Forget it, the enemy is just one ship, the surrounding pirates thought.
These ordinary pirates were unaware that the Church might also join this battle. Perhaps it was not just possible. It was inevitable.
Only the nearby Toucher Pirates had eyes burning with even more anger and confusion. To them, how is this any different from sending them to their deaths?
The old man nearby could not help but lower his head in silence. He used his free hand to cover his eyes, not wanting to see anymore. He only prayed Jack could reclaim his body quickly. Any slower, and the time he’d just guaranteed for Jack would become impossible to maintain.
Sure enough, after a short while, Sifus frowned. Jack was already beginning to regain control over his body.
Just then, Sifus hurriedly broke the chains on Andre and kicked him off the ship. Subsequently, his entire demeanor changed instantly.
Jack had regained control of his body.
Meanwhile, the Andre who had just been kicked off the ship climbed back up. He wiped his face—he was a fake, merely posing as Andre. He had replaced the real Andre on Jack’s previous orders. This was to prevent the bait from escaping and, at the same time, to spite Sifus, who was constantly fighting him for control of the body.
Jack adjusted his clothes, then snapped his fingers. He said to the old man behind him, "Bring the real Andre up."
The old man nodded, waving the huge scepter in his hand.
A figure floated out from the darkness—it was Andre. The wounds and scars on his body were identical to those on the fake. Under the old man’s control, he was bound to the mast at the bow. Andre was unconscious, though his life was not in danger.
"Should the previous orders be rescinded?" the old man asked from nearby.
"No need. The impact is minor, and it’s already too late."
「Meanwhile, on Alka’s ship.」
Ahead in the darkness, dense spots of light already indicated to everyone onboard that their destination lay directly ahead. Everyone stood on the bow deck, ready for battle to commence at any moment.
Just then, Pororo frowned, tilting his head to listen intently. "Is something coming from underwater?" he murmured. After a moment, he added, "A merman? A merman is swimming over from underwater."
Upon hearing this, Alka could not help but think of his father. He then waved his hand lightly, and a faint mist floated out, wrapping around Pororo.
"Go," Alka said, "settle the hatred. Take my power with you—an eye for an eye."
Hearing Alka’s words and seeing the pink mist swirling around him, Pororo’s eyes flashed with red light. His enormous mouth split open, his bone-white teeth gleaming in the darkness of the night. He gave a savage grin and nodded, his entire aura exuding a bloody scent.
If Alka said that, then the merman’s identity was self-evident.
Just as he was about to leave, faint silver ripples emanated towards him, entwining around his hands and strengthening his power. He heard Chadite’s voice from behind, "Take my share with you."
"Haha, no problem!" Pororo boomed. "I will take his head and offer it as the bloodiest sacrifice!"
As he spoke, a wild torrent of blue water, tinged with crimson, wrapped around his body. He leaped and dived into the seawater below.
As the ship continued sailing forward, traces of blood had already appeared on the surface of the sea to their side. The battle below had begun.
As the ship drew nearer, using Dark Vision, they could now clearly see the full picture ahead. Several large sailing ships were docked around the Island, accompanied by countless pirate speedboats. These vessels encircled the area, leaving a straight waterway in the middle. At the end of this waterway, their flagship was docked. It was as if the pirate fleet was welcoming their arrival, guiding them on which path to proceed.
They could already see Jack standing at the bow of that distant ship. And, on the mast behind him, Andre was bound.
Their ship drew closer, having now completely arrived before the Island. They were only a short distance from the pirates swarming there. They could already feel the pirates’ gazes fixed upon them. Various strange cries, roars, and bursts of laughter echoed out.
Alka stood on the bow, unmoved, his gaze fixed steadily on the innermost point of the pirate formation. Casually, he threw out two Red Cards. These two Red Cards flew out to the sides, arcing through the air before embedding themselves in the mast of a Pirate Ship.
In an instant, they exploded.
Cross-shaped pillars of fire erupted, igniting the masts and sails of numerous surrounding ships. In the process, quite a few of the pirates who had just been jeering were roasted alive.
Onboard his ship, Jack watched this scene with no intention of intervening. Instead, he smiled, appearing to admire the spectacle.
With an angry roar from the darkness, a ring of white light appeared around the Island’s perimeter. One Church ship after another appeared around the Island, emerging from the darkness. The white light emanating from their hulls proclaimed their identity. These ships had long since linked up, bow to stern, forming two semicircles that enveloped the pirate vessels from both sides. Their cannons, arrayed along their flanks, were aimed squarely at the Pirate Ships massed before the Island.
Cannonball after cannonball tore through the air with a piercing shriek, crashing down upon the clustered Pirate Ships.