Published at 27th of June 2026 8:24 pm

Chapter 1831: Distant Lights

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Davos was a grand metropolis that rose along the western shores of Centerra.

Towering buildings pressed against one another, districts were linked by broad avenues, and massive spires pierced the skies.

Its towering walls enclosed bustling markets, noble estates, crowded docks, and hundreds of ships filled its harbor from dawn till dusk.

Merchants, adventurers, Magi, kings, and beggars alike walked its streets, drawn by the promise of wealth and opportunities.

To most, it was the wealthiest city on the west coast, the largest center of trade in northern Centerra, a major military power, and a center of learning. It was home to secret societies, guilds, noble houses, and adventuring companies.

Yet beneath the glittering metropolis, a second city sprawled underground, shrouded in shadows.

Dark Port.

That was the Stryker Pirates’ destination.

For a pirate ship approaching Davos from the west, reaching Dark Port secretly was extremely difficult.

But it was not impossible.

And this wasn’t the Stryker Pirates’ first rodeo.

They would enter Davos Harbor disguised as a merchant ship. Once docked, their cargo — consisting of treasures and resources gathered from the vast seas, as well as slaves — would be quietly unloaded.

From there, the cargo would pass through warehouses, sewers, hidden tunnels, and smuggler networks until eventually it reached the Mountain Down Under and, from there, Dark Port.

This route was slow, but it was safe.

Many criminal organizations relied on this method, as Davos received hundreds of ships every day.

The challenge wasn’t entering the harbor.

It was surviving the inspection.

But fortunately for the Stryker Pirates, they had a few people in the Harbormaster’s Office on their payroll.

As the distant silhouette of Davos grew larger on the horizon, the atmosphere aboard the ship changed.

The pirates became busy. Through magical means, the black sails of the vessel began to change in color. Like ink dissolving in water, the darkness faded until the sails became pristine white. The jolly roger was quickly lowered and stowed away.

Within minutes, the fearsome pirate vessel had transformed into an ordinary merchant ship.

Meanwhile, inside the captain’s quarters, Captain Stryker sat behind a heavy wooden desk. Before him sat his first mate and another trusted pirate.

"Same as always," Stryker said. "We dock. We smile. We pay our respects to the harbormaster’s men."

The first mate grinned knowingly. "Aye, Cap’n."

"The goods go through the usual route," Stryker continued. "They should reach Dark Port by week’s end."

"And the slaves?" the other pirate asked.

"Same buyers as before," Stryker replied.

His expression twisted in slight disgust as he added, "Those damned Magi. They run out of test subjects faster than we can even secure the next batch."

He then turned to his men. "Move ’em quickly. The longer they stay in Davos, the greater the risk."

The captain rose from the chair and looked out the window toward the approaching city.

"We hand over the goods, we get the coin, then it’s rum and whores fer the lot of us."

***

"Please! Please, sire!"

Adam’s desperate screams echoed across the deck.

Swale grabbed him by the collar and began dragging him across the wooden planks.

"Quite yer whinin’, boy," the scar-faced pirate growled. "Time fer ye to get back in yer cage."

"No! Please! Don’t sell me!" Adam cried, clawing helplessly at the deck. "I’ll do anything! Anything!"

His pleas only earned him laughter.

The other pirates watched the scene unfold with amused grins on their faces. Some snickered, while others openly mocked him.

After all, this had always been Adam’s fate.

Did he really think a few extra meals and a place to sleep meant he was somehow different from the other slaves?

How hilarious.

Swale dragged him down the stairs as Adam struggled and pleaded.

"Please! I’ll work harder! Please, I beg you!"

The pirate paid him no mind.

He hauled Adam through the narrow corridors and deeper into the ship, toward the lower decks where the slaves were kept.

The air grew damp and foul.

The sound of chatter and laughter from above gradually faded, replaced by the rattling of chains and the quiet murmurs of despair.

Their destination was the basement of the ship. The place where the merchandise was stored.

As Adam continued to plead desperately, he turned his head and scanned the corridor with his tenebrous eyes, searching for any sign of other people.

Finding no one around, the fear in his eyes vanished.

They turned cold.

With surprising agility, Adam got to his feet.

His hand shot forward and grabbed the wrist that was clutching this collar.

Crack!

With a swift twist, he dislocated Swale’s wrist.

The pirate turned around in surprise. Before the pain could even register, bewilderment filled his eyes. He had never expected Adam to retaliate.

And the moment he turned...

Adam struck again.

Thwack!

His palm shot forward and slammed into Swale’s throat. The pirate’s eyes bulged. He desperately tried to draw breath as his hands instinctively flew to his neck.

Then his gaze found Adam.

Shock and disbelief filled his eyes.

The docile and puny slave boy from moments ago was gone.

In his place stood a young man with murder in his eyes.

Swale’s shock lasted for only a moment before his entire being was consumed by rage. He let out a soundless roar and swung at Adam with his good hand.

Adam side-stepped. The pirate’s punch missed him by mere inches. He took a smooth step forward and delivered a chop to the pirate beneath the arm, instantly rendering Swale’s only good arm useless.

Then Adam’s leg lashed out like a whip.

Crack!

Swale’s knee shattered.

He collapsed on the ground, and the rage in his eyes was quickly replaced by terror.

Wasn’t this slave boy a mere mortal?

Then how was he inflicting such damage?

Swale couldn’t sense a trace of mana from any of Adam’s attacks!

The ghostly light of the moons spilled through the window, illuminating the raven-haired youth’s figure.

Swale’s body trembled. He tried to scream for help, but Adam had already made sure he couldn’t.

Then, under his horrified gaze, Adam vanished from sight like a ghost.

And the next moment, his vision spun violently.

And then darkness claimed him.

After confirming the pirate was dead, Adam let out a deep breath. His face twisted into a grimace as his hands and leg throbbed in pain.

A Cavalier Paladin’s body was sturdy, after all.

His senses swept outward, and he confirmed that there was still no one around on the lower decks. Everyone was in the galley or the upper decks, busy preparing to make port.

Adam glanced out the window.

Davos Harbor was now clearly visible in the distance, nestled beside a mountain.

The city must have been truly magnificent, for the countless lights shining from its streets seemed to illuminate the world.

The City of Marvels...

Adam gazed at the distant lights, his heart churning with emotions.

He was familiar with this city. For he had seen it once before.

Decades ago, while he was still in the Dark Valley, he had caught a glimpse of it during a divination. Back then, it had been little more than a fleeting vision.

Yet now, after all these years, that vision stood before him in reality.

The Free City of Davos.

The first city he would set foot in within the Greater Universe.

But before that...

Adam turned his gaze to Swale’s corpse.

His expression remained calm as he studied the dead pirate.

The next step of his plan was about to begin.

And for it to succeed, timing was everything.

Share