"Crystal Forest Dungeon, for a long time, was considered to be a mildly difficult Dungeon. Lately, however, something in its behaviour changed and it had become increasingly malicious." Jehaness explained as they quickly followed him inside the castle. "We don't know what happened exactly but it seems to be connected with Jukk'nala and Vestargo."

"How?" Janet asked.

"I think that Jukk'nala was able to somehow keep Vestargo at bay." He said as he opened the door to a large chamber with various maps and a few tables. It wasn't a war room like she was accustomed to in Avalon but it had to suffice. "With Jukk'nala dead, Vestargo must have started pushing or growing. I think that Crystal Forest Dungeon might be trying to get enough mana to fight Vestargo."

"That might or might not be the case..." A hissing voice echoed in the room.

"Shadow?" Pyonta asked uncertainly.

"Yes... I was sent by my master to assist you, Mortals."

"So you can force the core to surrender." Janet nodded. "I think we are pretty much ready to slap him."

"Are you insane?!" Terion looked at her in shock. "We don't have any soldiers ready-"

"We have two airships, Lord Terion." The Elf looked at him with amusement. "Or are you going to chicken out, Blackbeard?"

"Hahaha! No chance." The pirate crossed his arms and straightened. It would have been imposing if not for his current attire. "You can count on me!"

"In that case, we should simply start firing our guns until the Dungeon surrenders." She grinned.

•••

The two ships cut through the sky as fast as they could. Below them, the small groups of monsters were besieging the well-prepared towns and cities.

"It's strange to watch how the monsters powerlessly bounce off the walls." Blackbeard shook his head. "That wasn't the case in the past..."

"There was enough time for them to build the proper defences. The Emperor was very specific about that command." Janet nodded in agreement, remembering the past when even some cities were woefully prepared for a monster siege. "But I'm surprised that some of the Towns had barriers."

"That was the Count's idea. He wanted to equip at least some of the key towns with protective barriers just in case."

"I see." The Elf briefly nodded. "How far is the Dungeon?"

"At this speed, we will reach it in an hour." He replied, but something in his posture made her realise that he was nervous.

She gave him a curious gaze and hummed to herself. "Why are you doing this? You don't have to but... Why?"

He froze for a moment and sighed as he lowered his head without looking at her. "I don't know, Lady Sparrow-"

"Janet, Edward." She said softly. "When I wear a dress I'm just an Elven girl. You, out of all people, earned the right to call me by my name when you saved my life."

"That's the thing..." He finally turned his head towards her and looked at her with sad eyes. "No matter what you do or what you wear, the people will see you as an incarnation of Death - the person whose single word can erase entire nations from existence. I know because that's how everyone sees me. No matter what I do, I'm just a bloody, cursed pirate."

She pondered the thought for a moment and saw the logic behind his words so she nodded to herself. However, he remained silent, so she glanced at him, amused. "And?"

Her voice was careless and playful, making Blackbeard look at her in disbelief. "You don't mind their opinion?"

"If I have learnt anything from Lord Theon Avalon it would be ignoring the opinion of people I don't care about." Janet giggled, covering her lips with one hand, and turned her back towards the railings. She rested her elbows on the lacquered and polished wood and leaned back with a relaxed smile. A soft wind carried her long hair and waved with her thin dress. "I simply don't care, Edward. If they want to see me as the Death incarnate, I won't complain. If they decide to fight Arcadia, my reputation, and the reputation of others like Ban or Blair, will be as important as the weapons of our ships and armies. So that's why you are helping? To warm opinions and improve the way the people see you?"

"No." He shrugged, barely able to look away from her captivating figure. He fixed his gaze on something in the distance.

"Then why?" She turned her head towards him slightly but he wasn't sure if she was toying with him or if she really was unaware of how she looked right now.

"I don't know..." He lied and sighed. "I could offer some cheap banal comment about doing it just for you-"

"So you really are trying to impress me?" She interrupted him. "Out of all people... Me?"

He blushed after he realised there was no undoing the moment now if she was ever going to take him seriously. She had interrupted him at the worst moment possible and he couldn't deny what she said. However, he knew that the only route from here would be to lean forward. He liked her, had fallen in love with her, even. But he needed to brace himself for rough seas if he hoped to survive the storm he willingly steered into.

