As the sun slowly crept over the horizon, the [Liberator] continued its steady voyage across the quiet sea. Neither rushing nor slowing, it sailed with a calm that belied the tension aboard.
On the upper deck, Rei lay on her stomach atop a thick blanket, the only barrier between her bare skin and the chilled wooden planks. Her top had been removed, exposing her flawless back to the morning light. But something new marred that smooth expanse of two faint, fleshy protrusions rising from just below her shoulder blades.
The mutation had begun. Proof that William's ritual had taken root.
William sat beside her, eyes calm but focused. Kei sat adjacent to him, having woken up not long ago, her expression unreadable as both of them quietly observed Rei's back. From Rei's perspective, they looked like surgeons… Or perhaps predators waiting for their meal to finish cooking.
She tried not to blush, but even with her usual bluntness couldn't dull the heat rising in her cheeks. Yet, her mischievous nature was still there.
"Will… Be faster," Rei whispered, her voice barely louder than a breath. The words came out awkwardly, either from embarrassment or a poorly veiled attempt at teasing. Regardless, the effect was the same: loaded with unintended implication.
William sighed, shaking his head. His hand moved to her back, warm and steady, fingers tracing the budding bones of her soon-to-be wings. Rei flinched slightly and let out a soft, ambiguous moan in response.
"Stop making weird noises," He said with exasperated calm. He was trying to figure out a way to accelerate the mutation process without causing her pain, but Rei's noises were… distracting.
After a little more silence and shaking out the weird noises from Rei, William paused.
Then, with quiet finality, he said, "Alright. I've decided."
His voice wasn't loud, but it carried weight, enough to make both girls glance at him instinctively. Kei straightened slightly, curiosity flickering in her tired eyes. Rei, lying on her stomach, tensed under his gaze, her body shivering in anticipation.
"Stay still," He told Rei, his tone calm, but firm, "This might feel strange."
Rei gave a faint nod, her cheek still pressed to the pillow, silver-white strands of hair spilling across her face. She clutched the edge of the blanket beneath her, more out of instinct than modesty, the cool morning air brushing over the bare skin of her back.
Her voice was barely audible, breathy with both nervousness and a hint of something else, "I'm not afraid… Just, don't take too long…"
William didn't answer right away. Instead, he studied her exposed back. The two small lumps beneath her shoulder blades, the early buds of the same mutation, marked the beginning of her transformation. They pulsed faintly beneath her skin, signs of the mutation that was still incomplete but growing.
Without delay, William opened his inventory and pulled out the ritual knife from before.
A shallow slice across his middle and index fingers allowed blood to seep forth in slow, controlled lines. With delicate precision, he began to draw a pair of wings on Rei's bare back using the blood, tracing along the delicate curve of her spine, from the nape of her neck down to her tailbone.
The blood, as if understanding its purpose, didn't drip or smear. It followed his touch, obediently sinking into the flesh, absorbed neatly into the lines he traced. Minute by minute, the image took shape: crimson wings stretching from her shoulder blades, with a single thin line of blood following the spine like a divine seal.
Once the drawing was complete, William spread his palm and pressed it gently to Rei's back, beginning to channel the blood and Mystic energy inside him.
Rei twitched slightly under his touch.
It wasn't pain, not even discomfort, but a strange, rising tension that stirred within her. The sensation of his warm fingers against her skin, the slow pulse of power flowing from his palm, and the lingering scent of fresh blood, thick with Mythic essence…
It made her body react in a way… Well, Rei did expect.
A low tremor passed through her belly. Her breath hitched. Her limbs tingled with familiar heat, and her stomach gave a soft growl of hunger she couldn't suppress.
'That scent… It's too good…' Rei thought, burying her face deeper into the cushion to muffle the sound of her breath. Her instincts clawed at her, urging her to turn, to pounce and devour the man behind her. But she held still. William was helping her, and her sister was also watching. She couldn't ruin this.
Yet, her body squirmed involuntarily, writhing like a cat caught between heat and desire.
