"Captain, we're going to die!"
Men and women dashed frantically across the deck, their footsteps pounding like desperate hammers against the ship's dark, weathered planks. Anguish was etched onto every face, and as though sensing the chaos around them, the sails thrashed wildly, flapping like the wings of a trapped beast.
The sky churned with ominous clouds spiraling like the eye of a vengeful giant, and a sharp, unrelenting sound—like the eerie cry of some strange creature—echoed in the distance.
"I'm not the captain!" Luna shouted as she stormed out of her father's cabin, her voice cutting through the storm. A knot tightened in her throat, choking her as much as the frustration weighing heavily on her shoulders. It was like carrying a burden she'd never asked for. My father had always been the leader. How could I ever replace someone like him? she thought. "And I don't want to be your captain!"
"Captain, we have to attack!" another crew member yelled, hastily adjusting one of the cannons. Sweat poured down his face, dripping into his wide, panic-stricken eyes as he searched for a solution—one she simply didn't have.
Luna clenched her fists so tightly that her knuckles turned white. This isn't the time to give up, she told herself. Her gaze swept over the Lady Diana, the old family ship. Every plank, every rope, was steeped in memories of the place where she'd grown up. No, this wouldn't be the place where they all would die.
For a moment, her eyes flicked toward the horizon. There it was—the Madame Sofie. Imposing. Menacing. The warship exuded a predator's calm, its four towering masts draped with blue-green sails streaked with dark stripes. The masts rose like spears pointed at the heavens, while its cannons stood ready to unleash destruction.
"Damn it!" Luna growled through gritted teeth as she stared at the churning sea battering the hull of the Diana. The pirate ship, with its meager two masts, rocked like a nutshell in the grip of a giant. "I told you—I'm not the captain!"
But she wasn't about to stand there and die, either. She wouldn't let them be slaughtered like this, she resolved.
Her eyes swept over the faces of the crew—friends, her lifelong family. She couldn't let them fall. They had trusted her father for years, and now, even though the thought terrified her, she would fight to the end to honor that trust.
She took a deep breath, forcing her lungs to obey, as she struggled to master the anguish that seemed to freeze her in place.
"Prepare for the attack!" Luna roared, pouring all her fury into the command. "Raise the sails and adjust the cannons! Let's show these bastards what happens when they take aim at a pirate!"
Her voice thundered across the deck, slicing through the oppressive air and breathing life into the crew. The sails unfurled with a resounding snap, billowing like a falcon's wings diving into the wind, and the Lady Diana surged forward, cutting through the waves.
Ahead, the Madame Sofie, immense and menacing, loomed like a floating fortress, dominating the water. Its sails rose in flawless unison as the ship adjusted its course to tighten the noose.
Farther behind the Diana, a small Imperial Navy vessel was rapidly closing in, its intent unmistakable: to trap the Diana. Luna quickly grasped the gravity of their situation. They were caught between the treacherous sea, where the wind was beginning to falter, and the deadly range of the Sofie's cannons.
Keeping her eyes fixed on the enemy ships, Luna scrutinized their every move—the trim of the sails, the angle of the hulls. Her gaze sharpened as she recognized a familiar pattern in the maneuvers. A cold shiver ran down her spine.
"Johny..." she murmured.
The name hung heavy in the air. The reputation of the Imperial Navy captain preceded him, as did his relentless obsession with capturing her father. Now, with the old pirate dead, Luna knew Johny had set his sights on a new target: her.
Farther behind the Diana, the smaller Navy ship was closing the gap with reckless urgency, like a ravenous predator oblivious to danger. Driven by greed and the lure of capturing the infamous Midnight Pirates, the crew ignored the clear signs of peril and blatantly disobeyed Johny's orders.
A sudden shift in the wind brought both opportunity and risk, exposing a critical vulnerability in the smaller vessel. The ship cut the waves on a diagonal path, advancing too quickly. Its speed was impressive, but the overfilled sails and clumsy maneuvers betrayed their desperation. They were determined to reach the Diana's stern before the trap closed completely.
