Chapter 233
Kwa-kwa-kwakwang!
As the pirates suddenly bombarded the warships with magic cannons, Morgan couldn't help but be bewildered.
"What! Have those pirate bastards gone mad!"
With their captain Hook dead, there was absolutely no reason for them to suddenly attack the Empire's forces from behind, so Morgan couldn't understand their actions.
He ordered his adjutant,
"Capture those bastards and find out what in the world is going on!"
The adjutant bowed and quickly ran off. Morgan approached the Second Prince and said,
"Lord Leo, please leave the task of subduing these pirate ruffians to us and go rest. The mermen should discover the ruins soon, and it would be best if you could command the scene then."
Morgan was trying his best to coax Leo with kind words.
However, Leo completely ignored Morgan's words.
"Why are the pirates suddenly acting like this?"
At Leo's question, Morgan swallowed his rising irritation.
'How the hell would I know why those bastards are doing that?'
They were originally pirates with the nature of stray dogs, so they could suddenly turn on them without rhyme or reason, and he was at a loss for how to explain that.
As Morgan hesitated, Leo turned his body and said,
"I will go and ask the pirates the reason myself. If we don't know why this is happening, how can we prevent it from happening again?"
Leo had only received high-class education under Julius's protection in the imperial palace.
Moreover, he had a personality that required him to understand anything he didn't, so he never glossed over things.
He possessed the virtue of diligence, rare for royalty, but it was a headache for Morgan, the field commander.
'Damn it! He should have just stayed quietly in the cabin!'
Whether Leo knew Morgan's inner thoughts or not, he had already gone down to the warship's deck and was approaching the winged beasts preparing for takeoff.
Climbing onto a winged beast, he ordered the mage,
"Go towards the flagship of the pirates."
The mage looked at Morgan in confusion. Morgan covered his face, feeling troubled, and then reluctantly nodded.
Soon, the winged beasts soared into the air.
Kaaaaaaak!
The winged beasts flew straight towards the pirate ships firing magic cannons.
The pirates' magic cannons weren't accurate enough to hit the airborne winged beasts.
As a result, they didn't inflict any damage on the winged beasts, so they began firing crossbows at them instead.
Kaaaaaaak!
The soldiers riding the winged beasts hurled magic bullets at the pirate ships.
Kwa-kwa-kwakwang!
Magic bullets fell on the pirate ships' sails and decks, causing explosions.
However, the power of the magic bullets wasn't great enough to sink the ships.
Leo, riding a winged beast, asked the pilot,
"Which one is the flagship?"
Then, the pilot scanned the ships and pointed to the largest one with his finger.
"That one, Your Highness!"
It was originally Captain Hook's flagship.
Leo nodded and then jumped off the winged beast.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
At the same time, his Hercyon reacted, lifting Leo's body into the air.
He slowly turned in the air and then charged straight towards the flagship.
As his body fell rapidly, it collided with the mast.
Ujijijijik!
As the massive mast collapsed with a deafening sound, the pirates swarmed towards the fallen mast.
It was then.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa—
A massive aura blade rippled through the collapsed mast, instantly bisecting all the pirates who had approached.
Kung!
Leo walked out slowly from within, holding his sword.
With his golden hair and blue eyes, Leo looked like a lion.
Despite his intense presence, the pirates charged at him with their swords.
As the Hercyon activated, the helmet completely covered Leo's face.
Kakang!
The pirates' swords couldn't even scratch the Hercyon Leo was wearing.
After enduring the pirates' swords once, Leo raised his sword and swung it.
Kwa-kwa-kwa-kwa!
Like a raging storm, Leo's sword swept away all the pirates around him.
The pirates couldn't even scream as they were instantly torn to pieces and scattered around.
The other pirates, overwhelmed by Leo's momentum, hesitated.
Then, Leo raised his sword and said,
"Bring me your captain. Then I will spare your lives."
At the same time, he looked around and stared at a large man at the very back of the pirates.
It was a man with tattoos covering his entire body, including his face.
It was the very person whose mind Zeke had subdued with Bloodshot Eyes.
Leo opened his mouth towards him.
"What was your purpose in attacking us?"
The pirate whose mind had been subdued had no particular response.
He merely shouted briefly at the other pirates.
"Kill them!"
