Arcane: Begging for Help in a Parallel Universe!

[Check Out My P4treon For +50 Extra Chapters On All My Fanfics!! And get chapters before publishing them here for free on my p4treon][https://p4treon.com/roooaaa]

===

In the darkness, Twisted Fate's small boat bobbed on the waves, rising and falling with the rhythm of the sea.

A massive deep-sea creature emerged from the water, its enormous head breaking the surface. Its eyes, filled with malice, reflected the figures on the boat.

The Jaull-fish opened its gaping maw, lined with razor-sharp teeth. From his position on the deck, Link could vaguely make out what looked like a window and a door inside its mouth—as if a captain's cabin had been crammed into the belly of the beast.

From the blood-drenched maw of the Jaull-fish, a figure emerged. His lifeless eyes gleamed with a murderous light as he waded through the jagged teeth and stepped onto the deck.

"The captain told me to kill the fish. The fish told me to kill the captain. Fair's fair.

Now, it's time to settle the debt."

The hoarse, deep voice echoed across the fishing boat, sending a wave of inexplicable fear through everyone on board.

Link stared at the figure emerging from the Jaull-fish's mouth, his expression darkening.

"Damn it, why him?"

As the figure stepped onto the deck, everyone got a clear look at him.

Tall but hunched, he had a pale, bald head and a blood-red triangular mask covering most of his face, leaving only his dead, fish-like eyes exposed. Those eyes were now filled with a murderous impulse.

His clothes, draped with rotting seaweed, dripped with seawater as he took a hunched step forward.

The moment Link saw him, he knew exactly who this was. In fact, he had known as soon as the man spoke.

Yes, the newcomer was none other than the Bloodharbor Ripper—Pyke.

"The Bloodharbor Ripper from the bounty list? Isn't he just a scary story to frighten kids?" Graves screamed, drawing Pyke's gaze. Link wanted to punch Graves right then and there.

Before Pyke killed anyone, he always asked for their name. It was part of his ritual, no different from the steps he used to take when butchering giant sea creatures.

Once he had a name, there was only one outcome for his target: death.

Whoever spoke first would become Pyke's first target.

Graves had just signed his own death warrant.

"Boss, we're in deep trouble now!" Graves tightened his grip on his Hextech gun, aiming it at Pyke. Pyke, now standing hunched on the deck, slowly pulled out a waterlogged piece of parchment.

As he unfolded it, the names on the list became visible, each one crossed out in bright red ink. The sight was chilling.

With the list in hand, Pyke ran a finger down the names, his cold eyes scanning the people on the deck.

Graves broke out in goosebumps, and Twisted Fate's face turned pale. Already cornered by Link, now they had Pyke to deal with.

Why had Lady Luck stopped smiling on him?

The only one who seemed relatively calm was Fizz, who stood holding his trident. As one of Bilgewater's terrifying legends, Fizz wasn't afraid of Pyke. In fact, he seemed eager to befriend him.

That's just how carefree the little guy was.

Nekko peeked out from the cabin, but Link stood up and blocked her view.

The situation had spiraled far beyond what Link had anticipated. He had just wanted to intercept Twisted Fate, deal with him, and take him back.

But now, Pyke had appeared, and things had become much more complicated.

Pyke flipped the parchment over, revealing a blank side with more names listed.

"Who is... the captain?"

The moment Pyke's eerie, raspy voice rang out, Graves stepped forward, his finger tightening on the trigger as he roared, "Pyke, get out of here!"

"This isn't the Dreadway! There's no record of the Dreadway docking in Bilgewater. You've got the wrong ship!"

Graves was ready to fire at any moment, but Pyke's hesitant gaze suddenly locked onto him. "You know me?"

"Heh heh heh... I remember you now."

Pyke's raspy laughter echoed across the deck as he looked down at the list. "People forget the hidden past, but the sea never does."

The names on the meter-long parchment were clearly visible to anyone with good eyesight. Link's eyes glowed faintly blue, allowing him to easily spot Graves' name on the list.

"I've found your name, Malcolm Graves," Pyke said, his finger resting on the last name. "Look, you're right here."

"You can't escape."

Pyke tucked the parchment away and slowly began to pace the deck, his eyes filled with memories and hatred.

"I remember now. You're the one who cut my lifeline and watched as the Jaull-fish swallowed me whole.

