Across the waves, the sea wind howled as a tattered flag unfurled atop a sleek black mast.
At its center was a chilling symbol a crimson claw wrapped around a skull, swaying menacingly in the wind.
The pirate ship was smaller than Lambert's merchant vessel, but far more sinister. Its entire hull was painted jet-black, soaked with sea salt and menace. Large glowing magic circles pulsed on both flanks of the ship, thrumming with arcane energy.
With terrifying speed, it sliced through the ocean like a hungry predator dark, streamlined, and deadly.
On its deck stood a swarm of pirates clad in wild, mismatched costumes: spiked armor, beast-hide coats, bone-decorated helmets. Their laughter echoed across the waves like jackals circling prey, and the weapons in their hands gleamed with wicked intent under the gray sky.
Back on the merchant ship, Lambert took one glance at the approaching vessel and went pale.
The bottle of champagne slipped from his fingers and shattered against the wood. Foam and wine pooled at his feet.
"Full speed ahead!" he cried, voice breaking. "Max power! Get us out of here!"
Though he knew deep down there was no escape, panic had taken full control. The pirate ship, powered by its advanced magic engines, was far faster than his aging wind-magic hybrid sloop.
But instinct always chose flight over fight.
"Y-Yes, Captain!"
The helmsman slammed the lever forward. The power rune at the base of the mast flared bright, sending a surge of wind through the sails.
The ship groaned as it picked up speed, tilting slightly as it fought the current.
But the gap between predator and prey only shrank.
The pirates were coming.
Fast.
Just as the helmsman reached for the rudder, sweat dripping from his brow, one of the Black Pheasant Foot wizards suddenly stepped in and blocked his path.
"Hey! Don't you dare turn away now!" the red-haired woman barked. "Running from a fight? You hired us to deal with this kind of thing, didn't you?"
The crew stared at her, stunned, like she'd just suggested diving into a whirlpool for fun.
Then, Dog No. 1 the overeager wizard who had been carrying everyone's luggage earlier stepped up dramatically, pointing a finger toward the encroaching pirate ship.
"What's there to be afraid of?! They're just a bunch of thugs on a leaky boat!" he declared at the top of his lungs. "Pull the boat over! Let's give them a fight!"
The declaration rang out across the deck like a challenge to the heavens.
Over by the shaded part of the deck, Ches sat calmly under a parasol, a small plate of sponge cake balanced on his lap. He took a bite and watched the spectacle unfold with mild amusement.
Hmm, he thought, chewing thoughtfully. Didn't expect that one to have such a loud mouth.
His opinion of Dog No. 1 rose a notch.
Just one notch.
It wasn't that Ches disagreed with the sentiment. Bold words like that could indeed stir a crew's fighting spirit especially in guild battles or arena duels where adrenaline ran hot.
But this?
This wasn't a guild brawl.
This was a merchant ship.
Filled with ordinary dockhands and tradesmen men who had never held a sword, let alone faced down killers with flame magic and cutlasses.
And the terror in their eyes said it all.
"You've got to be kidding me!" one of the crew finally snapped. "You want us to go head-to-head with those lunatics?! We'll be slaughtered!"
Another man gripped the railing tightly, knuckles white. "They've got enchanted sails and armor! We've got crates of dried kelp and fish sauce!"
The crew began to murmur in panic.
Ches leaned back and sighed.
These guys really don't understand what kind of fight they're dragging people into...
He set the empty cake plate aside.
It looked like he'd have to step in soon.
But for now?
He let the chaos build.
As expected, Captain Lambert was completely rattled by the reckless declaration.
Cold sweat poured down his face as he stormed across the deck, his beer belly jiggling with every furious step. Without a second thought, he grabbed Dog Licker No. 1 by the collar and shook him like a sack of flour.
"Are you insane?! What kind of lunatic tells pirates to come closer?!"
His voice cracked, his whole body trembling not just from fear, but from sheer disbelief.
It was clear.
He just wanted to run.
And honestly, Ches couldn't blame him.
Cowardly? Maybe a little. But for a civilian captain in the middle of a pirate ambush, Lambert was doing a lot better than most of his crew who were currently crouched behind barrels and crates, pale as ghosts and clinging to ropes like lifelines.
Fortunately, Ina, the red-haired female wizard, stepped forward before Lambert could throttle his own hired help.
"Mr. Lambert, please calm down," she said, her tone firm but composed. "Leave the fighting to us. You just focus on getting below deck."
With a swift motion, she pointed past the mast, toward the horizon behind them.
All eyes followed her gesture.
The pirate ship had already closed the distance.
