The moonlight shone brightly on the calm waters as the ship cut through the sea, the soft ripples glimmering in the darkness. The ship was an extraordinary sight, a marvel of craftsmanship, floating steadily toward Baron Island. Its sails were tucked, and the crew had long since retreated to their quarters to rest, leaving only the whisper of the wind and the gentle creak of wood to accompany the silence. Among the ship's sleepers were Josuke and Arthur, both of whom had taken refuge in the training room. The rhythmic sway of the sea and the peaceful surroundings had lulled them into a deep sleep, unaware of the danger approaching. Out in the distance, a band of sea pirates, notorious for their ruthlessness and greed, scanned the horizon. Their vessel, a smaller but faster ship, cut through the water with expert precision. They had been roaming these seas for days, looking for any target that might be worth their time. As they neared the ship, the leader of the pirates, Captain Dreg, squinted at the vessel and said in a low, intrigued voice, "What is that ship?" One of his men, Garrick, a seasoned pirate with a rough beard, leaned over the edge of the ship, eyes wide with disbelief. "It's a beauty, Captain. Look at those sails, the craftsmanship… I've never seen a vessel like it. This is a ship of wealth." Dreg's eyes narrowed as he studied it further. "Aye, this is no ordinary ship. If it's as rich as it looks, then it's ours for the taking. We board her and take what's inside. Let's make it quick." As the pirates prepared to board, they noticed something unusual about the ship's pristine deck. It was too quiet. There was no sign of the crew on deck. Still, the opportunity was too tempting. They moved quickly, jumping from their own vessel onto the sides of the ship, their heavy boots thudding on the wooden boards as they made their way in.
The pirates scattered across the deck, admiring the ship's intricate design, its polished wood, and its state-of-the-art equipment. One of them, Mason, a lanky pirate with a gold tooth, couldn't contain his excitement as he ran his hand along the polished railing. "Look at this! It's like something out of a royal fleet. Whoever owns this ship is rich beyond measure." "Shut up, Mason," Dreg hissed. "We need to move fast. Find the person in charge and make them tell us where the treasure is hidden." The pirates split up, creeping through the ship, eager to find their prize. But as they rounded a corner near the inner door, a strange sound stopped them in their tracks—footsteps. The pirates froze, listening closely as the sound of footsteps echoed from inside the ship. They quickly huddled together, preparing to capture whoever was approaching.
A figure was walking down the hallway, the soft patter of their footsteps growing louder with each passing second. The pirates' leader motioned for them to take position. They planned to surprise the person, knock them out, and ransom them for a fortune. It was clear that anyone who could afford this ship would have a family with plenty of money to spare. The door creaked open as the figure neared, and the pirates sprang into action. They rushed forward, grabbing the person from behind and pulling a bag over their head. The figure didn't struggle, seemingly unaware of their surroundings. The pirates exchanged smug glances, ready to claim their prize.
But then, something strange happened. The man they had grabbed didn't feel like a normal person. He felt… like air.
"Who the hell are you?" one of the pirates growled, yanking the bag off the figure's head.
The man stood before them, his posture relaxed yet unnerving. He wore a black mask with white eyes that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light. His aura was odd, almost unsettling. He didn't flinch or show any fear at being captured.
The pirate leader, Dreg, scowled. "I asked, who are you?"
The masked man tilted his head slightly. "I'm just an awkward guy in a mask. You feel me?"
The pirates exchanged confused glances. What kind of response was that?
"We asked who you are, not what you are," one of them, Brock, growled impatiently.
The man gave a lazy shrug. "Oh, my bad. I'm Silver, a new recruit of Unit Zero."
The pirates' faces fell, their eyes widening with sudden fear. "Unit Zero?" Dreg repeated, his voice faltering. "The Unit Zero?" Silver nodded, his expression unreadable. "Yeah, that's right. This is his ship. The one and only Commander Kyle's ship and it cost him 30 million Myrin ." The mention of Unit Zero, the one the elite rangers, sent a chill through the pirates. They had heard of them, of course, but to think they had just tried to board one of their ships was a horrifying realization. The pirates had made a massive mistake. Dreg's mind raced. If Kyle woke up and found them here, it would be over for them. He turned to his crew, anxiety creeping into his voice. "We need to leave. Now. We can't afford to mess with Unit Zero." But one of the pirates, Jase, didn't want to back down. "Kid, don't you realize? If we kidnap him, Unit Zero will pay whatever ransom we ask! This ship is worth a fortune, and this boy's gotta be important to them!"
Silver's eyes narrowed beneath his mask. He had heard enough. The pirates might be trying to take advantage of him, but he wasn't about to let that happen. Before the pirates could react, Silver raised a hand, making swift gestures with his fingers. The air around them seemed to shift, darken, and grow heavier. "Open, Shadow Abyss."
Suddenly, the ground beneath the pirates' feet turned jet black, as if the very essence of darkness was rising up from the ship's floor. The shadows grew thick and viscous, swallowing the light. The pirates tried to run, but the shadows closed in on them, dragging them downward into the inky abyss. A muffled scream echoed as one pirate vanished into the dark void, then another, and another, until all of them were consumed. The shadows locked them in, their voices fading into nothingness, leaving only silence in their wake. Silver stood there, his hand still raised, his expression unreadable. He closed his hand into a fist, sealing the abyss. "That's one way to get rid of pests," Silver muttered, walking over to where the pirates had once stood. He glanced down at the now-empty space where they had vanished. "I wonder how I can use them in battle. They'd make great practice targets."
With a final look around, Silver turned and walked back toward his room, leaving the ship eerily quiet once again. As he disappeared into the ship's halls, the moonlight continued to shine brightly above, casting its silver glow over the water as the Unit Zero vessel sailed forward toward Baron Island.