C499
"Row! Keep rowing! Kahahaha!"
The pirate licked his lips.
"A rabbit has appeared after a long time!"
Hyenas wandering looking for prey, avoiding lions, tigers, and elephants.
Where there were no fierce beasts, the hyenas were the strongest, and so now all the prey had hidden or fled.
"Hehe. That ship is ours!"
So now it was a situation where the hyenas had to fight amongst themselves.
In the midst of that, they discovered a lone ship, without a flag, moving on its own.
That is definitely a rabbit!
"It will be fast."
Having come this far, that ship is surely agile.
However, the pirates of this place were prepared to gladly welcome that ship that, evading the most miserable pirates, had come to hell.
"Kahahaha! It's ours!"
"We have to row faster than those bastards!"
"Huhu. We can take it easy. While those fools fight, we'll loot it."
Chuaaa-
Chuaa-
Many ships advanced cutting through the water, each on their own.
Everyone had their eyes set on that ship discovered today for the first time.
'How is it?'
'Good!'
There were also pirate ships that, through signals, established temporary cooperation between them.
"Kahaha! Fools! The answer is always to attack first and fastest!"
The captain of the lead pirate ship mocked those behind while increasing the speed even more.
Licking his lips, his expression only contained cruelty towards the herbivore that had dared to enter the hyenas' territory.
"Huh? Captain! I-It's strange."
But the ship approaching them, neither slow nor fast. The ship with no flag or anything, even without a proper crew.
That ship had become strange.
"I said it's strange!"
"Shut up! I know that too! Brat!"
What is it?
The morning sun in the sky is unusually hot.
Not even a breeze is blowing, so much so that sails are unnecessary, and the sea is clear without a hint of fog.
"Damn, what's up with those guys?"
But suddenly, fog appeared around that ship.
And it was a very thick fog.
"Captain, what do we do?"
"Ah, shit, just shut up first!"
The captain wondered what he should do.
But meanwhile, the ship kept rowing very fast, following the captain's previous orders.
"Ugh!"
But at that moment, the rabbit ship was approaching this place at tremendous speed.
Incredibly fast.
Actually, now the ship isn't even clearly visible.
A mass of fog is coming this way.
And that fog is expanding.
'What is it?'
It's strange.
Something is strange.
"Captain!"
The subordinate beside him also seemed to feel the bad premonition.
But,
"Captain! The other ships behind are catching up to us!"
Hearing the words of the subordinate in the rear, they couldn't retreat either.
Having gone out with arrogance, they couldn't run away with their tails between their legs without even facing them.
The moment they acted like that, this ship's reputation would sink completely.
"Hey, Captain! Are we just going?"
The subordinate beside him also seemed to have reached the same conclusion.
"Yes! Let's go!"
The captain decided.
"Let's just see how it is, or if it's a rabbit!"
"That's right!"
What is the pirate life about?
You just have to take a look and if it looks like a no-go, run away immediately!
The captain thought he just had to avoid the worst.
"Let's go!"
"Row! The captain says let's go!"
Chuaaa-
Just as the rowing speed increased again.
"We just check the fog and go! You send signals to the rowers! If it doesn't work, have them flee immediately!"
The captain, even so, took the minimum precaution.
So they rowed hard.
"Oh. Captain! The ship stopped!"
The approaching ship stopped.
"Kahahaha! It seems it's trying to flee!"
The captain felt relief seeing the fog ship stop. A strong guy wouldn't stop his ship like that!
"But don't lower your guard!"
The captain shouted arrogantly while approaching the fog ship.
And the moment his pirate ship touched the fog.
"Damn! Those guys got ahead first!"
"It seems the fog isn't a big deal, let's increase speed too!"
The ships coming from behind also approached with momentum.
Dozens of pirate ships, when hyenas launch themselves, observe or look for an opportunity towards a single prey.
When they try to reach the lead ship.
“…….”
“……."
Silence fell over the lead pirate ship.
Fog.
It was from the moment the bow touched that fog.
The fog suddenly spread and covered the pirate ship.
But neither the captain nor the subordinates, nor anyone on the ship could say anything.
"Uh, ah-"
No. At first they tried to speak.
But no coherent language came out.
A thick fog that seemed to want to hide even the sun.
The intangible energy enveloping them within it.
They felt their throats closing up.
It was as if a huge existence was watching them.
They couldn't move or speak.
If they did, no, they couldn't even suppose such an "if".
They only thought about breathing in and out, enduring this moment.
Chuaaa-
The sound of water being cut through is heard.
Since the pirate ship is stopped, one can tell that sound is from the ship wrapped in fog passing by.
But not a single crew member or captain could raise their head towards the approaching ship.
Chuaaa-
The fog became denser.
Breathing became more difficult.
To be precise, they felt that even breathing was under someone's permission, a sensation of being dominated.
Chuaaa-
The fog ship was moving away.
But the pirate ship couldn't escape the terrible silence.
They clearly felt the gaze of someone watching them as the fog ship passed, but they didn't dare to look.
