Chapter 588: The Monster That Devours Everything (3)
It may sound cliché, but the Flesh Chef’s transformation into a dragon was genuinely awe-inspiring.
His eyes had turned a fiery red, blazing with intensity.
Dozens of massive, razor-sharp teeth—reminiscent of a longsword—jutted out from his maw,
while dark, armor-like crimson scales enveloped his body, leaving no gaps.
And that wasn’t all.
His frame had expanded to mountainous proportions, and from his back emerged massive, streamlined wings capable of summoning a typhoon.
This wasn’t a transformation that an ordinary corpse puppet could achieve.
It was proof that Oliver’s modified corpse puppet creation method was successful.
Beyond mere preservation through chemicals, a new approach maintained a fresh, almost lifelike appearance by using a solution infused with blood.
Swoosh!!
With a powerful beat of his wings, the Flesh Chef, now transformed into a dragon, whipped up a gale and ascended into the sky.
The force of his takeoff rocked The Wendy violently, yet neither Captain Hook nor the crew paid it any mind.
Boom!
A wave of orange and red flame swiftly filled their field of vision.
The intense flames unleashed by the Flesh Chef-turned-dragon painted the surroundings in a fierce scarlet hue, carrying searing heat.
"Ahh…!"
The heat was so intense that even Hook and his crew, positioned outside of the attack range, groaned in discomfort.
Their reaction was no mere overreaction; the swarm of creatures that had been advancing upon them from the front was incinerated in an instant, reduced to mere ashes.
Both the flying creatures approaching from above and the marine creatures from below met the same fate.
Some attempted to shield themselves by diving into the water, but the dragon’s flames boiled the sea in an instant, cooking them alive.
All that remained was a sea expelling clouds of steam.
"…"
“Are you alright?”
Oliver addressed Hook, who was momentarily in a daze.
Fortunately, Hook soon snapped out of it, not completely lost in thought.
“Ah… Yes, I’m alright. It’s just… I’ve seen a lot today.”
It was a fitting response.
A sea monster, an enigmatic magician confronting the sea monster, the Flesh Chef who had transformed into a dragon…
It wasn’t an exaggeration to say it was a day when heaven and earth seemed to be in upheaval.
“I’ll explain it to you later.”
“No, that’s fine. Trying to understand everything would just give me a headache… I think I’ll just focus on the task at hand.”
Hook held up the compass he’d received back from Oliver.
Leaving what he couldn’t comprehend unexamined, he chose to focus on what lay directly ahead.
An unwavering resolve.
“I’m counting on you.”
After hearing Hook’s response, Oliver nodded.
Then, the corpse puppet—Bathory—created wings of blood, lifting Oliver onto the dragon-transformed Flesh Chef’s back.
The corpse puppet—Durance—also jumped, transforming his legs and landing in an instant atop the Flesh Chef’s back.
The dragon’s back was broad and spacious, affording them no discomfort.
‘Dozens more could fit here easily.’
“Turn the ship around!”
Hook shouted authoritatively as he gripped the helm, and the crew began rowing in response.
The Wendy nimbly veered around.
Descending next to The Wendy, Oliver turned to Hook and spoke.
“Ah, Captain Hook. About what you just saw—”
“—What did I see today?”
A single nod.
Hook provided the answer Oliver wanted before he even asked.
It was no lie; it was sincere.
With a respectful bow, Oliver flew towards Neverland, while Hook steered the ship into the mist.
Relying on the unprecedented Black Magician who had even taken the Flesh Chef into his service...
...
“Hmm, that’s quite good. Really good.”
At the forest of the hanged, Pan’s hideout with his underlings,
Pan was dining on the food laid out on the table before him.
The meal, entirely prepared by Wendy, was indeed impressive, just as she’d said.
How to describe it? It was more than just tasty; it had a heartwarming flavor.
Almost like a mother’s cooking.
Though Pan himself had never known a mother’s food.
“B-Boss! Boss!!”
While Pan was biting into a drumstick slathered in cream, a frantic voice echoed.
It was Kervy’s voice. The plump boy, wrapped in a bear cloak, entered through the emergency escape route, as he usually did.
His belly caught on the entrance, and he rolled down the steps with a thud.
“B-Boss! There’s big news! Right now—”
“—Hmm?”
Pan frowned, looking displeased.
At that look, Kervy realized his mistake and jumped to his feet, his face turning pale with fear.
He grabbed his club and made a loud circuit around the hideout, only to stand at attention before Pan.
This was the rule of Neverland: never forget a child’s playfulness, no matter the situation.
Whether they wanted to or not.
Because that’s what Pan desired.
