Chapter 31
Ethan pointed at the ship steadily closing the distance between them. Now, both sides could clearly see each other's situation. The opposing ship was larger and positioned higher, giving them a better vantage point than Ethan and Arthur. The two of them stood openly on the deck, and it didn't take long before both sides noticed one another.
Sean frowned in surprise. He hadn't expected to see two unfamiliar faces, let alone two young men. The dark-haired one appeared slightly older, but the blond one, he wasn't a kid, was he? Since when could children wander freely in the Sea of Calm?
Sean's expression darkened further. The more things veered from his expectations, the more irritable he became. And when he was unhappy, someone always paid the price. In his mind, the two youths standing before him had already been sentenced to death.
"Should we wait until they come aboard and then deal with them?"
Arthur's gaze remained locked on the man standing proudly at the bow of the opposing ship. He was tall and muscular, a formidable presence even compared to full-grown adults. Arthur's yet-to-fully-mature frame looked small in comparison.
"He's a tough opponent."
Arthur had come to this world alongside Ethan for two reasons: to broaden his horizons and to test himself against stronger opponents. Each fight was an opportunity to hone his skills and grow stronger.
Far from feeling fear in the face of a powerful adversary, Arthur felt a surge of excitement. His blood boiled, and his body trembled ever so slightly as anticipation coursed through him.
"Don't let the excitement get to you—it'll throw off your strength and precision."
Ethan's calm tone broke through Arthur's thoughts. While adrenaline could provide a boost in power and speed, it also diminished stability. Against a dangerous opponent, such recklessness could prove to be a fatal flaw.
"You're right. I need to stay focused."
Although Ethan lacked formal training, his time spent fighting dark creatures in the Diablo World had honed his instincts and taught him invaluable lessons through countless battles. These experiences were precisely what Arthur lacked.
In many ways, their strengths and weaknesses complemented each other perfectly. Until they reached a higher level of power, working together was undoubtedly their best option.
Arthur took a deep breath and calmed himself, his composure returning. By this time, the enemy ship had closed the distance and locked itself to Ethan's vessel with grappling hooks. The opposing crew, armed with weapons, began leaping onto their deck.
At the bow of the other ship, the tall man stood unmoving, looking down at Ethan and Arthur with disdain.
"Where's that coward Angus? Isn't this his ship?"
Ethan hadn't expected the first words out of their mouths to be about someone named Angus. He thought they'd immediately demand surrender or valuables. Angus? He vaguely recalled killing someone by that name earlier.
"Are you talking about that bastard who liked to rob people?" Ethan asked coolly.
Sean's interest was piqued. He studied the dark-haired young man in front of him with a glint of curiosity. "So, you're not one of his men?"
Ethan smirked in contempt. "Why would I ever work under trash like him?"
"You killed Angus? You took this ship from him, didn't you?" Sean pointed at the sailboat beneath Ethan's feet, then gestured toward the front of the hull. "Don't bother denying it. I doubt anyone else would be dumb enough to name their ship Mad Dog except that coward."
The ship's name was carved into the side of the hull. Ethan hadn't paid much attention to it at first, but when he eventually noticed, he'd thought about changing it when they got back to State Island. However, he hadn't gotten around to it yet.
Now, faced with Sean's accusation, Ethan wasn't the kind of person to cower or back down.
"What about it?"
Sean suddenly burst out laughing. "Doesn't matter! This ship will be mine soon, anyway." He pointed at the smaller boat being towed behind it. "And that one too."
Then, turning his attention back to Ethan and Arthur, Sean's expression became mockingly playful. "As for you two…" His eyes swept over their equipment, narrowing slightly when he noticed how well-made and striking their gear was. "Hand over everything you've got, and maybe—if I'm in a good mood—I'll keep you alive as servants aboard my ship."
Ethan glanced up at Sean, who still hadn't left his position on the opposing vessel. A plan formed in his mind, if he could lure Sean onto his boat, it would make things easier. Capture the leader, and the rest would fall apart.
"Who are you supposed to be? Why should I hand over anything?"
Sean let out a derisive snort. "Who am I? You don't know who I am?" He seemed almost offended at first but then paused, as though realizing how young Ethan and Arthur looked. "Ah, so you're just a couple of rookies. Let me enlighten you—I'm Sean, the Fire Hand."
"Fire Hand?"
Ethan's gaze instinctively dropped to Sean's hands. Sure enough, his left hand was adorned with a unique glove—somewhere between a gauntlet and a regular glove. Though partially concealed by his sleeve, Ethan caught the faint glow of a magic stone embedded in it.
"A fire-attribute magic stone? For combat? Can it manipulate fire element energy?" Ethan's sharp mind quickly pieced together the truth about Sean's equipment.
Sean, oblivious to Ethan's deductions, continued to smirk, confident in his perceived advantage.
The glove, equipped with an inlaid fire-attribute magic stone, was Sean's ace. It allowed him to channel and control fire elemental energy. In the Sea of Calm, where magic stone equipment was rare, this glove had made him a terror to his enemies and earned him his nickname.
Unfortunately, it was his only piece of magic stone equipment. Sean had long dreamed of finding another high-quality magic stone to craft a matching glove and strengthen his power further. If he could accomplish that, he planned to challenge the Sea of Storms.
When he suspected that Angus might have found a rare magic stone, Sean had grown excited at the prospect. But now, seeing Ethan and Arthur, a new idea formed in his mind.
"These two managed to kill Angus… Do they have magic stone equipment of their own?"
Sean's eyes flickered with greed as he considered the possibility, and his previously casual demeanor became more guarded. Suspicion kept him quiet for a moment.
