Chapter 164 A Lonely Existence* (1/2)

Rassa's eyes narrowed as he looked across the divide between the ships at the malicious grin of the Pirate Captain. Was he really so arrogant as to believe that he could even make a dent in Rassa's defence? Even with Rassa's power significantly impacted by his move with the cannon barrels, he was still more than a match for a mere man.

As the pirate crew took up ropes and prepared long planks to board the Miranda, Rassa realised this man really was that arrogant.

Very well. Let's see how he deals with a Vampire rather than a sailor.

Rassa didn't even bother holding back. His strength launched him across the divide without aid, and his speed left the Pirate Captain with quite the surprised expression. In an instant, Rassa was before him, not a metre in front of the imposing man.

”Don't get cocky,” Rassa spoke with a tilt of his head. Then he let his fangs extend as he dashed forward, ready to replenish his waning strength. Only, as soon as he went to bite down on the man's neck, he rebounded back.

Rassa grunted at the force that pushed him backwards, looking up at the Captain in surprise.

A protection charm? Seriously?

The Captain grinned darkly, ”I have a right to be cocky”.

He drew the sword by his side and then gripped the hilt tightly. Rassa registered the crystal in the hilt, and watched as the sword sparked and crackled with lightning along its blade. The Captain grinned triumphantly and swung the sword.

Rassa let the lightning hit him as it seemed to carve through the air unhindered. The lightning crackled over his own protective barrier, and where it didn't hit Rassa, it splintered the deck of the Miranda behind him with an almighty crack. Rassa turned slightly to watch as some of the Miranda's crew jumped out of the way, or were thrown away by the blast. The main mast, near where the lightning had struck, wobbled dangerously.

”Ebony get down!” Rassa shouted as he met his friend's terrified gaze.

Ebony wasn't arguing with him.

Rassa turned back to his opponent, taking out his protection charm, ”My company makes these, did you really think I'd walk around with one?”

”From what I know, these charms of yours don't last forever, shall we see who's shield breaks first?” mused the Captain.

Rassa's eyes turned dark to the pirate, and he dodged to the side again to avoid a strike of lightning. Rassa was in a dilemma now. If he used his shadows, his energy would be depleted faster, and he wouldn't able to keep up the speed to dodge. But if he only used physical attacks on his opponent's shield, his own would weaken far quicker facing the magic attacks of his opponent. It was just how the charms worked, magic attacks consumed far more of the Mist's energy to disperse than physical attacks. Rassa's eyes narrowed, the pirate wouldn't be able to keep up with him anyway. He picked up a stray cannon ball and threw it at the pirate who seemed surprised by the move.

”Very well, let's see how long it takes your sparkly sword to deplete,” Rassa taunted. After all, the crystal in the sword wouldn't last long either.

***

Aegin was right in the thick of the fighting. There was nowhere else he'd rather be as he wielded the two short swords around him, fighting off the pirates that wanted to board the Miranda. He sent them right back to the ocean they'd come from, not a shred of remorse in his eyes for doing so. Some of them were pretty tough, but with Midas, Tank, and many others fighting close by, Aegin never had to deal with more than one opponent for long.

He threw off another pirate before slashing low, and kicking the man overboard before he looked across deck to check on Rassa.

Who was no longer there.

Aegin's eyes strayed to find Rassa on the port side pirate ship, doing his best to look like the monster he was. Clearly he didn't need any help with that. Aegin then looked up towards the crow's nest to see Ebony's situation.

She wasn't where she was supposed to be either. The stupid girl was climbing down the ratlines towards the fight.

”Idiot!” Aegin cursed, darting through the fighting, slashing away enemies where he needed to before he jumped down to the main deck where Ebony was going to come down.

”What in the gods names are you doing coming down here?” asked Aegin.

”Did you not see the Vanguard cleave a hole in the deck?” asked Ebony.

Aegin turned to look. Honestly, he hadn't. He'd gotten used the cannon fire and hadn't realised there was more than that going on.

”What's that got to do with you?” asked Aegin.

”Rassa ordered me down, up there isn't sa-”