So predictable, Luna thought.
Luna bit her lower lip so hard she felt the sting of broken skin. First, her gaze locked onto the smaller Navy ship, then shifted to the Sofie, which remained strategically positioned, its movements deliberate. Johny's vessel adjusted its course with patience, clearly waiting for the smaller ship to flank the Diana before acting, ensuring an unassailable advantage.
But the reckless advance of the smaller ship left its bow directly exposed to the Diana's cannons. Luna spotted the error instantly, analyzing it in mere seconds. A thin, cunning smile curled her lips.
The distance between the ships closed rapidly, and the steady wind made the shot almost certain. Luna's heart hammered like a war drum, each beat marking the meters that separated them. With her hands gripping the weathered wood of her father's cabin, she felt adrenaline surge through her veins, sharpening her focus.
"Ed!" she shouted, turning toward the Diana's stern. Her voice cut through the deafening roar of the sea and the frantic rhythm of her thoughts. The crewman in charge of the cannons, already positioned beside one of the massive iron tubes, looked up at her. "Take them down! Bring down their sails, and then we'll deal with the Sofie!"
Ed didn't respond—he didn't need to. The wicked grin that spread across his face said more than words could. With a swift motion, he grabbed the torch nearby and lit the fuse. The cannon roared, its blast echoing across the waves like thunder.
The projectile streaked across the two hundred meters separating the ships in a heartbeat, tearing through the air in a perfect arc before slamming into the enemy deck. The impact was devastating. Shards of splintered wood erupted into the air as the Navy ship's main mast shattered with a deafening crack, toppling onto the deck like a tree felled in a storm.
The sails collapsed in a tangle of shredded fabric, draping the ship like broken wings and leaving it adrift, helpless. An easy target. But the Diana's crew wasted no time. In seconds, muskets were drawn and aimed at the stunned sailors, who barely had time to process what had just hit them.
The thunderous blast still echoed in Luna's ears when a new movement caught her eye. The Sofie was beginning to respond. She noticed its sails being partially furled as the warship slowed its pace, revealing a clear shift in strategy.
Instead of advancing head-on, the Sofie adjusted its course, tacking against the wind and repositioning to the left with deliberate precision. Luna narrowed her eyes, her mind racing to anticipate Johny's next move.
Luna knew Johny would never attack without careful consideration. He was clearly waiting for the perfect moment to unleash that peculiar magic of his—the kind that could turn the tide of battle in an instant.
The Sofie crept forward, trading speed for maneuverability. It was a calculated move, positioning Johny like a predator closing in on its prey with measured patience.
On the crippled Navy ship, a sailor hoisted a white flag, its ragged edges flapping awkwardly in the wind—a clumsy plea for mercy. Luna didn't even blink. She clicked her tongue in irritation and turned away, refusing to waste a second of attention on such desperate, pathetic gestures.
Taking a deep breath, she sought the connection with the Light of Hope. The energy surged around her like a warm wave, pulsing in sync with the rhythm of her heart. The wind seemed to respond as if it, too, were alive—fierce and untamed, waiting for its cue. The Light harmonized with her mind, and she felt the wind coursing through her veins like a wild, defiant force. It challenged her, but at the same time, it bolstered her resolve.
It was a power with a will of its own: indomitable, impossible to subdue. It wasn't something she could force or command—it was pure freedom, something that chose to align with her because it recognized a kindred spirit, one just as rebellious. The wind whispered in an ancient, almost imperceptible language, assuring her that she had what it took to command it.
She held the air in her lungs, feeling a tingling sensation spread through her body. Her vision filled with tiny points of bluish, reddish, and translucent light—echo particles. She guided them, concentrating and condensing each one as she inhaled deeply. The particles collided with one another, creating a raw sensation of energy, as though a small vortex was spinning within her.
The Light of Hope grew stronger, enveloping her like an invisible shroud, keeping the particles contained. Luna anchored herself in the primal force that burned inside her. It was a rebellious energy, resisting her like an untamed beast. But the Light demanded more than mere physical strength—it asked for something deeper.