Although they feared the knight who wielded terrifying power, the pirates, who also feared their cruel captain, blindly charged at Leo.
"Dieeeeee!"
As a dozen pirates rushed at him, Leo raised his sword and activated the magic engraved on his Hercyon.
Pajijijijik!
White currents crackled from the Hercyon.
Then, the white currents gathered on his sword.
Leo swung his sword, which was surging with white currents, at the charging pirates.
Pajijijijik!
Currents shot out in all directions, engulfing not only the pirates but also the captain who was watching from behind.
"Krrreureureureuk!"
Due to the power of the strong currents, all the pirates had their bodies completely burned.
The same was true for the captain whose mind had been subdued.
He fixed his gaze one last time on Leo's face, which now had the helmet removed, and then breathed his last.
* * *
"Hmm?"
Zeke started and opened his eyes.
Felix, who was next to him, asked Zeke,
"What is it, My Lord?"
"The Empire's forces have wiped out all the pirates."
At those words, Clone, who was behind him, patted him on the shoulder with her mace.
"Well, that's obvious. No matter how much those pirate bastards act up, how could they possibly stand against the Empire's forces? Those guys are incredibly ruthless."
Zeke stroked his chin and recalled the face of the knight who had wiped out the pirates.
The captain's vision hadn't been clear, so he couldn't properly make out the face, but he seemed to be no ordinary expert.
'He was definitely wearing the Empire's Hercyon. A Hercyon that generates white currents. It didn't seem like the Hercyon of the Ten Palaces, but that kind of power. Whoever he is, he seems to have a pretty high status.'
If it were a war situation, he might have considered counterattacking and capturing them, but the current circumstances didn't allow for that.
His top priority was to get Cali to a safe place as quickly as possible.
Zeke had safely placed the ship inside the Sea God's Tomb, hidden by rocks, and was moving towards the camp where his companions were.
After finding his companions, he planned to quickly leave this place, avoiding the Empire's forces.
Just then, something caught Zeke's senses.
'A battle is taking place?'
Zeke gestured for Felix and Clone to lower their voices.
The three of them reduced their presence and carefully approached the camp.
But in front of the camp, the Empire's hounds were visible.
Krrrreureureu!
Hounds, black mages, and even Empire soldiers were gathered near the cave where the camp was located.
When Zeke examined the situation, he saw the bone wall that Richmond had erected in front of the cave acting as a defensive barrier, blocking them.
Behind it, Gurave and the Shark Dragons were holding their ground, preventing the enemies from entering.
Zeke gritted his teeth as he watched the Empire bastards who kept appearing no matter how many he killed.
'Those tenacious bastards. Did they push all the way here to capture Sister Cali?'
Zeke spoke to Richmond again, with whom he had been unable to communicate.
Only then did he receive a response from Richmond.
'Master!'
Zeke immediately asked Richmond,
'Richmond. What's the situation right now?'
'Master! It's complete chaos here! Monsters keep pouring in, and strange knights are entering the back of the cave! I'm secretly blocking them from behind, but I don't think I can hold out much longer!'
Richmond, the black mage, was someone whose identity few in Zeke's ranks knew.
Since Cali and the Silver Knights Order were together at the camp, it seemed he was hiding his presence and summoning undead from behind to block the enemies.
Zeke immediately summoned Caiman, the Dragon Warrior, and the ghost soldiers.
Tsutsutsutsu—
Zeke first sent the ghost soldiers to the back of the cave where Richmond was.
After confirming that the ghost soldiers had silently disappeared, Zeke said to Caiman,
"Caiman, lead the Dragon Warriors and attack those bastards to divert their attention."
Caiman bowed and said to Zeke,
"As you command, Master."
As Caiman extended his hand, an Eastern Empire-style sword and a round shield appeared.
He led the Dragon Warriors down as Zeke had instructed.
Seeing this, Clone and Felix asked Zeke,
"L-Lord. What in the world is that?"
"Magic? Captain, you can even do magic?"
Zeke roughly nodded as he looked at the two, who were staring at him with curious eyes.
"Yes, it's magic. Summons obtained from ancient artifacts."
At Zeke's words, Clone and Felix, true knights who didn't even know the 'ma' in magic, nodded in admiration.
