Chapter 1: Getting a boat
Sans walked along the back allies of the shadiest place he could find in one of the few cities that allowed humans in on the Demon Continent.
“You know Spector City isn’t so bad.”
Looking around he could see corpses lying on the ground dead from starvation.
“Sans This place is horrid and what we fought against years ago.”
Having the ever present voice in his head Sans had already grown accustomed to his self appointed conciseness.
“Ah I like the place makes me feel welcome.”
The other voice had changed over the years while still insane it made less of a racket in his mind. Anyone who saw Sans would see him as a normal twelve year old immature brat. In reality this year he had just turned sixteen and due to some circumstances he had long ago stopped aging.
“Sans I know you wish to go back to the Goddesses Continent but there has to be a better way.”
After giving a slight smile Sans shook his head.
“Nope cause of you and your grand plan we aren’t wanted anywhere but luckily humans are vile creatures that would turn to anyone with power to do their dirty work. And I have no desire to return to that place it’s just for a job. Besides the plan is foolproof.”
His plan actually had plenty of holes in it but they had already been pointed out to him. Because he was considered an enemy of mankind and all the other races after having some “problems” with a minor god’s church, no boat would take him across the ocean to other continents. So he came up with a simple plan, pretend to be a helpless child and get taken by slavers who would smuggle him across the ocean.
“Luckily my wanted poster is scarce and only shows what I would look like had I grown up. I’m guessing the heroes had something to do with that. Guess there helpful sometimes.”
Not wanting to waste anymore time Sans began to look around restlessly and cower every few steps.
“You know those in authority have a real portrait of you right?”
Sans almost broke his act to respond but suppressed the urge to argue.
“That's why I’m doing this, how are you so slow.”
Whispering this Sans finally felt the presence of others.
“Yay they’re here. Can we kill the first batch? It’s not like they’re good people.”
Shaking his head Sans sighed waiting for someone to try and take him. Luckily it only took a few moments before three large middle aged men in beger attire jumped in front of him and with practiced ease threw him in a burlap sack. Inside the bag was some sort of sleeping powder that would normally put any child to sleep.
“Well... might as well pretend then.”
Because the powder was ineffective against him Sans had to pretend to have been knocked out.
“Haha we caught a good one, this one will sell for a good amount and our cut won’t be small.”
“HA! Brother did you see the skin on him some noble lady is going to have fun breaking him.”
Hearing the chatter of the men Sans couldn’t help but smile, his plan had worked.
“Unless they sell you to a different continent then there’ll be trouble!”
Upon hearing the insane voice have some reason Sans mood dropped.
“Well anyway we’ll just kill everyone at that point and try again.”
He was in no hurry, his client wanted someone to kill a large beast in under three years that gave him enough time to go about the contract in whatever way he wanted. Normally he would only take contracts that kept him in the Demon Continent but the number of people who knew who he really was had increased to something uncomfortable and more people looking for fame had recently been showing up.
In just the last week he had killed around forty hunters and critically injured ten. So he chose to head to a different continent and it just happened to be near his hometown.
* * *
Ellis sat in a meditative position feeling the mana in the air and steadily bringing it to the various sheets of metal around her. One by one she was engraving magic formulas into the small sheets these would become the disposable shells for her two magic guns. After an hour she had finished the preparations all that was left was to turn the sheets into bullets. What she had just done could be considered extraordinary for anyone her age but she thought she needed to be better. Her father had adopted her for her talent and she would not let him down.
He never treated her any differently for being adopted but that just made her want to strive harder and make him proud. But before she could continue Ellis heard light but quick footsteps approaching from behind her. Turning around she saw a small girl about ten years old.
“Ellis! Let’s play!”
The small girl was her cousin, Gwendalin.
“Gwen, Uncle will be mad if you’re skipping your training again.”
At the mention of her Father Gwen’s cheeks inflamed and she began to pout.
“It doesn't matter Papa’s a dummy.”
Seeing her pout like that Ellis understood that the parent and child had another argument. But these would never last long, after all her uncle could never stay mad at his precious daughter who’s talent in combat and magic far exceeded most if she trained hard enough it might even be possible for Gwen to win the two magic pistoles from her. and for this reason Ellis believed that her uncle who prioritized talent over all would never really be mad at his daughter.
“What did you fight about?”
Gwen still looked marginally angry but answered.
“Hmph dumb Papa, all I want to know was where big brother is and he scolded me and told me not to talk about it…”
With tears in her eyes Gwen looked at the ground.
“... I miss big brother and… And dumb Papa won’t go pick him up.”
Ellis didn’t know what to say as she looked at her younger cousin. Gwen’s brother Sans Von Ermine, her cousin. He was the only one to compete with her for the two magic pistols. Most expected that each would take one after a good confrontation but Sans was simply too weak and she won both pistols along with the title of heir to the Von Ermine house.
