The cargo ship, heavy with goods, moved slowly across the water. If it had been a passenger vessel, it might have reached Magnolia Harbor in just a day and a half. But as a cargo ship, the journey would take three full days.
During this time, Silas Frost began experimenting with Inuyasha's abilities. By channeling magic and drawing upon the power of the Inuyasha card, his form shifted into that of a half-demon silver hair, golden eyes, and white ears.
The only difference was his size. Silas's frame was still too small, and his strength didn't quite match up. Still, compared to his original body, the difference was like night and day.
The Inuyasha card came with two skills: Soul-Scattering Iron Claw and Blades of Blood, the latter allowing ranged attacks.
If Inuyasha were also equipped with the legendary Tetsusaiga, then Silas would be able to unleash techniques like the Wind Scar. Unfortunately, Tetsusaiga itself was a golden-tier equipment card far more difficult to acquire.
Even so, Soul-Scattering Iron Claw and Blades of Blood were already more than enough for the early stages.
Silas tested them a few times. The power of Soul-Scattering Iron Claw easily shredded a solid rock formation, splitting it apart like paper.
"There's no problem. If this claw grabs hold of someone, unless they've got Natsu's dragon-slayer physique, a normal person would definitely die."
Silas Frost muttered to himself. "But after using this magic, the boost in strength feels exaggerated… my body's base attributes still haven't increased. That's a problem. Do I need to train my body separately to improve my own stats?"
He sat in his real body, pondering the question. Just as he was about to test the thought
The entire ship suddenly jolted. Silas lost his footing and crashed hard onto the floor.
"What the ? Did we hit a reef?"
He scrambled up quickly and scanned for damage. But no there was no water rushing in, no cracks or holes in sight.
Then he heard it. The unmistakable clash of steel, the shouting of men, the thundering of boots. Fighting.
Pirates.
His eyes narrowed. It could only mean trouble had come.
Silas slipped quietly out from the warehouse, climbing upward toward the deck. At the heavy cabin door, he pressed a hand against the wood and slowly pushed, just enough to crack it open.
He squinted, peering through the narrow gap.
Sure enough, a group of men dressed in strange, ragged garb pirates stood on deck. Weapons gleamed in their hands, the cold light of blades flashing as they clashed violently with the cargo ship's sailors.
The scene before him was brutal. Steel rang against steel, screams mingled with the roar of battle, and blood sprayed across the planks.
The deck was already drenched crimson, bodies scattered in the chaos. Severed limbs littered the floor. It looked less like a ship and more like the entrance to hell itself.
At that moment, the ship's owner the older man from the inner quarters was panting heavily. He clutched a magic book in his trembling hands, flipping through its pages as he fired weak bursts of water bullets at the pirates.
But he was already over fifty years old. His body was frail, his magic reserves nearly depleted. The water bullets he launched were sluggish and weak, barely slowing the enemy down.
"Yes!"
An idea flashed through Silas Frost's mind, his eyes lighting up. He shoved the cabin door wide open.
The creak of the door drew attention immediately. Several people turned toward him, but when they saw only a weak-looking child, they dismissed him at once.
"Uncle! Do you need help?!" Silas shouted toward the ship's master. "I know magic! If you hire me, I can help you fight the pirates!"
"Little brat, run while you can!" the uncle barked back, clearly not taking him seriously. He had no idea that Silas possessed Accept Magic.
Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Silas smacked his lips. "Tch. Guess I'll have to prove it."
In an instant, his form shifted Accept Magic activated. His body transformed into Inuyasha's image.
A powerful surge of energy coursed through his veins. Silas crouched low, his sharp claws digging into the blood-soaked deck.
"Blades of Blood!"
He slashed violently, and the blood clinging to his claws erupted outward. In a flash, it split into several razor-thin crimson blades that tore through the air like deadly slashes.
His claws struck true, slashing down a pirate who hadn't even reacted before collapsing to the deck.
The sudden display instantly drew every eye. Two massive pirate brutes roared, raising their greatswords high as they charged straight for Silas.
But Silas's legs tensed, and the Inuyasha card's power surged through him. With a mighty leap, he bounced away effortlessly, dodging their blades with ease. In the same motion, he retreated back toward the older man's side.
"Little brat, you're strong!" the ship's master exclaimed, eyes shining with surprise. "Then I'll trouble you to help me deal with these pirates!"
"No, no, no this isn't charity." Silas shook his head firmly. "I only fight for hire. Two hundred thousand Jewels, and I'll wipe them out."
"Two hundred thousand?! Why don't you just rob me?!" the uncle's eyes bulged in disbelief.
"They're robbing you. I'm helping." Silas casually pointed at the pirates.
"…One hundred thousand," the man gritted out through clenched teeth. He knew that an extra fighter could turn the tide and the boy's strength didn't look bad at all.
"One hundred eighty thousand. That's my lowest price."
Silas stepped back, calculating in his mind. He still had 290 Spirit Stones. One hundred eighty thousand Jewels could be exchanged for 1,800 more Spirit Stones enough for two more ten-pulls!
"Any lower, and I won't move. Uncle, do you really want your entire shipment lost to these pirates?"
The shipmaster's face went red with frustration. Finally, he roared, "Fine! One hundred eighty thousand Jewels! But if you can't handle them, don't expect me to pay in full!"
"That's right."
Silas grinned, his eyes glittering as if golden light and a brilliant red card were waving toward him.
Just then, a pirate rushed in. Silas exploded forward like lightning, his claws slashing down.
"Iron Reaver Soul Stealer!"
The claws ripped across the man's body with a terrible tearing sound, carving five deep wounds down to the bone. The pirate shrieked in agony, blood spraying as Silas's hands dripped crimson.
"Blades of Blood!"
With a sweeping slash, several razor-thin blood blades shot outward. Pirates scrambled to defend themselves, raising weapons in a desperate attempt to block the deadly arcs.
Some pirates managed to block, but the difference in quality was obvious. Those with good weapons barely parried, while those with poor ones had their blades sliced clean in half by the Blood Blades followed by their bodies being slashed to the ground. Blood quickly soaked across the deck.
Silas Frost alternated between Iron Reaver Soul Stealer and Blades of Blood, his attacks flowing seamlessly. He was like a tiger pouncing into a flock of sheep every swipe, every strike tore through the enemy ranks.
The killing power was terrifying. Against him, these pirates stood no chance.
Watching them fall one after another, Silas couldn't help but sigh inwardly at the sheer power of a yellow card. Without Inuyasha's card, relying only on a white card like Satan, the best he could have done was defeat one or two pirates. But this this was an entirely different level. The gap between a white card and a yellow card was enormous, enough to inspire awe.
The uncle and sailors who had been watching were left stunned. In their hearts, they could only feel respect.
"This… this is a true mage. Even if he looks like just a child, once he commands magic power, his strength is beyond what pirates like these could ever resist!"
The pirate crew had been slaughtered to pieces. The survivors panicked, retreating in terror back to their own ship. Cutting the ropes on the side of the vessel, they fled without even daring to look back.
Silas stood amidst a pool of blood, his breathing heavy. He could feel his magic draining, exhaustion creeping over him. Finally, he dropped his transformation, returning to his normal form.
Turning to the uncle, he smiled cheekily. "Mission complete, Uncle. Don't forget my reward!"
The older man carefully closed his magic book, then gave Silas a measuring glance. "I won't forget. I'll give it to you later."
Hearing that, Silas laughed even brighter.
One hundred eighty thousand Jewels. That meant two more ten-pulls! With that kind of strength up ahead, his power was destined to surge once again.