DOTM: Chapter 140/141

Chapter 140

Ethan paced back and forth inside the cave, determined a position, and looked up at the rocky ceiling above.

"What did you find?"

Jack and Elizabeth had been quietly watching without disturbing him. When they saw him stop, they approached, only to find Ethan standing still, running his fingers through his hair. But before they could ask further, he suddenly spread his arms wide.

A beam of light shot down from the seemingly unremarkable cave ceiling, enveloping Ethan.

"Come on in."

Just as he was marveling at the phenomenon before him, Ethan's timely reminder snapped them out of their daze. The two hurriedly ran into the range of the light.

As soon as they stepped inside, a wave of dizziness hit them. Then, they felt a sudden wetness around their calves. When Jack finally regained his senses and took in his surroundings, he realized they had left the cave and arrived in a place unlike any they had seen before.

"It's beautiful..."

Elizabeth's admiration made Ethan roll his eyes. He honestly didn't see anything particularly beautiful in these barren mountains. Even though nature had created countless wonders, let alone something as miraculous as the Fountain of Youth, he wouldn't have described this place as beautiful.

"Don't move yet."

Ethan stretched out a hand to stop them before they could go forward. He retrieved the Book of Inheritance, then released it, allowing it to float in midair.

"What is he doing now?"

By this point, Jack and Elizabeth were no longer surprised to see Ethan pull out a massive book out of nowhere. But they were still curious about what he was up to. They watched in stunned silence as the book opened in midair, emitting beams of light that scanned every inch of their surroundings.

"I'm recording the environment here."

Ethan had long suspected that the Fountain of Youth was a natural magic circle formed by the environment itself. To confirm this, he needed to analyze every detail of the area. If he could break down the mechanics behind this so-called "magic," he might even be able to replicate it.

This scanning function had always been available to him, but he had primarily used the Book of Inheritance for copying texts rather than analyzing environments. It wasn't until he got inspired by Tony's holographic workbench that he realized his book could do something similar. In a way, constructing magic circles with the book was not so different from this process.

The fully activated Book of Inheritance worked swiftly. With just a few sweeps of white light, all the environmental data was recorded.

Now, whenever necessary, Ethan could analyze this place in detail, ensuring that nothing was overlooked.

"All done."

After retrieving the Book of Inheritance, Ethan briefly checked the recorded information. Satisfied, he put the book away and signaled to Jack and Elizabeth that they were free to move around.

However, the two were still fixated on Ethan's now-empty hands, only snapping out of it when he reminded them of something even more extraordinary ahead—something that awaited their discovery.

"So this is the Fountain of Youth?"

Jack circled a peculiar ring-shaped stone structure several times, scrutinizing the clear water flowing over it, but he didn't see anything particularly special about it.

Elizabeth, too, felt a tinge of disappointment. Given Ethan's attitude, she had expected something more magical. But at first glance, it just looked like any ordinary spring.

"It is just ordinary spring water."

While recording details with the Book of Inheritance, Ethan hadn't been idle. He had also been closely observing the area, sensing various fluctuations in the surroundings. At this point, he had already reached a conclusion.

As he had suspected, this location had a unique natural environment that generated a special magical effect, one that infused the stone platform with an abundance of pure vitality.

By coincidence, a clear spring happened to flow across this very stone platform, precisely through the area with the highest concentration of vitality. At the exact moment when the water dripped from the platform's edge, the vitality within it would peak.

However, as the droplets fell into the pool below, the vitality within them would gradually dissipate. The magic of this place would then absorb that lost vitality, redirecting it back into the stone platform. The cycle would repeat as the water continued to flow.

In other words, the only true Fountain of Youth water was found in those small droplets still in midair, just before they touched the ground.

"The life force in the spring is constant."

This spring contains abundant vitality. As long as one drinks its water, they can replenish their life force, extending their lifespan and restoring their body to peak condition. For the elderly, this essentially means regaining their youth.

However, the magic of this place lies in the fact that the life force it contains remains constant—it neither increases nor decreases. If someone attempts to take some of it, the spring will automatically draw life force from its surroundings to replenish the missing portion.

