With dozens of shockwaves radiating from her light wings, the world dimmed around Kiana, the air itself fracturing into a chaotic state of space-time rupture.
The rippling waves twisted through the air before locking onto Siegel, still airborne from her previous strike.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Explosions echoed as the shockwaves slammed into him relentlessly. Limbs and armor flew apart, and rivers of blood splattered across the deck, coating the faces of the surrounding pirates.
When the chaos finally subsided, only the mangled deck remained—and Siegel's fate hung in the balance, life and death indistinguishable.
"…The ship… captain?"
"Captain… gone?"
Panic rippled through the crew as reality sank in. Their eyes, which once leered at Kiana's beauty, now reflected sheer terror. This stunning girl, who seemed almost fragile at first glance, was no mere woman—she was a nightmare made flesh. Some pirates even whimpered silently, questioning why fate had brought them face-to-face with such a monster.
After all, the Black Horn Pirates had terrorized the West Sea for years. Even the navy dared not confront them unless the Admiralty sent an entire fleet. And yet here, their captain—Siegel, the man they revered—was taken down in a flash.
"…Incredible," whispered Ilya, still pinned beneath a few remaining pirates. Kiana had always been strong in tales, the kind that could crush a Tyrannosaurus-level creature on the island without breaking a sweat. But seeing it firsthand? That left her genuinely stunned.
"The captain's dead… run!"
A few pirates who couldn't accept Siegel's demise leapt off the ship, desperate to escape. But Kiana wasn't about to give them that chance.
A sudden weapon skill unleashed—a grenade detonated at their feet.
Bang!
Five pirates disintegrated instantly, their bones shattered, charred fragments of flesh plummeting into the sea.
Nearby, some pirates pressed knives to Elis' neck. "One step closer, mermaid, and your life ends. Understand?"
"…Threaten me?" Kiana muttered, a bitter chuckle escaping her. Honestly, these pirates were making her job difficult. She didn't want to create corpses; it would be better if no one got hurt.
But Kiana was far from helpless. She bided her time, waiting for the cooldown on Moonlight Armor's active dodge skill. Once it was ready, she could exploit the state of time-space rupture to slow her enemies and rescue Elis.
"Threaten me? Put those weapons down—now!"
One pirate pressed the knife harder, drawing a thin line of blood along Elis' neck.
"Ah!" Ilya's terrified cry rang out. Just now, she thought she was about to die, and Kiana's gaze hardened with renewed fury. The cooldown had finished.
"Switch—Shadow Warrior!"
Kiana shifted into Shadow Armor, expending 75 SP points to unleash her ultimate.
"Monthly Reading!"
The skill name might sound poetic, but this wasn't some delicate dance. Instantly, a light-blue phantom of Kiana appeared beside her, indistinguishable from her real body except for the color. If not for that subtle difference, the pirates would have thought they were blind.
"Shadow Speed Cut!"
Both Kiana and her phantom surged forward, splitting in two directions toward Elis and Eliza. Kiana herself darted toward the pirate holding a knife to Elis' neck. In the blink of an eye, the pirate's head was gone. Too stunned to react, he never even had time to register the attack.
Her clone swept toward Eliza, cutting through the remaining pirates. One unlucky pirate was literally bisected, his blood and entrails spilling across the deck.
With Elis and Eliza safe, Kiana didn't pause. She used Shadow Speed Cut again, this time taking out the surrounding pirates near Ilya in a deadly sweep.
"…!"
The remaining pirates froze, terror flooding their faces. They dropped their weapons and collapsed to their knees.
"Don't kill us! Please, we surrender!"
One pirate even wet himself in fear. Kiana couldn't help but be slightly speechless. She had displayed such a terrifying force that hardened, knife-wielding pirates—men who had lived by the edge of blades for years—were now reduced to quivering children.
It made sense. Their entire belief system had revolved around Siegel. Now that he was gone, their spiritual pillar had collapsed. Without their leader, their strength—and their courage—crumbled.
Swish!
Kiana sliced the rope binding Elis into two pieces, while Eliza and Ilya's avatars cut the remaining restraints. Soon, the three mermaids were free. They hugged each other tightly, tears flowing, knowing this encounter would leave a lifelong memory.
"Thank you, Kiana," Elis whispered. The wound on his neck had stopped bleeding—the pirate had only intended to scare, not kill.
"You're fine. I almost didn't see you when I returned. I thought… I thought you were dead." Kiana admitted, her voice tinged with relief. She had long regarded Elis and the others as friends. Life on the island without them—without real conversation—would have been unbearable. Even a "love sauce" companion couldn't replace real people.
With their emotions calming, Kiana turned her gaze to the kneeling pirates. A headache throbbed in her temples. What to do with them?
Kill them? No—they were enemies, yes, but Kiana didn't even know how to sail this massive ship alone. She needed a crew for her voyage.
But… could she really trust them?
No. Best to eliminate all remnants of the Black Horn Pirates. They had already seen Kiana's abilities—her true power, her various forms—and she couldn't risk leaving witnesses behind.
Yes. It was settled. Kiana would kill them all.