The cove erupted into chaos as the murmurs of awakening pirates turned into panicked shouts. The Xandrian forces leaped from the warship, led by the fearsome Xargian Guards. Though few in number, their skill in combat was enough to instill terror.

At the forefront, Bear, Elephant, and Jackal charged ahead, carving a path through the disoriented pirates. Chameleon trailed close behind, slipping between shadows.

The ambush had caught the pirates off guard—many were still groggy from sleep, scrambling for their weapons, only to be cut down by Xandrian steel.

A volley of arrows rained down. Elephant activated his skill, his entire body hardening into iron. The metallic shafts clinked harmlessly against his armored form, falling uselessly to the ground. He wielded a massive two-handed mace, swinging it with crushing force, sending pirates flying.

Bear, in his monstrous beast form, tore through the enemy ranks like a force of nature, his claws raking through flesh as if the pirates were nothing more than insects.

A desperate group of pirates gathered, rallying to make a stand. But before they could charge, their supposed leader, Gingerbeard, came sprinting toward them.

“We must escape!” he barked, rushing past his own men.

Then, without warning, he spun around, grinning—two daggers flashing in his hands as he cut the unsuspecting pirates down.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!” one pirate shrieked in horror.

Gingerbeard only laughed—before his face shifted and changed, revealing the smirking form of Chameleon.

“Surprise.”

Behind him, Xandrian soldiers pushed deeper into the cave.

The cavern was dimly lit by scattered torches, and its twisting tunnels splintered off in multiple directions. The Xandrian forces pressed their advantage, forcing the pirates into retreat.

In one of the tunnels, a small detachment of Xandrian troops pursued a fleeing band of pirates, led by Jackal.

The pirates had laid traps—spikes jutting from the walls, loose boulders rigged to fall from above—but Jackal’s keen instincts and leadership allowed his men to evade every hazard.

“WHY ISN’T IT WORKING?!” a pirate cried out in desperation.

Jackal closed the distance in an instant, his sword flashing.

“Your traps won’t stop me.”

With a swift slash, the pirate collapsed, lifeless.

A system notification flickered to life.

[You’ve defeated a human – You’ve received 98 EXP.]

The system window vanished, and Jackal flicked his sword sharply, cleaning it with a practiced motion. He turned to the soldiers behind him.

"Let's move!" he ordered.

But then—footsteps. Slow, deliberate.

A voice, cold and calculating, echoed through the tunnel. "What a rude way to pay someone a visit."

Jackal immediately raised his sword, its tip pointing toward the approaching figure. "Who are you?"

The man stepped into the light, revealing himself. He wielded two wicked-looking war scythes, their curved blades reflecting the firelight. Behind him, a group of pirates emerged, bows drawn and torches flickering in their hands.

"You may have dodged the traps," the man said with a dry chuckle, "but they weren’t meant to keep you out." His smirk widened. "They were meant to keep you in."

Jackal’s eyes narrowed as he studied the man before him. A bald head. A black spider tattoo inked across his forehead. Recognition flickered in his gaze.

"That mark..." Jackal muttered.

Then his expression hardened. He turned sharply to his men.

"RAISE YOUR SHIELDS!"

The instant the words left his mouth, a volley of arrows whistled from the darkness. The Xandrian soldiers locked their shields together, steel deflecting steel as the projectiles clattered harmlessly against them.

The pirate leader smirked. "Good reaction," he said. "But meaningless."

Jackal's grip on his sword tightened. Without hesitation, he surged forward, shield raised, rushing straight at the pirate.

The man only grinned. "I’ve never killed a Xargian Guard before," he mused, amusement dripping from his voice.

Their blades met with a clash of steel, sparks flying as Jackal forced the pirate back.

"And you never will!" Jackal snarled. "You’re dying here!"

The pirate suddenly flicked a dagger from his belt and hurled it. Jackal barely moved—his shield was already in place. The blade bounced off with a sharp clang.

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"Tricks don’t work on me," Jackal said coldly. "I can see one second into the future."

The pirate's smirk faltered, but before he could respond, Jackal lunged, his sword flashing as he pressed the attack. His soldiers roared behind him, the sound of metal clashing filling the tunnel.

"Tch," the pirate clicked his tongue, parrying with his scythes. "That’s an annoying skill to go up against."

Then his voice changed—rising, vibrating with an unnatural force.

"FEAR SPEAKER!"

But before the words could sink their claws into the ears of the Xandrian forces, Jackal bellowed over him, drowning him out.

"EVERYONE! MAKE NOISE! DON’T LET HIM SPEAK!"

At once, the soldiers slammed their armor together, bashing swords against shields, bracers against chainmail. The tunnel erupted into a cacophony of sound, drowning out the pirate’s voice entirely.

The pirate leader staggered back a step, scowling. "Really," he muttered. "What an irritating ability you have—"

"SAME!" Jackal cut him off, his own voice booming.

Then, in an instant—"FIRE!"

From behind him, Xandrian archers loosed their arrows—not at the pirate in front of Jackal, but at the ones behind him.

"ADVANCE!" Jackal commanded, pushing forward with his men, shields locked, step by step. More arrows whistled through the air, forcing the enemy back.

"Damn it," the pirate growled, dodging a stray shot.

"FALL BACK!" he shouted to his men.

The pirates retreated, their forms swallowed by the tunnel’s darkness.

Elsewhere, in another passage, battle raged in full force. Though the pirates had superior numbers and attempted to flank the Xandrian invaders, they faced fierce resistance. It might have been a fair fight—numbers against training and armor—but the real advantage lay with the Xargian Guards.

