HoG - Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Navigation Log, Silver Law

Clattering...

As the final character etched itself into the "Navigation Log," silver-white ripples radiated from its cover, surging into Byron's being. The warmth, akin to a mother's touch, soothed the wounds within his consciousness, nurturing his soul like a spring breeze. Something ethereal, once confined to the realm of thought, now transcended the boundaries of the spiritual and material worlds.

Amidst the thunder's roar, Byron heard the ancient epic of the Northern Bay people, their voices as coarse as sea salt, singing in his ear:

(You can listen to this epic shanty on youtube right now! just open this URL and look for "Horizon of Glory - A Northland Ballad"

https://www.youtube.com/@BoredIdler

Don't forget to subscribe. There will be more. A lot more.)

Upon the sea, where gales do play,

Our sails unfurl to guide our way.

The helmsman's voice, both fierce and bold,

Commands the waves, in stories told.

Through storms we charge, with hearts ablaze,

Our scars, the marks of ocean's haze.

We break the chains that bind us tight,

And soar to realms of pure delight.

Deep within his soul, a seed took root, sprouted, and flourished, elevating his consciousness from his mind, blossoming and bearing fruit. Byron's breathing, heartbeat, touch, perception—all reached the pinnacle of human potential. He was a seasoned mariner, gripping the taut ropes of full sails, the sea breeze tousling his hair, reveling in the ship's dance upon the waves. Sail, ship, wind, and sea harmonized within his veins.

Time stretched and contracted. The epic's crescendo pierced the air:

So here's to us, the bravest of the brave,

Who face the tempests, but never cave.

Our souls are stitched with threads of the sea,

In its depths, our freedom we finally see.

So raise your cups, to the sea's embrace,

To the Northland's love, we forever trace.

With every scar, a chapter in our tale,

In the heart of the sea, we've found our sail.

Boom! The sound of a stone door being flung open resounded above. A "fish," once entombed in the abyss, now leaped into the light, mirroring the first terrestrial creatures to venture onto land eons ago, beholding the world's splendor and diversity. This leap allowed Byron to elevate his life and status, transcending the ordinary. Spirituality awakened!

Byron now perceived an invisible third eye, granting him "spiritual vision" beyond the naked eye's reach. An intangible, flexible third hand freed him from his bonds with a mere thought. As a scion of royalty, he had access to education and supernatural knowledge from a young age, adapting to this new reality with ease.

"Awakening spirituality is like gaining an invisible, magical organ within, the source of all supernatural powers and the gateway to every mysterious profession!"

Byron understood that awakening was not complete. "In this world, humans are but dust-born, never masters of the supernatural. Each elevation of 'spirituality' is a transgression, fraught with peril. Now, we must commune with the source of human supernatural power, anchoring ourselves to truly wield this great force."

Opening his spiritual vision, he beheld the silver net enveloping the world—the "Silver Law," protector of humanity, wellspring of all orthodox supernatural powers, and the "Stairway of Glory" system derived from it.

Yet, as he attempted to anchor himself, he encountered resistance. The "Silver Law," though theoretically within reach, felt as distant as a thousand mountains. "Is the law resisting me?" Byron, an outsider, sensed the incompatibility. Inspiration struck, and he affirmed his identity: "I am Byron Lancaster!" Embracing his fate and responsibility, he cast the first "anchor" in this world.

The barriers between him and the "Silver Law" dissolved. A ribbon of pure white spiritual light hooked onto the first layer of the law, stabilizing his existence, integrating him into the vast network. Knowledge and experience flowed into him, bestowing true supernatural power. The transformation was complete.

Byron exhaled, watching the bubbles of his breath rise to the sea's surface. His sea-blue eyes, now aglow with azure spiritual light, refocused on the red-eyed sharks. Through his spiritual vision, the sharks, once mere glowing eyes, revealed their true form—enshrouded in wailing red spirits, their limbs like tentacles embedded within, grotesque tumors of control.

"The abilities gained during spiritual awakening often stem from one's deepest desires and needs, potentially turning the tide of battle, such as my 'Cognitive Correction'!"

Byron stood firm, activating his newfound power. Spirituality and flesh resonated, invisible ripples coursing through his veins, bursting forth from his eyes.

"Scram!!!"

