The deck is a blur of motion, pirates from both sides locked in a deadly dance of steel and blood.
I catch sight of the ships surrounding us, their black sails adorned with serpentine crests—too many to count. Our ship retaliates with a barrage of cannon fire, the broadside assault sending explosions of fire and smoke ripping through the enemy vessel. The force of the blast nearly knocks me off my feet, but Rhyland's strong arms keep me steady.
"These are the Serpent Skulls," he informs me, his voice barely audible over the din of battle. "And we're trying not to die or get our asses capsized."
I nod, my heart pounding in my chest. "Right, got it. Don't die, don't sink—sounds like a plan."
Erik appears beside us, his silver hair whipping in the wind, his face a mask of stoic determination. "Little Huntress," he greets me formally, even amid the battle. "It is good to see you and have you back, though I wish it were under better circumstances."
I grin. "Erik, it's always a pleasure. Have you kept Rhyland in one piece while I've been MIA?"
He almost smiles, but another explosion rocks the ship, and we're all thrown off balance.
I spot another sword abandoned on the deck, its blade catching the sun like a beacon of hope—because, boy, do I miss my daggers right about now. Without hesitation, I lunge for it, my fingers wrapping around the hilt just as an enemy pirate charges toward me, his eyes wild with bloodlust.
Our blades flash in the sunlight as I fight this ugly son of a bitch. The deck becomes a blur of motion and blood, the air thick with the stench of gunpowder and sweat. I lose myself in the rhythm of the fight, my power flowing through me like a current, guiding my every move.
I feel the familiar tingle that starts in my scalp, down to my fingertips, and spreads through my veins like liquid fire. Time seems to slow as I tap into my power, the world around me blurring as I slip into the slipstream. It's a sensation I'll never tire of—the way everything fades away, leaving only the crystal clarity of the moment. I move with fluid grace, my sword a blur of silver as I dodge the pirate's attack and counter with a swift strike. The blade finds its mark, and the pirate crumples to the deck, his blood staining the weathered wood.
God, I love this power. The thrill, the sheer exhilaration of bending time to my will. I don't think I'll ever get over it, the way it makes me feel invincible, untouchable.
I can't help but grin, the thrill of the fight coursing through my veins. Rhyland shoots me a look. His eyebrow raised in a silent question.
"What?" I shrug, my tone sarcastic. "A girl's gotta have her hobbies."
He shakes his head, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You're fucking incredible, you know that?"
And with that, I charge into the fray, my swords clashing against the blades of the Serpent Skulls who have boarded our ship. I let my instincts take over, my bodymoving in a deadly dance as I parry and thrust, the power within me surging to the surface.
But even with my abilities, the odds are stacked against us. The Serpent Skulls seem endless, their numbers far greater than ours. I lose sight of Rhyland and Erik in the chaos, my focus narrowing to the next opponent, the next strike.
Lucian, the love child of Jackie Chan and the Energizer Bunny hopped up on a lethal dose of snark and badassery, is taking on these pirates like they're nothing more than glorified punching bags—having the time of his fucking life doing it.
He's a whirlwind of flying fists and smart-ass quips, his fighting style a bizarre fusion of taekwondo and "I saw this in a movie once." He leaps into the air, defying gravity and common sense in equal measure, and lands a spinning kick that would make Chuck Norris weep with envy. The pirate on the receiving end of this ass-whooping collapses, his jaw making a sound like a gunshot as it shatters.
"Ooh, sorry about that, buddy!" Lucian cackles, sounding about as sincere as a used car salesman. "Looks like you'll be eating through a straw for a while. But hey, I hear the liquid diet is all the rage these days!"
Another pirate, apparently not one for learning from his comrades' mistakes, charges at Lucian with a sword that looks like it was last used to butter toast. Lucian dodges the blade with a fluidity that would make a ballerina jealous, then retaliates with a series of punches that turn the poor bastard's internal organs into pudding.
He follows up with an uppercut that sends the pirate airborne, his teeth making a delightful tinkling sound as they scatter across the deck. The unfortunate schmuck does a half-gainer over the railing; his screams are cut short as he belly-flops into the unforgiving sea.
"Ooh, I give that dive a solid 7.5," Lucian quips, dusting off his hands. "The splash was a little sloppy, but he gets bonus points for style."
But the fun's just getting started as a gaggle of pissed-off pirates surround our resident jester, their faces contorted with rage and the promise of imminent violence. Lucian grins, cracking his neck like he's about to sit down for a relaxing massage.
"You boys looking for a good time?" he asks with mock seduction. "Because I'm about to rock your world."
A symphony of broken bones and bruised egos follows as Lucian tears through the pirates like a kid on a sugar rush. He's all flying kicks and vicious elbows, hismovements a blur of kinetic energy and chaos. One pirate gets a knee to the groin so hard his testicles probably relocate to his throat.
"Oof, right in the baby maker!" Lucian winces, his grin threatening to split his face in half. "Guess you won't be sowing your wild oats anytime soon, huh, champ?"
The few pirates still standing decide that discretion is the better part of valor and try to make a break for it, but Lucian's not about to let his new playmates go that easily. He chases after them, cackling like a hyena on nitrous oxide.
"Aww, leaving so soon?" he calls out."But we were just getting to the good part!"
He catches one poor sap by the collar, then slams his face into the mast with enough force to leave a dent. The pirate slides to the deck, his nose a pulpy mess of blood and snot.
"Now that's what I call a face-lift," Lucian quips, admiring his handiwork. "You're welcome, by the way. I just improved your looks by a factor of ten."
