Part 2
The thunder of cannons finally ceased. The magical barrier, which until now had withstood the bombardment, flickered weakly before vanishing completely.
A tense silence fell over the deck of the merchant ship. Sailors and guards exchanged uneasy glances, knowing that without the barrier, the next strike would be fatal.
Then, a mocking, carefree voice rang out from the enemy vessel.
"Well, well! Looks like your little barrier's finally run out of juice. So what now? Surrender, or keep wasting my time?"
From the pirate ship's deck, a broad-shouldered man in flamboyant attire leaned lazily against the mast, as though none of this mattered to him. A wide-brimmed hat adorned with exotic feathers tilted in the sea breeze.
"That must be their captain…" Haruto muttered, watching cautiously.
The pirate captain flashed an easy smile as his eyes swept across the deck.
"Listen up, my dear passengers and crew. We're not here to sink your pretty little ship—that'd be a waste. All we want are your valuables… and any demi-humans you've got on board."
A ripple of dread spread through the deck. Some passengers paled, instinctively stepping back as they realized the true purpose of the raid.
But before panic could take hold, a deep, commanding voice cut through the tension.
The merchant ship's captain—a burly man with thick blond hair and a heavy beard—stepped forward with the poise of a veteran who refused to be cowed.
"I don't negotiate with criminals." His voice rang with conviction as he drew his saber in a single confident motion. "Not one passenger will be taken. If you plan to board us… you'll answer to me."
His officers and several sailors followed suit, drawing their blades and forming a defensive line. The air grew thick with stifling tension.
The pirate captain stroked his chin as if mulling it over, though his arrogant grin never faded.
"Hmm… interesting." He let out a light, amused chuckle. "But you see… I don't take kindly to being told no."
He snapped his fingers toward his crew.
"Boys, give them the signal."
From the pirate ship, flames surged into the sky. In the distance, fire mages conjured blazing spheres, ready to be unleashed at any moment.
"In case it wasn't obvious," the captain said with a sly grin, "we can play with fire too. So unless you want your fine little ship turned into a floating bonfire, I suggest you cooperate."
Haruto shut his eyes and sighed.
"Great. This is going just perfect…" he muttered sarcastically.
Beside him, Eliza crossed her arms and tilted her chin up with absolute disdain.
"Hmph. Insolent insects," she murmured with regal contempt. "I'll unleash the power of my Eclipse Eye and sink them in an instant."
Almost immediately, the sky began to dim. A cold breeze swept over the deck. Haruto shivered and snapped toward her.
"Oh no. Not again!"
Without thinking, he slapped his hand over her mouth before she could finish the incantation.
Eliza stomped the deck in protest, glaring daggers at him.
"Mmfff! Haruto, remove your filthy hands from me, you lowly mortal!"
"No! We've been through this already! You nearly summoned a storm last time!"
"Tch… You know nothing of supreme arcane control…" she huffed.
Haruto let go and refocused on the very real threat bearing down on them.
Eliza blinked twice, glanced at the pirates… and immediately threw her hand up again with dramatic flair.
"Now then, I shall release the power of the eternal—!"
Haruto clamped his hand over her mouth once more.
"Enough already!"
The rest of the group struggled to hold back their laughter, while the pirates stared at the scene in utter disbelief.
"Uh… what the hell are we even watching?" one of the pirates muttered.
The pirate captain clicked his tongue, folding his arms before spreading them wide with smug confidence, as if victory was already his.
"So then… will you hand over what I asked for, or should we have a little fun first?"
Haruto let out a weary sigh.
"What an annoying guy… Maybe I should let Eliza sink them."
The merchant captain, still gripping his saber tightly, turned toward them with urgency.
"You look like adventurers." His sharp eyes sized them up. "If you help defend this ship, you'll be rewarded."
Thalindra cracked her knuckles with a confident grin.
"Aye aye, Captain—we're ready…!" she shouted excitedly, already perched on the railing, prepared to smash any boarding hooks with her elemental gauntlets.
Then, out of nowhere, a drunken man who looked suspiciously like a pirate captain stumbled up beside Haruto, nearly scaring him out of his skin.
"Wha—?!" Haruto almost jumped in shock, spinning around.
The reeking man, his stench of rum strong enough to intoxicate anyone nearby, clapped Haruto hard on the back.
"If I were you, kid, I wouldn't try sinking that pirate ship…" he slurred. "Chances are they've got prisoners… or slaves… hic…"
Haruto clamped his nose shut, convinced the man's breath alone qualified as a biological weapon.
"Urgh… Where the hell did this guy come from?"
But despite the choking smell, the man's words made sense. If there were captives aboard, they couldn't risk destroying the ship with Ao or Aka.
"Tch… I hadn't thought of that."
Yuna nodded gravely, materializing her blade.
"He's right. In that case, we wait for them to board… or cut them down before they reach the deck."
