At dawn, the gray mist had settled around the shelter, clinging to the stone walls like moss. Everything was silent. The air was strangely cold — so cold that a deep breath would chill your lungs.

  At the doorway, Lily examined the map one last time. I had already armed myself.

  My Silent Bow was strapped to my back, arrows neatly lined up. The Glimmering Dagger rested on the inside of my right wrist, still carrying the faint blue glow it had maintained throughout the night. Hidden close against the inside of my left forearm was the Poisoned Dagger, coiled like a snake against my skin.

  When Lily pushed the stone door open, the creaking sound echoed through the entire cave. Inside, it was completely dark — and a heavy, damp smell of mold filled my nose.

  The [Mana-Charged Amulet] around my neck pulsed lightly, and the glow of my dagger strengthened. I could now see ahead of us.

  Our footsteps echoed as we advanced. Rusty chains hung from the ceiling, sometimes swinging at head height. Whispers from the holes in the walls sounded like the screams of those who had entered here before.

  Lily stepped on a brick — and a distinct "click" sounded.

  "Stop!" I said, pulling her back.

  A hidden mechanism sprang up from the ground right in front of where she had stepped — a trap launching arrows. They shot out so fast and fiercely that one grazed a strand of her hair.

  "They were right… this place is full of traps," Lily said, narrowing her eyes.

  "I'll go first," I said. "You stay careful."

  I bent my knees and moved forward. I carefully examined the pattern of the bricks, the rust stains, and the fallen debris on the floor. The Glimmering Dagger pierced the darkness ahead of me, stirring the shadows.

  And then…

  The first enemy appeared from a corner. A zombie pirate, with rotted skin and tattered black sailor clothes. There was no light in his eyes, but his movements were strange — like a puppet controlled by invisible strings.

  He struck first, swinging a rusty axe.

  I ducked low, feeling the rush of air as the axe swept over me.

  It was time for a counterattack.

  I drove the Glimmering Dagger upward into his gut.

  The blade's light illuminated the creature's insides in the darkness — but it didn't die. With a violent sweep of its arm, it hurled me back against the wall.

  "Hold on!" Lily shouted, rushing in with her sword.

  While she distracted him, I drew the Poisoned Dagger and stabbed it into the creature’s knee.

  The poison acted immediately — the zombie's movements slowed, its eyes trembled.

  With a guttural moan, it finally collapsed.

  "There are more," I said, looking ahead. At least five more cursed pirates were stirring within the shadows.

  "Time for the bow," I said.

  I retreated slightly and drew the Silent Bow, hiding in the darkness.

  I took careful aim.

  The first arrow — straight to the head. One enemy dropped silently.

  The second — near the heart. Another staggered.

  But one of them spotted me and charged swiftly.

  I slung the bow back over my shoulder and drew the Glimmering Dagger.

  The pirate swung a cutlass; I dodged low and sliced across his wrist.

  His weapon dropped; before he could launch another attack, I kicked him hard in the chest and drove the dagger into his throat as he fell.

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  The others were swiftly dealt with by Lily — graceful, deadly, and efficient.

  When the fight was over, both of us were breathing heavily. Lily had a cut on her arm. I bandaged it, and we pressed forward.

  When we reached the center of the shelter, a massive stone door stood before us. Carved into it was a captain's emblem: crossed swords and a skull.

  The door began to open slowly.

  A freezing gust of wind blew out at us from inside — as if a curse had been released from a tomb.

  The chamber beyond was enormous and ominous.

  High ceilings, collapsed pillars, and in the center, nothing but a corrupted throne made of stone.

  But on that throne… he sat.

  The Cursed Captain.

  His long, white hair hung down to his shoulders, looking like dried seaweed. His eye sockets were pitch black, but crimson lights burned within them.

  Chained to his chest was a shattered, yet still faintly glowing, magical compass.

  His armor was adorned with old pirate insignias, but cracks from dark magic ran across it.

