Pirate: Crew of Desire and Bonds

’So fast... and strong!’

Even with his current Superhuman-level physical state, keeping up with the continuous barrage was already pushing him.

The elongated limbs bent and twisted unpredictably, striking from angles that forced him to constantly adjust his stance.

He parried one sweeping blow—

But the residual force still tore into the deck.

Crack—!!

The wooden planks split open where the whip-like limb slammed down after being deflected.

Another strike followed immediately, and when Jake barely knocked it aside, the leftover power ripped a deep gouge across the floorboards.

The surrounding deck was rapidly being torn apart.

Wherever the creature’s attacks landed after Jake’s parries, the ship’s surface cracked, splintered, and caved under the destructive force.

In just a few exchanges, the once-solid deck around them had already turned into a mess of broken wood and deep scars.

Jake’s breathing grew heavier as he continued blocking the storm of attacks, his eyes locked on the cracked smiling mask that still refused to change expression.

’This can’t continue...!’

If the exchange dragged on any longer, the deck would be completely destroyed, and the constant barrage would eventually overwhelm him.

The creature’s regenerated limbs showed no sign of slowing down, and every deflected strike still left more destruction in its wake.

Just as that thought flashed through his mind—

A sharp glow flared behind him.

Grace finally found an opening and raised her gun, golden eyes sharp once more.

”Light Bullet!”

She pulled the trigger.

BANG!

A condensed bullet of pure light shot forward with a sharp whistle, flying straight toward the cracked mask of the elongated creature.

The smiling face remained motionless for a split second as the radiant projectile closed in... and for some reason, a fearful expression seemed to flash across the mask.

One of its elongated limbs snapped upward and intercepted the Light Bullet.

Bang!

The bullet of light exploded against the dark arm in a burst of golden radiance, forcing the limb backward from the impact.

Though the attack failed to reach the mask, it successfully disrupted the monster’s relentless assault for a brief instant.

That was enough.

Jake’s eyes flashed.

He immediately pulled back half a step, planted his feet firmly on the damaged deck, and raised his sword with both hands.

BOOOMM!!

A deep, thunderous red aura erupted around the blade.

The violent energy roared to life like compressed killing intent, wrapping tightly around the sword as sparks of crimson power crackled along its edge.

The surrounding air distorted under the sudden surge, and the broken planks beneath Jake’s feet groaned from the pressure.

His stance locked into place.

In the next breath, Jake exploded forward.

”Aura Slash—!!”

A devastating arc of pure red power tore through the night as he swung with everything he had.

The concentrated slash screamed toward the elongated creature, carrying far more destructive force than his previous attacks.

The cracked smiling mask finally seemed to react as the roaring red blade of aura closed in.

The creature hastily raised both elongated limbs in an attempt to block.

But it was useless.

Jake’s Aura Slash tore straight through them.

SPURT!!

The concentrated crimson arc shredded the dark arms apart as if they were paper, continuing forward without losing momentum.

In the next instant, the devastating slash carved cleanly through the creature’s long, stretched neck.

The elongated body was severed in half.

The upper portion, still carrying the cracked, smiling mask, was violently thrown backward, while the remaining length of the neck collapsed back toward the dark sea below.

The residual force of the Aura Slash did not stop there.

The roaring red arc continued past the dying creature and flew into the distance, briefly illuminating the black surface of the Dead Sea Line with a flash of violent crimson light before vanishing into the night.

Silence fell over the torn deck for a short moment.

Jake remained in his finishing stance, red aura still faintly flickering around his blade as he watched the severed upper body of the creature tumble through the air.

”...Did we get it?”

Before he could fully relax—

”Jake!! It’s not over yet!!”

Grace’s urgent shout cut through the night.

Jake’s brows furrowed as he turned slightly toward her, still catching his breath.

”What do you mea—”

BOOOOOOM—!!

The dark sea below suddenly exploded.

A massive surge of black water erupted upward as something burst out from the depths.

One elongated neck carrying a cracked, smiling mask shot up from the sea.

Then another.

Then more.

One...

Two...

Five...

Ten...?

Multiple dark, stretched forms rose from the black water in rapid succession, each one topped with the same disturbing mask and pair of human-like limbs.

Their long necks swayed unnaturally under the night sky as more and more of them emerged, surrounding the damaged deck from the sea below.

Jake’s expression hardened instantly.

The single creature he had just cut down... was far from the only one.

Then, almost at the same time, the cracked masks turned and locked their hollow, smiling faces directly onto Jake.

Dozens of expressionless, fractured masks fixed their gaze on him in eerie unison.

Then the murmuring began.

”...Jake...”

”Be careful...”

”Jake...”

”Be careful...”

The overlapping voices drifted across the deck in a soft, distorted chorus.

The elongated necks continued to rise and sway above the dark water, their murmuring never stopping.

Jake’s grip on his sword tightened, red aura flickering once more along the blade as he stared back at the sea of smiling masks in front of him.

”...This just got a lot worse.”

Behind him, Grace raised her gun with both hands, her earlier shock completely replaced by sharp focus.

She opened her mouth, about to say something—

”Raging Tide Cleave!!!”

A powerful shout suddenly rang out from above.

In the next instant, a brilliant blue aura descended from the sky like a crashing wave.

The massive slash of pure blue power smashed down onto the cluster of elongated creatures rising from the sea.

BOOOOM—!!

The impact was tremendous.

Several of the dark necks were instantly severed and torn apart by the falling blue aura, their cracked masks shattering as black mist and seawater exploded outward.

The force of the attack sent a heavy tremor through the ship, causing the damaged deck to rock slightly under Jake’s feet.

Jake quickly looked up.

There, standing firmly on a higher section of the ship with his long sword resting on his shoulder, was a familiar figure.

His presence was steady and overwhelming, blue aura still faintly lingering around his blade after the powerful strike.

Jake’s tense expression broke into a relieved smile.

”Sir Garrick!!”