Some sailors stared, dumbfounded.
Suddenly, a massive object fell from the sky, crashing heavily onto the ship and smashing the Kirk vessel into a chaotic wreck. Enormous tentacles emerged from underwater, entwining the hull like chains and constricting it tightly. Bit by bit, it was pulled towards the seabed.
In the blink of an eye, the main ship sank to the seabed. The captain, first mate, and the others were utterly powerless to retaliate. The other ships fled in panic.
Huge waves erupted on the water's surface. Among the waves, merfolk and terrifying monsters swarmed towards the ships like a tide. After several waves crashed over them, the ships continuously broke apart. When the sea surface became calm again, only floating planks of wood and corpses remained. Underneath the floating corpses, packs of merfolk were tearing at the bodies, devouring their innards and flesh.
Underwater, countless dark figures swam about, as dense and numerous as innumerable weeds.
「In a certain sea region.」
The calm water parted to both sides under the influence of an invisible force, revealing a passage. A tall merman, nearly three meters in height, slowly walked out from it. Its eyes were a clear, azure blue, like jewels or ancient blue Ice Crystals. Its hair was twisted and wild like seabed tentacles, each strand seemingly filled with strength and murderous intent. Upon leaving the water, its lower half gradually transformed into legs, stepping onto an island.
The island had numerous buildings; clearly, many inhabitants once lived there. But now, the buildings had collapsed. Corpses were strewn across the ruins. Mermen squatted atop the bodies, gnawing at flesh, with intestines and organs carelessly discarded around them.
The burly merman stepped through the mire, moving forward step by step, eventually stopping before a trembling young man.
"Human," it bowed its head slightly, speaking slowly, "I need a guide."
"You... you..." The young man looked terrified, stammering, "You can talk?"
"Of course." The burly merman grinned, a strange smile on its face. "You're not hallucinating."
「Tortuga Island. Pirate Island.」
An overwhelming shadow poured in from all directions, turning the already somber sky pitch black. An invisible, deadly aura permeated the air.
In taverns, rooms, and stables, bustling pirates emerged one after another, staring blankly at the sky.
"All of a sudden, the sky has darkened. Could Freedom Port be launching a surprise attack on us?"
The crowd murmured, quietly gathering. Even pirates who didn't trust each other would subconsciously band together when facing the unknown, for there was strength in numbers.
「In the middle of the island.」
The Pirate King, a man with a full beard, put down the wine cup in his hand, his expression grim as he walked step by step to the door.
The Longsword at his waist seemed to sense something and trembled wildly.
"Erdis." The Pirate King grasped the hilt, his eyes shimmering with a fervent fighting spirit. "What's meant to come, will always come. It's been over a decade since we fought side by side, hasn't it?"
"Today, you can finally taste blood again!"
The bloodthirsty cursed sword Erdis unsheathed with a metallic ring. A blood-red hue appeared, and a fierce murderous aura surged forth.
"Charge!" the Pirate King roared to the heavens. "Break out and flee! Tell the others that the will of the Evil God has awakened!"
With his roar, he leaped dozens of meters, his Longsword dancing, scattering countless blood-colored sword lights. They also illuminated the monsters hidden in the darkness: an ape over ten meters tall covered in white fur; a freakish, twisted shark that looked as if fused from multiple creatures; and a terrifying monster with insect-like segmented limbs but two heads.
Terror! Strangeness! Madness and chaos intertwined.
Loud clashes erupted, and screams echoed in all directions.
The darkness dissipated. The once-prosperous Tortuga Island, a holy land in the hearts of countless pirates, was reduced to ruins.
「In the center of the ruins.」
The broken Erdis was thrust diagonally into the ground. The Pirate King lay nearby, his eyes wide in a furious glare, already lifeless. The sea breeze howled, sweeping up dust, fallen leaves, and his wind-tossed hair; the haunting sound was like a dirge for the pirates.
A tremendous figure appeared on the scene, stepping over the Pirate King's body and looking towards Freedom Port.
"I can finally return."
Catherine had become a follower of the Master of Dawn. Wizard companions, through constant exposure to their partners, were mostly unbelievers, though some were casual believers. But Catherine seemed more like a fanatic, a devotee who would offer everything to the Divines.
Hibell never mentioned it; perhaps she doesn't know either, Carl thought, shaking his head and focusing on what was before him. It was rare for Wizard companions to worship Divines, and not worth too much of his attention.
Before him lay the skeleton of a Legendary Creature—only bones remained. It was a collectible from the Dragon King Chamber of Commerce. This skeleton belonged to a 'Cerberus,' a Legendary Creature with three deformed heads. Each head could spew attacks of different attributes and possessed a degree of intelligence.
Multi-headed creatures are a major taboo for flesh Wizards, Carl mused. He dropped a piece of bone into a container, observing the changes while flipping through a book for comparison. Transformation into a multi-headed creature can easily lead to a fractured psyche. Unless one cultivates specialized mental wizardry, it's not recommended.