The Final Desperation

When Genji walked back to the deck, Zepher greeted him.

"I assume everything went well?"

"Yes."

Cake had a complicated expression on her face. She couldn't imagine what he had paid to achieve this. Why would he go so far for her? They've only met twice. It doesn't make any sense.

"Follow me."

Genji led her away from the ritual that was being carried out and toward his normal spot. The others tacitly gave them some room and found something else to do. Cake bit her lips for a few seconds before opening her mouth.

"Thank you."

"Hmmm. Thanks aside, how are you?"

"Bad. Things couldn't get worse for me."

"That is life. You want to talk about it?"

Cake thought about it for some time and shook her head. Things are now in the past and there is no point in dwelling on them.

"No. I'm more curious about how you joined such a cult-like crew."

Genji looked back at Zepher's massacre and shook his head. Zepher caught his glance and gave him a thumbs up.

"They might seem like a cult but they do this to ensure their lives. Don't be too judgemental about them."

Cake rose her brows. Did he just tell her that conducting sacrifices is for their well-being? What kind of twisted world is this? But when she thought about it some more, does it matter? She lives in a world where a supernatural entity can kidnap her and force her to do this shit to survive so what does this count as? She doesn't know their circumstances so trying to judge them based on her standards would be foolish.

"So you going to tell me about it?"

Genji laughed and looked at the waves.

"The same way as you did. Except I killed a bunch of them and the captain took me in."

The strange glint in her eyes became stronger. He killed a bunch of crewmembers and joined the crew? Are you sure they are since about it? They are not trying to backstab you, right? And no resentments?

"Everyone was chill about it. In fact, that display gave me more respect than trouble."

Yeah, that confirms it. It's a strange world she lives in. There's nothing that will change her mind.

"So how is your mission progress?"

"We have progress, but I'm not involved in it. Everything right now is being done by my party members."

Genji pulled up the mission tab and looked at the wave number. Still 3. It's been that number for a few days now.

"How about you?"

Cake thought back to her mission and smiled wryly. 

"I don't even know where to start."

"Tell me about it."

"Find and obtain the equipment of a hidden treasure."

"It's decent."

"Yeah, but I need to find one. And that requires sailing. I don't know if I can do this any longer."

There were hints of melancholy in her voice and signs of a mental breakdown. Genji can see how much this mission was taking a toll on her. Realizing this was getting too personal, Cake changed the topic.

"Look at me. I got carried away. How about I go cook something for you?"

Genji nodded and allowed her to leave. Since she's not comfortable talking about it, he won't push. An hour later, Cake came back with a tray full of food. Following behind her was Hendrickson who also carried a tray and gave her dirty looks.

"Sir here's today's lunch. Salted fish soup with some grains."

Hendrickson sped up and came to his side. Cake frowned at this display. For some reason, she felt this shifty-eyed pirate has something against her. They've only talked slightly and he suddenly gives her the stink eye. What a weird person.

Genji compared the two trays and took the one in Cake's hands. This one looks more appetizing so he would be a fool to pick the other one.

"You can have it."

Hendrickson froze for a few seconds before nodding and walking away. Despite his sulking appeared, on the inside he was starting to panic. 

'I've lost favor with him. Shit. What do I do now? If his attention is always on that lady, then I might end up dead soon. Shit! Shit! Shit!'

As Hendrickson was losing hair over this, Genji enjoyed a meal with Cake. Seeing this, his hyperactive mind started sending him warning signs. It's him or her. There's only room for one of them on this ship. And from the way things are going, he's going to be fish food.

 

---

 

This lifestyle continued for a few more days. Cake prepared meals for Genji and they talked about life. Hendrickson started treating Cake as an imaginary rival and tried everything he can to one-up her. It was kind of comedic for Genji as he watched this servant have a receding hairline from this misunderstanding. Cake tried to correct this misunderstanding with Hendrickson, but he refused to listen, claiming that she's just trying to get Genji's favor and secure her position.

This left her speechless and eventually, she stopped trying. There's no point in talking to someone who insists on his views. While this was going on, Genji realized something in his conversations with Cake. Although she puts up a strong front, he has the feeling that she's hiding all her problems. Like she is pushing it all down in hopes it will disappear if she doesn't acknowledge it. 

He's no psychiatrist, but the signs are there. And with each conversation, these signs become more obvious. She might not acknowledge them, but it's becoming hard to ignore the depressing atmosphere surrounding her. Is there anything more tragic than a depressed person trying to convince everyone around her that she's fine? And the worst thing is that she believes it's working as well.

Eventually, Genji couldn't bear it any longer and decided to talk to Cake about her mental state. He waited until it was night and everyone was asleep before getting up and knocking on her door.

