Once the pirates had what they believed they came for, they withdrew.
Their ships slipped back into the darkness, leaving Port Royal burning and broken behind them. The damage had already been done. Soldiers lay dead in the streets, and entire sections of the town had been reduced to smoldering wreckage.
Civilians wandered through the ruins in stunned silence—some tending to the wounded, others desperately calling out names, searching for family who had not answered.
By morning, the truth could no longer be ignored.
The Governor's daughter was missing.
No one could say when she had vanished, or how. There were no witnesses, no clear trail—only her absence. And to the people of Port Royal, there was only one conclusion.
The pirates had come in the night, spread chaos through the town, and taken her with them when they fled.
The assumption spread quickly.
But it was wrong.
Elizabeth Swann was still in Port Royal—crouched low among the docks, hidden behind a stack of crates.
"So," she whispered, barely moving her lips, "we're going to steal that ship?"
She risked a glance past the wood.
The HMS Interceptor sat in open water, bright and untouched by the night's chaos. White sails furled. Sailors moving calmly across the deck, unaware.
Jack Sparrow crouched behind a crate a few paces away. He frowned.
"No," he murmured. "Terrible word. We're borrowing it. Temporarily."
A beat.
"To retrieve my ship."
Elizabeth looked at him. "And you'll return it?"
"Absolutely," Jack said at once.
She didn't look convinced.
Behind them, ropes scraped against wood as Will Turner struggled against the post. "Miss Swann," he hissed urgently, "you shouldn't be here. You need to leave. This man is a pirate."
Elizabeth closed her eyes. "Will. Please."
"I won't be quiet," Will insisted. "You're in danger. We should alert the—"
"Jack," Daniel said calmly, crouched beside Elizabeth behind the same crate, "handle that."
Jack didn't hesitate.
He crossed the dock, shoved a bundle of filthy rags into Will's mouth, and stepped back.
"There," Jack said, dusting his hands. "Handled."
Will's protests only grew louder—muffled, furious, useless.
Elizabeth stared at them. "Was that really necessary?"
Daniel nodded once. "Yes."
He glanced toward the dock. "Jack, I'll deal with the guards. You drag the luggage." He gestured briefly at Will.
Jack followed Daniel's gaze and grinned.
"Always a pleasure working with professionals."
He genuinely liked this new friend—the kind who handled the hard work without complaint.
Daniel stepped out from behind the crates. A faint, cold pressure spread from him, subtle enough to be felt more than seen.
Across the dock, guards froze.
One by one, they collapsed unconscious onto the planks—thud… thump… thud—bodies hitting wood as muskets clattered harmlessly beside them. No shouting. No panic. Just sudden silence.
Elizabeth stared. "How did you do that?"
She shook her head slightly. "You didn't even touch them. They just—fell unconscious."
Jack blinked, glanced down at himself, then back at Daniel.
"Any chance you can teach me that?"
Daniel shook his head. "It isn't something you learn," he said flatly. "Now move."
That was enough.
They hurried toward the ship.
Jack grabbed hold of Will and hauled him along, muttering under his breath as he dragged him up the gangplank. Elizabeth followed close behind Daniel, her thoughts racing, still trying to make sense of what she had just witnessed.
They boarded the HMS Interceptor quickly.
On deck, a few sailors turned at once—startled by the sudden arrival.
"Miss Elizabeth?" one of them asked in disbelief. "Aren't you kidnapped by pirates?"
All of them were confused. They had learned—clearly—that Miss Elizabeth had been kidnapped by pirates. Then why were they preparing the ship to depart in order to search for her?
So why was she here?
Standing right in front of them.
Elizabeth hesitated.
Daniel answered for her. "Borrowed."
Jack tipped his hat. "Temporarily."
The sailors froze when they saw them.
A pirate.
Another man who looked completely out of place.
For half a second, no one moved. Then muskets came up all at once.
"Step away from Miss Swann!" Soldiers shouted, aiming straight at Daniel.
More soldiers rushed in from the deck, weapons raised, faces tense. From where they stood, it looked obvious—Miss Elizabeth had been kidnapped by these men.
Jack immediately lifted both hands.
"Now let's all remain calm," he said quickly, flashing an easy smile. "No need for shooting. Very bad for negotiations."
He leaned closer to Daniel, lowering his voice.
"Mate," he muttered, "any ideas?"
"Yes," Daniel replied.
A sudden chill swept across the deck, subtle but unmistakable, raising gooseflesh along exposed skin. From beneath Daniel's boots, shadows began to move—thin black tendrils seeping outward, then spreading rapidly across the wooden planks.
They slithered like living things.
The darkness crept over coils of rope, climbed cannon bases, wrapped around railings. Wherever it touched, the light seemed to dim.
The soldiers froze.
"What in God's name—?!" one of them shouted.
"Move!" another yelled, scrambling backward—
Too late.
The shadows snapped upward.
Black coils wrapped around ankles, tightening instantly.
"HEY—!"
Several were yanked off their feet at once.
"LET GO!"
"HELP—!"
One by one, they were dragged across the deck, boots scraping helplessly against wood before they were flung clean over the railing.
Splash.
Splash.
Splash.
Bodies hit the water hard, curses replacing screams as they struggled to stay afloat.
The remaining ones panicked. Weapons clattered to the deck as they backed away—and then, without hesitation, leapt overboard themselves.
Silence fell, broken only by the churn of water and distant shouting.
Elizabeth stood frozen, gripping the railing.
"Daniel—!"
"I'm not killing them," Daniel said evenly. "Just clearing the deck."
Jack blinked. Then his grin widened.
"Efficient," he said, impressed. "Very efficient."
"Let's go."
Jack didn't need telling twice. He sprinted for the wheel.
"Right then! Borrowing a ship!"
Will struggled uselessly against his bindings, muffled protests forcing their way past the cloth stuffed in his mouth.
Elizabeth glanced at him, then back at Jack.
"Can you explain again why we're taking him?"
"We're going to need him," Jack replied shortly, already climbing to the helm.
Daniel stepped forward as shadows pooled at his feet once more.
"Less talking," he said. "More leaving."
The darkness surged.
It spread across the deck in a rolling wave, crawling up the rails and mast, swallowing wood and canvas alike until the ship seemed painted in black. The sails unfurled and dropped into place as if guided by unseen hands.
Jack grasped the captain's wheel, his hands settling on it like they belonged there.
"Ah," he murmured, smiling to himself. "Feels right."
One by one, the ropes binding the ship to the dock snapped free.
The Interceptor lurched forward—then surged—cutting cleanly through the water as it pulled away from Port Royal.
[Status Screen]
Name: Daniel Haken
Age: 26
Race: Demi - God
Traits:
• Regeneration [Advanced]
• Steel Skin [Minor]
• Death Immunity [Intermediate]
• Death Aura [Minor]
Physical Stats:
• Strength: 60-Ton Strike
• Speed: 100 m/s
• Defense: Small-Caliber Resistance
Energy:
• Death Energy: A specialized energy used to enhance physical attributes or unleash destructive, death-aligned effects.
• Total Output: City-Level
Abilities:
• Death Perception
• Life-Severing Slash
• Soul Harvest
• Lesser Death Entity Command
• Immortality Dominion
• Resurrection Claim
Evaluation:
• Threat Level: City-Class
• Combat Capability: Possesses sufficient power to destroy entire cities
*****
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