Ghost Ship

Seawater washed tirelessly over the reefs, its monotonous rush like a lament that had sounded since time immemorial.

Dim yellow torches flickered like stars in the dark. Led by Xia Lun, the group dragged their weary bodies back to the Shelter.

They opened the door and lit the fire. Its warm glow brought a soothing dryness that eased their fear of the dark.

The dispirited group sat down without a word. After a long while, Horn suddenly spoke.

"Hornard must have turned into a Salt Monster. We've lost another companion. Hah. I used to think we'd conquered this island. We don't understand it at all. For all we know, this place is a den of demons."

Hornard was the monkey's name, and also the name of Horn's father in the real world.

Xia Lun picked up the Black Notebook from the table and flipped straight to a page. Drawing on the Borlan reading and writing he had learned over the past two days, he read softly aloud.

"There's something wrong with this island. It slowly changes you, making you forget your past and lose your mind. Once you can understand the wild men's language, you're not far from becoming one of them."

He and the Gunner had found the Black Notebook at Camp No. 2. In it, the author had once speculated on the wild men's origins.

At that point, Xia Lun glanced at his Information Panel.

[Current Mental Health status: Serenity]

He had been able to understand the wild men since his confrontation with Undying Salt. Perhaps because his mental state always remained so serene, however, he still had not become one of them.

The Brigadier General leaned toward the fire and lit his Pipe. Acrid smoke spread through the room.

"Xia Lun, there's a considerable difference