective: Eliminate the Intruder]
"No choice," I muttered. "We fight."
Battle Log – Initiated
I blinked forward with [Void Dash], slashing across the creature's midsection with my Void Sword. It shrieked—not in pain, but rage—and lashed back. Its tendrils split, some attacking me, others forming shifting mirrors to confuse my movements.
"Nyx, left flank!"
"Already moving!"
He blurred through shadows, ripping through two mirror clones with a snarl. I activated [Crimson Spiral], leaping above the creature and slamming my blade into its back. Its skin hissed—tough, but not unbreakable.
But then… it split.
Another head rose. The thing had more forms—like a hydra made of screams.
> [System Alert: Multi-Phase Entity]
[Weak Point: Lower Core Crystal – Currently Exposed]
I dove down, skimming the ground, sword poised.
> SLASH—!!!
A direct hit. Light exploded from its stomach as I pierced through.
> [Critical Damage Dealt – Core Fractured 52%]
It retaliated violently, flinging me across the chamber. I hit the wall hard, gasping as my HP dipped.
> [HP: 38%]
"Dammit—just die already!"
I forced myself to my feet, energy blazing through my limbs from the lingering boost of the elixir. A final surge. My hand gripped the Void Sword tighter.
One last shot.
> [Skill Activated: Abyss Drive – 70% System Sync Engaged]
I roared, shadows swirling around me. Nyx jumped with me.
Together, we plunged the sword through the guardian's core.
> [Enemy Defeated – Crost Depth Guardian]
[Loot Acquired – Crost Keystone x1 | Guardian Fragment (Sealed)]
[Memory Fragment – 3/5 Unlocked]
The monster shrieked, dissolving into black steam, leaving behind a glowing crystal hovering in the air.
My knees buckled, breath ragged, blood running down my arm.
"...Worth it."
> [Crost Keystone Acquired – Core Gate Now Accessible]
[Would You Like to Unlock the Sealed Chamber?]
Not yet.
I sheathed the Void Sword, grabbed the Keystone, and limped out of the cave with Nyx supporting me.
Outside, the wind was still blowing gently. The sea shimmered like it hadn't just hidden a nightmare under its waves.
White Crost wasn't done yet. But neither was I.
And somewhere beyond this—Dark Ocean waited.
The Crost Keystone pulsed softly in my palm, as if it were alive… no, more like it was remembering something.
Nyx stood beside me, tail flicking impatiently. "You're really going to open that place?"
I gave a faint smile. "You think I came this far just to turn back now?"
> [Crost Keystone Detected]
[Would You Like to Unlock the Sealed Core Gate?]
[Warning: Unpredictable System Feedback May Occur]
[Proceed?]
"Open it."
The cave responded instantly.
A deafening crack echoed through the stone, and glowing veins of violet light crawled across the sealed gate. With a final rumble, the wall split in two and slid open, revealing a dark corridor filled with faint whispers.
Not voices.
Memories.
> [You Have Entered: Crost Sub-Realm – Chamber of Forgotten Echoes]
[System Connection Weak – Expect Distorted Feedback]
[Timer: 30 Minutes Until Collapse]
"I hate countdowns," I muttered under my breath, stepping into the swirling void.
The air was thick, almost syrupy with mana. My HUD glitched slightly, flickering like it was struggling to process what it was seeing.
Then I saw them.
Figures. Dozens—no, hundreds—flickering like candlelight, echoing along the walls. Demons. Warriors. Kings. Children. All gone. All watching me.
I walked past them, heart pounding.
> [New Memory Fragment Detected: 4/5]
[Passive Skill Gained: Temporal Reading – View Trace Events of the Past]
The ground beneath me changed—obsidian tiles now, shimmering with stardust. At the chamber's heart stood an altar, cracked and overgrown with vines.
A sword floated above it.
Not my Void Sword.
This one shimmered like flowing mercury, its blade whispering my name in voices not my own.
> [You Have Discovered: Sword of Crost Vow – Soulbound Relic (Unclaimed)]
[Cursed Slot – Consumes 1 Active Weapon Slot]
[Do You Wish to Bind This Weapon to Your Soul?]
[Warning: Soul Corruption Chance – Moderate]
"System, show me the weapon stats."
>
[Sword of Crost Vow]
Type: Sentient Relic Blade
80% Attack Power
25% Mana Efficiency
Passive: "Vow of Echoes" – Your blade remembers every strike. Perfect counters are stored.
Curse: Binds to Soul. Incompatible with Holy/Light-based buffs.
Warning: Extended use may reveal hidden fragments of your past lives.
I hesitated.
This was power. But also something else. Something... ancient. Forgotten.