"Yes. I’m trying to impress you, Lady Janet A'net Sparrow." Her eyes widened dangerously in displeasure but he raised his hand hoping she would allow him to finish. "At first, I wanted to impress you so I and my sorry band could even survive. Back then, I was impressing the Admiral of an incredible Navy even if you had only a few ships. Yet, I knew how monstrous making an enemy of Arcadia would be given time and, considering everything, I was right. But I wasn't ready to meet someone like you. In my wildest dreams, I didn't expect I would meet someone so dangerous, brilliant, valiant, and beautiful as you."

"Edward..." She warned him with a blush but he just smiled sadly.

"Oh, no... You wanted the truth and I will deliver it no matter what." He, finally, dared to look her in the eyes. Her eyes were shining and she was standing next to him in an anticipation that surprised him. "But I no longer had to impress the Admiral I met onboard Victory above the mountains between Arcadia and Berna. But... It was you. Out of all the people... What chances do a bloody and cruel pirate have in the eyes of someone like you? So... I don't know... Maybe I just seek some redemption for all my past sins? There is a tiny, maybe naive, part of me that believes that if I try hard enough the past mistakes might be erased. Possibly, one day, I could kneel in front of you and ask you to be my wife. Because I am sure as hell that l love you... Janet."

He poured all his emotions into the conclusion as he delivered his proclamation loudly with pleasure. She stood there with her lips parted in surprise, holding her hat against the wind and looked at him with a judging gaze. Blackbeard straightened himself to his full, impressive height and looked at the Elf from above. The only indication of his feelings was his hand that gripped the railings which was white from the force of his grip. She made a half step closer to him and looked into his eyes. She wore a serious expression but her eyes shone.

"I wanted to know the truth, Edward." She said slowly. "I don't care what others might think of me... or, maybe, I just want to pretend but there is one man whose opinion matters."

She looked away at the south. Edward didn't have to follow her gaze; he sighed sadly. "The Emperor?"

"Yes." She nodded but put her hand over his, still holding the railing in an iron grip. "But it's not like that... I respect him and follow his orders but I love the skies, Edward. I'm a free spirit and I can't imagine myself as a good wife..."

He released his grip under the warmth of her hand. Paralysed by her closeness. He looked into her blue eyes that shone so wonderfully. He didn't know what to say.

"But..." She smiled warmly and knowingly. "You are the same, aren't you? The sky and sea call for you and you are restless with ground under your feet."

"It's true." He looked at her smiling lips. "I-"

"Hush." She said, "You have already impressed me, Edward..."

"Oh damn you both, kiss already!" Someone yelled, interrupting their precious moment.

Blackbeard and Janet turned towards the reckless offender and both of them threw a dagger that landed with a warning that the next wouldn’t miss. Both of them looked with vengeful fury in their eyes at the person who disturbed them and noticed that most of Blackbeard's crew scattered around in panic, searching for cover or a believable excuse for why they were nearby.

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"You bloody bastards! I'm going to teach you, useless lot, that you should respect your captain!" Blackbeard bellowed angrily, but to his surprise, Janet chuckled.

"Give it to me, now, and I will spare your lives." She expectedly extended her hand and that alone sparked a true fear among the Queen Anne's crew. "Ten, nine..."

She managed to reach six when one of the crew members handed her a stained paper and ran for his dear life.

"What's that?" Blackbeard looked at the paper.

"Oh, c'mon, Mr Blackbeard." She chuckled with a smile and leaned on his shoulder making him turn red. "They are sailors, Edward. Of course, there is gambling involved."

She opened the sheet that was bent in two and held it so he could see it as well.

"Of course..." Blackbeard sighed and huffed in anger. "You bastards! Why the hell did most of you bet that she would order me keelhauled?!"

"I would say they don't believe in your wooing." She chuckled as her eyes moved down the list. "They also believe I'm some kind of extremely ferocious monster. But I admit, some of these ideas look interesting..."

"I'm going to teach them..."

"I think I have a better idea..." She chuckled then, suddenly, she turned around, climbed on her toes, and kissed him, causing all of his crew to collectively gasp in disbelief.

He couldn't believe the circumstances but her kiss was honest and long. If she wanted to kiss him just out of spite, she would have simply smudged his cheek with her lips. He was happy and frozen for a moment but he quickly overcame that sudden weakness and gently pulled her closer. She ended the kiss with a playful smile and a wink.

