In the North Sea, the wind rose from the ocean, sweeping across the waters and lands before ascending to the skies. Beneath the bright sunlight, the moisture from the sea gathered with the wind, forming clusters of white clouds.
Within the clouds, a figure with a half-mask resembling a clown—Vanir—watched the scene below with a sly smile.
"This world truly brings me joy. It's like a restaurant for demons, with delectable delights everywhere!" Vanir exclaimed.
Turning to Hiroshi and Kuroneko, Vanir grinned mischievously. "But since little Klee specifically asked me to help, I have no choice but to destroy this feast."
With a regretful sigh, he added, "Wasting food pains my heart."
"Then let me go first," Hiroshi said, stepping to the edge of the cloud. Looking down at the rising waves of malice and despair from the land below, Hiroshi shook his head.
"I finally understand the saying: 'Better to be a dog in times of peace than a man in times of chaos.' Surviving in such a world is far too difficult."
"With the World Government oppressing everyone from above, pirates running rampant, and countless criminal organizations thriving below, life is unbearable," he continued. "The actions of these beasts are beyond what my morals can tolerate."
Lightning flickered in Hiroshi's eyes as he extended a hand toward the cloud beneath him.
Boom! Boom!
Thunderous roars echoed through the skies, carried by the wind like the wrath of the heavens. Across the vast ocean, countless atrocities were unfolding.
Since the onset of the Great Pirate Era, the Navy's deterrence against self-proclaimed warriors of the sea had diminished. Many sought wealth, fame, and power through piracy, committing heinous acts under the guise of being pirates. Their crimes were seen as justifiable by their twisted logic.
The seas churned with chaos, while on land, crime syndicates exploited and oppressed the struggling populace. In a coastal town, several pirate ships had temporarily joined forces to launch a ferocious assault. The town's guards, aided by nearby Navy reinforcements, were putting up a desperate resistance.
Amid the turmoil, terrified residents sought shelter, while opportunistic thieves emerged from the shadows to loot what they dared not touch before.
Crash! Shatter!
The sound of breaking glass filled the air as a gang of thugs barged into a shop, laughing wildly as they stuffed their pockets. Upstairs, the shopkeeper calmed his wife and daughter before grabbing a wooden stick and cautiously descending. Peeking from the stairwell, he saw the thieves ransacking his livelihood.
Swallowing hard, he lowered his steps and prepared to ambush them. If he didn't act, his shop would be ruined, and his family left to starve. Worse, the thieves might harm his wife and daughter next.
Meanwhile, by the shore, blood-red tides formed as crimson streams from the battlefield flowed into the sea. The pirates, emboldened by their numerical advantage, pressed their attack.
"Push harder! The Navy and guards are about to collapse! Soon we'll have the whole town at our mercy again!" a pirate roared.
Among the fallen bodies, the corpses of pirates and Navy soldiers lay intertwined. Despite their best efforts, the Navy was vastly outnumbered. Each soldier fought valiantly, but the pirates encircled the remaining defenders.
"Brothers, it seems today we'll meet our end here," said a wounded Navy sergeant, his body covered in injuries. He steadied himself with his sword, determination etched on his pale face.
Looking at the dark clouds gathering above, he steadied his stance. "Sergeant Major has fallen, but he took two pirate leaders with him!"
"Behind us, there are still people who need our justice. Even if we can't enforce it today, we must hold our ground!" he shouted, gripping his sword tightly. "We are the Navy! We fight for justice! Before we fall, these pirates will not set foot in the town!"
"Charge!" he roared.
Boom!
As thunder echoed, a blinding silver light descended before him like a divine blade. The laughing pirates were engulfed in a dazzling burst of lightning.
Simultaneously, countless bolts of lightning rained down from the sky, striking the land below.
In the town, the shopkeeper lay bloodied on the floor, his belongings stolen. The thieves, laughing uproariously, climbed the stairs toward his family. Crawling through his blood, the shopkeeper watched in terror and fury as they ascended.
Boom!
A sudden thunderclap roared beside him, and a bolt of lightning struck the stairwell. The thieves tumbled down, smoke rising from their charred bodies.
With renewed determination, the shopkeeper grabbed his stick and stumbled toward the writhing thieves.
Above, Hiroshi exhaled and withdrew his hand from the cloud. Turning to Vanir, he said, "The rest is up to you."
"Allow me to finish," Vanir replied, grinning slyly. "I wonder, Hiroshi, what thoughts this spectacle stirs in you. I'm most intrigued!"
Removing his glove, Vanir pressed his hand into the air. "Darkness shall be devoured by an even deeper darkness."
Pure blackness spread from Vanir's body, seeping into the earth below. The remnants of malice consumed by the lightning were swallowed entirely by the darkened ground.
"A delightful meal," Vanir remarked with a smirk.