"There are two on the rocks, armed. About thirty meters out, a watchtower with a human on patrol. Another three down below. Only past the tower does the real camp begin."
"What's the visibility like?" Adam asked.
"Good. From the tower, they can see clearly here." Silver Bell hovered, whispering updates in a voice humans couldn't hear. Adam stayed submerged beneath the waves.
"Are you going to kill them all?" she asked.
"Yes. And silently. Anyone who's seen us cannot live. If they survive, we're exposed—and that's unacceptable." Adam's voice was ice-cold. "You draw the attention of the tower. Make sure he doesn't notice this side."
"Understood."
Silver Bell shot toward the tower, slamming into the pirate on duty, then darted away in a streak.
"Ah! Bloody hell!" the pirate shrieked, flailing to chase her off.
"What's wrong?" a pirate below asked.
"Nothing. Just… a bat. Pink." The tower pirate's gaze was glued to her.
"Ye scurvy dogs! A bloody pink bat!"
"Quick, fetch the bow!"
One pirate sprinted back to camp.
The four tower pirates riled up, while the two near Adam were distracted by the noise.
"Now."
A wave slammed the rocks, splashing high. Amid the spray, hands shot out, clamping over the mouths of the two pirates!
When the water receded, they disappeared into the shadows beneath the rocks.
"Huh? Where did they go?" The tower pirate shouted, noticing his companions missing. His call alerted the two below, all three instantly tense.
A hand emerged from the shadows: "Here… the wave swept them down."
"Ha! Didn't eat breakfast, got swept away! No wonder the girls don't want you!" the tower pirate jeered. "Those fools just got washed under the rocks."
"Huh? Where's the pink bat?"
"Stop fussing! The bow wasn't even ready, and the bat's gone!" The three tower pirates squawked.
Under the rocks, Adam held one pirate under his knee, the other in his arms. Comparing sizes, neither matched him.
Moments later, the tower noticed two companions hadn't surfaced. A shout rang out: "Hey, go see what's happening!"
"Why me?" the pirate below muttered.
"What, you want me to go?" the tower pirate snapped.
Helpless, he crept toward the rocks.
Adam's ears twitched. A cold smile crossed his face. "When that fool reaches the rocks, distract the tower," he instructed Silver Bell in his silent voice.
"Got it."
The curious pirate climbed, peering into the black water below—seeing nothing.
"Now."
Silver Bell shot out from the shadows.
"Look! The bat's back!" the tower pirate yelled. Another glanced where he pointed.
Adam lunged from behind the rocks, covering the pirate's mouth, dragging him into the water. Two muffled thuds—he was gone.
The two remaining pirates stared at Silver Bell.
"You take the one above. I'll handle the one below," Adam instructed.
Then came the moment Webnovel readers live for: Adam's nails extended into razor-sharp talons. With a sickeningly wet rip, he peeled the scalp back—hair, skin, and all—covering his bald head with the gory 'wig'. Blood trickled down, but his expression remained utterly calm.
He emerged from the waves, shrouded in shadows, now wearing the pirate's clothes.
The pirate below heard the sand rustle. "How's it going?"
"No problem. They're busy down there," Adam replied smoothly.
Something in his tone unsettled the pirate.
Above, Silver Bell circled, drawing attention.
"What's with your muscles…"
Before the pirate could finish, Adam accelerated with a Burst of Celerity, slicing the throat with his right hand, slamming him into the shadows with the left. Silence followed.
Silver Bell, in mid-air, transformed into human form, striking a perfect cross—the tower pirate dropped quietly.
"Beautiful!" she whispered.
Adam smiled, ducking just as the bow-fetching pirate returned, gasping: "Here! Is the bat still around?"
Adam didn't answer, pointing to empty space.
The pirate looked—nothing.
"Huh?"
Adam spun, covered his mouth, snapped the shin, and hurled him into the shadows, joining the others.
Elsewhere in the camp, a patrol glanced toward them but saw nothing unusual.
Silver Bell exhaled: "Now what?"
"Keep going," Adam said, scanning the camp.
Summer nights in the Mediterranean were hot. Most pirates lounged outdoors. Including Fishmen, Adam estimated at least two hundred enemies, and the Fishmen were alert, smelling the foreign blood in the air, the unfamiliar salt of the approaching intruder.
"Tired? Go back. I can handle this alone," Adam murmured.
Silver Bell tilted her head. "I have a better idea… want to hear?"
"Go ahead."
"I'll become the First Ancestress!"
"You can skip that suggestion."
"Second Ancestress works too," she sighed.
"I don't want to discuss this now. Go back," Adam said firmly. Monogamy wasn't just cultural—it was sacred to him, past life and Eden alike.
"Fine, I said it," Silver Bell grumbled, puffing her cheeks.
Once a woman falls in love, there's no outsmarting a man. But as Adam scanned the two hundred flickering torches across the camp, he knew—love wouldn't save them tonight. Only blood would.