“I have a report for the Boss!!”
Kervy deliberately spoke with both energy and clumsiness. It was his role.
Strong but foolish and unwaveringly loyal. That’s how Pan remembered Kervy.
“What is it, Corporal Kervy?”
Pan responded, seemingly satisfied.
Kervy shouted.
“Wicked pirates are approaching this place!”
“Pirates?”
“Yes! But… there’s more…”
“…”
“The pirates have retreated, and instead, a dragon is flying toward us!”
Kervy described the sudden appearance of a dark crimson dragon.
Breathing flames that reduced thousands of creatures to ash in an instant.
Though he couldn’t provide details, given the need to act his part, Pan, who had already grasped the situation through the images sent by Neverland, had no problem understanding.
“Is that so.”
Pan gave a short, vague answer.
It was just that—a statement. No orders or plans.
“Boss! Boss!”
At that moment, Tootles and the other children, who had gone to search for Wendy, arrived.
Like Kervy, they noisily entered through the emergency escape route, circled around in exaggerated fashion, and stood at attention before Pan.
Pan continued eating his ham pie.
“Boss! Wendy’s nowhere to be found!”
Tootles, clad in a skunk cloak, reported first.
Then Slyley in his fox cloak, Nibs in his rabbit cloak, and the twins in their raccoon cloaks echoed that they couldn’t find Wendy either.
Pan’s reaction was indifferent.
“Oh, really?”
“Uh…?”
Seeing Pan’s response, the children exchanged uncertain glances, a hint of worry crossing their faces.
Pan, who tired of things quickly, was usually the first to react to Wendy’s every move.
That’s why, before he even ordered it, they’d set out to search for her.
But now, Pan’s reaction was curiously nonchalant.
It was strange, unsettling. They were worried.
Had Pan done something to the current Wendy?
Their concern was warranted; Kervy, Slyley, Nibs, the twins, and Tootles all genuinely liked this Wendy.
This time, Wendy wasn’t looking after them out of fear but with genuine care, which they could feel.
So, naturally, they were anxious. Could Pan have already…
“Are you worried about Wendy?”
As though reading their thoughts, Pan suddenly asked the question.
It wasn’t his usual cheerful tone, but a low, serious one.
This was a danger signal, but young Tootles, oblivious, was about to answer.
He was about to say he was worried.
Right then, Kervy struck Tootles on the head with all his strength.
Whack!
“Ouch!”
“There was a fly!”
With childlike innocence, Kervy gave a simple excuse—yet one full of meaning.
A blatant lie to save Tootles from giving the wrong answer.
But it didn’t work on Pan. His next question was even more pointed.
“Do you like Wendy, or do you like Neverland?”
A question Pan would never normally ask.
A sense of dread and tension filled the air, even the youngest, Tootles, sensing something was off.
Awkward silence took hold.
Pan finished eating his pie and stood up.
“Why isn’t anyone answering?”
“Boss… why are you asking that…?”
“Just thought you seem to like this Wendy especially.”
“Boss, don’t you like her…?”
“Oh, I do, of course. I knew it was Wendy the first time I saw her. That’s why I decided not to kill her.”
Pan thought back to when he’d first encountered Wendy—Jane, that is.
The sewers of Gallos’ capital, Laville.
Initially, he and Dave had intended to kill her in accordance with their agreement with the Flesh Chef, but Pan had changed his mind the moment he saw her.
She exuded the very atmosphere that reminded him of the Wendy he yearned for.
Was she perfect? No, but the flaws could be fixed gradually.
“So, answer me. Neverland? Or Wendy? Which one do you like better?”
Pan’s followers faced a sudden choice once again, sensing this wasn’t something they could just brush off.
“We… We’re—”
“—Of course it’s Neverland!”
Kervy, in his bear cloak, answered firmly on behalf of everyone.
“Is that so?”
“Of course! With chocolate coins, candy trees, bacon-barked trees… this is an island for children! Made by you, Boss!”
An island for children. Pan smiled at this response.
“That’s right, isn’t it?”
“O-Of course, Boss!”
At Kervy’s response, the other children nodded in agreement.
Satisfied, Pan walked outside.
“Boss… Where are you going?”
“I’m going to deal with the intruder trying to invade this island. You all stay here until I return.”
“Oh… okay.”
“And don’t worry too much.”
“Huh?”
“Wendy’s safe. I gave her a special mission.”
“A special mission?”
“Yes, a special mission. I tasked her with defending this island in true Wendy fashion. I told her to give a nasty surprise to anyone who dares threaten this place.”
...
‘Hmm… This is quite ironic.’
Rumble.
