Early morning.
The moon had already set, yet the sun remained hidden beyond the horizon.
William shook his head softly, clearing the haze of fatigue. Perhaps he'd been too enthusiastic last night, allowing himself barely a few hours of sleep. Still, despite the exhaustion, he felt profoundly satisfied.
His intimacy with Kei had awakened something deeper within him, a hunger and instinct unique to a Myth longing to sow its essence into the world.
'Fortunately, I have the girls', he thought, shuddering faintly at the alternative. Had he been alone, that primal urge would surely have driven him mad eventually.
William gently brushed his fingers through Kei's silken white hair, losing himself momentarily in the quiet warmth under a sky that was still untouched by dawn. As he lingered there, a subtle sensation stirred within him.
'This feeling…'
He closed his eyes, savoring the faint threads of connection weaving between him and the girls. Kei's bond was barely a seedling, small, fragile, but undoubtedly present, slowly beginning to root itself within her. Yet Rei's bond, in contrast, had deepened significantly overnight, resonating with newfound strength.
Even now, William felt her consciousness gently rising from slumber, her presence brushing softly against his senses.
He didn't hurry to greet her. Kei still slept soundly against his thigh, exhausted from their shared intimacy. Besides, Rei was already his follower, bound closer than before, and now Kei had also fully surrendered herself to him. There was no longer any rush, only quiet contentment in this delicate web of relationships they'd forged.
While waiting for Rei to fully awaken, William idly opened the Forum, scanning the latest threads for anything intriguing. The sky gradually lightened, marking the approach of morning. Yet they still had an hour or so before reaching their destination.
Plenty of time to see what other surprises the Mystic Sea had in store.
…
[Top Thread Tonight]
[My mother wanted my seed?!] - From: LegimateSon
Description:
I was feeling lonely tonight. Really lonely. Missing my family, especially my beautiful, elegant mother.
Now, before you judge me, I was just reminiscing. I said aloud, "I miss you, Mom." Just a casual, emotional murmur into the void. But then…
The silver sea shifted.
Mist curled across the water. It gathered. And then, she appeared… my mother. Or something that looked just like her.
I froze. My brain couldn't process it. How the hell did a thought summon her here?
And after a few panicked breaths, I remembered the silver moon phenomena. You know, the ones that the System and our Number 1 player warned us about?
Right then and there, I got angry.
"How dare they manipulate my memories like this?!"
But then... a terrible idea sparked.
If this phenomenon is based on imagination…
What if I tested it?
Just a little.
A few harmless fantasies, you know? Some models I used to admire. A few… NSFW scenarios. All in good fun. I thought it'd be harmless.
Big mistake.
The misty figure didn't change. Still looked like my mother.
But her behavior… shifted. Subtle at first. A wrongness in her eyes.
And then she began to undress herself.
I panicked.
"Wait, no, NO-!"
But she kept going.
I tried to turn away, but my body wouldn't move.
Then she lunged.
Her hand touched mine. Ice-cold. My fingers went numb instantly.
And when she reached for my little brother down south- I nearly died, No exaggeration.
That wasn't lust. That wasn't comfortable. My hand she touched has already become necrotic, and I need to spend my precious sp to heal it.
It was something you definitely don't want to experience at all.
Luckily, I had the strength, or maybe she was just a weaker entity and I was able to break free and run to my cabin like my life depended on it.
Now I'm here, typing with one working hand and three half-frozen fingers.
Don't ask about the other part.
Just imagine what could've happened if I hadn't snapped out of it.
TL;DR:
Don't mess with mist figures during silver moon events.
Especially not family-shaped ones.
This sea doesn't play nice with your imagination.
Comment:
SaltyNavigator: Bro. BRO. What the hell did I just read? This is worse than the glowing fish I licked on day two. (Also… are you okay??)
JustACat: This post went from "sad boy hours" to "eldritch Freudian horror" in 2 paragraphs flat. 10/10 storytelling.
NotWarrior: I warned y'all about the moon. You laughed. Now your ghost mom's trying to suck the soul out of your crotch.
Zealot Mackerel: A FALSE MOTHER! A DEVOURER OF BLOODLINES! This is the punishment for impure longing during a sacred phenomenon! Repent and be reborn under the wings of the True Lord, Seraph! (Also, may your flesh recover.)
GoldenToast: Why do you sound like you're blaming us for this?? YOU imagined that! 💀
GhostStep: Classic rookie mistake. If the sea stares back, don't moan into it.
