A single word. A single name. A single utterance is all it takes to send the entirety of the Tower-Ecclesiasticus into a panic. At the mere mention of Valentine, both James and Simon rush out of the tent and into the pouring rain. With a flicker of my ears, I can hear them yelling and screaming orders to the entirety of the organization.

Turning to my crew, I find that Emma is in shock and Myers has the biggest grimace I’ve ever seen on his face. Even Clay, who’d been eating just recently, is giving myers a look of worry.

“Myers, mind explaining to me who the fuck this Valentine guy is and why everyone is panicking?”

Still grimacing, the man looks to me like I’d just stimulated some old trauma.

“Have you heard of the Corsairs?” He asks.

“Maybe? I may have heard it mentioned. Why?”

“The Corsairs are an organization of the highest level [Pirates] in all of Tristique. Each and every member of the organization is a [Pirate Captain] with the ability to fight off a small fleet of ships.”

I nod. “Soooo, Valentine is a badass high level [Pirate] that's part of the organization.”

Myers shakes his head. “No, Valentine is the leader of the Corsairs. He is considered the most dangerous person in existence. The only ones that could possibly stop him are the major naval powers or a Master classer.”

I lean back and stretch my paws. I then yawn. “Aren't we in some backwater world? What the fuck is he doing here? Also, why is he sailing through a storm? Isn’t that dangerous?”

“I’ve no idea why he is here. He shouldn't be, but he is for whatever reason. As for the storm, it’s an inconvenience at best. His ship, the Bone-Leviathan, is a cored battleship class designed to fight enemy fleets. A simple storm isn’t going to harm him one bit.”

I grin. “Sounds like a good ship to upgrade to.”

“ABSOLUTELY NOT!” Myers yells. “You will get us all killed if you anger him. Nobody here, not even me has any hope of winning, let alone hurting him. Fighting is a death sentence! Do not do it!” the old man warns.

Damn. If Myers is this worked up, then it is probably best to keep my mouth shut.

“Fine, I’ll play nice… for now. Anyways, what's the man's personality? Does he plan to kill us all? Should I prepare a retreat?”

“Eccentric and crazy.” Is the first words out of his mouth. “He is just as likely to leave you alone as he is to slaughter you. He is considered a tactical genius as well as having martial strength equivalent to an expert classed Buxon. The only redeeming quality is that the man does not lie. If he says something, then he will do it.” The old man takes a breath.

“As for retreat. It’s Impossible with any ship here. The Bone Leviathan has been known to outrun all but the fastest ships… if he doesn't choose to blast you out of the sky.”

“Shite.” Cillian curses. “So we just stay here and hope we don’t die.”

“Da.” Boriss says. He grabs his sword with a smile. “Vhe die fighting. Is good, yes.”

“No. Fighting is a last resort.” Myers growls.

“Can we reason with him?” Irmgard asks. “We have that core worth a kingdom. A trade for our lives may be best.”

“No.” Myers shakes his head. “He could just take it from us and we wouldn’t be able to stop him. Actually, don’t even mention the core. If he finds it, he may kill everyone here to keep information about the core's existence from leaking out.”

Just then, Simon rushes back inside. The man is dripping wet. He looks at us. “Apologies, but the Bone Leviathan is making port as we speak. I suggest you not stay hidden when he arrives. He does not take kindly to those hiding from him.” Simon turns to leave, but I quickly speak out.

“Do you know why he is here?”

He stops. “No. I can only hope that it is for something. Otherwise, if he’s here because he is bored, then we may all be dead.” He steps through the flaps and exits into the rain, leaving me and everyone else grimacing.

After a long moment of silence, Boriss looks at me. “Comrade, vhat is orders?”

“We go outside and hope that we survive.” I answer. “If it comes to a fight, then you all distract them while I retreat.”

Cillian frowns. “Retreat? Where?”

“Into the tower.” I say. “I should be able to enter the tower, and I doubt anyone can follow. Once you all are dead and he is gone, I’ll exit the tower, hopefully board a ship, and then plan my lifelong vengeance against Valentine.”

Boriss laughs. “Ha. Is good plan.” The Russian salutes. “Boriss will make good Martyr.”

“Fuck me.” Cillian whines. “Of all the ways to die.”

The Russian slaps the Scot goodnaturedly. “Is fine communist death, yes.”

The Scot groans.

I stand up straight. “Well, lets go outside and check out the ship. I’m curious what the pinnacle of shipbuilding is made out of.”

Following my lead, we all exit into the pouring rain. Then we turn to the docks to find the massive ship.

Bone-Leviathan (Six-Mast Cored Battleship)

Max Speed: 37 knots

Construction: Wood, Metal, Bone.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

Modifications: Expanded Gun Deck. Wyvern Pens. Forge. Mana-stream Napalm Breath. Armored Hull. Thick Hull. Arcane Barrier.

Hull Integrity: 319,171/319,219 Mana

“Holy Crap that ship is fast! And those modifications! And that Hull integrity! And it looks so awesome!”

I can't help but get excited over how the ship looks. It is nearly three times as large as the Towers-keeper with a black hull made of wood, metal, and a whole lot of bone. The ship looks like it was built within the skeleton of a monstrously large beast. Considering the name, the skeleton probably belongs to a leviathan.

At the bow of the ship's hull, the leviathan's skull is melded into the construction. The skulls eye holes are glowing gold while the mouth is shut closed. But, if I look closely between the teeth, I notice a massive runed cannon hidden inside.

