Pirate: Crew of Desire and Bonds

Above the surface, the violent storm continued to rage without mercy.

Rain and wind howled across the turbulent waves as Garrick remained locked in battle against a single regenerated Drowned Stalker.

But the creature refused to fully commit to a decisive clash, constantly defending and weaving out of range with irritating precision.

Garrick clicked his tongue in frustration as he forced some distance between them, water and aura energy swirling around his massive frame.

’This damn thing...’

His sharp eyes narrowed while he kept his guard up.

’It’s not trying to kill me. It’s just stalling... But for what?’

The thought only deepened his irritation.

Every second wasted against this delaying opponent left him unable to check on Jake’s situation below.

Then, without warning, Garrick’s instincts flared sharply.

”..!?”

His head snapped downward toward the dark, storm-tossed sea.

In the next instant—

BOOOOOOOOOOM—!

A colossal burst of pure white-gold light erupted from the depths below.

The ocean surface exploded upward as an overwhelming pillar of radiant energy tore through the water, vaporizing the rain and scattering the storm clouds in its path.

The light was so intense it turned the raging night into a momentary day, flooding the entire area with searing brilliance.

The Drowned Stalker that had been keeping its distance from Garrick was completely engulfed by the expanding wave of light.

Its black body was swallowed whole within the radiant explosion, vanishing without even a chance to regenerate.

The massive pillar of pure light continued shooting skyward without slowing, piercing through the storm clouds and stretching high into the darkened heavens like a divine spear of white-gold radiance.

Then—

BOOOOOOOM—!

The violent storm sky was forcibly torn apart.

The dense black clouds that had been raging moments ago were violently pushed outward in every direction by the overwhelming force of the light pillar.

In an instant, the entire storm was ripped open, revealing a vast, clear sky beyond.

And soft white light poured down from above.

Without any of them realizing it... morning had already arrived.

The once-chaotic night of howling wind and torrential rain had been replaced by a calm, beautiful clear sky, bathed in the gentle light of early dawn.

Garrick stood frozen for a brief moment, staring at the towering column of light and the sudden morning sky with wide eyes.

Then he looked down.

”What...”

A massive circular gap had been blasted open in the surface of the sea.

The water around the edges churned violently, swirling and collapsing inward toward the enormous hole left behind by the light pillar’s eruption.

Residual white-gold radiance still lingered deep within the opening, illuminating the turbulent depths below.

The sheer scale of the destruction left Garrick momentarily speechless... and a hint of fear.

Even aboard the distant ship, everyone had fallen into complete silence.

The sudden eruption of that overwhelming pillar of light, the complete destruction of the raging storm, and the abrupt arrival of morning left the entire crew frozen in place, staring in pure shock at the impossible sight.

Vivian stood near the railing, her usual composed expression completely broken.

Her eyes were wide as she stared at the towering remnant of light and the massive hole in the sea, unable to form a single word for several seconds.

Grace, on the other hand, had both hands tightly gripping the railing.

Her golden eyes were locked on the center of the light with a mixture of awe, worry, and something deeper... as if she could somehow sense that the one responsible for this power was Jake.

Her lips parted slightly, but no sound came out.

The entire deck remained deathly quiet under the newly revealed morning sky.

Then, breaking the silence, Barbara murmured under her breath in a dazed voice.

”...We won?”

No one could immediately confirm it.

The situation had changed far too quickly... from a desperate struggle under a raging storm to this overwhelming display of power.

The crew remained frozen, still trying to process what they had just witnessed.

Then Vivian snapped out of her daze.

Her sharp eyes quickly scanned the calm sea, the clear morning sky, and the complete absence of any remaining threats.

After a brief moment of judgment, she raised her voice and shouted with firm conviction,

”We have won!”

Her declaration cut through the lingering silence.

One by one, as if finally waking from their collective daze, the crew members began to react.

Soft murmurs of disbelief turned into growing cheers.

Relief and joy spread across the deck as the realization truly sank in.

Cheers gradually rose higher under the newly revealed morning sky.

But... only Grace didn’t cheer.

Her golden eyes remained scanning the sea surface for any sign of Jake.

_

_

_

Hearing the shouts of victory from the distant deck, Garrick finally snapped out of his daze.

The towering light and sudden morning had left him momentarily stunned, but now worry flooded back into his chest as he remembered—

Jake was still below.

Without hesitation, he prepared to dive back into the sea to search for him.

Just as he was about to plunge downward—

Ripple...

Something slowly floated up from the depths.

Garrick’s eyes sharpened.

He immediately rushed over through the water and reached out, pulling the figure closer.

It was Jake.

His pure white hair had already returned to its original black color.

His eyes were closed, and his body floated limply, completely unconscious.

Garrick hurriedly checked on him.

After confirming that Jake was still breathing steadily and had only lost consciousness, the large man let out a heavy sigh of relief.

”Thank god...” he muttered under his breath.

Without further delay, Garrick carefully lifted Jake’s unconscious body and began carrying him back toward the ship.

On the deck, Grace’s golden eyes locked onto Jake the moment he came into view.

Seeing his limp form, tears immediately welled up in her eyes.

She covered her mouth with both hands as a mixture of overwhelming worry and pure joy washed over her at the confirmation of his safe return.

The rest of the crew continued celebrating the victory under the clear morning sky.

Yet just as relief and cheers filled the air...

Behind them, unnoticed by anyone, a thin strand of black flesh floated silently on the surface of the water.

It lingered for a brief moment, seemingly staring intently at Jake.

[...]

Then, without a sound, it slipped back down and disappeared into the depths of the sea.