The Final Desperation

Genji dragged a merchant onto the Flying Dutchman and threw him beside the others. Then, he drew his saber and moved closer.

"W-what d-do y-you want with us?" The lead merchant stammered with a trembling voice.

"Souls," Genji replied coldly, causing their faces to drain of blood. They had heard rumors of this pirate group, but they never expected to experience it themselves.

"Please, no. I had a family."

"Doesn't matter. That's life."

"Wait, I had money. You must have wanted money. If you let me go, I could—arhhhhhhh."

Genji didn't wait for them to finish before slashing down. It wasn't a matter of money. They were pirates and didn't lack any sources, especially with their strength.

"You've adapted quickly," Zepher commented as Genji walked past.

"Does it matter if I don't? It was only killing."

Hearing the indifference in his voice, Zepher laughed.

"But you know? Most people didn't get used to this so quickly."

"Doesn't seem like that to me. Everyone here appeared very casual about it."

"We might not have looked like it, but we had been around for a long time. You were the first recruit in 30 years."

Genji paused in his stride. 30 years?!? That was older than him! What the hell? Why did they not look their age?

"So how old are you anyway?"

Zepher flashed him a toothy grin.

"I was approaching 86 soon, but others had been around way longer than me."

"And when did you join this crew?"

"18."

"Do the other emperors live this long?"

"Hell no. I saw two generations of emperors rise and fall. It was part of the reason why we were the strongest crew."

Genji finally understood why every pirate was so skilled with their weapons. When you had decades of combat experience, you were bound to become a master, regardless of how little you trained.

"What a scary crew."

 

---

 

Genji continued this new lifestyle and slowly replenished the souls on the ship. In the past few weeks, Genji learned some crucial details about the revival abilities. Firstly, it works best when the target is killed on the ship, both for the pirate and the sacrifice.

When the pirate was killed on the ship the soul was preserved, making revival easy. As for the sacrifice, it was preferable because it required the least amount of energy. If the soul was away from the ship, a large amount of energy was needed to draw it closer. Depending on the distance, the energy gained might not offset the cost.

The reason they killed the sacrifices in batches instead of when they got captured was that it took a decent amount of enter the devouring state. Overall, it always came down to energy efficiency. Can this expenditure be avoided? What about that one? Can we further optimize this so that we spend less energy?

These thoughts constantly went through their heads as every unit saved contributed to their revival. For example, if the sacrifice cannibalized themselves, it would take less energy to free the soul from the confines of the body. As for how this was discovered, that was a story they'd rather not discuss.

Genji returned to his usual meditation spot and Hendrickson handed him a bowl of stew.

"Here you go, sir. Today's meal is bean stew with fish," he introduced it like a qualified butler.

"You've gotten quite good at this."

Genji took it and poured the contents down. Large amounts of soft beans slid down his esophagus as a salty taste tickled his tongue. Nothing too fancy, but it would suffice.

"Of course, sir. I aim to please."

That was because his life depended on it. Hendrickson was aware that the only reason he was still alive was because he was useful. Once he lost his value, the next soul sacrifice would be evident. To prevent that, Hendrickson had put everything he had to ensure Genji's satisfaction. And Genji was indeed content with it. Having a servant who could help him manage things freed up more time between raids.

 

---

 

On this particular day, Genji was summoned to the captain's cabin. As he gazed into the sunken eyes of his octopus-faced captain, a tentacle slipped out from behind his head. Paul crawled from his previous spot to Vanderdecken's shoulder and glared at Genji. It was evident that this chibi Kraken still held a grudge against him.

"How have you adjusted to life on the crew?" Vanderdecken brought out two bottles of rum and pushed one toward Genji.

"Not too bad."

Genji opened the bottle and took a swig from it, causing his eyes to light up in surprise. Then he gave the bottle a second look.

 

[Aged Rum]

Rating: Rare

Effect: Tastes exceptionally good.

 

"Good stuff," he commented.

Vanderdecken's chest puffed up. "You bet. That one's from my collection, aged for 60 years."

His tone was very prideful, like a friend showing off their prized possession. Genji never realized the captain thought of him like that considering how short he had joined them.