  In his hand, he held an enormous two-handed shadow-steel sword, nearly as tall as he was.

  Slowly, he rose to his feet.

  The stones beneath him cracked under his weight.

  "The foreigners... you have stirred unrest in this tomb," groaned a hollow voice. "Now, the curse of the sea will descend upon you!"

  Suddenly, the pitch-black ceiling cracked — from within, a blue-black mist began to pour down.

  The captain struck his sword against the ground, and the shelter trembled.

  From his own shadow, three dark copies sprang forth and scattered around.

  "Lily, deal with the shadows!" I shouted, dropping to one knee and pulling out the Silent Bow.

  I fired my first arrow at a shadow — it passed right through. They weren't physical.

  "No... they're not illusions," I muttered. "They're fed by magic!"

  At that moment, Varro lunged at me. He swung his massive sword to the ground — the stones split apart, and the rush of air from the blow rattled my ribs.

  I dodged at the last second, rolling to the side.

  Drawing my Luminous Blade, I circled behind him and struck at his wrist.

  When the blade sank into the arm holding his sword, I felt an electric resistance.

  The light within the blade pulsed into his body — but there was only mockery on his face.

  "Is that all?" he sneered, grabbing me with his left hand.

  He lifted me by my shoulder, cutting off my breath.

  I drew the Poisoned Dagger and stabbed it into his elbow.

  The poison took effect within seconds — his arm seized up, and he dropped me.

  I tumbled across the ground, quickly regained my footing, and jumped back.

  The dagger was still embedded in his arm.

  This time, I attacked.

  With the Luminous Blade, I slashed at his left knee, then scored a line up to his shoulder.

  But his armor wasn't just metal — it was woven with darkness, with cursed bone plates that absorbed my strikes.

  He slammed the ground right in front of me — a wave of shadow erupted.

  My feet left the ground; I was hurled against a wall.

  Pain exploded in my chest.

  Breathing became difficult.

  At that moment, Lily jumped in from the side and shattered a magic stone — a reddish light spread, forming a protective circle on the ground.

  The shadows couldn't pass it, but Captain Varro still could.

  I stood up again.

  Poisoned Dagger in my left hand, Luminous Blade in my right.

  We entered close combat.

  Each of Varro's swings tore stones from the ground.

  I searched for weak points, striking at the exposed joints of his rotted body beneath the armor — but it wasn't enough.

  Then Lily noticed something: the compass on his chest.

  "The compass! It's feeding him magic!" she shouted.

  I understood instantly.

  I pulled the bow from my back.

  Took a deep breath.

  Time seemed to slow down.

  I nocked an arrow, aimed carefully — straight at the center of the compass —

  and released.

  The arrow flew like a streak of light through the air.

  It struck dead center.

  The compass cracked.

  Varro's eyes narrowed, and a howl filled the cavern.

  The shadows vanished; the mist on the ground began to clear.

  But it wasn't over yet.

  The captain fell to his knees.

  His body trembled.

  Then — the second phase began.

  Black smoke poured from him; his bones lengthened; he doubled in size.

  His sword became wreathed in darkness, glowing ominously.

  His eyes burned like two red stars.

  "I am the curse of the seas...!" he roared.

  This would require the final blow.

  I tightened my grip on the Luminous Blade with both hands.

  Lily looked at me — her eyes full of determination.

  We charged together.

  She distracted him; I leapt onto his back.

  I stabbed the Poisoned Dagger deep into his back.

  Despite his resistance, it pierced through.

  Then, with all my strength, I drove the Luminous Blade into the back of his neck, at the spine.

  Varro screamed.

  Darkness collapsed around him.

  His body slammed to the ground like a stone.

  His cursed sword shattered into pieces.

  The curse was lifted.

  Behind the captain's corpse, under the broken throne, we found an ancient chest.

  Inside, there was the core of the cursed compass, a stash of Tower Coins, and an old captain’s journal.

  The journal pointed toward a new destination:

  the Cursed Shores.