The next morning arrived wrapped in the salty scent of the sea and the gentle rocking of the waves.
The ship had already left the port of Rosenfeld even before the sun had fully risen. It was a large and luxurious vessel, far above the standard of ordinary merchant ships. The hull was made of dark wood reinforced with magical alloys, polished to the point of reflecting the golden light of dawn.
The sails were wide, made of thick white fabric, stitched with magical threads that reacted to the wind almost as if they had a will of their own. The upper deck was spacious and clean, adorned with bronze details and intricately worked railings. Spacious cabins lay below, normally reserved for nobles or wealthy merchants—and now, for a single passenger.
Natsu was leaning against the deck railing.
Shirtless, wearing only dark shorts, he let the wind blow freely against his muscular body—made even more defined than his predecessor's due to his intensive physical training. The sun wasn't strong yet, but it already warmed the skin, and the constant sound of the waves against the hull had an almost hypnotic effect. The white scarf was nowhere to be seen; he had stored it in his dimensional pocket using his [Reequip] magic—he didn't think it was a good idea to keep it in a maritime environment, even though he felt slightly naked because he had grown so accustomed to always wearing it.
Anyone looking from the outside would never imagine that this was the same mage who, the night before, had single-handedly taken on the responsibility of facing a maritime calamity.
One of the crew members approached.
He was a middle-aged man, dressed in simple sailor clothes, with a posture far too straight for someone accustomed only to cargo and trade routes. His gaze carried genuine respect mixed with curiosity.
"Excuse me, Mr. Dragneel…" He cleared his throat lightly before continuing. "I don't mean to be intrusive, but… you seem very much at ease."
Natsu slowly turned his face, casting a lazy glance at the man before looking back toward the horizon.
"At ease?" He gave a half-smile. "Yeah, I guess you could say that."
The crewman hesitated for a moment but pressed on.
"We're sailing through one of the most dangerous routes in the region. A lot of people here are… tense." He chose his words carefully. "But you seem to be enjoying the trip. Not that it's a bad thing—I'm just curious why? Are you really that confident you can handle the Black Tide…?"
Natsu rested his forearms on the railing, leaning forward a little more.
"Hmm, your curiosity made you come ask me that? Well, the reason I'm so calm is because I like the sea…" The answer came simply, without any dramatization. "And I'm confident I can defeat the entire Black Tide—even in an environment that's heavily advantageous for their captain's magic and that of his first mate…"
The man blinked, surprised. He fell silent for a moment, absorbing it. Was this kid an idiot? They were talking about that infamous pirate who burned cities and could supposedly sink islands according to rumors!
"So…" He ventured. "You're not worried about… about the target?"
"Worried?" Natsu repeated thoughtfully. Then he let out a soft chuckle. "No. I'm pretty strong, you know? I don't think I'll have much trouble. And even if something happens, you guys don't need to worry. As we agreed earlier, I'll teleport the entire ship back to port using my magic."
The crewman felt a shiver run down his spine, not quite understanding why.
"Until then," the pink-haired young man continued, stretching carelessly, "I don't see any reason to be tense. Enjoying the moment is part of it too."
The man nodded slowly.
"I see… I'll let the captain know everything is proceeding according to plan."
"Thanks." Natsu replied without even looking back.
The crewman walked away.
Alone again, Natsu tilted his head back, staring at the clear sky for a few seconds.
Then, without hurry, he materialized a beach chair with a faint magical glow and positioned it near the railing. Soon after, another discreet light appeared in his hand, revealing an ice-cold coconut water. He threw himself into the chair as if on vacation, crossing one arm behind his head while drinking calmly.
An hour passed like that. While he enjoyed his trip, the rest of the sailors around him—who were working to keep the ship running—seemed extremely tense.
For a moment, he let his mind wander.
He thought how much better this scene would be if he were surrounded by women instead of a bunch of tense grown men. Juvia in a blue bikini, Lucy in a white one, Erza wearing a black—or maybe red—one to match her hair, and Mirajane in a sexy bikini, smiling in that way that was simultaneously angelic and dangerously seductive.
All of them fighting for his attention…
Would that be paradise?
An ironic smile appeared on his lips.
"Idiot…" he muttered to himself, shaking his head and pushing the thoughts away. In one fluid motion he stood up, dispelling the beach chair and the coconut water bottle as if they had never existed.
At that exact moment, his expression changed, becoming abnormally calm.
Natsu took a few steps forward and spoke out loud, clearly enough to be heard across the entire deck.
"The Black Tide Pirates are coming."
The effect was immediate.
The entire crew froze for half a second before panic began to spread like wildfire through dry straw. Sailors dropped ropes, others ran to the railings, wide-eyed, scanning the horizon in every direction.
"What do you mean coming?!"
"Are you kidding right now?!"
"I don't see anything!"
One of the men, clearly nervous, came too close.