"Hey Cake, are you awake? It's Enigma. I want to talk to you about something."

He waited for a few seconds, but there was no response. But Genji knows she is awake. He can sense her active presence after so many meditation sessions. She just doesn't want to talk right now.

"If you're asleep, I'm coming in."

This a contradictory statement, but what he's telling her is that even if she doesn't respond, she can't avoid this talk. Realizing this, Genji heard the shuffling of bedsheets and the creaking of wood from the footsteps. The door opened and Cake greeted him while rubbing her eyes.

"Hey, Enigma. What are you doing here so late at night? I was asleep until now, you know? How will you compensate me if my skin becomes discolored?"

"To talk. Can I come in?"

Genji decided to not call out her act and start with something simple. Cake gave him a weird look, but moved aside anyways. It's a good thing he came at night or there will be plenty of rumors about the two of them. Scratch that. There are already rumors among the crew and if they found out Genji came to her room at night... Oh boy, will things get embarrassing. A blush crept up her face as she thought about this, but Genji ignored everything.

"So what's up?"

"Your mental state."

Cake was taken aback by this blunt answer.

"What about my mental state?"

"It's terrible right now."

"What do you mean? I couldn't be better. Life's good, I don't need to worry about dangers, and I get to talk to a normal person. I can..."

Cake denied his statement and started rambling off countless reasons why she was happy right now. Genji simply shook his head at this attempt.

"Do you hear yourself? You sound like you're trying to persuade yourself instead of me. Look, I am open to listening, but you need to take the first step. If you keep bottling everything up, it will eventually explode. As much as you think it's not there, those feelings don't go away. And pushing it deep doesn't help. There will come a point where you can't bury it anymore. So why not release it while you can?"

Cake fell silent for a few moments before bursting out in tears. 

*Sniff sniff*

At first, she tried to muffle her cries, but when Genji walked over and hugged her, she started bawling. Tears streamed down her face and soaked his cloak as she wailed into his shoulder. Genji said nothing and simply patted her back to assure her that everything was okay. This continued for a few more minutes before Cake pulled her face out and started venting her thoughts.

"I-I don't know how much longer I can do this. EverRealm keeps on giving me these impossible missions and I have to do so much to finish them. Then I have to worry about getting stuck in a world if I abandon it. I don't know what I should do. I'm scared. And my family. What happens if I do get trapped? I'll be stuck in this world and they will have no idea what happened to me. And if it's not this world, it might be a future one."

Then she buried her face into his shoulders again. Genji continued to remain silent and allowed her to vent. When he felt her calm down, he spoke.

"I don't know the answers to those, but do you know how I deal with these problems?"

Cake looked up at him and shook her head.

"I don't think about it. Let them come and I will deal with it then. We live in the present so why worry about future problems? As long as the mind is free, what adversaries do I fear?"

It was a lazy way of thinking, but it brought a smile to her face. Yes. Why worry about future problems? She simply has to prepare for it so these regrets don't haunt her.

"That aside, if you have the opportunity to finish the mission, will you take it?"

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

Genji reached into his storage and pulled out a golden coin. Then he tossed it to her.

[You have obtained Lucky Coin.]

[Your mission has been completed. You will return in 5 minutes.]

She froze when she saw these notifications. 

"W-what is this?"

At this point, she was afraid to ask. This was a big debt that she doesn't know how to repay.

"An equipment from a treasure."

"No, I can't accept this. It's too precious."

"Keep it. It's only a rare item and its attributes aren't too useful for me."

Only a rare. Has he already reached that point where he can look down on rare items? These are items that only drop from mini-bosses, for god's sake! The same mini-bosses that require an entire party to kill! In a system where bosses are not meant to be fought, mini-bosses are the strongest a normal party can consider besieging.

Only those elite parties in the hundreds can even consider raiding a boss. But that's only considering it. There have been many precedents where a large party fought a boss and ended up being wiped out. A complete annihilation! And all that for a piece of epic equipment. And don't even get started on legendary ones.

Those are not something enforcers or lower can obtain in a mission world. EverRealm only rewards those as a drop when someone accomplishes the impossible. Even if someone gets a chance for a legendary, they need to survive first. That is part of the reason why legendaries go for so much. 

Cake gave Genji a deep look and accepted the item. No point in denying it. As for this favor, she'll figure this out later. When the time was up Cake disappeared with no warning. This was the first time Genji saw the teleportation of EverRealm. It happened instantly with no build-up or effects. Simply the silent type.

Genji put this thought behind him and walked out the door. 

"So she left?"

Genji looked to the end of the hallway to see Vanderdecken standing looking at him.

"You don't seem surprised."

"I've seen lots of things in my life."