Bear and Elephant stood at the vanguard, an unstoppable combined force carving through the enemy ranks. Behind them, Chameleon wove his chaos, shifting into the likeness of pirates, seeding doubt and paranoia among them. Friend or foe—who could they trust?

Amid the fray, Bear’s keen eyes locked onto a familiar figure. Gingerbeard.

That bushy, wild orange beard, those scattered freckles, and his gaudy ensemble of sharp reds and greens—like a human parrot that had raided a noble’s wardrobe. The pirate captain swung his massive axe with practiced ease, cleaving through a Xandrian soldier.

[You’ve defeated a human – You’ve received 118 EXP.]

Another window flared before him.

[Level increased: 10 → 11. Please select which stats to increase.]

Gingerbeard barked a single word: "Strength." Then, without hesitation, he resumed his rampage, hacking through the enemy ranks.

Bear roared in fury and charged. No pirate dared step in the way, no subordinate had the courage to intercept the beast barreling toward their captain.

A massive paw lashed out. Claws tore across Gingerbeard’s chest, sending him sprawling.

A fresh volley of arrows whistled through the air, piercing Bear’s thick hide. It was not deep but enough to shift his focus. In a blur, he snarled and turned on the archers.

Gingerbeard staggered to his feet, blood seeping through his torn garments. “ESCAPE!” he roared.

But then—

“I SAID FIGHT! WE’VE GOT THIS!”

The exact same voice. The exact same tone.

Gingerbeard’s eyes widened. He spun around.

Standing there—was himself.

"THAT'S AN IMPOSTOR!" he bellowed.

The other Gingerbeard scoffed. "YOU’RE THE IMPOSTOR! VICTORY IS OURS!"

Without warning, the second Gingerbeard grabbed a weapon from the ground and swung it at Elephant. The Xargian Guard, his body as hard as iron, took the blow and stumbled. He exhaled sharply.

"Gingerbeard is too strong... We have to fall back!" Elephant grunted.

The pirates hesitated, then their morale shifted.

"FOLLOW GINGERBEARD!" someone shouted.

Their courage reignited. A fresh battle cry rang through the cavern as they charged toward their captain.

And then—Elephant stood up, unfazed.

And the other Gingerbeard turned his blade on the charging pirates, cutting them down.

"Silly me," the false Gingerbeard mused.

A nearby pirate, eyes blazing with suspicion, swung a club into him. The illusion shattered.

Chameleon stumbled back, his true form revealed, his helmet gleaming under the torchlight. He winced. "That actually hurt!"

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he sent a dagger sailing through the pirate’s skull.

[You’ve defeated a human – You’ve received 68 EXP.]

Gingerbeard cursed under his breath and turned, sprinting toward the inner tunnels.

Now, it was every man and woman for themselves.

Gingerbeard ran on pure adrenaline, pushing past the pain from Bear’s vicious claws. Blood soaked his clothes, but he didn't slow down. He looked for something while he tore through the tunnels, past the treasure room—chests overflowing with gold, casks of alcohol, silks and fine clothes.

And then.

A little girl with bright orange hair and freckles, no older than six.

“Daddy, what’s happening? I’m scared,” she whimpered. She clutched a crudely stitched stuffed animal, its seams uneven and fabric worn with love.

Gingerbeard scooped her up without hesitation. “Everything’s going to be all right, my love,” he murmured.

Her tiny hands clung to his tunic. “Daddy, you’re bleeding.”

“Just a scratch,” he assured her, his voice steady.

She looked up at him, eyes wide with fear. “Promise?”

“I promise.”

With his daughter held tight in one arm and his massive axe in the other, he sprinted toward the tunnel’s exit. Light shimmered at the end—an escape to the open. Beyond the cavern, the sea stretched out, fresh and salty on the wind. Somewhere along the beach, rowboats waited.

But standing in the sand were Xandrian soldiers.

Swords drawn. Shields raised.

A familiar voice cut through the air. “Drop the child and surrender.”

The soldier in the center stepped forward, her long pink hair tied back beneath her helmet.

Gingerbeard felt his hope shrivel. He gently set his little girl down.

“Surrender your weapon,” Rose ordered, her voice calm but firm. “You’ll be taken to Xandria to answer for your crimes.”

Gingerbeard’s hands tightened around his axe. “Please… let me go. This isn’t the place to fight—not in front of a child.”

Rose sighed. “I agree. That’s why you surrender now, and no harm will come to anyone.”

Gingerbeard exhaled sharply. His mind raced. If I let them take me, the gallows will be waiting.

He turned to his daughter, brushing a stray curl from her tear-streaked face. “Of all the mistakes I’ve made… you’re not one of them.”

He gripped his axe.

“Drop your weapon,” Rose warned, unsheathing her sword.

Gingerbeard’s voice softened. “My little heart,” he whispered. The girl sobbed. “Daddy will be back soon.”

Then—

A sudden explosion of chaos.

From the tunnels behind them, pirates burst out, their screams filled with terror.

“WE’RE NO MATCH FOR THEM!” one howled.

“WE SURRENDER!” another bellowed.

But another roar—deeper, guttural, inhuman—drowned them out.

“WIPE THEM ALL OUT!”

Bear.

He emerged in his monstrous form, charging like a force of nature.

The little girl shrieked. “Daddy! Help!”

Rose and her soldiers braced themselves, gripping their weapons tighter.

But from another tunnel, something else stirred.

A figure stepped into the fray—war scythes gleaming in the torchlight.

"ZAUN!" Gingerbeard gasped in recognition.

Zaun didn't stop. He didn’t acknowledge them. He sprinted toward the boats.

Rose’s expression darkened. She bolted forward to intercept, soldiers following in her wake.

The battle had only just begun.