"Whoosh!"
The roaring wind howled in Anderson's ears.
He looked down to see nothing beneath his feet, only golden seawater rapidly retreating behind them.
Looking ahead, the black-sailed ship was gradually drawing closer.
"This is dangerous… and thrilling," Anderson thought. Then, suddenly, he felt himself being pulled down as Silas descended rapidly toward the pirate ship.
On the ship that was quickly growing larger, Anderson saw the rowdy pirates on deck.
Some were waving cutlasses, others raised their guns and fired at them. Smoke rose from the muzzles, but the bullets were sluggish, unable to catch up with them.
At the bow of the black-sailed ship stood a man of medium build. Because they were falling too quickly, Anderson couldn't make out his features clearly.
He only felt that the man's eyes seemed filled with intense malice.
"Thud."
Anderson's mental activity lasted only the briefest instant before Silas brought him down to the middle of the deck, right into the center of the pirates' encirclement.
"Kill them!"
The pirates were fierce and savage, giving them no time to react. The moment the two landed, they rushed forward, weapons slashing toward various parts of their bodies.
Just a rabble without any Beyonder abilities. Watch me clear them out quickly...
Anderson was just about to use his abilities to deal with them when he suddenly saw everything turn blood red before his eyes.
"Bang!"
In an instant, a large circular area around them emptied out.
The pirates who had been baring their fangs and claws at them one second exploded into fireworks of blood and flesh the next, scattering across the deck with a splash.
Fear swept through like the wind, and the previously noisy deck suddenly fell silent.
Everyone was staring at the center, at the man wearing blood-red robes.
Many of the pirates' faces showed bewilderment, as if unable to accept what had just happened.
The pirates looked at Silas, and Silas looked back at them. He swept his gaze across this group one by one.
Sequence 6 at most, and a few even lower. However, their bodies also carry a more filthy and depraved aura. Wonder where that comes from...
He then shifted his gaze to the bow, where the man standing there seemed to be the ship's leader.
This person wore a linen shirt under a dark jacket, with purple lips and eyes filled with intense malice that he tried hard to suppress but couldn't completely hide.
Now, beneath that malice was a touch of fear.
"'Immortal King's' second mate, 'Slaughterer' Kircheis!" As an adventurer and bounty hunter, Anderson immediately recognized this regular on wanted posters. "The Loen Kingdom's official bounty is 9,500 pounds!"
9,500 pounds? That's half my cash reserves...
Silas thought, sizing up his opponent. Using his Shepherd ability, he sensed that the other party was a Sequence 5 Beyonder.
Shepherd the soul, sell the body for the bounty...
Just then, Kircheis at the bow spoke up.
"...Blood Reverend?"
He asked tentatively.
Silas glanced up at him.
This guy actually figured out who I am?
During the raid on Sodlark Palace, I did modify my appearance. He probably guessed based on my aura...
'Blood Reverend'... Is that Gascoigne's title...? Must be a recent development.
Is this title famous?
Anderson wondered to himself.
Having been trapped in these waters, he hadn't received new information in a long time.
He certainly didn't know about the madman who had declared war on the Loen royal family over a bunch of useless commoners.
"I'll leave this side to you," Silas said, ignoring him and speaking to Anderson instead. "That guy is mine."
"Calm down, don't make a move. The 'Immortal King' greatly admires your madness. If you join us, you'll definitely receive excellent treatment..."
Sweat seeped from Kircheis's back as he tried hard to persuade them. He knew his odds were slim, so he could only use this method to stall for time.
Just as Silas suspected, Kircheis had ventured a guess that he was the [Blood Reverend] based on Silas's abilities and condition.
He had hoped to use this to intimidate his opponent and increase his negotiating leverage, but unfortunately, the other party wasn't buying it.
"Swish!"
Silas's response to Kircheis was a blazing spear formed from crimson flames.
He ignored the other's attempts at persuasion and, following through on his earlier division of labor with Anderson, launched an attack.
Kircheis dodged the strike, anger gradually rising on his face. He was the second mate to a Pirate King! How dare they treat him like this!
"Boom!"
His body suddenly swelled, rapidly tearing through his clothing.
In the blink of an eye, Kircheis transformed into a massive creature nearly three meters tall.
His skin turned deep black and sinister, his eyes crimson and filled with malice.
Curved goat horns sprouted from his head, covered in strange mystical patterns.
Bat wings grew from his back, and pale blue flames floated around him, filling the air with a strong sulfuric smell.
Demonization!
Kircheis was a Sequence 5 "Apostle of Desire"!
No wonder he suddenly stopped chasing.
It was because "Danger Premonition" automatically triggered, informing him that there were dangerous characters on the approaching ship...
Just then, a flash of crimson light passed through Kircheis's eyes, and he spoke:
"Death!"
It was the profane language of demons, a curse filled with intense malice!
Silas's body swayed violently, blood streaming from his eyes and nose simultaneously.
However, the impact he received was far lower than Kircheis had anticipated!
The other party quickly steadied himself and cast a contemptuous look his way.
"That's it?" His tone even carried a hint of disappointment.
Impossible!
What did I get wrong?
Kircheis couldn't help but wonder. Without hesitation, he immediately began his next attack.
"Swish, swish!"
Numerous pale blue fireballs rapidly formed around him, about to shoot toward Silas!
The pale blue firelight illuminated his demonic form, making him look terrifying and eerie.
Silas spoke:
"Go die."
The same profane words, the same curse.
"Ahhh..."
Kircheis screamed in pain, feeling as if his brain had been pierced by a board studded with red-hot nails!
The language the other party spoke was far more profane and insane than his own, making it unbearable even for a demon like him!
"Boom!"
The fireballs exploded out of control, flames instantly engulfing his body!
"Whoosh!"
Violent wind shook and roared, dispersing the flames.
It was the gale Kircheis created by flapping his wings, using this method to drive away the fire spreading across his body.
Burns of varying severity appeared all over his body, but they weren't fatal. Instead, they ignited explosive rage within him.
I'll fight this guy to the death!
Kircheis thought, drawing his lava longsword and activating Desire Incarnation, preparing to go all out against his opponent!
But the spot where Silas had been standing was now empty.
Kircheis stared at the empty space, when suddenly Silas's phantom form appeared in his eyes.
Possession!