Scarlet Minor and the Isles of Black Gold

Scarlet Minor’s pursuit of the legendary Isles of Black Gold begins as a treasure hunt but quickly becomes a fight for survival, identity, and the fate of an entire people. Marked with a mysterious tattoo he once thought was a family emblem, Scarlet learns it is in fact a living map, prophecy, and curse intertwined—leading to a hidden archipelago shrouded by the lethal Black Mist. The only way to pass through is to face one’s deepest fears. Racing against the ruthless pirate lord Ambioca, Scarlet gathers his loyal companions Skimpy, Strongy, and the skilled Araya, whose own mission and bond to Scarlet deepen as they decode the tattoo’s hidden meanings. Their path is marked by violent storms, sabotage from within the crew, and encounters with the Monden tribe, whose oracle Nyota warns Scarlet that his mark makes him both guide and harbinger of ruin. The Isles’ gold, she
reveals, is not mere wealth—it is the sacred lifeblood of the land, and taking it will awaken
an ancient, vengeful force.

Undeterred, Scarlet presses on. The crew breaks the Black Mist and lands on black-sand shores littered with wrecks—proof of those who tried and failed. Trials on the Isles test their intentions, revealing that the prophecy has chosen Scarlet as protector rather than conqueror. When Ambioca’s fleet launches a massive assault, the sea itself fights back: a colossal serpent, embodiment of the curse, rises to annihilate much of his armada. The survivors clash in a brutal ground war, ending with a personal duel between Scarlet and Ambioca. Scarlet
wins but chooses mercy over execution, cementing his role as a leader committed to safeguarding the Isles rather than exploiting them.

Though the battle is won, peace is fragile. Ambioca retreats vowing vengeance, Strongy suffers a serpent’s cursed bite, and word of the Isles reaches European empires, promising an even greater threat. Standing with his crew and newfound island allies, Scarlet vows to defend the Isles’ legacy, aware that the true storm is yet to come. The novel closes with hope tempered by foreboding, setting the stage for the next chapter in Scarlet Minor’s saga.