Nyx stared at it, unblinking. "That sword doesn't belong to this time."
"Neither do I," I said, and reached out.
The moment my fingers touched the hilt, searing cold shot up my arm. My vision blurred.
> [Soul Binding In Progress…]
[Synchronization Rate: 46%... 67%... 91%...]
[Success.]
> [You Have Obtained the Sword of Crost Vow]
[Void Sword Temporarily Sealed Until Weapon Slot Reset]
[System Stability Dropping – 5 Minutes Until Collapse]
"Time to go!"
I turned to run—but something shifted.
Behind me, from the shadows—a pair of red eyes opened.
> [Unregistered Presence Detected]
[Entity: ??? | Danger Level: UNRANKED]
[Aggression: Passive | Interaction: ???]
It didn't attack. Just watched.
A tall figure, cloaked in mist, wearing cracked armor that looked centuries old. In his chest glowed a fragment just like mine.
I reached out—then the chamber shuddered.
> [Collapse Imminent – Emergency Extraction Protocol Activated]
[Returning to Surface in 5… 4… 3… 2…]
The next thing I knew, I was outside again. On the ridge. Drenched in sweat, blade still clutched in my hand.
Nyx was already at my side. "You blacked out for a moment."
"Did I?"
I looked down at the new sword—its edge rippled, like it was still breathing.
> [New Quest Added: Uncover the Seven Past Bearers of the Crost Vow]
[Optional: Seek the Unknown Entity – Location: ???]
[Primary Route Updated – Proceed to Dark Ocean]
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting blood-red light across the sea, I looked east—toward the next stretch of the map.
The Dark Ocean waited.
And I would dive headfirst into it.
No matter what waited beneath.
The blade hummed with low resonance against my back as I stepped away from the ridge where the entrance to the chamber once stood. The Crost Vow had accepted me. Or maybe it had chosen me—like a final heir to its haunted memory.
> [Memory Sync Complete]
[Seven Past Bearers of the Crost Vow — Complete]
[You Have Gained: White Coastal Memory Essence]
The system chimed again, this time with a solemn ring, as if recognizing something… sacred.
> [Item Acquired: White Coastal Memory Essence]
Type: Legendary Memory Relic
Description: "Echoes of the seven who once bled in silence. A key to the forgotten truth of the coastal realm."
Function: Unknown – May require Soul Resonance or Location Trigger.
I stared at it in my inventory. A faint glimmer pulsed from the crystal-shaped essence. I didn't know what it meant yet. But I could feel it watching me—waiting.
Nyx curled up beside the fire we'd started not long after returning to camp. The skies above White Crost Island were clear now, no lingering fog, just soft starlight stretching across an endless sea.
"Was that sword really worth it?" Nyx asked softly.
I didn't answer right away.
I looked at my reflection in the blade's surface. My crimson eyes. The greying strands of white in my hair glowing faintly under moonlight. The marks of survival, power—and burden.
"Nothing I'm doing is for free anymore," I whispered. "Not this journey. Not that sword. Not even the air I breathe. But if it takes weapons like this to survive the Red Ocean… then yes. It was worth it."
> [Your Resolve Has Strengthened]
[Willpower +2]
[Void Sword Reactivated – Dual-Wield Enabled (Unlocked for Limited Duration)]
I blinked. "System, dual wield?"
> [Yes.]
[You May Now Equip:
– Sword of Crost Vow
– Void Blade]
[Passive Fusion Unlocked – "Demon Warden Style"]
[Duration: Until Next Oceanic Arc Battle Completion]
A rush of wind brushed against my skin. For a moment… it felt like I had become something beyond what I was meant to be.
"Guess I'm not just a daughter of the Demon King anymore," I murmured.
I was a storm that had survived silence. A blade forged from loss and vengeance.
The night passed slowly, but peacefully. I took shifts watching, letting Nyx rest as much as she could. The island's beasts no longer felt threatening—they wandered past, quiet and low-bellied, eyes glowing, respectful.
It was like they knew.
By morning, the system pinged once more.
> [White Crost Island: Cleared]
[Hidden Realm Fragment Sealed]
[Proceed to Next Area – Dark Ocean Approaching]
[Navigation Path Updating…]
I stood at the dock as the demonic ship, bound with wards and reinforced after repairs, waited with quiet patience. The air was thick with salt and whispers again. The calm before a deeper storm.
One hand on the hilt of the Crost Vow. The other resting at Nyx's head as she sat beside me.
"You ready?"
She didn't reply. Just nodded.
We both stared forward, into the coming waves.
I had no idea what White Coastal Memory Essence would unlock.