On Ethan's end, his focus remained on baiting Sean to come aboard, so he also chose to stay silent. The tense atmosphere hung in the air, broken only when one of Sean's sailors decided to make a move.
"Did you hear that, boys?" The sailor sneered, stepping forward arrogantly. "Our captain is Sean, the Flame Sovereign of the Sea of Calm! You better surrender now before it's too late! Hahaha!"
The sailor raised a hand to shove Ethan's head in an attempt to humiliate him.
Having been in the Sea of Calm for years, these sailors assumed that Ethan and Arthur—surrounded as they were—wouldn't dare to resist. In their eyes, the two youths had no choice but to kneel and plead for mercy. As for their gear? The sailors couldn't help but covet it, though they knew Sean would claim it for himself. If they were lucky, Sean might reward them with something afterward.
Unfortunately for the sailor, Ethan wasn't the type to cower.
With a swift kick, Ethan sent the man flying backward, slamming into his stomach with enough force to knock him down like a rolling gourd. The unlucky sailor collided with several of his companions, sending them sprawling as well.
"Go!" Ethan shouted to Arthur. He had no intention of waiting for Sean to descend, it was clear the man wasn't planning to step onto the deck anytime soon.
Additionally, with so many sailors already aboard, the enemy ship was unlikely to launch a cannon attack. The confined space of the deck worked to Ethan and Arthur's advantage. Rather than being overwhelmed by sheer numbers, the limited space meant they'd face two or three enemies at a time, at most.
For someone like Ethan, who had an arsenal of tools at his disposal, handling two or three opponents simultaneously was hardly a challenge. The first sailor who charged at him ended up unconscious on the deck, felled by a sharp blow to the head. The man would likely wake up with a severe concussion—if he woke up at all.
Arthur, meanwhile, had already moved to cover the other side of the deck. The two had barely spoken but instinctively coordinated their actions. Arthur's movements were faster than Ethan's, he immediately held his ground and cut down four enemies in a matter of seconds.
Despite his young age, Arthur's swordsmanship was exceptional. None of the sailors could match him in a one-on-one fight. Even when they attacked in groups, they struggled to keep up with the relentless flurry of his strikes. Screams filled the air as more and more sailors fell to the deck.
Sean, still standing on his ship, was momentarily stunned by the sight of his men being cut down so easily. The continuous cries of pain jolted him out of his daze, and his face turned an ugly shade of red. Veins bulged on his neck as rage overtook him.
"Get out of my way!"
At Sean's command, the remaining sailors instinctively backed off, retreating to let their captain handle things. However, a few who had already engaged Ethan or Arthur found themselves unable to escape so easily.
One desperate sailor tried to hit Ethan with a club and then retreat. He turned his back on Ethan, hoping to avoid a fatal counterattack. What he hadn't anticipated was the iron rod in Ethan's hand sparking with a sudden burst of lightning.
The magic stone embedded in Ethan's weapon discharged a surge of electricity, which coursed through the sailor's body. The man froze, paralyzed by the current. Although it wasn't strong enough to kill him outright, it left him utterly defenseless. A moment later, a blade pierced through his chest, ending his life.
"Magic stone equipment!"
At that moment, Sean's fury was replaced by unrestrained greed. He no longer cared about the lives of his men—his focus was entirely on the iron rod in Ethan's hands, crackling with electric light.
Chapter 32
Sean's eyes widened, gleaming with greed as they locked onto the iron rod in Ethan's hand. They practically glowed like two bright light bulbs, fixated on the arc of electricity that danced along the weapon.
"Just as I thought! These two kids really do have magic stone equipment!"
His gaze shifted to Arthur, who wasn't far off. Sean scrutinized the blond boy's large sword, but it didn't seem special. "So, it's not his weapon… No matter. Both of them are going to die anyway."
With his mind now entirely focused on murder and plunder, Sean's earlier playful demeanor was gone. All that remained was a cold and ruthless resolve.
"Tch," Ethan muttered, seeing through Sean's thoughts. He didn't like this greedy pirate leader in the slightest. There was no reason to hold back.
Ethan had deliberately showcased the lightning ability of his iron rod earlier, knowing it would catch Sean's interest. Someone who made their living by robbing others would undoubtedly be drawn to such a unique weapon. That was the bait. The goal was to lure Sean into action.
After all, wasting energy on Sean's crew wasn't worth the effort. Ethan could have dispatched these grunts easily with just his longsword—he didn't need to rely on his magic stone equipment. Arthur had spent weeks drilling swordsmanship fundamentals into him, and those lessons had already made a difference.
But defeating the minions wasn't the objective. What if Sean realized things weren't going in his favor and ordered his ship to fire its cannons? The safest course of action was to eliminate Sean himself.
Even in the chaos of battle, Ethan's mind remained sharp. Every action he took was calculated and deliberate. And so far, everything was playing out just as he'd planned.
"Do you want this?" Ethan taunted, spinning the iron rod in his hand like a baton. A small jolt of lightning surged through it, crackling audibly as it traced arcs of light in the air. The sound alone was enough to make the nearby sailors flinch and retreat a step, even though they were already well out of range.
"If you want it, you'll have to prove you're strong enough to take it."
Ethan's provocation finally made Sean snap. The promise of a powerful magic stone weapon was too much for him to resist.
"Boy, since you're so eager to die, I'll grant your wish!"
Sean didn't immediately use the magic stone glove on his left hand. Instead, he reached behind his back and pulled out a large, double-edged battle axe. Its sheer size had been hidden by Sean's towering frame, and its sudden appearance took Ethan by surprise.
The weapon gleamed as Sean swung it experimentally, the heavy axehead cutting through the air with a menacing whistle. Ethan instantly recognized the force behind it. The man wasn't just large—he possessed terrifying strength.