"That one wasn't on the list." He muttered under his breath, still holding her in his embrace.

"Hahahaha! No, it was!" The Quartermaster chuckled. "You just made me an obscenely rich man, Lady Admiral!"

"You too, Jim?!" Blackbeard looked angrily at his friend while Janet flipped the page and started laughing as she showed him the side they both missed. "I thought you treated hazard with contempt!"

"It's not a hazard when I bet against this sorry bunch! It's an investment!" Jim chuckled as he started collecting gold coins from the grudgingly complaining crew. "Besides, Ed... If there was any woman alive who could move your heart, they were going to be someone like her. Considering there is a shortage of such women in the world, I was sure that two children of the endless sky would understand each other."

"Hmmm... I'm not even mad at him." Janet nodded in approval. "That's impressive."

"I just don't know if I should punch you or be impressed, Jim..." Blackbeard shook his head in disbelief when he felt that Janet turn around in his grip and rest the back of her head on his chest.

"Oh, I think you boys just need a few more challenges in life." She chuckled as she grabbed his hand so he couldn't let her go. "I think that some joint exercises with my Marines will be... educational."

The pirates started laughing and nodded towards her with respect and slowly returned to their work leaving them, finally, relatively alone. Edward tried to release her but she just tilted her head in a way to look up. "What do you think you are doing, hmm?"

"I... I mean..." He stuttered. "I thought that you just... I mean..."

"Oh, I think not." She purred like a cat. "You should be more careful when you offer your heart and love because you have no idea how greedy I can be..."

"So... You?"

"Hmmm... I don't know yet. But I like you and am willing to see what happens, Edward." She smiled at him as she twisted out of his hands with a skillful spin and, after making another spin in front of him, she smiled warmly as she put her hands behind her back, leaning in. "I will hold you to your word, Mr Teach, and see what you do next. Oh, and don't even think about doing anything that might upset me."

She walked away, toward the captain’s quarters, he gave her for her use during the trip. Stupefied, he leaned heavily over the railings and smiled widely.

"What now, Captain?" Jim's voice was amused as he approached him. "I don't know if, even, you can handle such a dangerous woman."

"Shut up, Jim." Blackbeard grinned towards the sky. "Don't spoil the moment."

"Sure, just mind my words, Ed." The Quartermaster chuckled. "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor Hell a fury like a woman scorned."

"What?" Blackbeard blinked at the old Orc.

"I know no woman whom those words describe better than Admiral Sparrow, Captain." He patted his shoulder.

"That's a terrifyingly accurate observation, Jim."

"Sooo... Are you ready for something safer? Like attacking a Dungeon?" The Quartermaster laughed.

"Oh, definitely." Blackbeard nodded with a grin. "At the ready, boys!"

As the pirate crew was preparing for the assault, the Shadow Demon of Xariinta Dungeon titled its head. Mortals were confusing sometimes but the Supreme Master assured him that this was their fairly normal behaviour. He sighed and appeared near Blackbeard.

"We are drawing near the Crystal Forest Dungeon," Shadow said and effortlessly dodged a wide cut of Blackbeard's cutlass.

"Gods! Shadow!" Blackbeard sheathed his sword. "You do that on purpose!"

"I'm Shadow Demon, after all..." He laughed. "I can sense the Dungeon's surprise. I can almost hear its voice. She is panicking..."

"I guess that's good," Jim grumbled.

"Oh... One more thing, Edward Teach. Our Lord wants to see you after you are done here."

"Why would Xariinta want to see me?" Edward asked in a flat tone.

"Xariinta is my Master... He doesn't want to talk with you. I said ‘Our Lord’." Shadow almost chuckled.

"The Emperor?! The Emperor wants to see me?"

"Yesss, Mortal. I don't know why but his voice to me carried a hint of urgency... Don't say anything to your Admiral about it..." He warned as he disappeared with an amused chuckle. The Emperor hadn't told him to keep hidden among the fleet and, seeing odd mortals’ interactions, how could he not play a little - where was the fun without teasing Mortals a bit?

Blackbeard looked at the Quartermaster in panic. "Do you think I aimed too high, Jim?"

