Ohoy, hearties! I know it's been mighty long and I'm sorry for not giving any sign of life in the last five months. Truth is, I did not expect the wave of complications that would follow the pandemic (including me getting sick). And adjusting to life and my new job made me realize that I am not as good at multitasking as I initially thought. But, as I've said before, I have no intention of giving up on this story. So I apologies once more for the frustrating tardiness and hope you'll all enjoy this chapter.

'Nough stallin', let get to readin'!

In a pure survival reflex, I release him and jump back as far as I can and then some. Even the crew takes a couple of steps back upon witnessing the phenomena. I stare in awe at the bright turquoise blue eyes staring back at me. It only means trouble for me and yet, a part of me can't help but think about how majestic he looks in this moment. My jaw trembles as I attempt to push the one word out.

"H-How…"

He's not protecting anyone. How is this possible? Unless, he sees me as a threat to the crew? No, that's doesn't seem right either… They're close, but as friends and partners, not family.

"There is still much you've forgotten about the Shayee, Yugi." He says, eying me with those furious eyes. "The Stream is contagious. Whenever a Shayee awakens, any other who sees them can awaken as well. And this applies even more when it comes to kindred souls."

"Kindred…souls?" I mumble back.

He quickly glances away, clicking his tongue on his teeth in annoyance as if he said something he shouldn't have. But it's too late. I heard every word. Deep down, the Shayee in me knew the moment I laid eyes on him that he meant something to me. And now I'm certain. That need to trust him, the warmth unlike any other in my chest when I realized what he was, the irresistible soothing presence he provided me with, even when I still knew nothing of him… Yes, even then, this stranger was somehow meant to be the dearest person to my heart. Even more than Seto and Mokuba, even more than the family I lost twelve years ago.

'Not all Shayee refer to each other as part of the other's soul', is what he had told me.

It was never metaphorical. He truly was a part of my soul. How kind and cruel can fate be all at once? To have two halves survive a tragedy and find each other only for them to stand on opposing sides. And once again, the blatantly obvious realization that my words wouldn't reach him falls upon me.

"So you're truly willing to throw away everything?" I ask, my voice breaking.

"I believe I've made myself clear multiple times. This part of me has died in the fire that claimed the lives of the Shayee. A fire that monster behind you started."

My heart rate increases again, pumping my blood and the Stream faster and faster within my body. It's keeping me focused and yet, the hurricane of emotions whirl-winding within me is threatening to tear me to shreds. And the only way not to give into hopelessness, is to choose anger instead.

"Have you now? Then what about me?" I ask, clenching my teeth. "If you are part of my soul, then I'm a part of yours as well. Following your logic and your resolve, you must discard me as well. Because the one part of you that has never given up its Shayee-self, is right here with me!"

My free hand clutches my dress over my heart, accompanying the painful sensation crushing it. Finally, his frown retracts ever so slightly, leaving way to that suspicious glare I know so well. I wipe my face with the back of my hand.

"Do you remember my oath, Atem ?" I remind him. "I said I'd save you from yourself. And I have no intention of relenting either. So here is my ultimatum; if you want Seto, you have to kill me first."

Lightening lights up the grey sky and thunder rumbles above our heads again while not a peep is being uttered aboard the Millennium. Endless streams of tears flow out of my eyes and I no longer have the will or the means to stop them. They are the only way for despair to leave my heart and not choke me from the inside. Atem's eyes are finally wide with outrage, as if he couldn't believe the enormity of my statement. But his frown quickly returns and I can see his body shaking with rage. Despite that, he manages to sound calm. Frighteningly so.

"Surely, you jest. We may stand on equal ground when it comes to strength and speed thanks to the Stream, but I still far surpass you in swordplay. How do you expect to win against me? I don't have to take your life to force you out of the way."

I knew this would be his answer. How could it not? What Shayee would willingly agree to kill one of their kin?

"Whoever said anything about dueling?" I reply attempting to sound just as cold with little success.

Slowly, I make my way to him, until there's but a foot left between us. Before he can realize what is happening, I reach for the blade of his cutlass and direct the tip at my throat. The moment I do, a cold shiver spreads throughout my body and a bone-shattering weight presses down on my shoulders while my throat feels dry as a desert. The thought that I might very well die at the hand of my own kind… is atrocious. But wether its this or letting him kill Seto and losing himself forever in the process, the result would be the same. I wouldn't survive feeling this void a second time.