Back then, there was so much time, so many people, and yet you did nothing. You just stood there and watched me die!"

Pyke's murderous intent locked onto Graves as he stepped closer, the veins on his right hand bulging as he gripped his fishbone dagger.

Pyke slowly raised his arm, aiming the jagged blade at Graves. Drops of water dripped from the dagger's serrated edge.

"Damn you, you bastard! Don't think I'm an easy target!" Graves pulled a smoke bomb from his side and slammed it onto the deck.

The smoke bomb exploded, filling the air with thick clouds of dust. Graves shouted, "Pyke, eat this!"

Boom!!

Graves pulled the trigger, and the Hextech gun roared to life. A beam of energy shot through the smoke, leaving a gaping hole in Pyke's body.

But Pyke seemed unaffected. He continued to stride forward.

Whoosh!

Pyke's right hand moved, and the fishbone dagger, attached to a chain, flew through the air. Link kicked Graves, sending him tumbling into the cabin.

The dagger missed Graves by inches, embedding itself in the deck before the chain retracted, pulling it back into Pyke's hand.

"Sailor, are you going to stop me?"

Pyke looked at Link, his voice low and questioning. Link remained silent. Pyke was now killing indiscriminately. While he had initially appeared for revenge, the crew of the Dreadway was already dead.

Yet Pyke hadn't stopped. He was lost in his bloodlust, consumed by the dark abyss.

Anyone connected to the bloody business of the Slaughter Docks was his target.

Even those who had only indirectly benefited from it, who had used or taken coins from the Slaughter Docks, would end up on Pyke's list.

What's more, Pyke could shift between a physical form and a mist-like state. The hole Graves' shot had left in his body had already healed.

Pyke could dissolve into salt and water, transforming from a person into a cloud of mist.

This was the origin of his W ability in the game.

But in reality, its effects were far more terrifying.

Of Bilgewater's four terrifying legends, Pyke was the most troublesome. Nautilus wouldn't bother you if you paid your tithe. Fizz would leave once he got bored of his pranks.

Tahm Kench preferred those who had lost themselves to greed, and while he would choose his targets, he didn't kill indiscriminately.

But Pyke was different. He would kill anyone connected to the Slaughter Docks' bloody business.

Remember, anyone.

If you had so much as touched a single coin from the Slaughter Docks, your name would appear on Pyke's list.

And with his ability to shift between physical and mist forms, conventional attacks were useless.

But that didn't mean he had no weaknesses. Link already knew how to deal with him.

Twisted Fate adjusted his hat and looked at Link. "My future boss, do you have a plan to handle this guy?"

"You haven't officially joined yet. No need to call me boss."

"But I'm starting to think working for you might not be so bad."

Twisted Fate forced a smile, though his face was pale. He seemed to know why Pyke had appeared.

Link glanced at him, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "Hey, don't tell me Graves' name ended up on that list because of you?"

"Hahaha..." Twisted Fate laughed nervously, avoiding eye contact. "No way!"

"So it was you." Link sighed. These two, always at each other's throats, had taken their rivalry to a whole new level.

"Let's keep this between us, okay?" Twisted Fate made a zipping motion over his lips. "In return, I'll work for you for a while."

"Not for a while. Permanently."

In the blink of an eye, Link had figured out how to deal with Pyke.

Pyke was here for Graves.

And if the debt wasn't settled, Pyke wouldn't leave.

He only recognized people.

Only dead people.

Once you were on his list, you were as good as dead.

So, give him a dead man.

Pyke, frustrated by his missed strike, gripped his fishbone dagger tightly. "This isn't over."

"Debts must be paid."

"Graves, into the sea."

"The boat, leave."

"Or..." Pyke's eyes swept over Link, Twisted Fate, and the cabin. "You all die together!"

"Is there no room for negotiation?" Twisted Fate, even in this desperate situation, maintained his composure. "How about you pick a better day to come back?"

"Today's business ends today."

"Graves, into the sea. I've prepared a place for you at the bottom."

Pyke suddenly slid forward, leaving behind ghostly afterimages as he moved. His previous position was now occupied by a spectral shadow.

His E ability, Phantom Undertow.

As Pyke charged toward the cabin, a figure stepped in his way. Link, holding a Hextech revolver in one hand and a Hextech blade in the other, aimed both at Pyke.

"Sorry, this path is closed."

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.