387 - The Map and the Archfiend

It was a piece of thick, yellowed animal skin. Heavily preserved with dark oils. The edges were frayed. And, the surface was covered in faded black ink and red wax stamps.

Jack, Baroness Artheim, Reina, and Argust immediately leaned in to examine it.

The map clearly depicted Bigbanyan Island. Including the surrounding ocean currents and the major river systems. However, as Jack studied the geography, he quickly noticed stark differences.

"There is no Lakemarket City on this map." Argust said. Noticing the same thing as Jack did. "Look at the coastline. None of the current coastal fishing villages are marked here either. The river contours are slightly smaller... This map predates every known human settlement on this island."

"How old is it?" Jack asked.

"At least six hundred years." Baroness Artheim estimated. Tracing the coastline with a weathered finger. "Back when this place was completely uncharted territory. I've found out that the Lakemarket City was 'built' about four hundred years ago."

In the eastern side of the island, quite far beyond the great lake, a bold, dark red 'X' was clearly stamped into the hide. It was deep within the dense, uncharted mountain valley where no trails were marked.

Below the 'X' were several lines of ancient, stylized script written in strange language. Not any language that Jack had known.

The baroness read the faded script effortlessly though. Thanks to her vast accumulated knowledge.

"It is written in Old Myraden." She said. "The language used by many native tribes in Myriad Island Archipelago. It says... Where the great roots swallow the earth, the angel sleeps."

"A riddle?" Leon chuckled. "A bit cliché, isn't it?"

"Cliché or not, this one is vey likely an authentic treasure map. And things hidden within an 'X' mark are usually high-grade materials, lost magic, or severe danger." Jack said calmly.

He looked up at the crew. "We came to the Myriad Island Archipelago for treasures and opportunities. This might not be within our itinerary. But, we aren't going to waste this chance, are we?"

Jack looked around. Observing the excited faces of the crew. He tapped his finger directly on the red 'X' marked on the ancient animal hide.

"Tomorrow morning, at dawn." Jack declared in his usual blunt tone. "We leave the ship anchored here, move in small groups, and head straight into the interior jungle to find this location."

"Let's set three groups for this." Jack decided. "Reina, Aella, Don, Autumn and me in the first group. Baroness Artheim, Moby, Barnaby, Mirella, and Ned in the second group. Leon, Chloe, Argust, Bell, and Serene in the third group. How about it?"

Baroness Artheim nodded. "That's a pretty decent arrangement. Each group should be able to deal with whatever obstruction we would face on the wat. Let's do it that way."

Reina smiled softly, adjusting her sleeves. "Sounds like a proper adventure, Dear."

"Get your gear ready tonight." Jack concluded. "Leave nothing valuable in the ship. We move early."

...

The night was dead silent.

Outside, Jack could hear the gentle, rhythmic lapping of the black lake water against the wooden hull of the Ocean Traveler. Other than that, the only notable sound was the far-away music from the Lakemarket City's tavern.

Inside, the cabin was cast in deep shadows. On the bed, Reina lay fast asleep. Her long, flowing black hair was scattered across the pillow like spilled ink. Her breathing was slow and even.

Jack looked at her face for a moment. He didn't disturb her.

Near the corner of the ceiling, a tiny, glowing speck drifted toward him. It was Rune, his fairy guide. She pulsed with a soft, warm amber light... indicating a silent question.

Jack smiled and signaled her to remain quiet. Tonight, he had business to attend to. The upcoming trek into the uncharted mountain valley of Bigbanyan Island very likely carried significant danger.

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'Where the great roots swallow the earth, the angel sleeps.' That kind of riddle usually meant ancient guardians, cursed land, or worse. In this world's mysticism, angel wasn't always kind and benevolent.

Jack didn't like leaving his survival to chance. He liked being thoroughly, overwhelmingly prepared.

He touched the [Nine-Anchor Portal Ring] he was wearing. The cold, dark metal of the ring hummed with spatial energy.

First, Jack focused his mind on his personal cabin of the Ocean Wanderer. He activated the ring's primary function. Setting a spatial anchor right here, on the floorboards of his ship.

A faint, near-invisible runic energy flared briefly on the wood before sinking beneath the surface. Completely hidden from the naked eye.

Next, he tuned his consciousness to the other anchors he had left. Focusing specifically on the one on Strangebeast Island. The hidden place, where the legendary [Obelisk of Evolution] stood.

Jack checked the time. It was near midnight, exactly what he had hoped. The ring's cooldown would refresh at midnight. He didn't waste time thinking. He activated the ring...

A silent, swirling tear in reality opened up in the middle of the cabin. Jack stepped through it without hesitation.

Rune, glowing with a quick, excited sequence of green and gold, darted right after him. The portal snapped shut behind them. Leaving the cabin as quiet as it had been before.

