Almost everyone was terrified. After all, Tim and his buddies wouldn't be able to aid because they were dispersed around the island when the Jawjack pirates arrived.
"They're the ones! The Jawjack Pirates are here!" People yelled in panic, locking and closing their doors and windows. With everyone inside, the place became practically secluded, although some others waited outside with the intention of assisting Elder Rai.
Soon after the Jawjack and his crew arrived on the island, a huge laugh reverberated across the region, with echoes between structures.
"I see we have some visitors on the island; I'm curious as to who they are. Do you know who they are, or were you hiding behind the doors in fight to persuade others?"
Jawjack was dressed in a ripped green jacket with a tattoo of the Jawjack on his torso. He didn't have to use a weapon because his metal jaw was enough to create havoc. His hair was gray, his eyes were black, and his left arm had a hook attached to it.
"What do you want this time, crooks? This month, we've already paid the rent and completed the tasks you put upon us. What else could you reasonably expect from us?"
Elder Rai and the others who stood with him raised their arms, one of them brandishing a larger ax than the others. He appeared serious, and the leader of the soldiers who had dared to stand up to the Jawjack's crew.
"Get off of this island! We've had enough of this in the last two months! We can't afford to keep paying you because we won't be able to eat! Together, we'll put a stop to you!"
Jawjack was peacefully looking at them when he abruptly changed his mood. With his sharp metal teeth colliding into one another, he began laughing in the sky. It left people confused and speechless.
"You plan to stop me? And how do you intend to accomplish this? You've attempted it before, but no one has been successful. Because I'm Captain Jawjack of the Jawjack Army, there's no disputing that you won't be able to stop me. You should feel grateful that you were given the opportunity to live! Only if you don't pay the rent will I kill you."
Pirates standing behind Jawjack were giggling while holding their swords. They were waiting for instructions. "Did you hear that? These folks think they can defeat Captain Jawjack. If it isn't the most amusing thing I've ever heard, I don't know what is!"
Their laughter conveyed disappointment as much as jokes. Jawjack noticed the man with the ax stepping forward, and those laughs continued to plague them in the echoes of their brains.
"We're not scared of a fight! We must reclaim our peace." Hidd was the man's name. Even after learning that the enemy who was about to confront were fearsome pirates who only delivered cruelty, anxiety, and terror.
"I didn't think it was possible for people to get any stupider. I suppose I'll start by giving you a good thrashing. Don't worry, it'll only hurt for a little time; once you're gone, the pain will be forgotten!"
Hidd's portrayal of a valiant warrior flew out, his warriors under his leadership and earnestness on his face. They roared bravely as they prepared to confront pirates who were also ordered to fight back.
People and pirates were trading attacks, with some getting battered down and others remaining unharmed. Due to the large number of their enemy's thirty crew members, many civilians were injured. Some people toppled, while others remained standing.
The screams of the fallen victims had frightened civilians and forced them to flee. Some formed parties to fight a few of their foes, but the good people were ultimately outnumbered. Only Hidd and Elder Rai remained, both of whom indicated fear.
"You see that, you old crone? Even if you try to protect your life from death, all you get is a horrifying transparency of individuals being beaten down like lifeless rocks. Was attacking us the best option you had after putting your strategy in place to get rid of us? The biggest blunders made by a bunch of brainless dolls."
He laughed once more at villagers who had been traumatized by the vanquished army. While Hidd established reality of being unable to battle the Jawjack pirates, the remaining folks who had hid remained inside their homes.
"This is completely pointless... We should have just stayed on the island and let the pirates dominate. We've made a major mistake that we can't afford to correct. We'll be locked in this discord for a long time."
"Jawjack's pirates, launch an attack and put these two to rest; we've been misjudged, and we'll punish them mercilessly in exchange for their primordial defiance."
The pirates followed the orders and launched an attack to finish off the remainder of their left reinforcements. However, just as they were about to execute the two men, a figure appeared from behind the wall. It was a young lady with a wooden pole, which she whirled and used to smack the remaining pirates on the ground.
Jawjack's joy faded, and confusion took its place. Tim and his allies were alerted about the missing people by the same girl. She was sweating and gasping for air due to exhaustion.
"Rai, Hidd! I came here as quickly as I could, I'll help out!" Both were taken aback by her unusual look, but she was described as more of a weaker fighter owing to her weariness and lack of combat experience.
"Why have you come here, Karisa? You pulled yourself in danger; you shouldn't be here! It's very dangerous for you to be fighting pirates, even if you know how to fight; your arts are still too immature to be used in real battle."
"It doesn't matter to me! Jawjack can't govern this island and keep us as slaves! I can't tolerate it any longer; we've lost enough fortune, from people to homes to money! That's why I want to stop him!"
"Rai is accurate; you are far too unskilled to fight anyone, let alone someone as powerful as Jawjack. I don't want to deny you, but you shouldn't fight him either."
She defied their advice and took a risky decision to assist them in defeating Jawjack, who had resumed his laughter. His laugh was extended this time, and others exchanged puzzled expressions.
"You haven't shown up yet. I believe you were hiding in one of the residences, either together or separately, which indicates you haven't paid your bills or that someone hasn't paid enough money. The higher the number, the higher the rent!"
"Because I despise being deceived, I'll give you an offer. You appear to be a lovely lady, so why don't you join my ship? I won't treat you badly if you follow my orders; in fact, I might promote you to vice captain!"
While it was unclear why Jawjack attempted to recruit her, it was evident that he was attempting to deceive her. Unfortunately, he was unsuccessful.
"I decline. There's no way I'd ever join such nefarious individuals! I'm staying put, and I'll stay put till this situation is over!"
Her rage was seen in her eyes as she rushed full speed ahead and roared in the belief that she would be able to defeat Jawjack, but this proved to be a huge mistake.
Jawjack opened its enormous jaw and chewed through the wooden stick, preventing her from landing a strike. It was instantly ruined, leaving Karisa speechless as she examined the cracked wood. Her sweat trickled down her neck and splattered on the ground as she gulped.
Everyone noticed Jawjack swinging his arm and hitting Karisa in the face as soon as that happened. She was tossed aside with ease, receiving a large scratch on the cheek before collapsing on the floor. She was in excruciating pain and used her palm to examine the bleeding cut. She couldn't do much about it; all she could see was Jawjack raising his hook and about to pierce her back.
She jumped and rolled forward on the ground, having enough time to flee, when she felt a huge quake behind her. Jawjack's ability to wield so much power was terrifying. His blows were enough to crack the floor like wood, and a human body would be cruelly slaughtered if struck by anything so ruthless.
The maneuver was brilliant, and she had to crawl on the floor to lean against the building's terrified-looking wall. "Enough is enough! Get out of there, Karisa!" Karisa was alerted by a loud shout, and without wasting any more time, she stood up and ran away from the building.
"I haven't had so much fun in a long time! It's astounding to think that morons like you would try to stop me! I never believed I'd be able to feel such joy in my life!"
He laughed once again, but then got solemn and looked at the people who were still fighting. Karisa, the older Rai, and Hidd, who has been beaten up. These people were the only ones left with the ability to do anything.
"He's a cruel tyrant. We won't be able to stop a ruthless killer, but we must take action!"
To be continued...