Wes cast Apparition, and in a flash of nearly undetectable magical fluctuation, his figure reappeared on the deck.
In that instant, the surrounding air seemed to ripple with his arrival, and his silhouette appeared like a ghost before Jack Sparrow.
The sudden appearance startled Jack Sparrow so badly that he yanked out a few strands of his own beard in panic.
"Let's go," Wes commanded flatly.
"At once, Master Wizard," Jack Sparrow responded hastily, running obediently to the helm.
His movements were flustered, clearly still shaken from the surprise. He rushed to the wheel and gripped it tightly with both hands.
"Good thing I didn't take your advice to run… he can teleport," Jack muttered to Angelica, still reeling.
"I didn't expect it either," Angelica's voice trembled slightly, fear still lingering in her heart. She clung tightly to Jack Sparrow's arm, seeking comfort.
"I know you meant well, love… but from now on, can we stick to my plan?" Jack comforted her gently, taking her hand in his.
The ship quickly left Whitecap Bay, heading toward the legendary island said to hold the Fountain of Youth.
Waves crashed against the hull, thundering like a prelude to their grand adventure.
A few hours later, the Queen Anne's Revenge also arrived at Whitecap Bay.
Blackbeard stood at the bow, his sharp eyes scanning everything around him.
Seeing the ice that had not completely melted and the shattered small boat, a contemplative look appeared on his weathered face.
Drawing from years of seafaring experience, Blackbeard quickly came to a conclusion based on the remaining traces.
"They've already been here… and they've captured the mermaid."
His deep and firm voice carried the weight of undeniable certainty.
At that moment, a group of mermaids emerged from the sea. Their beauty and mystery were enchanting, but their eyes blazed with fury and hatred.
They charged toward the Queen Anne's Revenge, intending to overturn it and avenge their captured kin.
However, they had chosen the wrong target for revenge.
The pirates onboard quickly grabbed muskets and aimed their cannons at the mermaids, ready to fire the moment they approached.
But Blackbeard had no patience to waste. A flicker of irritation passed through his eyes as he raised the Sword of Triton.
Boom! With a thunderous roar, the flamethrower at the bow burst into action, spewing blazing fire like a ferocious beast that instantly engulfed the sea ahead.
The mermaids at the front had no time to dodge. They were swallowed by the flames, letting out piercing screams.
Those screams echoed across the ocean, chilling to the soul. Even the usually ruthless pirates showed a hint of remorse upon hearing them.
"Faster, you filthy rats!" Blackbeard bellowed, his voice thundering across the deck. "What are you standing around for? Don't waste my time!"
At that moment, the pirates were completely exhausted. They had been sailing nonstop for an entire day without a moment's rest.
One pirate stepped forward, his face full of fatigue. "Captain Teach, we haven't rested since we left port."
"Oh?" Blackbeard swept his gaze around them coldly. "So you all want a break now?"
"Yes, we're too tired," the pirates echoed.
"We're not your slaves!" More and more pirates started demanding a break from Blackbeard.7
"Ha~ ha~ ha~" Blackbeard burst into laughter, his voice dripping with mockery. "You want to rest? Sure, no problem at all."
The pirates clapped in celebration, thinking their request had been granted.
However, Blackbeard's expression suddenly darkened, his right hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
In an instant, the ropes aboard the ship came to life, coiling around the necks of the pirates who had spoken first, hoisting them into the air.
They struggled for a few moments before falling still, lifeless. Their bodies were then tossed into the sea.
The surrounding mermaids swarmed over and tore the corpses apart, dyeing the sea red with blood.
"Now, who else wants to rest?!"
Blackbeard's voice rang out again, his brutality silencing any dissent. The remaining pirates rowed frantically, each terrified of becoming the next victim.
The Queen Anne's Revenge left Whitecap Bay behind, with the mermaids unwillingly trailing after them. Blackbeard ordered a few barrels of explosive powder to be tossed overboard and ignited, killing several of the pursuing mermaids.
The rest could only watch in anger as the ship sailed away.
As gentle waves lapped across the sea, a fleet of British naval ships slowly passed through the area, detecting nothing unusual on the surface.
The mermaids, unlike before, did not launch a reckless attack. Instead, they silently slipped into the deep sea, avoiding conflict.
Meanwhile, Wes and the others had arrived at the mysterious island.
The island was lush, with dense vegetation completely covering the ancient roads built by previous visitors.
Jack Sparrow took the lead, slashing at the vines with his knife to clear a path.
"Hey, Mister Wizard, why don't you use that fancy magic of yours? Would help us find Juan Ponce de León's Holy Grail faster," Jack complained as he slapped a mosquito draining his blood.
Angelica was drenched in sweat, her hair sticking to her face.
The jungle was hot and humid, crawling with poisonous creatures. A single misstep could mean death.
Wes, clad in a robe, showed no signs of sweating.
Strangely enough, all the insects and vermin on the island gave him a wide berth, never approaching him.
That was the robe's doing—it was made from the skin of a serpent beast, imbued with its aura. To ordinary creatures, it was terrifying.
The robe also had high magical resistance and had been refined by Wes into a powerful alchemical artifact.
Still, their pace was far too slow. On an island like this, even a single step was exhausting for regular people.
"I'll take the lead," Wes said, switching places with Jack Sparrow and moving to the front.
Whatever magic Wes used, the vegetation in front of him parted to form a narrow path just wide enough for one person.
Jack sheathed his knife, no longer surprised by such miracles. "See? We should've done that from the start."
With no more obstacles in their way, the trio reached a cliff where a rope bridge had long since collapsed.
But that didn't stop Wes. He whispered a levitation spell, and the three of them floated into the air.
Having experienced this once before, Jack wasn't fazed. He actually enjoyed the sensation of flying.
Angelica, on the other hand, panicked and screamed, her shrill voice sending a flock of birds fleeing.
They landed safely on the other side. Angelica leaned against a tree, trying to calm herself.
After following a narrow trail, they came upon a sea vessel.
"That's the Santiago," Jack said, pointing to the ship perched atop a stone pillar. "Legend has it all the treasures Juan Ponce de León gathered during his adventures are in there."
Wes wasn't interested in treasure. Making money was no issue for him now.
"Accio Holy Grail!" Wes chanted.
From inside the ship came the sound of items crashing.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Two goblets shot out of the ship, smashing through the hull and landing in Wes's hands.
°°°
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