booktalesy Chapter 205 The End of Grayrock Island
Chapter 205 The End of Grayrock Island
Chapter 205 The End of Grayrock Island
"Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened, Lord Erm!"
A young islander stumbled and scrambled into the elder's house, his face ashen, breathless, and so terrified he could barely utter a coherent sentence.
By the dim light of an oil lamp, Erm was discussing in hushed tones with several of the island’s older deacons the specific arrangements for three days from now: how to collect black algae in groups, how to quietly relocate the elderly and weak, and the routes and contact persons to be chosen for the ships sent to Grey Rock Island and White Sand Bay.
The sudden shout interrupted the secret meeting, and everyone's heart sank.
"What's the panic! Speak slowly!"
"A deacon said in a deep voice, but his own hands unconsciously clenched into fists."
The young islander, panting heavily, pointed towards the dock, his voice trembling with tears: "The ship—the ship we sent to Gray Rock Island—is back!"
Upon hearing this, the people inside the room did not relax; instead, their expressions became even more serious.
The ships were dispatched secretly under the cover of night, and according to the plan, they shouldn't be returning so soon, unless—
"How is the situation?" Erm stood up, his voice still steady, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.
"Only—only Ah Jiao came back! The ship was almost falling apart—he—he was covered in wounds, lying on the deck, barely clinging to life!"
The young man cried out, "He said—he said Gray Rock Island—is gone!"
Despite a premonition of something bad, the words "gone" still struck everyone like a hammer blow. A butler slammed his fist on the table:
'
What do you mean by "gone"?! Explain yourself!
Erm raised his hand to stop his excited companion and said to the young man who brought the news, "Take us to see A-Reef. Tell him what he knows on the way."
The group walked quickly toward the dock. The night was dark, and the sea breeze carried an ominous chill.
On the way, the young man intermittently recounted the fragmented information Ah Jiao had given him before he fell unconscious: "Ah Jiao said—their ship hadn't even gotten close to Gray Rock Island when they smelled—they smelled a strong stench of blood and burning—"
"The island is eerily quiet; even the seabirds have stopped calling."
"They sensed something was wrong and didn't dare go directly ashore. They circled the island looking for a place—and then—and then they saw it on the beach—"
The place was piled high with corpses—so many, so many—
"Then they were discovered by the patrolling Dynasty speedboats! Their boats were small, and they fled for their lives—arrows and that glowing magic kept chasing them—only A-Jiao's boat managed to shake off the pursuers, but the people were also—"
On the dock, the firelight flickered. Several islanders were carefully carrying a bloodied body off a badly damaged boat.
That was Ah Jiao, the most experienced fisherman. At this moment, he was on the verge of death, and a charred wound on his chest was shocking, clearly not caused by an ordinary weapon.
Erm quickly stepped forward, squatted down, and gently placed one hand on Ajiao's forehead, transferring a barely perceptible, gentle force.
Ah Jiao groaned in pain and struggled to open his cloudy eyes.
"Elder—Elder—"
He recognized Erm, and a glimmer of light appeared in his unfocused eyes. He gripped Erm's sleeve tightly, using the last of his strength.
"Gray Rock Island—it's finished—everyone's dead—the Hark chieftains—all—the Eternal Night Dynasty—killed them all—not a single one left—"
Every few words he spoke, he would vomit a mouthful of bloody foam.
"They—have witchcraft—are very powerful—and have many ships—fast—fast—to the other islands—"
Ah Jiao's hand tightened suddenly, then slipped limply to the ground. Her eyes remained wide open, filled with endless fear and grief, before she breathed her last.
The dock was deathly silent. Only the crackling of torches and the sobbing of waves crashing against the shore could be heard.
The messengers sent to seek help brought back devastating news of the complete annihilation of their allies, and a clearer, more brutal display of force from the Eternal Night Dynasty.
A deacon's voice trembled: "Gray Rock Island—has more people than our island—it's unbelievable—"
Another one suddenly looked at Erm: "Elder! It seems that the ships we sent are also at White Sand Bay!"
Erm slowly stood up and closed Ajiao's eyes. His face was expressionless, but a storm seemed to be brewing in his deep eyes.
He gazed at the dark sea, where countless monsters seemed to lurk, ready to devour anyone who dared to harm him.
The destruction of Grayrock Island not only meant the loss of a potential ally, but also sent a bloody signal:
The Eternal Night Dynasty's suppression of those who disobeyed was ruthless and merciless, leaving no one alive.
This news was like a huge block of ice, crashing into the hearts of the Black Reef islanders who were already anxious about the three-day deadline.
Panic began to spread silently, like a plague.
Erm was silent for a moment, then his deep but clear voice reached everyone present: "Keep the news under wraps. Only those present at this moment should know about A-Jiao's situation. Tell the public only that our ship encountered a storm, and A-Jiao succumbed to his injuries."
He looked around, his gaze sweeping over every panicked face.
"The plan remains the same, but the pace must be accelerated. The relocation of the elderly and infirm must be completed by tomorrow night."
