CHAPTER 425: 425. END OF THE CHALLENGE TWO

On the southern ridge of Veins Peak Island stood a secluded three-story pagoda, surrounded by layers of powerful high-level arrays.

These Arrays pulsed with defensive energy, each one laced with detection, repulsion, and elemental traps—more than enough to repel most Master-level cultivators.

Additionally, a handful of Master-ranked guards patrolled the area, each one radiating fierce auras. This was not a place one could casually stroll into.

Yet when Tyler and his crew approached —disguised once again in their notorious pirate personas— the guards didn’t make a move. Instead, they bowed slightly in acknowledgment and stepped aside.

This pagoda wasn’t just a fortified stronghold; it was the place where Gunn Calway, one of the island’s revered guardians, had remained in seclusion for years, striving to break through to the Immortal Realm.

Normally, no one was allowed to disturb him. But Lily— now appearing as Temptress— had made a formal request to meet with him, hoping to ask about the mysterious, seemingly sentient water she’d encountered at the bottom of Veins Peak.

To her surprise, the request had been accepted almost immediately. But they asked the whole crew members to appear.

As they entered the pagoda, the crew was met with an unexpected sight— Kael Driftsbane and most of the real Phantom Pirates were already present inside, waiting silently in the entrance hall. Everyone was there except for Kanth, their bald, cigar-smoking teammate.

The unexpected presence made Tyler—now fully in his Phantom Blackwood guise—instantly wary.

"Phantom Blackwood," Kael muttered under his breath, not bothering to hide his contempt.

"Oh, you guys are here too? That’s great," Phantom Blackwood replied, his voice calm but layered with mockery. "I didn’t get the chance to meet you yesterday. Where’s that little thing you promised?"

Without a word, Kael tossed a small crystal orb toward him. Phantom Blackwood caught it in midair and examined it briefly before tucking it away in his robes.

"The full details of the Elven Kingdom," Kael said, "at least, what I know. But believe me —it’s more than worth it."

Tyler didn’t respond, but his narrowed eyes showed he intended to verify that claim later.

Just then, a side door opened and a man dressed like a dignified butler entered the room. The air changed immediately. The aura he gave off wasn’t oppressive, but it was unmistakably powerful— Grandmaster level.

"Welcome, honored guests," the butler said respectfully. "Master Calway is ready to receive you. Please follow me."

Without another word, the two pirate crews began ascending the stone stairs, heading toward the top floor of the pagoda. No one dared to fly— it would be a sign of disrespect to someone of Gunn Calway’s status.

By the time they reached the final level, the temperature had shifted drastically. Heat rolled through the air like a furnace blast. The room was circular, lit by natural sunlight filtering through high arched windows, and in its center sat a single figure on a raised platform surrounded by complex arrays carved into stone.

The man looked no older than thirty, with sun-kissed skin and rugged scars lining the left side of his face. He sat cross-legged in a meditative position, his aura like a sleeping volcano— unmoving yet ready to erupt at any moment.

As the two crews entered, his eyes opened.

"Welcome," he said, voice deep and steady. "I am Gunn Calway, one of the Guardians of this island."

Immediately, everyone bowed in unison. Despite being pirates, none dared to show disrespect to someone who stood at the threshold of the Immortal Realm.

"Sit down," Gunn Calway instructed with a nod.

They took their places on the polished floor, arranged in a wide circle around him.

"Let me be clear," Gunn began, "I am not one of those dogs from the Federation. I left them long ago. Frankly, they’re worse than most pirates I’ve met. If I were still loyal to them, you lot wouldn’t have even made it to the Island."

The crews remained silent, listening intently.

"I understand one of you encountered something unusual at the bottom of Veins Peak?" Gunn asked, eyes settling on Temptress.

Lily gave a slight nod. "Yes. I encountered... something." She paused, casting a glance at Kael and his crew, unsure if it was safe to speak freely.

"Don’t worry about them," Gunn said. "Speak."

"It appeared to be just water. But it behaved as though it had sentience—it changed temperature, froze instantly, boiled without heat, and eventually disappeared altogether."

Gunn smiled faintly. "You’re correct. It is ordinary water... but with awareness."