This replenishment process is rather violent, as it randomly selects targets within a certain range. For example, if Jack were to drink a large cup of water from the Fountain of Youth, he would absorb a portion of its vitality. Immediately, the mysterious force would activate, extracting an equivalent amount of life force from nearby sources to compensate for the loss.

Ethan and Elizabeth, who are currently within range, could become unwilling targets of this extraction. Even Jack himself might not be spared, potentially losing his life in a battle of vitality recovery.

Perhaps it was due to this uncontrollable danger that someone later created the Holy Grail, allowing the magic circle to draw vitality from a specific target instead of extracting it indiscriminately.

Of course, this was just Ethan's theory, based on his analysis of the environment and his knowledge of the original events. There could be some discrepancies with reality, but as long as such a risk existed, he needed to find a way to counter it and prevent any unfortunate outcomes.

Originally, he had planned to fully analyze this place first. But now, his priority had shifted—figuring out how to extract the Fountain of Youth's water while avoiding the backlash of its mysterious power.

"I need some time."

Seeing Jack about to reach for the spring water, Ethan stopped him.

"Don't touch it yet. This isn't something that's completely safe for you."

Elizabeth, who had just extended her hand, immediately froze. She quickly withdrew it and asked the same question Jack had in mind.

"Now that we've found the Fountain of Youth, what do we do next?"

"Next..." Ethan rubbed his chin, considering his approach. "I'll need to stay here for a while to uncover this place's secrets."

"And then?"

"Then?"

Ethan mentally calculated his remaining time. He should still have plenty left, but who knew how long this would delay him? Perhaps just enough to fully analyze the Fountain of Youth, or maybe only enough to solve the problem of how to take its water with him.

"Then, I might have to return to where I came from."

Both Jack and Elizabeth instinctively felt that Ethan's destination wasn't somewhere they could easily follow. Out of nowhere, Jack even asked, "Heaven?"

"..."

Ethan was tempted to say you're the one going to heaven, but in a sense, for someone like Jack, a man who thrived on adventure, a world of endless seas and boundless journeys might just be a kind of paradise.

Brushing off their questions, Ethan refocused on studying the Fountain of Youth.

Of course, he wasn't the type to completely lose himself in research and neglect everything else. Each day, he found time for other things—chatting idly with Jack, checking in with Gibbs, and even teaching Elizabeth some basic swordsmanship.

Elizabeth's talent was indeed impressive, far superior to what Ethan had started with. Not only was she well-versed in sailing, but she also picked up swordsmanship at an astonishing speed. Her only real limitation was her physical strength. As a noblewoman, her agility was decent, but her stamina and raw power were lacking. Even after a period of training, she had only barely managed to shed her reputation as a decorative fighter.

However, with Jack Sparrow—a restless troublemaker—as her sparring partner, Elizabeth quickly learned how to use terrain and environment to her advantage. She was no longer limited to direct sword fights and had developed a flexible combat style. Against ordinary opponents, she would be more than a match.

Though these days were monotonous and repetitive, Elizabeth's energetic nature and Jack's inability to sit still made them bearable. Still, as they watched Ethan's expression grow more serious, they realized he was approaching a breakthrough in his research on the Fountain of Youth.

From then on, to avoid disturbing him, both refrained from asking Ethan to send them away and instead quietly observed his work.

Then, on this particular day, they watched as Ethan carefully drew the twentieth strange symbol onto the stone platform. His expression had been growing more solemn by the day, but now, for the first time in a long while, a smile appeared on his face.

At that moment, the air seemed fresher, the atmosphere no longer as oppressive, and even their breathing felt smoother.

"Did you finish it?"

Jack's face was full of anticipation, eager for the answer he wanted most.

"I've only completed the first step."

Hearing this, Jack thought they'd have to remain in this desolate place even longer. Fortunately, Ethan soon gave him hope.

"We don't have to stay here anymore. Once I finish sealing these springs of vitality, we can leave."

As for the Fountain of Youth itself? Ethan had no intention of destroying it. According to his calculations and preparations, his actions wouldn't cause its collapse. Instead, it would enter a period of slow recovery. Once the magic circle he arranged completely faded, the Fountain of Youth would naturally regain enough vitality to return to its original state.

All he was doing was taking away all the Spring Water of Life at once, rendering the Fountain of Youth temporarily ineffective.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 141

The number of springs that truly contain vitality is limited, and all of them combined can fit into a special container holding about two liters of liquid.