"Ummm"

Genji closed the door behind him and started walking back to his meditation spot.

"As long as the mind is free, what adversaries do I fear? Well said."

When Genji walked past him, Vanderdecken praised him. Genji stopped. He was listening. As for how much of the conversation, Genji didn't care. EverRealm didn't say anything so why would he care?

"I'm going to attack The Crimson Corsairs."

It was a sudden declaration but Vanderdecken knew what Genji meant. This was his way of repaying him. Since Genji won't stay long in the world, he will help Vanderdecken with his problems. That way, they will not owe each other anything.

"Take Cobra and some ships. You don't need to fight alone."

"Thank you, Captain."

This was the first time Genji called Vanderdecken this. From this, one can get a glimpse of Genji's feelings for the octopus-faced captain.

 

---

 

The next day, Genji set off with a fleet of subordinate ships for the territory of The Crimson Corsairs. Because of the nature of this attack, Vanerdecken chose not to participate since that would result in an all-out war and heavy casualties on both sides. As for anyone from the crew that does perish, Vanderdecken has kept a fragment of their souls for revival.

It will be costly, but no one will be lost. As for these subordinate fleets, who cares about them? The only reason Vanderdecken accepted them was because they had an abundance of souls at the time and they can run errands for the main crew. Although Vanderdecken cares deeply for his crew members, he is callous towards outsiders. A nightmare for all enemies and a warm father to his children. That's Vanderdecken.

"So how did you convince Captain to allow this? We've been trying to convince him for so long, but he never budged."

Cobra came over with a bottle of rum and made some small talk.

"Things happened last night."

Cobra didn't push further. He can tell Genji didn't want to talk about it so he shifted the topic.

"How confident are you in fighting Kidd?"

"I don't know, but I think I can severely injure him and retreat."

"Then we will leave him to you. Keep him occupied so he doesn't unleash his destructive attacks. Unlike Drake, all the other captains have a way to unleash an area destruction attack. It's a last-ditch move, but let's try to minimize our losses, ok?"

"That's fine."

Soon they came across an island with a red hue. There was a metallic smell in the air, which Genji suspects is from blood. As they landed, he sensed multiple gazes scan their boat. 

"Seems like they noticed us."

"No surprise there. This is their base."

Cobra motioned everyone to prepare to battle as they marched toward the center of the island. Minutes later, a group of pirates came into view. Genji was about to draw his saber, but Cobra stopped him.

"Leave these small fries to us."

Genji nodded and stepped back. After a few minutes of battle, the enemy pirates retreated. No surprise here since they were outnumbered and weaker. They continued walking toward the center until they are stopped by another group.

"What is the meaning of this, Cobra?"

"Sakiyea and Bojo."

Genji scanned them and realized they were mini-bosses. Their stats were on par with Cobra.

"Step back."

A few senior members of the crew stepped out and engaged in battle with them.

"Let's go."

Cobra gave the orders to keep going. They are here to deal a big blow to the crew so stopping now would be detrimental to their goal. This continued as they got closer to the center. Small groups would step out to challenge the crew and they would send out enough to ensure victory. Then they would keep marching in hopes their crew members emerged victorious. Soon, they are outside a stone castle dyed in blood.

The sharp edges of the stone had been eroded from the exposure to air and blood over the years, leaving a darkish red color on the smooth surface. Genji couldn't imagine how many lives were needed to achieve this effect, but he doubts his crew took any less. A large group of pirates greeted them as they prepared to kill these invaders. Genji took a step back and walked away from this battle. Cobra helped him enough. It's now time to find the boss and fight.

And Genji had a feeling he knew where to find him. It's hard to miss that bloodlust and killing intent. Genji jumped over the walls of the castle and into the openings on the second floor. Then he walked around to find a way down. After some wandering, he arrived outside the throne room.

*Creak*

Genji pushed open the gigantic metal doors and walked in. At the center of the room, a man with crimson red hair sat on a bloody throne. It was only him. All the others were either dead or outside.

"Are you the reason squid face dared to attack me?"

The man loftily looked down at him. Genji didn't answer and drew his saber. Unlike its normal green color, there's a greyish hue to it. Genji had applied a large amount of poison onto the blade for this battle.

"So what makes you think you can challenge me, Green Swordsman?"

"I managed to fight Drake so I should stand a chance against you."

"Drake? That weakling?" Kidd scoffed.

"He can't begin to compare to me."

"Sounds like narcism to me."

"Heh. You know nothing. That idiot might be stronger than O'Malley, but his curse usage is the weakest among us. Can't even use his retribution without his ship."

Retribution. It was another new term, but by the way Kidd said it, Genji guessed it was some kind of ultimate attack.

"Is that so? Then let me test that."