"You can't clash with that directly," Ethan realized.
He adjusted his stance, gripping his longsword firmly. When Sean swung the axe with all his might, Ethan's blade moved in to intercept, only to suddenly shift at the last moment. Instead of meeting the axe head-on, Ethan twisted his wrist, allowing his sword to glide along the path of the strike, redirecting the force harmlessly.
At the same time, Ethan sidestepped, narrowly dodging the thunderous blow. His true counterattack came immediately after, his left hand brought the iron rod crashing down onto the axe. Lightning surged from the rod, crackling as it struck the metal weapon.
The flash of electricity stunned everyone watching. For a moment, the deck seemed to freeze in time. When the spectators regained their senses, Ethan and Sean had both retreated a few steps, leaving a gap between them.
The sailors' eyes darted to their captain. To their shock, the usually unstoppable Sean wasn't looking so invincible. His right hand, still gripping the axe, trembled slightly. The veins on his forehead bulged, and his face turned an angry shade of red as he gritted his teeth.
"Damn you! I'll tear you apart!" Sean bellowed, raising his axe for another swing.
In truth, Ethan hadn't done much damage with that last strike—it had merely made Sean lose his composure. The numbing shock of the lightning had spread through his arm, forcing Sean to instinctively stagger back. His vast combat experience had saved him from a worse fate; otherwise, he might have been fatally struck in the chaos.
The violent burst of lightning Ethan had unleashed earlier wasn't just powerful, it had an almost blinding effect, like a flashbang going off. Most of Sean's crew had been momentarily stunned, their vision blurred. A few managed to recover quickly, but even they exchanged uneasy glances, clearly shaken.
Despite their unease, none dared let their expressions betray them further. Sean's towering authority weighed heavily over his crew, and no one wanted to risk his wrath. Instead, they stiffened their postures and avoided making eye contact with their captain.
Arthur, however, was under no such obligation to hide his reaction. The blond boy stood to the side with a subtle but amused smile tugging at his lips. Though a knight by nature and not one to mock others openly, Arthur was still a teenager. He couldn't help finding the sight of Sean, a hulking figure of brutality and confidence, now thrown into such a humiliating position, highly amusing.
Arthur stifled his laughter, but the trace of amusement on his face didn't escape Sean's notice. Combined with the suppressed reactions of his own subordinates, Sean's simmering rage reached a boiling point.
Unable to bear it any longer, Sean erupted in fury, launching a series of vicious attacks on Ethan.
The intensity of Sean's assault forced Ethan into a defensive stance. The pirate's axe now swung much faster and harder than before, making it impossible for Ethan to dodge as gracefully as he had earlier.
Though Ethan's quick mind allowed him to read Sean's movements clearly, his physical speed lagged behind. He was forced to make rapid "trade-offs," parrying and deflecting blows in ways that minimized damage to himself, but at the cost of increasing strain on his body.
With each swing of Sean's axe, the sound of metal colliding reverberated louder and more frequently. Arthur's earlier relaxed expression grew tense as he watched the battle unfold.
Arthur knew Ethan's limitations well. Despite being older by a few years, Ethan had only started training in swordsmanship recently. Years of poor nutrition during his youth had left his body underdeveloped, and his physical condition lagged far behind what it could have been.
If not for Ethan's youth and the potential to recover and build his strength, Arthur would have advised him to abandon swordsmanship entirely and focus on other survival skills—such as crafting magic tools, which he excelled at. Ethan clearly had talent in that area, and arming himself with specialized equipment might have been the safer path.
Right now, however, Arthur could see that Sean still retained some semblance of composure amidst his anger. The pirate leader was attacking with strategy, not wild recklessness, which meant Ethan was at an increasing disadvantage.
Still, Arthur wasn't overly worried about Ethan's safety. In the short time they'd spent together, he had already come to understand Ethan's nature well. Ethan was the type to hide his true hand, always holding something back.
At the moment, he was only using his swordsmanship and the lightning rod to fight Sean. Part of that was to test how much his training had improved, but Arthur could tell he was also biding his time, waiting for the right moment to land a decisive blow.
If Ethan could hear Arthur's thoughts, he'd probably nod in approval. That was exactly what he was doing—testing his skills and waiting for an opening to end the fight. However, Sean's relentless and precise attacks had so far left no room for a counterstrike.
"If there's no opening… I'll just have to create one," Ethan thought.
Sean took a wide step forward, bringing his axe down in a powerful sweep toward Ethan's longsword. This time, however, Sean struck not with the axe blade but with the flat side, intending to disarm Ethan by knocking his weapon out of his hands.
"You're trying to knock my weapon away?" Ethan's eyes lit up. "Perfect."
He deliberately slowed his reaction, making it seem as though his strength was flagging after the prolonged battle. His body language suggested he was straining to muster enough power to parry Sean's attack.
Feigning desperation, Ethan made an exaggerated effort to avoid losing his weapon, as if it were his last line of defense. Seeing this, Sean's confidence surged, and he put even more force into his swing.
The axe collided with the longsword in a heavy blow, sending the blade flying out of Ethan's grip. The sword spun through the air before embedding itself with a loud thunk into the mast behind them.
"Die!" Sean roared.
Without pausing to gloat, the experienced pirate immediately transitioned into another attack. Using the momentum from his previous swing, he raised his axe high and brought it down in a devastating strike aimed squarely at Ethan.
This was Sean's strongest attack yet, a strike meant to either kill Ethan outright or leave him completely exposed if he managed to dodge. In his mind, there was no way the young man could escape or block such an overwhelming blow.