Kei, meanwhile, sat beside William with a furrowed brow, observing the strange ritual unfold. Her gaze followed the path of his bloodied fingers, the strange pattern forming across her sister's back, and the way his palm now glowed faintly as it pressed into Rei's spine.
So many questions danced on her lips.
But she stayed quiet, sensing William's focus and the precision of his work. Instead, her thoughts drifted to the night before, her face reddening slightly as she touched her abdomen, still sore in ways she didn't want to admit out loud.
'It wasn't as frightening as I feared,' She thought, glancing at her squirming sister with a sheepish, almost amused smile.
Though tired, she stayed awake, because this too was part of something important. Something only a Myth like William could give.
Silence lingered softly between them, broken only by the gentle whisper of waves. Soon, the first golden rays of morning sunlight brushed the sea, shimmering warmly against the ship's hull.
William still pressed his palm firmly against Rei's bare back, his eyes closed in profound concentration. A heartbeat later, something remarkable occurred: a tiny feathered bud slowly emerged from each protrusion beneath Rei's shoulder blades.
Rei's breath hitched again as the wings began to unfurl and grow steadily larger. An unbearable itchiness surged from deep beneath her skin, one she was powerless to relieve. She squirmed helplessly, hips shifting side to side in frustration, her body wriggling on the blanket.
William remained utterly focused, channeling his blood and Mystic energy into Rei, fortifying their newly formed bond. Each drop of blood and Mystic he expended nurtured her mutation, guiding it gently but firmly to completion.
Through this connection, he sensed the faint echoes of Rei's thoughts, her emotions whispering through his consciousness, though he deliberately left them unexamined, not wanting to intrude.
As the mutation progressed, something else appeared vividly before his senses: Rei's core essence. Her main class clearly shone within her.
Triple Lined Class [Path Of Blood], War Branch, Above 40% Class Progression.
Yet there was another presence, a secondary class, nascent and unnamed, yet strongly resonant with his own Mythic power.
'A Double-Lined class… Not bad at all for my first Myth-bound awakening,' William mused silently.
Feeling the connection reaching for him, he named it, [Blood Valkyrie].
A class mixed from the influence of Rei's main class and the Mystic essence of Seraph. This class will help Rei become more attuned with blood power, able to control and influence it as she likes, have high regeneration rate, and with the wings, it gives her unnatural mobility in the sky.
For this alone, it can be graded as a High grade Double Lined class, and yet, the class still on the basic form, an early progression. The true power has yet to be unearthed.
'I look forward to seeing what surprises await,' He thought approvingly.
And speaking of classes, William has yet to integrate with the [Deep Sea Warlord] class. The realization struck him, he'd completely forgotten amid recent events. He shook his head inwardly; As he also needed to change the prefix before integrating it, so class power won't be wasted. Not to mention he needed to progress his [Spirit Forger] to 30% first to be able to change it.
'So many things to do, so little time.' He sighed internally, pushing thoughts of his own class aside for now.
Returning his attention fully to Rei, William watched as the wings on her back expanded magnificently, revealing feathers of deep crimson. William understood this is because her main class is too high leveled, it influences the lower level class awakening. He didn't find it displeasing, but actually better like this.
Giving wings to a tiger has always been better than teaching it how to walk with two feet.
As Rei's wings finally spread fully, William withdrew his palm. The moment contact ended, Rei bolted upright immediately, eyes wide with discomfort.
"So itchy!" She practically wailed, desperately reaching behind her back, fingers frustratingly unable to scratch the maddening sensation, "Sis, help! Scratch around the wing bases!"
Kei blinked briefly, processing the sudden request, before quickly obliging her sister. The instant Kei's fingers touched the base of the wings, Rei exhaled a long, relieved moan.
"Ahh… Yes, right there! A little higher, no, slightly to the right… Ahh, yes!"
Watching Rei's amusing reaction, William felt a gentle smile spread across his face.
