Chapter 324: Hidden Hegemon
Coop stretched his shoulders as he strolled along one of the beachside pathways that circumnavigated Rock Key. He was letting the footpath guide him away from the overgrown mangrove forest, around the edge of the island, where the open beach transitioned into low dunes. Coconuts had been lined up all along the trail, acting like a miniature retaining wall that kept most of the sand off the custom stepping stones, but the rest was swept by the passing feet of regular phantom patrols and human hunters intent on keeping Ghost Reef safe. Other than individual pioneering trees, no taller than Coop’s chest, he was passing through open land with a clear view of the rest of the island, from the lighthouse to the fort.
At the moment, the air was completely still. Coop’s calm motion was the only real disturbance without any breeze sweeping across the shore and penetrating the interior. The dunegrasses were static patches, almost like they were asleep, waiting for the day to begin, and the stunted trees further inland were patiently waiting for day to break.
Coop triggered the start of the day’s activity with his mere presence. Land crabs waved their larger claws toward him, almost like they were beckoning him over, before rushing into their holes when he incidentally got too close by just following along the path. Roosting birds paused their sleepy preening to watch him go.
It was early enough in the day that the sun hadn’t fully risen beyond the sea on the eastern side of the island. When he glanced up, the sky was a mixture of deep blues and purples, streaked with long wispy clouds of red and pink. The stars were still visible in the darker portions of the sky, though they weren’t nearly as bright and numerous as they had been throughout the night. In only a few more minutes, the last of them would fade and the first light of dawn would shine across the horizon.
The ocean ahead of him mirrored the sky, reflecting the increasing change of colors, its surface shimmering with the subtle glow of the day to come. Only two ghost ships were moving on the western portion of the island, their small wakes establishing the only visible waves anywhere on the horizon, extending what could have been miles behind each. One ship was quietly leaving the port while the other cruised through the main channel to dock in the harbor. Neither used the bells, easily able to coordinate between themselves with sight alone. It seemed like it would be a bit longer before the island was properly awake.
The gentle lapping of the waves on the beaches was too quiet to discern and the palm fronds hung idly in the stillness, but the early birds were starting to break the silence. They chirped and cooed, announcing themselves as they started the day. Coop appreciated the enduring tranquility, catching the last glimpse of it as he ended his second full grind. He had concluded a bit earlier than the previous day, accepting that the level gap he had created between himself and the Serpents and Devourers was growing a bit too large to stick around.
He took a moment to look back, past the mangrove forest, to where the sky was quickly being painted by the colors of a vibrant sunrise, heralding the start of another excellent day. He couldn’t contain the contented smile at being home once again. He missed being able to appreciate fleeting moments like these. He took a deep breath, looking forward to cleaning up, resting a bit, and then doing it all again.
Following along behind him, exiting the wall of undiminished mists that had encased the mangrove forest, were dozens of spear-wielding phantasms. They stepped through the fog bank with confidence, like victorious warriors returning home from battle. A parade of them formed, ever increasing as he had gone a bit overboard with the support of the Eternal Spear city title.
His many lingering manifestations made it seem like it was a shift-change at a major factory. The night shift was done, and they were heading home after a hard day’s work. If not for their ghostly appearances and varied cultural representations, they might have really been mistaken for old-timey coal miners, coated in ethereal dust as they were released for the day. The sabre-tooth tiger pelts, egyptian helmets, and ancient armors gave them away as something completely different.
The ghosts drifted away, returning to the mists one at a time, reflecting the time since their last kills and Coop opened his status to see just how much he had gained once he was the last man on the trail.
[Status]
HP - 21500/21500