The rebels of Freshstar Island had long since left the bar, escorting the rescued hostages as they moved deeper into the forest, farther from the main village where the island's inhabitants were still held captive by Booze Beard Jack's crew. Lanterns flickered in their hands as they made their way toward their secret base. The decision to leave the bar had been a necessary one—Booze Beard Jack and his crew would most likely return the following day, determined to finish what they started. The rebels knew this would escalate into a full-blown war, and they couldn't afford to rely on luck any longer.
Multiple men were speaking in hushed voices as they walked through the dark forest.
"Men… walking at night is always so scary. Monsters of the darkness could catch us… that's why I never left the main village. But since Booze Beard arrived, I've had to walk in the dark."
"Stop being a wimp! You survived a culverin firing an iron ball at you, and you're worried about monsters in the darkness?"
Satō walked behind Anne, who kept her hand on her cutlass. She seemed unfazed, not stressed, just prepared in case an ambush came. This walk left him with enough time to think about the situation.
Okay, I got reincarnated into another world, I think… to the Golden Age of Piracy. Into the body of a man who just got shot by a pirate crew called Booze Beard Jack's. I have a fictional attribute called the Mighty Phoenix, and to unlock an offensive ability, I have to defeat him and his crew within a week. If I don't, some consequence I have no idea about will follow. This trial is anything but fair. If an entire rebel organization and this beast of a woman haven't dealt with them all in three months, I don't stand a chance…
He lingered for a moment, then asked,
"Hey Anne, do you know how strong this Booze Beard Jack guy is?"
She kept walking, shrugging nonchalantly.
"He might be a loser, but he's not bad. He managed to send me flying across multiple houses and trees when we first clashed. But of course, it wasn't enough to end me. I'm stronger than everyone on this island… except him. If I had to put it, he'd probably win eight times out of ten. But don't worry, I'll find a way to deal with him if a one-on-one fight's out of the question."
Satō put his hand to his face and cursed his fate.
He sent that monster flying through multiple houses and trees, and somehow, I'm supposed to beat him in one week? What am I, the average shonen protagonist? I can't get that strong in a week. This trial is anything but fair!
He thought for a moment, then remembered the saying, To beat your enemy, you first need to know your enemy.
He asked again, "What's he like?"
Anne paused, thinking, then replied,
"He's cruel to anyone who disrespects him, and he gets angry easily. He has an appetite, too—I've heard the hostages from the main village have to cook a week's worth of food just to satisfy his hunger. He has a beard that connects ten empty beer bottles. He's huge—like a giant—and always wears an amulet around his neck. He gets bloodthirsty if you even try to touch it. Basically, a loser."
As he walked, Satō put his hand to his chin and muttered, "Thanks for the info. With this, I might just find a sneaky way to beat him…"
Anne glanced at him in surprise, then laughed as she continued walking.
"Ah, for the guy who kept whining about his situation, now you want to take down the captain of the pirate crew that shot you? I like it! I need people like this in my crew when I set sail!"
Anne suddenly stopped walking and stood in front of a lake. With a loud shout, she called,
"Sophia, it's us! Let us in!"
To Satō's shock, the water in the lake began to part, creating a path that led to the deep end of the lake. Satō stared in disbelief.
"What the hell is going on here?"
Anne shrugged casually and began walking down the newly formed path.
"Our secret base."
Nervously, Satō followed her, with the rest of the rebels trailing behind. As they descended, the water slowly closed behind them, leaving them in darkness. Despite the blackness, Satō noticed something moving in one of the divided sections of the water.
As they entered the lake cave, the darkness enveloped them, and the sound of water rippling echoed in the air. Anne jumped gracefully onto a ledge, followed by Satō, who stumbled slightly as he tried to keep up. The rest of the crew followed suit. Behind them, the water slowly submerged, sealing the entrance. Inside the cave, Satō's eyes widened at the sight. The walls were lined with firearms, furniture, cutlasses, and various other swords. It was an armory of sorts, and the air felt heavy with the scent of saltwater and metal.
Anne let out a tired sigh. "Man, what a long day. We need rest... Since you're my first crew member, dead man, come sleep next to me."
Satō walked in nervously, his eyes scanning the cave. "Since when did I decide to join your crew? And what do you mean by that?"
Before Anne could answer, something shot out of the water at incredible speed. Anne's eyes flashed with bloodlust as she grabbed her cutlass, her body tense with readiness.
"You really are an impatient one, aren't you? The naiads!" she growled.
A woman, beautiful yet menacing, flew toward them. Her brown hair and pale face glistened as droplets of water fell from her. She wore a wet, nearly transparent white dress that shimmered in the dim light. Satō's eyes widened in shock. She held a sword made entirely of water, its shape fluid yet deadly.
The woman met Anne in a clash of blades. Water splashed violently around them as they exchanged strikes. Despite Anne's skill, the woman's swordplay was just as sharp, and they locked blades in a stalemate.
"Don't take my patience for granted, child," the woman said coldly. "I only allow you to hide in my lake for the benefit of this island."
The two stood apart, panting slightly, as the tension between them simmered. The woman lowered her sword and raised her hand in a graceful gesture.
"So, what's the situation?" she asked, her tone still carrying an air of command.
Anne, now a little more relaxed, sheathed her cutlass and smirked. "We successfully ambushed over forty of Booze Beard Jack's men. It was our biggest victory since this war started."
Anne placed a hand on Satō's shoulder, a smirk tugging at her lips. "All thanks to this dude who got shot in the head and came back from the dead. His name is Hyoudou Satō. Strange name, right? He's a dead man walking."
Satō blushed slightly, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, that's pretty much it... nice to meet you... um... Lady Sophia?"
Sophia approached him, her eyes cold and calculating. "Is that so? Perhaps this gentleman here possesses an artifact that allows for resurrection?" she said, her tone sharp.
Satō shook his head, trying to calm his nerves. "No, ma'am. I don't have such a valuable object with me. I just... stood back up."
Sophia turned away, her gaze drifting to the water. After a pause, she spoke again, her voice distant. "Well, it doesn't matter... Anne, I gave you one week to defeat Booze Beard Jack and his crew. If you fail, I'll flood the entire village. I don't care how many die."
She took a step into the water, her figure slowly fading from view.
"I made a pact with your ancestors, Anne. Men with malevolent intent shall not be allowed on this island. That's why this island was the most peaceful in the First Great Sea. One week. If you don't defeat him by then... the entire village and its people will drown. And I won't care if they're the descendants of those I made the pact with."
With that, she vanished beneath the surface, leaving only the ripples in her wake.
Anne groaned, holding her face in frustration. "Well, when we've got something to do, we do it... One week... Well, let's get started tomorrow."
With a smirk, she climbed onto a wooden crate nearby and shouted, "You heard the lady, right, guys? We've got one week to deal with that loser... so we're striking tomorrow morning!"
Her crew roared in agreement, raising their cutlasses and fists in the air.
Satō stood to the side, his mind racing. Wait, if she's the one who defeats him, will that count? He shook his head, frustrated. No, you idiot, it won't count. It said I had to defeat Booze Beard Jack, not her! And she doesn't even have a plan—what the hell is she thinking? Didn't she say he ragdolled her the first time they fought one-on-one? This is insane. What am I even doing here?