The merchant deck was chaos.
Pirates had already swarmed across.
Their laughter mixed with screams as blades flashed in the smoke.
"Cut their throats!" one bellowed, driving his sword into a sailor's chest.
Another spat on the deck, kicking a fallen man before stabbing him through.
"Don't waste time, lads! Grab the coin!" a pirate shouted as he ripped a necklace from a struggling crewman and shoved him overboard with a kick.
"Leave the dead for the gulls!" another jeered, blood dripping from his blade.
Steel rang against steel, curses and cries echoing across the ship.
The merchant sailors fought desperately, but they were outnumbered.
"Hold the line!" Captain Brian roared. But his men faltered as the pirates pressed harder.
"Why are you doing this? We already surrendered!"
Brian swung his sword toward Jack, his voice hoarse with fury.
Jack tilted his head, grinning as the blade scraped against his blade.
The clash rang out, sparks flying between them.
"Surrender?" Jack sneered, shoving Brian back with brute strength.
"You think I care about your surrender? Hah!"
Jack stepped closer, eyes gleaming with cruelty.
"Where would my reputation end up if I left some of you alive? They'd say Jack the Bird couldn't even raid a hopeless merchant ship. People would mock me. So tell me—how could I let you go?"
With a powerful swing, he knocked Brian's sword aside and leveled his blade at the captain's throat.
"Though I might leave one or two of you alive… just to spread glorious rumors about me."
The pirates around them laughed, jeering as their captain toyed with his prey.
Brian staggered, sweat dripping down his brow. He had lost. He and his crew were completely hopeless.
"So what say you, eh?" Jack pressed, his grin widening.
"Wanna be the lucky survivor? I'll be merciful and even let you choose who gets off with you."
The pirates laughed before one suddenly dropped to the deck.
The others blinked in confusion.
"Hey, what's wrong—?"
Blood sprayed from the man's head, staining the planks.
"Watch out!" another shouted.
Before he could move, a second pirate fell.
The laughter and crude jeers vanished.
"Who dares?!" A pirate screamed, eyes darting wildly.
Another pirate dropped, blood spraying across the deck.
Everyone froze, eyes wide, hearts pounding.
"What's happening?!" one shouted, ducking behind a crate.
"Someone's killing us!"
Jack's grin faltered for the first time.
He looked around before glaring at Brian.
"Is this your surrender?!"
Brian winced as the sword pierced his shoulder, but his mind was confused.
He had no idea who's doing this but hoped he'd continue eliminating these bastards.
"Cowards!" Jack barked, though his voice carried a hint of unease.
"Stand your ground! It's just one bastard hiding somewhere!"
But his men weren't listening.
They crouched low, eyes darting at every shadow.
Jack clenched his jaw.
He was the captain—he couldn't show fear.
Yet even he felt the chill of being hunted by an unseen enemy.
"Damn it…" he muttered under his breath.
"Who dares toy with Jack the Bird?"
A sharp‑eyed raider pointed toward the horizon.
"There! I see a small boat—!"
His words cut off as his head burst. Blood splattered across the planks as his body fell lifelessly.
Silence followed for a heartbeat before panic spread like fire.
Pirates screamed, diving behind crates and barrels.
Some tried to hide inside the cabins. Others leapt into the sea, splashing desperately.
It was useless.
One by one, they fell like flies.
A man crouched low behind a barrel, only for his skull to burst, painting the wood.
Another swam frantically in the waves before a bullet tore through him, and he floated lifeless.
"Gods help us!" one shrieked, dropping his sword.
"Where is it coming from?!" Another cried, eyes wild with terror.
But all cries and pleading were useless as they fell at the invisible reaper's hand.
Jack's bravado finally cracked. He ducked low, crouching among his men, his blade trembling in his grip.
"Lads…"
Just as he tried to rally his crew, two bullets pierced his shoulder and knee, causing him to drop shrieking.
Jack closed his eyes and endured the pain. His only wish was for the nightmare to end.
After minutes of nonstop gunfire, calm returned to the deck.
No one dared to make a sound.
Even the sailors who had been spared held their breath, afraid the reaper would punish any noise.
The silence broke when something landed lightly on the deck.
Brian froze, watching as the mysterious sniper fell down amidst the scattered bodies.
The figure was younger than he expected. Dressed in ragged clothes, holding a strange gun unlike any he had ever seen.
The young man turned and locked eyes with him.
Even though he knew this man had saved them, Brian felt nervous, too afraid to breathe.
After a brief inspection, the sniper gave him a small, almost imperceptible nod, then walked toward the fallen Jack.
Brian's nerves eased, but he still didn't dare make a sound.
His crew wanted to cheer, yet none risked angering the young reaper. They stayed silent, watching with a mix of fear and awe.
As the silence dragged on, Jack's eyes slowly opened.
Agony surged from his wounded shoulder and knee, but he gritted his teeth and forced himself to look around.
The deck was a mess, bodies scattered everywhere. One of his men still crawled weakly toward the rail.
And then Jack saw him.
A figure, tall and imposing, standing a few feet away.
Jack's eyes locked onto the young monster who had obliterated his crew. His mind jumbled with shock, anger, and fear.
The monster's unreadable expression twisted into a small grin before greeting him lightly, almost like an old friend.
"Wakey wakey!!"