What is actually happening?

Explosions are occurring everywhere, people are running around seeking help accompanied by screams and cries. Some elevated walkways are collapsing, hitting the road below and crushing those who couldn't evade in time.

The Whiterangers are trying their best to help, attempting to fend off the enemy but getting pushed back by the flying ships.

No, these are not the flying ships you might imagine, but truly a medieval-era ship that somehow manages to float in the air. Whenever the ship starts to move or turn, a cluster of auroras moves slowly like a wave.

From both sides of the ship's hull, heavy iron balls are fired from cannons, destroying houses and roads.

Those who are hit instantly shatter into several pieces.

From the deck, the pirates leaped down, swinging on ropes to kill and plunder the elves mercilessly. They attacked them regardless of age, forcing them to surrender their valuable possessions, and the young elves were lined up, ready to be taken aboard the ship.

Whether to be enslaved, sold, or worse, one thing was certain: the young elves' lives would suffer.

Amidst all of this, a massive warship floated silently, swaying gently as if it were in the middle of the ocean. On top of the ship, there stood a muscular man dressed in a wide-collared, red coat, caressing his long black beard while displaying a wide smile, revealing a row of teeth with one of the bottom molars in gold.

He wore six rings on his fingers: two on the index fingers, two on the middle fingers, and the remaining two on the ring finger and pinky.

A Cutlass (a light, slightly curved single-edged sword with a domed handguard) hung from his waist, swaying in a slow rhythm matching the steps of his black boots, creating a distinctive sound. It seemed to instill fear in those who heard the heavy footsteps.

One question I have is how could the elves lose to them?

Especially when Zhao and Wei are here.

It doesn't make sense, it seems impossible. Are they in trouble and unable to intervene and help?

Then, I saw it, I saw those three little elves standing in line, looking scared as they tried to hold back their tears. Elfi tried to calm down his twin siblings but instead received a hard blow from one of the pirates who was now stationed in their row.

The pirate wore a blue-and-white striped bandana, with no right eye and a scar in its place. His face... It matched what you would imagine about a terrifying and wicked pirate.

Not only did it make me want to hit him, but also step on him and drag him on the ground.

However, before I go to rescue them, I need to find out what is really happening here. Moreover, with their numbers being too many, it's difficult for me to win alone.

Instead of successfully rescuing the three elves, they would actually become targets because they have become the center of the problem. I need to find Zhao and Wei, ask them, and together save them and eliminate these damn pirates.

Unfortunately, one of them spotted me and shouted, "THERE'S ONE WHO ESCAPED!"

Suddenly, more than ten pirates started chasing after me with two boats following closely behind. Both boats had a cannon ready to fire.

I quickly leaped down and ran along the main street, dodging debris from burning buildings. When I glanced back, their numbers had doubled.

The cannon was fired, sending heavy iron balls at high speed, demolishing the road not far to my right. I evaded using Z's power, trying to avoid the flying road debris, or else I would have slash wounds all over.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Ye scurvy dogs! Can't ye aim true?! GIVE 'EM HELL!"

The cannon was fired again, this time hitting the road on the left.

A large fragment managed to graze my left hand, and blood now trickled down from the wound. The pirates cheered gleefully as if I were a mere plaything, growing more excited to capture me and bring me into the lines.

Suddenly, a harpoon shot out from behind, barely inches away from my right ear, impaling itself into the debris ahead. One of the pirates took advantage of the rope to swing alongside, swinging his Cutlass swiftly. I managed to evade it, but it still grazed my back, spreading a sharp pain that I feel wet on my back.

However, I couldn't afford to stop and check the cut. I had to keep running and running, thinking of what I could do to evade them.

"Use the Glory in your hand stupid! You keep holding it but don't use it!" Z retorted in frustration.

Ah! You're right!

How could I forget about this item in my hand?

I grinned, finding a glimmer of hope.

The pirates were taken aback as I stopped and turned around, thinking I had surrendered.

However, as they witnessed me slamming the blue cube onto the ground, their eyes widened in fear as they saw a massive wave-like earth surge towards them, sending the pirates flying in various directions.

I felt a mix of pride and remorse as I watched it unfold because, like ordinary humans, they met a gruesome demise after being flung high in the air.

I continued my stride, making my way back towards the nearby tavern. Upon reaching there, I shouted their names, hoping they were still present and unharmed, or else I would be forced to face the pirates alone.

Unfortunately, there was no response.

Just as I was about to rush upstairs to check the rooms, a footstep halted me, slowly descending the stairs. They revealed themselves at the double doors, appearing exhausted with a bandage on the left side of her head. "Zent, where have you been? We were so worried that even Zhao and Wei came searching for you, but couldn't find you anywhere."

"Euna... What actually happened? How could those pirates..." I stopped speaking as I saw her right hand lifted, gesturing for me to come up with her.

"There's something I need to show you, and I apologize for not being able to do more than just tending to their condition," she said.

Upon hearing that, I could already guess what had happened.

And true enough, Zhao and Wei were now lying on the bed, wearing only their pants, with sweat continuously streaming from their bodies. They groaned in pain, feeling uncomfortable. But at the same time, they couldn't do anything except resign themselves to the situation.

On the table next to the bed, there was a bucket of water with a cloth inside, which I assumed was hot water to help alleviate their fever.

"A day after you disappeared, Zhao and Wei, together with the Whiterangers, confronted the pirates outside Elecya. They managed to sweep through the first and second waves, turning Elecya into a graveyard of ships.

However, when the third wave hit, one of the heretics appeared, a man. He faced Zhao, Wei, and the commander of the Whiterangers alone.

Initially, he was pushed back, until he unleashed a power I had never witnessed before—a dark, purplish-black energy that poisoned the three of them.

Since then, the pirates have managed to break through Elecya's defenses. And as you can see now, we are nothing more than an oppressed race. So many soldiers have died just to save those three because we believed they were the only ones with the power to stand against the pirates.

The Whiteranger commander is in Wei's room, being cared for by Iona. We're fortunate because the pirates haven't been able to locate this place due to Wei's power, which he believed would make it invisible to those with ill intentions. So, for now, we're safe... temporarily," she explained sadly, then turned to face me. "Where did you go? If only you were here, perhaps we could still hold on."

"I met the native inhabitants of this world," I said.

"What? I can't hear you," she replied.

Ahhh! Why is this happening again?!

"It seems you're also like Zhao and Wei. You can't hear me when I try to talk about this world, as if you're forbidden to know about it—which I know sounds ridiculous, but please trust me.

I'm in a place that I can't comprehend either, but at least now I understand that this world is in great trouble. We have to face the pirates who seem to come from nowhere and hurry to find the Glory."

Euna looked puzzled but shook her head, deciding not to question it. "Alright, I believe you. But I don't think it's possible for you to face the pirate followers alone. You'll need help," she explained.

"Wait, aren't you coming with me? I need your help, Euna, and as you said, I can't possibly face them alone," I pleaded.

Euna turned back, looking at the two weakened men. "They also need my help, Zent. I can't just leave them like this or their lives will be in danger.

They need to be continuously supplied with mana, or their chi will be consumed by the black poison. Once their chi runs out, I don't know what will happen, and I have no intention of finding out."

I could see what Iona was saying even from here. The veins on their arms had turned dark and appeared to be bulging.

I took a deep breath, preparing myself. "Alright," I said once I was ready. "What should I do?"

"You must find Prince Alcya."