Glitch extended its paw. A much larger spatial crack appeared. It seemed deeper and darker than the previous ones. Shimmering with chaotic energies. From within, it retrieved an object. An apple.
It was a perfect, glistening apple. Golden in color. Radiating an almost ethereal glow from its core. It smelled faintly of distant forests, fresh dew, and sweet honey. An intoxicating blend. It seemed to pulse with a subtle, living energy.
"A golden apple for your golden token." Glitch stated. Presenting the fruit. "A trade?"
Jack immediately focused his [Eyes of Judgement]. Carefully digesting the information they showed. Checking every detail of the item.
[Object: Spirit Summoning Apple]
[Type: Consumable]
[Source: Otherworld Spirit Tree]
[Effect: Grants [Mark] and [Summon] special power.]
[Description: A legendary fruit grown only on the ancient, rarely seen Otherworld Spirit Tree. A tree that only exists between realities, nourished by the faint echoes of the surrounding realms. Consuming this apple allows one to establish a unique, invisible mark on up to thirty willing individuals. Once marked, the consumer gains the ability to instantly warp-summon any marked individual to their current position, once per day. The marked individual will be presented with a clear choice to accept or refuse the summon. This choice can be communicated telepathically back to the consumer. Furthermore, a marked individual can also request to be summoned by the consumer, who will receive a telepathic notification of their desire for teleportation.]
Jack stared at the description. His mind was racing. Processing the implications with his advanced intellect. This was not just powerful. This was a game-changer of monumental proportions.
Thirty marks. One summon a day. The implications were staggering. Strategic redeployments in the thick of battle. Emergency rescues from impossible situations. Instant team assembly from many different positions. And even checking on distant allies.
He could gather his entire crew at a moment's notice. The ability for marked individuals to request summons was also invaluable. It could act as a silent, immediate distress signal. One that could immediately be acted upon. It negated distance and made logistics trivial for the chosen thirty.
"This is quite a treasure." Jack murmured. Taking the golden apple from Glitch. Exchanging it with his golden token.
It felt warm and surprisingly heavy in his hand. Filled with latent energy.
"Indeed." Glitch confirmed. "Such apples are not easily come by. Nor are such tokens. A perfect match. Equal exchange. Anything else?"
"That should be all. Thanks, Glitch." Jack said. "It was a fair trade. An excellent trade."
Glitch gave a silent nod. Its form was already beginning to flicker. The edges of its black fur blurred. Turning into static. The checkered scarf seemed to pixelate. Dissolving into shimmering light.
With a final, almost inaudible click, Glitch dissolved back into the dark spots in reality. Before snapping shut. Leaving no trace it had ever been there.
Jack played with the golden apple in his hand carefully. This was an incredible fortune. He needed to consume it soon. The potential was immense. A strategic advantage almost beyond measure.
He had other things to take care first though. He turned to Reina first.
"That [Gleaming Star Shard] is a [Fairy Owl Eye], Love." He explained. "It was a great choice. Providing permanent [Night Vision] and [Rapid Thinking]. That's incredibly useful for your illusions and combat style."
Reina grinned, holding the shimmering sphere with delight. It was exactly like what she had expected. "Great! Those two traits could give me an edge in planning and illusions, seeing paths others miss."
"As for yours, it is a [Lightning Wolf Fang], Kid." Jack told Aella, who was holding the fang with wide-eyed wonder. "As you've probably heard from Reina and Autumn already, it gives you a [Lightning Spark] spell and the [Quick Reflex] trait."
Aella beamed. "Yes! I can shoot as fast as Big Sis Reina now."
Jack looked at Reina and Aella calmly. "Both of you can absorb your item now. There is no point in carrying these items without using them."
Reina nodded. She immediately sat cross-legged on the cabin floor. Holding the [Fairy Owl Eye]. The translucent, sparkling orb seemed to radiate a faint, crystalline glint.
Aella clutched her [Lightning Wolf Fang]. Following Reina's lead. Unlike the calm Reina, the girl looked nervous though, but determined.
Jack watched as they began the absorption process.
For Reina, the orb melted into a liquid light that seeped through her palms. Trailing up her arms like glowing veins before settling into her eyes.
For a moment, her pupils dilated into sharp, predatory slits. Before returning to their electric sky-blue color. She blinked. Her gaze suddenly felt deeper and more piercing.
Aella's process was slightly more violent. Tiny sparks of electricity danced across her small hands as the fang dissolved into her body. She gasped as the energy surged through them. Her short black hair stood on end for a brief second before settling back.
When the sparks of electricity faded, her brown eyes had changed. Behind her round-framed glasses, the pupils of her eyes had turned into a piercing, electric sky-blue color. Just like Reina's eyes.
"How is it?" Jack asked.
"My vision... seems to be sharper." Reina replied calmly. "I should be able to see much better in the dark now. And my mind... It seems that my thinking process gets much faster."
"Good." Jack nodded in acknowledgement. He turned to Aella. "How about you, Kid?"