Even though the quantity is small, a single sip is enough to grant a lifespan increase equivalent to an entire human lifetime. If someone drinks directly from the stone platform, some of the energy will dissipate, causing this value to fluctuate, typically between fifty and seventy years.

However, the Fountain of Youth that Ethan has processed no longer has this issue. Now, with the refined spring water in his possession, a single sip, roughly the amount that fits in a bottle cap will consistently grant fifty years of vitality.

It's important to note that the Fountain of Youth restores vitality, not lifespan. There is a significant difference between the two.

After packing everything up, Ethan turned back for one last look at this place. He wasn't sure if he would ever return to the Caribbean world, but even if he did, he likely wouldn't revisit this exact location.

And because of his intervention, the Fountain of Youth would remain just an ordinary spring for quite some time, no longer drawing much attention. In a way, this also meant it would avoid being destroyed by the religious zealots from Spain.

"I wonder if that's a good thing?"

Taking Jack and Elizabeth with him, Ethan used the space energy within the pool to return to the dark and damp cave. Initially, he had considered extracting this space-time energy, but he soon realized that it was an integral part of the natural magic circle that governed this place. It couldn't be removed independently.

However, Ethan had already recorded all the details of this location in the Book of Inheritance. He could study the principles behind this simple teleportation magic at his own pace and eventually transform it into a separate spell that suited his needs. There was no point in wasting time trying to forcibly extract such a small amount of energy.

With that, nearly all of his objectives for visiting the Fountain of Youth had been accomplished. The remaining tasks could be completed anywhere, making it pointless to linger here any longer. His time in the Caribbean world was too valuable to waste.

As they emerged from the cave and made their way toward the seaside, Elizabeth curiously asked about their next destination.

"Next?"

Ethan calculated the time. Finding Blackbeard was no longer feasible, the remaining time wouldn't be enough to track down a pirate who wandered unpredictably across the vast sea.

But he couldn't let the remaining time go to waste, either. He couldn't just return to Port Royal and spend his days drinking tea and chatting with the Governor.

Leaving the Caribbean world immediately was also an option. It would save space-time energy, which he could then reserve for research, practice, or as an emergency backup.

But then, he suddenly remembered, there was still a treasure worth uncovering in the Caribbean Sea.

"Jack."

"What?"

"Do you know where Calypso is?"

Jack, who had been strolling ahead, suddenly froze. The smile vanished from his face, and he turned to Ethan with an unusually serious expression.

"Why are you looking for her?"

Then, as if recalling something, his face shifted into an expression of shock and suspicion.

"You're not really... that, are you?"

Judging from his expression, Ethan immediately knew Jack had misunderstood. He probably thought Ethan was some kind of angel on a mission to eliminate heretical gods, that everything he had done before was merely a cover for his true intentions.

"No, I just want to talk to her."

Ethan was deeply curious about Calypso's nature. According to the film's lore, Calypso was the Goddess of the Sea, possessing immense control over the ocean.

She could summon storms, lightning, and whirlpools at will, command sea creatures, and even govern the dead. Even while sealed, she was capable of resurrecting Barbossa, who had already died.

So what exactly was she?

Based on Ethan's knowledge, she seemed more akin to a nature deity, representing the ocean itself. But some descriptions made it sound as if she was a belief-based god, one whose existence was shaped by sailors' faith and fear of the sea.

No matter which was true, her abilities were undeniable. Ethan wanted to see her for himself and perhaps even steal something from her.

"So you're looking for Calypso just to... discuss magic?"

Jack still wasn't entirely convinced by Ethan's explanation. But in the end, it had little to do with him. Even if Ethan had other motives, it wasn't Jack's concern.

Besides, Ethan had offered a reward Jack couldn't refuse.

A small sip of the Fountain of Youth's water, brimming with vitality.

Just that tiny sip would grant Jack at least fifty years of vitality, allowing him to enjoy his adventures at sea for decades longer than the average person. And for a long time, he wouldn't have to worry about his physical strength deteriorating.

"A very tempting offer."

"So, what's your answer?"

What other answer could there be? Without hesitation, Jack downed the offered sip of the Fountain of Youth's water. At the same time, he carefully stowed away a small vial of the same water—this one for Gibbs.