'Well,' He thought warmly, recalling his own painful transformation, 'This is certainly a thousand times better than what I went through.'
Clenching his palm, William felt his hand a little bit out of touch, 'Maybe, I should have done it later.' In the end he only shook his head, calmly watching the two sisters interacting. Secretly buying [Regeneration Potion] to regenerate his energy and drink it later.
Rei eventually settled down, her sighs of relief fading into softer breaths. Her newly formed wings gently folded against her back, the vivid crimson feathers gleaming warmly under the early sunlight. A subtle, radiant beauty emanated from her, a testament to the bond they'd forged.
Kei finished scratching and gently brushed her fingers along the feathers, curiosity flickering brightly in her eyes, "They're so soft…" She murmured, admiration clear in her voice. Rei shifted slightly, cheeks faintly red, clearly still adjusting to this new addition.
"Do you feel any discomfort?" William asked gently, flexing his fingers, the faint numbness in his palm fading gradually, "Aside from the itching, I mean."
Rei tilted her head thoughtfully, stretching her new limbs experimentally, "It's strange… But comfortable," She admitted softly, "Like they've always belonged to me."
Kei chuckled, leaning back slightly, "Well, that's good to hear. I was worried you'd complain about them all day."
Rei shot her sister a playful glare, "Unlike someone, I don't whine all the time."
William laughed softly at their banter, feeling a wave of peaceful contentment wash over him. These small moments, intimate and warm, reminded him why he chose to build bonds in the first place.
His gaze shifted toward the horizon, where the first hints of their destination started coming into view, a dark smudge of land against the brilliant ocean expanse. The place where the golden giant, that grotesque amalgamation born of taboo, awaited their arrival.
As if sensing his shift in focus, Kei followed his gaze, her expression growing serious again, "How much further?"
"Well, we're already there," William replied calmly, rising to his feet and stretching his limbs, shaking off the lingering stiffness, "Less than ten minutes to the island, perhaps."
Rei stood as well, adjusting her clothes carefully around her newly acquired wings, their crimson edges elegantly framing her slender form. Her expression became resolute, eyes bright and clear, "We will be waiting."
"I know," William answered, his voice low and warm, pride tinging his expression. He looked between the sisters, then stepped forward.
He moved to the ship's helm and with a thought, guided [Liberator] to halt. The sails tightened, the hull responded, and the ship eased into a stillness above the deep, shining water. Somewhere beyond the misted horizon, the island loomed, a slumbering beast cloaked in silence.
William's silver wings unfurled with a smooth motion, catching the morning wind. They cast a long shadow across the deck, radiant and solemn.
He turned to them once more, gaze firm but affectionate.
"If anything goes closer, attack first, ask later. Don't hesitate, Okay?"
The twins both nodded without hesitation, their postures straightening under the weight of his words. But before he turned away, William's gaze lingered on one of them a second longer.
"And Rei," He added, his tone slightly softer, "Protect your sister."
Rei grinned, puffing out her chest with exaggerated confidence, "Of course! Who do you think has been protecting her all this time?"
Her pride was infectious, but William's eyes drifted toward Kei. She hadn't reacted with the same easy smile. Instead, she looked at them both in silence, her expression clouded just for a moment.
A flicker of doubt? Guilt? Or something deeper?
But after a heartbeat, Kei closed her eyes and let out a breath. When she opened them again, the conflict had vanished, replaced with a quiet resolve. Her gaze was no longer clouded, but calm and clear. She gave a single nod, more to herself than to William.
He accepted it with a faint smile.
A silence settled between them, not awkward but meaningful. The wind stirred their hair and the soft feathers on Rei's new wings. The light of morning spilled across the deck in golden hues, painting all three of them in its quiet glow.
William took one last look at the sisters, his companions, his followers, and something perhaps even more.
"Good," He said, voice low and warm, "Wait for me then."
And with that, the moment ended.
Then, with a powerful beat, William leapt into the sky, rising like a streak of silver fire toward the horizon where the golden taboo awaited.
