The cultivation master

A moment later, the masts of both ships collided, becoming intricately entangled. The pirates launched themselves toward the galleon with all their might, while the galleon sailors took aim with their rifles, firing one by one. Many pirates were struck down in that instant and plunged into the swirling vortex below.

"Don't retreat! Use all your strength!" Julian shouted.

"Cyrus, aim! Fire!"

Cyrus conjured his fiery bow once more, unleashing a torrent of flames that consumed several pirates, reducing them to black steam that vanished in an instant.

"Defend with all your strength!" he commanded.

Boom!

Lightning suddenly struck the masts of both ships, igniting the tangled ropes in flames. Yet, to their surprise, the two ships remained bound together, the masts firmly locked in chaotic disorder.

Cyrus glanced at the entangled masts before launching his next fireball.

"Julian! Get to the mast and free it!" he yelled.

"I can't! Even with the aura, this enchanted wood won't break easily!" Julian replied desperately.

Gritting his teeth, Cyrus climbed the mast with urgency. Upon reaching the crow's nest, he identified the source of their predicament. Just as he prepared to free the mast, a lead bullet ricocheted right beneath his feet.

Startled, Cyrus turned to see the pirate king, steam rising from the barrel of his rifle.

"Damn it!" Cyrus muttered as the pirate king brandished his sword and charged at him. A fierce clash erupted between them, the sounds of their swords ringing out like thunder as they collided, sending sparks flying.

Cyrus adeptly dodged the onslaught of attacks, landing strikes at precise moments. The pirate king proved formidable; years of living as a rogue had sharpened his survival instincts.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The cannons of both ships rained destruction upon their enemies. The vessels trembled under the strain of the devastating barrage, spiraling deeper into the whirlpool's grasp.

"Hahaha! I wanted to see the face of the man who single-handedly destroyed my fleet up close! So it was you, bastard!" the pirate king taunted.

"What? You call those four fishing boats a fleet? They were destined to sink anyway—I just sped up the process!" Cyrus shot back.

"Hahahaha! I expected nothing less from you! Boldness is necessary if you want a fight with me!"

With a renewed fury, they clashed again, their swords swirling like fragile petals caught in a storm.

Cyrus blocked several ferocious attacks before his sword shattered in two. In one swift movement, he disrupted the pirate king's balance, casting three spells simultaneously as he lashed out directly.

Boom!!!

The pirate king, struggling to regain his footing, had no choice but to defend against the powerful spells unleashed by Cyrus. Yet defending against such raw power proved nearly impossible. Cyrus was the strongest being in that land; how could a mere whisperer withstand his will?

Cracks began to spiderweb across the pirate king's sword, and with a final shattering sound, the blade splintered like glass, scattering its remnants to the wind. Onlookers would have believed it was the end for him; few could survive such a predicament. But this was a man who had evaded death countless times, who had slaughtered thousands to ensure his own survival—he would not succumb to fate easily.

The title of pirate king was a mark of excess challenge, only claimed by those who defeated another pirate king in battle. It was almost a cursed title, granting immense strength, but today it could either bolster or break him.

Cyrus had no desire for the title, nor did the pirate king intend to yield. Perhaps it was this tenacity that drove him, at the very last moment, to drive the hilt of his sword into the mast and leap onto the galleon's deck.

In that heartbeat, he likely felt the specter of death looming closer than ever, transforming that dread into a fierce exhilaration. As he approached the galleon, he raised his fist, ready to deliver a crushing blow to the captain; taking down the commander was always the simplest task.

[That's right! It should end like this! This is how it must be!!!]

But in that fleeting, critical moment, a devilish smirk spread across Cyrus's face.

Blink!