"Go ahead, captain," I say, forcing myself to look him in the eye and thanking the rain for hiding my tears. "Accomplish your oath. Show your resolve. I'm all that stands between you and your revenge, am I not?"

He's no longer shaking. His beautiful bright eyes look back at me with pure dismay and for once, my eloquent kin is speechless. An eternity seems to go by. Finally, he attempts to pull his blade away, but I clench it with all of my inhuman strength. Quickly a flow of red leaks from my palm onto the deck, prompting him to stop.

"Go on then." My voice cracks mid-sentence again. "One thrust, that's all you need. I won't even feel it with the Stream. I won't dodge, I promise. Go on. Do it!"

I take a few quick step. They would've impaled me if Atem wasn't mirroring my movements and backing away as quickly as I moved. Still no words leave him. Besides moving to keep me from running the blade through my throat, he seems to be paralyzed. A painful squeeze to my heart nearly makes me wince and a quick pounding rings in my ears. I can't tell if it's my heart or his.

"What are you waiting for? Get it over with already!" I shout despite trembling with fear.

Finally, his empty eyes light up once more and in an odd mixture of panic and anger, he clenches his teeth. I begin to take another step…. and then I find myself kicked back by means of a foot to the stomach. With the strength of the Stream, I roll all the way back to the mainmast, dropping Drainer in the process.

"Yugi!" calls out Moki's voice.

"Have you lost your mind?" shouts Atem. "Wake up already! That scum took everything from you. From us! And you'd give up your life for him without a second thought? You absolute fool!"

I don't answer, and push myself back to my feet with more difficulty than I thought. Having the air knocked out of me is by no means agreeable. I can't feel the pain but the bruises forming on my body and the pressure on my shoulder make me feel heavier. A filet of blood leaks from my head and my vision is slightly blurry. Nonetheless, I stand as more desperate words reach my ears.

"Stop this," says Seto, having dropped all pretense from earlier. "You'll accomplish nothing."

I look at him. My savior, my brother and the one who has deceived me… Never have I seen Seto this much on the verge of breaking. His usually cold blue eyes openly display fear and tension. And I know. I know everything I believe is the truth. Yes… It's my turn to save him. Instead of a reply, I grace him with a pathetic smile before turning back to my kin, more determined than ever.

"Why do you do this?" asks Atem, shaking his head. "You should despise him for his crimes!"

"Then why didn't you let me kill him?" I ask back. "I was going to, but you stopped me. You would have gotten your revenge. Your oath would've been fulfilled. So why?"

Once again, I'm met with silence. My suspicions are confirmed. He's no longer thinking rationally. Only with the hate and anger he's accumulated over the years of solitude and regret.

"You stopped me because, deep down, you know," I continue. "You know that I would fall to that awful place you're all wallowing in. And you don't want that. Just as I don't want you to remain there any longer."

Finally, I see realization light up his face. He understands now that I will never let him go through with this. The words barely make it out of his clenched teeth. They come out as a desperate whisper.

"Enough already. Don't be a fool…"

"You're the fool if you think this is only about Seto," I snap back. "If I let you go through with this, I'll lose you forever as well. And I would rather die than let either of those things happen. Not while I still draw breath."

"You can't win," he states, somehow having regain part of his rationality to bargain with me. "Not against all of us."

"Perhaps not. But I'm a Shayee with everything to lose. And I'm all prepared to verify that theory of yours."

I turn my wounded palm to the sky, watching the rain wash away the blood for a moment. I can't even begin to fathom the shape my body is in as of now. If anything, this final fight of mine will be physically painless.

Then a familiar clicking sound reaches my ears.

"YUGI, LOOK OUT!" shouts Mokuba.

I turn my head just time to see Bakura pointing a pistol in my direction. My thoughts react as swiftly as my body does when I duck and feel the bullet graze my temple. What an idiot! I was a fool to think a wounded shoulder would keep the murderous quartermaster down for long. But at the present moment, I can't spare any time taking my eyes off Atem. So I let my instincts decide for me. I dash forward. He unsheathes his cutlass but its too late. I push the quartermaster as hard as I can…. he falls back and tumbles overboard, cursing me to hell. And while some of the crewmen already move to come to his aid, I pick up his fallen blade, and return to my initial spot in front of the mainmast as fast as I can, surprised that Atem hasn't used the opportunity.

I think I'm beginning to understand why our kind is dubbed 'devils'. Because no matter what, I believe I can go to any length to protect my family. My lack of hesitation pushing Bakura into the sea of uncertain waves proves it. I know the Stream in me wouldn't hesitate to deal out death. To anyone but my kin that is. The thought is nauseating.