TrashMage: You better check your [Corruption] stat ASAP, dude. That's not frostbite. That's probably soul rot.
SwordBro: I laughed so hard I dropped my sword. Also, thanks for the warning. I almost called for my grandma last night.
Amber: …This post just reminded me to never sleep on deck again during moonlit nights.
HiddenSage: Confirmed: silver moon hallucinations scale with emotional intent.
Unconfirmed: if you imagine an ex instead of a family member, does the sea get less offended?
LegitimateSon (OP): To all of you, thanks, I guess. My hand's thawing.
My dignity, however… probably corrupted.
I'm not imagining anything ever again. Not even sandwiches.
…
[This Sea Is Not Only Supernatural, But Also Cyberpunk And Some Weird Tech Tree Unlocked!!] From: SandCastleWithIron
Alright, I don't even know how to explain what I just found. So instead of rambling like an idiot, I'll just leave you with the recording and my coordinates below.
(Recording Here) (Coordinate Here)
But in short: I stumbled into one of the archipelagos, yes, one of the five.
I expected tribal villages, maybe cursed statues or talking jellyfish.
Not neon lights, floating platforms, and a motherfreaking vending machine that sold time-frozen meat!
There were roads, real roads. Magnetic highways hanging mid-air. I even saw people with glowing tattoos syncing their minds to crystal consoles. It was like fantasy tech, but wrong. Like if a cultivator made love to a rogue AI and this was their cursed child.
And the trees. Gods. Don't get me started on the trees.
They blinked. I'm serious. They had glowing lines pulsing like nerves, like they were alive but running on software.
It's like the System unlocked some secret tech branch I wasn't ready for.
If anyone wants to explore this cyber-wizard horrorland, feel free to come by. I'm setting up a safehouse, assuming the vending machine doesn't try to eat me in my sleep.
Comment:
MysticLurker: Bro stumbled into DLC content before the tutorial ended.
ZeroThought: Are you sure it was cyberpunk style rather than steampunk?
ZealotMackerel: A fusion of spirit and circuit... This is no place for the unblessed.
Trashmage: Does the vending machine drop loot if we beat it in a rap battle?
Amber: Confirmed. You found the Second Archipelago: Neuro-Net Citadel. Avoid uploading your consciousness unless you've unlocked Will Reinforcement or Anti-Override. You will lose yourself.
SaltyNavigator: WHY DO THE TREES WHISPER IN BINARY!?
LegimateSon: I'm still recovering from my mom-ghost trauma, and now you're telling me vending machines can fight?! I'm done. I'm farming kelp forever.
…
[Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Empyrean Shell Coins: A Small Part of Mystic Sea Lore] - From: RedKnight
Hey everyone. I'm posting this thread before heading into a Rift discovered today. Honestly, I'm not sure if I'll be able to stay connected once inside, so I figured I'd leave you with some lore nuggets I managed to piece together from my informan. Hopefully, this helps make sense of the coin system we've all been puzzling over.
Here's what I found:
Bronze coins are pretty straightforward. They're tied to the dawn of civilization, when humanity first began building societies, bronze marked their earliest achievements and the start of organized commerce. Nothing overly mystical here; just humanity taking their first steps.
For Silver Shell Coins.
Now things get interesting. Silver coins reference two legendary beings: the [Original Witch] and the [Beast of Silver]. According to my informan, these two ended the dark tyranny of a figure known as the [Blood Ancestor], who ruled with cruelty and oppression.
Silver embodies purity and purification, hence its power to repel corruption, madness, and mystical contamination. Keep silver close; it's your best friend when your sanity wavers under the moonlight.
Gold Shell Coin.
Gold, unfortunately, carries darker implications. It corresponds directly to the notorious [Beast of Gold], also known widely as the [Mad Beast]. It is said to be immortal, forever maddened by its own cursed existence.
Curiously, despite its horrifying nature, gold is still accepted universally as currency, though no one truly knows why. This beast is also the reason behind the dreaded gold taboo from Seraph thread. So handle your gold coins with caution; their sheen hides deeper terrors.
Empyrean Shell Coins
Lastly, the Empyrean coins. These mysterious shells are said to correspond to another [Great Beast], whose true name is unknown for now. According to fragmented info, the Empyrean Beast's essence grants protection, allowing people to sleep soundly, undisturbed by night terrors and supernatural threats. There's comfort in carrying Empyrean coins, though the nature of their guardian remains an unsolved mystery.
