Pirate: Crew of Desire and Bonds

And yet...

Julian stared at the battered and beaten-up Jake as his handsome face contorted with pure rage and confusion.

”...WHY DO YOU HAVE THOSE EYES!?”

His roar echoed across the scorched battlefield, filled with raw, unfiltered madness.

The same radiant, golden-white brilliance that shone in Jake’s eyes whenever he channeled Grace’s Light... that calm yet overwhelming glow reminded him too much of both his elder brother and the young Grace from his memories.

That light he had always envied.

That light he had desperately wanted to possess.

That light that always made him feel inferior.

”You’re just a worthless Common Class stray!! You shouldn’t have that kind of light!! It belongs to me!! Grace’s power... her light... everything should be mine!!”

Julian’s body trembled violently as his solar flames spiraled out of control.

The blue inferno around him grew even hotter, melting the ground into a sea of lava.

His crimson eyes were bloodshot, tears of rage and long-buried pain mixing with sweat on his face.

”I’ll kill you... I’ll erase that light from your eyes and take Grace back!! She’s the only one who can prove I’m not inferior!!”

Grace’s face turned deathly pale as she held onto Jake.

”Jake... he’s really going to destroy everything... we have to run or—”

Before she could finish her sentence, Julian moved.

WHOOSH!

With explosive speed, Julian flashed across the battlefield in an instant.

He appeared right in front of them.

BAM!

A brutal kick infused with scorching solar flames slammed directly into Grace’s side, sending her flying away from Jake with a pained cry.

”Grace!!” Jake shouted in horror and anger.

Before Grace could recover, chains of blue fire erupted from Julian’s hands and wrapped tightly around her body from a distance, yanking her backward and slamming her against a half-melted rock formation.

The burning chains dug into her skin, searing her flesh as they pinned her in place several meters away.

”AAAAH—!!” Grace screamed in agony, the intense heat continuously burning her arms, waist, and legs.

Julian didn’t even look back at her.

His crazed eyes were locked solely on Jake now.

”You... you’re the one who corrupted her light!!” he snarled.

BOOM!

He descended on Jake like a blazing demon.

A devastating punch wreathed in blue flames smashed into Jake’s stomach, lifting him off the ground.

Another kick followed, slamming him sideways into the scorched earth.

Jake coughed up blood, his body screaming in pain, but he forced himself to stand again, eyes desperately glancing toward Grace.

”Grace... hold on!!” he gasped.

Julian didn’t give him any breathing room.

He rained down a brutal barrage of flaming punches and kicks, each strike stronger and hotter than the last, driving Jake back again and again.

Every hit left behind vicious burns and cracked bones.

”Why do you have that light?!” Julian roared with every punch.

”Why does she look at you that way?!”

Pinned in the distance by the burning chains, Grace could only watch helplessly, tears flowing as she struggled against the flames.

”Jake...!! Please... run...!!” she cried out weakly, her voice hoarse from the pain.

Jake’s mind was racing desperately.

’Come on... think... there has to be something—!’

But there was nothing left.

No more tricks.

No hidden cards.

He had already used every upgrade point he had.

His body was at its absolute limit... broken ribs, severe burns and heavy blood loss.

The sword of light in his hand flickered unstably, its radiance growing weaker with every passing second.

Even though his skills were screaming at him... urging him to move, to fight, to protect Grace but his battered body could no longer keep up.

His vision started to blur and his legs trembled violently.

’Grace... I’m sorry... I can’t...’

BAM!

Julian’s next punch smashed brutally into Jake’s jaw, sending him crashing to the ground.

Blood splattered across the molten dirt.

Jake’s vision spun wildly.

He tried to get up, but his body refused to obey.

Before he could even roll over, Julian was already on top of him.

The crazed noble mounted Jake’s chest, his knees pinning Jake’s arms down.

Julian’s handsome face was now a mask of pure insanity... eyes wide, tears of rage and twisted joy streaming down his cheeks.

”This is all your fault!!”

BAM!

A heavy, flame-wreathed punch slammed into Jake’s face.

”Why did she smile at you...?! Why did she look at you with those eyes?!”

BAM!

BAM!

Two more brutal punches followed, splitting Jake’s lip and cracking his cheekbone.

Blood flew with every impact.

”You’re nothing!! A Common Class insect!!”

BAM!

”She’s mine... her light... her everything... belongs to me!!”

BAM!

BAM!

BAM!

Julian’s fists rained down relentlessly, each punch powered by burning solar flames as his knuckle bloody from Jake’s blood.

With every strike, he mumbled twisted, obsessive words like a broken mantra.

Jake’s head snapped side to side with every blow.

His consciousness was fading fast.

The world was turning dark, the sounds of Grace’s distant screams growing fainter.

Before everything went black, Jake used the last of his strength to turn his head toward Grace.

He gave her one final, wry, apologetic gaze... a silent ”I’m sorry” filled with regret and lingering warmth.

”JAKE!!! NOOO—!!”

Grace’s heartbreaking cry echoed across the battlefield as she fought uselessly against the burning chains, her own skin blistering from the heat.

Tears streamed down her dirt-streaked face, her golden eyes wide with raw despair.

Julian raised his bloodied fist as blue flames roared around his knuckles.

”Any last words?!” he snarled.

Barely conscious, Jake forced a weak smile.

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth as he rasped,

”...You need to grow up and learn that... the world doesn’t revolve around you, you insecure bastard...”

Julian’s face contorted with fury.

”Then die... you thief!!”

But at that moment—

Thud.

A powerful hand grabbed Julian’s raised fist from behind, stopping it dead in the air with effortless strength.

The sheer pressure sent a shockwave through the scorched ground, cracking the molten earth beneath their feet.

”...!?” Julian froze.

Then a rough, calm male voice spoke from behind him, sounding almost bored yet carrying an undeniable weight.

”Ah, man... This is honestly getting painful to watch. You should stop... now.”