Chapter 38: The Island Awakens

The final island loomed ahead, a dark silhouette against the stormy sky. Our boat, battered and barely holding together, surged forward with the last of its strength. The mercenaries had peeled off, their mission complete, leaving us to face the final challenge alone.

"We're almost there," Drake said, his voice tense. "Hold on tight!"

A sudden, violent wave lifted the boat and slammed it down against the rocks. The impact was jarring, and the sound of metal grinding against stone filled the air.

"We’re going down!" Lena shouted as the boat listed to one side, taking on water rapidly.

"Abandon ship!" I ordered. "Get to the shore!"

We scrambled for the life rafts, grabbing what gear we could. The boat was sinking fast, and we had no time to waste. One by one, we leaped into the frigid waters, swimming desperately toward the beach.

As we crawled onto the sand, gasping for breath, we took in our surroundings. The island was unlike any we had seen before. The trees were twisted and gnarled