In short, aside from bronze, each coin aligns with a [Great Myth], binding the material world with legends that still ripple through our journeys.
That's all from me. Wish me luck in the Rift. If I come out alive, I'll update you again.
Comment Thread:
ZealotMackerel: Empyrean Beast sounds divine. Could it be linked to our Lord Seraph? prays intensely
Trashmage: So silver coins are basically sanity pills in metal form? Great. Explains why I feel slightly less anxious when I'm loaded.
MysticLurker: Gold coin users are playing life on nightmare mode, confirmed.
SaltyNavigator: Why does it feel like the coins are narrating humanity's PTSD journey through history?
SandCastleWithIron: Wait, so gold isn't just dangerous, it's legit cursed by an immortal madness monster? …checks pocket. Well, I'm screwed.
Joke aside, I think System Inventory can perfectly isolate properties of the gold taboo. If not, many of us should be dead this morning.
LegimateSon: So not only did my ghost mom try to kill me, now even my wallet is a threat. At this point, what isn't trying to kill me in this sea?!
…
William closed the thread with a soft sigh, a trace of amusement lingering on his lips. Even amid madness and horror, the player forum always found a way to bring laughter. And sometimes, crucial warnings.
The air had warmed slightly, the chill of the silver moon fading as dawn approached. Beside him, Kei stirred faintly in her sleep, her breath soft and warm against his thigh.
Then, a delicate ripple stirred across his soul. Faint, yet unmistakable.
William turned his head, senses sharpening. Rei was awake, and approaching.
Soft footsteps ascended the narrow stairwell to the upper deck, quiet as breath, but her presence rang clear to him through the growing bond they now shared. The wooden door creaked open behind him, and there she stood, haloed by the dim blue light of pre-dawn.
Her silver-white hair swayed in the gentle breeze, and as she stepped forward, her long lashes fluttered open. Misty gray eyes, now tinged with the faintest trace of violet, met his.
That color… a subtle but certain mark of deepening connection. Proof that the ritual had not only succeeded, but settled into something more enduring.
She didn't speak.
She didn't need to.
With measured grace, Rei crossed the deck and knelt beside him. Then, without hesitation, she leaned in, slipping quietly beneath his arm and resting her head against his chest.
The silence between them was warm, intimate.
William let his arm wrap around her shoulders, pulling her close. Her breath was steady, her heartbeat slow, syncing easily with his own. She didn't tremble or shy away, only settled in, as if this was where she had always meant to be.
"…It's warm," she whispered.
William chuckled lightly, "I'm surprised you're not still exhausted. I expected you to sleep till the sun was overhead."
"I could've," she murmured, "But I felt you. And Kei. I just… wanted to be here too."
Kei shifted in her sleep, unconsciously leaning closer as if sensing the presence beside her. Rei reached down and gently combed her sister's bangs aside with a tender touch, her fingers hesitating as they traced the tips of Kei's white hair.
Then she paused.
"…Wait," she whispered.
William noticed the tension ripple through her shoulders.
Rei's eyes widened slightly as she leaned down, sniffed, and then stared at Kei's neck, where faint traces of William's mark remained, half-faded.
"…Did you…?" Rei turned back to William, her cheeks flushing, a mixture of surprise and flustered understanding in her expression, "You and Kei… last night?"
William didn't deny it.
Instead, he held her gaze with steady calm, "Yes."
She bit her lip, lowering her head, "I see…"
A pause stretched between them, awkward, yet not hostile. Rei wasn't angry. More than anything, she seemed… left out.
But then she smiled faintly, burying her face in his chest again.
"…Then take responsibility for both of us properly," she murmured.
He let out a low laugh, wrapping one arm around her shoulder, the other around Kei. The three of them huddled together as the sky began to shift from grey to pale gold.
Warmth filled the ship's deck, both from the sun beginning to rise and from the bonds they had chosen to build.
But the moment could not last.
A subtle tremor ran through the ship's hull. The breeze shifted slightly, carrying the scent of brine and something faintly metallic.
Rei's ears twitched. She tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly.
"…Where are we going?" she asked, her voice low with lingering drowsiness.
William glanced down at her, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of his lips, "You really don't remember?"
She blinked once, then looked away sheepishly, "I… may have been a little bit too drunk last night."