In the end no one knew what happened to him except for the fact that Sans’ father, her uncle Barten Von Ermine had disowned him and sent him off somewhere to train. It was also strange that Gwen had a deep attachment to her brother considering that he was only around till the time she was four. But because of these circumstances Gwen would often ask her father to pick up her brother from wherever he was left to train.
“Your brother is somewhere far away and can’t come right now plus you father is busy so wait a while longer after some time I'll go ask Dad about your brother and see if I can bring him back to you. Now stop crying okay.”
Because she couldn’t stand to see her little cousin cry she made such a promise. But the small shallow promise was enough to brighten the mood of the little girl and both began to play with the various toys that Gwen had brought along.
In the back of her mind Ellis couldn’t help but think that she had heard the name Sans somewhere before and felt fear. However that had nothing to do with Gwen's brother as she thought that he was most likely dead, if he weren't her uncle would have brought him back long ago.
* * *
In another corner of the Von Ermine house two men saw in front of a large pile of documents. Neither concentrating on the work that needed to be done.
“Now tell me what's gotten to you today” the first to speak was Bolas the current head of the Von Ermine house, next to him was his younger brother Barten Von Ermine.
“... It’s Gwen” Sighing Barten looked towards the ceiling. “She keeps asking for her “brother”.”
Mentioning his son Barten almost scowled. Bolas could only lightly shake his head.
“That child, we wronged him. And four four years he was the only one she knew. Even your wife would only be around to feed her and sometimes it would just be a wet nurse, the only constant face she had was Sans.”
Hearing his name spoke Barten openly scowled.
“That trash was weak, he had no place in this family so I sent him off. Then he momentarily gained some semblance of power by luck and went mad, further showing his weakness. He’s a disgrace.”
Bolas didn’t know what to say to his brother. By all rights it should be Barten and not him who sat in the seat of family head as he was the strongest but the founder had appointed him heir. After that his younger brother wholeheartedly supported him and the two acted as a good pair. But they could never agree on one subject, Sans Von Ermine or better known as Sans Graham the [Chained Abyss].
“Do you know where the boy is? I haven’t heard any reports since the incident two years ago.”
Barten shook his head.
“No after he attacked the two from the church for reasons only the goddess can understand he hasn’t appeared. driven insane by the chains and souls he must have died somewhere.”
Bolas agreed solemnly with a nod of his head. The last report they had received was that Sans had attacked a piece group in the Demon Continent there to evacuate any humans who could no longer bare to stay in that forsaken place, most of these people were good warriors that had fought the Demon God’s hordes of vile creatures and just wanted to return to their families.
“More importantly we have other matters to attend to. Our duke house has been on the decline, and the founder hasn’t been seen after the battle with the Demon God. Before we were undisputed and second only to the king but now… While we aren't in any sort of disadvantageous position we are on evened ground with the other duke houses.”
Barten wished to get off the topic of his failed son so he began to speak of the reason for all their troubles.
“We should just hold on until the next generation is ready to take over Ellis and Gwen are incredible talents and no one will refute them when they are together. Just this month Ellis was able to engrave a half master spell and it seems that little Gwen has been thinking up a unique method to increase our forces.”
While relying on the younger generation seemed like a bad idea this was all they could do and their best hope. Both of them although talented could only break into what was considered the master class in magic.
A magician's ranking was dependent on the spells he or she could cast from weakest to strongest it was beginner, intermediate, advanced, master, King, and emperor. As for warriors they were less obvious as it depended on various things such as skill, strength, and experience but in general they would also be put into the class of beginner, intermediate, advanced, master, King, and emperor.
* * *
In another part of the world two figures stood atop a dragon chatting.
“You sure that it’s a good idea to let your family decline that way?”
The one to speak was a dark skinned man who had been summoned over fifty years ago to this world, despite this he looked to be only around thirty.
“They should suffer a bit, I’m still pissed about the whole [Chained Abyss] situation… And if the goddess didn’t personally ask for me not to destroy the church I would have already done so… How could they treat my grandson like this, making him humanity’s new enemy. She better fix this quick.”
The dark man laughed
“You should have looked after that son of yours better, what was his name? Ah Barten! Yea I mostly blame him for getting your grandson involved. But the incident back then was completely the church’s fault… Regardless we are free to do as we wish now. Some of us are going back how about you?”
Regardless of who’s fault it was Enrique still blamed himself, due to the war with the Demon God he had a very estranged relationship with his family and after his wife passed it became even worse. He looked into the sky and let out a deep sigh.
“I’ll stay here and act like an anchor if I need your help on anything I'll go and bring you guys back.”
* * *
After a lot of people mistreated him and roughed him up Sans was finally on a boat headed somewhere.