"So, what did you call me here for?"

In response, Vanderdecken reached inside a compartment on his desk and retrieved an old leather map.

"Cassava's Treasure. I've been searching for it for 130 years."

"So you found a clue?"

"Yes. I want you and Cobra to lead a group to confirm it."

[You have triggered the faction event: Vanderdecken's Request]

Description: Check the validity of this clue. Your results will determine Vanderdecken's favorability towards you. Declining will drastically lower Vanderdecken's impression of you.

 

"When do we leave?"

"Whenever you want."

Genji nodded and went to meet with his partner. Cobra was a bald pirate with a small beard and tattoos on both arms. From what he had heard, Cobra was a senior who had been on the ship for a long time—165 years to be exact. As a result, he was heavily trusted by Vanderdecken when it came to carrying out important missions.

"Captain filled you in?"

"Yes."

"Then we leave tomorrow," Cobra informed him. Genji nodded and made his preparations.

 

---

 

The next morning, they hijacked a passing boat and set off for their destination. According to the map, they were sailing to a deserted island that was four days away. Don't underestimate this distance.

The entire crew had infused a large amount of energy into the ship before the trip, enabling it to travel at an astonishing speed. Under normal circumstances, this trip would take over a month of sailing, but with their modifications, a round trip was cut down to 1/8 the usual time. That's how fast they were going.

Fortunately, the ship also had an energy membrane to block all the wind. Otherwise, they would have been blown off course by the speed they were traveling. Unlike other times, Genji didn't spend this time meditating.

Instead, he practiced the motions of his swings since he had reached a point where meditation was having diminishing returns. That's why he decided to focus on refining the coordination between energy and physical attacks.

He would swing the saber slowly and feel how the energy moved, then repeat the process for the next motion. To everyone else, it looked more like a sword dance than training. 

"Hey, Enigma, how long are you planning to keep this up?" Cobra inquired.

"As long as it's necessary," Genji replied as he continued his practice.

"Isn't that a bit too intense? Come on, relax. Since you joined the crew, you'll have plenty of time to hone your skills. There's no need to be so relentless."

"To you, time might be meaningless, but I have a goal to accomplish. And strength is the key."

"Strength, huh? Why don't you share your goal, and maybe we can assist you?" Cobra asked, genuinely enthusiastic about helping Genji.

"Thanks, but there's no need. It's something I prefer to do alone." Genji shook his head and politely declined the offer.

"Alright, but if you ever change your mind, remember I'll be there for you. We're like brothers now that you've joined the crew."

Genji could tell that Cobra meant every word. His offer was full of good intentions and a genuine desire to help. Sensing this, Genji felt a warmth in his heart. This was the first time someone had shown genuine care for him and everyone on the crew treated him like one of their own.

'Is this what having a family feels like?'

 

---

 

Days later, the crew spotted the island they were sailing for.

"Cobra, there's a problem. Another ship is docked nearby."

"Let's not worry about them. If they don't know what's good for them, we'll give them a lesson in blood," Cobra replied with a bloodthirsty glint.

"That's the issue. I doubt we can take them on."

"What do you mean?"

Cobra climbed the crow's nest and grabbed the telescope. Peering through the narrow glass, he spotted a ship with a golden gleam.

"What rotten luck. It's Francis Drake of The Golden Pearl."

"So, who's the unexpected guest?"

Genji called up from below. There were only a few groups that could disrupt their current setup, so Genji was curious about this newcomer.

"Francis Drake, captain of The Golden Pearl, and the third-ranked emperor."

"No kidding?"

"I'm afraid not. He never goes anywhere without that ship of his. If we spot it, he's almost guaranteed to be nearby," he explained, causing  Genji to raise an eyebrow. Do all the emperors stick so close to their ships, or had he encountered the two exceptions?

"So what are they up to? Perhaps they're restocking, and we can land after they depart."

Cobra inspected the scene through the telescope once more, closely watching the pirates' activities.

"Damn it! They're digging around the island. Could that clue be genuine? If so, how did they find out?" Cobra gritted his teeth and issued orders. "We're docking! Get ready for combat! We can't risk them discovering the treasure before us."