As Sean swung, he even began contemplating how he'd reforge Ethan's iron rod into a weapon more suited to his strength. "Maybe a Thunder Axe would suit me perfectly," he mused, picturing himself wielding a weapon that combined his fire-imbued glove with lightning.
To Sean, Ethan was already dead.
But to his shock, Ethan didn't try to evade. Instead, he calmly raised his left wrist, placing it directly in the path of the oncoming axe.
"A last-ditch effort?" Sean sneered inwardly. "As if a single arm could stop me!"
He fully expected the axe to cleave through Ethan's wrist without resistance. But then something entirely unexpected happened.
A semi-transparent, icy-blue shield materialized in front of Ethan's wrist. The faintly glowing barrier exuded a chilling aura, freezing the momentum of Sean's supposedly unstoppable strike.
"What? That's impossible!" Sean's eyes widened in disbelief as his axe came to an abrupt halt against the shield.
The shock of the impact and the force he had poured into the blow left Sean's body rigid and immobile, unable to recover quickly. He stood frozen, watching as Ethan calmly extended his empty right hand toward him.
With an eerily composed expression, Ethan uttered, "Farewell, Hand of Fire."
Chapter 33
A burst of orange-red light exploded with a deafening roar, leaving everyone dazed as the shockwave rippled through the air. The sheer force sent several sailors tumbling across the deck like rag dolls, and a few unlucky ones were thrown overboard.
Fortunately for them, years spent living at sea had honed their swimming skills. Though they hit the water hard, they wouldn't drown so easily.
But no one was paying attention to those sailors now. All eyes were on Ethan and Sean.
"Fire-attribute magic stone equipment!"
"Wait… that kid actually has two pieces of magic stone equipment?"
"No, remember that translucent shield that blocked the captain's attack earlier?"
"So… that's three?!"
"Impossible! Since when did magic stone equipment become so common in the Sea of Calm?"
Ethan stood a short distance away, staring at Sean, who had been blasted backward by his fireball. The pirate captain lay sprawled on the deck, groaning in pain but still alive.
Ethan frowned. "This guy can really take a hit, huh?"
He hadn't expected Sean to survive that attack. The fireball had hit him squarely at close range, and the resulting shockwave had even knocked Ethan back, forcing him to stabilize himself against the deck. Protected by his ice shield, Ethan hadn't taken any damage, but he'd assumed Sean would be dead—or at least critically injured.
Before the fireball, everything had gone according to Ethan's plan. Step by step, he had maneuvered Sean into a vulnerable position, baiting him into a false sense of dominance before delivering what he thought would be a finishing blow. He'd expected to either blow Sean to pieces or leave him barely clinging to life.
But to his surprise, Sean had endured it.
Ethan's fleeting sense of pride in his tactics was replaced by frustration. "Looks like I underestimated him," he thought grimly.
Even so, Ethan wasn't about to give Sean a chance to recover. Without hesitation, he strode toward the fallen pirate, his eyes cold and focused. Sean was barely breathing and looked like he could drop dead at any moment, but Ethan wasn't going to take any risks.
"Finish him while he's down," Ethan reminded himself.
He hadn't forgotten Sean's nickname: the Hand of Fire. That glove on Sean's left hand was clearly a fire-attribute magic stone weapon, and judging by Sean's reputation, it wasn't something to take lightly. Ethan had deliberately crafted his plan to prevent Sean from using it, lulling the pirate into thinking he could win without relying on his magic stone equipment.
But as Ethan closed the distance, a sudden sense of danger shot through his mind. His instincts screamed at him to move, and he reacted without hesitation, twisting his body to the side just in time.
A glint of steel whizzed past his face, narrowly missing his forehead by a hair's breadth. A flying knife had come out of nowhere, aimed directly at him.
Cold sweat broke out on Ethan's back as he reflexively raised his wrist and fired a short arrow toward the direction the knife had come from. Only then did he turn his head to see who had attacked him.
Standing on the deck was a thin man, slightly taller than Ethan but nowhere near as imposing as Sean. His build was ordinary, and he wore a plain vest. However, the vest was lined with throwing knives, each carefully tucked into place. Two knives were already in his hands, their blades gleaming in the sunlight.
The moment Ethan fired, the man reacted instinctively, hurling one of his knives toward the incoming arrow.
Boom!
The knife and the arrow collided mid-air, resulting in a small explosion that made everyone on the ship flinch.
"Exploding arrows?!"
The knife-thrower's forehead was damp with sweat. His reaction had been pure instinct—normally, he would have tried to dodge or block the projectile. But at such close range, the explosion would've left him gravely injured, if not dead.
"Was that… what took out the captain?" he wondered, glancing at Sean's battered form.
From his position, he hadn't seen the fireball clearly. All he'd caught was the explosion, leading him to assume that Ethan's short arrow had been the weapon responsible for Sean's injuries. His eyes drifted toward Ethan's right wrist, where the arrow had been launched. The seemingly unremarkable wrist guard suddenly drew everyone's attention.
But Ethan didn't waste time. As the crew was distracted by the explosion, he dashed toward Sean again, determined to end the fight.
Sean, however, proved more resilient than Ethan anticipated. Despite his injuries, the pirate captain forced himself to his feet, stumbling as he retreated toward his own ship. He collapsed near the thin man with the throwing knives, his breath ragged but his voice sharp with authority.
"Keno! Use the magic stone cannon!" Sean barked.
Keno nodded curtly. "Understood, Captain."
But as he stepped forward, Keno's expression changed. The knife in his hand glinted as he suddenly slashed it across Sean's throat.
A spray of blood arced through the air, painting the deck in crimson.
"You're already dead," Keno murmured coldly.
Sean's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. He clutched at his throat, trying to stem the blood pouring from the fatal wound, but it was futile. His knees buckled, and he crumpled to the deck, lifeless.