"Fuck if I know, Ed!" The Orc turned pale green. "Let's focus on the battle for now... It won't do you any good to brood on what His Highness has on his mind."

"Shit... You might be right." He sighed and looked in shock as Victory had already opened fire. "What the fuck... They have four times our range! That's fucking cheating!"

"Well... We still have some of those bombs left." Jim looked jealously at the Arcadian guns.

"Use them!" Blackbeard nodded and turned around just in time to see Janet emerge from her quarters. "Holy..."

"... Fuck." Jim finished and suddenly decided he was needed elsewhere.

She was wearing black and gold full-plate armour but it wasn't bulky. In fact, it was so well fit to her body that Bernans would surely call it indecent. Layered chainmail filled any gaps and an over-the-knee-long, black-and-white tabard-like dress looked stunning on her. There were no pointless elements on her armour, making it as slim and clean as possible, without a single gap or vulnerability. Despite that, he couldn't stop thinking about how gorgeous she looked in it but, most importantly, how she would look without it. Her slim legs took a step forward and only then he noticed that her armour had high heels, making her a lot taller than before. As she got closer, the visor of her helmet opened as if it was made of black liquid and she looked at him with a smirk. Thanks to the high heels, her eyes were closer to the same level as his.

"Surprised?" She stopped right in front of him and crossed her arms. He could swear that the armour behaved as if it was made of thin fabric.

"Very." He playfully grinned but, suddenly, he turned serious and looked into her blue eyes. "If I only knew that Victory had such a ridiculous range advantage, I would have insisted that you stay with them. It might get dangerous once we descend to get in range."

"I'm a grown-up girl, Edward. Don't worry about me." She slammed her armoured fist on her breastplate which chimed solidly and she smiled. "It's Ragnar's handicraft so I'm more confident in staying in one piece wearing this than what you are wearing. Besides, it's probably my only chance to test out this baby because Admirals rarely need to, personally, lead their people to battle."

"Heh. Believe it or not, all my gear is properly enchanted. Even this beach set!" He chuckled and nodded towards the helmsman. "Take us in range!"

The frigate started descending rapidly only to level off its course almost a hundred metres below Victory. It was still considerably above the Dungeon proper but the first replied spells cast by the monsters below sizzled in the air close to the ship. Queen Anne's Revenge opened fire and Janet looked at the Quartermaster who had prepared some peculiar barrels with a team of five pirates. Her eyes widened as she finally recognised the bombs that Scion Jasper mentioned in his report. Before she managed to say anything, the Quartermaster set the first fuse on fire and they pushed it over the rail. A massive explosion shook the frigate but the pirates cheered.

"I don't really have much use for these puppies so we can use them here, as well." Blackbeard grinned and, suddenly, he pushed her aside. "Watch out!"

She lightly jumped away and landed with a cat's grace; however, where she was a moment ago, a massive, crystal-like arrow was embedded into the deck. She turned around and noticed that the frigate’s shields were already breached in a few spots. A quick Appraisal confirmed that the arrow could pierce her armour. She instantly became serious and summoned her custom-made glaive as she moved to the starboard side. Her visor closed and she quickly found the origin of that arrow. In the forest below was a small castle with six towers. On each tower were massive ballistae which seemed to be the source of their troubles. She aimed at the closest tower and activated the Arcane Minigun runes in her glaive. The tower disappeared under a constant barrage of spells which, though quite weak on their own, once enough of them reached the target, they were devastating. The first ballista was destroyed and, soon after, the second and third as the towers were targeted by Victory's gunners. A nearby explosion shook the frigate and an air hammer hit her in the side.

"Janet!" Blackbeard jumped towards her in panic but she stood up on her own before he reached her.

"It's nothing." She inspected her side but the hit was deflected by her shields. However, as she looked around she realised that she was lucky. A dozen of Blackbeard's sailors were lying around, some of them certainly lifeless. "What was that?!"

"I don't know! But we are taking too much punishment!" He took out an Avalonian field bandage and started patching one of his men. "I don't know how long we can manage to stay here. Take them away, Quartermaster!"

A team of sailors took the dead and wounded to triage near the captain's quarters while Blackbeard bellowed orders to keep firing at the ballistas.

"The core is in the keep..." The Shadow Demon Scion spoke as he appeared near Janet. "I can't get close enough on my own..."