Reborn As a Pirate - Chapter 100

Chapter 100: Blood Witch, Serena!
If one were observant enough, they might notice the eerie spectacle of the three black knights, whose armored silhouettes appeared to give spiritual auro akin to shadows instead of light. Dark, inky tendrils, akin to flames but devoid of any warmth or color, licked the air around them, enhancing their sinister presence. These shadow flames pulsed with spiritual energy that surged with every passing moment.

As the trio advanced, they found themselves enveloped by the unexpected silence of the Minin Forest. What was anticipated to be a labyrinth teeming with monstrous threats turned out to be eerily tranquil. Not a single creature stirred, no monsters, no wildlife, not even the gentle chirp of insects. The forest had transformed into a haunting void, ominously silent as if it were a gaping maw waiting to swallow them whole. This unnatural stillness frayed their nerves further, heightening the palpable tension.

Undeterred by the foreboding atmosphere, the knights pressed deeper into the forest. The path, usually strewn with challenges, now lay open, as if inviting them into the heart of darkness itself. Their journey culminated at the foot of a dormant, extinct volcano, the core of Minin Forest and the lair of the sea witch they sought under the ascent of a blood-red moon.

Atop the volcanic peak, under the glow of the crimson moon, a solitary figure commanded their attention, a massive wolf, its majestic fur streaked with bloody luminescence that flowed like liquid silver under the moonlight. The beast exuded an air of regal ferocity, its eyes a deep, piercing red.

As the knights steadied their gaze upon this formidable creature, the leading knight remained resolute, but his comrades staggered back, overcome by the mere intensity of the wolf’s presence. Blood trickled from beneath their masks as they kneeled, overwhelmed by the spiritual force emanating from the creature’s eyes, a power that required no physical form to devastate.

The lead knight, unyielding, analyzed the situation aloud. “A Third Level Moon Wolf? No, that’s not right,” he muttered, his voice echoing with authority through the chilling air. “It remains at the Second Level, yet under this blood moon, its prowess is magnified to rival that of the Third!”

“Your analysis is correct~” A sinister chuckle resonated close, sending a shiver down his spine. The shadow flames that wreathed him flared violently, expanding into an immense, dark inferno that soared over ten meters high. The surrounding flora, touched by this dark conflagration, disintegrated into fine black dust, scattering in the wind.

After the dramatic surge, the knight gasped for breath, the effort visibly taxing him. Yet, his eyes darted around ceaselessly, vigilant and sharp. But all that met his gaze was the desolate aftermath of his fiery defense, nothing but ashes and no sign of any lurking foe. The stillness was profound, broken only by the echo of their own breaths and the faint rustle of the ashes as they settled on the forest floor.

“The Black Knight, you say? A fascinating ability indeed; the lethality is quite remarkable.”

The air was laced with a malevolent chuckle, echoing ominously around the Black Knight as he realized, with a jolt of panic, that his body refused to obey his commands. In an instant, the charred earth beneath him morphed into a chilling expanse of blood-red mud, shimmering ominously under the moonlight. From this sinister quagmire, countless chains of the same lurid hue sprang forth, ensnaring him completely, rendering him helpless.

It wasn’t just him; the other knights, though distant, found themselves similarly shackled by these relentless, crimson bindings.

From the edge of this blood-drenched marshland, a figure emerged, her steps causing the mud to ripple delicately around her. “I am the Blood Witch, Selina Fischl,” she declared, her voice resonant and clear in the still night air.

“Dear guests, please be seated and enjoy the ‘performance’ I am about to unfold,” she continued, her tone smooth yet laced with a dark promise.

With a graceful gesture of her hand, pale and delicate as though sculpted from alabaster, the blood witch initiated her grim spectacle. At her command, the chains tightened their grip and dragged the helpless knights deeper into the viscous, bloody mud.

As the darkness of the mud swallowed his vision, the lead Black Knight’s mind raced with a single, urgent thought: Was this witch’s power truly beyond compare?

Atop the mountain, the scene shifted. The Blood Witch, back at her summit sanctuary, caressed the giant wolf, whispering soothingly, “Patience, my fierce friend. The ‘lead actor’ is nearly in place. Just a little longer…”

Her voice was soft, tinged with a note of regret, as the Moon Wolf affectionately nuzzled her hand in response.

…

Away from this macabre scene, aboard the [Black Rose], Ryan stood tensely before the captain’s quarters. The whispers of the blood moon filtered through the air, persistent and unsettling. Despite the amulet; his ‘trophy’, which hung heavily around his neck, its protection was failing to stave off the lunar madness entirely.

The eerie whispers intensified, a stark reminder that waiting out the blood moon was not an option. “No,” Ryan resolved firmly, “We must confront this head-on.”

At that moment, the door creaked open, and Freni emerged, enveloped in a soft, dark blue glow that seemed to dance joyously around her. Beneath her wide-brimmed, fluffy witch hat adorned with sparkling tassels, her eyes shimmered with a mischievous light.

“Mr. Ryan, your efforts are most commendable,” she greeted him with a gentle smile, her voice carrying a hint of mirth.

“Lord Freni, have you completed the ascension?” Ryan asked, his tone mingling surprise with a trace of awe at her apparent transformation.

Ryan could sense an overwhelming spiritual power emanating from Freni, a force so potent it dwarfed his own by an unfathomable margin. If one were to quantify such power, it would certainly surpass a staggering 10.0 on any scale.

“Yes,” Miss Witch nodded, her eyes alight with an ethereal glow of triumph and relief.

After a moment’s joy, Freni’s voice dropped to a whisper, “Mr. Ryan, have you noticed? The power of the blood moon seems to be intensifying.”

Ryan’s features hardened as he nodded, his tone grave, “I’ve been hearing the ‘whispers’ again. They’re faint, but they’re growing stronger with each passing moment.”

“Me too.” Freni drew in a deep breath, her gaze piercing as she fixed it on Ryan. “Do you have any suggestions on how we should proceed?”

Ryan cracked a half-smile, a spark of defiance lighting his eyes. “I’m not one to just sit around and wait for the end.”

A similar smile flickered across Freni’s face. “Neither am I.”

“Then, let’s go see for our self.”

Ryan’s gaze shifted to the knight, Cecilia, who had been quietly observing from behind Freni. “What about Miss Cecilia?”

Before Freni could respond, Cecilia stepped forward, her voice firm, “Let me join you.”

“No, you must stay here, Cecilia,” Freni said, avoiding the knight’s resolute stare. “The [Black Rose] is our last bastion. If something compromises it, we’re truly doomed. You need to stay and protect it.”