It was a beautiful morning. The cloudless sky reflected the blue of the sea, giving the sun space to shine beautifully. Despite the cold winter weather, it seemed to be a warm summer day. As warm as the crowds that were forming on the ship.
If one could observe the Deep Spear ship from the outside, one would believe there was a mutiny. Hundreds of confused and angry men, all gathered on the deck. The sound of voices running over each other was deafening.
Gossip was spread about the reason for this occurrence, many men distorting the truth. Conspiracies and terror were taking hold as time went on.
Some workers cogitated on the real existence of a mutiny, when they learned that another one of the six remaining members of the assassins hijacking the ship had died. This mission would get out of control if a measure was not taken immediately.
Sophie had noticed the strange movement on the main deck, and decided to take action.
The redhead walked among the men, as if she were in a fashion show. Her presence was so expressive that with each step she took, the crew members' cries of protest were silenced in their throats. Although hardworking, they were all men trapped on the high seas with only the presence of two beautiful women. They would not do anything against them directly, for they knew that both were skilled killers, but they would not stop looking at their beauty.
Sophie climbed onto a wooden barrel near the center of the deck. She looked around, and realized that silence had settled completely.
-I want everyone's attention now. - The redhead said loudly, -The ship's facilities will be closed until further notice.- She said. Her face reflecting authoritarianism. -As you already know, this morning another one of our people was killed. I don't want this to cheer you up. Know that with each casualty we have in our team, the more pissed off we will become with you, and the less patience we will have when correcting inappropriate behavior. With that, I want you to think twice before you consider a fucking mutiny. We don't need any of you to make Deep Spear work. There are only a few days left on the trip and I know that all of you are tired and stressed. In order to avoid more deaths, I ask for your cooperation, otherwise we will throw 50 more random bodies into the sea. Thank you for your attention. -
No words of protest were uttered by any of the crew members. All were catatonic as they watched Sophie's presence on the barrel. The sunlight made her glow like an evil deity. The wind that swayed her red hair only fed that divine personification that Sophie would build at that moment.
Von could be the leader of the mission. Gior could be the one controlling the helm of the ship, but Sophie, after that, could take all of Deep Spear for herself.
The redhead climbed down from the barrel and walked towards Lizandra and Tilian. Her gaze was determined. Reflecting very well the conclusion she had made in her thoughts.
Von had not done anything to her directly. In fact, he had only given an order like an army leader would. But the Bloodhound's resemblance to General Norgard in saying those words made her question her future with him.
Future with him?
This questioning made Sophie come back to reality, and completely assume the strong woman she struggled every day to be. She created an addiction to imagining her future with Von, and eventually forgot to imagine her future alone, depending only on herself.
She was afraid that Von would be just like her father, because she knew that her father never knew how to love. Both his daughters and his own wife. For her, it was not necessary to be loved, as much as she loved to imagine Von saying this to her, but above any feelings, she would like to be seen as an equal. Not only in libidinous moments with Von, but also in day-to-day life.
Sophie, after making her speech, realized that she would be much stronger alone.
-Solved, now what?- Sophie asked Liz and Tilian who were watching her approach.
-Now we just have to wait for Von...-
-AaaAAaaaAaAAaaaAaAAaAaAAAaaAaaaAAaAaRRRGG!!!!!!!!!-
A diabolical noise that sounded very much like an animal growling dominated the entire area of the ship. The people on the deck, as well as Gior and Denver in the control room were startled by the force of the noise.
The sky, once cloudless and extremely blue, was filled with heavy clouds, turning that sunny morning into night.
The tide that was once calm became turbulent. Large waves crashed against the ship, which, even though it was made to withstand these kinds of situations, swayed uncompensated with the movement of the sea.
All the structures of the Deep Spear shook as if an earthquake had occurred.
Unlike what is expected in such situations, there were no cries of despair. Silence continued to reign. Everyone on the deck looked at each other, including Sophie, Liz and Tilian. Everyone was in a state of shock.
In a few seconds the clouds cleared and the sun shone again on that beautiful morning.
.
.
.
Since the day of the Dendalian embassy, many things have happened. Many emotions have been felt, and for sure, the focus on power has taken a back seat. Von had executed an ability he would never have imagined he had. He didn't know the circumstances under which it had appeared that day, nor how he had activated it, but he accepted its existence without question.
His attitude was similar to that of a great fool who had a great idea but did not patent it. His internal conflicts and ghosts from the past made him forget this ability. The relationship with Sophie made him forget something that made him unique.
When he saw the entire corridor filled with the colors gray, green and purple, Von remembered. He could stop time, he didn't know how or for how long, but he knew that this happened when he was close to something that could really cost him his life.
The sound of the structures and the ship's engine stopped. The dust in the air also stopped. Time had literally stopped, except for him and the man jumping towards him.
Niero made a vertical strike with his Katana. Von defended with the blade of the index finger of his glove, and the clink of colliding metal that usually occurs when two blades meet did not happen. Nor was the sound of the two men's footsteps, which eventually stepped over the rest of Klen's body, heard. Only the panting breaths of the two men could be heard.
Von realized how powerful the man he was battling was. Even with time stopped, he could still move. He didn't know if it had something to do with the sword Niero carried or if it was the Dendalian traitor's personal abilities.
Firearms were useless in that battle. Niero tried to shoot twice with his revolver, but the bullets remained static in the air.
The Bloodhound only defended itself against Niero's incessant attacks. The Dendalian's mastery of the Katana was far greater than Von had expected. The battle of the two at the Chasseur mansion had not demonstrated 1% of Niero's real abilities. Von knew that he could not open his guard even for an instant, for his life would be taken if he did.
In addition, Von knew that the sword of the blond man attacking him had special abilities, he just didn't know what they were.
Niero continued to deliver blows that were deflected by the assassin. For a brief moment, Von remembered the last time he had battled him. The Dendalian had a habit of cheating during blade fights. Von's insight sharpened as he thought about this. In the same instant, he realized that Niero would try to take him down, feigning a horizontal attack with the Katana, spinning around, and trying to knock him out with a kick to your legs.
The Bloodhound instantly jumped up and kicked Niero in the face in response. The Dendalian traitor staggered backwards.
Niero's eyes revealed a will never before seen in that face. Marchiello Niero had always been a very calm and funny man, despite his history of butchery. He had never lost his temper or let his emotions get in the way.
Because of his skills, he had never been injured in battle, and seeing the blood dripping from his lips, he felt his ego being attacked.
-That's enough, kid.- Niero's Katana began to be surrounded by a black fire.
Von watched carefully as the flames surrounded the sword. He knew this was not a good sign. The assassin had had a few flashbacks of memories in which he had been close to death. The feeling was the same.
Niero leaped towards Von, delivering an extremely fast vertical strike. The Bloodhound swerved to the left, and used the blades of his glove to slow the Dendalian's attack. Von took a few quick steps back, distancing himself from Niero. Looking at his right hand, he realized that all the blades of his glove had been cut. Cut with such ease that they looked like paper being torn.
The blades of Von's glove were made of an extremely strong Cermina material. Few things would be able to break that blade, even more so easily. This was the real skill of Niero and his katana. There would be no material in the world that would be resistant to the blows of that weapon. Everything would be fragile against it.
Von found himself unarmed next to the blond haired man.
-HAHAHAHAHAHA! You're already dead, Von.- Niero laughed sadistically as he saw Von staring incredulously at the blades of his glove.
Von's breathing became ragged. His heart rate increased with anxiety. The assassin looked at Niero laughing as he prepared for another attack and saw his end there. Not only his end, but the end of everyone on the mission, including Sophie.
He urgently needed a plan.