"Be careful all of you," I warn, eying the crew and without an ounce of threat in my words. "Shayee would rather watch the world burn than let anything happen to their loved ones."

I hope with all my heart that "threat" of mine is enough to keep the rest of the crew at bay. I then focus on Atem. Though he probably can't see them with the rain, a new flow tears escape my eyes. There's no more running from this. I take a deep breath, praying to all our fallen kin and God to bring me guidance.

"If you want your revenge, the price is my life," I reiterate.

"Don't be ridicu—"

I didn't let him finish. For the first time in history of our confrontations, I attack first but the speed surprises even myself. As I slip passed him and slice my blade across his cheek, it's as if the rain is suspended in the air and everyone around, paralyzed. While it's understandable that the rest of the crew would have trouble reacting as fast as a fully awakened Shayee, Atem's surprise seems to have frozen him in place. Had I aimed for his throat, he'd presently be drowning in a pool of his own blood. Just having put that scar on his face makes me sick to my stomach. I'm not meant to feel pain with the Stream flowing through me and yet… I can swear I feel the sting of the cut I just made on my own cheek.

"There's only one rule for this duel," I state. "The one who manages to kill the other gets what they want."

This is where it all comes to an end. In the middle of the sea, lost in the thickest of fogs, on a ship full of broken men lusting for revenge. I look at him… and smile a joyless smile, through a river of tears and rain. Bringing my bloody hand to my face, I press my baby finger to my lips to make this promise.

"Don't worry," I tell him, throwing back to him the words he'd told me before our first duel. "I've no intention of taking your life."

I bring my sword up and salute.

Seto's POV

The slightest movement made it feel as if my skin was getting ripped off. The bruises on top of the sunburns only dissuaded me from trying to move at all. Even breathing made it hurt. All within expectations of course. After starving myself for three days, letting Gozaburo's dogs pummel me to create enough bruises and finally, drifting for hours in the scorching sun of the Caribbean in a purpously half-destroyed rowboat, I'd passed out. That too was within expectations.

Of course after studying the currents near Shayee island for weeks, I knew they'd take me to their waters. Evidently, my plan worked since I'd woken up here, in this hut-like habitation of white stones. I was alone. I couldn't move so my vision was limited to the ceiling. To avoid passing out again, I jogged my memory and closed my eyes, reminding myself why I was here. But the pain wouldn't let me focus and instead, mother came to mind. I could see her sickly pale face smiling at me and wishing me luck for my supposed business trip with the baron while she held a few days-old Mokuba in her arms. With the taste of disgust on my tongue, I fell back into unconsciousness.

When I opened my eyes again, there was something looming over me. My blurry eyes only discerned the figure of a woman… as well as long flowing tricolored hair. Locks of prune-colored and pink locks intertwined with strands of golden blond. I didn't have to fake my surprise or fright. In my delirium caused by the pain, it was as if an otherworldly monster stood before me. Despite the protests of my body I tried to get away.

"Don't be afraid," the woman said to me with a smile as soft as her voice. "My name is Heba. I am the head-shaman of the Shayee and you are safe, on our island."

The shock made me incapable of answering and the pain made tears stream from my eyes. It was probably this pathetic sight of mine that made it so easy to convince them that I was but a frightened lost child. The Shayee woman didn't press me for answers. Instead, she reassured me as she helped me back upon the mattress. First she helped me drink clean water then she applied a sort of balm to my burns while she spoke.

"It's alright, child. No harm will come to you here. I promise."

As far as I recalled, I always hated being touched by anyone other than mother. But in that moment, in that state… I'd never felt something as soothing as that reassuring voice and motherly touch. Before I knew it, I was drifting back towards sleep, lulled by the care and words of this complete stranger without an ounce of mistrust. I learned later that this quality was in fact a trait of these creatures.

My newfound peace was disrupted by the quick pace of running footsteps approaching and a natural defensive reflex sprung me out of my sleep. It tried to move, but the pain sent me right back down. A boy whose hair was also an eccentric mix of colors, entered the stone hut. He seemed a few years older than me and was out of breath but had obvious delight on his face.

"Mother," he shouted before noticing me. "So it's true. Father told me he'd found a castaway."

My muscle's tensed when he approached and knelt down beside me, his red eyes lit up with curiosity. He opened his mouth to speak and no doubt ask questions, but the woman grabbed his arm and pulled him away.

"No, you don't, your highness," she scolded firmly despite her soft voice. "At the moment, our guest needs to rest and eat."