"I feel tingly a little." The girl said. She was grinning as she snapped her fingers. A small, sharp spark of electricity popped in the air. "And I think I can move and react much faster now."
"Nice!" Jack replied. He turned toward the door where Mirella who was just watching and sketching from the beginning. "Mirella. Please, gather the rest of the crew. It's time to distribute the remaining spoils."
Mirella nodded and hurried off.
Jack was waiting in the cabin. Playing with the [Spirit Summoning Apple] in his hand. Tossing it up and catching it. He wanted to consume it right away. But, he decided that he would do it later, after the other items were handled well.
A few minutes later, the crew filed into the spacious cabin. Baroness Artheim looked curious. Leon observed Aella's eyes with astonishment. The others... Bell, Ned, Moby, Chloe, Barnaby, Don, Argust, Serene, and Autumn... crowded in. Filling the room with anticipation.
Jack didn't indulge in a long speech. He placed the remaining [Fairy Owl Eye] and the three [Lightning Wolf Fangs] on the table.
"Alright, everyone..." Jack said. "I've just converted some dark artifacts into fish tokens and traded with Glitch. I have one [Fairy Owl Eye] and three [Lightning Wolf Fangs] here. You know what the fangs do. As for the eye, it will provide you with permanent [Night Vision] and [Rapid Thinking] traits."
He stopped for a moment, and continued. "If you haven't received anything from our last haul, you're eligible. We're doing this fairly as usual. High rolls on the dice win. If you win, you use it immediately. No hoarding."
He produced a pair of white, bone-carved dice. The crew looked at each other. There was no arguing here. They had done these several times before.
"The eye first. Anyone interested can roll." Jack said
Leon Drake stepped forward first. He simply picked up the dice and rolled. They clattered against the wood. Double sixes.
He immediately grinned widely. The others who rolled the dice afterward couldn't match his number. He won it.
"The [Fairy Owl Eye] is yours, Leon." Jack said.
He took the orb with even wider grin. As a treasure hunter, [Night Vision] and [Rapid Thinking] were definitely very beneficial for him.
Next came the fangs. The three with the highest numbers were Bell, who rolled a ten; Mirella, who rolled an eleven; and Argust, who also rolled eleven.
"Bell, Mirella, Argust. Take the fangs." Jack ordered.
As they began their absorption, Jack turned his attention to the [Spirit Summoning Apple]. He didn't offer this one up. It would be the most useful in the hand of the one with the highest survival capability. Him.
He immediately bit into the golden fruit. It was not really delicious. Instead, it was bitter, cold, yet very spicy. He forced himself to finish it in three bites. Including the core.
Immediately, system notification flickered in the center of his vision...
[SPECIAL OBJECT CONSUMED!]
[ANALYZING...]
[NEW ABILITY ACQUIRED: MARK!]
[NEW ABILITY ACQUIRED: SUMMON!]
Jack felt a strange, invisible thread extending from his chest. He could feel the presence of everyone in the room. The presence of ones with very high potential to be 'marked'.
He waited until the crew members who were absorbing their items finished their tasks. Once they were done, he noticed that those who absorbed the [Lightning Wolf Fangs] had their eye color changed. All of their pupils were now electric sky-blue in colors.
A random thought flashed in his mind. Anyone who absorbed [Phoenix Feather] would have their eyes turn into amber color. What would happen if those who had already consumed [Phoenix Feather] chose to absorb [Lightning Wolf Fangs]?
He immediately stopped thinking about that. He would see it himself when that happened. For now, he needed to explain the power he had just gained from consuming the apple.
"I've also gained a pair of new abilities." Jack told them calmly. "I can place a mystic mark on willing people... up to thirty individuals. Once marked, I can summon any of them to my position from anywhere, once a day. They can refuse the summon if they're in the middle of something vital, or... well, they can request that I pull them to me."
"It's quite an interesting safety net." He continued. "Do I have your permission to put this 'mark' on you?"
The crew exchanged glances. Baroness Artheim was the first to nod. "In this world, Captain, a quick way to escape is often worth more than gold. And I trust you enough. Go ahead. Put the 'mystic mark' on me."
One by one, all of them agreed. Fourteen to be marked. Reina, Baroness Artheim, Bell, Ned, Moby, Leon, Chloe, Sparkle, Barnaby, Mirella, Don, Argust, Serene, and Autumn
Jack focused his will. He felt the invisible threads snap into place. Anchoring each crew member to his own essence. He could sense roughly where they were and how their general condition was. Even if he closed his eyes.
It was a heavy sensation. It was like carrying thirty small lanterns inside his soul. And fourteen of then were now lit.
...
The next few days of the voyage were quiet.
The Silent Mermaid cut through the waves with supernatural grace. Invisible. Silent, like its name.
Soon, they reached the vicinity of Grandmoon Island. They quickly made adjustment. Blanketing the ship with its usual disguise. To any passing vessel and people on the island, it appeared not as a ghost ship. It looked like a sturdy, yet unremarkable, trading sloop. The Ocean Wanderer.
It was a necessary disguise.
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