Landing on Neverland atop the dragon-transformed Flesh Chef, Oliver muttered to himself.
‘So, this is the island of children.’
The moment he dismounted, the Flesh Chef reverted to human form, and Bathory handed him his clothes.
As the Corpse Puppet-Flesh Chef dressed, Oliver continued to survey the surroundings.
He was amazed.
Though he had heard of how the island had been reshaped using children as its resources, seeing it firsthand exceeded his imagination.
The description of this place as an island for children felt hollow in the face of the sheer number of children used as raw materials here.
It was, perhaps, to be expected.
With magical creatures, playmates for mock wars with the Red-Skinned Warlock, chocolate coins and candy trees, bacon-barked trees scattered across the island—
creating a world that fulfilled children’s dreams must have required a substantial number of children.
Thus, calling this place an island for children felt misleading.
An island that consumed children might be more accurate.
‘Or perhaps it’s natural in a twisted way?’
Oliver shifted his thoughts.
Though Neverland was confined to this island, Pan’s influence extended across the surrounding sea and islands.
The Sea of Oblivion.
This implied that Neverland’s influence reached its surroundings as well, naturally necessitating a significant amount of resources.
Furthermore, most of the countless creatures under Pan’s control were crafted from human material.
In hindsight, it was predictable that Neverland would be on this scale.
‘And to think that such a figure kidnapped Miss Jane.’
The reality of just how dangerous a person had taken Jane hit Oliver anew.
‘Fortunately, she appears safe.’
Concentrating with the necromancer’s sight, Oliver surveyed Neverland, an amalgamation of countless human emotions, life forces, and even souls.
Though the intense energy of Neverland interfered with his necromancer’s sight, Oliver pressed on, intensifying his focus until he detected Jane’s emotions.
It was as if he were staring at the sun through a telescope—a dangerous act—but he succeeded.
‘Her life force seems slightly weakened, but her emotions… are stable. Is she asleep?’
Analyzing Jane’s emotions closely, Oliver concluded.
Judging by her still emotional state, she seemed to be sleeping. Though her life force was somewhat diminished, it appeared to be merely fatigue.
Oliver had heard that she was being kept as “Wendy” and wouldn’t be harmed, but he had some concerns; thankfully, all seemed well.
Detecting Jane’s emotions, Oliver led First, Second, and Force forward.
There was no issue with movement.
As Pan’s island, it was riddled with creatures and traps, but the Flesh Chef, Bathory, and Durance supported him, allowing Oliver to progress without delay.
The three, well-versed in both magic and necromancy, detected and disarmed traps and defeated advancing creatures before Oliver even needed to direct them.
Giant teddy bears, cymbal-clashing monkeys, boogiemen with hook arms, toy soldiers, nutcracker dolls, clowns, and so forth—creatures that had given him trouble back in the New World fell effortlessly.
Among them, the Flesh Chef performed most impressively; each swing of his blade sent creatures crumbling to pieces.
After advancing through the forest, Oliver finally reached a lake.
In the center of the lake lay a rock, and on that rock slept Wendy.
“Stand guard.”
Oliver instructed his companions as he gathered magic beneath his feet, walking across the water toward Jane.
It was curious why Jane was sleeping on a rock in the middle of a lake, but Oliver didn’t dwell on it as he moved to wake her.
He had waited long enough.
“Miss Jane—”
Stab.
As Oliver knelt and reached out to wake her, Jane, who had been lying still, abruptly opened her eyes and thrust a hidden dagger into Oliver’s side.
“…”
“…”
It was a sudden, calculated attack.
Without a word, Jane pressed the dagger deeper as she stood.
Oliver, too, remained silent, staring at her. Something was off.
As though mocking his confusion, Jane’s lips curled upward.
“Ah…”
Staring intently at Jane, Oliver suddenly realized something.
Jane had no shadow.
Dropping the quarterstaff in his left hand, he seized her dagger-wielding hand.
Firmly.
He applied just enough pressure that she could neither drive the dagger in further nor withdraw it, ensuring she wouldn’t injure her hand.
Jane struggled, and Oliver took advantage of the moment, raising his right arm.
The right arm, burnt from an encounter with the Burnt One.
Moving it caused searing pain, but Oliver ignored it, reaching his right hand toward Jane’s face.
Recognizing it as an attack, Jane recoiled in alarm, but held by his grip, she couldn’t escape.
Rip!
Oliver grabbed Jane’s face—no, he tore away the shadow that covered her.
The image of Jane’s face, so lifelike, tore apart, revealing her true face beneath.
Jane was crying, and seeing this, Oliver asked in his usual calm tone:
“Are you alright?”