At the top of the ship, six bone masts that look like spines rise up into the sky. At the sides, instead of masts, the ship has a massive pair of leathery-bone wings not dissimilar to a bat.

Finally, the stern of the ship has an elongated spine-like tail dragging a large black flag with the picture of two crisscrossing bones and a leviathan skull in the center.

“That’s a Mors kingdom vessel made on the island of Cadaver. They are the only ones who can produce ships using bones as a material.”

“Mors? Are they a major player or something?”

“You could say that.” Myers nods. “Cadaver lies closest to the central continent and is thus subject to countless monster attacks. They are a people who know combat, and are considered a major military force as strong as the other major powers.”

“I see. So let me guess, Valentine is part of that kingdom.”

“Formerly part of that kingdom. He was excommunicated by the [King] for some travesty.”

“Excommunicated with a battleship.” I add. “You’d think the [King] would have taken the ship.”

“When a [Prince] or [Princess] of Mors gains an expert class, the [King] of Mors orders the production of a vessel using the best resources they can muster. It is said that such vessels become the lifeblood of the [Captain] and that separation is only allowed through death.”

“Wait, are you telling me that Valentine was a [Prince]?”

I never get an answer as James rushes from the docks accompanied by an army of people. He quickly notices us. “Come, we will wait by the divine ear. If he is listening, we may be able to avoid a catastrophe.”

“Or we make it easier to kill all of us.” I answer.

He shakes his dripping fur. “The divine will protect us.” He continues running towards the tower's center with everyone following behind.

“Should we follow?” Irmgard asks.

I nod. “Of course. Easier retreat for me. No lets go.”

The run to the tower's entrance is a short one. When we arrive, the tower reveals itself in all its glory. At the base of the tower is the entrance. Looking through the entrance, I find a lot of sand alongside a set of wide stairs leading upwards.

When I look above the entrance, I find a spiked wheel and a metal plaque underneath it. At first, the plague is in an odd language. But as I stare, the words come into existence.

Here lies the test of the Chariot:

Through Perception you will find what you seek.

Through Endurance you will strive long enough to find it.

Through Control you will overcome the limits of your body.

“Huh. So it won’t just be an easy go in and grab what I want.”

“Grab what?” Simon arrives wet and exhausted from all the running. Behind him are the rest of the people that were in the ships.

“Weapons.” I answer.

He shakes his head. “No need. We’re dead if we have to fight.”

“I’d still prefer to be armed.”

He sighs. “Too late now. Valentine is probably leaving his ship now. But, if it does come to violence,” he lays his hand on the handle of his mace. “Then I will be the first to reunite with the divine.”

I snort. “Right. If you could fight first and avoid the dying part. I think that would be better.”

The man cracks a smile, then he frowns. He looks into the distance. “He’s here.”

In the distance, a group of seven people are making their way towards us. Five of them are covered in runed gear, and the last two carry simple leather armor.

It is also in this group where I am met with my first look at a Phytonid. The woman, at least that is what it seems like, looks like a nymph or dryad from mythology. They are tall, with female human-like proportions. Their skin is green and they have roots, leaves, and bark throughout their body. Instead of hair, green leafy vines flow down the head to rest upon the full-body armored runed robe. In the womens right hand is a staff nearly as tall as her. At the top of the staff is a glowing violet core.

I stare at her until her job shows up.

Gazania, The Hurricane: Level 72 [Storm-Forge Navigator]

She is named and she isn’t even the [Captain]?

I look at the person next to her- a wolven male with pitchblack black fur. The man is as tall as the woman but also wider with clearly pronounced muscles bulging under his runed yoroi armor. At his hip is a sheathed odachi whose blade alone looks to be four feet long.

Daichi Chikara, The Formless Blade: Level 66 [Stealth-operations Security Chief]

Next to him is a human woman with a full-body runed leather bodysuit. Throughout her legs, hips, and arms are dozens and dozens of sheathed knives while several massive runed javelins rest squarely on her back. The woman seems to be of asian heritage, at least with what I can see that isn’t being covered by her hood.

Min Daiyu, The Lightning Toss: Level 69 [Thundering Artillery Chief]

Next is what I can only infer to be a [Knight] of some form. The man is very large in stature, nearly seven feet tall. He has a longsword at his hip, a shield on his back, and a halberd resting on his shoulder. Since the man's visor is down, I can't even tell his species.

Darran Orgart, The Sky Piercer: Level 68 [Vigorous Aerial Chief]

Next, we have the singular Buxon. The man is large, thick muscled, and wears thick leather throughout his body. But, most notable about him is that the man is smothered in weapons. Seven swords, three axes, and two knives are at his hip. On his back is a back with eight battle-axes, two swords, three spears, and a warhammer. All of it is runed, which is very odd since Buxons dont have the necessary internal mana regeneration to use runed items.

Regardless, staring at the man's face shows an inquisitive and intelligent mind accompanied by what is another named.

Maksim, the Sacrificial Weapon: Level 70 [Blade-Brazen Security Chief]

Next to Maksim and of a slightly smaller stature is a male gemma with orange-grey skin. He wears a full body of leather armor and carries a battleaxe on his back. Out of them all, this guy seems the weakest. When I attempt to check his job, nothing shows up.

“Odd.”

Finally, I look at the last member of this group and the most piratey person I’ve ever seen..

Valentine Vaevictus, The Astral Phantom: Level 74 [Pirate-Prince Captain]