Faith.
She had to believe in the impossible. Trust without hesitation.
Luna understood the frailty of the human body—how incapable it was of sustaining such immense power for long. A single moment of doubt could turn all that energy into a catastrophic failure. But in that instant, her determination was unshakable.
Her dreams of living a grand adventure were solid, forged like steel in fire. And she wasn't about to let them shatter.
With power surging through her veins like molten lava, Luna fixed her gaze on the Lady Diana's sails. She closed her eyes, allowing her breathing to synchronize with the energy swirling around her. Silently, almost like a prayer, she asked the wind to heed her command.
The wind was her specialty. She could harness it to gain speed or amplify attacks, whether at a distance or in close combat. But directing the wind to fill the sails of an entire ship was an entirely different challenge. Like her, the wind loathed being forced and detested going against its natural course.
For a moment, it resisted, rebelling like an untamed beast. Luna didn't retreat. She deepened her connection with the element, feeling the air around her pulse with its own life. Slowly, the wind's defiance began to fade—hesitant at first, then with growing strength, until finally, it surrendered to her will. When she opened her eyes, a wave of relief mingled with a burgeoning confidence, and a subtle smile curled her lips. The Lady Diana's sails filled, and the ship surged forward with renewed speed.
"Turn the helm to right!" Luna commanded, her voice cutting through the noise on deck. "Stow the weapons—we're breaking out of this trap now!"
Aiko gripped the helm tightly and spun it with force. The Diana groaned under the strain of the sharp turn, its planks creaking in protest. On the horizon, the Sofie adjusted its sails, beginning its pursuit of the Diana. The gap between the two ships was closing dangerously fast, and Johny was playing his tactical hand, forcing Luna to react under mounting pressure.
The ships aligned, the Diana slightly ahead, while the Sofie maneuvered to within 450 meters of its target. The dark, menacing barrels of the Navy ship's cannons were trained directly on the pirate vessel, their deadly intent unmistakable.
The Sofie, faster and sturdier, continued to close the distance. The relentless shadow of the Navy ship bore down on them, and even with the wind at her command, Luna knew the Diana wouldn't escape easily from this pursuit. She cast a glance over her shoulder.
"Get ready to fire on those bastards!" Luna bellowed, her voice rising above the crashing waves. Her eyes scanned the deck, assessing every member of the crew.
Along the cannon line, her crew worked with singular focus. The assistants shielded the torches carefully, gently blowing on the flames to keep them alive. The gunners adjusted their aim, fully aware that a missed shot wouldn't just waste precious powder—it would mean less loot to divide later. And no one wanted to face Luna's or Aiko's wrath when it came time to split the spoils.
Luna held her breath for a moment, her thoughts colliding in a chaotic rush as anxiety clawed at her. Her father had been a legend on these seas, one of the most feared pirates to ever sail, yet she couldn't picture herself in his place. When it came to naval battles, she felt like an apprentice standing in the shadow of a master.
She knew the tactics, understood the right moves, but the chasm between theory and practice loomed wide and deep. She could manipulate the wind, yes, but even that wasn't absolute. The wind was wild, unpredictable, and more often than not, it made its own choices.
Once again, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes for a moment. There was no room for doubt now. Everything her father had taught her about the sea was etched into her heart, but the weight of responsibility still pressed on her, like an anchor dragging her down. Captain or not, Luna knew one thing: she had to protect her crew, and she would let nothing in this world see them captured.
"Fire!" Luna shouted.
As soon as the command left her lips, the Diana's cannons roared in response, hurling projectiles toward the enemy. The Sofie's speed, however, made it a challenging target, and most of the shots flew wide.
Even so, a few rounds found their mark, striking the bow and port side of the Sofie. The explosions echoed across the water, shattering windows and tearing chunks from the hull. While the damage wasn't critical, the impact made the Sofie lurch and lose speed momentarily—a brief but precious window of advantage for the Diana.