"Mr. Dragneel, with all due respect… is this some kind of joke?"
Natsu didn't answer right away.
He simply raised his arm and pointed toward the horizon.
Far away, almost blending into the line where sky met sea, something began to take shape.
A very large, dark ship. The black sails seemed to absorb the surrounding light, and the hull had an aggressive, elongated shape, reminiscent of a sea beast about to strike. It was impossible not to immediately associate it with the name that carried fame and terror across the seas.
A heavy silence fell over the deck.
"By the gods…" someone whispered.
Panic returned full force.
"It's them!"
"The Black Tide!"
"We're dead!"
Natsu turned to face them, his relaxed posture violently contrasting with the surrounding chaos.
"Calm down." His voice came out firm without needing to be loud. "Do exactly what we agreed."
The shouting gradually subsided.
"You'll be fine…" he continued. "We're going to approach. Follow the normal route—no sudden maneuvers."
"But—" The captain tried to argue, his face pale.
"Trust me." Natsu cut in simply.
Something in his tone made the man swallow hard and nod.
While the crew resumed their duties with trembling hands, Natsu activated his [Reequip] magic.
Light enveloped his body.
When it dissipated, he was no longer shirtless.
He was now wearing fitted combat clothes: a white kimono with a black t-shirt underneath, tied with a black belt, white pants, and black sandals. The white scarf reappeared around his neck, swaying gently with the sea breeze.
"Alright…" Natsu murmured, cracking his neck lightly. "Let's get this over with quickly."
A few minutes passed…
The two ships drew close enough to be side by side, separated only by a few meters of choppy water.
Ropes creaked. Sails snapped in the wind.
The presence of the Black Tide ship was suffocating. Up close it seemed even larger, its dark hull marked by forcefully carved symbols, some still stained with salt and something that didn't look like mere rust. Magical cannons were positioned—not fully loaded, but visible enough to make the threat clear. Pirates crowded the deck, laughing loudly, pointing and making comments that drew coarse laughter from the group.
The merchant ship's crew paled.
Some gripped ropes too tightly, knuckles white. Others swallowed hard, avoiding looking directly at the pirates as if that could make them invisible.
"Look what the sea brought us today!" one of the pirates shouted, cackling. "A fancy ship like this should be carrying wine and jewels, not a bunch of scared rats!"
Laughter spread.
Then firm footsteps echoed across the black ship's deck.
The pirates parted almost instinctively.
A man stepped forward.
Kael Vortigan.
He was tall, with an elegance too refined for someone who lived by raiding sea routes. He wore a long, perfectly tailored black leather coat adorned with silver details and highly polished buttons. His dark hair was neatly tied back, not a strand out of place, and his face was handsome—almost aristocratic—with fine, well-defined features.
But the smile…
The smile ruined everything.
It was too wide, too slow, laden with something obscene—it was honestly disgusting.
Kael rested one hand on the railing, leaning slightly forward, appraising the merchant ship like someone observing a piece of art about to be smashed.
"What a warm welcome." His voice was smooth, almost polite. "I was expecting more screams. Or tears."
He looked at the sailors one by one, lingering on the most terrified faces, clearly enjoying himself.
"So?" he continued, tilting his head. "Where's Helena?"
Some of the sailors exchanged tense glances.
Kael's smile widened even more.
"Ah… don't tell me she didn't come." He placed a hand to his chest theatrically. "After everything I offered."
A pirate behind him laughed loudly.
"Captain, maybe she's still thinking it over."
"Yeah…" Kael agreed, slowly licking his lips. "I was quite generous, wasn't I? A simple deal. Safety for the city… in exchange for her daughter."
He opened his arms as if proposing something perfectly reasonable.
"Tell her my offer still stands." His eyes gleamed unpleasantly. "Such a beautiful girl shouldn't be wasted on such a miserable life. I would take very good care of her."
Some sailors clenched their fists.
Others looked away, too humiliated to react.
It was then that Kael seemed to notice Natsu.
His smile diminished slightly, turning curious.
"Hmm?" His dark eyes traveled over the mage's body—from the white scarf down to the sandals. "And you? I don't recall inviting anyone outside the trade association…"
Natsu stepped forward, positioning himself directly in the line of sight between the two ships. His expression was far too calm for the situation.
"That's because you didn't invite me." He replied simply. "I came on my own."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?" A low chuckle escaped. "Brave. Or stupid."
He rested his chin on his hand, studying Natsu more closely.
"Let me guess… mage?" The slow smile returned. "You people always show up thinking you're going to be heroes."
Some pirates leaned forward eagerly.
Kael extended his hand as if offering a toast.
"Last chance." His voice grew slightly colder. "Back off. Hand over the cargo. And take a message to Helena. I don't want to turn this into a massacre."
The wind blew harder between the two ships.
The sea below began to ripple strangely.
