Doran shouted in alarm, eyes going wide. He pushed the old captain aside and raised his cutlass, but Nox was already upon him. They met blade-to-fist; the swing collided with a forearm hardened by a sheath of ice. Metal screeched against the magical shield.
The force of the parry sent the young pirate skidding back into the railing. He grunted in pain, shock all over his face at how quickly his leverage had been shattered.
"Dang, so strong!" he gritted his teeth.
Two pirates remained on their feet—one still holding a hostage while the other charged forward with a roar of rage. Nox neutralized the charging attacker first, spinning and delivering a backhand strike.
BANG!
The blow caught the man in the side of the head, snapping his neck with a sickening crack. He was dead before his body hit the deck.