…
Close to the island, a ship creaked as the sea rolled beneath it, the faint glow of dawn barely touching the edge of the sky. LuckyPlayer blinked wearily, his arms still lashed to the rail with frayed rope, skin was raw from rope burns, lips cracked from dehydration.
The sky had shifted from indigo to pale blue, and the sun had slowly risen to the sky, tainting the world in its golden lustre. Across the deck, SongOfModesty wasn't much better, silent, eyes sunken, mouth dry from whispering too many desperate prayers.
For the last hour, they hadn't spoken.
There was nothing left to say.
Then, his interface blinked.
[Message Received - Seraph]: "Where exactly are you? I'm approaching now."
LuckyPlayer jolted, then blinked again, just to make sure he hadn't hallucinated it. He tapped with stiff fingers and quickly opened the map interface.
"We're here," He typed with shaking hands, tagging their coordinates, "Still alive if barely."
[Message Sent - Seraph Reply]: "Good. Stay put."
Moments passed.
And then… The wind shifted.
"Hey," SongOfModesty message quietly through the system chat, "You see that?"
LuckyPlayer turned his head slightly.
Something was above them, flying.
A figure descending from the sky, slow, but majestic…
"…Is that wings?" SongOfModesty answered in disbelief, "Tell me I'm not dreaming."
Their chat remained unfinished.
Because in the next moment, that figure descended in a burst of silver-white light, and landed lightly at the ship's center.
Wings still partially extended behind him, his silver gaze swept the deck. The moment his feet touched wood, a pressure filled the air, oppressive, but at the same time, divine. Giving them some breather in their broken body.
Both players were too stunned to move, mouths agape.
They'd expected help, sure.
But not this.
Not a godlike being landing on their cursed boat.
…
The moment his boots touched the deck, William felt the wrongness clinging to the ship. It was thicker than he expected, like breathing through a gold-laced fog. His silver eyes narrowed as he scanned both ends of the vessel.
There they were.
LuckyPlayer on the bow. SongOfModesty at the stern.
Tied down, hunched over, barely resembling humans anymore.
But that wasn't the worst of it.
Their bodies shimmered unnaturally in his sight. Their spirituality, what should be brilliant in human hues, had been veiled in corrupt gold. Like molten greed threading through their souls. Cracks had begun to form across their skin, glowing faintly. Gold tears leaked from their eyes like molten sorrow, and where their veins should be, golden filaments pulsed with slow, sick rhythm.
The gold is of course unnatural, making them look like statues melting from the inside out.
William furrowed his brow. This wasn't the usual corruption he'd encountered before. This was something entirely different, something deliberately trying to reshape their very essence, making them into extensions of that golden horror on the island.
Or perhaps something worse.
"Too far gone for potions alone," He muttered, his voice grim.
Their spirituality is tainted by at least 80%!
Still, William stepped forward decisively. From the System Shop, he quickly purchased two Advanced Purification Potions, determined to purge at least part of this golden infestation. Even if the potion couldn't completely cleanse their souls, it could hopefully prevent their condition from worsening.
"Brother… you're Seraph, right? The number one player?"
SongOfModesty's voice was weak and ragged from exhaustion, fear, and the torment of the taboo. At a glance, he looked less human and more like a monster born from molten metal.
But William saw past that; He knew they were still humans beneath that golden corruption.
Hearing the desperate question, William gave a silent nod, focusing his attention in the color coded world trying to search if there is hidden danger or something. When he didn't feel any danger and the tainted spirituality also couldn't touch him, he slowly approached the player, retrieved the purification potion from his inventory, and reached forward.
"Wait- stop! I'm fine, brother! Really, you don't-!" SongOfModesty shrieked, trembling at the sight of the Advanced Purification Potion. He knew he should feel grateful; yet the memory of drinking even the low-grade potion and the burning agony it brought terrified him. Imagining what a more powerful version might feel like was beyond horrifying.
"No!" He pleaded, struggling futilely against his bindings.
