Chapter 355: Dark Moon

"C-captain d-do you feel that?" a skinny teen standing beside Captain Zoan muttered in horror as the ship creaked hitting the shore.

Every crew member fell silent in what was supposed to be a joyous event turning grim, everyone felt the raging flow of auras crashing across the island.

The air in constant clash almost like various wills wrestled against one another...

They gawked in horror...

What kinds of horror lurked beyond the island’s shore? What type of monsters could cause such a sick feeling?

"Um, Captain? About exploring..." a voice croaked in the silence, causing all gazes to shift to Zoan.

The man who had awakened the sand gate gene skill, a noble-grade ability, spoke up. "Boss, what do you think, exploring this island is clearly an expedition far above our grade. You have to remember things have changed and not all dire circumstances can be resolved with bullets." the elder warned in worry.

Feeling the anxious glances focused her way, Zoan remained silent for a few seconds, staring intensely at the thick forest that lay beyond the shore, highlighted by the crimson sun glaring down from the heavens.

A mark of blight clearly symbolizing that they stood on corrupted territory...

Glancing at the depths of the forest, Captain Zoan frowned and sensed the air carefully, then asked softly, "Don’t you guys feel it?"

Everyone glanced at each other in confusion, was she speaking about the dreadful flow stifling the air? Then yes! Yes they could!

But before any of them could reply she spoke again, this time her voice was more firm, "Humans... most likely humans are out there on this very island!" announced in clarity and building excitement.

While her crew member scowled she smiled, staring over at the island with bright eyes...

Before anyone could caution her again she leaped from the bow of their weary vessel, she landed against the wet and dense sand, the sea waves quite light by this time, receding and splashing quite mildly against the shore.

Landing behind her were her crew members staring at her with an exasperated expression, "Captain, don’t tell me-" before the elder could finish his words, Zoan’s voice cut in, yelling excitedly.

"There! There! Footsteps, human footsteps." Aside from themselves they hadn’t seen any other humans over the past few months, well they couldn’t tell time but they knew they hadn’t seen humans for far too long.

But the others weren’t as excited as her...

Behind her the elder Mr Lenny couldn’t hold back anymore, "Zoan Henderson! What is wrong with you! Why are you acting this selfish? We’ve been wandering the seas for god knows how long and here! This is finally our chance to get home yet you-you!" he pointed at her with a trembling frame, reddened face and a furious expression.

Around him the crew members remained silent, but did not speak against his words because they were all in accordance.

Silence followed, as elder Lenny collected himself his expression eased realizing that he might have come on harsher than he wanted to be, he quickly tried to apologize before Zoan experienced an emotional upheaval and snapped.

"Z-Zoan dear, it’s-" he was suddenly cut off, by Zoan herself...

"I wonder..." she whispered, her eyes rising back to the skies, "I wonder how my family would be doing back home..."

Her words were neither violent nor sinister yet they brought a haunting chill down the spines of the crew members because the captain was poking at forbidden topics.

A topic they had all tactically avoided till now, the subject of what the descent of the origin must have done to humanity, more specifically their homes, family and friends.

Where their loved ones are alive or...

"Boss..." a skinny kid called Greg walked forward reaching her side and looking down at the sunken foot print she had pointed out.

Before he could continue she shook her head, "You all don’t understand, I am cursed to bear the embodiment of my dark emotions and desire..."

This everyone knew well, Captain Zoan’s ability was a sick and twisted one, but powerful nonetheless.

After all she was the reason they were here standing alive.

But regardless everyone could comprehend her fear, they did everything to keep the Captain happy, to make sure her gene skill never flared up.

But if they were to go home and the worst case scenario was indeed what they met, the captain...

No wonder she didn’t want to go back so soon, why she tried to delay their adventure even by a little bit.

It was all clear now, and no one could say anything, no one could assure her that her family and friends were okay.

Nor could anyone shoulder the consequences that might follow when the dark emotions surface.

Everyone glanced at one another, then at the captain’s lonely back...

They all sighed heavily, and skinny Greg was the first to speak, "I’m with you, Captain, let’s find the people on this island, I will never let you go alone!" Greg announced loud and boldly, patting on his bony chest.

Behind him the crew walked forward one after another, staring at Zoan and feeling her plight they all announced.

"It’s the same for us captain, we’ll never let you go alone!"

Streams of tears streaked down Zoan’s cheeks and she finally turned her gaze towards them, her eyes red as she gently bit on her lips.

"But... no because of me you all will be risk-"

Elder Lenny shook his head, "Captain, don’t be like that, I wasn’t considerate earlier but now I understand and we can’t possibly abandon you."

Walking up to the elder’s side, a mature lady with short, messy, bright blonde hair stepped forward, draped in a damp yet noticeably clean grey tunic.

The lady was called Kora and she spoke. "Indeed, Captain, worry not, the risk is worth it as long as it’s you."

Zoan’s throat tightened, tears she had to force back, she didn’t expect her crew members to be this loyal.

She imagined them to be more terrified of her, she never expected this much love.

But she wouldn’t reject it, to her who was trying to cherish what were possibly her last moments of sanity.

Since her crew no longer objected, of course she would oblige.

Cleaning her tears, and gathering herself she sniffed heavily then turned around coughing... "Sigh, since that’s how it’s going to be, let’s move now, we have to start following their tracks before it fades."

"Aye!"

The crew nodded, staring at her with gazes absent of any form of malice it could be seen they genuinely loved their Captain.

The wind flowed carrying her flowing orange locks, as her bright emerald pupils locked on the horizon brimming with excitement for what was possibly her last adventure.

...

Meanwhile, far on the other side of the world, in Pangea...

Trisha was walking down a hallway when she suddenly collapsed, convulsing violently, her glowing silver pupils going white as it rolled to the back of her head.

Agents rushed to her care all while she muttered in her trance... "a new moon descends... a dark moon looms far too close to the sun..."

The two phrases were repeated over and over incoherently.

No one knew what she said, and none could possibly understand what was happening.

Meanwhile Trisha began to scream all of a sudden, as a familiar image burned itself into her eyes.

The image of this providence bearer imprinted into her brain...

Though the details of the new moon remained hazy, Trisha could clearly make out a distinct orange hair and piercing emerald eyes.

The moment she caught this picture Trisha’s eyes snapped open.