A dense cloud of smoke filled the air, carrying the acrid smell of burned gunpowder. For a moment, Luna stood still, listening to the fading echoes of the cannon fire and feeling the vibrations beneath her feet. But reality quickly reasserted itself. The Sofie, damaged but far from defeated, was already regaining its speed. Johny wouldn't give up so easily, and Luna knew it would take far more than that to overcome him.
Her fingers fidgeted absentmindedly with the hem of her blue shirt, tucking it into the folds of her rumpled, ruffled skirt. The damp fabric clung to her skin, sweat and humidity revealing the band she wore to flatten her chest. For a fleeting second, she almost smirked at the absurdity of it all—amidst cannon fire and chaos, she still found time to feel self-conscious about something so trivial. But the moment passed, her focus snapping back to the present.
There was no time for distractions.
The nervous gesture stood in stark contrast to the firm posture Luna struggled to maintain. Her disheveled, bluish hair, with dry, frayed ends, fell across her shoulders, swaying with the restless wind that brushed her face.
The sun blazed mercilessly overhead, and she wiped a slick of sweat from her bronzed forehead with the back of her hand. The dark circles under her violet eyes betrayed the two sleepless nights since what had happened to her father. Raising her gaze to the sky, she squinted, a strange sensation creeping over her. Something was off. Everything felt... too wrong.
The smoke clung stubbornly to the air, forming a dense veil that obscured the stern. The wind, which had once seemed to answer her commands, now rebelled, unruly and defiant. Someone's manipulating the wind, she thought, her jaw tightening. But who?
Luna's eyes swept the northeastern horizon, scanning for the source of the magical gusts. She searched for any sign, any clue—but all she saw was the endless expanse of sea stretching into a suffocating void.
Suddenly, the Diana veered sharply to the left. The magical wind pushed it like a dry leaf, leaving it powerless to resist. Luna clung to the railing as the ship tilted dangerously, seawater crashing onto the deck.
The impact jolted the vessel violently, the snapping sails cracking through the air like whips. Shouts erupted around her as the crew fought desperately to maintain their balance. The bow spun erratically, veering off course as if a giant hand had seized the ship and flung it aside. Amid the chaos, Luna looked up, and through the tangle of ropes, sails, and sailors clinging to anything they could grab, she saw it—the Sofie.
The magical wind hadn't just thrown them off course; it had maneuvered them straight into the enemy's grasp.
Above them, the massive spiral of dark clouds seemed to grow, churning ominously as if the sky itself threatened to swallow them whole. For a fleeting moment, Luna thought she saw a sinister smile flicker across the roiling storm.
The Diana groaned under the strain of the wild maneuver, the waves slamming against its hull with a force that echoed through the deck like thunder.
"Adjust the sails!" Aiko's voice cut through the chaos, sharp and commanding, momentarily stemming the creeping dread that threatened to infect the crew.
But it was too late.
A ferocious explosion erupted, sending a column of fire and smoke so high it seemed to pierce the heavens. Johny's magic, Luna thought, her eyes wide as she watched the incandescent fireball—pure energy shaped by the haze of anguish—slice through the air and strike the left side of the Diana, just above the waterline. The impact obliterated part of the upper deck and tore a massive hole in the ship's side.
The acrid scent of charred wood and gunpowder filled the air, and Luna felt the ship shudder beneath her feet. The high-pitched wail of the hull tearing apart echoed in her ears as she turned to find Aiko amidst the chaos.
His graying hair, tied back in a ponytail, whipped in the wind, framing his weathered, sun-darkened face—a face still youthful but hardened by years at sea. The taut muscles beneath his white linen shirt looked like tempered steel, and his dark eyes burned with a quiet, contained fury that could tear through mountains. Aiko surveyed the damage with quick precision, already calculating their next move.
"They've got a battle mage!" Jack shouted, pointing toward the Sofie. "It has to be that bastard!"
"Do you think we can still escape, Jack?" Luna asked, her voice barely rising above the din of crashing waves and cannon fire.
