Arcane: Begging for Help in a Parallel Universe!

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Bilgewater, Outer Seas.

Under the cover of night, the world blurred into obscurity. The waves rose and fell, carrying a small boat away from Bilgewater.

"Goodbye, Bilgewater. I'll miss you," a man in a long coat murmured, tipping his hat to the city fading into the darkness.

"Now, where to next?"

Twisted Fate, having retreated into the cabin, set his hat aside and unfolded a sea chart, pondering his next destination.

"Ionia? Nah, not enough action or good gambling."

"Noxus? Too many old enemies there."

"Piltover?"

Twisted Fate stroked his beard, recalling the gullible bank guards he and Graves had once duped into helping them haul gold from a vault.

"Those folks are rich and hilariously naive. Maybe it's time for another visit."

Having made his decision, Twisted Fate carefully stored the wax-coated chart, donned his hat, and took the helm. As he left the cabin, a hidden hatch in the floor creaked open, and one by one, figures emerged from below.

"Finally found you, you old bastard!"

Graves, wielding his Hextech shotgun, crept toward Twisted Fate at the helm. Link, watching from the shadows, considered intervening but decided against it.

Twisted Fate, like Link, was a mage. He could sense the presence of magical energy, which left a sour taste in his mouth. Graves' weapon, powered by a shard of Hextech crystal, emitted enough magical resonance to alert Twisted Fate.

But this was between the two of them. Let them sort it out.

Graves moved quietly, but when he was three steps away, Twisted Fate's mouth soured, and he spun around, a red card already in hand. The card glowed with volatile magic, illuminating the deck.

Twisted Fate found himself staring down the barrel of Graves' gun.

"Didn't expect to see you like this, old friend," Twisted Fate said, his voice calm.

"Cut the crap!" Graves growled, keeping the gun trained on him. "Did you think about this day when you left me behind?"

"I had no choice, partner!"

Twisted Fate lowered his card, confident Graves wouldn't shoot. He knew how to handle his old friend.

"We've been through so much together. You know I'd never abandon you unless I had to. I had to retreat to figure out a way to break you out of that prison."

"Every day since, I've been haunted by guilt. My conscience told me I should've stayed with you, but my mind knew I had to leave to save you."

Twisted Fate gently pushed the gun barrel aside.

"Really?" Graves frowned, his resolve wavering. "You were planning to rescue me?"

"Of course! We're unstoppable together. Remember that time we tricked that Noxian noble? The look on his face?"

As Twisted Fate spoke, Graves' anger began to dissipate.

"This idiot," Link muttered, facepalming from the shadows. Graves had escaped prison to seek revenge, yet here he was, letting Twisted Fate talk his way out of it.

"I was heading to Piltover to get you, so we could hit a few big scores together."

"But I heard you've been winning big and were planning to skip town," Graves countered, raising the gun again.

"I needed funds to break you out and grease a few palms," Twisted Fate explained, spreading his hands. "You know how much you mean to me, partner."

"Really?"

Graves' resolve was crumbling. Link stepped out of the shadows, clearing his throat.

"Boss!" Graves greeted him, trying to appear in control. "I've almost got him."

Link rolled his eyes. Almost got him? More like almost got played.

"And who's this?" Twisted Fate asked, his smile unwavering but his senses on high alert. The sour taste in his mouth told him Link was also a mage.

"Graves' current employer and the one who funded his revenge," Link said, sitting on the railing.

Twisted Fate's confidence wavered. He knew Graves inside and out, but this young man in the strange lab coat was an enigma.

"I never thought Graves would work for someone else. Your offer must be quite generous."

Twisted Fate adjusted his hat, a card hidden in his sleeve, ready for a quick escape.

"The pay is good—5,000 gold a month, weekends off, paid vacation, benefits, and a year-end bonus," Link said with a sly smile. "Interested?"

"I'll pass. Graves knows I don't stay in one place for long."

Twisted Fate took a step back, scanning his surroundings for an exit.

"Don't bother running. I've got someone waiting to intercept you."

Twisted Fate glanced over his shoulder and froze. A pair of large eyes stared at him from the water, and the unmistakable fins of sharks circled the boat.

"The Tidecaller," Link said casually. "I'm sure you've heard of him."

Twisted Fate's expression darkened. He could handle most threats in Bilgewater, but the Tidecaller was another story.

"I've got you cornered," Link said, crossing his legs. "Graves needs a partner, and you're it."

"So I'm the one filling in the gaps?"

"Exactly," Link nodded. "Work with him, and we all benefit."

"Seems I don't have much choice," Twisted Fate said, his hand brushing against the card in his sleeve.

"Go ahead, try to escape," Link challenged. "See if you can outrun the Tidecaller."

Twisted Fate weighed his options. His teleportation magic was powerful, but Fizz's aquatic agility was unmatched.

"Fine," Twisted Fate raised his hands, his smile returning. "Looks like I'm stuck here tonight."

Suddenly, both Link and Twisted Fate tasted sourness in their mouths. They exchanged wary glances.

"You're using magic?" Twisted Fate asked, stepping back.

"Not me," Link said, frowning. "Something's wrong."

Fizz leapt onto the deck, chattering rapidly. Neeko poked her head out of the cabin. "Fizz says someone's riding a big fish!"

"Riding a fish?"

Link turned to the water, where the shadow of a massive sea creature loomed. A monstrous sawtooth shark emerged, its jagged teeth glinting in the moonlight.

From its mouth, a figure rose, his voice cold and menacing.

"The captain sent me to kill the fish. The fish sent me to kill the captain. Fair's fair. Now, it's time to settle the score."

Note: So far this story is published up to chapter 156 on my patreon, go check it out and remember that if we reach the goal of 120 power stones I will publish the next chapter.