'They actually believe that. Even for knights, that's a bit much.'
The truth was, Zeke had shown them so many unbelievable things that his subordinates now just accepted whatever he said at face value.
Even so, worried that they might be too ignorant, Zeke decided that he needed to conduct basic magic defense training for the knights.
Just then, Caiman and the Dragon Warriors struck the rear of the Empire's forces.
Kwa-kwa-kwakwang!
Caiman, wielding an Eastern-style sword and charging at the Empire soldiers, was a formidable sight.
His massive body pushed forward, and the hounds couldn't withstand it, being knocked away instantly.
The Dragon Warriors, who followed closely behind, also displayed combat prowess superior to when they were Dragon Tooth Soldiers.
The Caiman unit, which had been attacking the Empire soldiers, soon retreated and began running into the forest.
Peeeeeep!
The Empire soldiers chased after the Caiman unit that had disappeared into the forest.
In that gap, Zeke led Clone and Felix towards the cave.
Zeke stealthily approached and dispatched a hound guarding the front of the cave with a dagger.
They carefully entered the cave.
The cave had bone walls installed here and there.
And as Zeke approached, skeletons rose from the ground.
Kkiririk!
However, the skeletons recognized Zeke and did not attack.
When Zeke entered the protected area, Gurave and the Shark Dragons were gathered. But upon closer inspection, the Shark Dragons were injured and dying.
'They must have been hurt while blocking the incoming enemies.'
Gurave rubbed his cheek against Zeke as he approached.
And at that moment, Zeke could read Gurave's mind.
"You want me to make the Shark Dragons into summons too?"
Geureuk-geureuk!
He must have grown attached to them in that short time they were together with the Shark Dragons.
Thinking they would die anyway if left alone, Zeke decided to grant Gurave's request.
He used the Authority of Dragon Domination to turn the injured Shark Dragons into summons.
Uwooooooong!
Following Zeke's will, shadows rose and swallowed the Shark Dragons.
A moment later, the Shark Dragons became Zeke's summons and rose with renewed vigor.
Zeke worried as he looked at the rather large number of Shark Dragon summons.
'What should I name them?'
Deciding to name them later, Zeke commanded the summoned Shark Dragons and Gurave.
"Gurave, go and stir up the Empire bastards with the Caiman unit."
Kaaaaak!
Gurave and the Shark Dragons cried out happily and went outside the cave.
Startled by the suddenly appearing group of Shark Dragons, the hounds yelped in terror and charged at them.
Zeke led Felix and Clone into the cave.
There, Zeke discovered knights wearing the Empire's Hercyon.
'If those bastards attack the camp, Sister Cali will be in danger.'
Zeke led Felix and Clone and quickly rushed inside.
* * *
"Damn it! Don't let those bastards in!"
Peter Pan poured out streams of water, blocking the Fiends that were pushing in.
The young mermen behind him stabbed the Fiends with harpoons, but the Fiends, feeling no pain, tried to push through regardless.
Parell, Aster, and Diego, along with the Silver Knights, were also blocking the insect-type monsters summoned by the black mage.
Parell swung his sword and shouted,
"At this rate, there will be no end! We must take down the black mage in the back!"
The black mage summoning the monsters was not an ordinary black mage but a black mage of the Abyss.
He waved his staff and shouted,
"Foolish ones. If you had just handed over Cali Draker, you would have met a more peaceful death. To choose such a painful demise yourselves!"
In that instant, the black mage's eyes turned red. As Demon Eye activated, the power of the monsters he summoned grew even stronger.
Geueooooooo!
The already exhausted knights despaired as they saw the monsters pushing forward even more fiercely.
But then, it was then.
Kung! Kung! Kung!
Heavy footsteps echoed from another direction.
'Could it be Master?'
Parell looked to the side with an excited expression, but his face quickly turned pale.
The Empire's knights wearing Hercyon had appeared behind the black mage of the Abyss.
The black mage of the Abyss behind them sneered and shouted,
"There is no escape for you! Quietly embrace death!"
Kwa-kwa-kwakwang!
Dark energy surged from the mage's body.
At the same time, the knights clad in Hercyon approached the mage.
However, one of the knights in Hercyon pulled out a mace from behind.
Pajijijik!
A mace wrapped in intense light slammed into the mage's head.