Jack hesitated, and Luna's gaze bore into him, unyielding. His broad shoulders were slightly hunched, and his dark skin, slick with sweat from the fight, reflected the fiery glow of the magic streaking across the sky.
"I don't know, Captain," Jack admitted, his deep voice tinged with a heavy sadness. He pushed his damp brown hair out of his face. "The Diana's groaning like a wounded beast, pushing itself to the limit. I don't know how much longer she can hold together before splitting apart. Even with your... friend helping us, I'm not sure we'll make it out of this."
Before Luna could respond, the world erupted around her. Shrapnel flew in all directions, and she dropped to the deck just in time. A chunk of debris the size of her head hurtled past, so close she could feel the searing heat against her skin. The impact made the Diana lurch dangerously, the hull releasing a piercing creak—an anguished protest against the relentless onslaught.
Saltwater gushed through the gaping holes, and the Diana fought desperately to stay on course. Amid the chaos, the Sofie seized the opportunity, maneuvering into a strategic position to flank the Diana on the the left. The two ships now faced each other like duelists, poised to strike the final blow.
And then Luna saw him.
Johny stood at the bow of the Sofie. His long hair and beard, white as snow, whipped about in the merciless sea wind. His pale face, etched with cold and severe features, framed eyes of a dark, stormy blue—like tempests trapped within, glowing with an almost otherworldly intensity.
He wielded a sword wreathed in flames that danced as if they were an extension of his very being. The contrast between the icy detachment in his expression and the fiery energy surrounding him made his presence utterly terrifying. Johny's muscular frame, still strong despite his advanced age, was taut, but what struck Luna most was his gaze. It was unwavering, filled with an implacable determination devoid of hesitation.
"Captain!" someone called out to Luna, but the voice felt distant, muffled by something stronger than the chaos around her.
She blinked, trying to shake off the oppressive sensation pressing down on her. The world seemed to sink into a deafening silence, broken only by a persistent ringing that pulsed in her ears.
Luna shook her head, searching for clarity. It wasn't fear—this was something deeper, more primal. A fierce and seething rage bubbled within her, threatening to boil over. Her fists clenched tight, and she planted her feet firmly on the swaying deck, bracing against the unrelenting barrage of cannon fire. Her eyes burned, her entire body coiled like a spring about to snap.
"Damn it… damn it… damn it!" she muttered, teeth clenched as if to hold back a scream.
Another blast struck the Diana, sending tremors through its frame. Luna tasted the metallic bitterness of fury on her tongue. Why is that cursed old man here? she thought, the rage churning inside her like a storm.
"Fire!" she bellowed, her voice cutting through the chaos, charged with raw anger.
Her crew didn't hesitate. Her orders reverberated across the deck as sailors sprang into action. From the Sofie, the cannons roared once more, unleashing another deadly barrage. Explosions blended with the sharp crack of splintering wood as the projectiles tore into the Diana.
The ship rocked violently with each hit, but it held firm, as though its very frame carried the same indomitable spirit as its captain. Luna's gaze locked on Johny, and memories surged. She had known this man since she was a child. His methods had always been a dangerous blend of madness and cunning.
The Sofie sped across the waves, the flags of the Navy and the Maritime Empire snapping in the wind like a taunt. For a moment, the cannon fire ceased, and the Navy ship skillfully maneuvered, pulling away just enough to trace a wide arc. Its sails adjusted, and the Sofie turned sharply, an aggressive sweep that brought it back on a collision course with the Diana.
A thunderous explosion echoed through the air. A fireball streaked across the sky and struck the Diana squarely. Flames engulfed parts of the wooden deck as crew members scrambled to douse the fire licking at the ship. Yet, the vessel persisted, stubborn to the last.
"Put out that fire!" Jack shouted, dragging a bucket of water. He turned his head, his eyes locking onto Luna. "Captain, we need you!"
"I'm not the captain!" Luna snarled, her eyes blazing with fury. "Damn it!"
