Chapter 139 - Blood Steam Battle - 4 (1/2)
Pant! Pant! Pant!
Ho Ri-Na's chest was swaying back and forth, highlighting the soft shapes that could be glimpsed from her robe. Her spirit power was now completely exhausted, and she had various wounds on her body, although none was fatal. Her hands began to tremble as Jin-Sang's body became hotter and hotter until it smelled of burnt flesh. Inside her, she still couldn't believe her eyes even though she had been the one to give the final blow.
”I did it? Is it really over?” Ho Ri-Na wondered in a low voice with a silent murmur addressed to no one in particular.
”Yes, captain. You did it. From now on, you are in charge of all the Forgotten Ocean's waters. You are the Pirate Queen.” Won Byung-Chul reassured Ho Ri-Na of her victory.
The Steam Goddess, the first Pirate Queen in the history of piracy in the Forgotten Ocean, looked incredulously at the man next to her - Won Byung-Chul, her right arm.
He was the son of one of the elders of a medium sect and was considered one of the most exceptional geniuses, especially because he had awakened the bloodline of the fire mouse. However, Won Byung-Chul didn't like the life of the sect, preferring a freer and less duty-oriented lifestyle. So one day, he fled secretly and embarked on one of the many unknown pirate groups. Whether it was fate or not, it happened that Ho Ri-Na was also in the ship he embarked on.
Won Byung-Chul quickly became attracted to Ho Ri-Na's beauty, especially her serious expression combined with her long gray hair. It could be said that it was love at first sight. Since that day, Won Byung-Chul had never stopped staying by her side for a day. Despite his talent and bloodline, he rejected any proposal from various groups, including his sect of origin. He renounced his past, his family, his name of birth, all to stay with the one who had decided to serve for the rest of his life.
Ho Ri-Na had always felt guilty because, even if involuntarily, she was the reason why Won Byung-Chul had given up honor and fame for himself in order to help her achieve her dream. But now her dream had finally come true, and for the first time, she no longer felt guilty but was happy that Won Byung-Chul had chosen to stay with her.
Ho Ri-Na took Jin-Sang's body, still held by Won Byung-Chul, and threw it to the side. Then she rushed over to the man who had never left her in his life and gave him an intense kiss on the lips. She had kissed many men in her life, but this was the first time she kissed for love and not to kill the other person.
Won Byung-Chul was caught off guard. He didn't expect such a reaction from Ho Ri-Na but did not hold back. Putting his hands behind her back, he squeezed her against him and responded to her kiss with as much passion as he could give off. He wanted to convey all the emotions he had repressed all these years at her side.
Watching the two main leaders of their crew exchange effusions with such passion, Ho Ri-Na's pirates launched whistles of approval. All around, there were shouts of triumph for the miraculously obtained victory. The survivors of Jin-Sang's crew instead fell to their knees in despair. With the death of the Red Devil, it was now over for them; they could only hope for the clemency of the Steam Goddess.
From the deck of the main war galleon, Ho Yeon-Hong looked up at her sister with a beaming smile as Won Byung-Chul was holding Ho Ri-Na. She knew that the silent and always faithful right arm had strong feelings for her older sister, and she had always hoped that one day they would be free to be together. Unconsciously, her gaze was drawn to the figure of another man standing in midair.
Hei was not far from where Ho Ri-Na and Won Byung-Chul were. He didn't pay much attention to the affections exchanged by the two pirates, concentrating instead on recovering the space ring from Jin-Sang's corpse. However, his little sisters and Lian didn't seem to share his disinterest. In fact, they were carefully staring at that exchange of affection with extreme curiosity.
Although they were divine beasts, 'women' tended to reach maturity faster on certain subjects than men. It was no wonder then that the two little divine beasts were watching this scene amused, making comments in a low voice. Lian also watched the scene, maintaining her usual silence. From time to time, however, she would cast fleeting glances at Hei as her cheeks became slightly red.
'Jin-Sang's ring. As I thought, the fragments are inside. Now I have the complete map.' Hei thought to himself as he clenched his left fist tightly to express satisfaction in his heart. This long treasure hunt would finally come to an end.
Ho Ri-Na and Won Byung-Chul broke free from their passionate kiss. Evidently, after the first moments of complete transport, they had resumed part of their self-control and separated from each other, a little embarrassed. After all, they kissed in front of hundreds and hundreds of people.
”The new Pirate Queen should say something. Your men are waiting for you to proclaim victory.” Hei, with a composed face, turned to Ho Ri-Na, who was still red in the face.
”What? Ah, yes... of course... How did I forget it?” Ho Ri-Na stammered as she tried to catch her breath and resumed her usual pragmatic attitude.
”SILENCE! Let's listen to what our captain has to say!” At her side, Won Byung-Chul shouted loudly, amplifying his voice with spirit power. Immediately, the underlying pirates fell silent and stood up to hear their captain's proclamation.
Ho Ri-Na took one last deep breath and began her speech, ”Today, I, we, have accomplished a great feat. Together we have defeated the fearsome Red Devil who threatened our lives. Today we have emerged victorious from this clash. As the last of the Pirate Generals, from now on, I will assume the title of Pirate Queen. The whole Forgotten Ocean will be my domain. No, it's not correct. It will be the domain of my entire crew. If anyone has something to say, then they will have to deal with me!” Ho Ri-Na raised her sword triumphantly.
The pirates in the ships broke out in loud applause as they shouted the name of the woman who led them to victory, ”HO RI-NA! HO RI-NA! HO RI-NA!”
Ho Ri-Na replied with another gesture of celebration as she continued to wave her sword. There was a beaming smile on her face. After years of tension, nervousness, and preparations, her efforts had been fulfilled, and her dream had come true. She had even finally accepted Won Byung-Chul's love in public. What else could she wish for?
As the rejoicing cries of her subordinates continued, Ho Ri-Na noticed a detail. A particular person, no, two people, and their two spirit beasts were still there.
”I thought you were already gone. Didn't you get Jin-Sang's ring?” Ho Ri-Na asked, turning toward Hei. Her smile was still bright with the victory she had achieved.
”Would you let us go? Even if I possess all the map fragments?” Hei replied without giving a precise answer.
”We had an agreement if I'm not mistaken. You would have helped me to defeat Jin-Sang and become the Pirate Queen. In return, I would have given you the parts of the map he owns.”
”We both know that these promises can always be broken. You and I are alike, Ho Ri-Na. For your crew, you would be willing to fight on the front lines, even at the cost of your life. The same goes for me; for my family, I would be willing to do anything, even to get my hands dirty with the most heinous crimes.” Hei looked at Ho Ri-Na with a cold look as he transmitted a feeling of darkness from his body. ”If I wanted, I could take out both you and the rest of the pirates at your service. In that way, I should not worry you could go on your word.
Hearing those words, Byung-Chul Won moved directly in front of I Na-Ri, stretching his arms as if he wanted to be her shield.
”Bastard! Was that your intention-?” As Won Byung-Chul railed against Hei, Ho Ri-Na laid a hand on her most trusted man's shoulder.
”Ri-Na?” He asked, perplexed.
”Don't worry. If Hei wanted to do it, he would have done it already. Tell me, Hei, what do you want?” Ho Ri-Na cracked a half-smile. She had begun to understand this young martial artist who came from nowhere.
”I will be honest with you. Before long, Lian and I, together with my spirit beasts, will leave the Forgotten Ocean. Our destination during all this time has always been one - to reach the Sun Empire.”