Natsu tilted his head slightly, the scarf fluttering behind him.
"Not happening." He answered in the same calm tone. "And as for her daughter…"
His eyes lifted, locking onto Kael's without wavering.
"…you just dug your own grave."
For a second, Kael's obscene smile froze.
"Zihahahahahaha…" Kael burst out laughing, clutching his chest as if he'd just heard the best joke of the day.
"Did you hear that?" He turned slightly toward his own deck, still laughing. "He thinks I dug my own grave."
The pirates roared with laughter in chorus.
Beside Kael, a man stepped forward.
The first mate.
Ragnar Volkhart was the complete opposite of the captain in appearance. Where Kael was refined, he was brutish and intimidating. Tall and broad, his body seemed sculpted through years of training. His skin was marked by old scars, some clearly not human in origin. Dark gray hair fell loose to his shoulders, partially tied back with a leather strip, and his eyes were an opaque bluish tone—cold as the deep sea. He wore only a reinforced leather vest, leaving his arms and chest exposed.
He looked Natsu up and down, unhurried.
Then let out a short, dry laugh.
"Captain…" His voice was deep and dragging. "This kid has to be joking."
He rested one hand on the railing, leaning slightly forward, staring at Natsu as if evaluating an animal too small to pose any challenge.
"Sheer ignorance. He has no idea who he's facing."
Kael nodded slowly, the obscene smile returning to his face.
"That's exactly it." He said, satisfied. "The sea has been producing a lot of brave idiots lately."
Ragnar cracked his neck to one side, then the other.
"If you'll allow me…" He cast a sidelong glance at Kael. "I'll handle this quickly. It's not worth dirtying your hands, captain…"
Kael's smile grew even wider.
"Of course." He made a careless gesture with his hand. "Consider it a warm-up."
Ragnar stepped forward. A dark blue aura began to form around his body, and the magical pressure radiating from him increased noticeably, pressing against everyone around. Some sailors from the merchant ship instinctively took a step back—the air had become too heavy to ignore.
Ragnar pointed at Natsu with his chin.
"Listen well, kid." He said without raising his voice. "You still have a chance to jump into the sea and swim away. You might survive."
Natsu remained still.
The wind fluttered his scarf.
He stared at Ragnar for a few seconds, his expression far too calm for someone about to fight a former S-Class Mage.
Then he sighed, as if losing patience.
"Man…" He scratched the back of his neck. "You guys talk too much."
Ragnar narrowed his eyes.
"What?"
Natsu took a step forward, his foot touching the edge of the deck.
"If you're going to fight, then fight…" He said simply. "If not, get out of the way. I still have a pirate captain to beat up—and I'll be honest, I'm in a hurry. I don't have time to waste on a bunch of trash led by a disgusting loser who can't even get a woman on his own effort and has to force her or pay her to sleep with him—something I genuinely find pathetic…"
The silence lasted less than a second.
Then the Black Tide deck exploded.
"THAT BASTARD—"
"KILL HIM!"
"CRUSH THAT IDIOT!"
"DID YOU HEAR THAT, CAPTAIN?!"
Shouts overlapped one another. Pirates surged toward the railing, some drawing weapons, others spitting insults toward Natsu. The atmosphere, which had previously been one of cruel amusement, turned into pure, uncontrolled fury. For the Black Tide crew, this wasn't just provocation. It was a direct insult to the man they idolized and feared.
Kael didn't speak immediately.
The smile was still there, but something in it had changed. The curve of his lips remained perfect, yet his eyes… his eyes had turned cold. The kind of coldness that didn't need shouting.
Beside him, Ragnar took a step forward.
And this time, there was no laughter.
The dark blue aura around the first mate intensified brutally, rippling like a living tide. The deck creaked beneath his feet as he advanced another step, the magical pressure crushing the air around him.
"Shut your mouth." His voice came out low but cut through the chaos like a blade.
The pirates fell silent almost instantly.
Ragnar didn't take his eyes off Natsu.
"You crossed the line." He continued through clenched teeth. "You can insult me, even mock me—I don't mind that. But you dared to mock the captain like that. This goes beyond courting death. I'm going to kill you slowly!"
Kael raised one hand, calling for calm.
Ragnar hesitated for a moment but stepped back half a pace, still seething with rage.
Kael then leaned over the railing again, observing Natsu with interest.
"You really do have talent." He said in a soft tone. "Very few people can get Ragnar this angry. Normally, anyone who does is already dead."
Natsu shrugged.
"First time for everything."
Some pirates ground their teeth.
Kael let out a low laugh.
"Brave to the end." He sighed theatrically. "Very well. Let's not drag this out."
He stepped away from the railing and made a slow gesture with his hand.
"Ragnar." His voice hardened. "Show them why the sea belongs to me."
Ragnar's smile was short. Cruel.
"With pleasure."
___________________________
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