Even as he lay dying, Sean's mind reeled. He had survived Ethan's attacks, only to be killed by the subordinate he trusted most.
After killing Sean with a single knife, Keno calmly bent down and removed the glove from Sean's left hand. With a deliberate air, he adjusted the glove and slid it onto his own hand.
"I've been waiting for this day for a long time."
Keno's voice carried a mix of suppressed resentment and satisfaction as he stood over Sean's lifeless body. It seemed years of pent-up frustration were finally being unleashed. Now wearing the glove, he began speaking directly to the corpse, as if Sean could still hear him.
"You fool. Did you really think I would stay your obedient lackey forever?" Keno spat, his voice rising. "Did you ever stop to think about how you treated us? How you treated everyone who followed you? Over the years, hundreds of men have served under you, and how many of them met a good end?"
He paused, then roared, "Not a single one!"
Keno's anger boiled over as he shouted at the dead man's face. "You treated us like garbage! Like tools to be used and discarded! Why shouldn't I kill you? Why do you look so surprised?"
Sean's lifeless body offered no response, of course, but the expression frozen on his face—wide eyes filled with disbelief—only fueled Keno's rant.
When no reply came, Keno gradually calmed down, his voice leveling into something colder, almost indifferent. "This glove… such excellent magic stone equipment… What a waste in your hands. This glove, this ship, these men—they're all mine now."
Keno turned his attention to Ethan and Arthur. A sly smile spread across his face as he addressed them. "You two—young, talented. How about joining my crew? I'll even make you my first mates."
Ethan and Arthur exchanged wary glances. They were still reeling from the sudden betrayal, unsure whether to take advantage of the chaos to eliminate Keno and the remaining crew or to see where this situation led. Keno's sudden invitation was baffling, after all, they'd just slaughtered a good portion of the crew and nearly killed the captain.
But as Ethan glanced at the surrounding sailors, he noticed something odd. None of them seemed particularly angry or vengeful about Sean's death. In fact, they looked almost relieved. Judging by their reactions and Keno's earlier tirade—it seemed Sean's subordinates hadn't exactly been loyal to him.
Still, Ethan didn't trust any of them.
"This… doesn't sound very appealing," Ethan replied flatly, making no attempt to hide his distaste.
Keno's expression darkened briefly, but he quickly replaced it with a look of feigned disappointment. "What a shame," he said, shaking his head. "You're both too young to understand how dangerous this world truly is. Do you really think you can survive out here, just the two of you? Even if you cross the Sea of Storms, do you know what kind of world awaits you there?"
His tone shifted, becoming almost persuasive as he took a step forward. "It's a world that's wider, more dangerous, and full of treasures. But for every treasure, there's someone stronger than you ready to take it. Do you think you can face that alone?"
Keno gestured toward Sean's body. "Do you know why that idiot Sean stayed in the Sea of Calm for so long? Because he knew the truth. Out there, this glove is nothing. A single piece of magic stone equipment won't save you. That's why he spent so long scavenging the Calm Sea, hoping to gather enough magic stones to arm himself before making the crossing."
Keno's expression grew serious, his gaze sharp and calculating. "That's the reality. You need power to survive. You need magic stone equipment to face what's out there."
Ethan and Arthur exchanged another glance, both quickly picking up on the underlying threat in Keno's words. The tension between the two parties grew heavier, and Keno's smile turned predatory.
Ethan, ever pragmatic, decided to spell it out. "You mean to say that since we won't join you, you'll just take our equipment instead."
Keno chuckled darkly, nodding. "Exactly. You're sharp, I'll give you that. And now I'm glad you didn't accept my offer."
He waved a hand toward the surrounding sailors, a cruel smile twisting his lips. "Sink their ship. Use the magic stone cannon. Don't bother conserving those cheap magic stones, just blow them to pieces."
Ethan, who had been silently watching Keno, shook his head in mock pity. "I knew you'd try something like this. Do you really think I didn't notice you stalling for time?"
As he spoke, Ethan pulled a thick leather book from behind his back. The cover was embedded with white magic stones that began to glow faintly as he opened it. Channeling his magic through the book, Ethan activated a spell, summoning a white barrier between the two ships.
Almost simultaneously, the magic stone cannon on Keno's ship fired. A fiery orange-red projectile shot through the air, roaring as it raced toward Ethan's vessel.
Chapter 34
Boom!
The orange-red energy projectile slammed into the magic shield conjured by Ethan. The resulting explosion rocked the air with a deafening roar, scattering fiery sparks and generating a powerful shockwave. While Ethan's shield absorbed the blast and kept his ship protected, the unshielded Flame Sovereign bore the brunt of the impact.
The enemy ship creaked ominously as the force pushed it backward, the hull groaning under the strain. The hooks securing the two ships together were ripped free, causing the distance between them to widen.
"Not good!"
Ethan's expression hardened. If the gap between the ships became too large, their position would become a major disadvantage. Keno could simply sit back and bombard them with cannonfire, forcing them into a helpless defensive position.
"Should we abandon the ship?" Ethan muttered, already calculating the worst-case scenario. If it came to that, he and Arthur could use the smaller boat at the stern to escape, leaving their main ship as a decoy to absorb enemy fire.
But even as he considered this grim possibility, Ethan refused to dismiss other options. Raising his gaze to the Flame Sovereign, he maintained the magic shield, carefully increasing its energy output to widen its range.
Arthur approached, having just finished off the last of the remaining sailors on their own ship. He stood beside Ethan, his sword still in hand. "What's the plan?"
Ethan's lips tightened. "Not much we can do unless you can somehow leap onto their ship and take them out."
Arthur glanced at the widening gap and shook his head. "I can't jump that far."