She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to steady her focus. The wind swirling around the ship was chaotic, unruly. Luna pushed herself again to assert her will over it, but the wind resisted, moving hesitantly around the Diana alone.
Damn you, you stubborn thing, Luna thought, frustration biting at her.
After tense minutes of struggle, the wind finally began to yield, filling Diana's sails to their fullest. At maximum speed, the ship surged forward.
Explosions and gunfire filled the air with an ear-splitting cacophony. The relentless din of battle was punctuated by flashes of fire and the choking density of smoke. Luna made her way to the bow, gripping the railing so tightly her hands tingled.
Suddenly, she felt the wind brush her face, gentler now, as if it acknowledged her command. Deep down, though, Luna knew the truth: the wind wasn't fighting for her—it was merely helping for now.
Her brow furrowed, irritation thrumming beneath her skin. She knew cursing the wind wouldn't help, so she drew a deep breath, filling her lungs with the salty, bracing air of the sea. When she opened her eyes again, the fiery rage had been replaced by something even stronger: an unyielding determination.
The moment she spotted the Navy ship, Luna noticed a hesitation in the sails' alignment. She caught something almost unbelievable—a small flaw in Johny's strategy. It was the kind of mistake the old captain made when his confidence outpaced his caution.
"Let's hit those bastards! Take everything you can!" Luna shouted, her voice resolute, a command that brooked no argument. "If they want a fight, I'll give them one myself!"
"You heard the captain! Let's loot the Navy!" one of the crew hollered. His shout was met with a roaring chorus, the crew ablaze with fervor and battle-lust.
"I'M NOT THE CAPTAIN, YOU IDIOTS!" Luna yelled, but her words were drowned out by laughter and the cries of combat.
She spun on her heel to face Aiko, her expression sharp.
"Aiko! Unfurl all the sails on the Diana!" Luna commanded.
Aiko steadied the helm, guiding the Diana to pick up even more speed. The wind, bent to Luna's will, drove the ship faster, narrowing the gap between them and the Navy vessel. The plan was straightforward: gain momentum and bring the Diana alongside the Sofie.
"Ready the cannons on the right side!" Luna barked, her tone unwavering.
A fireball, fired by Johny, tore through the air straight toward her. Without hesitation, Luna drew her sword and slashed the projectile mid-flight. The orb shattered, disintegrating into a cloud of ash.
"That's our captain, you loser!" Aiko shouted, flipping both middle fingers at the enemy captain. Luna only rolled her eyes, ignoring him as more fireballs zipped past.
"Aiko, stay the course! Let's leave them a farewell gift," Luna ordered, her voice sharp and commanding. Her gaze locked onto the Sofie, which was closing in fast. A predatory grin spread across her lips as she sheathed her sword.
"Stop firing!" Luna shouted, her voice cutting through the chaos, aimed at both her crew and the opposing ship. The Navy sailors ignored her and continued their barrage. Frustrated, Luna closed her eyes, retreating into the memory of her father's training, the lessons flowing through her mind like a mantra.
The air around her turned cold, and a palpable weight descended over the scene. The Light of Hope seemed to resonate with Luna's spiritual force. The echo condensed, forming a whirlwind of wind that bridged her will to the world. Concentrating, she envisioned a blade taking shape, and at that moment, every particle of echo aligned with her unwavering determination.
She felt the warm mantle of energy grow denser around her. The Light of Hope pulsed powerfully, coalescing into the vortex of emerald wind swirling before her. On the twenty-fifth breath—each inhale and exhale drawing the particles of echo closer together—the Echo Blade finally emerged: a crystallized hurricane of energy, its long, double-edged form illuminated by vibrant turquoise light rippling along the metallic surface. Its emerald-green hilt gave it a distinct, almost otherworldly aura.
When Luna opened her eyes, she found Johny standing at the bow of the Sofie, frozen in place. His face bore the astonishment of a child witnessing the impossible. Pleased, Luna smirked. He recognized it, she thought. He knew. Her legacy, as real as the blood in her veins, was now undeniable, and Johny understood exactly what it meant. Her left hand wrapped firmly around the hilt, and despite its size, the blade felt astonishingly light.