They only lowered their heads further and shrank their bodies.
Chuaaa-
Finally, the sound of the ship cutting through the water was heard faintly.
And when the fog passed the pirate ship by.
"...Phew, haa-"
The captain could finally exhale comfortably while breathing.
"Phew, gasp."
As he started breathing properly, his breathing became more agitated.
Only now could he realize that he was kneeling on both knees, curled up.
His whole body was soaked, and his forehead was full of sweat.
Drip. Droop.
Cold sweat ran down his cheeks and fell to the floor.
Sweat stains remained on the deck wood, stains of saliva flowing from his mouth barely breathing.
“……."
Barely, really barely, he raised his head.
Then he saw the subordinates who were still curled up, trembling.
Although the immense energy covering them had disappeared, the subordinates who couldn't even raise their heads didn't seem ridiculous to him. Because he could understand them too well.
Instead, since he was the captain, he gathered his courage and looked back.
The fog ship was advancing towards the numerous pirate ships that had approached them.
And where the ship had passed, all the pirate ships were stopped.
No ship dared to move.
Chuaaa-
The fog ship crossing the water.
The captain watched that ship in silence.
"Ca-Captain, w-will we be okay?"
The subordinate, still curled up, barely shifted his gaze towards the captain.
Hearing that trembling voice, the captain opened his mouth without even looking at him.
"Hey. Didn't you feel it?"
"Huh, huh?"
The reason why the captain could overcome the fear, stand up and observe the fog ship.
"W-what thing?"
The captain gave the answer to the stupid subordinate.
"There was no killing intent."
"Ah."
A sigh of understanding came from the subordinate.
When the fog ship passed by them.
The gaze towards the ship and the energy oppressing their whole bodies.
Nowhere in it was there killing intent or threat towards them.
They were simply being observed, it was just passing by.
Even so, they couldn't move due to the energy alone covering them.
What would that mean?
"...A new ruler has appeared."
The captain wiped the sweat from his forehead while etching the receding fog ship into his eyes.
A ship that just with its existence corrodes and dominates the surroundings with the energy it emanates.
The owner of that energy is probably the owner of that ship.
The captain, for whom the ship without a single flag felt too chilling, barely opened his mouth.
"...Contact the Great General."
He had to inform the Great General of the island he belonged to.
"Tell him another predator has entered. And also-"
He swallowed hard and said.
"Also, it's not a joke. It might be even more than those from the Central Sea."
"Ca-Captain, no matter how much you say, those from the Central Sea are numerous and have great strength. With just that ship, such an evaluation-"
"You, then, in your life, have you ever bowed down in fear just because someone approached, without even being able to look at them? Do we, who are pirates, bow down so easily?"
"That is-"
"And did only we bow down? Ah, damn, look over there! Everyone is like that!"
This really isn't something easily seen.
"Don't you understand just by seeing it? It's a calamity! That ship is a calamity!"
They must not approach. They must endure holding their breath until it passes.
That was only done for calamities created by nature in the sea.
The captain, who had endured in the sea for many years, judged that ship to be such a calamity.
"...Turn the ship around. We are going directly to the island."
"Hey! Contact fast! Tell them to fire a flare!"
And other pirate ships also realized.
The island where the Great General resides.
And below, islands 2 to 18.
A total of 18 islands, while fighting in the Central Sea, the route towards that Central Sea.
The news about the fog ship passing through that route began to spread very quickly in all directions.
Beware of the ship without a flag.
Beware of the ship wrapped in fog.
It is a calamity.
And at that moment.
"Human, it's comfortable! Archie, grow a little!"
"Sister, the fog is also amazing!"
"It's no big deal."
The children with an average age of 10 were circling around Cale.
Cale smiled with satisfaction seeing the pirate ships that couldn't even approach the ship.
"As always, appearance is the best."
He isn't even tired!
His body doesn't hurt even if he uses power!
He doesn't have to struggle to face a god, just use his Dominating Aura properly for a long time, so it's very comfortable!
When Cale was satisfied, the Heavenly Demon suddenly blurted out.
"Impossible to go quietly."
When Cale stopped at those words.
Crown Prince Alberu, eating a cookie Raon gave him, continued speaking naturally.
"Because it's not necessary to deal with small fry."
Crunch.
His gaze, after eating the cookie, turned to Cale. Alberu asked in a low voice.
"Anyway, if possible, we will also turn the sea into our territory, right?"
Since while they were at it, while saving His Majesty the King.
Cale, instead of answering, smiled mockingly, and Alberu returned an affable smile.
Then, he asked Ron.
"Ron. Is Island 16 the first destination?"
"Yes."
The path from Solarflare Port towards the Central Sea.
Until reaching the island where the Great General resides, passing through the entrance of the Central Sea.
There were some places that could be intermediate points.
"There is Island 16 and another island, 19 as well. They say Island 16 is the one that fulfills the role of the most stable intermediate point. It also maintains neutrality in the war. So I plan to do maintenance on Island 16 and then look for the optimal route to go to the island where the Great General resides."
