In the distance.
Across the sea.
A line of pirate ships loomed at the edge of the horizon. Their menacing cannons roared, unleashing volleys of blazing red shells that streaked across the sky like falling meteors—straight into Raven Harbor.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
In a heartbeat, the once-prosperous port descended into chaos. Fires erupted in every direction. Screams tore through the smoke-choked air as the survivors watched their world unravel.
"Pirates! The pirates are coming!"
"Help!"
"The navy—we have the navy in port! We'll be okay!"
A glimmer of hope sparked in the panicked crowd, only to die as they turned toward the supposed protectors.
The two navy warships moored in the harbor had been caught in the first salvo. Flames devoured their hulls, and their crews were already retreating in disarray.
"Run!"
That was all it took. Panic broke loose. People scattered in all directions, diving behind bunkers or bolting toward the city gates.
The towering stone walls—once a symbol of safety—now seemed fragile and insignificant before the distant tide of steel and fire.
Ships that hadn't yet been destroyed were swallowed by flames in mere moments.
In the heart of the chaos, Gin stood motionless. Flames danced all around him, their heat licking at his pale face. He had just finished preparing the defenses when the bombardment began—far sooner than expected.
"Lord Gin! Lord Pearl... Lord Pearl is still on the ship!"
A panicked pirate cried out, staring in horror at the flaming vessel. He tried to charge toward it, but the inferno blocked his path.
He could only listen helplessly to the agonized screams from within, powerless to act.
"Who did this?!"
"The navy? No... no matter how corrupt they are, even they wouldn't do this."
"Was it one of the other pirate crews that came with us? But their ship was hit too..."
The men looked around anxiously, each offering theories, but none reaching the truth.
None, except Gin.
He remained silent, tugging at the headscarf around his neck, his jaw clenched. He couldn't understand it—couldn't accept it. This wasn't just a mistake.
This was betrayal.
Even pirates were supposed to protect their own.
But then, from the burning wreckage, a towering figure stumbled out, carrying two charred bodies in his arms. He leapt into the sea with a splash.
"It's Lord Pearl!"
"He's alive!"
The men dove into the water to help him, but as they pulled him ashore, the cheers died.
Gin pushed his way through the crowd—and froze.
The man before him was unrecognizable.
Pearl's carefully styled hair was gone, burned to ash. His skin had been peeled away by the flames, leaving raw flesh and the stench of burning meat.
"Brother Gin... it hurts..."
His voice was faint, barely audible.
Gin instinctively reached out to comfort him—only to stop, realizing there was no unburned skin left to touch.
"Hahh..."
Pearl struggled to breathe, his eyes clouded with pain and smoke.
"Are... are they alive? The two I saved?"
Gin glanced at the two bloodied, unconscious bodies and forced himself to nod.
"They've lost consciousness, but they're still alive."
Pearl let out a raspy breath and smiled weakly.
"That's good. I just... I can't see anything anymore."
His head turned slightly toward Gin.
"Brother Gin, leave this place. Leave him."
"I've known about it for a long time. In his eyes, there are no comrades—only tools. Disposable tools. This time it was me. Next time, it could be you."
Gin didn't respond. He stood frozen, his head bowed, teeth clenched so hard he tasted blood.
Seeing his silence, Pearl gave a bitter smile.
"Still so loyal... so stupid. It's time to live for yourself…"
Those were his last words.
His breath stilled. His broken body finally gave out.
A heavy silence followed.
Then, Gin rose slowly.
He wiped his face with the back of his hand. His expression was calm—but his eyes burned with resolve.
"The captain made a mistake. We won't betray him—but we will correct him."
"Move out!"
"Yes, sir!"
The men answered in unison.
With Gin leading, the pirates sprang into action. Navigating through flames and crumbling walls, they moved like ghosts across the battlefield—striking exactly where they had planned.
Ammunition depots exploded one by one. Guards, barely organized, were caught in sudden ambushes. Within minutes, most of the city's critical defenses had fallen under Gin's control.
And then he turned—to face another figure.
Kuro.
Kuro had just arrived, his coat singed by the fire that still consumed his ship. He looked up at the flaming wreck with hollow eyes.
Thankfully, he had been cautious earlier and avoided total disaster. But several crew members—brothers he had trained personally—had still been lost.
Their screams had faded now.
Replaced by cold silence.
A silence that sharpened Kuro's killing intent into something primal.
Over a decade at sea, and he had never suffered a loss like this.
These weren't just pirates—they were Gawain's elite. His next generation. And now they were gone.
"I'll cut you down first... then kill that bastard Krieg."
Kuro's voice was calm, razor-sharp, and final.
His ten claw-like blades slid from their sheaths with a metallic hiss.
Clang!
This time, there would be no one to stop him.
"Die."
The next instant, Kuro vanished.
His presence didn't.
The air crackled with invisible force as his killing intent surged in all directions.
Swish!
Five gleaming claw marks tore up from the ground, nearly slicing Gin in two.
"So fast!"
Pain exploded in Gin's side. His instincts roared to life as adrenaline flooded his veins.
He caught only fleeting glimpses—a blur of black and steel. Kuro's movement was erratic, unpredictable, faster than anything Gin had ever encountered.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Blades tore through the walls, the ground, even the bodies nearby.
This was a monster. The strongest enemy Gin had ever faced.
There was no pattern to his attack—only speed.
Desperation driving him, Gin began spinning the metal staff in his hands. It became a blur of motion, a rotating shield of pure momentum.
Because if he didn't defend—
He would die!