Its massive sails snapped in the wind, that devil-clawed skull flag flapping wildly above. In just seconds, it had crept up to the stern of the merchant ship, its dark hull riding the waves like a shadow come to life.
They were now less than two hundred meters away.
From across the waves, the pirates' deranged screams echoed like howling beasts.
"RAAAAGH!"
"Cut 'em up! Strip the ship bare!"
"I want their heads on spikes!"
The crew on deck collectively flinched.
Lambert's legs gave out beneath him, and he dropped to the floor with a thud, face contorted in sheer despair.
"It's over… it's really over…"
Ina didn't hesitate. She stepped past him with commanding presence, her voice rising above the chaos.
"All crew members! Fall back from the rails and get below deck!"
"Only those with combat experience or protective roles are to stay on deck!"
"Secure the cargo and seal the hatches! Now!"
Her tone was sharp and authoritative exactly what the panicking sailors needed. They jumped into motion with a sense of purpose, even if their hands still shook.
Ches sat up slightly from beneath the parasol, brushing crumbs from his coat.
Hmm, he thought with a smirk. So she has some backbone after all.
But his eyes didn't leave the pirate ship.
Not for a second.
"Those who can still move, help the others get to the cabin!" Ina commanded. Her voice rang clear through the clamor. "Don't panic we will protect your lives!"
Her words gave the shaken crew something to hold onto. They clung to it like a lifeline.
As she directed the last few sailors toward the lower deck, Ina's gaze flicked to the side and landed on Ches.
There he was.
Still seated under the parasol, legs crossed, casually nibbling on a flaky pastry like he was on vacation.
What is with this guy…?
Is he frozen with fear? Why hasn't he even moved? Shouldn't he be retreating too?
But something about the way he sat completely composed, not even blinking at the pirate ship bearing down on them made Ina hesitate.
No… he's not afraid at all, is he?
She didn't have time to linger on the thought. The enemy was almost here.
She turned sharply to her teammates, eyes sharp.
"Dasaniao, Bukolevin battle formation. We cannot let even a single pirate touch this ship."
"Understood!"
The three of them locked eyes for just a moment. No more words were needed.
Their years of working together had built a strong, unspoken bond.
In perfect sync, the Black Pheasant Foot trio split into formation and sprinted toward the stern, fanning out with practiced precision Ina at the front, Bukolevin and Dasaniao flanking her from behind.
The wind grew heavier.
The pirate ship loomed.
And yet, at the back of the deck, Ches calmly dusted powdered sugar off his gloves and reached for another piece of cake.
His gaze never left the enemy vessel.
Three on the field. Let's see what your "invincible middle division team" can really do.
Their job was simple stop the pirates, and protect the people and precious cargo aboard the merchant ship at all costs.
Just as the trio from Black Pheasant Foot took their battle positions, a deep metallic whir echoed from the turret of the now-hovering pirate ship.
Clank-clank-clank
A dark purple magic circle flared to life at the base of a mounted cannon. Its barrel glowed ominously as it charged with arcane energy. The air around it warped from pressure, stirring the sea below into a churning mess of waves and spray.
It was a compact magic cannon but its aim wasn't at the crew or the hull.
It was locked onto the merchant ship's magic sail.
"Dasha Niu!" Ina barked sharply. "I'm elevating your statusblock that blast!"
"And Bukolevin prepare to launch a counterattack!"
Ina's eyes gleamed with battle awareness. She'd instantly deduced the pirates' strategy.
If the magic sail was destroyed, the ship would lose all mobility. They'd be dead in the water sitting ducks for boarding and slaughter.
She acted without hesitation.
Twisting her hands into a seal, she aimed her palms toward Dasha, the overconfident loudmouth Ches had quietly written off earlier.
"Additional Armor Power!"
With a shout, two glowing magic circles spun into existence, hovering just above Dasha's body. Light pulsed downward, forming shimmering plates of magical armor across his limbs, chest, and shoulders. The glow locked into place like an exoskeleton of light-forged steel.
Oh? Ches raised a brow from beneath his parasol.
She's an additional-type wizard too? Didn't see that coming.
Not many mages specialized in support-type enhancement magic, especially not those from small regional guilds.
Maybe Ina was worth keeping an eye on after all.
Seated comfortably not far from the chaos, Ches calmly bit into a slice of cold watermelon, juice dripping lazily down his fingers as the salty sea breeze rolled past.
Huh, he mused, lazily lifting his eyelids to glance toward Ina, whose fiery red hair whipped dramatically in the wind.
Additional magic…?
Compared to common elemental types like fire or wind, support-type enhancement magic was significantly rarer. It allowed the caster to amplify a target's physical abilities, magical resistance, or defense all depending on the user's specialization.
Didn't expect that from her.