"There’s nothing inherently special about the water," Gunn explained. "No unique energy. No Spiritual properties. But it thinks. I found it long ago in the ruins of an ancient Dwarven city —one of the last remnants of their civilization before they went extinct nearly a million years ago. It has no use—can’t cultivate it, can’t weaponize it. But it’s alive. And I found it fascinating. So I brought it here and left it in the sinkhole."

He paused.

"If you ever find it again, you can keep it. As I said— it’s mostly a curiosity."

Tyler exchanged glances with Temptress and the others. Fascinating or not, anything with awareness was worth studying. Especially if it came from ancient Dwarf ruins.

Just then, Kael made a subtle hand gesture toward Gunn. Tyler noticed. So did Temptress and others.

Gunn nodded at the signal. "Now, about your pirate challenge," he said smoothly. "Kael Driftsbane and his crew have requested me to serve as judge for the remainder of your contest. I agreed— it’s part of a little old favor I owe them."

Kael stepped forward and placed something on the ground between them. It was a large, iridescent conch shell.

Temptress narrowed her eyes, and Phantom Blackwood scanned it with his divine sense. There were no restrictions. His eyes widened slightly.

"Inside this shell," Kael said, "is a collection of treasures we acquired from an ancient undersea ruin—thousands of ancient soul stones, rare alchemical ingredients, spiritual materials, even a few sealed artifacts. All of it... yours, if you win."

"Impressive," Tyler said. "Then we’ll wager Shi no Kasa and our treasure stockpile—something equal in value."

Kael smirked. "Then it’s a deal."

Gunn Calway gave a satisfied nod, the air growing warmer.

But then Gunn raised his hand again. "Before we begin the next round, I ask you for a small favor— stay here in the pagoda for the rest of the day. As a courtesy."

Phantom Blackwood’s expression didn’t change, but his crew shifted subtly. A strange request. Restrictive. Strategic.

Temptress stood, her voice cold and commanding. "So this is your plan, Kael Driftsbane? Trap us here while your other dog calls out a challenge?"

Back in a bustling town of the island, Kanth was already putting on a show. Dressed in a dark pirate coat and puffing his signature cigar, he stood in the town square, shouting loud enough to shake rooftops.

"Hey, you FAKE craps!" he bellowed. "I, on behalf of the Phantom Pirates, call for the next challenge! You wanted a round two, right? Then come face me! Or did ya run off after losing one little game?"

A crowd had begun to gather, whispering and murmuring among themselves.

"Where are the challengers?"

"Did they back out?"

"Maybe they were all talk."

Kanth grinned, pleased at the reactions.

Inside the pagoda, Tyler narrowed his eyes.

So it was a trap after all.

Tyler wasn’t particularly bothered about losing the first challenge—or even about wagering the crew’s treasure. After all, he had already made copies of the most valuable artifacts. The originals were safely hidden away, untouched. In his mind, it wasn’t worth picking a fight with a retired Federation lieutenant just to make a point.

Still... the situation irritated him.

They sat in silence inside the pagoda, an unspoken tension filling the air. Neither side made a move, but every glance was calculated. The oppressive heat from the array chamber only added to the pressure.

Hours passed. Then an entire day.

No one left. No one spoke of surrender.

The next morning, Gunn Calway finally opened his eyes from meditation. His gaze landed on Phantom Blackwood and his crew, a flicker of amusement crossing his face.

"Well, I didn’t expect you lot to be so crafty," he said, his voice rough but intrigued. "But I like that. You’ve got the kind of patience most pirates never learn."

He turned then toward the baffled Kael Driftsbane and his crew, who still sat nearby, waiting for their trap to spring.

"Prepare yourselves for the third challenge," Gunn announced. "The Phantom Blackwood crew has already won the second."

Even Tyler and his team blinked in surprise—but they didn’t argue. Without another word, they rose and left the pagoda, vanishing into the mist before Kael could react.

Back in the bustling town square, Kanth— who had spent the previous day mocking and waiting— was now collapsed on the ground.

His body pulsed with Abyss energy, an ominous dark mist leaking from his skin. The once-jeering crowd now gave him a wide berth, fear etched into every face.

No one dared approach him.

Something had gone very wrong.