"Please mother," begged the boy. "Only a few questions…"

"I said no, Atem. You'll have all the time you want to ask questions about the outland once he's recovered. If you want to make that quicker, then go ask your father to make some food for him. Run along now."

She pinched his nose between her fingers and his pout instantly turned to a laugh and he playfully pushed her away before running along. My fists and my jaw clenched all at once as a stray thought crossed my mind : why couldn't I have been born here? The pain from contracting my muscles made me wince and more tears left my eyes. Immediately, the shaman was back by my side. She applied more balm on my torso, arms and face, before gently massaging my hair and skull.

"It'll take a little time for the balm to soothe the pain," she explained with a sorry tone. "You'll have to endure for a while, I'm sorry. I'll be right here with you."

Don't. Don't be sorry. Don't treat me like I'm just a child. Like I'm not bringing disaster with me. My chest began hurting more than the rest and more tears fell out. Were sunburns always this painful?

"Take your mind somewhere else," she suggested."Can you tell me your name? Where are you from?"

"I….I…Se…"

I could've told her, right then and there. Tell her what was coming. Who was coming. All I had to do was push the words out. But my mother came to mind. They had the same eyes. The same way to look at their progeny. And the thought of her and Mokuba alone with that bastard I had to call father…

"I…don't know," my voice cracked as the lie slipped out. "Can't…remember…"

She threw herself at him again, even harder than before, forcing the captain of the Millennium to fight back. The clashing of their blade somehow impeccably match the rumbling thunder and striking lightening, making it seem as if this storm is their doing. A spectacle worthy of the greatest tragedies, showered by the sky's tears. All eyes are on them, incapable of turning away from the stunningly sorrowful sight. Even Mokuba seems to have stopped breathing.

They move so fast, like felines. Vicious and unyielding in their strikes, yet flexible and inhumanly elegant in their movement. To follow their frenzied and dangerous dance, I can't spare a blink. For the first time in twelve years, I see what shook Gansley twelve years ago. Yugi always was kindness incarnate, wise and pure, just like her people. Ready to give an arm and a leg to assist anyone who needed help… Unless it came at the cost of their kin. Now I know what those scumbags felt that night when they came face to face with hundreds of blue-eyed devils who'd do anything to protect their own.

Yugi… this isn't how it was supposed to unfold. She was meant to pass rightful judgement, not risk her bloody life for me.

The fight is odd to say the least. She's attacking, forcing him to retaliate, but she always makes sure not hit any vital spots. And while he tries to simply push her away, her persistence doesn't allow him to relent. If this keeps up… they might end up impaling each other.

Focus, damn it! Stop looking at them and think!

I bite into my lip until i taste blood, forcing myself to look away from the deadly dance. None of the pirates seem disposed to take me out. That would make everything so much easier. If you want something done right… Lifting my foot along the mast to reach my hand with the limited flexibility of my legs stretches my muscles painfully, but I'm far past the point of caring about pain. When my hand makes contact with the heel, I take the flat blade out of the sole. A precautionary measure that finally pays off. But it nearly slips through my grasp with how much my hand is trembling.

Focus, you idiot!

Readjusting the blade in my hand, I slip it under the rope connecting my bound wrists and begin sawing at it. Meanwhile, I look at the men closest to me. On my right is the one protecting Mokuba, the partially morphed wolf-man who seems as hypnotized as the rest of them. A few next to him are throwing a rope ladder overboard to help the albino from the sea, I wager. On my left, is an asian man with a couple of pistols at his belt.

Just what I need. One of the advantages of this bloody mess is that their eyes aren't on me. Finally, the rope yields. I don't wait for someone to notice. I slip the small blade in my belt and spring forward towards the edge of the ship, snatching a pistol from the asian man on the way.

Before the pirates can break away from the fight, I jump on the edge of the ship, hooking my arm onto the rope ladder leading up the mast for support and bring the fingers of my free hand to my mouth.

The strident whistling earns me the full attention of the deck. Finally, the two Shayee cease their deadly dance and both eye me with shock in their bright blue eyes. A few of the pirates try to reach me but stop when I point the gun at them.

"Don't move," I order, stopping them in their tracks. "I'm a better shot than I look."

"Seto…" I look up to meet Yugi's suddenly terrified gaze.

Of course, she already knows. She always had such sharp intuition that I always wondered why she didn't suspect anything all those years. Most likely because of that blind trust of hers. But this is the only way this ends with justice and limited bloodshed.