They quickly set up anchor and disembarked. Upon stepping foot on the sandy beach, Genji sensed multiple approaching figures, which wasn't a surprise since they didn't bother hiding. Soon, a group of individuals appeared before them.

At the head of the group stood a blonde man with long hair and a sword at his side. To his left, a tall man carried a musket over his shoulder, while a burly figure with a battle axe stood on his right.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't Cobra." The man with the musket grinned at them.

"Beckman." Cobra narrowed his eyes and reached for his sword.

"What brings you so far from your ship? That's unusual for you."

"None of your business. Now move."

"Ah, don't be like that. You've traveled all this way for something, haven't you? Maybe we can be of assistance?" Beckman taunted, knowing full well the emperors never got along.

At that moment, Genji unsheathed his saber. Then quick as lightning, Genji materialized next to the leader and swung at his neck. Drake glanced at him but didn't react. That was because his subordinate had already moved to block.

*Clang*

His saber clashed against the metal battle axe, rendering his surprise attack useless. Genji focused on the adversary and cast insight.

 

[Groluff]

Health: 7,200/7,200

Energy: 180/180

Con: 22

Str: 22

Dex: 19

Int: 18

Spc: 9

Skills:

 - Mini-boss physique: +5,000 hp

 - Battle axe mastery (Master)

 - Whirlwind (Active): Spin around at an insane speed and cut down anything in the area

 - Beastal senses: Your instincts are sharper than beasts

No further skills could be read.

 

"Ignore them, Cobra. They're stalling," Genji said, allowing Cobra to realize his mistake. They were here to verify the clue, not let someone else snatch it. If they keep wasting time, the former might just happen. Understanding this, Cobra drew his sword and pointed it at the opposing crew.

"Attack!" He roared, signaling the clash between the two crews. Opposing pirates emerged from hiding and joined the conflict with flintlocks drawn. Then the battle escalated into a chaotic free-for-all.

"You've got a good head on your shoulders," Beckman said to Genji, "Just be careful not to lose it."

As he finished his words, Genji sensed imminent danger as Beckman pointed his muzzle at him.

*Bang*

Luckily, Cobra had redirected the trajectory in time before the pellet could leave the barrel, saving Genji from a bloody hole in his head.

"Your opponent is me," Cobra declared, glaring at Beckman and causing Beckman's grin to widen.

"Very well. Let's have our rematch." Then with his other hand, Beckman drew a flintlock and fired at Cobra.

*Ding*

The pellet bounced off the edge of Cobra's blade as he swung it at Beckman. 

Meanwhile, Groluff had pulled Genji aside to continue their battle.

*Clang*

"You're quite skilled. I didn't know Vanderdecken had someone like you," Groluff remarked as he blocked another attack. Genji remained silent and then vanished from Groluff's sight. Unfazed, Groluff swung his axe to the side.

"Do you know what speed fighters struggle the most with?"

Genji's saber clashed against the axe and was sent flying back from the impact.

"Reaction. If their opponent can react to their attacks, they lose their biggest advantage."

Genji disappeared again, but Groluff knocked him back once more.

"And you're not fast enough."

Genji paused his attack and stared at Groluff.

"I've fought fighters much faster than you. You can't compare to them."

Groluff lowered his axe and grinned confidently.

"Does everyone on your crew talk so much?"

Genji spoke for the first time since the battle began.

"Only when—"

Wolf Step, Swift Movement

Before he could finish his sentence, Genji appeared next to him for an attack. Surprised by this sudden increase, Groluff was barely able to react. Genji capitalized on this and launched a flurry of attacks, overwhelming him. With each strike, his blade inched closer to Groluff's neck. Small cuts formed on Groluff's skin as Genji exploited gaps in his defense.

As his skills were about to fade, Genji finally broke past Groluff's defense and slashed at his neck. Yet before his energy-filled blade could carve into his flesh, a white sword emanating a golden glow stopped him.

Genji's eyes widened in surprise as standing beside Groluff was Drake, the captain of the crew.

'Since when?' He asked himself as Drake raised his leg to deliver a powerful kick. A sickening cracking sound came from his ribs as he tried to position himself to minimize the damage. unfortunately, despite his efforts, he still felt as if a speeding train rammed into him.

