"The Mist Domain lies ahead."
Rayleigh's voice echoed across the deck, and every crew member turned their gaze toward the distant horizon. There, a massive grayish-white wall of fog stretched across the sea route like a natural barrier, with no end in sight, as though it had split the entire world in two.
Lin Ye stood at the bow, gripping the railing as he felt the sea wind blowing toward him. Days of sailing had already kept everyone on edge, and this fog barrier undoubtedly pushed their tension to its peak. In everyone's memory, no one had ever been able to clearly describe Laugh Tale's exact location, because this Mist Domain caused intruders to lose their way, ultimately returning empty-handed or perishing at sea.
"Prepare to enter the fog!" Rayleigh ordered, determination gleaming in his eyes. "Everyone, be aware that once we enter the mist, conventional navigational instruments may fail. Stay alert and follow orders strictly!"
The crew answered nervously and took their positions. Ace stood near the mainmast, gripping the Flame Key tightly, his expression solemn. Dragon, meanwhile, spoke with the navigators at the stern, confirming the final route records.
As the Dawn sailed into the edge of the mist, the surrounding seawater began to take on a strange purplish-black color, as if some mysterious substance had mixed into it. The ship's compasses began spinning wildly, the ink lines on the charts twisted and warped, and the electronic equipment completely failed, falling silent after emitting harsh static.
"Exactly as the legends described," Rayleigh murmured, his gaze sweeping across the ever-shifting mist. "From now on, we must rely on ancient navigation methods and intuition."
At that moment, a sharp stabbing pain suddenly shot through Lin Ye's right arm. The Purple Patterns began to glow, writhing across his skin as though