With a fierce cry, Luna swung the blade downward, slamming it into the deck. Upon impact, a massive wave of turquoise energy erupted from the blade, spreading outward like a colossal fan aimed directly at the Sofie. The magical wind, compressed and furious, struck the enemy ship with the force of a raging storm.
The Sofie's sails shredded like paper, its masts groaned and splintered, collapsing like dry twigs. Sailors were flung into the sea as the ship shuddered violently, as though it had collided with an invisible iceberg.
Johny's face twisted into a blend of shock and despair. He clung to anything within reach to keep from being thrown overboard, his expression that of a man who had woken from a nightmare only to find reality far worse. From across the distance, Luna stared him down, her eyes blazing with intensity, reflecting the Light of Hope coursing through her.
It was as though raw, unbridled power had overtaken her—a storm contained within her very being. She drew a deep breath, feeling the crushing weight of that energy. Her body trembled, her knees buckling under the strain of the overwhelming magic. The Echo Blade, unable to sustain itself any longer, began to dissolve, fracturing into the air like a fading mirage.
"Turn the Diana! We're going back for another strike! Ed, ready the cannons!" Luna roared, channeling the wind to drive the ship faster. Gasping for breath, she fought to maintain her focus, pushing the limits of her own endurance. "Raise the flag!"
"All hands to the helm!" Aiko responded, spinning the helm with force. His arms were rigid, his muscles straining as he maneuvered the ship.
The Diana surged forward like an arrow through the chaos, cutting through the air. Aiko spun the helm with all his strength, and with the wind's assistance, the ship carved a wide arc through the waves, gaining speed as it circled the Sofie, now crippled and reeling from the impact.
Luna gripped one of the ropes tightly to keep from being thrown overboard, while the rest of the crew did the same, shouting over the ship's abrupt lurch. When the Diana finally aligned itself and sailed past the Sofie at a safe distance, the enemy ship's gunfire came in a scattered, desperate volley—like the final, panicked thrashes of a wounded beast. Most of the shots missed, as though the wind itself bent them off course.
Her gaze locked onto the Sofie, Luna pointed to the mainmast.
"Raise our flag!" she bellowed.
One of the crew hoisted the banner of the Midnight Pirates. The black flag, emblazoned with a one-eyed skull and a long, braided beard—the unmistakable mark of Luna's father—unfurled in the wind, a warning to anyone foolish enough to challenge them.
Onboard the Sofie, the chaos was beginning to subside. Stunned sailors struggled to stand and return to their posts, while Johny, his face streaked with soot and twisted in fury, barked frantic orders in a desperate attempt to reorganize the defense.
Aiko expertly maneuvered the Diana, bringing it alongside the Sofie, maintaining a distance of about ten meters. The crew used long boarding poles to stabilize the position between the two ships, ensuring the perfect angle for the assault. The Diana gave a slight shudder as it drew closer.
On the other side, the demoralized Navy sailors stepped back cautiously, clutching their muskets, trying to maintain some semblance of composure. Luna narrowed her eyes and turned to face her crew. A mischievous smile spread across her lips as her long blue hair billowed in the wind like a living banner.
"Take everything—anything of value!" she shouted, raising her sword high before pointing it toward the Sofie. "Don't kill unless they surrender, and leave the women untouched. I want anything useful, especially ammunition and onyx coins!"
"We'll follow you to hell, Captain!" came the roaring response from her crew.
"I am not the captain, you idiots!" Luna snapped, exasperated. "In five minutes, that ship will be ours. Grab axes, swords, whatever you've got… Now move!"
Wasting no time, Luna crossed the deck of the Diana, weaving through wreckage and smoke. When she found a clear vantage point, she paused to scan the Sofie's deck. Around eighty Navy soldiers had hastily formed a defensive line, their muskets aimed at the obvious points where pirates might attempt to board.
Luna chuckled softly and turned to Aiko.
"Oh, and… don't die!"