William ignored the protest. Flaring his aura gently, he exerted subtle but irresistible pressure. Instantly, SongOfModesty's struggles ceased, his limbs locked in place by an unseen force.
"Open your mouth," William commanded quietly but firmly.
Unable to resist, SongOfModesty obeyed, mouth forced open by an invisible power. William swiftly poured the potion down his throat.
Afterward, with two glucking sounds then came a guttural scream. SongOfModesty's body jerked violently against the ropes, muscles spasming uncontrollably as the potion burned through his corrupted spirituality. His eyes bulged before finally rolling upward, and with a final shudder, he collapsed unconscious.
William observed silently, satisfied as the golden corruption visibly receded. The cracks on SongOfModesty's skin began to mend slightly, and the molten tears dried, leaving faint golden traces.
'Good,' William thought silently. At least now they wouldn't succumb immediately if the Golden Giant attempted something more sinister.
On the opposite end of the ship, LuckyPlayer trembled uncontrollably. Hearing his companion scream like that sent chills down his spine. He couldn't see past the mast clearly, but the agony in his brother's voice was unmistakable.
'What… What did Seraph do to him?' He wondered in dread, but he didn't need to think much as Seraph's step was getting closer. When Seraph appeared holding another potion, LuckyPlayer understood instantly, 'Oh, I see.' But at the same time, he trembled again.
Thinking fast, LuckyPlayer finally said, "This… Brother, can I not drink the potion but wait for you to kill that monstrosity first before drinking it? Please?" A weak, forced smile tugged at his gold-stained lips.
William shook his head immediately, locking eyes with LuckyPlayer. His silver gaze was firm, without compromise.
"From what I see," He explained calmly but sternly, "Your spirituality and your brother's are almost completely transformed. Even if I kill that creature, there's a high chance you two will become its next vessels anyway."
His tone softened just slightly, yet remained chillingly direct, "Drink now, or I can grant you a quicker mercy and end your suffering here."
LuckyPlayer shivered violently. The coldness in Seraph's eyes, combined with his overwhelming presence, made it clear there was no third option.
He swallowed hard, "A-Alright, brother. I'll drink."
William approached without hesitation, "Open your mouth."
LuckyPlayer obediently opened his mouth wide, squeezing his eyes shut, steeling himself for the agony to follow. The potion flowed down his throat smoothly. Then… pain exploded within him. A scream tore free, raw and primal, echoing across the waves.
In William's eye, the tainting gold infestation in his spirituality seems to be boiled by unknown force, and after the "Boiling" reached some degree, the corrupt gold evaporated from the "Still Human" hues. Leaving significantly cleaner hues behind
This makes the "Taint" drop down below 50%! Enough for them not to be influenced for some time.
Observing this strange corruption again, William noticed something unusual. He sensed no repulsion or evil typical of genuine corruption; But he felt it more like… A contamination, an unnatural influence
It reminded him vividly of when he'd exposed his own Mystic power to the Lambs, nearly overwhelming their minds and spirits with his influence.
This golden infestation seemed similar, but distinct. If his Mystic Influence could bind followers to him through belief and spirituality, could the Golden Giant influence the physical bodies and souls of those who broke its taboo?
He gazed out across the sea toward the distant island, where the creature undoubtedly waited. The [Beast of Gold], Also Known As The [Mad Beast]… Perhaps its influence was fundamentally different, targeting bodies instead of minds.
Hmm…? A thought crossed William's mind.
Standing on the gently swaying deck, the morning sun bathed him in warm golden rays, highlighting the silver-white feathers of his wings in shimmering contrast.
"Power of Mystic Influence, huh?"
He closed his left eye, deep in thought.
'Well,' he mused quietly, 'I have one of those too.'
He wasn't fully certain yet, but now wasn't the time for further speculation. After confirming the players' conditions had stabilized enough, he spread his wings fully once more, letting the morning breeze lift him skyward.
This time, he truly goes to the island, where the Golden Giant awaits for him to Liberate its cursed form.