"As for the ships sent to Baisha Bay—"
Erm paused, a resolute glint in his eyes.
"May the sea god protect them. But we cannot place all our hopes on others."
He looked up at the tallest black reef in the center of the island, the place where the people of Black Reef Island had worshipped the sea god and gathered their faith for generations.
"Get ready. In three days, we may face a life-or-death battle. Not for conquest, but simply for—survival."
As night deepened, the atmosphere on Black Reef Island became heavier than lead due to the devastating news from Gray Rock Island.
The hope of survival seems to be being driven to the brink of despair step by step.
The island was deathly silent; not even the barking of dogs could be heard, as if even the animals sensed the impending destruction.
The men who could fight huddled behind makeshift shelters or leaned against the cold rocks; no one could truly fall asleep.
Their hands gripped their weapons tightly, their ears listening for any unusual sound in the wind.
The ship sent to Baisha Bay disappeared without a trace, as if it had sunk into the sea.
The silence itself is an answer.
The tragedy on Gray Rock Island haunted everyone's hearts like a ghost, and despair, like a damp, cold shroud, clung to their souls.
Alone, Erm once again climbed the highest black reef. The sea wind was sharp as a knife, but he was completely oblivious.
He opened his palm, and the warm, black pebble seemed to emit an extremely faint glow in the near-light darkness.
He closed his eyes, immersing himself completely in the experience, trying to establish a deeper connection with the land beneath his feet and the roaring sea around him.
This is an ancient secret technique that consumes life essence with each use, but at this moment, he had no other choice.
He needs power, even just a little bit, a tiny bit that can turn the tide—
Time passed slowly, and the eastern horizon began to show an ominous pale light.
The tide is receding, revealing the menacing reefs—the agreed-upon time for algae harvesting is approaching, and it's time for the Eternal Night Dynasty fleet to appear.
Suddenly, a deep and loud horn sound, like the wail of a dying beast, rolled across the sea!
The sound pierced through the roar of the waves, sending shivers down one's spine.
"They're here!" someone on the dock growled in a dry voice.
Everyone was deeply shaken, struggling to their feet and looking out at the sea.
On the sea surface shrouded in morning mist, a huge dark shadow began to appear.
Not just one ship, but an entire fleet!
The masts resembled a forest of death, and on the massive sails, the black raven emblem of the Eternal Night Dynasty was clearly visible in the gradually brightening sky, carrying a chilling sense of oppression.
The leading black behemoth was even larger and more menacing than the one Orman had previously been on, like a castle rising from the sea, slowly and irresistibly pressing towards Black Reef Island.
There was no sign of negotiation, and no indication of slowing down.
The fleet lined up in a row on the sea hundreds of paces from the dock, like a black iron wall, completely blocking all sea routes.
On the bow of the ship, dense figures and weapons gleaming with a cold light could be vaguely seen. A suffocating, chilling atmosphere enveloped the entire Black Reef Island.
Erm stood on the reef, his white hair dancing wildly in the wind.
He put away the black pebble and gripped the staff in his hand tightly.
His face was expressionless, only showing a calm that came with experience and a bottomless resolve.
He saw it; standing at the bow of the largest black warship was a figure—it was Orman!
The air was filled with the salty smell of the sea and a tense atmosphere that seemed almost frozen.
The fleet of the Eternal Night Dynasty, like a moving black mountain range, silently stretched across the sea, casting a shadow that seemed capable of swallowing up the entire Black Reef Island.
Oman stood at the bow of the main ship, his luxurious robes fluttering in the sea breeze, a satisfied expression on his face as if he were admiring a collectible he was about to acquire.
His gaze swept across the sea and landed precisely on the solitary figure atop the highest reef.
"Erm".
Oman's voice was amplified through some kind of witchcraft, spreading clearly throughout the dock, carrying an unquestionable authority.
"It seems you're ready."
Erm stood on the reef, his figure as upright as a pine tree, his staff as steady as a rock.
The sea breeze ruffled his gray hair and beard, and the wrinkles on his face, like carvings on a reef, were filled with the marks of time and the determination of the present moment.
He looked at Orman with a calm and composed expression, showing neither provocation nor fear, only a tranquility that comes after weathering many storms.
For the past three days, he and the islanders have indeed been preparing for the worst.
The relocation of the elderly and infirm, and the preparation of weapons, are all preparations for dealing with the most undesirable scenario—complete military conquest.
But now, Orman's words and gestures seem to indicate that he is not about to start a massacre immediately.
He mentioned "preparation," but his tone conveyed more of a condescending confirmation than an immediate order to attack.
A faint, almost nonexistent glimmer of hope quietly emerged in Erm's heart.
He steadied himself, suppressing all his emotions, and responded in the same clear and steady voice, ensuring that all the islanders holding their breath on the dock could hear him: "The tide has receded, and as agreed, the black algae can be harvested. If Lord Oman desires black algae, my Black Reef Island will do its utmost."
His words cleverly avoided the issue of the "list," focusing instead on the other party's overt demands.