I let out one last sigh before raising the gun.

Yugi's POV

Just when I thought I had reached the worst possible outcome of this tragic affair, the tides of fate take another turn. I was waiting for my other half to run me through and now, all the attention has veered to the edge on the other side of the deck. Seto looks back at me from the edge of the ship. I know this look. It's filled with unshakable resolve.

"Seto…" I say, as my eyes land on the firearm in his hands.

He takes a breath, letting that resolve sink in before raising the gun. The Stream in me seems to freeze in my veins, paralyzing me on the spot. Bakura's cutlass slips from my grasp.

"No, stop!" I yell, rushing back towards him.

"Stay where you are, Yugi!" he orders, pressing the tip of the barrel to his temple.

The fear that he might pull the trigger instills a sudden lack of confidence in my inhuman abilities and stops me on the spot, in the middle of the deck. My heart gallops so fast it feels like it can explode in my chest at any moment.

"What are you doing?" I ask shaking my head and praying that I'm still wrong.

"Seto, no!" shouts Mokuba, squirming to push himself off the floor with his arms still tied behind his back.

The older Kaiba seems so calm right now. As if the last half hour never happened. His eyes are an icy shade of grey that I've never seen before. It ages him somehow. For a moment, he observes both of us with that strange look. But instead of answering either of us, he turns to my kin.

"If I die, this all ends here and now. Is that how it works?"

The captain of the Millennium looks back at him with an unsurprising mix of incomprehension and mistrust.

"What are you playing at, Kaiba?"

"I'll take that as a yes."

With his free hand, the young baron reaches inside his pocket, pulling out a small object. Temporarily unhooking his arm from the rope ladder, he tosses it to Atem which the captain catches in the air. Atem's eyes widen with shock as he sees what seemed to be a small glass vial in his palm. The ruby eyes brighten up with contained fury as he looks up at Seto again.

"I don't know what it is," states the latter before he can even speak. "I just know my father got his hands on it twelve years ago."

He grows quiet for a moment and both stare off, their eyes speaking a thousand thoughts.

"I'm sure this isn't what you had in mind for your revenge," then says my guardian. "But it seems like this is the only way to end this with minimum bloodshed."

This exchange is eerie in more ways than one. First, I've never heard Seto speak like that to anyone or avoid anyone's gaze like this. Second, being rarely wrong, apologies are far from his strong suit. And yet, the tone of his voice and his choice of words couldn't sound anymore sorry. No one here can deny the guilt if they tried.

And I can tell he has every intention to end it all here and now.

Out of all the realizations I've received mercilessly today, this one is by far the most devastating. Seto is going to kill himself… Just as the thought crosses my mind, a sudden heaviness comes over me, and waves upon waves of pain hit me all at once from every part of my body. I crash onto the ground screaming as all the wounds I've accumulated since awakening return to me at once.

The Stream is abandoning me.

No, not now! Of all the times!

But through my eyes blurred by pain, I see Atem fall on one knee as well, grunting and clenching his teeth as well as a hand over his chest. But by the time someone comes to his side, the pain already fades, leaving me panting on the ground and deprived of any strength. But I can't stay down!

"Seto, no!" I cry out, as I attempt to push myself up with my elbows.

"Stay down," he replies, calmly but with the eyes of a convict about to be put to death. "There is no other way to end this."

Cursed body of mine, move already!

"Don't do this," I beg, while trying to push myself off the ground but barely managed to get on all four. "You can't…"

My guardian studies me with his empty gaze for a moment before lowering the pistol. But I know better than to think I've managed to talk him out of this with one plea.

"He's right you know," he finally says pointing at the crew. "I did all of this. No matter what you say, the fact is that I did what I did knowingly and fully aware of the consequences. I knew people would die. I knew houses would be burned. I knew families would be broken."

"That wasn't you!" I shout, new tears streaming down my cheeks. "Gozaburo was blackmailing y—"

"Of course it was me. Do you know why Gozaburo married my mother in the first place ? It wasn't because of her wealth, least of all for love. It was for me. The moment he laid eyes on me, he knew I could do all these things. Come up with all those schemes to make the company greater and wealthier than ever. It takes a monster to sniff out another monster."

Why do these atrocious statements sound so familiar? 'I'm a monster. I'm too far gone. I'm unforgivable… unsalvageable' Just hearing them makes my chest hurt even more than the rest of my body. Once more fighting with my pain-ridden self, I keep trying to get up, anger and despair twisting my insides at every step.