Ethan rolled his eyes. "Of course, you can't. That wasn't a serious suggestion."
But to his surprise, Arthur's expression turned thoughtful, almost hesitant.
"Actually… I think I might be able to make it."
"What?" Ethan blinked. "You have a plan?"
Arthur scratched the back of his head, his hesitation evident. "I'm not sure. It's more of a… feeling. Like I could make it if I tried."
If Ethan had heard this kind of reasoning in his past life, he would have dismissed it as baseless wishful thinking. But after experiencing numerous strange, instinct-driven moments in this world—many of which had saved his life—he wasn't so quick to discount Arthur's gut feeling.
"You're sure about this?" Ethan asked, eyeing him skeptically.
Arthur adjusted the straps on his armor, straightening up with determination. "I can't guarantee it, but do we have a better option? I'll make the jump. Just drop the shield when I go."
Ethan exhaled sharply. "Fine. But I'm not letting you faceplant into the shield, so don't miss your timing."
The magic shield wasn't selective in what it blocked—anything trying to pass through, friend or foe, would hit an impenetrable barrier. Ethan would need to lower it at just the right moment to let Arthur through.
Arthur strode confidently toward the edge of the deck. As he prepared to leap, Ethan dismissed the shield, timing it perfectly with Arthur's motion.
Arthur launched himself into the air… only to plummet straight down.
The golden-haired knight barely cleared the edge of the deck before gravity took over. Wearing heavy armor and still growing into his full strength, there was no way he could have made the jump on raw physical ability alone.
But no one laughed. Neither Ethan nor Keno's crew found the sight amusing. Instead, they stared in stunned disbelief.
Arthur didn't crash into the water as expected. Instead, as he descended, the sea beneath him seemed to shift. The water rippled and dented under the weight of his fall before springing back to support him.
Arthur now stood firmly atop the surface of the water as if it were solid ground.
"This is impossible!" one of Keno's sailors cried out, his voice trembling with shock.
"Can humans even stand on water?!"
The ordinary sailors were visibly shaken, their understanding of the world shattered by the sight.
Keno's reaction, however, was markedly different. As the newly self-proclaimed captain of the Flame Sovereign, his eyes burned with greedy calculation. His first thought wasn't disbelief but recognition.
"Magic stone equipment!" Keno growled, his expression twisting with desire. "It has to be some kind of magic stone gear that lets him walk on water!"
In a world dominated by vast oceans, such an ability was priceless—its utility unmatched. Keno could hardly contain himself. "Kill him! Target the blond with the cannons!"
As Keno barked orders, his thoughts raced. Forget the lightning rod, that's nothing compared to this. That magic stone is mine!
But practical issues quickly arose. Arthur was moving too nimbly for the cannons to track him, especially as the distance between the ships continued to shrink.
"Use bows and arrows!" Keno snapped.
A few sailors scrambled to obey, but even this presented a problem. Unlike Sean, whose command had been ironclad, Keno's leadership was still untested, and the chaos of the situation made it worse.
"Captain," one sailor stammered, clearly uncomfortable, "we've already used up most of the arrows. There aren't enough left…"
Keno's jaw clenched in frustration. He wanted to lash out but stopped himself, knowing that wasting time on anger would only worsen the situation.
"Then focus on the cannons!" Keno barked.
A different sailor hesitated, nervously adding, "Uh… sir, the magic stones for the cannons are nearly depleted. We've only got enough for four more shots…"
Keno's eyes were bloodshot, frustration burning in them as he watched the possibility of seizing the magic stone slip further and further away. The blond boy running effortlessly across the surface of the sea was already closing in on the Flame Sovereign, and every second brought him closer. The treasure he so desperately desired was slipping through his grasp.
But as the reality of the situation sank in, Keno forced himself to calm down. Clenching his fists, he finally made up his mind. Watching Arthur sprint toward him, he barked out an order.
"Set the sails! Full speed ahead!"
"What?"
The sailor standing closest to him froze in shock, unsure if he'd misheard. Retreat? That wasn't something they expected from their new captain.
Frustrated by the hesitation, Keno kicked the sailor aside and snarled, "I said raise the sails! Forget the boy—move now, or we're all dead!"
Though retreating felt like swallowing a bitter pill, Keno understood that it was the only logical choice. He couldn't win this fight. Sean had failed to take down the two young men, and Sean had been far stronger than he was. If Keno stayed and fought, he'd be killed, there was no doubt in his mind.
His strength lay in his crew and his ship. But now, his crew was disorganized, and the Flame Sovereign had taken enough damage that a single well-placed strike could doom them all. If Arthur somehow managed to breach their hull, there would be no escape.
Reluctantly, Keno admitted to himself that today was not the day to get what he wanted. Continuing to engage would only lead to disaster, so he made the hard choice to flee.
The sails of the Flame Sovereign unfurled, catching the wind. While the process of fully raising the sails was cumbersome, the earlier impact from the magic shield had already created some distance between the ships, giving Keno just enough time.
As the ship began to pull away, the cannonfire that had hindered Arthur's progress earlier also bought Keno a precious few moments to retreat.
"Next time we meet, I'll be stronger," Keno muttered under his breath, his eyes fixed on Arthur, who had stopped his pursuit and stood motionless on the water. He turned to his remaining sailors and barked, "Get us out of here now!"
Keno wasn't planning to return to State Island anytime soon. He knew Ethan and Arthur would likely head there to resupply. Instead, Keno planned to find a nearby island to repair his ship and regroup. He'd use the time to recruit new men and figure out ways to grow stronger.
Sean's death had left a power vacuum, but it had also removed the person who had once overshadowed Keno's ambitions. Now, with his weakness laid bare, Keno was desperate to rise above it.