Ches blinked slowly and muttered under his breath, "Shame her mana pool's probably on the shallow side… That armor buff won't last long."
Still, it was a clever move.
His attention shifted to Dasha, who had just received the boost.
With a sudden crack, the seams of his shirt split open as his muscles bulged unnaturally under the strain of the spell. Threads snapped. Buttons popped. His short-sleeved overalls stood no chance and were now half-shredded, barely clinging to his swollen frame.
Ches tilted his head, unimpressed.
Yeah, definitely a close-combat type. Reinforced physique, short-range magic style… Maybe earth or kinetic burst magic…
But then
Why the hell is he still wearing overalls?
He frowned.
If you're gonna hurl yourself into melee combat and start tearing your own clothes off with muscle magic, why waste money buying gear in the first place?
He took another bite of watermelon.
Even those two blockheads Natsu and Gray know better. They at least take off their shirts first.
He chuckled silently and wiped the juice from his chin with the corner of his sleeve.
Finally, his eyes shifted to the third member of the so-called Invincible Middle Division Team the last man who had yet to act.
Alright then, Ches thought with a quiet smirk. Let's see what the quiet one's packing.
Bukolevin moved with precision.
Without saying a word, he unstrapped the iron case from his back and flipped it open. Inside was a long, meticulously maintained magic sniper rifle, its dark metal frame engraved with glowing runes.
He loaded it with practiced ease, then dropped to one knee and activated the magic circle on the scope. Arcane glyphs shimmered across the glass as he adjusted the lens with careful flicks of his fingers.
His breathing slowed.
Target acquired.
Through the magnified scope, Bukolevin locked eyes on the pirate captain sitting smugly at the rear of the enemy ship.
A hulking figure in a tall black hat, draped in a sea-worn coat and skull-necklace armor. Just as Marshall had described.
Take out the leader, and the mob collapses. Classic.
With a melee specialist, a ranged sniper, and a support mage who could issue calm battlefield orders the trio had solid fundamentals.
They weren't just blindly shouting for glory after all.
Huh. Not bad, Ches admitted inwardly, still lounging in his corner.
He picked up a dried fruit strip from his snack tray and tossed it into his mouth.
Solid roles, decent synergy, and just enough brainpower to identify the captain as the main threat.
There's… something here. A bit of backbone, maybe even potential.
He leaned back, squinting lazily at the glowing sniper lens.
Still not enough.
Because this isn't some arena match.
This is a real pirate crew. Blood-soaked. Veteran. The kind of people that made A-class and even S-class wizards vanish without a trace.
The captain's posture alone said it all relaxed, confident, completely unconcerned by the spells charging across from the merchant ship. That hat didn't move, not even in the wind.
And yet…
Buzz!!
A deep vibration rattled across the hull of the merchant ship. The air around the pirate vessel warped and shimmered. The magic cannon on the side of the pirate ship had finished charging.
Its muzzle aimed directly at the magic sail.
A deep, guttural roar shook the air like a wild beast unleashing its fury.
The pirate ship's magic cannon fired.
A concentrated beam of violet arcane energy burst from the turret, tearing through the sea in a blinding flash. It cut across the waves like a blade of light, heading straight for the merchant ship's magic sail
moments before Bukolevin's sniper round could even leave the barrel.
"Just a magic cannon?!" Dasha shouted defiantly. "Watch me smash it to pieces!"
Empowered by Ina's additional armor spell, his body glowing with faint golden light, he didn't hesitate for a second.
With a bestial roar, Dasha leapt high into the air muscles tensed, veins bulging, the magic circle on his gauntlet spinning wildly.
He twisted mid-air and brought his fist crashing down toward the incoming blast, intending to meet raw energy with raw strength.
A desperate interception.
A direct clash.
BOOM!!
The sky turned white for a second.
A deafening blast rang across the ocean, followed by a wave of smoke and splintered light.
Ches squinted through the haze, pausing mid-bite on a sesame biscuit.
The merchant ship rocked violently from the aftershock. The mast groaned and snapped, wood splintering under the pressure.
Dasha's body was flung backward like a broken arrow.
He crashed into the base of the main mast, which cracked from the impact. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he slumped to the deck, unmoving. His limbs twitched once… then went still. He was down. Out cold. The armor spell shattered. Ina's eyes widened in horror. "Dasha!"
The rest of the crew screamed as the ship lurched, its magic sail sputtering, scorched and half-destroyed.
The merchant ship slowed immediately, power vanishing from its sails, and began to drift helplessly atop the rolling waves.
They were stranded. Just as Ches had predicted.
He exhaled softly, brushing crumbs from his sleeve. And down goes Dog No. 1.