"Not you too," I say, through my gritted teeth and shaky breaths. "I know you. You're never going to make me believe you did any of this without regret."

"You know nothing," he replies, this time, with a high and mighty attitude I know too well.

"Yes, I do!"

I once read somewhere, that anger is also a form of fear or desperation. I've been angry before, but never to the point of feeling my insides boiling. Though not effortlessly, I manage to get to my knees.

"I know it was you who buried the Shayee," I shout at him. "I know your plan involved sparing our people. I know you burned your hands pulling me from the furnace of my burning home and I know you saved my life!"

I've lost count of how many times I've been called naive or daft by either him or Atem. But I'm a far cry from it. How can I believe for even a moment that the boy who spent sleepless night begging me not to die is a cold-hearted monster that tramples on everything and everyone for personal gain? It's inconceivable.

"You can't fool me, Seto," I say, still gasping. "I know you."

Despite the limited amount of air that manages to reach my lungs, I keep eye contact with my guardian to show him just how much I believe my own words. This time, he's the one to clench his teeth in irritation.

"And what of it Yugi?" He snaps back. "Why does it matter if I did it with a gun at the back of my head or not? The results are the same! Do you know how many lives were lost and destroyed because of my plans? The Shayee weren't the first or the last. And the fact is, I chose it to be this way. I chose two lives over tens of thousands. Over the world."

"To a nine year old boy, his mother is the world! I'm a Shayee, Seto. I understand this better than anyone. And in your place, I would've done the same if not worse."

I can almost feel Atem flinch at my words, but I've no glance to spare. A few quiet moments go by before Seto answers.

"The difference between us is that I actually did it."

Suddenly, I realize the rain has stopped. We stare. For what seems like a eternity we stare into each other, our determinations clashing like thunder. It's as if we're the only ones left on earth as no one seems willing to interrupt. Or perhaps they are too taken-aback to say anything, seeing the monster they thought they knew confess to his crimes and about to put himself down, once again stealing their revenge from them.

Seto remains stone-faces but his eyes display a thousand emotions and a million thoughts. Even I can see his entire life flashing before him. Simultaneously, nothing seems to break that infamous focus of his. And I know my words are pointless against the resolve of Seto Kaiba. The pounding of my heart becomes unbearable.

"No… no you can't," I cry out trying to stand and falling right back down."You don't get to take my family from me! You can't go!"

Spouting those selfish words, I fight against my body still throbbing with pain but in vain. In very Seto-like fashion, my guardian remains stone-faced. How heartless. If this is how it was always meant to end, he should've left me to burn. Instead, he's about to throw me back into the void.

Seto closes his eyes for a few moments. But this time, when he reopens them, a single tear leaves his eye and leaks on his cheek. I stop breathing at the sight.

"Don't look at me like that." As usual, his voice betrays none of his emotions. "I've been ready for this my entire life. You have enough scars on you because of me. If you're that hung up on owing me, then do one thing for me."

I follow his gaze and my eyes land on Mokuba, who's every bit as mortified as I am. The meaning is clear : take care of our little brother.

"Don't do this," I plead, shaking with all my might while another ocean leaves my eyes. "Please… don't leave me. You can't…"

"Seto, don't!" screams Moki, finally finding his words. "We're in this together, remember?"

No answer. Instead, the lord of the Kaiba Company raises to pistol to his head.

"Farewell."

I open my mouth to scream as he pulls the trigger. The hammer and the flint hit the steal. The clicking noise somehow feels louder than the thunder… and is immediately followed by deafening silence.

Pulling it away from his face, Seto stares at the unloaded pistol incredulously, before throwing an almost outraged look at Xao.

"Really?"

A miracle? A coincidence? Dumb luck? Whichever it is, it's given me a few seconds.

But just as quickly, Seto tosses the gun aside and instead grabs the blade tucked into his belt with every intent to shove it in his throat. With the most unladylike grunt imaginable and through a pain that makes it feel as if my whole body is catching fire, I push myself up and throw myself forward…

Out of of nowhere, the sound of a thousand canons rings around us. An instant later, the Millennium shakes like an earthquake sending everyone to the ground, including Seto who loses balance and falls back onto the deck. Simultaneously, a cannonball crashes onto the mainmast.

"What the bloody hell?" I hear all around me.

I raise my head only to see the sails of multiple battleships emerging from the fog, each flying the colors of the British Empire.

Told ya I wasn't done with plot twists yet ;) Any guesses as to why the Stream "abandoned" our Shayee? And who could be our newcomers ?

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