The air on Strangebeast Island was thick and humid. It smelled of wet earth and wild flowers. The sky above was a canopy of million stars. Partially obscured by the dense, towering canopy of jungle trees.

Jack stood in a clearing. Directly in front of him loomed the Obelisk of Evolution. It was a massive pillar of dark stone. One that was reflecting the starlight into iridescent sparks.

"Time for an upgrade," Jack muttered.

He didn't care about the beauty of the relic. He cared about what it could do for him. It had done great for 'upgrading' his human incarnation. Now, it was time for his other incarnations.

Jack activated his [Incarnation Shift] power. Instantly, his skeletal structure cracked and expanded. His muscles expanded. Bulking up significantly larger. Reaching the height of almost three meters tall.

His skin hardened into a thick reddish black hue. And long, thick mane replaced his short hair. Within just a second, he had transformed. Now, he stood as Judge Jack... a towering, hulking rakshasa. One clad in blazing [Naraka Armor].

From his [Spatial Belt], Jack pulled out a random gemstone he had already prepared. It was an [Eldritch Onyx].

Holding the onyx in his massive hand, Jack walked up to the obelisk. He didn't hesitate. He thrust the onyx directly against the pulsing stone of the ancient monument.

Instantly, a blinding surge of dark purple light erupted from the point of contact. The obelisk seemed to groan. In Jack's vision, a series of glowing system notifications flashed in rapid succession.

[ANCIENT WONDER DISCOVERED!]

[EXPERIENCING BENEFICIAL POWER EVOLUTION...]

[UPGRADING POWER CLASS: PRIMORDIAL WARRIOR...]

[SUCCESFUL UPGRADE...]

[ACQUIRING A UNIQUE POWER CLASS: PRIMORDIAL ARCHFIEND]

Not class fusion this time. His Judge Jack only possessed a single power class after all. Evolving that class was already incredible.

The notification hadn't stopped...

[RETAINING CORE ABILITIES: PRIMORDIAL BATTLE INSTINCT]

[ACQUIRING ABILITY: PRIMORDIAL SORCERY]

[MYSTICISM GAINED MAXIMUM INCREASE]

[ALL ATTRIBUTES REACHED THE MAXIMUM TRESHOLD]

[REACHING THE BOTTLENECK OF POWER...]

[REQUIRING BREAKTHROUGH TO 'ILLUMINATED' LEVEL...]

Jack stood still as a torrent of raw, chaotic energy flooded his veins. The power was intoxicating. Burning through his nerves like liquid fire. But his mind remained cold, analytical, and even... fresh.

He immediately opened his status panel to review his new and changed entries.

[CHARACTER STATUS]

[Persona: Judge Jack]

...

[Power Class: Primordial Archfiend]

...

[Attributes: Physique (99) Mysticism (99) Passion (99) Essence (99)]

...

[Class Abilities: Primordial Battle Instinct; Primordial Sorcery]

...

Jack opened his mouth in amazement. Every single one of his attributes had reached 99 points. He remembered that the [Mysticism] attribute was only in the forties before. More than fifty points upgrade? That was... awesome.

Like his human form, his rakshasa incarnation had reached the hard limit. To go any further, he would need to find the 'Fate Code' to achieve the 'illuminated' level. But for now, 99 points in every category made his rakshasa form incredibly powerful below the illuminated stage.

He quickly focused on his newly acquired details to understand his upgraded capabilities.

[Primordial Archfiend. A unique, legendary rank class that represents the absolute pinnacle of primordial power acquired by an archfiend. Unlike Primordial Warrior who can only channel primordial energy to infuse melee physical body and weapons, the Primordial Archfiend rules through sheer, indisputable dominance and the manipulation of primordial power. In this form, the class holder is capable of using sorcery to convert energy into elemental power.]

Jack grinned widely. So, this is why his [Mysticism] attribute increased so much. This form was no longer just a physical brute with incredible melee power. He could use magic very well in this form now.

[Primordial Battle Instinct. A retained, passive combat state of a Primordial Warrior. The user's body operates on a level of pure, flawless combat intuition in controlling primordial energy as long as he wills it. The trait also automatically allows the user to predict enemy trajectories, sense hidden threats in battle, and spot the chances for a perfect counters.]

He nodded. It was pretty much the ability that he had possessed before. Before the class evolution.

[Primordial Sorcery. The ability to mold chaotic, primordial energy directly into elemental spells without the need for runes, incantations, or magic circles. This sorcery requires primordial energy and deep understanding over elements to be utilized well.]

Jack let out a low, rumbling chuckle. A devastating physical powerhouse who could use elemental magic. What a broken character. But he liked this direction... a lot.

And, he wasn't done yet...