Merslin and his party were sailing smoothly toward the Celesta Continent with the help of the Goblin ship. The day they would finally reach Hope Cape, the gateway to Celesta, was fast approaching. To enter the continent properly, they had to pass through this region first.
Merslin: "Hope Cape is in sight. We're almost there."
Elena: "Finally, we'll be setting foot on the Celesta Continent."
Lisa: "I can't wait to step on solid ground. I'm tired of fighting at sea."
Serena: "The sea is nice, but I think adventures on land will be even more exciting. I wonder what's waiting for us?"
At that moment, a Goblin crew member suddenly shouted.
Goblin Crew: "Look over there! Black sails approaching!"
Merslin and his party turned to see black sails quickly approaching from the horizon. It was the infamous Black Hat Pirates, a ruthless group that dominated these waters, attacking any passing ships.
Merslin: "The Black Hat Pirates! Of all places to encounter them!"
Elena: "We have to prepare! We can't afford to dock right now."
Lisa: "Good. If they're pirates, I'm ready to take them on. My Sun Blade will show them the light."
Serena: "Pirates? What a perfect chance. Time to show them just how sharp my daggers are."
The pirate ship rapidly closed in and began firing cannons. The cannonballs struck the Goblin ship, but luckily, the damage was minimal.
Merslin: "Everyone, stay alert! They're firing at us!"
Elena: "I'll prepare a defensive spell. We need to block their cannon fire!"
Elena quickly cast a barrier to minimize the damage from the cannonballs. But the pirate ship didn't stop at long-range attacks—it was moving in to board them directly.
Goblin Captain: "The pirates are preparing to board! Everyone, get ready!"
Merslin: "This actually works in our favor! If they get close, we can fight them head-on."
Lisa: "Exactly! The closer, the better. Now I can really show off my swordsmanship."
As the pirates lowered the gangplanks and attempted to board, Merslin and Elena exchanged determined glances and prepared a joint spell.
Merslin: "Elena, ready?"
Elena: "Of course. Let's wash these pirates away."
Holding hands, Merslin and Elena merged their magical energy, forming a massive wave spell. The sea roared violently, and the waters around both ships surged.
Merslin: "O great waves, lend us your strength!"
Elena: "Lift this ship and send our enemies to the depths!"
A colossal wave rose, lifting both the pirate ship and the Goblin vessel high into the air. The pirates screamed as they struggled to maintain their balance.
Black Hat Captain: "What in the world is this?!"
Then, with a powerful crash, the wave sent only the pirate ship crashing down into the sea. The impact sent a towering pillar of water skyward, and the pirates found themselves tossed around helplessly.
Merslin: "Now, let's finish this!"
Elena: "The remaining pirates are ours to deal with!"
The pirates, now struggling in the water or clinging to debris, were left vulnerable. Merslin's party swiftly moved to eliminate the remaining threats.
Lisa: "Finally, it's my turn! Time to wipe them out with my Sun Blade!"
Lisa's sword radiated light as she prevented the pirates from escaping. Her blinding sword techniques overwhelmed them, leaving them unable to retaliate.
Serena: "I'll handle the runners. My arrows never miss their mark."
Stealthily moving among the shadows, Serena targeted pirates attempting to flee, taking them down with her poisoned daggers and precise shots.
Pirate: "Urgh! Where… where did that attack come from?!"
Serena: "This is what I do best. I'll make this quick."
With coordinated teamwork and overwhelming power, Merslin's party completely subdued the Black Hat Pirates. As the battle ended, the Goblin captain approached them with a wide grin.
Goblin Captain: "Wow! You guys are something else! I can't believe you took them down so fast—this is like striking gold!"
Goblin Crew: "Well, we helped a bit too! So we've earned our share of the credit, right?"
The Goblin captain then shared some valuable intel with them.
Goblin Captain: "These pirate scumbags have been taking control of these waters, ambushing passing ships. But I heard they've set up a base on one of the nearby islands. There's a rumor that they found gold or some other treasure hidden there, and that's why they've grown bolder."
Goblin Crew: "Yeah, especially that one island with ancient ruins. Some say it was once overflowing with gold!"
Merslin: "So their hideout is likely on that island. Then, we need to check it out."
Elena: "If it's an ancient ruin, we might find clues related to the Celesta Continent's history—or even something about the Ancient Gods."
Lisa: "Great. Let's hunt them down completely and make sure they never bother anyone again."
Serena: "Ooooh, ruins? Maybe we'll find something more valuable than gold."
Goblin Captain: "If you do, you might even get rich off of it. Just don't let your guard down!"
Using the Goblin captain's information, Merslin and his team began planning their next move—to uncover the pirates' hideout and investigate the mysterious ruins. With their mission now clear, they pressed forward toward Hope Cape, the true beginning of their Celesta Continent adventure.
*******
The Shores of Hope Cape
After overcoming numerous obstacles, Merslin and his team finally arrived at Hope Cape, the gateway to Celesta. Contrary to their expectations, the area showed no signs of battle or danger. Instead, warm sunlight, endless horizons, and a tranquil atmosphere welcomed them.
Merslin looked around, puzzled. Palm trees lined the shore, and groups of leisurely beachgoers in light swimwear played in the ocean or basked in the sand.
Merslin: "This place… it's nothing like I expected. It's not a battlefield—it's a resort."
Elena also took in the surroundings, watching the waves crash gently onto the shore and listening to the sound of people laughing. It reminded her too much of Earth.
Elena: "Merslin, this place feels just like Earth. The way people are enjoying themselves… it's exactly like the resorts back home."
Merslin nodded in agreement.
Merslin: "Yeah, everything—the beach, the sun, the people—it's like something straight out of Earth."
Lisa smirked.
Lisa: "Hah, so you guys had places like this back home? Then why not enjoy it while we can? I could use some rest."
Serena's eyes sparkled with curiosity.
Serena: "Sounds fun! So how exactly did you guys relax back on Earth?"
Merslin and Elena exchanged amused glances.
Merslin: "We did things just like this. Swimming, sunbathing, just enjoying the moment."
Elena: "Yeah. It's making me nostalgic."
Even Aria, normally quiet, hesitated before speaking softly.
Aria: "I… I'd like to experience that too. A day where we can all just… relax together."
Merslin smiled warmly at her.
Merslin: "Then let's do it, Aria. Today, we all take a break and enjoy this place just like we would on Earth."