"I understand. It will be better to go as fast as possible, without wasting time on unnecessary things like now."
While Ron and Alberu exchanged conversations about the future, Archie, who had been silent, asked throwing the words.
"So we don't eat Island 16?"
Ron stared at Archie.
Archie, although he was a human weaker than him, slyly avoided Ron's gaze, which was strangely bloodthirsty. Only then did Ron, with his benevolent smile intact, respond.
"Island 16 is very big. If we wanted to occupy that island, it would take too much time."
"Ah, well. Yes."
Archie answered half-heartedly and slyly averted his gaze.
At that moment, the Heavenly Demon, looking beyond the horizon, murmured.
"Really, will we be able to go quietly?"
His gaze turned to Alberu and Cale.
They, reflected successively in the Heavenly Demon's pupils, met his gaze but only smiled without saying anything.
"They are unfathomable."
The Heavenly Demon only blurted out those words and, as if he wasn't interested, only looked at the sea.
Chuaaa-
There were no longer pirate ships approaching the fog ship.
Because everyone who had touched the fog had trembled and expressed their fear.
Seeing them, who didn't even dare to look at the ship, no one dared to face it easily.
However, that news was also content worthy of mockery for someone.
"Calamity?"
Snicker.
A man, seeing the report, let out a mocking laugh and threw the paper towards the subordinate.
"Calling a single ship a calamity? Do we really need to react like this to the words of guys who can only be pirates?"
"I apologize."
To the subordinate lowering his head, he showed his irritation.
"Well, we are also pirates, right?"
Tok. Tok. Tok.
On his face, tapping the armrest of the seat, all kinds of irritation were accumulating, about to explode.
"19! Until when do we have to stay on Island 19! If only I were 18, I wouldn't be like this!"
Island 19 which cannot attend the grand meeting.
The man known as 'Shark', owner of the nineteenth island, couldn't stand it. He wanted to rise to the 18th position and have the title of General. The name pirate didn't suit him.
"Everyone else is called General, why can't I, who am stronger, have that name? Why am I a pirate?!"
The subordinate, seeing his fury, swallowed the words that were about to come out.
'It's because we only do piracy, that's why we are pirates.'
If he said that, he would receive a beating.
The pirate Shark had always said.
"Hey. Island 16. How is the situation?"
"The General 16 remains in her castle, as always."
"Ha, we have to drag that crazy woman out."
The Shark looked at the map and spoke.
"Her younger brother is setting sail, right?"
"Yes."
"Did you convey the operation well?"
"Yes."
"I said I would kill those who don't follow it."
"Yes. Everyone will execute it properly."
The Shark tapped the map with his fingers.
"We capture that younger brother and draw out that crazy woman. And meanwhile, we eat Island 16. Do you understand?"
"Yes. But, is it possible to capture General 16's younger brother? And facing General 16 won't be easy either."
"...Hey."
The Shark's gaze darkened.
He stared at the subordinate and said.
"The 3rd General has given us his support. Are you trying to oppose his will?"
"No, it's not that."
The subordinate answered trembling.
"Good. The 3rd General is someone who controls sea water. He said he will soon call his clan's great elder, the Dragon King. He said he is a level stronger than him. When he comes, the situation will tilt towards the 3rd General. We just have to use him, understand?"
"Yes, yes!"
"Get out. Verify my instructions again."
"Yes!"
The subordinate went out hurriedly to carry out his orders, and the Shark, remaining alone in the room, recalled the meeting with the 3rd General.
'In our clan there is a Dragon King, someone who controls the dragons of the sea. He is stronger than the Great General.'
'He has finally decided to come help us soon. So help me dominate the entrance of the Central Sea.'
Dominate.
He liked that word a lot.
"...I don't like crawling under the 3rd General."
Even so, if he could kill General 16, who behaved like a vigilante, it would be a good deal.
"I should ask when that Elder Dragon King will arrive. He said he would come soon, but there is still no news. It's unknown if he came and didn't inform us, what a nuisance!"
The Shark licked his lips as if he already had Island 16 in his hands.
'What is the Elder Dragon King like?'
'...He is someone who has power similar to a god, but wanders freely. He is one of the three strongest among the Elders of our clan.'
The Shark, remembering the conversation with the 3rd General, let out a mocking laugh.
"God? As if."
He didn't believe in those words. Even so, remembering the 3rd General, a human who didn't speak nonsense, he harbored expectations inside.
Wishing that his side would turn out victorious at the end of this war.
"Human, is that Island 16? It's huge!"
Cale, after observing Island 16, which was considerably larger than the islands they had passed through so far, averted his gaze. He looked at another large island a little further away, but at a distance visible to the naked eye.
"Island 19. It's the island where the pirate Shark is the leader. Many pirates follow him, so they say."
While listening to Ron's explanation, Cale signaled On with his eyes.
Chuaaa-
The fog around Cale's ship, which was heading to the southern port of Island 16, slowly dissipated.
The ship without a single flag had arrived at Island 16, the entrance to the Central Sea.