On Ethan's ship, he watched the Flame Sovereign retreat, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully. The fact that Keno didn't fire the cannon again confirmed Ethan's suspicion. "They're out of ammo," he muttered.
He touched his chin, pondering aloud. "So the magic stone cannon is an expendable weapon after all. It's not the type of continuous energy weapon I thought it was, where magic stones power repeated shots."
Ethan's gaze followed the fading ship, and his theory began to solidify. "If they're low on resources, it probably means each shot consumes a magic stone. And considering how desperately these captains fought for the equipment we have, it's safe to say high-quality magic stones are hard to come by, at least here in the Sea of Calm."
Satisfied with his deduction, Ethan lowered the rope ladder to help Arthur climb back onto the ship. As the two regrouped, the adrenaline of the battle began to fade, replaced by the dull routine of cleaning up after the skirmish.
For a while, they worked in silence, each lost in thought about the fight that had just ended. Despite their victory, there was a lingering sense of frustration—it felt unfinished, almost anticlimactic.
"Arthur," Ethan said suddenly, breaking the silence.
"Yeah?"
"We need to figure out what all that stuff Merlin gave you actually does."
Arthur nodded. "Agreed. I've been thinking the same thing."
Before this journey, they'd spent most of their time exploring and learning about each other's abilities. They hadn't taken the time to fully investigate the enchanted items and spells Merlin had gifted Arthur, one of which had clearly allowed him to walk on water.
"If we'd known that spell could do this," Ethan said, shaking his head, "we could've planned this differently. Keno wouldn't have gotten away so easily."
Ethan wasn't a bloodthirsty person by nature, but he understood the dangers of leaving an enemy alive. A foe like Keno, who had already demonstrated ambition and cunning, could easily come back to haunt them at the worst possible moment.
"If you let an enemy like that survive," Ethan said quietly, "you're only asking for trouble later."
This time, the enemy had escaped. And Ethan knew exactly why—it wasn't Keno's cunning or skill. It was their own lack of preparation.
His jaw tightened, dissatisfaction churning in his chest. "Still not strong enough," he muttered.
If he'd been strong enough, Sean wouldn't have even been a threat. The crew wouldn't have had the opportunity to regroup. Keno wouldn't have been able to retreat. If he'd been stronger, he could've ended this fight decisively before it ever became so chaotic.
Arthur looked over, sensing Ethan's frustration.
"Back to training?" he asked with a wry smile.
Ethan exhaled sharply, nodding. "Yeah. Let's keep pushing forward."
Chapter 35
After finally cleaning the deck, Ethan and Arthur had no choice but to throw the bodies of the dead sailors into the sea. Keeping the corpses aboard wasn't an option. In this weather, disease could spread in just a few days, and while Ethan had learned to make basic potions for minor illnesses, plagues were far beyond his ability to handle.
"Born to the sea, returned to the sea," Ethan murmured.
To ensure the bodies didn't float back to the surface, Ethan tied them together with ropes and weighted them down with heavy chains before sending them overboard.
"Maybe one day, I'll end up sinking to the bottom of the sea like this," Arthur said quietly.
It was the first time Arthur had seen so many dead, and most of them had fallen by his own hand. The experience stirred complicated emotions within him, and he couldn't help but voice his thoughts.
Ethan, on the other hand, was more pragmatic. "That's not guaranteed. If we cross paths with the wrong enemies, they might chop us into pieces and toss us into the sea, or they might grind us into dust and leave no bodies at all."
The stark bluntness of his response caught Arthur off guard, but Ethan wasn't interested in sugarcoating reality. He had no illusions about the kind of people who inhabited this world.
"Let's focus," Ethan continued, brushing off the morbid topic. "We've cleaned up. Now it's time to get moving. Over the next few days, we'll take stock of what we have and figure out how to maximize our current capabilities."
Arthur, still caught up in his thoughts, looked at Ethan curiously. "Is State Island really that dangerous? Are there going to be a lot of enemies? Isn't it a safe place?"
Ethan gave a dry chuckle. "Safe? Not really. Especially for two people like us. You're young, we're traveling alone, and we've got a large ship loaded with supplies. That kind of thing attracts attention. Greedy eyes are going to notice, and there'll be plenty of people who'll want to try their luck."
He paused, recalling Sean's earlier actions. "Think about it—Sean targeted us even before knowing who we were. Why? Because he saw our ship was heavily loaded, guessed we were carrying valuable goods, and decided to attack. Add our weapons and armor into the mix, and he didn't hesitate to go straight for the kill. People here don't have much in the way of morals. If they want something, they'll take it—simple as that."
Arthur frowned. "And the island? What about security there?"
Ethan's expression grew thoughtful. "There's some measure of law on State Island, or at least enough to keep things from devolving into chaos. When I was there last, people kept themselves in check—mostly. But I wouldn't call it 'safe.' And even if it's safer than open water, we can't count on it."
He gestured at Arthur. "That's why we're organizing ourselves—not just for defense, but to prepare for what's ahead."
Arthur tilted his head, confused. "You mean to say… we're not just defending ourselves?"
A sharp glint appeared in Ethan's eyes. "Exactly. This time, we're the ones picking a fight."
Arthur blinked, surprised. His impression of Ethan up until now was someone focused on survival, someone careful and pragmatic. But this? This was something else.
Ethan continued, his tone firm. "I'm not the type to let things fester. This idea of waiting years to settle a grudge, it's nonsense. If someone threatens us, we deal with it now. No games, no delays."
Arthur hesitated. "But is it really necessary? If they come after us again, we'll handle it. There's no need to hunt them down first."