Then Genji disappeared from his location as the sound of snapping trees echoed throughout the battlefield.

-579

When Genji regained his composure, a sharp breath filled with pain entered his lungs. He only had a sliver of health left. If he hadn't shifted his body in time, he would have perished under that attack.

He quickly retrieved some healing balms and adjusted his injuries before making his way back. During his journey, he reflected on the stats he barely glimpsed.

 

[Francis Drake]

Health: 11,300/11,300

Energy: 170/170

Con: 23

Str: 23

Dex: 26

Int: 17

Spc: 7

Skills:

 - Boss physique: +9,000 hp

 - Golden Flash (Active): Move at 300% speed for a short burst

 - Sword Mastery (Grandmaster)

 - Luck lv7 (Passive): Details can not be read

No further skills can be read.

 

Although Drake's strength and constitution were lower than Vanderdecken's, his speed more than made up for it. The Golden Flash skill as well. Genji guessed that was how he suddenly appeared next to him when he was about to finish Groluff. And worst of all, Drake suppressed Genji in the area he depended on the most: his speed.

"Heh, I want to see which of our movement techniques is better, especially now that I've improved mine."

After so much meditation, Genji's current Flashstep skill had a 650% coefficient increase. It was a decent boost, but still far from becoming a new skill. This limitation wasn't due to a lack of energy manipulation but rather a result of his physical condition. In his current state, using the previous version already put significant strain on his body.

If he attempted to move any faster, his body might break down before he could complete the motion. But given the deadly foe today, he doesn't mind testing the limits of his body.

Returning to the battlefield, Genji witnessed numerous bodies strewn across the ground. Some belonged to the Golden Pearl crew, but the majority were his own comrades. It was a massacre, with a golden-coated figure at the center.

"Move!"

Genji tightly gripped [Jaguar] and channeled most of his energy, causing a shadowy flame to envelop his saber. He locked eyes with Drake, who suddenly felt an ominous presence and halted his sword. Disregarding the lucky pirate that was saved, Drake hurried to jump aside, frantically searching for the source of his unease.

In a matter of seconds, Drake spotted Genji with his saber wrapped in black flames.

"It's him! How can a weakling give off such a pressure?"

"Captain, be careful!" Groluff shouted, also sensing the danger with his superior instincts. Seeing how Genji was eying Drake, he ignored his opponent and rushed over. As he approached, Groluff reached out to shove Drake aside and swung his axe in the direction of danger.

Flashstep

Genji materialized next to them and effortlessly cleaved through the metal, causing a gush of blood to spray everywhere. Just like that, Drake was forced to watch his right-hand man die next to him.

Aiming to finish his initial target, Genji continued the motion and slashed down ferociously with a two-handed grip. 

Using the split second Groluff brought with his life, Drake frantically activated Golden Flash to escape this danger.

"Retreat!" Drake ordered as he appeared on the other side of the battlefield.

Retreat? Why? Weren't they winning? Though confused by the command, the crew obeyed their captain's order and disengaged from the battle. The crew of the Flying Dutchman chose not to pursue them, as surviving this encounter had been a stroke of luck.

Why would they waste a revival when they were on the losing end? Moreover, the energy required to revive them from such a distance could be prohibitively high. Vanderdecken might not be willing to pay for it making their deaths in vain.

The Golden Pearl hurried to board their ship and set sail at record speeds. Since the captain gave such an urgent order, they need to put their full attention to it. That's why after the ship picked up speed, they noticed something wrong.

Streams of blood dripped onto the wooden floorboards and made the surface slippery. When tracing their eyes to the origin, they found a pale Drake looking back at the island with the utmost intensity.

"Captain! Your arm!" Beckman screamed in shock and drew Drake's attention to his own body.

Drake looked down and finally registered the wave of pain that he had been unconsciously suppressing in his urgency. Cold sweat broke out on his head at what he saw—or rather, what he didn't see.

Below his shoulder, his entire left arm was missing, leaving him with only a bloody stump. Somehow he had lost his arm during that exchange but never noticed.

"What a terrifying opponent," he commented and allowed his medic to bandage the disabling wound.