“Yay boat ride. Let’s make this a ghost ship. Come to they’re begging to swim with the fishes…”
Ignoring the crazed voice who was strangely excited Sans began to wonder where the boat was going. It was obviously somewhere far so another continent was likely considering the size of the ship.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“I’ve stated that this was a bad idea now we're off to some unknown place.”
Sans looked around only to see various children from all races chained similarly to the way he was on the wall.
“Lucky more chains!”
With that Sans broke the cuffs around his legs. Seeing such a spectacle the children around widened their eyes. Bringing his finger to his lips Sans whispered.
“Shhhh if you're quiet we can get out of this and have some fun too.”
The children looked confused at how they could have fun in this situation but then Sans had done something they already considered ridicules.
“Now does anyone know where we are going?”
All the kids shook their little heads not knowing what their destination was. Looking around there were at least forty kids that Sans could see.
“This is wrong, Sans you must help them out of here.”
Sans felt the same way and would do something for them but first he had to figure out what he was going to do to help himself.
“Just wring their little necks then the pain will end… We can even take them in!”
“No. We don’t need any more people inside our head… Let's find out where we’re going first.”
Looking at the children Sans wanted them to have some hope of getting back to their families or elsewhere that they had to be.
“So, I'll go up and see where we’re going. Then I'll beat up everyone on board then take you back to where ever you wanna go and if you have nowhere to go well, I guess I can find a nice orphanage or something for you.”
Seeing all the kids brighten up slightly Sans almost smiled.
“Or we kill them all. Just saying it would be fun and cost efficient.”
With the crazed voice killing his mood Sans walked towards a ladder that would take him to a higher level on the boat where he could find someone that knew their destination. After exiting the holding area for the captured children Sans quickly found out that he was on a large cargo ship and that the corner put away for him and the other children was fairly small compared to everything else.
Having surveyed a section of the ship he would have to guess that it was at least one hundred yards wide and had at least four floors. With this size it was unlikely that the boat belonged to the smugglers, or they would have had more children and maybe some slaves that could be illegally sold.
“Sans see if you can find the captin and inform him of the situation.”
“No let's just take over the boat, you promised those children fun. Wouldn’t letting them take turns being the captain be fun.”
Sans hated to admit any one of the two being right but then he had already gone partially insane from having the two in his head.
“So let's go with both plans I'll inform someone and if they are with the smugglers then I kill everything and take the ship.”
Not wasting any time Sans ran to the higher levels, strangely he had yet to run into any of the crew but the section he was in seemed to be filled with illegal things making it seem that the captain had little chance of survival.
Finally after reaching the third floor he found out why no one was roaming the bottom. It seemed to be night time and the patrols were going around above instead of down below. Most likely during the day the lowest floor would be a bit more lively. The third floor had plenty of people sleeping in small cramped rooms. Wasting no time Sans grabbed the first person he saw walking around with his small hand over the man's mouth and the other twisting his arm.
“Make a sound and I brake it, nod if you understand.”
The man nodded slowly confused at how a such a small hand seemed to have so much force.
“Now I'll let you speak, first what’s your name?”
The man quickly answered in a low voice.
“Mark.”
“Okay then Mark, where are we headed?”
Mark had a bewildered expression on his face as someone was asking him where a ship they boarded was heading.
“The… The Dragon Continent.”
Sans was surprised and a little down as he was hoping to head to the goddess’s continent.
“Okay doing good and giving fine answers here mark. Then last question, what do you know about the kidnaped children and other illegal things on the lowest floor?”
At the mention of kidnaped children Mark’s face went pale.
“I… I… I didn’t know… The captain sometime takes shady business but never slaves, they aren't his thing and… And especially not children.”
“He’s lying through his teeth, break them.”
“No he seems the honest sort and the idea of kidnaped children seems to have friended him more than anything.” Having to very different opinions Sans just stared at Mark before knocking him out.
“Now to put him with the children, tell them not to eat him, and find the captain. After that it’s either gonna be bloody for the crew or just the criminals.”
Taking the unconscious Mark down to the children and tying him up was no problem the real issue would be keeping him from being found before he could meet the captain and ascertain his place in all this criminal activity.
* * *
Ellis Walked towards her father’s study, she had made a promise to Gwen and she intended to keep it. Normally she would just tell her a little white lie but the name Sans was reverberating in her head, she had heard it somewhere and needed to know.
“Daddy I have some things I want to know.”
Putting on her sweetest voice and most spoiled aura she entered the study were her father was almost buried in papers. Peeking his head out from the papers Bolas looked at his daughter and knew she wanted something simply by the way she carried herself.
“Yes Ellis, what is it that you wish to know?”
Looking at her father's near defeated expression Ellis thought that this would be an easy discussion.
“So I found Gwen crying her little heart out and seeing it almost killed me of grief… When I asked what happened she told me that…”
Right at that moment Bolas interrupted her.