Ethan's gaze hardened, and his voice dropped, colder now. "You're thinking like someone who's never been harassed relentlessly by enemies. Let me tell you something, if we let Keno get away without consequences, he'll come back, stronger and better prepared. Even if he doesn't pose a real threat, he'll still make our lives difficult, constantly showing up to cause problems. Why let him have the chance? If you can crush a threat completely, you do it. End of story."
Arthur fell silent, mulling over Ethan's words.
Ethan, meanwhile, was already thinking ahead. "The supplies we brought back are more than enough to keep us well-stocked on the island for a while. You'll need that time to work on a few things, starting with the language."
Arthur grimaced, realizing the truth in Ethan's words. His struggles with the local language were a constant obstacle, making communication difficult in every situation.
Ethan nodded. "Exactly. State Island's the best place for you to learn. It's also the information hub of the Sea of Calm. Everything we need to know is there—maps, trade routes, rumors, intelligence. If we want to plan our next move, we'll need time to collect and process all of that. No more flying blind."
His tone sharpened. "And while we're there, we wait. Quietly. Because Keno will come back. And when he does, we'll make sure he doesn't leave again."
Arthur shifted uncomfortably. This wasn't the kind of calculated strategy he was used to. In his mind, fighting was meant to be straightforward—a clash of strength, skill, and honor. This felt more ruthless, almost vindictive.
"Is it really necessary to go that far?" he asked, his voice uncertain. "If he shows up again, we can just deal with him then. We're strong enough to handle him, right?"
Ethan immediately shook his head, waving his hands emphatically to underline his denial of Arthur's suggestion.
"Absolutely not! Your way of thinking is completely wrong! You need to understand something very clearly—showing mercy to an enemy is cruelty to yourself."
"Is that really the case?" Arthur frowned, still feeling Ethan's stance was overly harsh and unnecessary.
Looking at the young King Arthur, Ethan realized he'd need to explain his reasoning in a way the boy could truly grasp. He decided to put it in the simplest terms possible.
"You might think I'm being too extreme," Ethan began, his tone steady but firm. "But in reality, this approach is the smartest and safest choice."
Arthur hesitated, unsure but listening closely.
"Let's start with this," Ethan continued. "Do you think Keno is a good person?"
Arthur shook his head decisively. "No. Not at all. He's no better than Sean, maybe even worse. A man like him, robbing ships and terrorizing people at sea, can't possibly be called good."
"Exactly," Ethan agreed, nodding. "And do you think someone like him will just give up after this?"
"No," Arthur replied without hesitation. "He doesn't seem like the kind of man who would let it go."
"So then, it's safe to assume he'll come after us again," Ethan said, watching as Arthur slowly began piecing it together.
Arthur nodded reluctantly.
"And if we know that a confrontation is inevitable," Ethan pressed, "why would we wait for him to strike on his terms? Why not deal with him on our own terms instead?"
Arthur frowned, his youthful idealism struggling against the logic of Ethan's argument.
He was still young, and while he'd been taught the basics of leadership and strategy, his worldview hadn't fully developed. Under Merlin's guidance, he might have grown into an optimistic, idealistic king—a shining beacon of hope. But Ethan wasn't Merlin, and he didn't believe naivety and idealism were enough to prepare Arthur for the harsh realities of rulership.
A good king could be kind, even inspiring, but too much optimism and trust in others could lead to disaster.
"Kindness is a strength," Ethan thought, "but naivety is a weakness."
Ethan decided to shift his approach. "Arthur, I want you to think about this from another angle. Let's say you're in Keno's position. If someone defeated you and left you alive, wouldn't you do anything—anything—to get revenge on them if you were that kind of person?"
Arthur paused, unsure, but eventually nodded. "I guess so. If I were… like him."
"Now imagine this," Ethan said, his tone more serious. "You return to your world someday, and you face a similar situation. You let an enemy go because you think they'll leave you alone. But instead, they come back, not to attack you directly, but to hurt the people you care about—your parents, your wife, maybe even your children. What would you do then?"
Arthur's expression tightened, his jaw clenching as Ethan's words sank in.
"Remember," Ethan added, "not everyone fights with honor. Enemies like Keno don't care about chivalry. They'll use whatever methods they can to make you suffer, even if it means targeting innocent people."
Arthur remained silent, his brow furrowed in thought. He understood now what Ethan was trying to say. If he let Keno live, the risk wasn't just to himself, it was to everyone around him.
"So, to prevent things from spiraling out of control," Ethan concluded, "the smartest move is to eliminate the threat completely before it has the chance to grow."
Arthur nodded slowly, finally grasping the weight of Ethan's argument.
"You're right," Arthur admitted. "It's better to end it now."
Ethan let out a small breath of relief. Arthur was sharp enough to understand, but Ethan still felt his own communication skills had grown rusty from years of isolation. Thankfully, Arthur had the intelligence to follow his reasoning.
"So how long are we staying on State Island?" Arthur asked.
Ethan smiled faintly, though there was a cold edge to it. "As long as it takes. I don't like the idea of someone like Keno lurking out there, waiting for the right moment to strike. I don't sleep well with that kind of danger hanging over my head."
Arthur shuddered slightly at Ethan's expression, realizing just how determined his companion was. He made a mental note: Don't ever get on Ethan's bad side.
At the same time, Arthur couldn't help but feel sorry for Keno. The man had made a critical mistake in crossing Ethan, and now his fate was sealed.
Ethan's plan was simple. Keno might have escaped today, but he wouldn't stay hidden for long. Even if he avoided returning to State Island immediately, he'd eventually have to dock there to repair his ship and resupply. That moment would be Keno's last.
"So," Ethan said quietly, staring out at the horizon, "one way or another, this ends with Keno dead."
...
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