Trapped In Elysium: A Virtual Reality Nightmare-Chapter 55: Von

Above the gentle rocking of the ship and the distant cries of seagulls, a new sound echoed across the deck—a series of slow, deliberate, thunderous thuds. The kind of footsteps that demanded attention... not just because they were loud, but because they carried a weight of something unnatural. Heavy. Intimidating.

The group had just begun to settle in below deck, unpacking their few belongings and checking the cramped layout of their hammocks when the booming sound made them freeze. Jason paused mid-sentence. Liam, who had been adjusting his belt, turned slowly toward the stairway. Marcus, still rubbing the side of his head from his hangover, muttered, "What the hell is that?" before rising unsteadily to his feet.

They all exchanged glances, and without needing to say anything, they rushed up the narrow stairs back to the deck, hearts beating just a little faster.

As soon as they stepped out into the daylight, the sight before them made them stop in their tracks.

"Fuck me..." Marcus breathed, eyes wide.

Standing on the deck like a mountain carved into human form was a colossal man, easily 8 feet 7 inches tall—an absolute wall of flesh and muscle. His shoulders were so broad that his silhouette nearly blocked out the midday sun. He had skin the color of burnished bronze, rough and weathered like he had lived every day of his life under the harsh sun. His thick arms looked like they could snap a full-grown ox in two.

His hair was wild, long, and black, tied into thick braids that fell over his shoulders and chest. Scars lined his exposed arms, and a faint one ran across the bridge of his nose. His beard was coarse and trimmed only enough to keep it out of his mouth. Around his neck hung bones—actual bones—strung together like primitive jewelry, clacking slightly every time he moved.

He wore simple leather armor, but it was clearly custom-made to fit his enormous size. The edges were lined with fur, and his boots looked like they’d been made from the hide of some giant beast. Behind him were two men dressed in the same style, but their average height and slender builds made them look like children compared to the man in front.

"Don’t stare too hard," Jason whispered. "He might think it’s a challenge."

Sophia’s eyes narrowed. "He’s... terrifying."

Eleanor crossed her arms. "Or maybe just ugly."

Just then, the dwarf emerged from behind the mast, casually chomping on a roasted leg of meat and grinning like he’d just found a bag of gold.

"Ah! There ye are!" the dwarf called out, gesturing toward the group. "Thought I’d introduce ya before things got awkward."

He patted the giant man’s thigh—it was as high as the dwarf’s head. "This here is Von, your guide. He doesn’t say much... actually, he doesn’t say anything unless he really needs to. But don’t let that fool ya. He knows the lands better than anyone alive. And if you don’t listen to him, you’ll likely end up dead. Just sayin’."

Von didn’t even glance at them. He gave a low grunt, like a bear too lazy to snarl, and walked past the group without acknowledging them. His footsteps made the wood beneath them creak with every step. He carried a small sack slung over one shoulder, which he pulled open and began chewing on a handful of nuts, settling himself into a wide spot near the railings at the corner of the deck.

The group stared as he sat down, stretching out one massive leg and leaning his head back like he’d done this a thousand times before.

Sophia leaned in toward Liam. "That’s our guide?"

"Apparently," Liam muttered. "And I think he just ate a whole walnut shell and all."

The group was quiet for a moment, unsure how to feel.

"Great," Eleanor said dryly. "We’ve got a guide that looks like he eats people and speaks in grunts. I feel so safe."

The dwarf just chuckled, not at all bothered by their skepticism. "Don’t worry. He’ll grow on ya... like mold on bread."

Liam didn’t smile. His eyes were still fixed on the giant. There was something about Von—something more than just his size. Something old and dangerous.

They would have to trust him. Whether they liked it or not.

The sound of creaking wood and the distant calls of seabirds filled the air as the Sea Phantom gently rocked in the harbor, ready to begin its long journey. The salty wind blew across the deck, rustling cloaks and hair alike as Ander stood near the ship’s wheel, arms folded and a crooked grin on his face.

"So... is everyone ready?" he asked, his voice rising over the hum of the waves.

Liam gave a simple nod, his expression unreadable. Jason casually leaned on the railing, twirling a small dagger between his fingers. Eleanor had her arms crossed, her eyes still watching Von suspiciously from across the deck, while Sophia adjusted her satchel and glanced at the horizon. Marcus was perched near the mast, half-laying, half-sitting, clearly still battling the final echoes of a hangover.

"Then let’s sail!" Ander bellowed, and just like that, his crew jumped into action.

With ropes pulled, sails unfurled, and the anchor drawn from the depths below, the Sea Phantom groaned and creaked as it slowly began to drift away from the docks, pushed by the wind that filled its enormous sails. The ship began to cut through the waves with surprising grace for its size.

Then came the singing.

Ander’s crew—most of them rough-looking men with sunburned faces and calloused hands—began chanting old sea shanties, their voices rough and full of unrefined energy. Their melodies rolled across the water like a second wind, some of them stomping their feet in rhythm, others clapping or slamming fists against barrels. It was a crude symphony, but somehow it filled the ship with life.

"Yo ho, raise the sail,

Leave the land, ride the gale!

Rum and gold and stories bold,

To the edge we go, hearts never cold!"

Liam watched them with a faint smile, his arms folded as he leaned against the railing. Jason was tapping his foot along to the rhythm, clearly amused.

"These guys are seriously into it," Jason said.

"I think it’s just the rum," Liam replied.

Sophia and Eleanor were sitting on a nearby crate, whispering amongst themselves. Eleanor looked unimpressed, but Sophia couldn’t help but crack a smile at the sight of one of the sailors attempting to juggle two apples and a tin mug while singing off-key. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Meanwhile, Marcus was chewing on something with a deep frown, sitting at the base of the main mast, his cheeks puffed and his eyes squinting in discomfort.

"What the hell is this?" he mumbled with his mouth full, lifting a half-eaten chunk of hard brown bread. "This bread is hard as stone."

Eleanor turned sharply and narrowed her eyes at the loaf in his hand.

"You fucker... you stole the bread?" she snapped, marching over and smacking him hard at the back of his head. Marcus winced, nearly dropping the bread as crumbs flew.

"I didn’t steal it! I found it!"

"That’s our supply, idiot! We’re supposed to manage it!" Eleanor barked, snatching the bread from his hand like a lioness defending a kill.

Sophia stood and shook her head, hiding a small laugh behind her palm. "We told you to eat lightly today. And now look. One bite and you’re chewing gravel."

Jason laughed from behind them. "To be fair, I don’t think even fire could soften that thing."

Marcus groaned, rubbing his head where Eleanor had smacked him. "You could’ve just said it nicely, damn..."

"You’re lucky I didn’t throw you overboard," Eleanor muttered, retreating back to her seat with the bread now tucked under her arm like a war prize.

As the Sea Phantom drifted farther out into the open water, the dock behind them slowly disappeared into the misty blue. The crew kept chanting, working, and laughing, while the group—united by blood, fate, and unfortunately a cursed covenant—began the first leg of a journey that none of them truly understood yet.

And from his corner, Von didn’t sing, didn’t smile. He just watched the sea... silently cracking a walnut in his palm like it was nothing.