A medium-sized vessel loomed over the island—a ship with crimson sails and an orange flag featuring two crossed axes at its center. The water shimmered under the golden sun, and small waves lapped against the hull, rocking the ship as if it were dancing upon the sea.
"Is that someone on the island?" a man asked from the bow. He was in his late thirties, wearing a rounded blue hat with white stripes that contrasted with his dark hair.
A young man from the side chimed in, "Yes, Captain. They're the ones who gave us that thrashing."
The man standing near the Captain turned his head and gave the subordinate a piercing look, causing him to swallow his words. "Sir, with you here, we'll teach them a lesson they'll never forget."
"Naturally. Do not fret; your leader is here," Captain Nilo boasted, dusting off his orange jacket with a flourish. "There is no need for fear as long as Nilo is with you. I shall crush his skull!"
A wide, arrogant grin spread across Nilo's face as he basked in his crew's admiration. The crew roared in unison, "Captain! Captain!" Nilo turned and waved his hand, his black cloak billowing in the wind. He shouted toward the shore, "You bastard! You dare strike Nilo's men? Nilo himself will teach you a harsh lesson! Be ready—I am coming for you!"
***
Yousafer stood atop a high cliff, Yuray by his side, watching the approaching ship.
"It seems the beating they took before wasn't enough," Yousafer remarked dryly.
"Should I handle this?" Yuray asked, cracking his knuckles.
"You're a bit too eager, Yuray. There's no need," Yousafer replied. "I'll be the one to hit them so hard their own mothers won't recognize them."
Yuray looked at him, puzzled. "What exactly are you planning?"
"You'll see soon enough," Yousafer said, a terrifying expression creeping onto his face.
On the deck, the crew spotted the two figures on the cliff. As the ship drew closer, their features became clear. Fear flickered in the eyes of those who had met Yousafer before; they remembered that haunting, twisted smile of his.
Nilo turned to his men, "What's with those faces? Don't you know the Great Nilo is with you? Why the fear?" Seeking to show off, Nilo pointed a finger toward the cliff. "You there!" He paused, looking at his first mate. "Which one of them beat you?"
"The one in the black cloak, sir."
"Ahem... right." Nilo raised his finger again. "You in the black cloak! You'll pay a heavy price for touching my men!"
Yousafer looked down at Nilo with pure disdain. Then, he broke into a grin that distorted his features in an unsettling way. He leaped from the high cliff toward the ship as it docked at the shore. Several men recoiled, including the blonde first mate.
Nilo jumped onto the sand, unsheathing an axe from his back. "You bastard! You dare lay a hand on the Great Nilo's followers? I'll make you regret the day you were born!" He lunged at Yousafer, swinging his axe.
Without flinching, Yousafer charged forward. He wore a smile no innocent heart could ever mirror—a smile that sent a jolt of panic through Nilo's chest. Nilo's eyes widened. The axe swung past Yousafer's mocking face as the youth raised his left eyebrow in a way that made him look even more monstrous.
Yousafer swung his hand, a punch freezing inches from Nilo's face. Then, abruptly, Yousafer threw himself backward, soaring through the air before crashing onto his back.
The impact sent dust and gravel flying. The crew stared in stunned silence. Even Yuray, watching from above, looked confused. *What is this idiot doing? I thought he said he'd thrash them!*
Nilo was the most bewildered of all. A punch had nearly shattered his face but stopped cold, and then his opponent simply... flew away? He understood nothing.
"You bastard!" Yousafer shouted with faked rage, launching himself at Nilo again.
Nilo swung his axe wildly. Yousafer twisted his body mid-air, evading the strike once more. Their eyes met for a split second—Yousafer's gaze was full of mockery. Then, Yousafer threw himself against the hull of the ship.
*BOOM!*
The collision shook the deck. Yuray furrowed his brows. *Has he lost his mind?*
Terror began to seep into Nilo's bones. Suddenly, Yousafer let out a scream that made the hair on Nilo's arms stand up: "I will destroy you!"
But on the ship, the crew began to cheer, "That's our Captain! That's our leader! Skin him alive, Captain! Make him regret facing you!"
Nilo's knees trembled as he thought to himself, *What are these idiots talking about?!*
Yousafer stepped toward Nilo with blinding speed. Nilo froze. The expression on Yousafer's face—a mocking grin, lips curved downward, eyes wide and piercing—made Nilo's heart hammer against his ribs.
Then, a low, mocking voice drifted from Yousafer's lips: "You will do exactly as I say, or you won't see tomorrow's light."
As Yousafer spoke, Nilo realized the youth wasn't looking at him, but at the emblem on his chest—the same flag that flew above the ship. Nilo's gaze shifted to Yousafer's hand as it approached his left shoulder. His face went pale.
A black chain was snaking out from beneath Yousafer's sleeve. What made the chain truly horrific were the eyes embedded in its links... eyes that were identical to Yousafer's own.