Buzz—

In an instant, the man-eating sharks, poised to strike, scattered as if confronted by an unassailable marine predator—a "killer whale." Seizing the moment, Byron swam with every ounce of strength towards the pirate ship's sterncastle, evading the pirates' sight, and surfaced. Despite his Bay-folk blood granting him exceptional swimming prowess, he had exhausted his oxygen and nearly drowned. He wiped the seawater from his face with a determined gesture and gazed towards the Channel Islands of the Hastings Kingdom. His icy stare flickered, suppressing the urge to return and seek vengeance against the White Rose York family.

The fusion of his two lives had honed his character, transforming the once carefree youth into a more mature and resilient individual. He understood the futility of impractical dreams. While he yearned for a life of freedom, even to perish in the waves, recklessness was not bravery. He needed to unravel the mystery of that disaster and amass the strength to challenge an entire nation.

Byron's gaze shifted to the "Navigation Log" symbiotically residing in his right eye. He had learned of its ability—the Echo of History:

[Allows the "captain" to record and trace back the history of things or events they come into contact with or personally experience, revealing the secrets hidden within. Based on the "historical influence" of these secrets, the captain gains spiritual enhancement or is granted a dedicated entry. Entries, no matter how bizarre, once inscribed in the log, interfere with reality, bestowing true power. Influence ranges from an individual to a village or town [0-10], a city or region to an entire area [10-20], a region to a country [20-30], and beyond 30, it impacts the continent or the world. The secret of the Red and White Rose War, with a historical influence of 31%, has a continent-wide impact, providing substantial feedback.]

Under Byron's watchful eye, deep blue ink inscribed an enigmatic line on the log's ancient cover:

"Write directly, never lie!"

The log, though devoid of intelligence and incapable of communication, adhered to its rules with the integrity of an ancient historian. With Byron's spiritual awakening, the log unlocked memories from his past life, converting text into characters he knew best. The log's style adapted to Byron's reading habits.

Captain: Byron Lancaster

Bloodline: Northern Bay Folk (descendants of the ancient North Sea Empire's founders, the "Dragon Blood Bathers," and "King Title: Blue Dragon King" Reinhardt)

Motto: Revenge is a must!

Title: The Last Lancaster

Son of Prince Edmund Lancaster of Sorenburg, formerly seventh in line to the Hastings throne, now a vengeful man with nothing. This title may bring unexpected benefits when dealing with events related to Hastings, the Northern Bay Folk, dragons, and the Lancasters.

(Some are born as oxen and horses, while you were born in Rome. Every step you take is a step away from Rome, but alas... your great Rome has fallen! Title Effect: Enemy of York, permanently hunted until death. The effect intensifies near Hastings' sphere of influence.)

Legend: [12]

(In a world with prophecy techniques, news of your survival has spread in Hastings. Abandon illusions and flee!)

Spirituality: [1]

(Awakened. Autonomously achieving spiritual sublimation at seventeen without "Awakening Potion" or spices is not extraordinary. Compared to those without supernatural hope, you are already far stronger.)

Profession: Unemployed

Rank: None

Crew: None

Innate Abilities:

[Cognitive Correction]Awakened based on the strongest wishes and needs during spiritual sublimation. Allows simulation at the cognitive level, impersonating predators, peers, prey, or even replacing another person perfectly.

[Weather Intuition]Animals often surpass humans in senses, especially in detecting weather changes, and now you share this ability. (Additional ability from the royal family's increasingly diluted Blue Dragon blood after centuries. Don't fantasize about returning to your ancestral bloodline and reaching the pinnacle of life in one step. You don't have that fate.)

Knowledge:

Storm Fencing (Your Royal Knight Order training has laid a solid foundation);

Navigation, Artillery, Musketeering, Naval Combat (A top graduate of the Royal Naval Academy, proficient in all sailor duties but lacking experience);

Law and Natural History (Your birth grants a perspective beyond commoners and access to precious knowledge, minimizing supernatural dangers. Be glad you didn't start in hell like a curly-haired baboon);

Rune Script (Knowledge is the source of the supernatural, and ancient scripts are the key);

Each knowledge corresponds to a supernatural sequence under the "Stairway of Glory." Despite your family's fall, you have more choices than most!

Secret: The Shadow of the Red and White Rose War (You've discovered part of this world's truth, with a historical influence of 31% and a decryption rate of 11%.)

Additional Entry: [Historical Revisionist](Not activated)

Special Note:

In this perilous world, no human can cross the sea on physical strength alone. Acquire a ship or join a crew as soon as possible to begin your [Navigation Log]!