He chuckled softly, "Fair enough. You deserved it for the ritual."
Then his tone grew more measured, explaining where they were going and why, "We're heading toward an island. Two players triggered something tied to the gold taboo. So they called out for help… and I decided to answer."
Rei's brows drew together, "The gold taboo? You mean like that… [Mad Beast] thread?"
William nodded, "Exactly that. They broke the rule, and now something's awakened, caught in it."
A pause.
"…Isn't that dangerous?" Rei asked quietly.
He met her gaze, "For you girls? Maybe. But for me? It's nothing but an appetizer for a young Myth."
A beat passed. William reached out, brushing her hair gently behind one ear.
"Don't worry. You just need to protect your sister and the ship. Leave the rest to me."
Rei stared at him for a moment longer, then gave a slow, steady nod, "Alright. I will."
William nodded, his expression still free of worry, but there was measured intent behind it.
They were slowly nearing the coordinates, the place where the two players had been last detected. And not far beyond that… was the heart of the Gold Taboo.
William stood, gently waking Kei with a whisper and a kiss to her forehead.
"Time to get ready," he murmured.
Meanwhile…
While William enjoyed a quiet morning of warmth and tenderness with the girls, preparing steadily for the looming gold taboo, two other players, LuckyPlayer and SongOfModesty, were enduring a waking nightmare.
On their ship, one clung to the bow, the other to the stern. Neither dared approach the center. The risk was not physical combat, nor madness from monsters. It was something far stranger: the overwhelming pull to become one, not in passion, but in a grotesque, literal sense.
Whenever they drifted too close to one another, their flesh would begin to soften, melt, and merge, the skin blurring, limbs fusing, and thoughts fracturing. Their reality slipped away, leaving only feverish dreams and the echo of something gold and nightmarist. Once, when they touched by accident, the merging flesh grew a mouth that whispered in both their voices.
Terrified, they had tied themselves to the wooden railings at opposite ends of the ship. Not for safety, but restraint. Because the compulsion to draw near came not from them, but from the golden horror lurking on the island. A call they could not resist unless bound.
They don't feel pain, but it just makes them more terrified. Not feeling pain means not knowing when they would be melted away and died.
And yet, there was hope.
When the silver moon rose above the sea, the call weakened. The giant's presence dulled. Its pressure faded, like something flinching from moonlight. Even the tiny golden homunculus they'd panicked and thrown overboard didn't survive in the moon's glow, its unnatural form melted away into foam the moment it touched the sea.
For the first time in hours, they could breathe. There are also no monsters from system quest approaching them, either afraid of that golden horror, or maybe their situation is already precarious enough in the System eyes.
The golden giant had retreated, hiding deeper within the island's heart, lessening its grip on their minds. It wasn't gone. The connection wasn't severed. But for now, beneath the watchful gaze of the silver moon, they were safe.
Or at least… safer.
Still, they didn't dare to sleep.
LuckyPlayer blinked slowly, bloodshot eyes fixed on the water. His hands were red from the rope burns, but he didn't loosen the knots. He couldn't. Not after what happened last time.
Across the ship, SongOfModesty mumbled prayers under his breath, half to the system, half to any higher power listening. His lips were cracked, his face pale, but his eyes flicked constantly toward the island.
Neither spoke. There was no need. The silence between them was heavy with shared fear, a bond deeper than friendship, forged in madness.
Then, the air shifted.
A ripple of energy brushed over their ship like a passing current of windless pressure. Familiar… but different. Not madness, nor golden.
Something else had entered their range.
LuckyPlayer's system pinged faintly:
[Personal Thread Notification: Seraph has replied to your tag.]
ETA: Approximately 1 Hour 12 Minutes.
Message: "Stay awake. Stay apart. Don't lose yourselves. I'm coming."
LuckyPlayer let out a shaky laugh, part in relief, and a part in disbelief.
"He answered…" he whispered, hoarse, "He's really coming."
SongOfModesty chuckled darkly, "Then we just need to last one more hour without turning into… that."
Both of them turned slightly, eyeing the distant silhouette of the island under the dimming silver moon. It remained still, for now. The golden presence was faint, curled up somewhere inland. But its whispers lingered like a fever dream, promises of unity, of warmth, of purpose… of giving in.
And yet…
Another presence now pressed faintly against them, not golden and greedy, but layered, and vast as the sky.
A Myth was approaching.
William Deathwill, The Seraph of End, was on his way.