Meanwhile, Simmone leapt gracefully onto a higher vantage point, Eliza following close behind.
"Don't worry," the petite Briton said seriously. "We'll deal with the enemy mages."
Simmone shot her a sidelong glare and frowned.
"Only defensive magic, Elizabeth. No unleashing strange, unnecessary powers."
Eliza crossed her arms arrogantly, tilting her chin as her black Victorian-style dress fluttered in the sea breeze.
"Hmph… very well," she said with forced patience. "But if those insects dare interrupt me again… I won't hesitate to unleash my true power."
Haruto grimaced, afraid she actually meant it.
"Please, no…"
Before he could argue further, a mocking laugh rang out from the pirate ship.
"Enough talk! Boys, board them!" the pirate captain roared, raising his saber with a confident smile.
The pirates bellowed in unison and hurled boarding hooks toward the merchant vessel. The screech of iron digging into wood ripped through the air, signaling the true start of the battle.
"They're coming! Brace yourselves!" shouted the merchant captain, blade gleaming as he readied his stance. "And where the hell is Penguin?!"
As if summoned by the very words, the drunken man staggered forward toward the captain with a goofy grin.
"Cap'n… Captain Jack Penguin!" he declared, nearly tripping over his own feet.
Captain Russel—the commander of the merchant ship—looked at him with a mix of exasperation and resignation.
"Just look at you… what a mess. Hard to believe this disaster is supposed to be our ace in the hole…"
"Captain Russel! The pirates are boarding!" a sailor shouted, cutting the scene short.
Russel grit his teeth and raised his saber high into the air.
"Don't just stand there! Cut those hooks! Don't let them climb aboard!"
Wasting no time, Thalindra slammed her elemental gauntlets together, igniting the fire runes etched into them. She struck down every pirate who dared approach, holding the line like an unbreakable wall.
The few who managed to board from another flank clashed blades with Russel's sailors, turning the deck into a storm of chaotic steel.
From the pirate ship, their captain raised his saber toward the masts and bellowed with authority:
"Fire the cannons! Now!"
All three cannons roared at once, hurling deadly projectiles toward the merchant vessel.
Before they could strike, Eliza raised a hand with elegant composure and whispered softly:
"Void."
A rift of darkness tore open midair, swallowing the cannonballs whole and erasing them into nothingness.
"Tch… dimensional magic." The pirate captain clicked his tongue in annoyance. "What a bothersome little brat."
But his lips curled into a sly grin as he turned to his artillery crew.
"Load the Nulite rounds!"
The cannons thundered again, unleashing their modified shells.
Eliza lifted her hand once more, unfazed.
"Such stubborn humans… Void!"
But this time, the Nulite shells pierced straight through her distortion, ignoring the dimensional void as they barreled directly toward the merchant ship.
Eliza's eyes widened in shock.
"Tch… Nulite shells really are a nuisance…"
Before she could react, a calm but resolute voice rang out behind her.
"Frozen Wall."
From the ocean, a massive pillar of solid ice surged upward, forming a thick barrier between the ships. The projectiles slammed into it and lodged themselves deep, never reaching their target.
Two ethereal spirits drifted out from Simmone's body, swirling around her like dancing shadows. The petite Briton cast a sidelong glance at Eliza, smiling serenely.
"Don't lose focus, vampire princess," she said in her refined tone. "We still have much work ahead of us."
Eliza clicked her tongue, folding her arms with a pout.
"Hmph… I didn't need your help."
Simmone ignored her retort and readied herself for the next attack.
Yuna, spotting the cannons being reloaded again, turned toward Haruto with determination.
"We have to take out those cannons—fast."
Before he could reply, Rina leapt into the fray, scattering copies of herself across the deck with her ability.
"Haruto, do what Yuna says! Rina handle bad guys here!" she shouted confidently, spinning into the pirates with a flurry of daggers and chaotic footwork.
Haruto nodded at her words, then shifted his gaze toward the pirate ship. The distance was tricky, and with the sway of the waves, landing a precise shot with Ao and Aka would be tough—unless he boosted the power, which risked destroying the ship entirely.
He needed another option.
Olivia, is there anything I can use without damaging their hull? he asked mentally through his panel.
Olivia's flat, monotone voice responded at once.
"Option! You can activate a Kizuna link with Rina to enhance your vision and accuracy. Do you wish to acquire the skill 'Velociraptor Eye'?"
Haruto clicked his tongue.
"If there's no other choice… yeah, do it."
"Notification! Understood. Adding Rina's skill through Kizuna link. Please wait…"
A faint glow spread across his body. His vision shifted instantly—he could now see vast distances, every detail on the battlefield sharpening as movements seemed to slow around him.
"Skill 'Velociraptor Eye' added under Earth element. Process complete."
Haruto exhaled steadily, raising his pistols as the heightened perception honed every sense.
"Alright then…"
This shot wouldn't miss.