"Phantom Rebirth: The Last White Raven’s Path to the Ultimate Assassin"-Chapter 312: The Bloodbound Fortress
The deck of the
Bloodsail Warship
was eerily silent as
Seraphis
lifted her hand, a
pulse of magic
rippling through the air. The very fabric of reality shimmered, and within seconds, a
portal of swirling mist and darkness
erupted before them. The ocean reflected the ethereal glow of the gateway, casting an almost ghostly ambiance over the crew.
Vance
raised an eyebrow
, stepping forward cautiously. “Haven’t seen one of these before.”
Seraphis smirked. “Then you haven’t lived long enough.”
With that, she stepped through.
Vance
hesitated only for a moment
, then, with a deep breath,
walked into the portal
. His men
followed
, their voices hushed with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty.
The sensation was
like falling and flying at the same time
—the weightlessness of the ocean sky
pulling at them
, then suddenly vanishing.
Then—
solid ground
.
Arrival at the Raven Island
As the mist cleared, the scent of
salt and damp earth
filled the air. The ocean before them
stretched endlessly
, reflecting the glow of a half-moon. But it wasn’t the sea that caught Vance’s attention.
It was the
island.
It was
vast, untouched
, with towering cliffs and thick forests in the distance. The docks were
pristine and newly built
, yet completely
devoid of life
. There were
no traders, no civilians, no bustling activity
—just silence.
Vance turned to Seraphis. “Not exactly the warmest welcome.”
She chuckled. “Because it was only just built. This island isn’t a kingdom
yet
—but it will be.”
Vance’s sharp eyes
scanned the terrain
, lingering on the
only other structure in sight
—a
fortress nestled in the cliffs
. But something about it
felt familiar
.
Then—he saw him.
A man stood at the entrance of the fortress, arms crossed, an amused smirk playing at his lips.
Long black coat, piercing amber eyes, and an aura of confidence that was impossible to ignore.
Vance’s expression hardened. “No way.”
The man chuckled. “It’s been a while, Vance.”
Draven.
The two men locked eyes, tension thick in the air. They had fought together once—long ago—but their
paths had diverged
.
Draven’s smirk deepened. “Still alive, huh?”
Vance exhaled sharply. “Wouldn’t be here otherwise.”
Seraphis stepped between them, arms crossed. “No fighting. You’re on the same side now.”
Draven scoffed. “I never said we were fighting.”
Vance shook his head, but he couldn’t help but grin. “Damn, it’s good to see you.”
Draven clapped him on the shoulder. “Welcome to the Raven Fleet.”
Seraphis
cleared her throat
, cutting through the moment. “Come with me. There’s something else I need to show you.”
The Teleportation Circle
They walked through the fortress halls, the sound of their boots
echoing
against the stone walls. Soon, they entered a
large, open chamber
. The
centerpiece
of the room was a massive
glowing circle
etched into the ground, pulsating with ancient runes.
Seraphis gestured toward it. “Step inside.”
Vance and Draven exchanged glances, then
stepped into the circle
.
A
flash of light
—and suddenly, the world
shifted
.
The Cliffside Base
When their vision cleared, they were
somewhere else entirely
.
A
new beach
, pristine and untouched. The
dock was smaller
, but
fortified
, built against the
cliffside
, where a
compact yet sturdy castle
sat atop a rocky outcrop, overlooking the vast ocean.
Vance turned in a slow circle, taking in the
fortress
, the
dock
, and the
towering walls
that surrounded the area. “Not bad.”
Seraphis nodded. “This is your base of operations.”
Vance whistled. “I gotta admit, I wasn’t expecting this. How do we get back?”
Seraphis smirked. “The teleportation circle is
only for commanders
. Step into the runes, and you’ll be taken back to the other port.”
Vance
studied the castle
, his mind already running through battle strategies. “And what about security? These walls look impenetrable, but no fortress is perfect.”
Seraphis’s
eyes gleamed
. “Good question.”
She lifted her hand, and
a shimmering artifact appeared
—a small,
raven-shaped emblem
made of obsidian and silver.
She walked toward Vance’s ship, placing the emblem onto its
wooden hull
. The moment it touched the surface,
a pulse of magic
ran through the ship, connecting it to the fortress.
“This is how you’ll get through the walls,” she explained. “Any time your ship comes into contact with them, you’ll be automatically
teleported inside
.”
Vance ran a hand through his silver-streaked hair, impressed. “That’s a hell of a system.”
Seraphis’s expression turned serious. “There’s a catch.”
Vance arched an eyebrow. “Of course there is.”
She held up a
small ceremonial dagger
and
offered it to him
. “You have to bind it to yourself with blood. Only you can activate the teleportation.”
Vance frowned. “And if someone else tries?”
Seraphis’s gaze darkened. “Then the system won’t work. It’s a
safety measure
. The magic won’t obey anyone else.”
Vance hesitated for only a second before taking the dagger and slicing a shallow cut into his palm. He pressed his
bleeding hand
against the emblem, feeling the magic
bind itself
to him.
A rush of
energy
surged through his veins.
He could
feel the connection
now—the bond between himself, his
fortress
, and the
very land itself
.
Seraphis nodded in approval. “Now, it’s yours.”
The Laws of the Raven Kingdom
With the formalities done, Seraphis
turned to face both Vance and Draven
, her expression unreadable.
“There’s one last thing you both need to understand.”
She extended her arms, and
the air around them darkened
.
A phantom image of the
Raven Kingdom’s crest
appeared in the sky—a
white raven, wings outstretched, with piercing blue eyes
.
“These are the laws of the kingdom.”
Her voice echoed with
power
.
"First—no discrimination. This kingdom welcomes all, regardless of past, race, or origins. If you sow discord, you will be cast out.”
"Second—betrayal is met with only one punishment.”
The air turned cold. Shadows
whispered
along the beach.
Vance and Draven stiffened as a spectral
mirage of arrows
materialized in the sky, hovering ominously.
“If you betray the kingdom, the
Mirage of Arrows
will find you. There is no escape.”
The phantom arrows
dissolved
, leaving only silence in their wake.
Vance exhaled slowly. “Damn.”
Draven crossed his arms. “You don’t play around.”
Seraphis smirked. “I don’t have the luxury to.”
Vance studied her for a moment, then let out a low chuckle. “You know what? I think I’m gonna like it here.”
Seraphis turned toward the fortress, her white hair billowing in the wind.
“Good,” she murmured.
“Because this is only the beginning.”
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