Ethan had never been stingy with those who helped him. Though the Fountain of Youth was incredibly valuable, once he fully unraveled its secrets, it would become something he could mass-produce.

In fact, he already had a few leads. If he adjusted some of the ideas he had from that place, he could replicate a certain magic from his memory—Life Absorption. Or perhaps it could be called Life Siphon?

There were many versions of spells under that name, but they all served the same purpose, extracting life force from a living being to replenish one's own.

This spell wasn't recorded in Merlin's Book of Inheritance, but there was plenty of related information. In general, most variations of Life Absorption came with severe drawbacks or hidden dangers, making it an uncommon spell. Only a few truly mad magicians relied solely on this type of magic to prolong their lives.

Ethan had no intention of using such a crude method to obtain eternal life. This magic was, at best, an emergency measure. Instead of studying such an unstable spell, he would rather analyze the structure of the Fountain of Youth and understand how it naturally gathered vital energy from the world around it.

Watching Jack drink the water, Ethan also handed Elizabeth a sip. The young woman didn't yet grasp the true value of this water, but one day, she would understand what decades of vitality truly meant.

Right now, however, she was more intrigued by the other gift Ethan had given her.

A Colt Rattlesnake Revolver, complete with maintenance tools and a batch of bullets, a rare firearm from Ethan's collection.

In addition, both she and Jack received an amulet.

"What's this for?"

Jack examined the plain-looking charm in his hand. It was so unremarkable that, if worn around the neck, it could easily be mistaken for a random trinket picked up off the street.

"It could save your life."

Ethan pulled a Beretta from his ring, and without giving Jack any time to react, raised it and fired.

The deafening gunshot made both Jack and Elizabeth flinch. Jack, startled by Ethan's sudden action, was even more shocked to see a translucent blue barrier form in front of him. The bullet was completely stopped by the barrier and, after losing its momentum, fell harmlessly to the ground.

"Any attack of this nature will trigger the amulet's protective shield."

Nothing was more convincing than a direct demonstration. Jack immediately understood the true value of the amulet and carefully put it away.

He suspected that Ethan had done something to the amulet, perhaps using it as a tracking device to locate him. But that didn't change the fact that it was a life-saving tool. Besides, they had already agreed, Ethan would help him reclaim the Black Pearl, and in exchange, Jack would assist in finding the Fountain of Youth and Blackbeard.

Now that the Fountain of Youth had been found, only Blackbeard remained. It was only logical for Ethan to ensure he could track Jack down when the time came.

As for seeking out Calypso? That was a separate matter, the price for that was what Jack had just drunk. It didn't conflict with their prior agreement.

There was also another major reason Jack didn't object to carrying the amulet, his greatest fear: Davy Jones.

From everything he had seen and heard during his time with Ethan, Jack was certain that if Ethan wanted to, Davy Jones would no longer be a problem.

"Anyway, we're off to see Calypso. After that, I'm heading back."

Continuing onward, the three quickly returned to where the Black Pearl was docked. Gibbs, along with the fully armed crew, stood on alert, nervously watching their surroundings. Upon boarding, Ethan learned that Gibbs and the others had been startled by the gunshot he had fired earlier.

After a brief explanation to reassure them, Jack pulled Gibbs aside and handed him the small vial of water in secret, a gift for his most trusted first mate.

Watching Gibbs drink the water, Ethan noted that most of the key players in this adventure had now received their share of benefits. Gibbs himself was so overjoyed that he even asked Ethan what magical artifact they'd be searching for next, he was more than willing to serve Ethan if it meant another such reward.

"We're going back to the Caribbean, Mr. Gibbs."

This was Ethan's final journey before leaving. He wasn't planning to return to Port Royal, his next stop was Calypso, and from there, he would return to his own world.

"I hope you'll take Elizabeth back to Port Royal, Jack."

"Leave it to me." Jack didn't hesitate.

Elizabeth, for her part, didn't ask to continue following Ethan on his adventures. She had been away for a long time, her thirst for adventure was satisfied. Now, she just wanted to go home. She was beginning to miss the stability and comfort of her former life.

In short, she'd had enough.

And so, when Ethan left for Calypso, Elizabeth happily followed Jack back home.

(To be continued.)