"He's... he's... he's **Possessed**!" Nilo nearly burst into tears.
"Listen well, you wretch," Yousafer whispered. "I know you don't want to lose face in front of your men. But if you don't do as I say, you won't just lose your reputation—you'll lose your life."
After a tense silence, Nilo stammered, "Wh-what do you want from me? I'll... I'll do it."
"I'm going to let you 'defeat' me. But then, you will head into the island, go west, and stop at the highest peak. Wait for me there. If you even think about running, don't think I won't find you. We'll discuss the rest later. Agreed?"
Without hesitation, Nilo's voice trembled, "A-agreed."
Yousafer's face returned to its mocking sneer. With a satisfied look, he suddenly hurled himself seven meters back into the air. He caught Yuray's gaze, and Yuray understood. Yousafer hit the ground and lay still, appearing unconscious.
Silence fell over the beach. Then...
"HYAAAAAA!"
"Well done, Captain! You're the best!" Nilo's crew cheered. "That's our leader!"
Nilo composed himself as best he could, raising a hand to the sky to declare victory, though internally he was cursing his men. Sweat poured down his face. *You idiots... I almost died! I'll show you later... what kind of monster have you gotten me involved with?*
Yuray walked down the cliff with heavy steps. He reached Yousafer, pulled him up, and draped Yousafer's arm over his shoulder. They began heading back into the island's interior.
"What's going on in that thousand-faced head of yours?" Yuray muttered.
"You'll find out later," Yousafer whispered back.
On the beach, a subordinate asked, "Sir, they're leaving. Should we pursue?"
"No! No, stop!" Nilo shouted, panic flashing in his eyes before he forced a fake smile. "There's no need. A loser remains a loser. I've taught him his lesson. The world must know that anyone who messes with Nilo and his crew pays a heavy price."
"The world isn't ready for you yet, sir!" one of them cheered.
Nilo ordered them to set up camp on the shore.
"Aren't we going inland, sir?"
"Not yet. As your leader, I must scout the area first. We don't know if those bastards set any traps. I'll go alone. When I return, we move together."
"That's our leader! Risking his life for us!"
"Sir, I'd follow you to the end of time!"
Nilo smiled with forced satisfaction. "Right, right. No need to shout. I'll be back."
As he turned toward the forest, he swallowed hard. *Damn you all... you're making me face that demon alone!*
***
Nilo moved slowly, disappearing among the trees. Soon, he reached the mountain Yousafer had mentioned. He encountered no villagers; everyone was busy plowing and planting before winter's arrival. He sat by a large tree and waited. Three hours passed. "That bastard is late..."
Just then, Yousafer and Yuray appeared in the distance. Nilo flinched, then stood up with a forced grin. "Welcome, welcome, my friend!"
Yousafer cut him off. "I don't have time for small talk. Do you know why I didn't kill you and your men?"
Nilo shook his head vigorously.
"I left you alive to protect this island."
Both Nilo and Yuray were stunned. "Protect the island?" Nilo asked, bewildered.
"Yes. You will stay here and guard it for six months."
"Six months?!" Nilo's voice rose, but he quickly lowered it as he remembered the look in Yousafer's eyes.
"Is there a problem? Don't you want to?"
"No... no, I don't mind. But... what am I protecting it from?"
Yousafer smirked. "From people like you."
Nilo gave a pained smile, thinking to himself, *Six months with this freak? Not a chance.* But then he remembered something. "How can a weakling like me protect the island while you're here?"
"I am leaving tomorrow," Yousafer said. "But know this... I will remain in contact with the villagers. If anything happens, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth."
Nilo swallowed hard, the image of the black chain and those eyes burned into his mind. "Don't worry... Nilo is at the young master's service."
Yuray, standing to the side, smiled but said nothing.
"Go now," Yousafer said. "Come back early tomorrow morning. And as for your men—handle them. If even one of them steps out of line... you don't want to know what happens."
"Understood, understood. I'll handle it. Don't worry, friend!" Nilo turned and scurried back the way he came.
Yuray looked at Yousafer and smiled. "Shall we climb the mountain?"
"Let's go. The sun is about to set."
The two ascended to the peak, standing together as the sun began its slow descent. Yuray, despite his closed eyes, seemed to take in the view. After a moment of silence, Yuray spoke, "Isn't the sunset magnificent?"
"Just enjoy this moment," Yousafer replied. "Because it's the last sunset we'll ever see on this island."
"I'll miss this place," Yuray mused. "We spent many beautiful years here... except for *that* day."
Yousafer recalled the long years spent on the island—the things he had faced and overcome. Now, they were merely memories to be folded away and left behind.
Yousafer smiled. "Nothing in this life lasts forever. Spring's plants eventually meet their summer... and the summer of this world is approaching."
**End of Chapter**