“Yes I know why she was that way and no we can’t just go pick him up…”
Before continuing Bolas let out a small sigh and moved from behind his desk, closed the doors to his study, and sat down on a chair void of any mess while jestering for Ellis to take a seat on a chair across from him.
“... It’s not easy to say this and you uncle will never admit it as a mistake but when your cousin showed how powerless he was, well he wasn’t set off to train… He was disowned and banished. Because of a mistake and the anger of your uncle along with some peers… He was sent to the Demon Continent before the climax of the end of the war.”
This was not the full story but it was enough and all that Bolas was willing to tell his daughter for now. Ellis on the other hand had a horrified expression. Weakness in this family, especially the one’s who were under her uncle, was considered the gravest of sins. But it still couldn’t be something to get sent to a war zone for. Seeing his daughter so taken aback Bolas knew exactly what she was thinking.
“... Then… Then is there any way he’s still alive?”
Bolas shook his head solemnly. “The chances of that are too small and unlikely.”
* * *
Unknown to the two who were speaking Gwen’s subordinate had been listening to the whole conversation. For the last two years she had been working on a new magic she called [Doll Creation], using the mana and the spirits in the air she would make automaton like dolls that would act and fight on her behalf.
She had a small paper tiger follow Ellis and listen in on the conversation she had with her father then report back to her. If her spell were to be classified solely on strength then she would still be a beginner magician but because of it’s diversity and difficulty to execute she liked to consider herself an advanced magician.
And she figured that as long as she used better materials for future dolls they would be that much stronger. With it’s fastest speed the paper tiger began running to it’s master.
* * *
Sans took about an hour to reach the top level of the ship without being spotted. He noticed that a ship this large had a fair share of advanced class warriors and hiding from them took a bit more skill than what he planned on so the surprise made him take a bit longer to reach the top. Getting near some crew members who were watching out for anything strange Sans listened in on their conversation.
“Hey you think Mark’s gonna show his face in front the cap today.”
“Na he’ll run till the cap’s cooled down then the two’ll be buddies again after some good drink.”
The two men laughed and Sans began to wonder about the identity of the man he was holding semi captive. after that small conversational piece Sans moved on trying to locate the captain.
“So we can head to either the nicest looking place or the most guarded.”
“I suggest the highest residence, if it’s not that then go to the nicest. The most guarded usually only has money.”
Nodding he made his way to the second floor of the deck where a cabin looking structure stood. There were only three entrenches that he could see the front door and two windows.
“Well front door it is then.”
Fixing his clothes and putting on his most timid expression Sans openly walked up to the door. Knocking on the door lightly making himself seem intimidated Sans put on a great act.
“Come in!”
From inside the room a strong male voice loudly reverberated. slowly opening the door Sans looked down to the floor not looking at whoever was inside.
“Cap… Captain? Mar… Mark sent me.”
“Well then come in and tell me what that coward wants. And look me in the face when you say it lad.”
The voice seemed annoyed but had no malice behind it. Looking up he found a middle aged man in his late thirties with a large beard. Smiling Sans was happy, the man had more or less confirmed that he was in fact the captain of the ship. Seeing the boy’s smile a chill ran down the captain’s spine. Before the captain could do anything Sans had seemingly disappeared and reappeared right before his eyes. Without so much as a second Sans was already holding a knife to the captain’s throat.
“Now scream and you die. Make any sudden movements and you die. He'll make me mad and you die.”
The captain's eyes dilated.
“You, you're in the advanced class no maybe even the master class but if you kill me don’t think you can survive here.”
Sans now had an expressionless face while he pressed the knife closer to the captain’s throat.
“That doesn’t really matter. So answer one question. Do you know about the children down below deck?”
The captain looked offended.
“What children? I know everything there is on this boat and there are no children.”
“He seems to be Lying but don't kill him just get him to do-operate. Tell him the location and ask for his assistance.”
“No break his fingers and then if he still sings the same tune then we belive him.”
This wasn’t a bad idea but then he would have to endure her relentless lectures so he decided not to.
“Well Mark’s down there with them right now. Hell I was with them chained to a wall not to long ago. Good thing I'm strong enough to break your average chains… It’s the phantom one’s you have to look out for.”
The captain looked surprised then angry.
“So you found them and what, are you some sort of hired assassin?” Sans smiled at the confession.
“Kill!!!!”
“Oh nice confession well I guess I kill you now along with the rest of the crew… Hmm maybe not, I'll leave some alive after all I don’t know much about sea voyages… Anyway die.”
With that he slit the throat of the captain before he had a chance to scream or curse. Just when he was planning to go off to kill the rest of the crew he heard a defending shout.
“PIRATES!!!! SOUND THE ALARMS!!!!”